Tree of Life

  A plenary indulgence can be gained under  the usual conditions  by visiting a church named for the Saint of the day and praying the Our Father and Apostle’s Creed. The Saints mentioned on this blog are found below, they are listed on this post in order of their feast day ie St. Mark is first.  Saint Mark (Evangelist) (April 25) Saint Philip and James (May 3) Matthias (May 14) St. Peter* (June 29) Thomas (July 3) James the Greater (July 25) Martha, Mary and Lazarus (July 29) Bartholomew (August 24) Matthew (September 21) Luke (October 18) Saints Simon and Jude (Thaddeus) (October 28) St. Andrew (November 30) John* (December 27) Saint Mark the Evangelist (April 25) Who is Saint Mark? The Feast of St. Mark  St. Mark Relics  April 25 Customs and Folklore  St. Mark’s Day in Italy  St. Gertrude and the Feast of St. Mark   St. Mark Iconography More Iconography  St. Mark Artifact Vegan Lamb Recipes Saint Matthias (May 14th) Who is St. Matthias...

     Saints Anne and Joachim, pray for us!  “O Lord,God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.” The Feast of the Grandparents of God  Today we honor the parents of our Blessed Mother and the grandparents of Our Lord Jesus Christ. By the fact that they are Mary's parents, Anne and Joachim would've been deeply involved in the understanding of the mystery of the Incarnation, Our Lady's virginity and Her marriage to St. Joseph.  As Mary’s Nativity and thus her parents are important themes in the initial Advent of Christ, today’s feast is a continuation of Christmas in July .  About Saint Anne About Saint Joachim Customs for Today’s F...

  Each Marian feast day honor's Mary's role in salvation history one way or another. The feasts of Our Lady on this post honor Her intercession by means of  sacramentals  (blessings or blessed items) that She has given the Church. The liturgical color for these feasts are white or gold for Our Lady's purity and glory, Her powerful intercession. Popular devotion to Mary is to wear blue in Her honor. The posts are listed in chronological order according to wear they fall in the year as follows: Saint Simon Stock (May 16) Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16) First Apparition of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (July 18) Saint Dominic (August 8) Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7) Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (November 27) Our Lady of Kibeho and St. Catherine Laboure (November 28) Saint Simon Stock (May 16) St. Simon Stock to whom Our Lady revealed the Brown Scapular is honored on May 16th. See the Mount Carmel section below for more about this powerful and simple devotion....