Spiritual Motherhood for Priests

"A vocation comes from the heart of God,
but goes through the heart of the mother."

~ Pope St. Pius X ~

This past week, I stumbled upon this sermon on Audio Sancto and a challenge to become spiritual mothers. In his sermon, the priest shares three things that any girl (as young as age 7) or woman can do to be a spiritual mother. Those three things are as follows:

1. Pray before the Blessed Sacrament (or at home before a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart) once a week specifically asking for vocations. Father suggests praying a Memorare asking Our Lady to conform ourselves more perfectly to her and a Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus asking Our Lord for vocations.
2. On the first Sunday of each month offer up your Communion for vocations.
3. After Mass, recite this simple prayer begging God for vocations.

"O God grant that one of my sons may become a priest. I myself want to live as a good Christian and want to guide my children always to do what is right, so that I may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give you a holy priest!
Amen"

"O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. 

Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with Thy Precious Blood. 

Keep pure and unworldly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. 

Let Thy Holy Love surround them from the world's contagion. 

Bless their labors with abundant fruit,
and may the souls to whom they minister 

be their joy and consolation here and their everlasting crown hereafter."

~ St. Therese of Lisieux ~

Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us; obtain for us many holy priests. Amen.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

I intended to share these photos in May, but we have been busy.

{pretty}


Even though she doesn't like to look at the camera, I think that my little girl is pretty.

{happy}



My tall, little boy was happy to go to the zoo with one of his best friends.

{funny}



My husband and I found this photo, taken by Catherine, on the camera after a friend came to pick up her children. No need to say anything more...

{real}

I always like seeing the polar bears at the zoo.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

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

{happy}



My youngest son is always happy to vacuum the stairs. I wonder what he would do if I did something like this to them.

{funny}



Yes, that is a dragonfly on my son's nose. I am learning not to ask questions about some things that my sons do.

{real}

Yes, she did fall asleep with her hand in the cereal bag. No, she is not allowed to eat cereal straight from the bag. No, she is not allowed to eat in the living room. Unfortunately, my boys broke one of our kitchen cupboard doors this week, making the cereal very easily accessible.

{pretty, happy, funny, real} ~ Holy Week Edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

When I look outside my window and see these English Daisies, I think that they look pretty. However, looking at this photo makes me realize that I have some weeding/grass removal to do in my flower beds.

{happy}

My boys are always happy when their dad decides to shoot a few hoops with them when he arrives home.

Yes, that is real moss that needs to be cleaned off of our roof.

And yes, that is a basket that someone made.

{funny}



My tall little boy thinks it is funny to tease his sisters and his parents. After posing for this photo, he decided to tease his youngest sister with the butterfly. He laughed when she shrieked.



{real}

That is a real rainbow in the sky. Brendan saw it above our house and took a photo.

I hope that everyone has a blessed Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday!

God Knows Just What We Need

I met a wonderful man, today. As my children and I were putting groceries in our cart at Costco, a man came up to me and said, "Do you mind if I ask you a question? Are all of these children yours?" I replied, "Yes and we have one more who isn't here."

The man surprised me by saying, "That is wonderful! I am the father of twelve!"

He then asked, "Can I ask you another question? Are you Christian?"

I replied, "Yes."

He said, "What kind?"

I answered, "Catholic."

He commented that there are no longer a lot of Catholics with large families. I agreed with the man and shared, "We pray that God continues to bless us with children."

The man then turned to my children and said, "You should always be thankful to your parents for being open to life. Be sure you help them."

As I was standing in line to pay for my groceries, this same wonderful man came up to us and placed a box with two gallons of milk on the conveyor belt and gave me five dollars to pay for it. I thanked him and he responded, "Consider this a gift from Jesus."

As I left Costco, the lady who checks the receipt asked me, "Did a man find you and give you some milk?"

Thank you, God! Only you could have known that I was in need of encouragement. Please bless this man for his kindness.