*Backload.............April 18

"THE OLD SERVANT has completed his sheaf.

Heaven awaits him!

YOUNG SERVANT, hasten.

One knows not the day nor the hour!"

(thank you John for translation of holy card)

*Confirmation..........April 17

Confirmation

"The Spirit comes gently and makes himself
known by his fragrance.
He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light.
Rays of light and knowledge stream before Him
as He approaches.
The Spirit comes with the tenderness
of a true friend and protector
to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strength, to console."

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

*Seek Him Before Your Final Hour..April 16

(double click to enlarge picture)

"Sometimes God has to allow trouble
in our lives before we will seek Him.
Multitudes of people never begin to think of their sins
or of their need of salvation
until the hour of pain, sickness, bereavement or death."

Anonymous

The following can be read under "comments", thanks to John who translates and adds so much to this blog.

Not everyone reads comments so I am happy to add all the information here for you to enjoy.

[At the top:]"Christian practices for advancement in piety:The Grace of Poor Health"[On the crosses:]"Boredom ... Acute pain ... Sleeplessness ... Bitterness ... Physical and moral collapse"[On the beam of light, indicating the thoughts of the sufferer:]"Yes, my God!"[At the bottom:]"Be happy with God. Be gladdened in all things in God. Lose awareness of all your difficulties in the act and attitude of filial abandonment and of supernatural contentment provided to the soul that approves and accepts what God wills and does."[The quotation is attributed to "P. de Ravignan," about whom I was able to find the following:Father Gustave Xavier Lacroix de Ravignan (1795-1858) was a French Jesuit priest, author, and famous preacher. He had been a prominent soldier and lawyer in Paris before entering a seminary at the age of 27. He became a preacher of missions and retreats in France, Italy, Belgium, and England. He was devoted to the confessional, the direction of souls, apologetics, conferences for noble ladies, and familiar talks to the poor. Thousands of mourners followed the body of this 'Apostle of Paris' to his gravesite.]

.

*Come Follow Me.............April 15

Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood

Lord Jesus, who in your pilgrimage along the roads of Palestine,
chose and called the apostles
and entrusted to them their task of preaching the Gospel,
feeding the faithful and celebrating divine worship,
ensure that today, too,
your Church may not lack numerous holy priests,
who can bring to all the fruits of your death and resurrection.

(Pope John Paul II , Message for Vocations Sunday 2001)

*Pray...............April 14

"Talk to Him, soon as you open your eyes,
Thank Him for every new day,
Tell Him you love Him, throughout every hour,
Don't be too busy to pray......."

Grace E. Easley from MARY'S CALL, GLORY TO THE TRINITY

French Translation:

"The Eucharist is the Heart of a God who is watchful. It is our strength. It is our joy. It is our salvation."

*Good Shepherd..........April 13

He Shepherds and Gives

"Find out how much God has given you

and from it take what you need;

the remainder is needed by others."

Saint Augustine

"I am the good Shepherd. I give my life for my sheep."

*Easter..........April 12

"Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer:
Death is strong, but life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and hope triumphant say,
Christ will rise on Easter Day.

Phillips Brooks

BLESSINGS AND JOY TO ALL WHO SPEND A FEW MINUTES HERE ON MY HOLY CARD BLOG.

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO SHARE WITH

YOU AND PLEASE KNOW I GET SO MUCH BACK FROM YOU.

HAPPY EASTER .

*Fourteenth Station of the Cross.....April 11

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

He who came into the world poor and lowly,

and had not even a place where to rest His Head,

could not be buried in His own grave,

because He was not of this world.

We have joined you, O Jesus, on the Way of the Cross.

The hours of suffering are over, "It is finished."

From the hill of the Skull we move to the garden of burial.

When I receive Thee into my heart in Holy Communion,

O Jesus,

make it a fit abiding place for thy adorable Body.

Many of the words used in these past 14 posts have been taken

from other sources.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS - used at St. Peter's Church, Ft. Wayne, IN

STATIONS OF THE CROSS - A SCRIPTURAL VERSION - Fr. Albert Judy, O.P.

