The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a holy day of obligation celebrated every year on December 8. The word immaculate comes from the Latin word immaculatus, meaning free from spot or stain. With the date being so close to the birth of Christ, those new to the faith or young worshippers sometimes confuse this day as one where we celebrate Jesus’ conception. This day, also called the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, focuses on Mary’s conception, not Jesus’. Mary is given the title “Immaculate,” because from the beginning of her existence—from her conception, she was spotless and pure. She was born without original sin.

What is original sin?

Being born with original sin means we inherited the sin committed by Adam and Eve when they ate the forbidden fruit. The Vatican describes original sin as, “By his sin Adam, as the first man, lost the original holiness and justice he had received from God, not only for himself but for all human beings. Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called “original sin”. Fortunately, God sent His Son to live among us and to ultimately die so that we could be free from sin and death. He offers us the sacrament of Baptism where we are cleansed of our original sin and reborn as children of God. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols (Ezekiel 36:25). Baptism, however, doesn’t free us from all future sin. We are all tempted and inclined to sin, yet God gives us His grace to try to sin no more. We have the free will to choose to walk with or without Him towards the path of eternal life.

During the mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Church chooses the story of Adam and Eve as the first reading. This particular passage helps us better understand why we celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception. Eve was once pure and innocent, but temptation led her to sin, causing her fall from grace. Blessed Mary on the other hand, is the ultimate example of one who is worthy of being called “Full of Grace,” and “Most Blessed.”

Message of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Blessed Mary was chosen by God to carry Jesus our Savior, and in doing so, she plays a vital role in our salvation. This day is meant to reflect on her unwavering trust in God: “may it be done to me according to your word.” We are also called to truly ponder the many lessons she teaches us—she is the original self-help book author! As Pope Francis said when he addressed the worshippers during the 2013 Immaculate Conception mass, “Let us look to her to be more humble and even more courageous in following the Word of God.” She willingly “received the tender embrace of her son, Jesus—an embrace that gives us life, hope, and peace.”

Perhaps the most important takeaway message from this feast comes from the second reading of the mass. It comes from Ephesians 1:3-6 and tells us, “In Him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of His will, so that we might exist for the praise of His glory, we who first hoped in Christ.” We are reminded that we, too, were chosen by God—just as He chose Blessed Mary—to live a holy life. We should follow Mary’s example of humbling ourselves before God and willingly choosing to live our life according to His holy will. Blessed Mary gave birth to Christ the Savior, and we are called to give spiritual “birth” to the Word of God each day—in our words and actions.
Prayer to the Immaculate Conception

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, 
purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. 
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, 
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. 
Amen.

This candle is also called the “Bethlehem candle” and reminds us of Blessed Mary and St. Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to give birth to our Savior. We recall with awe the words of the Virgin Mary when she learned she would carry the Son of the Most High, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” We honor Blessed Mary as the mother of our Lord. We also remember St. Joseph. As Mary’s spouse and the guardian of our Savior, he had an important role in our plan of redemption. As we celebrate this second week of Advent, let us also remember that Jesus—the King of Kings—was born in the most humble of settings— a manger.
 

As the second purple candle is lit during Advent, let us pray:

Almighty and merciful God,
may no earthly undertaking hinder those
who set out in haste to meet your Son,
but may our learning of heavenly wisdom
gain us admittance to his company.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated on December 6 each year and marks the anniversary of the death of the saint known as the generous gift-giver. Born in the 3rd century, there is not a lot of documented history about St. Nicholas’ life, but after extensive research, historians have been able to amass ample information about this popular saint. St. Nicholas was born in Patara, Lycia, a province of Asia Minor (now Turkey), to wealthy parents. His faith was formed early in his life, with his parents teaching him about sacred Scripture at the tender age of five. St. Nicholas was orphaned at a young age when both his parents died. Although he was left with a great fortune, St. Nicholas decided to use his wealth to help the needy and suffering. Following his faith, he heeded God’s command:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Secret “Santa”

One of the first examples of St. Nicholas’ generosity occurred when a man who was living in the town of Patara, with his three daughters, fell on hard times and lost all his money. He lived in despair knowing that without the customary dowry, his daughters wouldn’t be able to find suitable husbands. Without husbands, he feared his daughters would face a life of poverty or turn to prostitution to survive. St. Nicholas heard about the man’s situation and during one night, filled a bag with gold and secretly tossed it through the man’s window. He provided enough gold so that each daughter had a suitable dowry and all were married. This is one of many instances throughout St. Nicholas’ life that helped him earn the title of magical gift-giver.

