*Courage..........December 20

Mary's courage is one of love....in just five days She courageously gives us Him.

"Courage does not always roar.

Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,

I will try again tomorrow."

Anonymous

French Translation:

"O Jesus, You gave Yourself completely to me.

I give myself to You without reserve and forever!"

*God's Presence..........December 19

"Joy, it has been said, is the sure sign of God's presence. Those who live in the Spirit of Jesus are happy, grateful, compassionate and generous people.

As we welcome the coming of the Lord into our hearts and our homes, let us be prepared for the joy of Emmanuel, God with us."

from WAKE UP TO JOY, Mark Neilsen

*Waiting for the One We Love......December 18

"Advent...leads to a growing inner stillness and joy allowing me to realize that the One for whom I am waiting has already arrived and speaks to me in the silence of my heart."

from the writings of Henri Nouwen

*Make Ready for Him..........December 17

As the children make ready for

His coming by placing statues

in the creche, let us remember

during this Advent day, to open

our minds and hearts and

invite the Holy Spirit to prepare

us for Christ's coming in such

a short time.

*Jesus in Cradle..........December 16

As we fix our attention on Jesus
and the manger this Advent,
let's also turn our gaze
to the final home
He has prepared for us

--heaven.

French Translation:

"O Humble Maidservant of the Lord, your sacrifice begins with your joy. Sweet Jesus is born to you, but He is in poverty and destitution."

*Pray one Our Father..........December 15

"It is better to say one Our Father
fervently and devoutly
than a thousand with no devotion
and full of distraction."

St. Edmund

*Third Sunday of Advent..........December 14

Advent Thought

Three words for the Third Week of Advent
Happy, Hopeful, Anticipation

Feast of St. John of the Cross

"In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God"

St. John of the Cross

Read about St. John of the Cross

*St. Lucy........December 13

Lucy's feast is celebrated during the season of Advent, when we wait for the coming of Christ our Light.

Lucy, whose name means "light," kept the light of her faith burning.

Perhaps because her name means "light,"

she is the patron of eyes.





Read about St. Lucy

*Our Lady of Guadalupe..........December 12

"For we are certain

that as long as you are recognized

as Queen and Mother,

Mexico and America

will be safe."

Pope Pius XII

*Meet Christ..........December 11

"We can't meet Him there (in our hearts) if we can't meet the naked Christ in the street."

St. Basil

Often we limit ourselves to visiting the child Jesus in the decorated crib in the church and forget the Christ who is amidst the poor and hungry. This Advent, let's come out of our narrow worlds and meet Christ in our life situations.

from MY DAILY VISITOR, Dec. 7

German words mean:

"Let us love Him, because He first loved us."

(based on 1 John 4:19)

*God's Love..........December 10

Let us think of God's love during

this second week of Advent.

God's love made human in the baby Jesus.

*St. Juan Diego..........December 9

"For I am a merciful Mother to thee and to all thy fellow people on this earth who love me and trust me and invoke my help. I listen to their lamentations and solace all their suffering..........."

Words spoken to Juan Diego from the Blessed Virgin Mary

Read St. Diego's instructions from Mary regarding her wishes here

*Feast of the Immaculate Conception..........December 8

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women.

We firmly believe that Mary was shielded from all stain of sin by the the grace of God.

She was the first tabernacle to hold the body of Christ.

The Immaculate Conception

Patron of America

Read about OUR LADY OF AMERICA

http://oltiv.org./

http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/
http://www.ourladyofamerica.org/

Latin words mean, "A New Star, the Immaculate Virgin."

*Second Sunday of Advent........December 7

This Advent let us prepare for God's coming through humility and repentance.

Let your "precious guide" help you on your way to Confession/Reconciliation.

*St. Nicholas..........December 6

St. Nicholas was known for his charity. Let us look closer at our thoughts regarding material goods in this Christmas season and find ways to share more with those in real need.

There is a legend that St. Nicholas raised three children from the dead who had been killed and put into a barrel, and thus became the patron saint of children. Legend grew so that he became associated with helping and loving children, and this also contributed to the legend of Santa Claus.

Read more about St. Nicholas.

Here is a translation of the French words on the front of today's St. Nicholas card:[The hanging sign says, "Butcher Shop"]

[At the bottom:] "St. Nicholas and the Miracle of the Three Little Children. Ask him for his help in your small troubles. He will protect you from dangers of the present day, and he will maintain the faith in your serene souls. Never in vain did a child invoke his assistance."I looked at the poem on the back of the card and got a very rough translation of it. I decided not to perfect the translation because the text is pretty gruesome (about the butcher's preparation to kill the kids), and I don't think that it adds anything of value.

