A PRAYER TO PLACE YOUR HOME UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

O Holy Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, I choose thee this day, to be the Lady and Mistress of our home, and I pray thee, in the name of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, thy Divine Son, and of thy Immaculate Conception, to preserve it from fire and lightning, from tempests and thieves, from cholera, influenza, diphtheria, malaria, and all other contagious and pestilential diseases.

Bless and protect every member of our family, preserve us from sin, from sudden and unprovided death, and from all other evils and accidents, in the name and through the merits of the most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Source: Seat of Wisdom
FROM: "The Precious Blood" and "Mother"
by The Monastery, Precious Blood, Edmonton, Alberta
Shared by Sue

2008 Heroes of Hawaii

Hawaii Reporter - People who made a difference in 2008

Michael W. Perry of KSSK radio is a consistent voice of reason in local news and politics and his commentaries about local, national and international politics are fresh, interesting and factual. He and his on-air partner Larry Price can always be counted on to lead Hawaii through crisis, including the most recent islandwide blackout on Oahu. Catch their show, Monday through Friday, from 5 to 10 a.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m. on KSSK (92.3 FM/590 AM).

I mentioned KSSK in my post regarding last Friday's blackout.

Saintly Quote - Embracing Tribulations

Great indeed are the advantages of tribulations. The Lord sends them to us, not because He wishes our misfortune, but because He desires our welfare. When they come upon us, we must embrace them with thanksgiving, and must not only resign ourselves to the divine will, but must also rejoice that God treats us as He treated His Son Jesus Christ, whose life on this earth was always full of tribulations.

- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Shared by Half the Kingdom

Humor Break - 2008 - The Year in Review

Thanks to a fellow parishioner for sharing this with me.

Fine Art Friday - Asian Depictions of the Virgin Mary

Our Lady - Korea

Our Lady -Japan

Our Lady - Japan

Our Lady of China

Our Lady - China,
Artist Gary Chu, Hong Kong.

Our Lady - China

Our Lady of Lavang- Vietnam

Our Lady - Thailand

Our Lady - Philippines

In honor of Our Lady's feast day yesterday, today's Fine Art Friday honors her titles and appearances in the Far Eastern part of the world.

Love Song - Angelina

New Year's Day is Not a Holy Day of Obligation in Hawaii

Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Honolulu
Photo by Joey

It may not have been a Holy Day of Obligation here in the Diocese of Honolulu, but the church was filled with worshipers this morning. Father R. gave a inspiring homily reminding us that on the first of the year, we should all be at Mass, giving thanks to God. That is the way to start a new year. Sadly, my mother shared with me that it was a Holy Day of Obligation in the Diocese of Paterson yet only 11 people showed up for Mass this morning. Needless to say, their pastor was very disappointed.

Solemnity - Mary, the Mother of God

Our Lady of Fatima with Lei
Photo by Esther
Prayer in Praise of the Mother of God

Mary, our Mother,
the whole world reveres you
as the holiest shrine of the living God,
for in you the salvation of the world dawned.
The Son of God was pleased
to take human form from you.
You have broken down the wall of hatred,
the barrier between heaven and earth
which was set up by man's first disobedience
In you heaven met earth
when divinity and humanity were joined in one person,
the God-Man.

Mother of God, we sing your praises,
but we must praise you even more.
Our speech is too feeble to honor you
as we ought
for no tongue is eloquent enough
to express your excellence.
Mary, most powerful, most holy,
and worthy of all love!
Your name brings new life,
and the thought of you inspires love
in the hearts of those devoted to you.

......St. Bernard

New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Co., NY

A Prayer for the New Year

Come, Holy Spirit,Spirit of the Risen Christ,
be with us today and always.
Be our Light, our Guide,
and our Comforter.Be our Strength,
our Courage, and our Sanctifier.

May this new year be a time of deep spiritual growth for us,
A time of welcoming your graces and gifts,
A time for forgiving freely and unconditionally,
A time for growing in virtue and goodness.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Be with us today and always.
Amen.

H/T to Leticia

A Novena to St. Joseph of Desparate Cases

H/T to America Needs Fatima Blog

O thou, whom no one has ever yet invoked in vain, thou, whose power with Our Lord and Our Lady is so great, that it has been truly said, "In Heaven, Joseph commands rather than supplicates," tender father, intercede for me!

St. Joseph, be my advocate with thy Divine Son, Whose foster-father and faithful protector thou wert here below. Add to all thy glories, that of gaining the despaired of cause that I confide to thee. I believe, yes, I believe thou canst obtain my deliverance from the troubles that overwhelm me, and the desolation in which my soul is plunged. I have the firm hope that thou wilt neglect nothing in favor of the afflicted who invoke thee.

Humbly prostrate at thy feet, dear St. Joseph, I implore thee to have pity on my tears, cover me with the mantle of thy merciful protection and bless me. Amen.