Sts. Peter and Paul

"Out of the whole world one man, Peter, is chosen to preside at the of all nations and to be set over all the apostles and all the fathers of the church. Though there are in God's people many bishops and many shepherds, Peter is thus appointed to rule in his own person those whom Christ also rules as the original ruler. Beloved, how great and wonderful is this sharing in his power that God in his goodness has given to this man. Whatever Christ has willed ot be shared in common by Peter and the other leaders of the Church, it is only through Peter that he has given to others what he has not refused to bestow on them.

Jesus said: "Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." On this strong foundation, he says, I will build an everlasting temple. The great height of my Church, which is to penetrate the heavens, shall rise on the firm foundation of this faith.

Peter is therefore told: "To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven." -from a sermon of Pope Saint Leo the Great

Prayer to Saint Peter

O Glorious Saint Peter, because of your vibrant and generous faith, sincere humility and flaming love our Lord honored you with singular privileges and especially leadership of the whole Church. Obtain for us the grace of a living faith, a sincere loyalty to the Church, acceptance of all her teaching, and obedience to all her precepts. Let us thus enjoy an undisturbed peace on earth and everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen

"I assure you, brothers, the gospel I proclaimed to you is no mere human invention. I did not receive it from any man, not was I schooled in it. It came by revelation from Jesus Christ.

You have heard, I know, the story of my former way of life in Judaism. You know that I went to extremes in persecuting the Church of God, and tried to destroy it.

But the time came when he who had set me apart before I was born and called me by his favor chose to reveal his Son to me, that I might spread among the Gentiles the good tidings concerning him. Immediately, without seeking human advisers or even going to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, I went off to Arabia; later I returned to Damascus. Three years after that I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, with whom I stayed fifteen days. I did not meet any other apostoles except James, the brother of the Lord.

The communities of Christ in Judea had no idea what I looked like; they had only heard that "he who was formerly persecuting us is now preaching the faith he treid to destroy," and they gave glory to God on my account." -From a letter from Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christians in Galatia

Prayer to Saint Paul

O Glorious Saint Paul, after persecuting the Church you became by God's grace its most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to being the faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way. Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising him in heaven for all eternity. Amen.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Gospel

Luke 1:57-66,80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heardthat the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply,“No. He will be called John.”But they answered her,“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors,and all these matters were discussedthroughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,“What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

Happy Fathers Day!

~The sight of Jesus,

was St. Joseph's sole delight.~

Prayer for Father's Day to St. Joseph

Dear St. Joseph, please help all fathers,

To be true to mothers, sons, and daughters,

You loved Jesus and took the task without a fuss,

Dear St. Joseph, please pray for us!

Please help to support their families like you did to Jesus and Mary,

Help with their burdens, sufferings, and sacrifices like you did carry,

Help them to be strong in times difficult and hard,

And help them to finally acheive their award.

Please help all fathers who sacrifice for their family,

Bring hope, peace and love to them happily,

Give rest to the fathers who work day and night,

Just as Jesus was your sole delight.

Bless all fathers who cook or not it would seem,

And also the fathers that treat their family to icecream!

Also bless the ones who families are far away,

Please pray for them thoughout this day.

And please pray for the ones who went to Heaven already,

Welcome them there with their hearts sincere and steady,

Please say hello, and tell them that we pray for them today,

And please tell them Happy Fathers Day!

Dear St. Joseph, please help all fathers,

To be true to mothers, sons, and daughters,

You loved Jesus and took the task without a fuss,

Dear St. Joseph please pray for us!

By Charity Therese

Feastday of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

~A Family That Prays Together Stays Together.~

Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, hearever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially ...(special intention).

We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever. Amen.

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home.
Amen.

From here and here.

Feastday of St. Germaine

Dear God, please don't let me be too hungry or too thirsty. Help me to please my mother. And help me to please you." - prayer of Saint Germaine

Prayer to Saint Germaine

O Saint Germaine, look down from Heaven and intercede for the many abused children in our world. Help them to sanctify these sufferings. Strengthen children who suffer the effects of living in broken families. Protect those children who have been abandoned by their parents and live in the streets. Beg God's mercy on the parents who abuse their children. Intercede for handicapped children and their parents.

Saint Germaine, you who suffered neglect and abuse so patiently, pray for us. Amen.

Born with scrofula, St. Germaine(1579-1601) was a sickly child and was mistreated by her stepmother while her father ignored her. She was forced to sleep in a stable or a cupboard under the stairs and ate leftover scraps from the table. She was often beaten or scalded with hot water for misdeeds, real or imagined.

As a shepherdess, she spent much of her time praying, making rosaries out of a knotted string, teaching catechism to other children, and sharing the little food to them that she had. She never missed Mass. When she heard the bell, Germaine would stick her staff in the ground and the sheep would gather around the staff, and she would be able to attend Mass.

