Oh Nuts

Even though I wrote a post on this topic last year, and probably one or two other times, I wanted to share the word of the year as well as the saint of the year that I received for 2020. Found on Google and the parish website for St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in TX. The saint that I received for this year is St. Hyacinth, who I have heard of, but didn't really know much about. Thanks to the internet and a quick Google search I was able to look St. Hyacinth up and learn more about him. And what I have learned is that St. Hyacinth is the patron saint against drowning and Poland. His feast day is August 17th. Jennifer Fulwiler, the creator of both generators, shared the links on her Facebook page (and I think on Instagram/Twitter but I am not sure). When she shared the link and a picture of the first page for the Saint generator she added this clarification to the caption in the post. (To clear you some confusion, this generator gives you the name of people canonized in ...

Far into the night, at the coldest time of the year, in a chilly grotto, more suitable for a flock of beasts than for humans, the promised Messiah – Jesus – the savior of mankind, comes into the world in the fullness of time. There are none who clamor around him: only an ox and an ass lending their warmth to the newborn infant; with a humble woman, and a poor and tired man, in adoration beside him. Found on Google Nothing can be heard except the sobs and whimpers of the infant God. And by means of his crying and weeping he offers to the Divine justice the first ransom for our redemption. He had been expected for forty centuries; with longing sighs the ancient Fathers had implored his arrival. The sacred scriptures clearly prophesy the time and the place of his birth, and yet the world is silent and no one seems aware of the great event. Only some shepherds, who had been busy watching over their sheep in the meadows, come to visit him. Heavenly visitors had alerted ...

The other day my mom, two siblings and my older sisters mother-in-law and brother-in-law had the opportunity to visit and pray at the tomb of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen down in Peoria. It was an amazing experience and is now the fouth saint/blessed/venerable that I have had the opportunity to pray in front of. The other three were St. Mary Magdalene, St. Maria Goretti and St. Padre Pio. Taken by me The picture on the top left is of Ven. Fulton Sheen's tomb and on the top right is a close up of the painting of our Lady of Czestochowa. On the bottom left is in the cathedral's adoration chapel where they also have several relics of different saints. Bottom right is information about Ven. Fulton Sheen. After praying in front of his tomb and visiting the relics in the adoration chapel we walked a block or two down the street to visit the Fulton Sheen museum, which was an amazing experience as well. Because they had a lot of artifacts that had belonged to him. Though they did...

As it was said in the shared posts on Facebook posts, it's that time of year again to chose a new Patron Saint and Word for 2019. This year when I did the generators for my new patron saint and word, I received St. Aloysius Gonzaga as my patron saint and Unplug as my word. Photo by  Chris Karidis  on  Unsplash While I didn't know a whole lot about St. Aloysius Gonzaga when I first received him as my saint, I did learn that he is the patron of AIDS caregivers, AIDS patients, against sore eyes, Jesuit students, teenagers, and young adults and his feast day is June 21. As for my word Unplug, it is something that I needed to get since I am on my phone a lot to play games and scroll through social media because I am bored and don't ever feel like doing something else. For New Year's Eve my family and I spent the evening with a bunch of friends and as people left before/after midnight our friends had all of the guests pick a small slip of paper out of a box. On...

"Have no fear for what tomorrow may bring. The same loving God who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.  So, then, be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. " - St. Francis de Sales  Since it is the beginning of the Lenten season this quote is something for us to reflect on.

Back in July, when my family and I were on vacation, we stopped at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help up in Wisconsin. At the attached gift shop I had purchased several medals, with one of them being of St. Catherine of Siena , who is my patron saint. Then back in October, before we moved, I finally attached the medals that I had gotten to my scapular. After a while, the medals started to come off, except for the one of St. Catherine. When I realized that the other day, I started wondering if God was trying to tell me something about the future and my vocation. Even though I might no what God has in store for me for the future,  I do know that he has a plan and that I just have to wait and listen for it.

