In the still of the night, our Holy Mother rests after bringing us the gift of our Salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Joseph, Foster Father of our Lord, protector of the Holy Family, Terror of demons, protect us in this year dedicated to you, as you protected our Holy Mother and our Infant Lord from the evil of this world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
There is talk today, of the nation opening back up, on May 1st. May is the month of Mary and just when this virus took hold of us, I was pondering how long this may last. Mama Mary came to my heart in the way of May Crowning. Corona means crown. I pray this is truly a breakthrough for everyone, to opening the Church again, with the faithful able to receive our Lord again. Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us all
“The marriage with Joseph was planned so that Mary’s virginity might remain hidden from the prince of this world. For the external forms of marriage were adopted by the Virgin, almost as if to distract the Evil One, who has always preyed on virgins, ever since he heard the prophet announcing: ‘Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son’ (Isaiah 7:14). With this marriage, then, the tempter of virginity was deceived. For he knew that the coming of the Lord in the flesh would entail the destruction of his dominion.” – St. Basil of Caesarea (On the Holy Generation of Christ)
As the birth of our Lord is upon us, in the darkness and silence of these next few nights of winter, I have to ponder the beautiful silence of St. Joseph. A good man does not have to say much, nor does a strong man. His actions speak for him. He listened for our Lord, who was yet to come. He held Him in his arms, when He did arrive and he protected Him until his time was done. He gave his life to Him.
“I just asked St. Joseph to obtain for me from God the grace of spending my Heaven doing good on earth.”
via Quote of the day: 19 March
St. Joseph, pray for us
(Painting: Pieter van Lint (1609-1690) — Saint Joseph and the Christ Child )
Also, please see:
SAINT JOSEPH: OUR PATRON SAINT
A Reflection on the Official Inauguration
of the Carmelite Provincial Commissariat in Vietnam
May those who long for a child of their own be filled with trust in God’s loving plan.
St. Joseph, Foster Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, please intercede for couples struggling with the decision to adopt or become Foster Parents to children in need of family, in need of hope, in need of love and help to bring the two together in the love of our Lord. Amen
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba,* Father!” Since we have been adopted, how then can we be afraid of adoption?
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“Whatever God wants” – St. Gianna Beretta Molla
“0 Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to happen to me, make me only know Your Will”. – St. Gianna Beretta Molla
Our family began this day, blessing the door to our home….
20 + C + M + B + 16
Please see: Chalking the Door: Blessing Your Home for Epiphany
The family gathers to ask God’s blessing on their home and on those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.
A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, 20 + C + M + B + 16. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2016 is the year.
Leading up to this beautiful Solemnity, yesterday I was able to hang up a few items in our freshly painted hallway. We had been without any doors on our rooms for a few years and my husband surprised me a few weeks ago, by purchasing some and having them hung. Without my knowing about it. A few days before installation of the doors, “out of the blue”, I decided that the hallway was painted way to dark and needed a fresh coat of white paint. As I informed my husband of the decision to paint, he chuckled thinking I knew he had someone coming to install new doors. I did not know and went about painting. When I finished, he had informed me of what he was planning.
My girls before bedtime often forget that we pray before bed as they are captivated by the world around them. We needed something to remind my girls that before bed, we pray the rosary together. A visual they would see besides my constant calling to them for prayer. We did this in the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
Close to three years ago, I had received a gift from my Formation Director, of a hand drawn Manuscript Illustration of the Magnificat from a Carmelite Nun, from our home in Aylesford Priory. She had given it to me as a welcome gift upon entering into the Third Order Of Carmel. I was in awe at the gift, but I had never known exactly where I should hang it. It sat on my dresser for as many years and I found myself asking our Blessed Mother what I should do. Last night, it all came together…
I knew at once, it belonged above the Rosary’s we would use to pray together with.
A few months back, I was asked to make a Rosary by a friend. It had been a while since I had made one,and my hands and fingers usually didn’t work well with the motions it takes to create them. I said yes anyway. I also told him God willing, I would do it for him. I was able to make one, and the make more, and more and more. Its turned into a beautiful little calling to do this work. Especially since its difficult for my hands to do this, but while I am creating them, I am praying them, and focusing on our Lord and not my hands, but His. The little rosary I had made for a friend, turned into a Ministry in which I have sent them to city’s across the USA, to Africa, Malaysia, and other parts of the world.
All from a simple yes to God.
There are many more pieces that I can place into this story today, but as our Holy Mother did, I feel a need to do also. To ponder them in my heart. Not in fear of how the last twenty of so years of our Lords converting my heart have come together in this life. Nor the journey in searching for Him, but in Awe of the Epiphany.
“May Christ bless the house.”
