All saints' day!!!!!!

It's tomorrow, I know, but I'll have to wake up extremely early that day and so I'll just post this now. I'll probably post some more tomorrow.

It took me a while to figure out what post for All Saints' day. So the post of the day would be several facts and stories (maybe some unknown ones) about some saints and blesseds. So...Happy All Saints' day everyone!!!! ;-D

Blessed Imelda: She is the patroness of First Holy Communicants, and she became a nun when she was about 10 years old. Once she told her friend that she always prayed for this blind man every single day, and shortly after she died, the blind man was blind no more


Blessed Damien: During his voyage to Hawaii, he and the captain played jokes on the other sailors about seeing the equator using the telescope, when the line they saw was actually a strand of hair.


Saint Elizabeth of Hungary: When she was very small, she played games with her future husband's sisters, and always let them win. If she was close to winning, then she would quit the game. She loved God so much that when she played ball, she would throw it towards the chapel so that she could fetch it herself, and be at least close to Him.


Saint Catherine of Siena: She loved to call her friends (the other sisters) nicknames. When the Prioress objected to this, Catherine explained that even Our Lord gave His friends nicknames. (He called Simon- Peter, James and John- Sons of Thunder, and Judas Iscariot- the Son of Perdition.) So, she called her friends: Giovanna was "mad Joan" Alessia Saracini was "Chubby" (which was a bit true though she didn't mind it) and Francesca Gori as "Cecca". Catherine got a name too, (the others gave it to her) "Mamma" everyone called her that, even the ones who were older than her.


Saint Teresa of Avila: She and her older brother always dreamed of being martyrs. They would talk about all the time (beheaded, dipped in boiling oil....stuff like that). Until one day they decided to travel to another place that they sure to be killed off and martyred. So, they traveled, and when they finally reached their destination....they froze right in front of there. They began to have second thoughts.....It was getting late...And then there was a cart pulled by a horse coming by. It was their uncle, and he took them back home.


Blessed Damien (again): hehe, here's another funny one: He and some of his friends at school all wanted to be hermits, so they planned out a date to hide in the forest (because there was no desert) to pray and live there. So when they finally got there, they started to pray......but none of them could handle that kind of life for a long time.....one couldn't keep still for long....they became tired and they felt as if the ground was getting hard....and it was getting dark....So one of there relatives found them and they all were sent to bed without supper. :-(


St. Pius X: He called one of his elevator operaters Towhead for some reason.....? Anyway there's several stories and facts about him, but I would like to post a couple of my favorite ones. :-) There were two nuns that were seriously ill (they had an incurable disease), and traveled from their convent to the Pope with high hopes of being cured. After being cured they came back to the coach, but the coachman apologized and told them that he was supposed to bring back two ill nuns back to their convent. It took a while before the two nuns explained to the coachman that the two nuns he had driven earlier were them.


St. Pius X: There was a young child who asked the Pope to pray for him so that when he grows up, he could be a missionary. The Pontiff questioned the child and told him that a missionary was to make many sacrifices, even to become a martyr. The young boy answered that he still would want to be a missionary, and even a martyr if necessary. The Pope knew that God had special plans for this child, so he prayed for this boy. Thirty years later, the same boy was a missionary in China and was given a martyr's death.


St. Anthony of Padua: As young child living in a castle, he did many things a child did: Race with his parents even though they weren't running, run in the hall so that it would echo, drop food down the table during supper for the dog (especially if it was something not so tasty)......


Saint Therese of Lisieux: While still young, her father often spoiled her. Her father continued to spoil her, even after she entered the convent! He sent her good food, lots of fruits, and stuff like that.


St. Edmund Campion: Once, he and another brother were to disguise themselves as a jewel merchant his servant. Edmund was to be the jewel merchant, and during practice they laughingly couldn't get the hang of treating each other as a master and servant.


St. John Bosco: He was like a circus sort of young boy at first. He juggled and stuff like that. He performed for everyone, but he made the fee not money, but prayers. If you wanted to see him perform and bunch of amazing tricks, you'd have to say a few Hail Mary's, or maybe an Our Father....

Update:

Mother Teresa: She (Mother Teresa), was named after St. Therese the Little Flower. St. Therese the Little Flower, was named after St. Teresa of Avila! (I don't know what's after that though....)

Saint Francis: He knew a few people who were saints. Saint Dominic (he helped him), Saint Clare, St. Anthony(they were so close to being close friends!) , and St. Elizabeth. (He gave St. Elizabeth his cloak, but they never met)

Blessed Gertrude: She's the daughter of St. Elizabeth. Before her father died (Louis) and before she was born, Elizabeth and him discussed that if her baby was a boy, then he would study with some monks. But, if she was a girl, she would study at a convent which she did. Blessed Gertrude lived a life very much like her mother's.