*Desiring to Receive..........December 5

"I love so much a soul's desire to receive Me,

that I hasten to it

each time it summons Me

by its yearnings."

Words of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

*Stairway of Heaven..........December 4

Mary may be truly called the Stairway of Heaven.

By her God descended from heaven to the world

so that by her we might ascend

from earth to heaven.

St. Fulgentius

[At the top:] The Imitation of Jesus Christ, or the Three Degrees of Perfect Conformity.

[In the halos:] Let us go! ... Thus, Father ... Let it be done, let it be done, let it be done.

[At the bottom:] In the first, one accepts the Cross with resignation ...In the second, one accepts the way with filial submission ...In the third, one embraces it with faith and love.

.

*Feast of St. Francis Xavier......December 3

"It is not the actual physical exertion

that counts toward a man's progress,

nor the nature of the task,

but the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken."

St. Francis Xavier

Read about St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier - Friend of Children

*Church..........December 2

"A church is a hospital for sinners,

not a museum for saints."

L.L. Nash

*Religious Nuns..........December 1

"No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless.

There's too much work to do."

Dorothy Day

Let us thank in prayerful remembrance, all that the

religious sisters have given to us in their teaching, nursing, and holy prayer filled lives.

*First Sunday of Advent..........November 30

Come, Lord Jesus!

Prepare our hearts for your arrival.

*Jesus My Source..........November 29

Happiness keeps you sweet,

Trials keep you strong,

Sorrows keep you human,

Failures keep you humble,

Success keeps you glowing,

But only God keeps you going.

From an e-mail

*Come to Jesus..........November 28

In Loving Thee I Will Suffer With Thee

O Mary, grant me the graces God intends for me this day. Then offer to your Divine Son all the good works that I do as a result of these graces.

*Thanksgiving Day..........November 27

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who visit this blog. I am so very thankful to all who stop by and hopefully receive some inspiration or enjoyment. You are all in my prayers today.

God bless you all.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Oh, God, when I have food,

help me to remember the hungry.

When I have work,

help me to remember the jobless.

When I have a warm home,

help me to remember the homeless.

When I am without pain,

help me to remember those who suffer.

And remembering, help me

to destroy my complacency

and bestir my compassion.

Make me concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Samuel F. Pugh

*O Holy Angels..........November 26

"O Holy angels,

make me see God on the altar

as you see Him in heaven."

Blessed Brother Andre

*Bring a Basket..........November 25

When you go to Communion

Jesus wants to give you so many graces.

Too bad some people come with a thimble

instead of a bushel basket.

Anonymous

*Come to Me..........November 24

"........come to me........learn from me."
Matthew 11:28-29

Go to Him, He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Go to Him, learn how He lived and what He thought.

Go to Him, He will teach you the way to God.

Go to Him if you are weary of life.

Go to Him, He will lift your burdens.

Go to Him if you want clarity and direction for your life.

Go to Him, He will comfort you and give rest to your soul.

Translation at the top: "God is stern only toward the ungrateful."At the bottom: "Bless my love, which has protected you. ... And see how these souls are to be pitied. ... They do not even know that they have a heart capable of loving their God!"

*Feast of Christ the King.......November 23

Crown Him with many crowns,

The Lamb upon his throne;

All kingdoms of the earth resound

in praise of Him alone.

Awake my soul and sing,

Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy risen King

For all eternity.

*St. Cecilia..........November 22

"Like any good Christian,

Cecilia sang in her heart, and sometimes with her voice. She has become a symbol of the Church's conviction that good music is an integral part of the liturgy,

of greater value to the Church than any other art. "

Above taken from Saint of the Day

Read about St. Cecilia

This particular series of holy cards, called "Cielo", features an art form where only the main character is in color. The background behind the main person is all in black and white.

*Presentation of Mary..........November 21

"Tradition tells us that the Blessed Virgin Mary was vowed to God by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Ann, and taken by them to the temple when she was three years old

PRAYER.......Today we celebrate the glorious memory of the most holy Virgin Mary. Grant, Lord, that through her intercession we too may receive many graces from Your superabundant bounty. Amen "

From......"Lives of the Saints"

Read about The Presentation

Translation - French words:
"THE PRESENTATION OF MARY AT THE TEMPLE. Mary heard the voice of her Well-Beloved. She understood that He wanted her for Himself and, obedient to His voice, she came to dedicate herself to Him without reserve."

