*Meditate..........February 28

"Jesus told me that I please Him best
by meditating on His sorrowful Passion,
and by such meditation
much light falls upon the soul."

Saint Maria Faustina

On the card are words written by Abbe (Father) Henri Perreyve, a French priest who suffered and died at about age 34 in 1865:"I adore Thee, Lord Jesus, expiring on the cross for the salvation of all men. I adore Thee and I love Thee, dying for my salvation."

*Spiritual Visit....................February 27

Keep HIM company this Lent

"When you awake in the night,

transport yourself quickly

IN SPIRIT

before the Tabernacle,

saying: Behold, my God,

I come to adore You,

to praise, thank, and love you,

and to keep your company

with all the Angels."

St. John Vianney

(At the top:)"The meeting-place of reverent souls"(At the bottom:)"Come to me, all you who toil and collapse under the burden of your sorrows, and I will give you relief!"

*Charity..........February 26

" It is by the path of love,

which is charity,

that God draws near to man, and man to God.

But where charity is not found,

God cannot dwell.

If, then, we possess charity,

we possess God,

for "God is Charity" (1John 4:8)

St. Albert the Great

*Ash Wednesday..........February 25

Encore, Repeat, Again, Once More

first used February 6, 2008

"Let us receive them (ashes) in a spirit of humility and penance, that by this powerful sacramental we may obtain from almighty God the blessings which the Church implores in the act of blessing them. For, truly, "God overlooks the sins of men for the sake of repentance."

Picture and words above taken from THE SAINT ANDREW MISSAL

*The Dormition of Mary..........February 24

"Mary is my great treasure.

She is my All after Jesus.

She is my honor, my tenderness,

and the storehouse of my virtues!

I do everything in and through her."

St. Louis Grignion de Montfort

Prayer - O Mary, you are our greatest treasure after Jesus. Help me to prize you above everything, remain united with you, and reach your Son Jesus through you.

Above taken from MARY DAY BY DAY.

*Be Ready....................February 23

"A man must always be ready,

for death comes when and where
God wills it."

St. John Nepomucen Neumann

(At the top:)
"CHRISTIAN TEARS"
(At the bottom:)
"I believe, Lord, that Thou art the Resurrection and the Life ... and that he who believes in Thee will live, even if he should die ... and that whoever believes in Thee will not die forever ... . Yes, Lord, like Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, I believe this, and, like them, I confess, by shedding tears over this beloved grave, that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who has come into this world to save us and to provide a glorious Resurrection."

*Respect Human Life...........February 22

O Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Holy Family of Nazareth, model of all Christian family life, protect family life today.

May our families abide by your laws, O Lord, and say as your Mother did..."Let it be done to me as you say."

Lord, grant to mankind the wisdom to respect human life at every stage of its development. Grant to our families the knowledge that riches, the values of this world, are not what is essential for temporal and eternal happiness.

Excerpts from A WORLD AT PRAYER

*Holy Spirit..........February 21

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

The inspiration of the Holy Spirit

is heard only in silence.

*Prayer for Priests..........February 20

Prayer for Priests

..........Give us truly holy priests who,

inflamed with the fire of Thy divine love,

seek nothing but Thy greater glory

and the salvation of our souls.

And thou, Mary, good Mother of priests,

help all priests in their trials and difficulties

and with the loving hand of a Mother,

guide them through the changes of their holy vocation.

Amen

Latin words mean, "You are a priest for ever."

*Guardian Angelsl..........February 19

"We are like children ,

who stand in need of masters

to enlighten us and direct us;

and God has provided for this,

by appointing His angels

to be our teachers and guides."

St. Thomas Aquinas

The German quotation is a translation of Psalm 91, verse 11: "For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways." [RSV]The German quotation is a translation of Psalm 91, verse 11: "For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways." [RSV]

*Value Christ..........February 18

Christ is not valued at all

unless He is valued above all.

St. Augustine

French words: (At the top:) " The

Eucharistic Life of Jesus through the eyes

of faith"

(Around the halo:) "Father, Friend, Counselor, Light, Physician, Priest, Victim, Savior, Helper, Advocate,Confidante, Spouse, ): I am here...to console Thy Heart, to cheer Thy spirit, to strengthen Thy weakness...and especially to be Thy helper in Thy duties toward my Father...toward Thyself."

*True Light of Jesus..........February 17

The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin

carried the True Light in her arms and brought Him

to those who lay in darkness.

We too should carry a light for all to see

and reflect the radiance of the True Light

as we hasten to meet Him.

St. Sophronius

*Presidents Day..........February 16

"To sin by silence

when they should protest

makes cowards of men."