A SHORT WAY OF THE CROSS - used by The Franciscan Fathers on their Missions

.

*Thirteenth Station of the Cross.........April 10

The Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

Receive me into they arms, O Sorrowful Mother;

and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins.

O Mother of Sorrows, teach me to be faithful to Your Son until the last

and to bear willingly my trials as You have done.

*Twelfth Station of the Cross..........April 9

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Crucified with two criminals, a sign saying "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews," chief priests, scribes and elders continue their mockery, yet Mary and the faithful women stand in silence. At last Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit."

Having said this He expired

They have pierced His hands and His feet. We can count all His bones. They look on Him and

gloat. They divide His garments among themselves, and for His vesture they cast lots.

*Eleventh Station of the Cross..........April 8

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

"I have no more strength than a few drops of water.

All my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like melted wax.

My strength has dried up like a broken clay pot,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth." (Psalm 22:14)

You forgave Your enemies.

Teach me to forgive injuries and FORGET them.

*Tenth Station of the Cross.........April 7

Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

What was left? His honor was shattered in the courtyard by the soldiers' taunts;

His strength was left behind in every step on the death-march.

Only His sense of modesty remained,

and now, that too, is torn away with His clothing.

He suffered this shame and disgrace to atone for the sins of immodesty and impurity.

Lord, give me the grace to keep my soul pure and free from the taint of impurity and vice.

*Ninth Station of the Cross..........April 6

Jesus Falls A Third Time

Utterly exhausted from loss of blood and His toilsome journey, Jesus arrives at the foot of Mount Calvary and falls a third time. With a painful effort He rises and staggers up the slope of the mountain.

Obedient unto death.

Be not afraid of the sacrifices nor sufferings, when God's Holy Will and Law require it.

Keep me from a total collapse of spirit Lord. Let me remember

"Strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor.12)

*Eighth Station of the Cross..........April 5

Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem

"Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and your children, for if this be done in the green wood, what shall be done in the dry?"

Consider the dreadful doom to fall upon impenitent sinners, who will be cast by the Eternal Judge like dry and useless wood into everlasting fire.

Are we fresh, new, green wood or dry, useless and sinful?

*Seventh Station of the Cross..........April 4

Jesus Falls the Second Time

Carrying the burden of our sins beneath the heavy cross,

Jesus falls again.

Resolve not to sin again.

Jesus, I beg for Your mercy.

I ask You to hold out Your Divine Hand

to steady and bear me up

so I may not fall again into serious sin.

.

*Sixth Station of the Cross.........April 3

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

Legend tells us a gospel message.

Be not afraid to break from the mobs and unbelievers

to confess your belief and love for Christ.

Print deep into my heart the image and memory of Your bleeding Face

and bitter Passion

that I may never disfigure my soul,

which You have created by the grace of Your Redemption.

*Fifth Station of the Cross..........April 2

Simon of Cyrene - Forced to Help Jesus Carry the Cross

"Why me?" asks Simon.

When we are asked to carry a burden, we too say,

"Why me?"

The grace of our merciful Savior touched the soul of Simon, so that he became afterwards His faithful disciple. There is the grace of salvation, peace and sanctification for our soul when we carry our cross with Jesus.

*Fourth Station of the Cross..........April 1

Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother

"....and a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Lk.2)

Let my Lenten sacrifices aid in the sufferings

of both mother and son

incurred on the road to execution.

*Third Station of the Cross.......March 31

Jesus Falls The First Time

Exhausted and overcome by the oppressive burden, Jesus falls to the ground.

We all are burdened in mind and body. Illness and weariness, the pace of our days, the pressures of our responsibilities, are the cross we have to carry. Jesus said "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden light" (Mt. 11)

*Second Station of the Cross.......March 30

Jesus Is Made To Bear The Cross

Jesus said "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me,

cannot be my disciple.

My Jesus, this Cross should be mine,

not Thine,

my sins crucified Thee.