"This is My Body"..........November 20

"He is everything for everybody,

everywhere,

every time,

and every way.

He is God,

He is faithful.

I am His, and He is mine!

He said it and that settles it.

God is in control,

I am on His side,

and that means all is well with my soul."

Anonymous

*Confession.........November 19

"The sin of the century

is the loss of the sense of sin."

"I have never heard a confession

that was worse than the first one I made

when I returned to the Church."

quotes from Father John Corapi, SOLT

(Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity)

*Our Lady of the Aborigines..........November 18

"Let Mary never be far from your lips or heart.

And to obtain the fruit of her prayers,

do not forget the example of her life.

With her support, you will never fall.

Beneath her protection, you will never fear.

Under her guidance, you will never tire.
And with her help, you will reach your heavenly goal."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Elizabeth of Hungary........November 17

Patroness of the Franciscan Third Order and of all Catholic Charities.

Prayer

God,

You taught St. Elizabeth to recognize

and serve Christ in the poor.

Grant, through her intercession,

that we may always lovingly serve the needy

and the oppressed.

Amen

from: "Lives of the Saints"

Read about St. Elizabeth

The following comes from Janette. Thank you. It's just too precious not to pass on.

St Elizabeth of Hungary, when she was a little girl and used to play about the palace with her companions, would always pick a spot near the chapel so that every now and then, without being noticed, she might stop by the chapel door, kiss the lock, and say to Jesus, "My Jesus, I am playing, but I am not forgetting You. Bless me and my companions. Goodbye."

My Heavy Cross..........November 14

He Has Loved Us All

O Divine crucified One,

when my strength leaves me,

when the cross weighs heavily upon me,

I fall,

do Thou raise me up.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini......November 13

SANCTITY

"Sanctity does not consist in doing great and conspicuous things, but in doing well all that Jesus desires of us."

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

First US citizen to become a saint.

Read about St.Frances Xavier Cabrini

Blessed Sacrament.........November 12

"You may be sure that of all the moments of your life,

the time you spend before the divine Sacrament

will be that which will give you

more strength during life

and more consolation at the hour of your death

and during eternity."

St. Alphonsus

Blessed or Happy..........November 11

Happy are the pure of heart for they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God.

Happy are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake; the kingdom of heaven is theirs....

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward

will be great in heaven.

Matthew 5:8-10, 12

Good Shepherd..........November 10

"My Jesus, how good it is to love you!

Let us be as two friends,

neither of whom can every bear

to offend the other. "

St. John Vianney

Quote from the book,
"101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

Pray for Children..........November 9

Jesus with Children

"Pray also for your brothers and sisters
and for all the children of the world,
especially those who are poor and hungry.
Pray for those who do not know Jesus
and for those who are alone and sad."

Pope John Paul II

Tenderness of Mary..........November 8

If you are looking for the Lord, you will find Him. Go to your "tender mother". She will lead you to her Son.

French translation - "The Tenderness of Mary. Mary is my Mother. How could I not love her"

Sacred Heart of Jesus..........November 7

"The sacred heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure."

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's vision of Jesus

Salvadore Dali "The Last Supper"..........November 6

"We are in heaven

when we are at Mass."

Scott Hahn

Cowboy with Rosary..........November 5

"My soul, it is good

to seek God as one who is hidden,

for you come very close to Him

when you see Him as being higher

and deeper than anything you can reach."

St. John of the Cross

Holy Family..........November 4

"Love is giving of oneself for another."

Blessed Fulton J. Sheen

The Virgin..........November 3

"If you meet the Virgin on the road,

invite her into your house.

She bears the word of God."

St. John of the Cross

French translation -

"King of Holy Patience, teach us to suffer with Thee."

All Souls Day..........November 2

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a continuation of Our Lord's sacrifice on the Cross. His sacrifice on the Cross, merited our redemption. And the sacrifice of the Mass applies the fruits of Calvary to souls on earth and in purgatory.

"The dead are aided by alms, by the prayers of the Church, and by the Sacrifice of the Mass."

St. Augustine

German translation -

"Lord, grant them eternal rest, and may eternal light shine upon them!"

All Saints Day..........November 1

I will not be able to respond to any comments for another day. Please continue to leave remarks for the inspiration/enjoyment of other viewers. Thank you all.

The Saints are the sinners

who keep on trying.

All in heaven are saints.

The picture to the right is from the dust jacket of a book by my very good friend, Fr. Eugene Carrella. The book is titled HOLY CARDS by Barbara Calamari and Sandra Dipasqua.

May all the Saints in Heaven pray for us.