Abraham Lincoln

The words on the card come from Psalm 76:8

and are referring to the judgement

of God.

*Eucharist..........February 15

"In prayer

it is better to have

a heart without words,

than words without a heart."

John Bunyan

*Valentine's Day...............February 14

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Today, let us give our hearts to Mary.

She will then give them to Jesus.

All for Jesus, through Mary,

for world peace

Queen of Peace,

pray for us.

*Queen of Peace..........February 13

"There is no doubt whatever

that all the praises we address to the Mother

are also addressed to the Son and vice versa.

We cannot do honor to the Son

without at the same time

giving glory to the Mother.

St. Bernard

*Temptation..........February 12

"The trouble with opportunity is

that it only knocks.

Temptation kicks the door in.

Anonymous

*Our Lady of Lourdes..........February 11

"In no other spot as much as Lourdes do we feel so impelled toward prayer, forgetfulness of self, and charity. The most fervent are attracted to a life more totally offered to God's service.

The less fervent become aware of their tepidity and rediscover the way of prayer. Hardened sinners and unbelievers are often touched by grace."

Pope Pius XII

Words spoken by Mary at Lourdes

*Indwelling Christ..........February 10

"Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water.

Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which He imparts to us."

Sadhu Sundar Singh

*Sacrament..........February 9

Two holy cards commemorating the receiving of two sacraments. First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.

(double click picture to enlarge)

*El Greco's Madonna...........February 8

"Mary has a great desire to be invoked by us so that she may dispense her favors to us in greater abundance.

So true is this that she is offended not only by those who speak ill of her but also by those who neglect to ask for her graces."

St. Bonaventure

Holy Family-Detail of Madonna

El Greco (1541-1614 Greek)

*I Know Not...............February 7

I know not by what methods rare,

But this I know, God answers prayer.

I know not when he sends the word,

That tells us fervent prayer is heard;

I know it cometh, soon or late;

Therefore, we need to pray and wait.

I know not if the blessing sought,

Will come in the way I thought;

I leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own.

Author - Eliza M Hickok

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN by Ernest C. Wilson

Thanks to a comment given by Anonymous.

Click on "comments" to read the entry.

*Feast of St. Paul Miki..........February 6

Nagasaki, Japan Martyrs

"The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain. "

( St. Paul Miki)

God our Father, source of strength for all your saints, you led Paul Miki and his companions through the suffering of the cross to the joy of eternal life. May their prayers give us the courage to be loyal until death in professing our faith.

*Feast of St. Agatha........February 5

Endowed with great beauty.

Resisting the solicitations of the governor her breasts were

torn by his order but healed by St. Peter, who appeared to her in her prison.

Her body was then rolled on pieces of broken poetery and on burning coals. She prayed after they returned her to her cell and then expired.

After death the virginal veil which covered her tomb held up the torrents of burning lava rushing down from Etna threatening to ruin the town.

"Invoke St. Agatha to preserve our homes from fire and to extinguish through the spirit of penitience, the impure flames that consume our bodies and our souls."

Taken from St. Andrew Daily Missal

*Global Mission..........February 4

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God."

John Stott

*My Wishes..........February 3

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

French words:[In Our Lady's halo:]

"Her power is as great as her love."

[At the bottom, based on the words of Jacob to the angel that wrestled him, in Genesis 32:26 ...]

"O very holy Mother, I will not let you go, unless you bless me."

*Presentation of the Lord..........February 2

ENCORE, REPEAT, AGAIN

This is a post that fit the bill the first time

around and I thought it should simply

"come around again"

Mary, wishing to obey the Mosaic law, had to go to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of Jesus to offer the prescribed sacrifice.

O almighty and everlasting God, we humbly beseech Thy majesty; that as Thine only begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, so too Thou wouldst grant us to be presented unto Thee with purified souls.

Picture and words above taken from THE SAINT ANDREW DAILY MISSAL

*Beuron, Salve Regina..........February 1

Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above,

O Maria!

Hail, Mother of mercy and of love,

O Maria!

Triumph all ye cherubim!

Sing with us ye seraphim!

Heaven and earth resound the hymn!

Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

*St. John Bosco.........January 31

"Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you."

St. John Bosco

Read about Saint John Bosco

*Hummel, Mission Mary........January 30

"Place yourself in Mary's hands;

she will think of everything and provide for the needs

of soul and body.

Therefore, be at peace,

be at complete peace,

with unlimited confidence in her!"

St. Maximilian Kolbe

*Rest in Peace..........January 29

"The bitterest tears shed over graves

are for the loving words left unsaid

and kind deeds left undone.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Latin words:

"Hail, O Cross, the only hope!"