Once in the wintertime, Germaine was seen by her stepmother carrying something in her apron. Thinking she was stealing some bread, her stepmother ran after her preparing to beat her with a stick if needed. When she reached Germaine and demanded that she would reveal what she was carrying, instead of seeing stolen bread in her apron, her stepmother found summer flowers. Neighbors, witnesses, and even her family were awed at this and began to treat her as a holy person. When her mother invited her to rejoin the household, Germaine refused and said she wanted to live the life she had already.

It is once said that one time there was a flood blocking the way to the church. Some people advised Germaine not to go to Mass because of the flood. Then Germaine prayed to God. Soon, a passage formed through the flood making a way for Germaine to reach Mass.

According to documents, more than 400 miracles or extraordinary graces occurred through the intervention of St. Germaine. Cures of blindness, both congenital and resulting from disease, and the multiplication of food for the distressed community of the Good Shepherd at Bourges in 1845 were included.

St. Germaine is the patroness of abandoned people, abuse victims, against poverty, bodily ills, child abuse victims, disabled people, girls from rural areas, handicapped people, illness, impoverishment, loss of parents, peasant girls, physically challenged people, poverty, shepherdesses, sick people, sickness, unattractive people, and young country girls.

Sacred Heart

Novena to the Sacred Heart Prayer

Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold me kneeling at Your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by Your Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary. I come to ask this favor: Mention your request). To whom can I turn if not to You, Whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? I have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness. Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that You can grant me the grace I implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and my prayer will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of Your favors, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the God of mercy, and You will not refuse a contrite heart. Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of You, and Your kind Heart will find in my miseries and weakness a reason for granting my prayer. Sacred Heart, whatever may be Your decision with regard to my request, I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and serving You. My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of perfect resignation to the decrees of Your adorable Heart, which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by me and all Your creatures forever. Grant me the grace for which I humbly implore You through the Immaculate Heart of Your most sorrowful Mother. You entrusted me to her as her child, and her prayers are all-powerful with You. Amen.

Meditation

Devotion to the Sacred Heart, as we know it, began about the year 1672. On repeated occasions, Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun, in France, and during these apparitions He explained to her the devotion to His Sacred Heart as He wanted people to practice it. he asked to be honored in the symbol of His Heart of flesh; he asked for acts of reparation, for frequent Communion, Communion on the First Friday of the month, and the keeping of the Holy Hour.

When the Catholic Church approved the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she did not base her action only on the visions of Saint Margaret Mary. The Church approved the devotion on its own merits.

There is only one Person in Jesus, and that Person was at the same time God and Man. His Heart, too, is Divine -- it is the Heart of God. There are two things that must always be found together in the devotion to the Sacred Heart: Christ's Heart of flesh and Christ's love for us. True devotion to the Sacred Heart means devotion to the Divine Heart of Christ insofar as His Heart represents and recalls His love for us.

In honoring the Heart of Christ, our homage lingers on the Person of Jesus in the fullness of His love. This love of Christ for us was the moving force of all he did and suffered for us -- in Nazareth, on the Cross, in giving Himself in the Blessed Sacrament, in His teaching and healing, in His praying and working. When we speak of the Sacred Heart, we mean Jesus showing us His Heart, Jesus all love for us and all lovable.

Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God's infinite love. The Human Nature which the Son of God took upon Himself was filled with love and kindness that has never found an equal. He is the perfect model of love of God and neighbor.

Every day of His life was filled with repeated proofs of "Christ's love that surpasses all knowledge" (Eph 3:19). Jesus handed down for all time the fundamental feature of His character: "Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of Heart" (Mt 11:29). He invited all, refusing none, surprising friends and rivals by His unconditional generosity.

The meaning of love in the life of Jesus was especially evident in His sufferings. Out of love for His Father He willed to undergo the death of the Cross. "The world must know that I love the Father and do just as the Father has commanded Me" (John 14:31).

The love that Jesus bore toward us also urged Him to undergo the death of the Cross. At the Last Supper, He said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13)

The Heart of Jesus never ceases to love us in heaven. He sanctifies us through the Sacraments. These are inexhaustible fountains of grace and holiness which have their source in the boundless ocean of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

From here.

Feastday of Saint Anthony of Padua

"The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ." -St. Anthony of Padua


"Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions. But the apostles "spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech." Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself! We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith so our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints and to look upon the triune God." -St. Anthony of Padua

Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua the Wonder-Worker

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find {mention your petition} which has been lost. As least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God.Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

or

Good Saint Anthony, in God's providence you have secured for His people many marvelous favors. You have been especially celebrated, good Saint Anthony, for your goodness to the poor and the hungry, for finding employment for those seeking it, for your special care of those who travel, and for keeping safe from harm all who must be away from home. You are widely known also, good Saint Anthony, for securing peace in the family, for your delicate mercy in finding lost things, for safe delivery of messages, and for your concern for women in childbirth. In honoring you, Saint Anthony, for the many graces our Lord grants through your favor, we trustfully and confidently ask your aid in our present need. Pray for us, good Saint Anthony, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. May it be a source of joy, O God, to your Church that we honor the memory of your Confessor and Doctor, Saint Anthony. May his spiritual help always make us strong, and by his assistance may we enjoy an eternal reward. This we ask through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer by St. Anthony for help of the Holy Spirit

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.

