Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano

I posted this other years. I decided to post it every year now, as long as I remember! It's worth some solemn meditation.

Lament of St. Nicholas by Paul Murano
('Twas the Week Before Christmas - in Contemporary America)


‘Twas the week before Christmas and throughout heaven above

the angels and saints were proclaiming God's love

“Nicholas”, called Jesus, “Faithful servant on earth

it's time for children to celebrate my birth

Go on and inspire the parents of these

to all of their hearts I now give you the keys”

Yes Lord! cried Nicolas with the greatest of joys

I love helping out with their clothes and their toys

But most of all Lord what I work for these days

is leading their minds back to you and your ways

So he started his mission, this jolly ol’ soul,

to the homes of God's children, the young and the old

The trees were in place and the candy canes hung

but he stared at the fireplace as carols were sung

Something's wrong! said the saint, as it paused his delight

Less than half of the stockings are hanging this night!

I see cars, DVR's, home computers, and more

but I hear not the laughter that I heard once before!

So he checked his list twice but it just didn't jive

there were many more children that were meant to be alive

Reality of Contraception & Abortion

Dear Lord, cried St. Nicholas with a voice of surprise

Many children are missing! as the tears filled his eyes

Oh Nicholas my servant, I thought that you knew

in many heart$$ green has replaced pink and blue

And Nicholas, said Jesus with a sad solemn voice

in the past 40 years this is what they've called "choice"

Then He took the saint's list and divided it thrice

and revealed the true meaning of naughty and nice:

This first group has children I could never create

my people used barriers and drugs with their mate

The second are the children that had never been born

from the wombs of their mothers they were taken and torn

And the third group are now all the children on earth

they're the ones that did make it through conception and birth

Oh Jesus I'm sorry! ol' St. Nicholas cried

This shouldn't be happening - they forgot why You died!

Help me to show them how to be brave

like the poor Virgin Mary giving birth in a cave!

I Am the hope many don't know, Jesus said

so go forth dear St. Nicholas – my light you must spread

'Twas the week before Christmas and St. Nicholas did pray:

Merry Christmas to all ... and to all a new day!

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Photo and color scheme were added by me.


image - http://dontbuytheabortionlie.blogspot.com/2011/02/contraception-is-not-solution.html

SIXTEEN PAIRS OF CATHOLIC SAINTS WHO WERE FRIENDS IRL

A lovely depiction. Worth the read and the memorizing.  :)

Click here.

Canonization of Louis and Zelie Martin - and Italian priest Fr. Vincent Grossi and Sister Mary of the Immaculate Conception

From the Manchester, NH, Diocese:

Today [October 18, 2015], Pope Francis will canonize, Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. They are the first married couple who were not martyrs to be canonized. Their faithful and lifelong witness to being Christian was rooted in relying on God's grace and engaging in the works of mercy.  http://www.catholicnh.org/faith/features/canonization-louis-zelie-martin/

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As seen in the image above, Louis and Zelie had several other children, many of whom were called to the religious life. To learn more, go to:

Pope officially paves the way for Saint Therese's parents to be canonized

                                         

Pope canonizes first married couple in modern times

Pope Francis: Four new saints point to humility - not worldly power

image - http://www.catholicnh.org/faith/features/canonization-louis-zelie-martin/

Another Trip to St. Anne Shrine in Sturbridge (Fiskdale), MA

This week, I will be visiting St. Anne's Shrine in Sturbridge, MA again.  I love going there for a mini-retreat.  It is a little gem nestled on a hillside next to St. Patrick's Parish.  I think they are actually in Fiskdale, MA.

St. Anne's has a Russian icon museum, which is precious and worth the visit.  "Nearly all were icons that were in Russian homes and used in family devotions until the aggressively atheistic Soviet regime made possessing them dangerous and prejudicial to one's social advancement." - the web site


"About Saint Anne Shrine: St. Anne Shrine is a sacred place, dedicated to St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pilgrims and Visitors come to the Shrine seeking physical and spiritual healing, and in this peace-filled atmosphere they find hope, strength and comfort for themselves and their loved ones.

The natural beauty of the grounds, the Way of the Cross, the Lourdes Grotto, the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) and many other prayerful places provide an ideal setting for contemplation and meditation."