Bishop of Myra

When the town of Myra was in need of a new bishop, the clergy and people eagerly appointed St. Nicholas. By then he had earned a favorable reputation for his generosity and his devout faith. During the 4th century, however, Christians were being persecuted for their beliefs under the reign of Emperor Diocletian. They were forced to renounce their faith or risk being tortured or executed. St. Nicholas was known as a defiant, steadfast follower of his faith; He preached to masses, especially the children and converted sinners. Soon, he was imprisoned by the magistrates where he was tortured and chained. During that time, St. Nicholas continued to defend the church doctrine and would not relent. He was eventually released from exile when Constantine became emperor and brought Christianity to his empire. St. Nicholas continued to spread the teachings of the Scriptures. He became a kind father figure to all, especially the poor, orphaned children. He also took a strong stand against paganism that was spreading at the time, even destroying the pagan temple of Artemis.

Over the years, many stories and legends have been told about the extraordinary life and good acts of the man who would evolve into the jolly good-natured man in a red suit we know today. Here are some of his most impactful stories:

St. Nicholas Revives Three Children

In this story, made popular throughout the Middle Ages, St. Nicholas was said to bring three murdered children back to life. Whether legend or true, the story goes that an innkeeper robbed and killed three children and kept their bodies in the cellar of the inn. St. Nicholas—who was traveling at the time—stopped at the same inn for an overnight stay. During the night, he had a dream about the crime and prayed earnestly to God that the three children be restored to life. By God’s power, they were indeed brought back to life. As a result, St. Nicholas became widely known as the patron and protector of children.
St. Nicholas Saves Sailors from a Tempest

There are many stories of St. Nicholas coming to the aid of sailors in times of trouble at sea. One of the most famous is the story of when St. Nicholas traveled to the Holy Land to visit the place where Jesus once walked and lived. On his return from his voyage, he and other sailors encountered a violent tempest. Fearing for their lives, the sailors went to Bishop Nicholas for comfort. St. Nicholas began praying to God for His protection and to the amazement of all, the seas suddenly calmed and they safely journeyed home. This and many other stories have earned St. Nicholas the title of patron saint of sailors.

The Santa Claus Connection

Over the years, in honor of St. Nicholas’ generous gift-giving, the tradition of giving gifts to children, especially on December 6, took hold. The Dutch later brought the custom of “Sinterklaas” to the American colonies around the 17th century. The Santa we know today with his twinkling eyes, white beard, and red suit took shape in the 19th century thanks to authors such as Washington Irving and Clement C. Moore. Moore’s iconic The Night Before Christmas, published in 1822, depicts Santa in his sleigh flying with the help of his reindeer over houses on Christmas Eve.

St. Nicholas died December 6, around 342-343 AD and his remains are housed in the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Puglia Italy. It’s been reported that after his death, his remains exuded sweet-smelling oil, called “St. Nicholas Manna.” Many have sought these oils for their healing abilities.

Hi, and welcome to Saint Feast Days in 60 Seconds from the Catholic Faith Store. Saint Barbara was the daughter of a Pagan man who worshiped false Gods. She was very beautiful and he had her enclosed in a tower, locked away, from the snares of men. During this time in the tower she secretly became a Christian and vowed virginity. During one of his absences, she had a third window put in the tower to honor the Holy Trinity. And even adorned her bath with a cross.

The Father of Saint Barbara Was Not Happy

When her father returned home to see this, he was very angry and sent her in front of
the Magistrate who found her guilty and tortured her. Her father was the one that actually took up the sword and cut off her head. Saint Barbara is the Patron Saint against death from fire, explosions and many other things. We at the Catholic Faith Store thank you for watching our video. We hope you have a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

Each year the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday before Advent, also known as the last Sunday of the liturgical year. As Catholics, we’ve been recognizing Christ as our King for over 2,000 years. Each time we attend mass, genuflect in front of the altar, or receive a sacrament, we are honoring our King. So why do we have a special day set aside to remember our King? The man who holds the answer is Pope Pius XI who, in 1925, was compelled to institute this feast.