St. Anthony, St. Anthony,

please come around,

Something is lost,

and cannot be found.

-Author unknown

Ecce Panis Angelorum

Ecce Panis Angelorum, Factus cibus viatorum

Vere panis filiorum, Non mittendus canibus.

In figuris praesignatur, Cum Isaac immolatur,

Agnus Paschae deputatur, Datur manna patribus.

Bone pastor, panis vere, Jesu, nostri miserere: Tu nos pasce, nos tuere,

Tu nos bona fac videre In terra viventium. Tu qui cuncta scis et vales,

Qui nos pascis hic mortales: Tuos ibi commensales,

Coheredes et sodales Fac sanctorum civium.

Amen. Alleluia.

Lo! The angel's food is given to the pilgrim who has striven;

See the children's bread from heaven, which on dogs may not be spent.

The the ancient types fulfilling, Isaac bound, a victim willing,

Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling, manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us, Jesu, of your love befriend us,

You refresh us, you defend us, your eternal goodness send us

in the land of life to see.

You who all the can and know, who on earth such food bestow,

Grant us with your saints, though lowest, where the heavenly feast you show,

fellow heirs and guests to be.

Amen. Alleluia.

Feastday of St. Ephrem of Syria

Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven. -Saint Ephrem

Prayer by St. Ephrem

Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, You have power over life and death. You know what is secret and hidden, and neither our thoughts nor our feelings are concealed from You. Cure me of duplicity; I have done evil before You. Now my life declines from day to day and my sins increase. O Lord, God of souls and bodies, You know the extreme frailty of my soul and my flesh. Grant me strength in my weakness, O Lord, and sustain me in my misery. Give me a grateful soul that I may never cease to recall Your benefits, O Lord most bountiful. Be not mindful of my many sins, but forgive me all my misdeeds. O Lord, disdain not my prayer - the prayer of a wretched sinner; sustain me with Your grace until the end, that it may protect me as in the Saint It is Your grace which has taught me wisdom; blessed are they who follow her ways, for they shall receive the crown of glory. In spite of my unworthiness, I praise You and I glorify You, O Lord, for Your mercy to me is without limit. You have been my help and my protection. May the name of Your majesty be praised forever. To you, our God, be glory. Amen.

Baptized at 18, St. Ephrem of Syria, a deacon, helped to evangelize Nisibis, Mesopotamia. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and fought Gnosticism and Arianism by his poems, hymns and homilies. He helped introduce the use of hymns in public worship and he founded a theological school in Edessa. Proclaimed a doctor of the Church in 1920. Patron of spiritual directors and spiritual leaders. 306-363

Test for Dementia

Thanks to Auntie Melissa for this!

Test for Dementia

Below are four (4 ) questions and a bonus question.
You have to answer them instantly.
You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately.
OK? Let's find out just how clever you really are....Ready?

GO!!!

First Question:

You are participating in a race.
You overtake the second person.
What position are you in?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answer:

If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!
Try not to screw up next time.
Now answer the second question, but don't take as much time as you took for the first question, OK ?

Second Question:

If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

(scroll down)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answer:

If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again.
Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?
You're not very good at this, are you?

Third Question:

Very tricky arithmetic!
Note:
This must be done in your head only .
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator.

Try it. Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000 . Now add 30 . Add another 1000 . Now add 20. Now add another 1000 . Now add 10 .

What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.....


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you get 5000 ?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator!
Today is definitely not your day, is it?
Maybe you'll get the last question right... Maybe.

Fourth Question:

Mary's father has five daughters:

1. Nana,
2. Nene,
3. Nini,
4. Nono.

What is the name of the fifth daughter?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you answer Nunu? NO! Of course it isn't.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again!

Okay, now the bonus round:

A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush.
By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He just has to open his mouth and ask...It's really very simple.

Book Review: My Life with the Saints

My Life with the Saints, by James Martin, SJ, is about the author's (who is a Jesuit priest) personal introduction to some of his favorite saints, holy persons, and companions such as: Joan of Arc, Therese of Lisieux, Thomas Merton, Ignatius of Loyola, Pedro Arrupe, Bernadette Soubirous, Mother Teresa, Pope John XXIII, Dorothy Day, Peter, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, Joseph, The Ugandan Martyrs, Alosius Gonzaga, and Mary. So this book is really for people who want more saint friends. This book would encourage people to read more about the saints and their lives. At the end of the book, there's a few pages of suggested books about the saints to read. It is sold at the Pauline bookstore, but to my surprise, it is in the library too.
As the author says in the book, "You can never have too many friends."