I will try to bring back pictures!

Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, MA

The monks at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, MA, have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  One of them, Brother Joseph Maria, built a chapel named after her.  It is about 0.6 mile from the main house, down a hill and up on a knoll in the woods.  He built it during midday breaks when the other brothers were taking naps.  I believe one of the stones used to form one of the walls, is from the Tepeyac desert, which is outside Mexico City and is where Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego back in 1531.

The chapel on the knoll in Still River, MA is a beautiful site to behold.  Every year on the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, i.e., December 11, the brothers and members of their extended community make a pilgrimage there.  Everyone assembles in front of the main house after dinner, and they either walk down the hill, or they take a hay ride to get there.  Those who walk go past candles placed along the path to lighten it up.  They also trudge through mud if it is or has been raining.  Either way, boots are recommended.

Either way, everyone gets a taste of an earthy pilgrimage like those made to Lourdes, Fatima, or Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.  The walk back up the hill adds a challenging dimension to the trek.  It can be deeply spiritual.

In line with Benedictine hopsitality, the brothers serve home made brownies and hot chocolate.

The pilgrimage will be held again this year, on Sunday evening, December 11, 2011, 7:30pm. 
Please come.  If you want more information, feel free to contact me.

“Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ,
for He is going to say,
'I came as a guest, and you received Me' (Matt. 25:35).
And to all let due honor be shown,
especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims." (Rule of Saint Benedict 53:1)


image - http://www.marypages.com/GuadalupeEng1.htm

Fighting The Good Fight

This is one of those times I am really grateful for the Catholic Faith I have.  I am in a nice rhythm with my routine.   I am religiously (no pun intended) doing my Rosary every day, as well as other prayers.  I am going to Adoration in the area.  I am relaxed with my home/work balance.  And my Catholic friends keep me fresh in my practice by being great role models.

It is not always this way.  There are times when my Faith feels like a burden, when life is too much to bear.  It weighs heavy in my body.  I don't do my Rosary every day.  I skip Adoration.  I even skip Sunday Mass at times.  :-(   And lastly, my friends seem like saints with whom I can never compare.  At least that is what my brain starts saying.

I know the dark phase can be put to good use.  I know I can draw more closely to Jesus then.  But, I have to say, I enjoy the lighter phase much more and I am happy to be there right now.  As you can tell, I have a long way to go before I am a Saint who truly knows the joy of suffering.  :-)

Here are some of the prayers I pray.  The picture shows praying hands, but very often, I am walking, or baking, or straightening up the kitchen counter and saying these to God as I go.

Personal One-Line Prayers
Jesus, help me with my devotion to Mary.
Lord Jesus, help me.
Lord Jesus, what do You want of me today?
Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Have mercy on me.
O Mary, Queen of Peace, bring peace to all of us who reside in this upside down world.
Joseph, please watch over my sons, in particular, my older one for whom you are his patron Saint.
O Mary, conceived without sin, please pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Personal Version of St. Ignatius' Suscipe
.
Lord, Jesus Christ, please take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding and my will.  All that I have and cherish, You have given me. 
I surrender it all, to be guided by Your will.
Give me Your love and Your grace, and I ask for nothing more.  Amen. 
 .
The Memorare [I think this prayer played a part in my recent heightened interest in Mary.  It's in blue for Our Lady  :-)  ]
.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Your wounds hide me.
Separated from You, let me never be.
From the wicked one, protect me.
At the hour of my death, call me,
and bid me close to You, that with the Saints
where I can live and reign with You forever and ever.  Amen.
images - http://www.monkrock.com/index.cfm?load=page&page=36
http://www.popchurch.net/category/prayer/
http://acatholichomejournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/solemnity-of-mary-mother-of-god.html

Visual Chart - Saints for the Month of August

Cover Page

A Facebook friend of mine posted a link to this reference of Saints for the Month of August.  I like the visual chart of all the days together. 

You need a Facebook account to view it.  Click here

Place your cursor over each picture and you will see the date.  Click on it, and you will get to the magnified view of each saint's writeup.  I am not too keen on that arrangement.  It would be easier to use if the dates were visible right upfront on the chart.

Overall, though, I like it.

 For the other months, click here


image - https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/albums/?id=100001152848859