1. Monday
Today was the feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. In addition to being two of the three males (their names) from one of our favorite families, these are some awesome heavenly helpers. From Franciscan Media:
Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.By all means, do not dismiss them. What heavenly assistance we have been given!
2. Tuesday
I took #1 to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to drop off two of the little people and when we walked in, this...
The Divine Mercy as painted by Nikki Bruni. Each square is the face of a tiny baby, lost to abortion, at our local Planned Parenthood. The stars represent the babies saved. What an amazing thing to see first thing in your day. Kind of makes you think...especially since it's also the 1 month birthday of my sweet pea godson. (ahem). Let's pray for all babies today that they may all be loved and wanted.
Today is also the feast of St. Jerome. I think, now that my babies are done, I should move on from St. Gerard and take Jerome as my patron. He seems to have had my temperament. I suppose I'll have to ramp up the penance/sacrifices though.
Jerome was a strong, outspoken man. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being a fearless critic and all the usual moral problems of a man. He was, as someone has said, no admirer of moderation whether in virtue or against evil. He was swift to anger, but also swift to feel remorse, even more severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others. A pope is said to have remarked, on seeing a picture of Jerome striking his breast with a stone, "You do well to carry that stone, for without it the Church would never have canonized you" (Butler's Lives of the Saints).
3. Wednesday
Today, everyone got up early so that we could attend 8 AM Mass as a family. Well, we didn't all sit together...it was #1's first Mass as an altar server! She did really well for her first time and her brothers actually enjoyed Mass for a change. How blessed she was to celebrate today, on the Feast of the Little Flower...a Saint who is often on her mind and in her prayers. We are blessed to have this opportunity to grow in our parish and help lead our little ones to Him.
Taken after Mass when they were extinguishing the candles (she is the shorter one). G was yelling "She gets to blow the candles out! She gets to blow the candles out!" Yes, her birthday as an altar server ;0)
From Franciscan Media:
Thérèse has much to teach our age of the image, the appearance, the "sell." We have become a dangerously self-conscious people, painfully aware of the need to be fulfilled, yet knowing we are not. Thérèse, like so many saints, sought to serve others, to do something outside herself, to forget herself in quiet acts of love. She is one of the great examples of the gospel paradox that we gain our life by losing it, and that the seed that falls to the ground must die in order to live (John 12:24).
4. Thursday
Today as we celebrated the feast of the Guardian Angels, we celebrate our very own "guardian angel" on her birthday. Miss Terri has been with us for over five years and I can't imagine doing this gig without her. She is a friend, a helper and a blessing to our whole family.
5. Friday
We are off on pilgrimage tomorrow (I know...again...aren't there any pilgrimages that end at the ocean? ;0) ) so I won't have time to write. I'm looking forward to this one though. I've never been and it looks like an amazing place. The pilgrimage is Saturday and there are many busses traveling from across the diocese (we can't do the trip in one day). It will be wonderful to have so many pilgrims joining us from the 'Burgh. We are blessed!
No comments:
Post a Comment