Tree of Life

Today we begin to celebrate all things spooky as we celebrate the beginning of summer and our yearning for All Hallows’ Eve which began to grow since Halfway to Halloween in April. Today’s holiday originates from the Disney series “Gravity Falls”. The people of Gravity Falls love Halloween so much that they celebrate it twice a year. In Gravity Falls Summerween is celebrated the second last Friday of June or June 22nd. Summerween reflects Midsummer and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24th. Summerween can be held several days long, beginning on the Summer Solstice and continuing through the feast of St. John. Fortunately many stores will begin to put out their Halloween stuff (Michael’s, AtHome) so we can celebrate by enjoying the arrival of merchandise. A fun way to celebrate is to watch Gravity Falls and their Summerween episode in particular. Slasher summer is another means of celebrating by watching campsite horror and telling ghost stories around the campfire. An add...

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine! “Blessed be the Name of Jesus, Blessed be His most Sacred Heart!” -From “The Divine Praises”  The Friday following Corpus Christi is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in accordance with His request that a feast be dedicated to His honor on this day. The following day is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  We honor the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart each month on First Friday and First Saturday respectively also in accordance with revelations of Our Lord and Our Lady. June is also the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As Trinity Sunday we celebrate the dogma on which our whole faith is hinged, the Sacred Heart is the devotion on which all others are hinged. The Sacred Heart formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, pierced on the Cross, the fount from which Divine Mercy and the Sacraments flow holds the key to all others. As Pentecost closes the Easter season the next two weeks ...

  “Come, Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-beloved Spouse.” Between the celebration of Ascension and Pentecost is the Novena of the Holy Spirit. We now imitate intimately those days which after Jesus returned to the Father, Christ’s apostles with the Blessed Virgin pray and wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Further, some resources from the Pentecost page can help us worthily prepare to celebrate the birthday of Holy Mother Church. Traditional Novena to the Holy Spirt  (Begins the Friday following the traditional date of the Ascension, 40 days after Easter. Regardless of when the Ascension is celebrated locally. The date would be titled Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter.) Another  Pentecost Novena 3 Day Miraculous Prayer to the Holy Spirit 10 Day Holy Spirit Devotion   A Meditation on Mary in the Upper Room  More on Mary in the Cenacle Preparing for the Spirit with St. Gertrude The prece...

  Easter is when Jesus has won our salvation and the Sacraments are those signs established by Him to give us grace. The Sacraments aren’t limited to Easter but it’s because of the Paschal Mystery being celebrated during this time of year that First Communions and Confirmations are commonly celebrated during the Easter season. This post exists to “house” the other posts throughout the year containing information retaining to these Sacraments for those who will be receiving them and for their sponsors and their family and friends supporting them.  First Communion (Corpus Christi and Holy Thursday, feast days of the Eucharist)  Patron Saints of First Communicants The Importance of First Communion Confirmation (Pentecost, feast day of the Holy Spirit)  See also the “Sacraments” section of this post.

May 4th each year is a celebration of all things Star Wars. This is because of the Star Wars quote “May the Force be with you” being reflected in “May the 4th.” Click here  for an article about Star Wars as a Christian Allegory and another about religious themes in Star Wars. 2024 marks the  25th anniversary  of the Phantom Menace installment of the franchise. Although released 4th, it is the first chronically in the series. Disney+ has all the Star Wars movies as well as Simpsons Star Wars episodes. Star Wars Day Star Wars Playlist Star Wars Events in Buffalo Star Wars Events in Disney World Disney Star Wars Merch Carrie Fisher Star of Fame Vegan Star Wars Recipes   UTINNI! 

The blessed season of Easter is the time to reflect all the more on our salvation. This post is to contain the links pertaining to this most joyous season for our edification and will remain pinned to my social media between feast days throughout the season. Each link is relevant for the whole season. The Easter  link is relevant throughout the season and always, as Christians are Easter people. Due to their roots in the Paschal Mystery, Eastertide is also the season of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, aka “ The Season of Sacraments .” Easter Easter Time With Mary Easter Week Customs Easter Week with St. Gertrude Easter Monday  Divine Mercy Novena  (Prayed from Good Friday- the Saturday after Easter.) Divine Mercy Sunday   (Second Sunday of Easter) Easter and God’s Creation  The prayer known as the Angelus prayed at 6am, 6pm and (most commonly)  Noon is replaced from Easter-Pentecost with the Regina Caeli.  Finally, as Easte...

As the plot against Jesus grows more and more severe as Good Friday draws near Jesus is “anointed” before His burial by the tears of Mary Magdalene. Jesus notes that she is forgiven much because she loves much.  Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Tears of St. Mary Magdalene O most merciful Jesus, I give Thee thanks for that work of piety which the blessed Mary Magdalene wrought on Thee, when she washed Thy feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed them and anointed them with fragrant ointment; whereby she obtained from Thee such signal grace that Thou didst pour into her heart and soul so great a love of Thee, that she could love nothing apart from Thee; beseeching Thee, that by her merits and intercessions Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give me tears of true repentance and pour into my heart Thy Divine love. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)    “Whoever shall give God thanks for all the tears I shed upon the feet of Jesus, our most merciful G...

Between the emotions of Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday there lies the Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week as well as Spy Wednesday. There are no particular customs for the Monday and Tuesday of this great week but there are important events in the life of Christ leading to His Passion that are worthy of reflection.  The Monday of Holy Week marks the Cleansing of the Temple (pictured above). After Jesus’ entry into the Holy City on Palm Sunday He goes to the temple and is righteously angered about what He witnesses. Although the Gospel reading for the day reflects on an event traditionally attributed to the Tuesday of Holy Week, the Cleansing of the Temple is traditionally commemorated today as well as the cursing of the fig tree. Both events recall corruption and the lack of good fruit amidst those who claim to serve God. This is Jesus’ calling us to true service such as He will show supremely in His Passion. Some depictions of the Cleansing of the Temple shows Jesus releasing the anima...

