Our Lady of Saturday

Prayer to Mary, Queen of the Home

O Blessed Virgin Mary,
you are the Mother and Queen of every Christian family.
When you conceived and gave birth to Jesus,
human motherhood reached its greatest achievement.
From the time of the Annunciation
you were the living chalice
of the Son of God made Man.
You are the Queen of the home.
As a woman of faith,
you inspire all mothers to transmit faith
to their children.

Watch over our families.
Let the children learn free and loving obedience
inspired by your obedience to God.
Let parents learn dedication and selflessness
based on your unselfish attitude.
Let all families honor you
and remain devoted to you.
so that they may be held together
by your example and your intercession.

New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

What the Saints Have to Say About - The Holy Eucharist

When you place a Eucharistic spark in a soul, you have implanted therein a divine seed of life and of all the virtues which is self-sufficient.

- St. Peter Julian Eynard

Our Savior has instituted the most august sacrament of the Eucharist, which contains His flesh and blood in their reality, so that whoever eats of it shall live forever. Therefore, whoever turns to it frequently and devoutly so effectively builds up his soul's health that it is almost impossible for him to be poisoned by evil affection of any kind.

- St. Francis de Sales.

Yesterday, on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes.

- St. Gemma Galgani

As the bread, which comes from the earth, on receiving the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but Eucharist, and is then both earthly and heavenly; so our bodies, after partaking of the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the eternal resurrection

. - St. Irenaeus

Surely such a stroke of love should be enough to awaken anyone from the slumber of indifference. Let such a one reflect upon this Mystery and say to himseelf: 'It is God Almighty who will come down upon the altar at the words of consecration; I shall hold Him in my hands, and converse with Him, and receive Him into my breast."

- St. John of Avila

As a woman, compelled by natural affection, hastens to feed her babe from her overflowing breast, so also Christ ever nourishes with His Blood those whom He regenerates.

- St. John Chrysostom

If as often as the Lord's blood is shed, it is poured fourth for the remission of sins, I ought to receive it always, so that my sins may always be forgiven. I who am always committing sin ought always to have a remedy.

- St. Ambrose

Many mothers there are who after the pains of childbirth give their children to strangers to nurse. But Christ could not endure that His children should be fed by others. He nourishes us Himself with his own blood and in all ways makes us one with Himself.

- St. John Chrysostom

Jesus Christ found a way by which He could ascend into Heaven and yet remain on the earth. He instituted the adorable Sacrament of the Eucharist so that He might stay with us and be the Food our soul; that He might stay with us and be our Companion.

- St. John Vianney

The proper effect of the Eucharist is the transformation of man into God.

- St. Thomas Aquinas

Let us suppose that the last day has come and that our doctrine of the Eucharist turns out to be false and absurd. If our Lord now asks us reproachfully: "Why did ye believe thus of my Sacrament? Why did ye adore the Host? may we not safely answer him: "yea, Lord, if we were wrong in this, it was you who deceived us. We heard your word, This is my Body, and was it a crime for us to believe you? We were confirmed in our mistake by a hundred signs and wonders which could have had you only for their author. Your Church with one voice cried out to us that we were right and in believing as we did we but followed in the footsteps of all your saints and holy ones."

- St. Robert Bellarmine

From The Wisdom of the Saints by Jill Haak Adels.

It Wasn't What It Appeared

To celebrate Joey's taking of the PSAT I took him to a local noodle shop. Where unfortunately he developed hiccups. He couldn't get rid of them. He tried holding his breath. I tried scaring him. Nothing...

We went to the supermarket to pick up a can of coconut milk and a bottle of rum. I had fresh pineapple in my frig and I didn't want it to go bad. My DH suggested Piña Coladas.

As we are leaving the store, the bag broke and all the items are strewn by Joey's feet. I asked him to go to the store and get me another bag. He refused saying he could carry the items home in his hand. So of course, mom has to go back in the store and get another bag.

Well, I returned to find my son sitting on the curb with a bottle of rum in his hand and hiccuping. Just imagine what he looked like to others passing by.

Feast Day of the North American Martyrs

My post from last year

St. Isaac Jogues, St. Rene Goupil, St. St. John de Brebeuf, et al. were French Jesuits who came to evangelize the Indians of North America near the Canadian/U.S. Border. This was the territory of the Hurons and the Iroquois Indians, two very fierce tribes and not one to be easily converted.

