St. Andrew Christmas Novena

Happy Feast of St. Andrew! 

I was blessed to be able to venerate a first class relic of St. Andrew after Mass this morning.

It is piously believed that whoever recites the St. Andrew Christmas Novena fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas will obtain what is asked.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires (Mention your intentions here) through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His most Blessed Mother. Amen.

Imprimatur

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York

February 6, 1897

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

The St. Andrew Christmas Novena begins tomorrow, November 30. Lena over at Joy-filled Family designed a beautiful holy card to assist in praying this novena 15 times a day. We used her holy card last year (I printed and laminated it), and it helps make praying this novena from November 30 through December 24 doable.

Update: Emmanuel Books has this lovely holy card available for download on their website.

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard Van Honthorst

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen.

Imprimatur

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York

New York, February 6, 1897

Goodbye May Daybook!

Outside my windows,

Our flowers are blooming. The crocuses, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, azaleas, and lilacs have faded.

Roses, Our Lady's pincushion (scabiosa 'butterfly blue'), angel daisies, armeria, dianthus, peonies, and lupines are now in full bloom.

I thoroughly enjoy spending time outside weeding because it gives me an opportunity to appreciate the beautiful flowers that God has made.

The children and I are thrilled that we have grapes, peaches, plums, raspberries, and strawberries forming too.

In the kitchen

I tried a new recipe. Pork isn't a favorite in our house, but I made this for dinner recently, along with the vegetables mentioned, and everyone was raving. Some of the children had seconds. It was so tasty that I made it again when our pastor came over for dinner.

I am hearing Agnes and Cecilia practicing for their violin recital in June, a shower running, and children talking.

I have been listening to Enthronement and Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.



My husband gave me these beautiful roses for Mother's Day.

I am still thinking about the amazing sermon that our pastor gave on Mother's Day. It was a wonderful gift. I know that I am not the only one thinking about it, as I was told by one of my daughters that she and her sisters were discussing it. I am also thinking about the excellent catechetical class that he gave recently. It was the last class that he was offering before he leaves for his new assignment in July.

We are going to miss Fr. S. a lot when he leaves for his new assignment as FSSP District Superior of North America, but he has promised to visit our parish often, and I know that he will make an extraordinary District Superior. Please keep Fr. S. in your prayers as he takes on his new responsibilities.

I am praying for Fr. S. and for our future pastor.

I am reading Footprints in a Darkened Forest by Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Like all of his books, it is very insightful. These quotes are just a few of the nuggets of wisdom found in the pages of this book:

"Youth was meant to live like wheat in a field, not to be pulled up until it was ripe."
~ p. 11 

"Eternity is without succession, a simultaneous possession of all joys. To those who live toward Eternity, it really is not something at the end; it is that which influences every moment of the 'now.'”
~ p. 18 

"In every prayer there is at least a brief wedding of time and Eternity."
~ p. 19 

"Our Blessed Lord said, 'If you do My Will, you will know My doctrine.' He did not say, 'If you know My doctrine, you will do My will.'
~ p. 208

I am thankful for my little boys. Kieran was thrilled to receive this cowboy outfit for his birthday.

He was delighted with his cake. Upon seeing it, he exclaimed, "That's a neat cake!"

Our youngest thoroughly enjoyed eating his brother's birthday cake.

Anecdote:

Me: "Smell this rose."

Kieran: "It smells good. We need to cut these pricks."
Me: "Oh no, we don't want to cut those. They are part of the rose that you thought smelled good."
Kieran: "But these are pricks. See!"
Me: "They are thorns, and they are part of the rose."
Kieran: "We need to cut them."
Me (breaking a thorn off): "Look, this is a thorn. We can break them off, but you don't want to cut them."
Kieran: "Why do you want to break them off?"
Me: "So that you don't cut my roses."
Kieran: "I don't want to cut your roses. I want to cut the pricks."

