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.

Daily Resolution - Seventh Day of Christmas

Resolution: Today I will speak with someone about Jesus’ love for us as demonstrated through his Incarnation.

Regnum Christi Daily Meditation

Our Pets

Our cat is still missing. What gives me comfort is knowing that Fr. Daren was kind enough to bless her when he was over this past Summer. My family and I are also comforted and very grateful to so many people who are helping us around our neighborhood, prayers from family and friends near and far.

I don't know if non-pet people understand the bond that forms between a person and their beloved animal. The animal really becomes part of one's family. When they die or go missing, there is a big void in the family. Right now as I write this there are fellow bloggers who are grieving for the death of their pet or a pet suffering from a serious illness.

I've had pets as a baby. My first pet was a Boxer named Furia which means fury in Spanish. Most of my pets have been dogs. But I've also had cats. These two animals couldn't be more different. Yet you have to love each of them for their own special qualities and personalities.

Honey our cat is a rascal. When she wants food she'll jump on my husband's back and screech. My husband also taught her how to play fetch with a toy mouse.

She loves my dog and my dog loves her. She has wanted to be friends with our older cat but our cat would have none of that.

Right now, my family and I are going through a very difficult time trying to find this beloved pet. But we know God will help us get her back, if it be His will.

Modern Day Martyrs

H/T to Tea at Trianon

A friend and I were discussing modern day martyrs last Saturday evening as we were debating whether or not to greet Immaculee Illibagiza. Her plane had been delayed to a very late hour. She mentioned that Immaculee's parents were martyrs for the faith. That one statement started us recalling more recent martyrs like the young priest and the bishop in Iraq who were killed not too long ago.

My friend expressed her disgust that the MSM does a good job of keeping these acts of heroism in the name of Christianity hidden from the world.

I am glad to have found that these martyrs' sacrifice did not go unnoticed by the Christian world.

The Greatest Story Never Told: Modern Christian Martyrdom

A must read for everyone.

Nominated for the Pro-Life Blog Awards

Having been really down in the dumps since Honey went missing, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been nominated by DR of Maritime Sentry for the Prolife Blog Awards. I am happy to report that their fine blog has also been nominated.

I am also happy to report that all the blogs I wanted to nominate (and would have earlier, had I not been so busy at home) were also nominated. Just to name a few:

Catholic Fire

Causa Nostrae Laetitiae

Faith and Country

as well as Maritime Sentry.

I have since posted my nominees.

Thanks again DR!

Daily Resolution - Sixth Day of Christmas

Today I will spend a quiet moment before the child Jesus and thank him for his presence here among us. I will also strive in a particular way to be cheerful and friendly to everyone I meet.

Regnum Christi Daily Meditation

Update - 10,000 Masses for the Unborn

I received the following email from Patrick Benedict of St. Michael the Archangel Organization.

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL ORGANIZATION
P. O. Box 41257 Memphis, Tennessee 38174 U.S.A.
PatrickBenedict@SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org
St. Michael the Archangel Organization

December 26th, 2008

Dear Esther,

Hello.

The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization* is now in the process of coordinating the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES effort, scheduled to take place from January 13th - January 21st, 2009. This will be a Novena of Masses offered for the following intention:

For the protection of unborn human persons. I greatly encourage you to help with this effort by having one or more Masses offered.. Additional information, including how to register, can be found at St. Michael the Archangel Organization.

In addition to contacting me about the registration of one or more Masses, please let me know if you would like to be on the email mailing list of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization. My email address is PatrickBenedict@SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org.

Sincerely,

Patrick Benedict
Saint Michael the Archangel Organization

p.s. I also encourage you to let other people(including, of course, priests) know about the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES. The following bulletin announcement may be placed in a parish's bulletin:

The 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES is scheduled for January 13th - 21st, 2008. During this Novena, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for the following intention: For the protection of unborn human persons. Persons wanting to help with this effort may do the following: 1) Ask a priest to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as part of the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES(of course, a person may ask that more than one Mass be offered); and, 2) Register the date and location of the Mass with the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization(P. O. Box 41257; Memphis, Tennessee 38174; U.S.A. or send an email to PatrickBenedict@SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org). The website is St. Michael the Archangel Organization

p.p.s. Presently, there are over 550 Masses scheduled to be offered as part of the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES. This includes one or more Masses being offered in: Australia, Trinidad, Rome(Italy), Fargo(ND), a Trappist Monastery, a Carmelite Monastery, Canyon(TX), Covington(LA), Brantford(FL), Poland, etc.

*The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization was founded in the year 2007. The Organization has coordinated the following: ROSARY FOR LIFE SUNDAY(October 14th, 2007); ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN BABIES(May 3rd, 2008); and, the WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES(October 18th, 2008). As mentioned, the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES is presently being coordinated. It is hoped there will be a ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event on May 1st and 2nd, 2009 as well as a WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event on October 17th, 2009.

Sacred texts: Vatican embraces iTunes prayer book

I told the creator Fr. Padrini that I would post his story here on my blog so here it is:

I'd like to offer this story on my application that brings the prayer on iPhone.
I believe that prayer is Christian and Catholic from spreading. You wonder why you can publish the news and if you can spread it to your friends on the blog.

thanks

fr. Paolo Padrini

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican is endorsing new technology that brings the book of daily prayers used by priests straight onto iPhones.

The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications is embracing the iBreviary, an iTunes application created by a technologically savvy Italian priest, the Rev. Paolo Padrini, and an Italian Web designer.

You can read the rest at Sacred texts: Vatican embraces iTunes prayer book

Fourth Day of Christmas

Feast of the Holy Family

Daily Resolution - Fourth Day of Christmas

This Year it is also the Feast of the Holy Family

I will take a moment to listen attentively to and speak with a member of my family who may not have received much attention from me recently.


Regnum Christi Daily Meditation

Prayer Request for our Lost Cat

We lost one of our cats last evening. It was our younger cat. We have looked everywhere for her. We even checked with the Humane Society. No signs of her and I am heartbroken.

Could I bother you to pray to St. Anthony that she be found safe and sound. She is the sweetest little cat.

Thanks so much.