Saint Cyrenia: Hehe, it's her actual feast day today. She was martyred with Saint Juliana.

Saint Esther: ;-) I looked it up to see if there was one earlier. Her feast day is on July 1.

Blessed Mary Restituta Kafka

"I have lived for Christ; I want to die for Christ." -Blessed Mary Restituta Kafka's last recorded words

Born in a large family who were shoemakers in Czechoslovakia, Helena Kafka (1894-1943) became a sales clerk, and afterwards joined the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in 1914. There, she took the the name Restituta (an early Church martyr) and in 1919 she started working as a surgical nurse until 1939. In a hospital wing, she hung a crucifix in all of the rooms, but when the Nazis demanded that she should removed them, she refused. And in 1942 she was arrested and was martyred on the 28th of October. In prison, she cared for the other prisoners, and when she was offered freedom only if she would abandon her religious community, she once again refused.

She was venerated on the 6th of April, 1998, by Pope John Paul II
and beatified on the 21st of June, 1998, by Pope John Paul II

Seven things meme

Many thanks to Mrs. Esther for tagging me!

The rule is: Name seven things you like about yourself. :-)

1. I'm Catholic, and attend daily Mass, and I sometimes altarserve when I can. :-)

2. I've got four other siblings, so I could "work hard all day playing pranks on my siblings, and sometimes pets too....Just kidding! I'm so glad that they work hard all day playing pranks on me and Cy, (she doesn't really play pranks on me...sometimes) ;-) otherwise life right now would be very very boring.

3. I can read so many saint books and not get tired of them at all, and I've got a whole shelf of them! I could also read several of saint books above my reading level.

4. Like in Cy's blog, I also enjoy music very much. (but not the weird kind of music)

5. I'm so blessed to have such good friends! Besides the saints, my friends here, and not just the kids, the adults too, (they show their littleness in their own way ;-) ) they show so much aloha spirit and are like ohana to me. :-)

7. I'm able to use my gifts for others. Examples: I make roses out of paper towels that I give to people (like when they're celebrating something). I make leis, shawls, scarves, for my family and friends....and things like that. ;-)

Okay I tag:

um, whoever reads this! :-)

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

"What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He Caresses us, and to be cold immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Thouse who love thus, love themselves too much to love God with all their heart." -Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

After four hard long years of rheumatic fever, Margaret Alacoque (1647-1690) was recovering after she and her mother prayed that Margaret would be finally healed of her illness, and in return, Margaret would be one of Our Lady's daughters and enter one of the convents. Unfortunately, when Margaret turned 19, her mother changed her mind about the vow they had made to Our Lady, and grew upset about her daughter's decision about entering a convent. Then finally, on June 20, 1671, Margaret became a postulant of the Visitation nuns. Several weeks later, when Margaret on her way to pull some weeds out in the convent garden, she suddenly had a vision of Our Lord. She was found kneeling on the ground by the beans and lettuce, lost in deep prayer. There also a time when she forgot to fetch hot milk for another sister, due to more of her prayers, and she seemed to see Our Lord carrying the cross and on His way to Calvary.

Margaret also made several sacrifices. Her family for some reason, could not stand eating cheese. Margaret did her best to eat more of it (she even asked for permission to eat more cheese) , since she disliked it so much, and offered it as a sacrifice.

In 1675, she recived more visions from God and He later gave her the 12 promises for those who practiced great devotion to His Sacred Heart.

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

Sorry, I had to end that because I have to make more room for another one of my favorites..........;-)

A Surprising Relic

God has a sense of humor, as shown by a little-known miracle involving St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the saint of the Sacred Heart. This holy nun spent so much time mediatating about God that she could be quite absent minded. Thus, the nuns in her community considered her "lacking in brains." Imagine their surprise when the saint's body was examined some years after her death. Although the rest of the saint's body had decayed normally, God had kept her brain in perfect condition! The convent has kept the incorrupt brain as a precious relic from that day to this.

Haha! So much for "lacking in brains!":-)

Saint Teresa of Avila

"Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains everything. God alone is enough. There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God's. There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge in the world. " -Saint Teresa of Avila


Daughter of Spanish nobles, Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada (1515-1584) once attenpted to travel with her older brother (they often dreamed and pretended to be martyrs) to another place to be martyred. They froze during their journey, and one of their relatives took them back home where they found a very upset father in the house.......


Um, I'm running out of time, (I've only got a few minutes on the computer) so I'll just post a favorite story of my mom's about St. Teresa of Avila. (I'm pretty sure some of you already know this one)

Once upon a time... Teresa fell off a horse, and came back injured with several terrible bruises. Confused, she asked God, "God, why did You let me fall off the horse?" He replied, "Well, that's how I treat my friends." Teresa then said to Him, "No wonder You don't have many friends."

Before I heard this story, I never knew that Saint Teresa of Avila had a sense of humor! I always thought of her as one of those serious saints.....:-)

Another quote...