This morning, as I sat with my family, I started to feel a bit ill. The longer I sat, the more ill I became. The nausea I began to feel slightly, became intense. I needed to separate myself before I became violently ill realizing, truly, for the first time, just how sick I was. I walked into my room and closed the door and sat at the edge of my bed for a moment. I reached out for the photo I have of our Lord in the Eucharist next to my bed from my husband and I’s wedding, along with grabbing a rosary. Laying down, I began to pray, placing our Lords photo on my chest.
I had a vision of a beautiful wheat field, planted and thriving next to a range of Mountains. It was spectacular.
As I entered into prayer of the Resurrection of our Lord, I was taken back to Christmas Eve and the Word Made Flesh. What came before my eyes, was the same Christ Child born, was now raising from the dead in the hands of the Priest on the Altar. What was simply harvested wheat and grapes, sacrificed at human hands, no longer in the world as such, were now alive again, in the Resurrected Body of our Lord from the tomb of death, to Life. Living Flesh and Blood.
As I continued on in prayer, so also, did the vision. I seen a Magnificent Chalice, surrounded by Glorious light and our Lord in the Eucharist, was a small Child conceived in the womb which was actually the Host. Raised in glorious spender on the Altar. My thoughts were taken to the Slaughter Of The Innocence, which continues today. As each grain of Wheat representing once a Child in the Womb, is cut down before the Harvest on a day our Lord only knows. Before the full manifestation in the world. We are created in the image of God. As our Lord Christ, was also, Innocent and slaughtered, overcoming.
I finished praying the Glorious Mysteries, and knew I had to write this down. As I lay in bed, and wait in prayer, the nausea has passed, my color is returning and find myself in peace once again. As I ponder the unknown illness and how it is effecting me, I can only assume that the evil one has failed again, thanks to the Rosary of Mama Mary and our Lord.
I pray on this feast day of the Holy Family, that we no longer, in any way, support the Slaughter of the Innocence, through abortion, euthanasia or any means not by the hands of our Lord Himself.
Praise, glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever.
“Be subject to one another
out of reverence for Christ”
(Ephesians 5:21)
Today is the feast of the Holy Family. Although my family is not “perfect”, it is one that our Lord has placed me into, to work for Him, under all circumstances, no matter how hard, as He is the true head of the Family, through the Sacrament of Marriage.
From this mornings Feast of the Holy Family – December 27, 2015 from Vatican Radio
Life Messages: 1) We need to learn lessons from the Holy Family: The Church today, encourages us to look to the Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for inspiration, example and encouragement. They were a model family in which both parents worked hard, helped each other, understood and accepted each other, and took good care of their Child so that He might grow up not only in human knowledge but also as a Child of God. Jesus brought holiness to the family of Joseph and Mary as Jesus brings us holiness by embracing us in His family.
2) Marriage: a Sacrament of holiness. The Feast of the Holy Family reminds us that, as the basic unit of the universal Church, each family is called to holiness. In fact, Jesus Christ has instituted two Sacraments in His Church to make society holy – the Sacrament of priesthood and the Sacrament of marriage. Through the Sacrament of marriage, Jesus sanctifies not only the spouses but also the entire family. The husband and wife attain holiness when they discharge their duties faithfully, trusting in God, and drawing on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through personal and family prayer, meditative reading of the Bible, and devout participation in Holy Mass.
3) We need to make the family a confessional rather than a courtroom. A senior Judge of the Supreme Court congratulated the bride and groom in a marriage with a pertinent piece of advice: “See that you never convert your family into a courtroom; instead let it be a confessional. If the husband and wife start arguing like attorneys in an attempt to justify their behavior, their family becomes a court of law and nobody wins. On the other hand, if the husband and the wife — as in a confessional — are ready to admit their faults and try to correct them, the family becomes a heavenly one.”
4) Let us extend the boundaries of our family: The homeless man or woman today in the streets of big cities, fighting the vagaries of weather, is part of our family. The drug addict in a den, or living in fear and aloneness this day, is member of our family. The sick person, dying, alone, dirty and maybe even obnoxious, is a member of our family. The person sitting in the prison cell for whatever reason is also a child of God, and as such, according to St. John, is a member of our family. All these, as well as the cherished intimate members of our family, are “family valuables,” and, as such, are worthy of safekeeping and reverence.
Please read more at the link above
Prayers for all men today, to see the importance of St. Joseph in your lives.
Very important read we should all ponder today. From Saint John Paul II –
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II
ON THE PERSON AND MISSION OF
SAINT JOSEPH
IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND OF THE CHURCHTo Bishops
To Priests and Deacons
To Men and Women Religious
And to all the Lay FaithfulINTRODUCTION
1. “Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife” (cf. Mt 1 :24).