*St. Thomas Aquinas..........January 28

"A man who works with his hands is a laborer;
a man who works with his hands and his mind is a craftsman;
but a man who works with his hands and his brain
and his heart is an artist. "

St. Thomas Aquinas

Read about St. Thomas Aquinas

*In the Folds of Her Mantle.........January 27

" Listen and let it penetrate your heart....do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?"

Our Lady of Guadalupe

German words:
"Immaculate Queen of peace, pray for us!"

*Charity..........January 26

"Charity may be a very short word,

but with its tremendous meaning of pure love,

it sums up man's entire relation to God

and to his neighbor."

St. Aelred of Rievaulx

*One Month Ago Today..............January 25

Are you still celebrating Christmas?

"Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit remaining like a baby in the bosom of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ."

St. Paul of the Cross

*Feast of St. Francis de Sales.......January 24

"Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and fearful imaginings. Trust in the Giver of all good gifts."

St. Francis de Sales

Read about St. Francis de Sales

*Bird in His Hands.........January 23

Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.

Henry Van Dyke

*Mary in Prayer..........January 22

"The value of persistent prayer is not that God will hear us, but that we will finally hear God."

Unknown Author

*Feast of St. Agnes..............January 21

"Christ made my soul beautiful
with the jewels of grace and virtue.
I belong to Him whom the anels serve."

St. Agnes

Read about St Agnes

*His Divine Presence..........January 20

Be sure to click on the holy card for an enlargement that shows it's true artistic beauty.

"It is happiness to be in heaven, no doubt,

because it is to be with Jesus;

but have we not almost the same happiness here?

Do we not possess Him in the Most Holy Sacrament? Did we but know how to profit by His Divine Presence, we should in some way have no reason

to envy the inhabitants of the Heavenly City."

Marie Estelle Harpain (1814-1842)

"ELEVATION OF THE CHALICE -- One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water." (John 19:34)

*Our Lady of the Catechism........January 19

The seeds of first instructions are dropped into the deepest furrows.

Martin Farquhar Tupper

*Jesus is my Everything..........January 18

"There are so many religions and each one has

its different ways of following God.

I follow Christ:

Jesus is my God,

Jesus is my Spouse,

Jesus is my Life,

Jesus is my only Love,

Jesus is my All in All;

Jesus is my Everything."

Mother Theresa

French words at bottom of card:

"Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee."

*Shepherd of Youth..........January 17

"A Shepherd of tender youth,
Guiding in love and truth,

Through devious ways;

Christ, our triumphant King,

We come Thy name to sing,

And here our children bring,

To shout Thy praise.

St. Ambrose

*Birds..........January 16

"God loved the birds and invented trees.

Man loved the birds and invented cages."

Jacques Deval

Obviously God didn't "invent" trees and caged birds are man's way to enjoy God's nature indoors. Maybe what the quote could mean is that we shouldn't hold within us (caged) the good we can share with others as God has shared His world with us??????

*The Mass..........January 15

"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit

if people had it offered in their lifetimes,

rather than having it celebrated

for the relief of their souls after death."

Pope Benedict XV

It has come to my attention while searching for the source of this quote that there needs further explanation.

Please read this page

I'm leaving the quote up because I still think it is a good idea but certainly doesn't come with any guarantees.

*St. Joseph..........January 14

At the end of the day,

Thank God.

“ Some saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others, but our holy patron, Joseph , has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.

St Thomas Aquinas

French words, at top and bottom, have this meaning:

"Heed St. Joseph.

At the end of the day,

thank God for the good that He has sent you."

*Jesus in Cradle Silhouette....January 13

Can you see what the silhouette is?

Announce to the nations,

"The Lord is King!

The world stands firm,

never to be shaken,

and he will judge its people

with fairness."

Psalm 96:10

"The Word of God became man;

we have seen his glory."

John 1:14

*Embrace, Turn, Hold and Beg..........January 12

"Embrace him, the one you have sought;

turn to him, and be enlightened;

hold him fast, ask him not to go in haste,

beg him not to leave you."

St. Ambrose

Latin words (which are from a translation of Psalm 116, verses 12 and 13):

"What return shall I make?

I shall accept the chalice of salvation,

and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord."

*Baptism of the Lord..........January 11

"And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And behold a voice from heaven, saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

(Matthew 3:16,17)

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

One God, the father of all."

Ephesians 4:5-6

*Key of David..........January 10

John the Evangelist, wrote that Christ is the One "who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."

(Revelation 3:7).