My friend Rosebud pulled my bacon out of the fire! Children of Medjugorje web site is down and I've always gotten my list of saints from them, but MaryTV came through with a beautiful compilation. I usually make about 4baskets full and place them in the vestibule on New Years Eve in keeping with St Faustina's tradition. After a brief prayer to the Holy Spirit you rummage around until you find the " correct" saint. That saint has actually selected you and will be an intercession companion for the coming year. If you can't find a basket you can go yo MaryTV and scroll down the list with eyes closed stopping at the appropriate saint. It's fun, don't miss this opportunity for heavenly assistance.
I did it! Blessed Mariam of Bethlehem(August 26th)“Little Lambs, do not be afraid of God! Call on God alone and entrust yourself to Him and do not be afraid. Jesusis madly in love with Man”Pray for the liberation of those who are under the power of darkness
Saint Dominic (celebrated on 8 August)"My God, what will become of sinners? My God, have mercy on sinners!"Intercede for hardened hearts.
I forgot to mention that there's homework involved. This is an invitation to learn more about the saint and always there is a very deep connection with you...you just have to uncover it.
Wow- Favorite prayer Holy Spirit, inspire me. Love of God, consume me. Along the true road, lead me. Mary, my good mother, look down upon me. With Jesus, bless me. From all evil, all illusion, all danger, preserve me. Amen. you cannot imagine what connections we have...I am just amazed and excited to have her as a prayer partner this year!! Blessed Mariam Baouardy -The Lily of Palestine Extraordinary Mystic, Stigmatic and Victim Soul (1846-1878) The Little Arab Who was she? Mariam Baouardy was a child of Galilee, Palestine. Her family originated in Damascus, Syria. They were Christians of the Melkite Greek-Catholic Rite, descendants of the Archeparchy of Antioch, the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. The Baouardy lived in the hill country of upper Galilee. Her father, Giries (George) Baouardy, came from Horfesch, Palestine; her mother, Mariam Shahine, came from Tarshiha, Palestine. Both villages were populated by Druse, Sunni Muslims, and Christians’ Arabs. They were folk of very modest means. Mariam bore her husband 12 sons; none survived their infancy to the great sorrow of their parents. Mariam, devoted to the Virgin Mary, prayed for a daughter. She prevailed upon her husband to travel to Bethlehem and there to beseech the Mother of God for a girl-child. They did so. At the Grotto of the Nativity of Jesus they poured out their request in prayer. They then returned to Galilee and their home in Ibillin. On January 5, 1846, the eve of the Epiphany, an infant daughter was born. Ten days later in the local Melkite Church she received Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. She was named after the Virgin and called, Mariam. Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified was born at Abellin in Galilee on the 5 January 1846 and at baptism was given the name Miriam meaning Mary. Her parents were George and Mary Baouardy who belonged to the Greek-Melkite Catholic Rite. Baouardy means a man of powder which was what her father manufactured Miriam’s parents died before she was three years old. A paternal uncle who lived in Abellin took charge of Miriam and treated her as his daughter. At about the age of twelve Miriam moved with her uncle and family to Alexandria in Egypt. After many experiences she found work in Marseille, France, in 1863. Four years later Miriam entered the Discalced Carmelites at Pau in France and was given the name Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified. She went with the founding group to establish the Carmel of Mangalore in India, in 1870. It was there in Mangalore that Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified made her profession. She returned to France in 1872. Three years later she went to the Holy Land where she built a monastery in Bethlehem and began the planning for another at Nazareth. Before leaving for Bethlehem Sister Mary persuaded Mgr. Lacroix, Bishop of Bayonne, to send the rule of the Priests of Bétharram to Rome for recognition, something he refused to do for St. Michael Garicoits their founder. Sister Mary was also instrumental in obtaining the permission for the Betharram Community to work in the Holy Land and be chaplains to the Carmel at Bethlehem. Noted for her supernatural gifts, her devotion to the Holy Spirit, a great love for the Church and the Pope, she died at Bethlehem in 1878. Pope John Paul II declared Miriam Blessed on 13 November 1983. The feast-day of Blessed Miriam is on 25 August.
