St Joseph Our Spiritual Father

Today is the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker! 🙏🙏🙏

I came across this beautiful, holy book in an interesting, surprising way. On January 27, 2020 my son Constantine had his First Reconciliation. We attended Mass that morning and he was greeted happily by the daily morning Church goers. His First Confession was heard right after Mass. It seemed like a split second that he went in and out of the confessional.

On a whim I asked Father if he had time to hear my confession. He graciously said yes. I spoke about things that pulled at my heart especially about the challenges of parenthood. He asked me to start praying to St Joseph for guidance and patience. He also asked me if I had a scapular. I told him that I had lost mine. He then quickly took his off and gave it to me. What a most wonderful gift offering! I received it with much gratitude.

The next day my son and I went to Adoration. We hadn't gone in a while but it was really special to see the Lord and to give thanks. Something interesting happened to me. We were not seated closely to anyone. Also, the poinsettias were placed at the altar far away from us. A beautiful fragrance as if the scent of roses swept by two distinct times while we were in the chapel. What another beautiful gift for me to ponder!

That same week I was flipping through my Facebook account. I paused to read about Fr Donald Calloway's newest book Consecration to St Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. Somehow I was drawn to learn more. I thought what perfect timing. I took Father's advice and decided to make the book part of my Lenten journey.

I'm so grateful that I did. This book has been such a joy and contribution to me. I warmly invite fellow Catholics, Christians and those who are curious about the Faith to get the book. It is an intriguing, delightful book to be cherished for years to come and to be shared with loved ones as well as an awesome opportunity to become close the most powerful saint after Our Blessed Mother.

Dearest St Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, Mirror of Patience, Model of Workmen, Pillar of Families, Hope of the Sick, Patron of the Dying, Terror of Demons, Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us!

✝️ Get the book here: https://amzn.to/2YwczJv

Our Lady of Fatima and the Rosary

This picture was taken at my father in law’s memorial service over two years ago. He passed peacefully on the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima on May 13, 2017. This is the most beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima I have ever seen.

I love the following quote by Sister Lucia because she is saying that everyone can pray the Rosary. No one is excluded. Religion or religious sect has no bearing. Our Blessed Mother asks everyone to participate. This quote is so fitting because today is the 102nd anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in which the sun “danced” witnessed by at least 70,000 people in Fatima, Portugal.

“All people of good will can, and must say the Rosary every day. Why? In order to put ourselves in contact with God, to thank Him for His benefits and ask for the graces we need. It is the prayer which places us in familiar contact with God, like the son who goes to his father to thank him for the gifts he has received, to talk to him about special concerns, to receive his guidance, his help, his support and his blessings.” -- Servant of God Sister Lucia

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima may we remember to pray often especially the Most Holy Rosary and may we always be thankful for all the graces Our Lord bestows upon us.

Jim Caviezel and the Holy Rosary

This picture was taken this past summer with Fr. Fred Mannara, the pastor of the Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, New York.  My family and I had just met Fr. Mannara the day before at a Macedonian festival!  Father warmheartedly and graciously invited us to visit his beautiful parish that seats at least 1400 people.  And so we took him up on his invitation.  He was so surprised and excited to see us the very next day for Sunday Mass that he asked us to bring up the gifts and stay after Mass for a personal tour.  What a wonderful day full of blessings it was!

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary so I would like to share my favorite Rosary quotations on Sundays.  I really am drawn to Jim Caviezel's talks and message.  Here is part of a presentation he did in the spring.

"I believe Jesus wants the full truth about Mary - that she is the world's Spiritual Mother, the Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix, to be proclaimed by the present Pope, so that Our Mother can utilize her 'full power' of intercession to bring peace, true peace, to the world.

My friends in Jesus and Mary, the present world scene is one of unprecedented moral breakdown, natural disasters, and even greater global threats of war and terrorism are now looming in our midst. The power of Satan is evident, no matter where we turn. Our whole world is in desperate need of the peace of Jesus Christ. And his peace, both spiritual and global, will only come to us - as it did originally - through the person of Mary, our Mediatrix and Advocate!