*First Station of the Cross..........March 29

Jesus Is Condemned To Death

O Jesus, innocent Victim for the sins of the world, I thank You for Your boundless love in suffering injustice for my sake. Grant me pardon for my sins and a merciful judgment at the end of my life.

"Crucify Him, crucify Him!"

As sinners, we, too, join the crowd in shouting

"crucify Him".

O Jesus, so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials.

The "SPQR" at the base of the picture, oft seen in depictions of this period, are the Latin initials of "Senatus PopulusQue Romanus," meaning, "The Senate and the Roman People."

*Wood of the Cross..........March 28

"There is no wood better to kindle the fire

of holy love

than the wood of the cross,

which Christ used for his own sacrifice

of boundless charity."

St. Ignatius of Loyola

*Dwell in His Heart..........March 27

"Oh, how good and pleasant a thing it is
to dwell in the Heart of Jesus!
Who is there that does not love
a heart so wounded?
Who can refuse a return of love
to a heart so loving!
Amen."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

*Fix With Nails.......March 26

We often try to fix problems

with WD-40 and Duct tape.

God did it with nails.

Latin words mean

"He bore the holy cross."

*Annunciation...........March 25

"Eve believed the devil
and the world perished!

Mary put her faith in the Angel of God
and the world was saved!"

St. Lawrence of Brindisi

*Time for Silence..........March 24

"When you feel the assaults

of passion and anger,

then is the time to be silent

as Jesus was silent in

the midst of His ignominies and sufferings."

St. Paul of the Cross

Translation of the card's Latin words:

[On the banner (below the shield showing the wounded hands of Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi):]
"Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" [Galatians 6:14]

[At the bottom:]
"The Seraphic Triumph"

*Another Calvary..........March 23

"When you hear Mass,

do you come in the same frame of mind

as the Blessed Virgin at Calvary?

Because it is the same God,

and the same Sacrifice."

St. John Vianney, Sermon on Good Friday

Translation of the card's German words:

"Greater than the sea is your sorrow.

(Lamentations 2:13)"

*Know what He has done..........March 22

"The piercing nail has become a key to unlock the door, that I may see the good will of the Lord. And what can I see as I look through the hole? Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself...Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of His heart, the great mystery of love."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Translation of the French words:
At the top:
"The Cross -- or the virginal bed of the child of Mary."

At the bottom:
"Remembrance of his (her) sojourn upon the Earth and of her departure for Heaven!"

*Gaze on Him.............March 21

"We are in the age of the media

and the media are more interested in novelty than in truth. Let us concentrate on the mystery

that we are celebrating...

'To fix one's gaze on the pierced side of Christ..."

Father Cantalamessa



Translation of French words:

[At the top:]

"The fragrance of myrrh from the spouses of Jesus Christ."

[Above the cross:]

"He is the Angel of Great Counsel. He is the Book of the Elect."

[Below the cross:]

"I love Thee, o Lord, my Strength."

[At the bottom:]

"(From Isaiah 53:5) He has taken upon Himself our chastisements, and with His wounds He has healed us.(From Exodus 25:40) See that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain."

*Sorrowful Mary........March 20

"Human beings will never comprehend sufficiently the anguish and immensity of Mary's sorrows.

Very few Christians partake of those sufferings and even fewer offer any consolation to her."

St. Bridget

*St. Joseph Feast Day..........March 19

How we wish we could learn more about St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster-father to Jesus.

But Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge: who he was --

"a righteous man".

Matthew 1:18

St. Joseph, pray for us.

*Mary with Crown of Thorns.,,,,,..March 18

We are united to Him,

we are one,

and it is when His Passion becomes real to us,

through experience and love,

that we grow aware of His presence in us.

Caryll Houselander

*St. Patrick Feast Day.............March 17

"Christ beside me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me. "

St. Patrick

*Lenten Fast..........March 16

O Lord,
may your grace bring us the fruitful effects
of our devoted love,
for the Lenten fast that we observe
will be of profit to us only it it pleases you.

T

Translation of the card's French words:

At the top - INSULTS AND REPARATION

Around the Holy Face - Apostasy ... Ingratitude ... Scandals ... Abandonment ... Indifference ... Contempt ... Blasphemy ...

