Tree of Life

  The Passion of Saint John the Baptist O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death, grant that, as he died a Martyr for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach. 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 Today we honor the death of St. John the Baptist. Going before the Lord to prepare His way, John is martyred by the request of Herod's wife. While John is not a traditional martyr in the sense of dying for the name of Christ, He died to defend the dignity of marriage as Herod has taken his sister in law as his new wife. Typically today's feast is unfortunately used as a means to defend the dignity of marriage by means of excluding gay couples from marriage equality. Thankfully we can see that John was calling out what would be adultery and the corruption of the love and self giving tha...

  Saint Bartholomew, pray for us!  Today we Honor Apostle of Our Lord and Martyr, St. Bartholomew. 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. About Saint Bartholomew Place of Honor to Saint Bartholomew in the Holy Land Saint Bartholomew Iconography St. Bartholomew in St. Gertrude’s Visions Armenia   is under Saint Bartholomew’s patronage and is thus a good day to learn about this country.  Major reliquary/tomb of our Saint: 

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and our Queen, graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom the glory promised to your children. 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 Today marks one week since Our Lady was Assumed into Heaven so we focus on God crowning Her as Queen of the Universe. This event is important as Mary takes on the title and role vacated by Eve. Before The Church retained only the Octaves of Christmas and Easter as She does today, all major feasts including the Assumption had an octave. Most solemnities that have an octave closed the week long celebration by crowing it (pun intended) with a second feast. For example the octave of Christmas is closed with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. While there is no modern octave of the Assumption the 8th day (the feast d...

  The Feast of the Holy Rosary Today is commemorated as Our Lady of the Rosary (formerly  Our Lady of Victory ) in memorial of Our Lady's intercession at the Battle of Lepanto. A plenary indulgence can be gained under the usual conditions by visiting a church named for Our Lady of the Rosary or Our Lady of Victory and praying the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In 2024 Pope Francis has asked that we mark today's feast as a  Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace . Methods of Praying the Rosary A Rosary in Imitation of Our Lady  Health Benefits of Praying the Rosary   Making Time to Pray the Rosary   The Rosary Confraternity The Rosary and October   Our Lady of Victory Basilica  Artwork: Our Lady of the Rosary     "When you pray Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now....., the Blessed Mother comes instantly to your side to pray with you. And she does not come alone. She brings angels with her. And not just one or two for she...

Today we honor St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order and the man traditionally believed to have been given the Rosary by the Blessed Virgin Mary.  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 Life of St. Dominic The Relics of St. Dominic The Spot Where St. Dominic Received the Rosary Artwork: St. Dominic, Recipient of the Rosary Today is also International Cat Day! May St. Dominic pray for and protect all the kitties of the world especially the homeless, hungry, in danger and most in need!

Our Lady of the Snows, pray for us!  “ Pardon the faults of your servants, we pray, O Lord, that we, who cannot please you by our own deeds, may be saved through the intercession of the Mother of your Son and our Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen” Today we honor the miracle surrounding and the creation of the major Marian Shrine of all Christendom: St. Mary Major. We ask Our Lady to intercede for us and for all people affected by weather conditions and for the homeless as this shrine is Mary’s home and She herself by a miraculous snowfall designated where She wanted it built. In this church in the Nave are the relics from Christ’s crib where He was born in Bethlehem. The liturgical color for this feast is white or gold, signifying the glory of God for which the church is consecrated. Today it is good to renew our Baptismal promises and our Marian consecration, recalling how we are also consecrated to God thr...