Year of St. Paul

Too bad I don't have enough pics of him and the right song... :-) I could've made another video (it's really fun!) but I also don't have enough time....

Anyway, here's a few links if you want to read about it... You might have to scroll down a bit for the first two ones.

http://prayerswritingsofacatholicmomdaughter.blogspot.com/

http://hicatholicmom.blogspot.com/

and....

http://yearofstpaul.com/

http://www.paulinelaity.stpaulstube.com/

http://paulinespirit.blogspot.com/

http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_paolo/index_en.html

(Updated:

http://tinyurl.com/6b3pkr

)

There should be more I think... I'll be on the lookout. :-)

Sniff... um, right now I'm going to say Happy Feastday of St. Peter and Paul! today because tomorrow I don't think I would be able to post anything... (waahh)
Anyway, tomorrow I'll be playing at a piano recital... so that'll be my gift to St. Paul! :-D

You could check the blog archives to see last year's post about both St. Peter & St. Paul... It not much though.... :-)

pictures of St. Paul (right one) and St. Peter (left) from here

Blessed Basil Hopko

"I had to endure many difficult moments, which I would not wish even on my worst enemies. Nevertheless, I consider my prison days as a higher education in humility. In prison I learned a great many things, as how to be of service to others in their need. Prison in itself is not such a terrible place after all. What is frightening is the company one is forced to keep, being locked up in the same cell with all kinds of criminals, spies, insane, and some other strange characters." - Blessed Basil

Born among poor peasants, Basil Hopko's (1904-1976) parents had left him at an early age. His father had passed away just a year after his birth, and three years later his mother traveled to America to look for work. He was educated in Hungary, and graduated with the honors in 1923. He later trained at the Eparichial Seminary in Prjashev, Czechoslovakia. Basil dreamed of joining his mother in America and persuing his vocation there, but unfortunately, due to health problems, he was unable to travel. After finally deciding to stay his his native land and working there, he was immediately cured. He then realized it was a sign about his calling. Ordained a priest in February 1929, he became a parish priest in Prague where he helped the poor, unemployed, and students. Basil then later taught at the same seminary where he was trained. In the next several years he had gained the titles of Monsignor (1936), Doctor of Theology (1940), and Auxiliary bishop (1947).

He was later arrested by the communists, kept on starvation rations, and tortured for several weeks. Eventually Basil was given a trial, but was sentenced to 15 years for the "subversive activity" of staying loyal to Rome. He was then often moved from prison to prison, and continued to be abused. Physically and emotionally, his health failed, and was finally moved to a home for the aged in 1964. Although he was kept under guard there and was recovering from a severe depression, he ministered to a group of 120 religious nuns also imprisoned in the home. Unforunately his health never completely recovered, but he managed to persevere in his ministry.

He was beatified on the 14th of September, 2003, by Pope John Paul II at Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

Prayer

O Christ, our Lord and Savior, in Your boundless love for the human race You assured us that "whatever we will ask You, You will do it for us". Encouraged by your living promise, we humbly ask You to glorify Your faithful servant, Bishop Basil Hopko, who by his trials and tribulations gave living testimony to his complete trust in You, hoping to receive from You "a great reward in Heaven". Inspired by his Trust in You, we humbly implore you to hear our prayer, and through the intercession of that Man of Hope, Bishop Basil, grant us (here make your request). For you, O Christ our God, are Help to the helpless and Hope to the hopeless, and we render glory to You with Your Eternal Father and All-Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.

Amen.

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Culinary Meme

I know I'm way behind for all those memes I've been tagged... Sorry about that.

Anyway, tagged by Mom!

1. What food does your best friend not like?

Umm... I don't know, I never asked. :-P ;-)

2. What is your favorite cookbook?

Mrs. Field's Cookie book! Yaaayy!!! :-D

3. Are you more of a sushi person or a lamb person?

Sushi...

4. Given a choice of something fried and salty or something baked and sweet, what would you choose?

Baked and sweet! :-D

I can't cook very well... :-P :-)

5. Do you buy whole chickens and boil them and pick the meat off or does that gross you out?

I run away from the kitchen when mom does that... :-P

6. How do you feel about butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and half and half?

All...m...mixed to...gether? I'll eat cream cheese with spam though! ;-)

7. (Skip this question if you are a vegetarian) If you are a carnivore, would you be willing to hunt or butcher your meat? Or to watch someone do that for you or would you rather not think of it? Or are you grateful for the animal who gave its life to sustain your life?

Huh?

8. What is the most exotic ingredient or spice in your cupboard?

Mmm... hold on a sec, I'm looking up the word 'exotic' in the dictionary... then I'll go to the kitchen and dig it out somewhere...

9. What is your favorite vegetable?

Corn! I think... no-wait, po-ta-toes! Especially sweet potatoes! :-D

10. What is your favorite fruit?

Cherries, apples, and lychee! Oh my! ;-D

Oh... that reminds me, I think I have to prepare dinner soon... ;-)

I tag aaall the teens!!! :-D

Happy Father's Day!

I missed St. Joseph's feastday during Lent, so here's my post for him :-)

Happy Father's day to all Dads and priests!! :-D

All pics and holy cards from here!

St. Ephrem of Syria

"Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom so that we may be enlightened and serve you with renewed purity. Sunrise marks the hour for men to begin their toil, but in our souls, Lord, prepare a dwelling for the day that will never end. Through our unremitting zeal for you. Lord, set upon us the sign of your day that is not measured by the sun.

In your sacrament we daily embrace you and receive you into our bodies; make us worthy to experience the resurrection for which we hope. Teach us to find our joy in your favor!

Savior, your crucifixion marked the end of your mortal life; teach us to crucify ourselves and make way for our life in the Spirit." -from a sermon by Saint Ephrem

Prayer for strength in weakness

Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, you have power over life and death. You know even things that are uncertain and obscure, and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from you. Cleanse me from my secret faults, and I have done wrong and you saw it. You know how weak I am, both in soul and in body. Give me strength, O Lord, in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings. Grant me a prudent judgement, dear Lord, and let me always be mindful of your blessings. Let me retain until the end your grace that has protected me till now.

-St Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Poet and Doctor

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Late Mother's Day/Mary month gift...

A little something I made...:-) It's really late though.... Enjoy! :-D

All pics and holy cards found here!