Hehe, it's inspirational this time.
:-)

"Live in the grace and under guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who works within my soul. The Father and the Son are with him. Never forget the Holy Spirit; he is the one who makes us holy."

"Live in union with God like Saint Paul: 'For to me to live is Christ' (Phil 1:21). Do everything for him, in him, with him. Love souls and do good works. May all mankind be saved! Always humility, patience, and faith. Mary help me!"

Both quotes are from the diary of the soul of Vernable Thecla Merlo, foundress of the Daughters of St. Paul. I picked them out in a book, Thecla Merlo, by Domenico Agasso. Another one to add to my favorite books list! ;-) Mother Thecla isn't a saint yet, but if she does make it to the list, I think she would make a very good patroness of those who did their best to be like saints, but aren't saints today yet. She did say practice humility! (yeah, I can see the relationship with her and St. Therese;-)) A friend of our family's let me read the book. Thanks so much! I really enjoyed it! (if you ever read this...)

The picture was taken from here.

From a letter written by a four-year-old saint

It's not her feast day today, but here's a part of St. Therese's letter to one of her sister's friends written when she was four years old. I couldn't help but admire her childlike way :-)

I have never met you but all the same I love you very much. Pauline
told me to write to you, she is holding me on her knees because I don't know how to use a proper pen by myself, she wants me to tell you I am a lazybones, but that isn't true because I work hard all day playing pranks on my sisters, poor pets, and lastly I'm a little rogue who never stops laughing. Bye-bye, darling Louise, I send you a big fat kiss, give the Visitation a good hug for me, I mean Sister Marie Aloysia and Sister Louise de Gonzaga because I don't know any of the others.

Hehe, who says saints can't be mischievous? ;-)

PS~This letter was taken from a book entitled The Saints Humanly Speaking, and the picture is St. Therese at age 3 and a half, from Patron Saints Index.

Our Lady Aparecida

Here's a link to a wonderful story I found about Our Lady's feastday for today:

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/mary0005.htm

Mathetes Award

I finally found five people to award! I awarded the people that I think deserves this.

I really don't think I deserve this award, but I guess it's a good reminder to post more about saints.

(Catholic Homeschooled Teens, here's my fake smile and wave :-))

Anyway, I was awarded by both Cy at Therese's Roses and Joey at Catholic Homeschooled Teens.

Here's what it says on the original blog:

"Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) it to make more disciples. I'd like to take the opportunity to award five other bloggers with this award and badge for acting in the role of a disciple of Christ. These five all share the message in their own creative ways, and I admire them all for what they do.
In the spirit of this award, the rules are simple. Winners of this award must pick five other "disciples" to pass it on to. As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for (1)this post as the originator of the award (Dan King of management by God), (2) the person that awarded it to you, and then (3) name and sites of the five that you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ. If you know of other deserving recipients of this award, and would like to start a new string, then please post a link to where you've started in in the comments to this post. I would love for many deserving bloggers to be blessed with this recognition.

Okay, I award the following bloggers and their blogs:

Nunblog,

Religious Life Rocks! -The Adventures of "One Fun Nun",

Mostly Prayers and Writings,

Priscilla, Your Little Friend,

and...


Holy Cards for Your Inspiration

St. Daniel Comboni

"The missionaries will have to understand that they are stones hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of a vast, new building." -Saint Daniel Comboni

Studying several languages, theology, and medicine in Italy, Daniel Comboni (1831-1881) was educated at Father Mazza's Institute. He was ordained by Blessed John Nepomuk von Tschiderer in 1854, and became a missionary to Sudan three years later, but unfortunately, because of his illness he left Sudan in 1857. Then from 1861-1864, he taught at Father Mazza's Institute. Then, in the year 1867 at Verona, Italy, he founded the Istituto delle Missioni per la Nigrizia which was for priest and brothers. Daniel also founded Istituto delle Pie Madri, which was for woman who would work in Africa also known as Comboni Missionaries. He founded several more missionaries later.

He was beatified on the 17th of March 1996 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome
And canonized 5th of October 2003 by Pope John Paul II

Saint Faustina

"A soul who praises the goodness of her Lord
Is especially loved by Him.
She is always close to the living fountain
And draws graces from Mercy Divine."
-Saint Faustina


With only three years of school, and nine other siblings, Elena (or Helena) Kowalska (1905-1938) worked as a servant for other families. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, at the age of nineteen, after being rejected by several other orders, taking the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament. There at the convent, she worked as a cook, gardener, and porter. The Sacrament, Mary Immaculate, and Reconciliation, were her special devotions. Sister Faustina later began to receive visions and experienced hidden stigmata, and soon recording her mystical experiences in her diary. There was a terrible translation of her diary that reached Rome once, in 1958, and was labelled heretical. But when Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), ordered for a much better translation, Vatican authorities realized that it was work proclaiming God's love.