Inspired by the Gospel, the Fathers of the Church from the earliest centuries stressed that just as St. Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing,(1) he likewise watches over and protects Christ’s Mystical Body, that is, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model.
On the occasion of the centenary of Pope Leo XIII’s Encyclical Epistle Quamquam Pluries,(2) and in line with the veneration given to St. Joseph over the centuries, I wish to offer for your consideration, dear brothers, and sisters, some reflections concerning him “into whose custody God entrusted his most precious treasures.”(3) I gladly fulfill this pastoral duty so that all may grow in devotion to the Patron of the Universal Church and in love for the Savior whom he served in such an exemplary manner.
In this way the whole Christian people not only will turn to St. Joseph with greater fervor and invoke his patronage with trust, but also will always keep before their eyes his humble, mature way of serving and of “taking part” in the plan of salvation.(4)
I am convinced that by reflection upon the way that Mary’s spouse shared in the divine mystery, the Church – on the road towards the future with all of humanity – will be enabled to discover ever anew her own identity within this redemptive plan, which is founded on the mystery of the Incarnation.
This is precisely the mystery in which Joseph of Nazareth “shared” like no other human being except Mary, the Mother of the Incarnate Word. He shared in it with her; he was involved in the same salvific event; he was the guardian of the same love, through the power of which the eternal Father “destined us to be his sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph 1:5).
We start the fourth week of Advent tonight.. Its time..
Time to finish the journey back into the “town” of our birth, to be counted among the “faithful”.
St Joseph, pray for us that we carry with us always, love, hope, faith and joy, and share the gifts we receive from our Lord with everyone on the road back home, as the route of repentance we now take is much different then the route we took to encounter our Infant Lord, laying in the arms of our Virgin Mother Mary. That we may give the glory to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Three eternally in one, for all time and eternity. Amen
My daughter, who is only 8 years old always seems to ask me questions that are just so amazing about the faith, because they are so innocent. Most times, leaving me in a deep state of wonder. The latest question, is no different.
Her question to me was this: “Mommy? What was Baby Jesus first word?”
It set me off on a road of very deep pondering and contemplation of the relationship between our Infant Lord and our Holy Mother. I don’t ever want to leave this place where my daughter brought my thoughts.
As I thought of it deeply, it wasn’t until my girls and I set out tonight to the store that I simply asked Mama Mary out loud in prayer with my girls. Before the final word left my lips, an answer came to my heart.
Mama Mary, being full of grace and humility would never have taught our Lord to say Mama first, just as today she does not seek any glory for herself but only for Him. Abba! Came to my heart..
Glory to God in the highest…
EDIT TO ADD from my Facebook Page:
Whatever the normal first word uttered by any baby in the first century area around Bethlehem, in Aramaic, was probably the first word spoken, most probably related to mother and father. His perfect humanity is in the commonness which he shares with all of us in our infancy. That is the beauty of that humanity as is the look of love between mother and child as “she wrapped in him swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.” That gaze of love rests in the heart of our Christmas celebration in Gift Given, Gift Received, Gift Shared. But since he is the Word-made-Flesh, he IS the First Word. A powerful question which leads to the simple Beauty and Goodness which draws us anew to the manger. – Fr. John P Mack Jr
St Joseph Cathedral, yesterday at the close of the Tour of the Seven Church walk. You can see, it was a successful day! The above photo is all the participants in the walk from Our Lady of the Rosary to St Joseph in Eucharist Procession which ended with Benediction.
Yesterdays Tour to the Seven Churches, Fortnight For Freedom prayer walk in opposition to the HHS Mandate was put together by the Brothers of the Little Oratory and myself in very little time, proving to be one great blessing for our Lord. I never expected this many souls to participate. Than you Lord Jesus Christ and Mama Mary. It was a miraculous day! We began at St. Patrick Catholic Church in San Diego at 7:30 AM for Mass. Our walkers were blessed and off we went.
We covered 10.75 miles of San Diego. Walking through neighborhoods with many diverse groups of people.
Setting off from St. Patrick’s in the North Park area of San Diego and headed to St. Didacus Catholic Church on the other side of North Park.
A few blocks from St. Didacus, even the fire trucks were bowing to our Holy Mother.
From St. Didacus, after a beautiful welcome and break in the parish hall, we set out for St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Finally reaching St. John the Evangelist
I have to say, there was one amazing woman on this walk. She walked the entire distance and is eight months pregnant. She finished the entire walk without any complications, I am happy to say. May God bless that family and protect all the unborn.
From St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church we were off to St. Vincent De Paul on the other side of the Mission Hills area of San Diego.
Arriving at St Vincent De Paul! Only three churches left in the penance walk!