St. Katharine Drexel, Virgin and FoundressMarch 3rd“And here is the passive way – to be filled unto the fullness of God. The passive way – I abandon myself to it, not ina multiplicity of trials, extraordinary penances accomplished, practices of great works – but in peacefulabandonment to the tenderness of Jesus, which I must try to imitate, and by being in constant union with his meekand humble heart.Pray for receptivity to Christ.
You'll often hear me quoting to my children, "I'll never be two things --thin or passive. Therefore I am at peace with that. Now Jesus is asking me to be kind and gentle....I need to learn how to speak the truth in love and then keep my big mouth shut! God give me grace! How hard is this going to be for you Rain, and what connection do you think you have with St. Katherine??
This afternoon I worked for a couple hours more getting the saints cut and folded and in the baskets readying for delivery for the church. I found the church empty, I had him all to myself. My plan was to select my saint after Holy Communion at Mass but felt I was to choose right then. I stuck in my thumb and pulled out a plumb.. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. " The more we are united with God, the more eager we will be to love and serve the poor with our whole heart." Pray to serve the poor with joy. I cried.
I don't do meek and humble very well - always a struggle. As for our connection, we're both Americans. Other than that nothing really pops out at me. She was born into a wealthy family and gave away millions of dollars. I was born into a working-class family and money has always been tight. She is the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropists. I'm a homebody and not much of an activist. We share the cross though, but sooner or later, I think that can be said of all Christians.
My family and I have "chosen" a protector saint for 4 years now. In the past, we have often ended up with well-known "heavy hitters" (i.e., St. Joseph, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, St. Rose of Lima, St. Dominic Savio, etc...). This year we got more of an eclectic bunch, but we all look forward to learning more about them: Me- St. Margaret of Scotland Wife- St. Peter Chanel Daughter, 10- Blessed Charles de Foucald Daughter, 7- St. Gianna Molla Happy New Year to all- my God's blessings abound in your lives and His peace be in your hearts!
Saint Catherine of Genoa - mystic, wife, hospital director - celebrated September 15th “Dear children, I ask you to pray every day for the souls in Purgatory. In this way you too will acquire intercessors who will be able to help you in life” (message of Mary in Medjugorje) Pray for the souls in purgatory
I finally got around to picking a saint for this year at the MaryTV site. Just shut my eyes and scrolled down and heard stop, go back up and then stop. It was St. Catherine Laboure. I had read a lot about this humble saint and always loved her and felt an immediate connection with her in prayer afterwards. I was a little doubtful about all this, even though the experience seemed very powerful. I was still wondering about it when I clicked on this site and was waiting for the site to come up and I don't remember hitting anything but the last page of the Marian apparition forum came up with a post at the top by Padraig called our Lady at the Rue De Bac, a beautiful post about St. Catherine and the apparitions of the miraculous medal. I think St. Catherine let me know that she did pick me. http://motheofgod.com/threads/our-lady-at-the-rue-de-bac.86 O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and for those who do not, especially enemies of the church, those who are far from God's love and those who have petitions put forth before thee. View attachment 778
When I originally read this thread, I was thinking how much I would like to have Blessed Jacinta as a protector saint in 2013 and, using my iPad, I quickly scrolled down and randomly placed my finger on the screen and it stopped squarely on her name! It gets better though: each of my three oldest children randomly chose protector saints (using the same process that I did) and they all landed on a saint who shared their name. My son Jon received St. John Vianney, my daughter, Elizabeth received St. Elizabeth of the Most Holy Trinity, and my daughter Mary received St. Faustina whose first name was Mary. My wife by the way, name Monica, received Augustine (which is pretty interesting also given the fact that St. Monica was St. Augustine's mother). Just thought I'd share....
The same thing is happening at my parish. It's been nearly 2 wks since the saint baskets were put out and people are coming up to me to tell their story of how this saint who selected them fit squarely in their lives. What joy!
Rain, Great line, though "I think" best be left behind. The cross is in our job description! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
