Novena for a Rebirth of Chastity and Purity

This novena actually started yesterday. I am sorry to post it late. Novena can be found here Mahalo to Renee for sharing!

EWTN Needs our help

Mother Angelica Live Classics: Develop an Informed Conscience

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Old statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel recently restored
Blessed Sacrament Church, Paterson, NJ

Flos Carmeli

This is the prayer of St. Simon Stock, to whom the Scapular devotion with its promise
was given. It has for seven centuries been called a prayer to the Blessed Mother
which has never been known to fail in obtaining her powerful help.

O beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful Vine,
Splendor of Heaven, holy and singular, who
brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining
a Pure Virgin, assist me in this necessity.

O Star of the Sea, help and protect me!
Show me that thou art my Mother.

O Mary, Conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Mother and Ornament of Carmel, Pray for us!
Virgin, Flower of Carmel, Pray for us!
Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, Pray for us!
Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Friend of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Our Patron, Pray for us!
O sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!
 

Prayer source.

Saintly Quote - Humilty

"The Many Disguises of Satan"

This article should be read and shared.

It would be easy if Satan came as he is often portrayed, with horns and a pitchfork. We would naturally flee this ugliness.
Alas, he often comes cloaked in beauty, in sheep’s clothing:
He claims to offer us freedom and autonomy from an unreasonable God and Church, liberation from rules and being “told what to do.”

 Mahalo to Father Grace for sharing.

 Article

Catholic Fiction at its Best

Picture source

For a while I saw the name of Ellen Gable Hrkach just about everywhere on the social networking sites. She is a Catholic fiction writer who also blogs at Plot, Line and Sinker. As a lover of entertaining fiction, that fact not only caught my attention but I couldn't resist reading her books. Since that time, I have read three of Mrs. Hrkach's books and loved each and every one of them.

The first one I read was Stealing Jenny. The book was so intriguing that I think I read it in about a day or so. I was happy to read a good suspense story with a strong pro-life message.

The second book I read was a sweet coming of age book entitled Emily's Hope. This book was very different than Stealing Jenny but was just as interesting. I must admit the book reminded me of one of my favorite nieces so I was endeared to it. The story of main character Emily's maturity is very well written. Again, I enjoyed the Catholic pro-life message throughout the novel.

The third book I had the pleasure of reading was a period piece entitled In Name Only. What a story! It had an interesting little twist that I had not expected! What a love story!

For a more detailed description of these beautiful novels click Picture Source above.

All three books are available on Amazon in both book form and Kindle.

I can now add Ellen Gable Hrkach to my list of favorite fiction writers, right there next to Mary Higgins Clark.

Saintly Quote on the Greatest Miracle

Novena to Blesseds Louis & Zelie Martin

Thanks Mary Jane!

Ask the parents of St. Therese, the Little Flower to intercede !

 

 

Difficult marriage?  Family needs?

 

Suffering due to infertility?  Child who is ill?

 

Looking for a good and holy spouse in marriage?

 

Any problems or challenges relating to your home?

 

Pray the Novena to Blesseds Louis & Zelie Martin 

Parents of St, Therese, The Little Flower

      feast is July 12 - start today!

 

Prayer for the Canonization of Louis and Zélie Martin and to obtain favors through their intercession: 

 

God Our Father, I thank You for having given us Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Therese. United and faithful in marriage, they have left us an example of Christian living and evangelical virtue. In raising a large family through trials, suffering and bereavement, they put their trust in You and always sought Your will.

Deign, Lord, to make known their will in their regard and grant the favor I ask, in the hope that the father and mother of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, may soon be canonized and thereby held up to the Universal Church as a model for the families of our time. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen

(Here  mention your request)

 

http://www.sttherese.com/Louis%20and%20Zelie.html

Happy Independence Day America!

The following was shared by Brother John Samaha, S.A.

THE FOURTH OF JULY AND
THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

    Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence?  They were not wild-eyed radicals.  They were dedicated mean of means and education.

    Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

    Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

    Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

    They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

    Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

    Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

   
    Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

    Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

    At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.  Nelson quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

    Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

    John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

    Strangely, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer and cousin of Bishop John Carroll, was among the very wealthiest in the colonies.  He was active in the political struggles of the day and later held Maryland and U.S. public offices.  Though he lost his fortune in those disturbing times, he lived to recover it and became one of the founders of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  Carroll outlived all the other signers, and died in 1832.

    The signers of the Declaration of Independence valued freedom and God’s will more than their properties and more than they valued their own lives.  Standing tall and unwavering, they pledged for the support of this declaration, a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence of Almighty God.  These are the persons who laid the foundations of our nation.

    Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.  So, take a few minutes while enjoying your Fourth of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

    Remember: freedom is never free!  It's time we get the word out that patriotism is not a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

    God bless America!