Tree of Life

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!” Today we celebrate the day when Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Like the feast of the  Presentation , today is a shared feast of Mother and Son. This is because we honor Mary’s “fiat” or “yes” to God’s will as well as Jesus’ descent from Heaven to dwell among us. Today, falling 9 months before Christmas celebrates the Virginity and humble resignation of Mary to God's will. In Catholic tradition today is according to legend the date of Adam and Eve's Creation, their disobedience, the devil's fall from Heaven, the parting of the Red Sea and the day Abraham was going to sacrifice Issac as well as Jesus' death because it was believed prophets died on the day of their conception (due to this St. Dismas, the Good Thief is traditionally commemorated today as he died beside Jesus.) Today is also the day Our Lady of Lourdes said to St. Bernadette, "I am the Immaculate Conception!...

Viva San Giuseppe!  (Long Live St. Joseph, Vee-va San Ja-sep-ee) ITE AD IOSEPH (Go to Joseph, Eat-ay Add Yo-seff Genesis 41:55) Today we honor the caregiver of Jesus and Mary, St. Joseph. As St. Patrick's Day is the day for green and Irish heritage, today is for red and Italian heritage. The red is most likely due to it being the first color of the Italian flag. Although Saints are typically honored on their anniversary of death, which may be St. Joseph's case, his feast also falls close to the Annunciation. This illustrious Saint is honored by Italians as he saved them from a drought that threatened the Sicilian people, having saved them in Spring is another reason why his feast might be celebrated on it's current date.  Like that of His Spouse, the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph enjoys a universal patronage. Not only is he the patron of the universal Church, he has an intercessory hand in all needs. Although there is a patron for all needs, they can all be found as well in S...

Hail Saint Patrick!  Today we honor the Spiritual Father of Ireland and all things Irish as we honor St. Patrick. With the wearing of the green we will all spend ‘One Short Day in the Emerald City’.   (The Grave of our Beloved Patrick) Cead Mile Failte!   (A hundred thousand welcomes!)  Kay-od mee-leh foyle-cha! Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! (Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!)  Law leh Paw-drig suna ghit   Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh ! ” (Plural, Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! ) “Law leh Paw-drig suna yee-uv Dia is Muire agus Padraig dhuit (God and Mary and Patrick be with you!) Dee-ah iss Mwir-eh oggus Paw-drig gwit Sláinte! (A Toast To Good Health) Slahn-cha Today is a celebration of the Father of Ireland and all things Irish culture, that is why we hear on this feast day, Erin Go Braugh (Air-in Go Bra) which is Gaelic for "Ireland Forever!" St. Patrick is celebrated today on the anniversary of his death and is celebrated in the ...