Around in the 1930's, Jesus told Sister Faustina to have a picture be painted of Him with the words, "Jesus, I trust in You." He also told her to be an example of mercy to others, and to live her life in imatation of Christ's as a sacrifice.

She was then venerated on the 7th of March, 1992, by Pope John Paul II,
beatified on the 18th of April, 1993, by Pope John Paul II,
and canonized on the 30th of April, 2000, by Pope John Paul II

Prayer by St. Faustina

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek and humble souls, and upon the souls of little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages.

St. Francis of Assisi

"Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread." - Saint Francis of Assisi

Born in a rich family, Francis Bernardone (1181-1226) was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. Although he did have a good education was part of his family's business, Francis misspent his youth and became a street brawler and a soldier. He was later captured and spent over one year as a prisoner of war. During this time, he had a conversion experience, and felt that Christ was calling him to leave this worldly life. After being released, Francis then took his religion very seriously.

Jesus Christ became his literal example, and the Gospels as the rule of his life. Francis then began to dress in rough clothing, begged for food, and preached. His family strongly disapproved this, and later his father disinherited him. As for Francis, he renounced his wealth and inheritance, and continued to visit hospitals, served the sick, preached everywhere, and treated everyone as his sisters and brothers. Then, in the year 1209, men became attracted to him and his way of life, and Francis founded the Franciscans with papal blessing. The Franciscans were based on a statement by Christ, "Leave all and follow me."

About three years later, in 1212, Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, and later she found the Poor Clares.

Francis composed songs and hymns, he lived with animals, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and gave food to thieves. Then, in 1221, he resigned direction of the Franciscans. Three years later, on Mount Alvernia, Francis received stigmata, which lasted about two years, until his death in 1226.

Two years later after his death, he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX.

Francis is the patron of birds, and often pictured with birds because he also preached to them on one occasion.

Prayer to St. Francis of Assisi

Most lovable and popular Saint, son of a go-getting and wealthy merchant of Assisi, you discarded earthly possessions for the Savior you loved so dearly and you won innumerable persons for Jesus. How greatly we need in our day unselfish and just merchants. Inspire them with the love of Christ for others and with the desire for things that endure.

Amen.

St. Clare of Assisi

"Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me." - Saint Clare of Assisi





Shortly after hearing Saint Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, Clare of Assisi (1194-1255) talked to him about her strong desire to live for God, and then afterwards they became close friends. On Palm Sunday in the year 1212, Clare was given a palm from the bishop, which she took as a sign. She and her cousin Pacifica escaped from their palace during the night, and later on took the veil of religious profession from St. Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, also known as Sisters of St. Clare, Second Order of St. Francis, and Poor Clare nuns. Later, Clare's mother and sisters joined her order. Clare enjoyed music, as well as well-composed sermons. Her sisters saw her as humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, and chivalrous. Sometimes at might, Clare would get up to tuck in her sisters who would kick off their bed sheets. Every day she would meditate on the Passion.

St. Clare is often pictured with the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, because there once was a time when the convent was about to be attacked, but the attackers left after she displayed the Sacrament at the convent gates, and prayed before it. Around the end of her life, there was once a time when she was too ill to attend Mass, but she would see the service appear on the wall of her cell, making her the patroness of television. Clare later died on the 11th of August, in the year 1253, of natural causes.
She was canonized on the 26th of September, in the year 1255, by Pope Alexander IV

Feastday of Our Guardian Angels

Angel of God, my Guardian Dear, to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light, to guard,

to rule, and guide.

Amen.

Feast day of St. Therese!

Sorry this wasn't posted right away. I couldn't find anything else to post for this day. I'm sure that several of you already know the story of St. Therese so I'm not going to type a report about her life. Anyway, I wrote this prayer poem this morning. I wish that I could have added more paragraphs, but there wasn't anything else I could think of. Oh well.
Enjoy and Happy Feast day of St. Therese!!! :-D

"I will let down a shower of roses."

-St. Therese

Dear Saint Therese, whose love for Him is so true,
Teach us to love Him as you did too.
You performed the little way without a fuss,
Saint Therese the Little Flower please pray for us!

Send roses to those who need comfort we pray,
That they may feel God’s everlasting love today.
Send roses to those who need courage too,
That they may be given strength anew.

Send roses to the ones who are afraid,
So that Christ’s peace in their hearts would be made.
Send roses to children that they may hear Christ’s voice,
And respond to Him with the perfect choice.

Send roses who need perseverance in their life,
Especially to those who are in great strife.
Send roses to people who need Christ most of all,
That they may come back to Him and never again fall.

Dear Saint Therese, whose love for Him is so true,
Teach us to love Him as you did too.
You performed the little way without a fuss,
Saint Therese the Little Flower please pray for us!
-CT