I can't win. A few weeks ago, he cut down a rose bush, or "prickles" as he called them. Last Saturday, he cut a bunch of the roses pictured below. The roses, or "pricks" that he was referring to here are yellow roses that are growing in our backyard. Hopefully, one day he will appreciate the roses, despite the thorns.

I love my little boy!

The Prayers of a Child

Easter Vigil 2015

A couple of years ago, Elizabeth started praying for a family after our family Rosary each night. She prays for each member of this family by name. Recently, we learned that this family has started going to Mass again. Yesterday, we had confirmation of this, and I mentioned it to Elizabeth and some of her brothers and sisters. Upon hearing that this family is going to Mass, Elizabeth said, "Oh, Fr. S. told us that we might want to pray for someone on our First Communion day who isn't going to Mass! I will pray." God answers prayers, especially the prayers of a child!

Happy Feast of the Annunciation!

Angelus Domini

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,

R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Novena to St. Joseph

O glorious descendant of the kings of Judah, Inheritor of the virtues of all the patriarchs. Just and happy St. Joseph, listen to my prayer. Thou art my glorious protector, and shall ever be, after Jesus and Mary the object of my most profound veneration and confidence. Thou art the most hidden, though the greatest Saint, and art particularly the patron of those who serve God with the greatest purity and fervor. In union with all those who have ever been most devoted to thee I now dedicate myself to thy service; beseeching thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who vouchsafed to love and obey thee as a son, to become a father to me; and to obtain for me the filial respect, confidence and love of a child towards thee.

O powerful advocate of all Christians, whose intercession, as St. Theresa assures us, has never been found to fail, deign to intercede for me now, and to implore for me the particular intention of this Novena.

(Mention your intentions here)

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Present me O great Saint to the adorable Trinity, with Whom thou hadst so glorious and so intimate a correspondence. Obtain that I may never efface by sin the Sacred Image according to the likeness of which, I was created. Beg for me that my divine Redeemer would enkindle in my heart and in all hearts, the fire of His Love, and infuse therein the virtues of His adorable infancy, His purity, simplicity, obedience, and humility.

Obtain for me likewise a lively devotion to thy virgin spouse, and protect me so powerfully in life and death, that I may have the happiness of dying as thou didst, in the friendship of my Creator, and under the immediate protection of the Mother of God. Amen.

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, I renew my consecration to you and to your Immaculate Heart. Please accept me, my dear Mother, and use me as you wish to accomplish your designs upon the world. I am all yours, my Mother, my Queen, and all that I have is yours.

Amen.

Please remember that the FSSP has asked that we make today a day of prayer and penance for Christians in Iraq, Syria, and the Middle East.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, please intercede for them.

Tantum Ergo

Recently, I realized that my younger children do not know the Tantum Ergo by heart, so I made this printout in order to help them learn it. I am posting it here, just in case anyone else can benefit from having a printed copy.

Download Tantum Ergo

The Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood

O my God, I beg of Thee in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, through the merits of the Precious Blood offered Thee in every Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, to grant that this day one mortal sin may be averted, one soul in doubt may be converted to the truth, one soul about to die in sin may receive the grace of repentance and a happy death, and the deliverance of that soul in purgatory which is nearest Heaven. I wish by this offering to console the Heart of Jesus in agony for the souls lost through the Teaching of error against the true 
Church of Christ Jesus, Our Lord.

Amen

Prayers to St. Joseph

Yesterday, during his sermon, our pastor mentioned praying to St. Joseph for a holy death. Growing up we did this after our family Rosary each night by praying the following prayer which was found in 1505:

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me. 

Amen

In 1889, Pope Leo XIII shared and recommended that the following prayer ("Ad te beate Joseph") be recited daily after the Rosary during the month of October, attaching it to his encyclical Quamquam Pluries. In March 2011, Pope Benedict XVI asked that the "Ad te beate Joseph" be offered for his protection and intentions.

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that charity wherewith thou wast united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray, that thou wouldst look graciously upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ hath purchased by His Blood, and assist us in our needs by thy power and strength.