Last night I had the opportunity to venerate the major relics of St. Maria Goretti !! It was an amazing experience. She came to a church in my area and there was over 15,000 people who came, some people drove 2-3 hours to be there. My family and I were at the mass that was in honor of St. Maria and there was people standing in the back of the church. The gym in the church's school was for overflow, but I don't know if anyone was in there watching the live streaming that the church was doing of the mass. It is a little washed out but I was able to get a picture of the reliquary. When I left the church a little after 9:00 p.m. the line of people who were waiting to venerate the relics wrapped around the side of the school building. The venerating was supposed to end at 11:00 p.m. but there was still people in line at 11:30. Here is a link to the website with the remaining tour dates of the relics. If she is going to be in your area I highly recommend that you go and vis...

The First Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1234) Therefore, most beloved sister, or should I say, Lady, worthy of great respect: because You are the spouse and the mother and the sister of my Lord Jesus Christ (cf 2 Cor 11:2, Mt. 12:50) and have been beautifully adorned with the sign of an undefiled virginity and a most holy poverty: Be strengthened in the holy service which you have undertaken out of a burning desire for the poor Crucified, Who for the sake of all of us took upon Himself the Passion of the Cross (Heb 12:2), delivered us from the power of the Prince of Darkness (Col 1:13) to whom we were enslaved because of the disobedience of our first parent, and so reconciled us to God the Father (2 Cor 5:18). O blessed poverty, who bestows eternal riches on those who love and embrace her! O holy poverty, God promises the kingdom of Heaven and in fact, offers eternal glory and a blessed life to those who posses and desire you! O God-centered p...

The Second Letter of  Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1235) But with swift pace, light step unswerving feet, so that even your steps stir up no dust, may you go forward securely, joyfully, and swiftly, on the path of prudent happiness, not believing anything, not agreeing with anything that would dissuade you from this resolution or that would place a stumbling block for you on the way, so that you may offer your vows to the Most High in the pursuit of that perfection to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you. For Prayer and Reflection: What are the stumbling blocks that keep you from "going forward securely, joyfully and swiftly?" What passion will you never abandon in your life?

I   bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. I  bind this day to me for ever. By power of faith, Christ's incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan river; His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb; His riding up the heavenly way; His coming at the day of doom; I bind unto myself today. I  bind unto myself the power Of the great love of the cherubim; The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour, The service of the seraphim, Confessors' faith, Apostles' word, The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls, All good deeds done unto the Lord, And purity of virgin souls. I  bind unto myself today The virtues of the starlit heaven, The glorious sun's life-giving ray, The whiteness of the moon at even, The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks, The stable earth, the deep salt sea, Around the old eternal rocks. ...

The Fourth Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1253) Gaze upon that mirror each day, O Queen and Spouse of Jesus Christ, and continually study your face within it, that you may adorn yourself within and without beautiful robes, covered, as it is becoming the daughter and most chaste bride of the Most High King, with the flowers and garments of all the virtues. Indeed, blessed poverty, holy humility, and inexpressible charity are reflected in that mirror, as, with the grace of God, you can contemplate them throughout the entire mirror. Then, at the surface of the mirror, consider the holy humility, the blessed poverty, the untold labors and burdens that He endured for the redemption of the whole human race. Then, in the depth of this same mirror, contemplate the ineffable charity that led Him to suffer on the wood of the Cross and to die there the most shameful kind of death. Therefore that mirror, suspended on the wood of the Cross, urged those who passed by to co...

The Third Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1238) Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance! And transform your entire being into the image  of the Godhead itself through contemplation. So that you too may feel what His friends feel as they taste the hidden sweetness that God Himself has reserved from the beginning for those who love Him. And, after all who ensnare their blind lovers in a deceitful and turbulent world have been completely sent away, Who gave Himself totally for your love. For Prayer and Reflection: Clare uses the image of the mirror popular in the spiritual literature of her time. The medieval concept was that one gazed into a mirror to see there what one should become . Does this image speak to you in realizing that as one gazes upon one's truest self, one comes to see the very Image in which one was create...