Off again! This time to Immaculate Conception in Old Town. Something I do have to share. Rather then walking the entire distance, We needed someone to carry water, people and supply’s who ran into trouble on the walk and that person was me. I ended up driving the entire route but keeping watch like a guardian angel. Being a runner with water and serving these fantastic souls. What was special, is not having ANY problem finding a parking place at any stop! Divine Providence is miraculous thing! Thank you Lord!
Walking to Old Town through Mission Hills.
Arriving in Old Town, just in back of Immaculate Conception.
In EVERY church we came to, we were able to stop in most of them and pray in front of the Tabernacle and were greeted by many Catholic Priests at every stop.
At Immaculate Conception, the statue of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pray for us!
After leaving Immaculate Conception we headed down San Diego Street to El Campo Santo Cemetery.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the holy souls in purgatory rest in peace. Amen
After the prayers at El Campo Santo Cemetery, prayer all the way to Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy.
When we arrived at Our Lady of The Rosary in Little Italy, we were met with more participants. I had never been inside of the church and found it just BEAUTIFUL!
Viva Cristo Rey!
For the most part of the walk, we had about 20 to 30 active souls for the entire journey. When we arrived at OLR, close to 200 souls were added.
Were had a few moments to catch our breath, rest and take it easy. The Brothers of the Little Oratory were able to put on their red robes and get ready for the last leg of the walk. We prayed inside before leaving.
As we left, I was in awe. The length of the procession and the amount of souls participating could have stretched the five blocks to St Joseph Cathedral.
Arriving at St Joseph for Benediction
And a big Thank You to all! May God bless us and have mercy on us all! May our Leaders hearts be converted back to the understanding that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. May this nation end the practice of abortion immediately and understand that all life is the most precious gift from God. May this nation wake up and run back home to her first Love, being our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the Sacred Heart of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thank you Lord! Thank you Abba Father! Thank you Most Holy Spirit! Thank you Mama Mary!
This is not the end…but only the beginning.
The successful marriage:
In pondering, or, thinking deeply about St. Josephs role in the lives of Mary & Jesus, I couldn’t help but write today about The Surrogate Spouse.
St Joseph provided for Mary & Jesus, the earthly needs along with the spiritual needs, to his ability, and was head of the household in the world. He was a carpenter, who in his day, earned a living and provided a home for Mama Mary and the Child Jesus. Although the Holy Spirit is the true spouse of Mary, through the union of providing her with THE Son, The Surrogate Spouse was needed to provide for the needs in other ways. Companionship comes to mind. The need for him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. The need to provide for food and shelter and someone to be there as a protector from the world. But a companion who also shared the faith in God. I couldn’t see Mary being a working mother in the sense of having to ditch her motherly duty’s to provide for herself and the Son. Placing oneself in the working world, places more temptations on the soul, that I don’t believe God wanted her exposed to.
Although the Holy Family shared a household, the true bond that was the center of their lives, was God. Mary, spouse of the Holy Spirit in all her humility, did everything for God and St. Joseph because of his faith, tasted the harvest along with the rest of us. Meaning, her deep love for God drew her into a deeper humility with every action she performed. Every work of her hand, changing diapers, cleaning, holding the Child, feeding, teaching, came from being obedient to God, and was contributing to the relationship of Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
How do we make our marriage with our spouse in this world successful?
Know that our Lord is the Spouse of your soul. If everything is done for Him, and you are in love with Him, every relationship you have in life, will be born in humility and love for Him. If the union of two, is not tied to the Third (God) and the Third placed above the two, the union becomes tiresome. The union of the two becomes easily led astray. Nit picking about everything become yelling and screaming with that comes deaf ears and selfishness. Followed by divorce of self from the relationship.
When God is the focus, love is unending as God is the powerhouse where love is generated from to share with each other. Therefore forgiveness comes from the Creator and it is much easier then for the two, to offer it to each other. Life becomes much more easy and less burdensome when everything you do, you do for God.
Your relationship with others stems from your relationship with God who seeks a personal relationship with you first. He is your first love. He gave you life. When He is made The Spouse in your marriage, and your spouse becomes the Surrogate and I do NOT in any way mean by the flesh, you come to understand He is the only one who knows whats in your heart and where your efforts to love more are coming from and going to. Even when they are overlooked by your spouse, you know He knows and you are satisfied. Love is never wasted when placed back in the hands of God. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Imagine your a 14 year old girl. An angel appears and you agree to do something you don’t understand, because it was asked of you from God… Your entire life has been plotted out from that moment on. Day after day. Second after second, because you were told everything that was going to happen to you in advance. Although at times, you can not recall the events, until they are happening, or have passed. As it is happening, you can only keep your composure, and work through the pain and agonize, because it is for God’s glory. Thank you most Holy Mother Mary…for saying yes.
Now in the sixth month, the archangel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For everything spoken by God is possible.” Mary said, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.
Peg Pondering Again 