St. Andrew the Apostle

yep, back to work. ;-)


"We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ." -St. Andrew

Andrew was a fisherman like his brother, Simon Peter, and he was a follower of St. John the Baptist. When St. John pointed out that Jesus was greater, Andrew left to follow Him. After walking behind Jesus for a while, Jesus asked Andrew, "what do you seek?" Andrew said that he would like to know where Jesus lived, and He replied, "Come and see." Andrew realized after a very little time that He was truly the Messiah. From that day on, Andrew decided to be a follower of Christ for the rest of his life. But he didn't keep all this excitement to himself, he happily told his brother Peter about Him.

Later, after Jesus ascended into Heaven, Andrew traveled to Greece to preach the Gospel. Later he was tied to the cross, but lived two days after that. Although he was still suffering from that, he spent those two more days of his life on earth still preaching the Gospel.

Prayer

O Glorious Saint Andrew, you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God. With your friend Saint John you remained with Jesus for that first day, for your entire life, and now throughout eternity. As you led your brother Saint Peter to Christ and many others after him, draw us also to him. Teach us to lead others to Christ solely out of love for him and dedication in his service. Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross and to carry our daily crosses without complaint so that they may carry us to Jesus.

picture from here.

Christmas award...

Umm...the picture wasn't working for some reason....but now it is!!! (updated)

here's the original post and explaination



I nominate
Mom, Cy ;-), Mrs. Micki, Aunty Esther (again), Joey, and whoever would like to be nominated....just leave a comment if you like. :-)

Thanksgiving day meme

I just remembered!!! It's St. Cecilia's feastday today too!!! :-D
*singing the veggietales "That's why I say thanks every day" song*

And......I was automatically tagged by Aunty Esther!!!!

It is a Thanksgiving Meme and it asks: 10 things I am thankful for!

1. I am thankful for life!!!!
2. For my wonderful parents, sibs, and friends....and my whole ohana!!!!
3. For the best gift of all....Christ's love for us and his sacrifice.
4. For all the saints, and our dear mother Mary.
5. For this blog so that I can use it for a great use...to evangelize!
6. That my sibs and I could sing endless praises to Him all day.....And that we live on an island in the middle of a vast ocean.....
7. That I could attend Mass and receive Him just about everyday!!!
8. I am thankful for books, books and more books.....especially the Bible and saint books. :-D
9. .....even though I don't like doing it sometimes, I try to be thankful for school work.....but I'm very thankful that I am homeschooled!!!!
10. That I am discerning a vocation to the religious life.....It is the best marriage that any girl could hope for!

I tag any one who reads this!!!!
Especially Cy!!!
and Mom...if you want to do it...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary!

Weelll, St. Elizabeth is one of Cy's favorite saints, so I'll be posting some special things about her since several people probably already know about her (I hope). Besides the other facts I've posted about her earlier on All Saints' Day, here are a few things. Happy Feastday of St. Elizabeth everyone!!!

Elizabeth and Louis (her husband who is also called Blessed Louis) were so close to each other that they called each other "Brother and Sister."

Louis gave Elizabeth presents, like flowers or a shiny stone, and Louis didn't mind if Elizabeth would give it away to the poor.

Saint Elizabeth wasn't the only saint in her family. Her mother's sister was St. Hegwig, her great nephew was St. Louis of Toulouse, her great niece was St. Elizabeth of Portugal (or called St. Isabel) and of course, St. Elizabeth's youngest daughter was Blessed Gertude of Altenburg, and St. Elizabeth's husband was Blessed Louis.