At Fatima, Our Lady promised that 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph... and a period of peace will be granted to the world.' Let us trust in these words of Our Lady. Let us pray, especially before our Eucharistic Jesus, for true and lasting world peace through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of All Peoples.

She will keep her promise, but we must do our part. As St. Bernard has written, and as I have seen in my own life: 'You will not go astray if you follow her... you will not get lost if you call to her. If she is holding you by the hand you will not fall. If she is protecting you, you have nothing to fear. You will not grow weary if she is at your side.' But you must reach out to her.

My brothers and sisters, be faithful, call out to your Mother, pray the Rosary for world peace! Adore Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and Heaven will respond!

Before I leave you, this path will not be an easy one for our bishops and laity who accept this challenge and the fight to fulfill the will of God is never easy... but from God's gospel and Mother Teresa's personal creed, they echo this sentiment: Blessed are you when people hate you... when they exclude you and insult you... and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.' In the final analysis, it is between you and God... it was never between you and them anyway."

- From Jim Caviezel's presentation delivered at the World Day of Prayer for Peace through the Mother of All Peoples, Amsterdam, June 1, 2019

I wish you peace and love this holy month of October.  God bless you and your families!

What This Death Row Prisoner Who May Soon Be Canonized As A Saint Can Teach Us

“May your love draw down upon you the mercy of the Lord, and may he let you see that within your soul a saint is sleeping. I shall ask him to make you so open and supple that you will be able to understand and do what he wants you to do. Your life is nothing; it is not even your own. Each time you say ‘I’d like to do this or that,’ you wound Christ, robbing him of what is his. You have to put to death everything within you except the desire to love God. This is not at all hard to do. It is enough to have confidence and to thank the little Jesus for all the potentialities he has placed within you. You are called to holiness, like me, like everyone, don’t forget.” -Venerable Jacques Fesch (in a letter to his mother)

I was reminded this morning about the word I chose for this year when I read this article (see below). I had chosen the word “holiness.” It’s about the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son and Venerable Jacques Fesch. I’d never heard of Blessed Jacques Fesch before but I was drawn to his story. I love what he says above, “You are called to holiness, like me, like everyone, don’t forget.” It doesn’t matter where we are in this life. If we’ve failed ourselves, our families, our society, Blessed Jacques Fesch teaches us that it’s never too late. As long as we’re living we can change. We can do better. We can beat the odds. We are meant for much more. 
Many times I gain inspiration from the saints. They help me pause and remember what my purpose is. After all the saints are our friends and they are in heaven constantly rooting for us. Peace, love, and good health.

https://aleteia.org/…/meet-the-death-row-prisoner-who-disc…/

*The picture above is of the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida.

Ash Wednesday

It's very rare for me to be up by 6:00 or 6:15 in the morning.  I've never been an early bird.  But yesterday morning was different because it's the start of the Lenten season and my family and I attended Mass for Ash Wednesday.  Even our five year old had to get up! 

There were two takeaways from the priest's homily.  He said, "You are dirt!"  We are reminded of Original Sin and that we are a sinful people.  Our bodies will die but our souls will live forever.  

I really resonated with the second takeaway.  Father said, "Prayer is like breathing.  It is necessary."

Prayer really needs to be our everything and I think it's the perfect Lenten activity to start again with God if someone's been away from the Church or feels like they're just going through the motions because they have to.  One young lady who I am health coaching picked the word "prayer" for her word theme for 2018.  Prayer is the best way to tighten our relationship or lack of relationship with Jesus.    

The saints can teach us how to pray.  Not only did St. Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney spend countless hours in the confessional reconciling people to God, these two holy priests had such a deep, rich, unwavering relationship with Jesus and Mary.  

I love this beautiful quote by St. Jean Vianney.

My little children, your hearts, are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God.  Through prayer we receive a foretaste of heaven and something of paradise comes down upon us.  Prayer never leaves us without sweetness.  It is honey that flows into the souls and makes all things sweet.  When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun.

Doesn't that sound so poetic?  Let us open our hearts to our loving Father and let us do all that we can to make this Lent the best Lent ever so that one day we may enter into His everlasting embrace.

“You are dirt!”

“Prayer is like breathing.  It is necessary.”

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