Tree of Life

         Today we honor the feast day of the three archangels mentioned by name in sacred scripture: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. St. Michael is the head of the heavenly army, the angel that thrust the devil into hell and mentioned in the Book of Revelation as having a special role in Christ’s Second Coming. St. Gabriel announced to Mary the Incarnation of Christ , that She would be His mother. St. Raphael assisted the prophet Tobias in the Old Testament and Christian tradition believes him to be one of the angels who stirs the healing waters of Bethesda . Today's feast used to be called Michaelmas (pronounced mickel-miss) before Saints Gabriel and Raphael were added to the feast of St. Michael. Just as Christmas gets it's name for the Mass of Christ today is for the Mass of Michael.     In Scotland, nuts are broken on the eve of today's feast. Bread is also blessed at Mass in honor of the deceased and given to the poor.      A ple...

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  Each feast of the Blessed Mother is to recall Her role in our salvation. Today we recall all the sorrows She experienced as Her soul was so intimately united to Her Son. Today we honor in a special way Mary at the Passion of Christ and those moments in His life that foreshadowed it. Today's feast falls one day after the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross so it ties the feasts of Mary's faithful witness into that of Christ's Paschal Mystery. We honor Her Immaculate Heart and Her love in a special way so that no matter what we may experience in life we may do so with patient faith. Today's liturgical Color is white to honor Our Lady's purity, holiness and glory. Blue is a traditional Marian color that would be fitting to wear to honor Our Lady or black for her sorrows. Today through October 15th marks Hispanic Heritage Month as well as the final day of Our Lady's 30 Days which began on the feast of Her Assumption , August 15th. Some cultures will eat bitte...

  Hail the Holy Cross, our only hope! We adore You O Christ and we bless You because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!  O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Today we celebrate the finding of the relic of the Cross upon which Jesus suffered and died on Good Friday . Due to being tied to the Passion of Christ, the liturgical color for today's feast is red for the Precious Blood of Christ. About Today Celebrations Around the World Stations of the Cross from the Via Dolorosa The Church of the Holy Sepulchre   Where the True Cross was Found Relic of the True Cross Making the Sign of the Cross   Today's Feast with St. Gertrude The Legend of the Holy Cross Cr...

     "Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother!" -From "The Divine Praises" Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, for all who celebrate the glorious Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she may obtain your merciful favor. 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 Name of Mary, Mother of God! While the Name of Jesus is our salvation we find refuge under the name of Her who Jesus called His mom. “Mary bless our home where Your Holy Name is held in reverence. Amen” A Meditation on Mary’s Name  Litany of the Blessed Virgin  A Salutation to Mary Our Lady's Monogram Celebrating with the Oblates Mary Recieves Her Blessed Name (A Mystic's Vision) From the University of Dayton Marian Library:  Name of Mary Feast: September 12  The Most Holy Name of Mary – September 12 – Sister Danielle Peters Background In 1513, a feast of " The Holy Name of Mary " ...

Today we honor the American workforce and all they do for our country. Today we strive to build a workplace that is inclusive and respectful of the dignity of each and every person. May St. Joseph , the patron Saint of workers be our example and guide.  A Catholic Labor Day Resource Labor Day History and Facts More  Labor Day History Patriotic Resource   Creating an Accessible Labor Force   Supporting a Workplace that's Mental Health Friendly   Labor Day TV Specials Labor Day Horror (Marked with Hammer Emoji) Vegan Labor Day Recipes   Autism Friendly Labor Day   Labor Day Pet Safety Presidential Proclamation  

  This blog post is dedicated to those days of the Liturgical Year where we honor the consecration of churches.  The liturgical color for such dedications are white, signifying the glory of God for which the church is consecrated.  One these days it is good to renew our Baptismal promises, recalling how we are also consecrated to God. On the Feast of St. John Lateran, it is good to pray for the Pope since this church is deemed "the Pope's Church." The same should also be done when we honor the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica as the Pope is the successor of St. Peter. Dedication of a Church or Chapel, St. Gertrude Devotions St. John Lateran (November 9th) “A plenary indulgence is available for the faithful who visit a cathedral and pray the Our Father and Nicene Creed on the Feast of the Dedication of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran on November 9th or on the Feast of the Dedication of Saints Peter and Paul on November 18th.” About St. John Lateran St. John's...

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 Bartholomew  About Saint Bartholom...

     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....