This is probably the most famous story of St. Elizabeth, but I'll post it anyway. :-)

Starting from a young age, St. Elizabeth had a habit of giving things to the poor. Whether it was clothes, food, money or something valuable, she treated them as she would treat Christ (she once had a vision of Christ when she was feeding the poor). Often hiding the food in her basket or a cloth, she continued this habit for as long as she lived. On one occasion somewhere during the Winter season, she was caught on her usual route by Louis. Unwilling to be harsh on her, he gently asked her what was in her cloth. Elizabeth took a deep breath, and let go of the cloth. To their amazement, instead of bread, they both saw fresh roses fall out! This was amazing since it was during the Winter season and it was way too cold to have roses.

Saint Albert the Great

It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man, and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell. If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for "God is Charity" (1 John 4:8) Saint Albert the Great


Albertus Magnus (1206-1280) had a encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary who convinced him to enter a holy order. Against the wishes of his family, he became a Dominican in 1221 or 1223. He studied theology, and later became a master in theology, and became a theological writer. He was also a teacher to Thomas Aquinas. In 1260, Pope Alexander IV made him Bishop of Regensburg, and he lasted there for about three years. Albertus also preached to the eighth Crusade in Austria. He was greatly depressed when his pupil, Thomas Aquinas, passed away in 1274.
He was beatified in 1622, and canonized in 1931 by Pope Pius XI. He is the patron saint of World Youth Days.
Later, he was named Doctor of the Church.

Prayer

Dear Scientist and Doctor of the Church, natural science always led you to the higher science of God. Though you had an encyclopedic knowledge, it never made you proud, for you regarded it as a gift of God. Inspire scientists to use their gifts well in studying the wonders of creation, thus bettering the lot of the human race and rendering greater glory to God. Amen.

picture from here

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

"We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone." Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini


Even as a young girl, Mary Frances (1850-1917) was inspired by St. Francis Xavier and desired to become a missionary, even when other people told her that she was too weak and small. She was trained to be a teacher, but always felt that she was being called to religious life. She attempted to join several orders, but to her disappointment, she was often turned down because of her poor health. After many years of praying, she received a letter from a priest asking her to be in charge of an orphanage that wasn't doing so well. With an uncertain yes, she did her best to keep the orphanage running smoothly. It wasn't easy, but at least she was able to achieve a goal she had so long desired. She was finally able to become a religious! She made her vows with seven other women who were her students before. Not long after, the bishop asked her to found a missionary community. Although the orphanage did close (she worked there for about 6 years) she was also able to become a missionary!

The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The name of the community itself made her excited to finally do what she had always wanted to do, despite the discouragements that she received when she was much younger. She was also asked to be it's superior, but it was something Frances wasn't hesitant to do. Perhaps we would go to China, like St. Francis Xavier! She thought. She was still looking forward to being like the saint she always looked up to. Although she kept her hopes high, she wasn't asked to go to China. Instead, she was asked by the Holy Father himself to go to America. "You must not go to the East, but to the West." The pontiff told her, and Frances obeyed. They landed in New York, and started out with a school. Next, the orphanage. After four months, there were about 400 orphans there!

She and her sisters continued to run the school, orphanage, novitiate, and soon traveled to Italy and South America. She always had this motto from St. Paul. "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me."
She was the first American citizen to become canonized a saint. She was beatified on the 13th of November 1938, and canonized on the 7th of July 1946, by Pope Pius XII

Prayer to St. Frances Cabrini

How much there can be in a name is most clearly show in you who were called Frances Xavier, thus expressing your wonderful missionary spirit. An emigrant to the United States from Lombardi in Italy, you took care of immigrants. You founded the Missionary Sisters and became the first American citizen to be canonized a Saint. Make us dedicated servants of God like yourself and care for the immigrants who need your help. Amen.

Saint Josaphat

"You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the marketplace. I am here among you as a shepherd, and you ought to know that I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for the holy union, for the supremacy of Saint Peter, and of his successor the Supreme Pontiff." - Saint Josaphat

John Kunsevich (1580-1623) took the name Josaphat when he joined the Ukrainian Order of Saint Basil . He practiced severe penances; fasting (until he felt like fainting) slept on bare floor, all offered for the conversion of sinners. He was a great preacher, and later became bishop of Vitebsk. He accomplished much even in his first three years. Many people who were far from the Church were comforted by Josaphat's kind and gentle words, and so they came back. He was also made an enemy to many people, whom they called him "soul-snatcher".