The Second Letter of Saint Clare to Agnes of Prague (1235) Your Spouse, though more beautiful than the children of men, became, for your salvation, the lowest of men, was despised, struck, scourged, untold times throughout His entire body, and then died amid the suffering of the Cross. O most noble Queen, gaze upon [Him] consider [Him] contemplate [Him] as you desire to imitate [Him]. If you suffer with Him, you will reign with Him. [If you] weep [with Him], you shall rejoice with Him; [If you] die with Him on the cross of tribulation, you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendor of the saints and, in the Book of Life your name shall be called glorious among men. For Prayer and Reflection: What times and places are reserved in your life NOW for "gazing, considering, contemplating," Jesus on the cross? Is this a struggle as you attempt to balance contemplation and ministry? How has your own suffering been a transforming p...

From the Letter of Saint Clare to Ermantrude of Burges, Look to heaven that invites us, O dearly beloved,  and take up the cross and follow Christ who goes before us, for through Him we shall enter into His glory after many different trials. Love God and Jesus, His son, who was crucified for us sinners, from the depths of your heart, and never let the thought of Him leave your mind. Meditate constantly on the mysteries of the cross and agonies of His mother standing at the foot of the cross. Pray and always be vigilant. The work you have begun well, complete immediately and the ministry you have assumed, fulfill in holy poverty and sincere humility. For Prayer and Reflection Where in your life are you invited to "take up the cross and follow Christ? In your  meditation on the mysteries of the cross, how have you encountered Jesus? Where in your ministry do you experience a fulfillment of "holy poverty and sincere humility...

In case you haven't seen it yet there is a saint generator floating around the internet that you can find here . The saint that I was given was St. Paul the Apostle. Patronage: Against Hailstorms; Against Poisonous Snakes; Against Snake Bites; Authors; Cursillo Movement; Evangelists; Hospital Public Relations; Journalists; Lay People; Missionary Bishops; Musicians; Newspaper Editorial Staff; Public Relations Personnel; Publishers; Rope Makers; Saddlers; Tent Makers; Writers;

V.   The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R.   And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary ,   etc. V.   Behold the handmaid of the Lord, R.   Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary ,   etc. V.   And the Word was made flesh, R.   And dwelt amongst us. Hail Mary ,   etc. V.   Pray for   us, O most 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, as we have known the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son by the message of an Angel, so by His Passion and Cross we may be brought to the glory of the Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Oh,  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. Oh,  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. Oh,  St. Joseph , I never weary of 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 me .

I   bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. I  bind this day to me for ever. By power of faith, Christ's incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan river; His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb; His riding up the heavenly way; His coming at the day of doom; I bind unto myself today. I  bind unto myself the power Of the great love of the cherubim; The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour, The service of the seraphim, Confessors' faith, Apostles' word, The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls, All good deeds done unto the Lord, And purity of virgin souls. I  bind unto myself today The virtues of the starlit heaven, The glorious sun's life-giving ray, The whiteness of the moon at even, The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks, The stable earth, the deep salt sea, Around the old eternal rocks. ...

--- 1 --- Though I haven't started making it yet I found a pattern for a afghan/blanket, which I mentioned in my quick takes from last week. The squares have been sitting in a pile for sine the beginning of last week. But I have started making different balls of all of the colors that I will be using for the blanket. Here is the link to the pattern that I will be using for the afghan! --- 2 --- --- 3 --- --- 4 --- Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. --- 5 --- When I first starte...

“I will let fall from Heaven...a Shower of Roses”--St. Therese MIRACULOUS INVOCATION TO ST. THERESE O glorious Saint Therese, whom almighty God has raised up to aid and counsel mankind, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining every need of body and soul our Holy Mother Church proclaims you a “Prodigy of Miracles...the Greatest Saint of Modern times.” Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth...of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Henceforth, dear Little Flower, I will fulfill your plea” to be made known everywhere” and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen