Tree of Life

        Today we honor the Mother of God being dedicated to God at Her Presentation in the Temple. Today's feast echoes Our Lady's service to God from even a young age. Mary Herself was dedicated to God at the moment of Her Immaculate Conception , today's feast is an extension of that feast as well as the feast of the Annunciation when Mary gives Her "Yes" to become the Mother of God. Today’s feast is also when we reflect on Mary’s vow of perpetual virginity.  Today's Liturgical color is white or gold for the holiness, purity and Immaculateness of Mary. The popular color for laypeople to wear for Marian feasts is blue. Artwork of Mary's Presentation   Marian Iconography A Mystical Vision of Mary's Presentation   Another Mystical Vision (Book 2, Chapter 1) The Jerusalem Temple  (It was in this temple that Our Lady was presented and was introduced to Simeon and Anna. These are the prophets who will greet Jesus upon His presentation in the tem...

  Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. This is the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year and thus today's feast focuses on the Kingship of Christ as we will experience it at the Second Coming. Next Sunday begins the new Liturgical Year where Advent begins and we recall the First Coming of Christ at Christmas, His Daily Coming in the Eucharist and we await with hope His Second Coming. During persecutions of the Church in Mexico, the Catholics were known to proclaim “Viva, Cristo Rey!” which means, Long Live Christ the King!  Today's Liturgical Color is White or Gold to honor the glory of Christ the King.   Prayer for Christ the King Sunday Indulgence  Conditions to Gain Indulgences About Today's Feast Christ Crowned with Thorns (Artwork) Christ in Majesty (Artwork) A Mystical Vision of Christ Crowned with Thorns Another Mystical Vision (Book 6 Chapter 6) Christ the King Sunday for Kids A Prayer to Christ the King O Jesus Christ, I acknowledge you as universa...

  Today marks the final day of All Hallows' Tide begun on Halloween, aka All Hallows' Eve.  Today's liturgical color is white or gold, as is worn at Masses of Christian Burial to symbolize the joy and glory of Heaven, the hope of Christians.  Today is day 2 of an extraordinary octave (8 days) where plenary indulgences can be gained for the souls in purgatory. From November 1st-8th by visiting a cemetery and praying (even mentally). A plenary  indulgence can also be gained from  Noon on All Saints until Midnight on All Souls by praying an Our Father and Apostle's Creed for the Pope's intentions at Church.  These conditions must also be met to gain indulgences:   About All Souls All Saints and All Souls Customs (To honor all the faithful departed including our fellow earthlings, the animals who have gone before us substitute for vegan milk and butter as well as vegan egg substitute or applesauce which is commonly used as an egg replacer in vegan de...

  “All ye holy Saints, men and women of God, pray for us!”  -The Litany of Saints  “Blessed be God in His Angels and His Saints!”  -The Divine Praises “I believe in the communion of Saints!” -The Apostle’s Creed   November starts off with the commemoration of All Saints Day! All Saints Day also known as All Hallows' Day follows All Hallows' Eve or Halloween and is the second of the three days traditionally known as All Hallows' Tide. Today we honor all of the Saints of God, canonized and yet to be canonized, known and unknown. Today's feast is a reminder of the universal call to holiness, made known at Vatican II. As a proud vegan Catholic I also wish you a  Happy World Vegan Day!  Today is also the beginning of  Dia de Los Muertos  in Hispanic cultures. Read more about  The Ofrenda , the special altar set up to remember the dead. Today would be a good day to watch movies about Dia de Muertos, such as Disney's  "Coco". In 2025 All ...

         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...