At the bottom - A DAILY OFFENSE!

*Learned by the Heart..........March 15

There are some things

that can be learned by the head...

Christ crucified

can only be learned by the heart.

*Ecce Homo..........March 14

"The purpose of Lent
is not to escape the conscience,
but to create a healthy hatred for evil,
a heartfelt contrition for sin,
and a passionately felt need for grace.

This continuous movement of faith from a
sense of sin to grace and forgiveness
ends only when the spirit is ultimately released."

Edna Hong

*Tears of Mary at Crucifixtion.............March 13

"My daughter, whatever I am asked through the tears of My Mother, I shall give lovingly."

Our Lords words to Sister Amalia on November 8, 1929 .....from catholictradition.org

*Thy Cup to Drink............March 12

"My father,
if this cup cannot pass away
unless I drink it,
Thy will be done."


O Jesus,
let me help you drink of the cup
by my Lenten sacrifices.
I see your courage and I continue with you
on the Way of the Cross.

*Can You Die of Grief? ........... March 11

The pain in her soul
is so great that surely
if not for the grace of God,
she would have died of grief
a thousand times over that day.
O Poor Sweet Holy Mother!

O Almighty God,
the dignity of our human nature
has been undermined by self-indulgence.
Strengthen it again through the practice
of salutary self-denial.

*Face of Christ..........March 10

"He was a lamb in accepting death,
a lion in bringing death to naught."

Saint Augustine

Face ("Vultus") of the "Man of the Shroud"

*Christ's Blood..........March 9

"God chose the sign of blood
because no other sign suggests
a person's total involvement so eloquently."

Pope John Paul II

*What the Cross Means..........March 8

"The cross means
there is no shipwreck without hope;
there is no dark
without dawn;
nor storm without haven."

Pope John Paul II

*Mortify our Senses..........March 7

O Lord,
mercifully fill our hearts with your grace.
We mortify our bodies
by abstaining from food;
may we also guard our senses
from the danger of unbridled pleasures.

Meaning of most of the Dutch words on the card:[At the top:]"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."[On the great cross:]"I am weighed down by all of your sins."[Some of the words on the small crosses:]"Scrupulosity, Disgrace, Ignorance, Sadness, Torments, Injuries, Severity, Contempt, Poverty, Humiliations, Adversity, Sorrow, Loss of Friends, Illnesses, Trials, Crimes, Disfavor, Misdeeds, Loss of Goodness, Lukewarmness, Prosecutions, Insults"

*Fasting and Prayer........March 6

O Lord, help us by your grace
to be diligent in fasting and prayer,
that we may be shielded against
the enemies of our soul and body.

*Healing Wounds..........March 5

Believers know that the presence of evil
is always accompanied by the presence of good,
by grace...
Where evil grows,
there the hope for good also grows...
In the love that pours forth
from the heart of Christ,
we find hope for the future of the world.
Christ has redeemed the world:
"By His wounds we are healed."

(Isaiah 53:5)

*I Am Love................March 4

I Am Merciful Love

Look at Me,
See how ardently I love Thee;
See what my love for Thee has cost Me.
Unite thyself to Me,
Offer Me,
Invite Me,
Love Me

*The Cross of Love..........March 3

O God, each year you purify the Church
through the Lenten observance.
May the good works of your Church
obtain for us the grace we ask for
through our self-denial.

Here is the meaning of the card's Latin words:
"He who wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."

*Look to the Cross..........March 2

"It is good for us now and then to have some troubles and adversities......

Such things are often an aid to humility and keep us from vainglory."

IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas A. Kempis

Translation of French words.

"THE LAMENT OF THE EXILED SOUL.

Lord! ... my soul is burning and perishing from being unable to fly off to Thy beautiful Heaven!"

*Child Jesus with Cross..........March 1

"Ingratitude is the enemy of our immortal souls. Ingratitude empties our souls of merit, scatters their virtues, and deprives them of graces."

St. Bernard

Thank you Jesus for what you did and what you do for me.