In fact, these brave priests referred to as the Black Robes, were captured, enslaved and tortured by the Indians. After being tortured and surviving something so inconceivably cruel, St. Isaac Jogues was able to escape and return to France. When he gets there, what does he do? He decides to return to North American. Then he is again captured and this time he does not escape. He is martyred for the faith.

For more information and biographical notes on these extraordinary priests and saints, check out The Jesuits in France

I Want Your Children

Thanks again Sue of Half the Kingdom BTW, please check out Sue's new website which is a long time in the making. The link is on her blog.

I have come to visit your children
And I'm pleased with what I see.
They abuse all kinds of drugs,
and are getting drunk with me.

They live as in Gomorrah or Sodom,
their minds perverse and blown.
I will claim their souls anytime now,
you shouldn't have left them alone.

I am glad you worked long hours,
I am glad you were busy a lot.
It would have been harder to sway them,
if you too hadn't been using pot.

At your schools I have been at work,
making sex an acceptable game.
You slept while I fought to keep prayer out,
To add to your neglectful shame.

You don't seem to notice the witchcraft;
I broadcast on your own TV,
"It's just an innocent program,"
Twitch your nose as they follow me.

Add a couple violent sitcoms,
It's funny to see heads blown in two.
Now your little Tommy has his own gun
and there's nothing you can do.

They're mine and you cannot reach them;
their hearts are cold, hard and black.
I've showed them how to party,
with pot, cocaine and crack.

You have been a tremendous help though;
I couldn't have done it alone.
If you hadn't forsaken your prayer life,
these seeds I could not have sown.

So stay away from the Bible's teachings;
don't listen to what God has to say.
Your children are no longer your problem,
a price they'll eternally pay.

Without Christ they are mine to devour.
Without God, there's nothing you can do.
Today I will take your children.
Tomorrow I will be coming for you.
Sincerely,
SATAN

-Author Unknown to me

What the Saints Have to Say about - Humility

It was pride that caused the fall of Lucifer and Adam. If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is still humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.

- St. Augustine of Hippo

I knew nothing; I was nothing. For this reason God picked me out.

- St. Catherine Laboure

In order to banish this plague of vainglory far from my children, I do ask you and their mother and all their friends to sing this song to them, and go on singing it, drive it into their heads that vainglory is despicable and to be spit upon, and that there is nothing more sublime than the humble modesty so often praised by Christ.

- St. Thomas More

Humility is like a pair of scales; the lower one side falls, the higher rises the other. Let us humble ourselves like the Blessed Virgin and we shall be exalted.

- St. John Vianney

True humility does not make a show of itself and hardly speaks in a humble way. It not only wants to conceal all other virtues but most of all it wants to conceal itself. If it were lawful to lie, dissemble, or scandalize our neighbor, humility would perform arrogant, haughty actions so that it might b concealed beneath them and live completely hidden and unknown.

- St. Francis de Sales

Not to feel pleased at being praised is, I am afraid, what has never happend to any man.

- St. John Chrysostom

In order to become an instrument in God's hands we must be of no account in our own eyes.

- St. Angela Merici

Catholic Families and the Movies

For those of you who know me, I am a huge movie buff. The older the movie, the better. Silents, b/w, foreign, etc. I've probably seen it.

It is therefore wonderful to find that the Love2Learn Ladies have created a new blog for Catholic movie fans like my family and me.

The Love2Learn Movie Blog I mentioned to Ana one of the bloggers, that I am currently working on a list of my favorite movies. When it is complete, I will share it here and with them.

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 68%

You are a total movie buff. Classics, blockbusters, indie favorites... you've seen most of them. Your friends know to come to you whenever they need a few good DVD rental suggestions.

Are You a Movie Buff?

Feast Day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Twelve Promises by the Sacred Heart of Jesus

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will give peace in their families.

3. I will console them in all their troubles.

4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My sacred Heart shall be exposes and honored.

10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.

12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

For more on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, check out my Catholic Homeschooling Site

Feast Day of Santa Teresa de Avila

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa by Gianlorenzo Bernini (my favorite sculptor ;-)

For more on this amazing saint, check out Jean's post in Catholic Fire

Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Picture source: Project Gutenberg

Theme - GRATITUDE

Chris M of The Simple and the Ordinary had the inspiration to start a prayer blog not only to request prayers but also to remember to thank God. She wanted us to be like that one Samaritan, the one who came back to thank Jesus.

One Came Back Blog

Remember to visit the blog if you have a prayer request or if you just want to say mahalo to Him.