Most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most loving father, all blight of error and corruption: mercifully assist us from heaven, most mighty defender, in this our conflict with the powers of darkness; and, even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the supreme peril of his life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; keep us one and all under thy continual protection, that we may be supported by thine example and thine assistance, may be enabled to lead a holy life, die a happy death and come at last to the possession of everlasting blessedness in heaven. Amen.

It is time for me to renew my devotion to St. Joseph and to instill in my children a deep love for Christ's foster father on earth.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary!

May God bless you and your families!

Jesus, Master, Teach Me

Teach me, teach me, dearest Jesus,

In Thine own sweet, loving way,

All the lessons of perfection

I must practice day by day.

Teach me Meekness, dearest Jesus,

Of Thine Own the counterpart;

Not in words and actions only,

But the meekness of the heart.

Teach Humility, sweet Jesus,

To this poor, proud heart of mine,

Which yet wishes, O my Jesus,

To be modeled after Thine.

Teach me Fervour, dearest Jesus,

To comply with every grace,

So as never to look backwards,

Never slacken in the race.

Teach me Poverty, sweet Jesus,

That my heart may never cling,

To whate'er its love might sever,

From my Saviour, Spouse and King.

Teach me Chastity, dear Jesus,

That my every day may see

Something added to the likeness

That my soul should bear to Thee.

Teach Thy Heart, to me, dear Jesus,

Is my fervent, final prayer,

For all beauties and perfections

Are in full perfection there.

~ Fr. F.X. Lasance, The Catholic Girl's Guide, p. 362

St. Andrew's Novena Begins Today

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires (Mention your intentions here) through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His most Blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York

February 6, 1897

Update: Lena has made it easy for us to remember to pray this novena by designing a printable novena card.

The Angelus

Growing up, my parents used to pray the Angelus at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. Sadly, I have not shared this devotion with my children; however, I am trying to do so. In order to help the children learn this prayer, I printed the prayer for each of them and also printed a copy of the Angelus to hang on the wall. Knowing my children, they will learn the prayer quickly.

I uploaded the prayer as a pdf in both formats just in case anyone else would like to print it.

• Angelus for the children
• Angelus for the wall

To An Altar Boy

As I was looking through some old files on my laptop, I came across this poem by St. John Berchmans (patron saint of altar boys). I will be sharing it with my sons and thought that other mothers might want to share it with their boys.

St. John Berchmans, pray for our sons.

To an Altar Boy

by St. John Berchmans

To be Christ's page at the altar,

To serve Him freely there.

Where even the Angels falter,

Bowed low in reverent prayer.

To touch the throne most holy,

To hand the gifts for the feast,

To see Him meekly, lowly,

Descend at the word of the priest.

To hear man's poor petition,

To sound the silver bell,

When He in sweet submission,

Comes down with us to dwell.

No grander mission surely

Could Saints or men enjoy;

No heart should love more purely,

Than yours my altar boy.

God bless you, lad, forever,

And keep you in His care,

And Guard you that you never

Belie the robes you wear.

For white bespeaks untainted

A heart both tried and true;

And red tolls love the sainted

The holy martyrs knew.

Throughout life, then, endeavor

God's graces to employ;

And be in heart forever

A holy altar boy.

Printable Poem

Happy Feast of St. Joseph

Growing up, my parents instilled a deep love in us for St. Joseph. Each night, after praying the family Rosary, we would end with the traditional prayers and a few others, including the prayer below to the foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph is the Patron of the Church, a protector, a comforter, a model for husbands, and so much more. Let us always remember to pray to St. Joseph for our husbands.

 

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

A friend, Lindsay, just sent an email reminding me that the St. Andrew Novena begins today. Hopefully, I will get a chance to post it in my sidebar, as I have done in years past, but for now, I am posting it below.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God!to hear my prayer and grant my desires (Mention your intentions here) through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His most Blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York

February 6, 1897

The Family Rosary

Catherine includes you in her "Dear Little Jesus" prayers each night (with my help). She is praying the Rosary with us now. Some words are said before, some with, and some after us...

(Taken from an email sent to my brother when our oldest child was 26 months)

Growing up, one of the greatest gifts that my parents gave to my siblings and me was praying the Rosary with us each night and at the beginning of every car trip that exceeded 20 minutes. My husband and I are trying to give the same gift to our children.

Around 7:00 p.m., every evening, we kneel down in our living room and pray the rosary as a family. Each night, a different family member starts the rosary, including the Apostles Creed, the Our Father, three Hail Marys (said for an increase in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity), the Glory Be, and the first decade. Since there are more people in our family than there are decades of the individual mysteries of the rosary, we have devised an unwritten rotating schedule, based on age, to insure that everyone gets an opportunity to begin and/or lead a decade of the rosary each week. For example:

Day 1: Daddy, Mommy, Child 1, Child 2, Child 3
Day 2: Mommy, Child 1, Child 2, Child 3, Child 4
Day 3: Child 1, Child 2, Child 3, Child 4, Child 5
Day 4: Child 2, Child 3, Child 4, Child 5, Child 6
Day 5: Child 3, Child 4, Child 5, Child 6, Daddy
Day 6: Child 4, Child 5, Child 6, Daddy, Mommy
Day 7: Child 5, Child 6, Daddy, Mommy, Child 1
Day 8: Child 6, Daddy, Mommy, Child 1, Child 2
Day 9: Daddy, Mommy, Child 1, Child 2, Child 3

We finish the Rosary with the traditional prayers and then the children say their personal "Dear Jesus" prayers.

On those rare nights, when we start getting into bed without kneeling down to pray (due to guests or a late activity), one of the children will inevitably say, "But Mommy (or Daddy), we haven't prayed the Rosary."

I hope that my children will always pray the Rosary each day, and if they are called to married life that they will pass this gift on to their children.

“When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than any other prayer.”
~ Saint Louis de Montfort ~

Additional quotes about the Rosary


Thank you to Our Little Catholic Corner for hosting Your family rosary- Please Write In! I am participating a little late.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with a burning love for the poor captive souls in purgatory, have mercy on them.  Be not severe in Thy judgements but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames.  Most merciful Lord, send Thy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light, and peace.

Amen.

Prayer taken from the back of our parish bulletin.

Daily Renewal of Enthronement to the Sacred Heart

A couple of days after my mom died, one of my cousins enthroned our home to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and consecrated it to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Since that day, our family has prayed the daily renewal prayer below prior to saying Grace before dinner.  Last night, some friends heard us say the prayer and asked for a copy of it.  I thought that others might appreciate the prayer, too.

Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus, we renew our pledge of love and loyalty to You. Keep us always close to Your loving Heart and to the most pure Heart of Your Mother.

May we love one another more and more each day, forgiving each other's faults as You forgive us our sins. Teach us to see You in the members of our family and those we meet outside our home, and to love them as You love them, especially the poor and the oppressed, that we may be instrumental in bringing about justice and peace.

Please help us to carry our cross daily out of love for You, and to strengthen this love by frequent Mass and Communion.

Thank You, dear Jesus, King and Friend of our family, for all the blessings of this day. Protect us and all families during this night. Help us so to live that we may all get to Heaven.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Our Guardian Angels, pray for us!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

~ Thy Kingdom Come

Thank you, Jenn for letting me know the title of the booklet.

How Boys Pray

Finnian:  "Mommy, how do boys pray?"

Me:  "In the name of the Father, and..."

Finnian (interrupting):  "I mean, how do boys pray?"

Me:  "They pray, 'In the...'"

Finnian (interrupting again):  "I asked, how do boys pray?"

Me:  "I don't know what you are trying to ask."

Brendan:  "I think that he wants to know how Fr. Saguto and the altar boys pray."

Me:  "Oh, boys pray, 'In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.'"

Finnian:  "Yes, that's how boys pray!  Can you teach me to pray like that?"

I proceeded to have Finnian repeat the Sign of the Cross in Latin.  He did so nicely.