 Today we commemorate the Baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although it was not necessary for Jesus to be baptized, He does so as an example for us and an exercise in humility. As today Jesus prepares to begin His public ministry this is the last day of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. The color white or gold is used liturgically to symbolize the glory of God and the purity of Christ. Typically the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated liturgically the Sunday after Epiphany or January 13th in some places. When the Epiphany falls on the 7th or 8th it’s moved to the Monday after (January 8th or 9th). Since this feast begins Ordinary Time, the Sunday after the feast is the second Sunday of Ordinary Time no matter the date. Christ’s Baptism in other denominations of Christianity are celebrated with the Feast of the Epiphany as Christ's Baptism and His first miracle, the Wedding at Cana are all Theophanies, revelations of God. The W...

Glory to the Newborn King!  As Christmas is one of the holiest days of the Church Year, (second only to Easter) it is celebrated by an  octave, which is 8 days of celebrating through January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The 8 days of the octave hold the same solemnity as the feast day itself. Within The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord, the days after  Christmas , December 26th through the 28th honor the Martyrs of the Church in a special way. These days are the 2nd-4th days of Christmas. Some legends say that the 12 days of Christmas are a secret code to teach the faith during times of Christian persecution. Varying days throughout the Christmas season celebrate different aspects of the Christmas Mystery such as January 1st (the Octave Day of the Nativity) honors Mary’s obedience to the Will of God, and Her role in the Christmas mysteries as She gives birth to Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Then there’s the The Feast of the Epiphany honors the visit of the Ma...

Today we celebrate the patron Saint of eyesight.  The customs of her feast day are celebrated just before Christmas and echo the celebration of the light of Christ shining in the darkness. Today is also the feast of the saint of eyesight  St. Odilia . The liturgical color for today is red for the martyrdom of St. Lucy.  A plenary indulgence is given for visiting a church on the feast of its titular Saint. Any church titled St. Lucy or St. Odilia  holds a plenary indulgence under the  normal conditions  (see indulgences section) and for praying the Creed and Our Father once.    About St. Lucy The Tomb of St. Lucy Customs for St. Lucy St. Lucy’s Wheat The Tears of St. Lucy Meteor Shower St. Lucy in Art St. Lucy Cartoon In the 2023 film “The Nun II” the relics of St. Lucy play a unique role. While the film has some factual errors regarding the consecration of the Eucharist, it’s interesting to see the attention paid to today’s Saint. 

    Today we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe. A symbol of Mexican heritage, harmony among cultures and the tender compassion of Our Lady. Today we have the great treasure of the tilma of St. Juan Diego, no relic is as wondrous as this next to the burial shroud of Christ.  “ Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” -Our Lady to St. Juan Diego Today's liturgical color is white or gold for Mary's purity and holiness. An indulgence can be gained today under the usual conditions * if a church named for Our Lady of Guadalupe is visit and the Apostle's Creed and Lord's Prayer are recited. For those consecrated to Mary on this feast in previous years and renew their consecration a plenary indulgence can be gained today. To make this renewal more efficacious see  here . For members of the Rosary Confraternity and Living Rosar...

  Today we celebrate the translation of the Holy House of Loreto. Today is the date set aside as it was on this date that the miraculous translation occurred. In 2023 we recall in a special way the Holy House and it’s history with Palestine and we pray in a particular way for peace with the people of Palestine and Israel, a Ceasefire is the only means of pleasing the Mother of God! Mary is the bridge to God and as a devout Jewish woman who is revered by the Muslim community as mother of Jesus as prophet and Christians as mother of Jesus as God, we know She as mother of all mankind will delight in peace and understanding! Apollo 8 had a medal of Our Lady of Loreto on board! Note that in the Holy Land lies the coordinates/geographical place where the Incarnation took place but the house in Loreto is the actual location. In 2023 Our Lady of Loreto falls on the Second Sunday of Advent .  About Our Lady of Loreto The Shrine of Loreto The Black Madonna of Loreto The Litany of Loreto...

  "O' Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!"   Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today is the dawning of our salvation for the Mother of God is conceived. The long wait for the Messiah is drawing ever nigh with the conception of His Mother. Of the four Marian dogmas, the Immaculate Conception, the Divine Maternity, Perpetual Virginity and the Assumption, we honor Mary’s life and holiness today, that God has chosen Her from the creation of the world to be the Mother of His Son, the New Eve. Today is NOT the celebration of Christ's conception, that is the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25th and is referred to as the Virginal/ Miraculous Conception of Christ. Although Jesus also was conceived without sin (as God) He is the sole person to be conceived of a virgin. We take time during this  Advent  season to recognize the great gift God gave us in the Blessed Virgin Mary and we desire to draw close to...

  Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas, the true Santa Claus (Saint ‘Claus). Today's feast is preceded by Krampusnacht. This is because on December 5th, St. Nicholas travels with Krampus, Santa rewards the good while Krampus punishes the naughty.   The primary custom of this day is to place shoes outside the door for St. Nicholas to fill. This custom is the origin of Christmas stockings which takes root in the story of St. Nicholas throwing coins down the chimney which landed in the stockings of local children to assist their family in their financial concerns. Today's liturgical color is white for the holiness of St. Nicholas. Today is a good day to watch any of the many movies about Santa Claus. A few I would recommend that are more fantasy but enjoyable are "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" or "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town". A more accurate depiction is the cartoon "Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa". About Saint Nicholas ...

        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...