Novena To St. Catherine Of Siena

 April 29th

 Heavenly Father, your glory is in your saints. We praise your glory in the life of the admirable St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church. Her whole life was a noble sacrifice inspired by an ardent love of Jesus, your unblemished Lamb. In troubled times she strenuously upheld the rights of His beloved spouse, The Church. Father, honour her merits and hear her prayers for each of us, and for our whole parish family dedicated to her. Help us to pass unscathed through the corruption of this world, and to remain unshakably faithful to the church in word, deed, and example. Help us always to see in the Vicar of Christ an anchor in the storms of life, and a beacon of light to the harbour of your Love, in this dark night of your times and men's souls. Grant also to each of us our special petition . . . (pause to pray for your own intentions). We ask this through Jesus, your Son, in the bond of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.

Found this prayer very appropriate for the times.
 
Read a little more about this saint at these websites:
http://www.catholicdigest.com/articles/faith/saints/2010/04-01/st-catherine-of-siena
http://st-catherine-medal.com/prayers-to-saint-catherine.htm

Ash Wednesday

Happy Ash Wednesday everyone! I hope and pray that we all have good and fruitful lent filled with hope, love, fasting, prayer, repentance, joy and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Last Sunday at mass I had a little "AH Ha" moment and realized how as being parents we are a reflection of God and His relationship with us in that as He came down to be with us, and teach us and show us the way, we too are called to come down to our children's level to teach them in words they understand, be with them and show them the way of Jesus as best we can with God's help. The Holy Family and the Trinity are wonderful examples of what a family is and how it was made to be, full of unconditional and sacrificing love. Hope this makes sense and is helpful to someone. :)

For anyone interested, here is a Free Lent Activity/Prayer Calendar.
http://alittlebirdbygian.blogspot.com/2012/03/something-for-lent.html

Hello Again!

I have not had time to write much lately but just found a minute to say, I'm still here! :) It is a beautiful day and a happy new year! Thank you God for all your blessings and good gifts!
I have been going through little transformations and am very grateful for God's great love, mercy, forgiveness and patience with me.
There is an idea a little bird told me about that I am working on. It is about emptying myself of worldly things, desires and anything that is not pleasing to God. I can't say I'm doing a good job of it at all, (mostly because I'm not) but it's something I am trying to grasp and put into practice. Here's the idea: I am a visual person so I literally start by thinking of myself as a kind of vessel, as though I were a jar or vase of some kind filled with things that I have put inside myself and then I imagine taking everything out and just being empty and open. Waiting for God to do with me what He will and fill me He pleases. This is mostly just an idea for me right now. I think about it more and more and hope to spiritually become an empty vessel for God. I pray for everyone who needs Your grace and ask that you please mercifully send us your Holy Spirit to guide us, not as we will, but as You Will.

Come Holy Spirit, teach me what I am, and what Thou art.

I Get To

 It's funny how you can learn great lessons in the most unlikely places and unexpected times. While watching Say Yes To The Dress on TLC one day, I learned an unexpected lesson about being grateful for our many everyday blessings and privileges. The show featured a young woman who was just discharged from the hospital for a gunshot wound to her back that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She was just crossing the street with a friend one day, then bang! her whole life was changed by one stray bullet. Now here she was, her first day out of the hospital, looking for her wedding dress for a life with her soon to be husband that was going to be very different from what she had planned. She said something about how she would give anything to just be able to stand up one more time again and I suddenly felt very guilty for the many, many things I take for granted every moment of my life. Like the use of my legs and being able to stand and walk whenever I want to. It really opened me up to the fact that I have so much more to thank God for with each new moment, than I will ever be able to truly thank Him for. So now, as an attempt to have a more grateful attitude, when I run through the things I have to do or get done each day, I try to say, "I get to" instead of "I have to". I get to make the beds. I get to do the laundry. I get to change my sons diaper. I get to clean the house. I get to make dinner. I get to raise my children. I don't have to do these things, I get to do them and I am blessed with an endless amount of these beautiful burdens.

Free Family Advent Activity Calendar List

I was inspired by St. Teresa of the Andes to make this little Advent Calendar thing. Please feel free to print it out to your hearts desire. :)
My family has always had the tradition of putting one piece of hay into a little manger for every kind act we do during Advent to prepare a soft place for Jesus on Christmas day. This Calendar is a variation of our tradition but gives specific ideas of things to do for Jesus.(and you can still incorporate the tradition of putting hay in the manger.) It is nice because it works with any schedule. You can do as many or as few things a day as you want and there is no one set thing to do each day.
As Mother Teresa said, let us take God at His word, What we do to the least of our brethren, we do it to Him.

I wish everyone a very hopeful Advent and a Joyful Christmas this year!

God blessings and Peace to all!

After reading a book that listed Mary's 10 primary virtues, I got an itch to write them down somewhere I could see them and meditate on them. Here is where I decide to write them, on an old piece of Oak floor board. When I read them, it feels like a prayer and I hope they inspire and touch your heart like they have mine.

An early Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We have so much to be grateful for. God please help us to always have a grateful heart, especially when it is hardest for us.

All Saints Day

Happy All Saints Day! 

All you good and holy Saints, Pray for us!