At age 43 Josaphat was attacked by about 1000 people, men and women of all ages. Though after the martyr's death, all (except one) of those people who had participated in his murder converted to the Catholic faith. Josaphat's body remains incorrupt to this day, located in Rome.

Beatified on the 16th in May, 1643, by Pope Urban VIII and canonized in 1876, the first Eastern saint canonized by Rome.

picture from here

Saint Martin of Tours

Here was a man words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He was quite without a preference of his own; he neither feared to die nor refused to live. With eyes and hands always raised to heaven he never withdrew his unconquered spirit from prayer. It happened that some priests who had gathered at his bedside suggested that he should give his poor body some relief by lying on his other side. He answered: "Allow me, brothers, to look toward heaven rather than at the earth, so that my spirit may set on the right course when the time comes for me to go on my journey to the Lord." from a letter by Sulpicius Severus


Martin (316-397) discovered Christianity and became a catechumen when he was a young teen, although he was born to pagan parents. He joined the Roman army when he was about fifteen, and was a Calvary officer.
He was very kind to the other soldiers, and often gave food and clothing to the poor. When the other soldiers noticed this, they tested Martin by giving him a red cloak, telling him that if he loved his friends (the soldiers), then he wouldn't give this cloak away. Martin promised, and he thanked his friends for the warm cloak since the cold weather was approaching.

Until, one chilly day he came riding home on his horse, thankful for his cloak that kept him so warm. Suddenly, the horse immediately stopped, and Martin saw that there was a poor beggar freezing on the side of the road. Martin stopped and thought, "how could I help this poor one?" I have nothing to give him, except this cloak....but I promised....." Martin knew what to do now, he took his red cloak off. He shivered as the cold wind blew against him, and drew forth his sword. The beggar shrunk back a little bit, but with great relief he realized that this man on a horse was cutting the red cloak in half. Martin gave the freezing beggar one half and the other half he kept for his self. A half of the cloak didn't cover Martin from the icy blasts as much as the whole thing did, but at least he was able to help someone who was in need. He could see clearly that the beggar was truly grateful for at least half of the cloak.

The beggar thanked this kindhearted man, and Martin continued his journey back to his camp with thoughts of what his men would say when they only saw that he returned with only half of his cloak. Some Martin's friends thought that he was robbed, and others knew that he was to betray them anyway. That night Martin saw the same beggar by his bedside, still wearing the cloak. He was confused at first, thinking that he had forgotten something. But then, to his astonishment, he realized that this beggar was Christ! Martin was startled, and he heard the words, "Martin, what you do to others, you do to Me."
Martin maintained his life of giving to the poor, and he later became the Bishop of Tours.

picture from here

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

"Make a little cell in your heart for Jesus of the Agony; take refuge there, when you hear Him outraged by men, try to make reparation; you, at least, love Him and keep your heart quite pure for Him. Oh! If you only knew how the good God love pure hearts! It is there that He loves to reign." -Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Elizabeth Catez (1880-1906) was raised by only her mother, since her father passed away when she was seven. She was a popular girl, stubborn, and a girl very similar to St. Therese of the Child Jesus. She played the piano very well, and she often taught children and visited the sick. She had great reverence for God, and had an early life of prayer and reflection.

She later entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in France, on August 2nd, 1901, which was strongly against her mother's wishes. Although she had great spiritual growth, she had period of powerful darkness, which her spiritual director made doubts about her vocation. Thankfully, two years later she completed her novitate, and made her final vows in January. She later became a spiritual director for many people.

Beatified on the 25 of November 1984 by Pope John Paul II

click here for a prayer by St. Elizabeth