At the time of Pope Pius XI’s papacy, the world was in turmoil. In many regions, people were facing the spread of dictatorships. These dictators had a stronghold on their countries and many people following them, regarded them as mighty, almost idol-like beings. In addition, the threat of secularism, atheism, and agnosticism was running rampant throughout parts of Europe, Russia, and Mexico. Pope Pius XI witnessed with great heartbreak a lack of reverence and belief in Christ. He felt a strong need to put a stop to the anti-Catholic sentiment that was becoming a crisis during the first part of the 20th century. On December 11, 1925, the pontiff presented an encyclical, Quas Primas, establishing the Feast of Christ the King. He stressed that

“The manifold evils in the world are due to the fact that the majority of men have thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics…”

He went on to explain the importance of recognizing Christ as King:

“He [Jesus] is the author of happiness and true prosperity for every man and for every nation. A nation is happy when its citizens are happy. What else is a nation but a number of men living in concord? If therefore, the rulers of nations wish to preserve their authority, to promote and increase the prosperity of their countries, they will not neglect the public duty of reverence and obedience to the rule of Christ… With authority derived not from God but from man, the very basis of that authority has been taken away, because the chief reason of the distinction between ruler and subject has been eliminated. The result is that human society is tottering to its fall, because it has no longer a sense and solid foundation.”

When Pope Pius XI speaks of Christ as King, he isn’t speaking about authority or domination, but service. Jesus’ kingship is one that represents salvation, one that annihilates hatred and evil. He doesn’t want to control us, He wants to save us. He speaks of a spiritual kingdom. “My kingdom is not of this world… But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36) While governments and leaders around the world crumble throughout history, Christ’s reign will never fall.

Celebrating Christ the King Today

Today, just as in 1925, our world continues to experience turbulent times. In addition to political unrest and ongoing threats of wars, people are becoming increasingly more secularized and more materialistic. Church attendance throughout the world is also on the decline. Many people are pushing Christ aside as they tend to more “important” matters. Some may not even realize they are doing it. We live in a society where many individuals are caught up in their own lives, with getting their own needs met and focusing on wealth and possessions. The Feast of Christ the King is a wakeup call for all of us, to stop and assess our lives. Are we including our faith in all the decisions we make? Do we only remember to pray when we need something? When we attend mass do we actively listen to the Scripture readings and reflect on the messages? When we genuflect, do we do it with meaning and awe, or are we only going through the motions?

This year, the Feast of Christ the King is November 23. Let the words of Pope Pius XI resonate with us:

“He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls.”

November 13 is the day the Church celebrates the feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Often described as frail and diminutive, St. Frances Cabrini achieved much in her 67 years and leaves behind an impressive resume of accomplishments, including founding the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and establishing nearly seventy orphanages, schools, and hospitals, throughout Europe, North, South, and Central America. In 1946 she became the first naturalized US citizen to be elevated to sainthood. Each Catholic saint leaves their special mark on the church. Let’s take a look at the life of St. Frances Cabrini—the patron saint of immigrants—and the indelible mark she leaves behind.

The Life of Francesca Cabrini

Francesca Cabrini was born on July 15, 1850, in the village of Sant’ Angelo in the Lombardy region of Italy. The tenth of eleven children, Frances’ road to a religious life was paved at an early age. Her father, Agostino, was deeply devoted to his faith and hoped to instill his beliefs in his children. He would often read stories about missionaries to his children, which had the most impact on young Frances. In her free time, she would pretend her dolls were nuns serving the underprivileged. When she would visit her uncle, a priest who lived near a canal, she would craft paper boats and place violets in them. The violets were her “missionaries” that she would sail off in her paper boats to tend to the poor in “faraway lands,” such as India and China.

At 18, Frances received her teaching certificate and applied for admission to the Convent of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart in the hopes of teaching in the Orient. Her application was refused on account that at the time she was suffering from poor health. The nuns feared she wouldn’t be able to handle the rigors of travel and the demands of teaching in poor countries. Frances decided she would devote her life to lay service, instead. As time went by, Frances’s health greatly improved and her ambitious personality and her passion for serving others was noticed by many. She tried reapplying for admission into the same convent, yet again was refused. The reason? Father Antonio Serrati, the rector of the parish the convent belonged to, believed her talents should go beyond the walls of the convent and the small town she resided. He had more ambitious plans for Frances and sent her to the nearby town of Cadogno, where she would be in charge of restructuring an orphanage (named House of Providence) that was in total disarray.

At the age of 24, Frances was faced with a huge undertaking, yet she worked quietly and diligently for the next six years and successfully reestablished a thriving orphanage. During this time, she took her vows and finally became a nun. Frances added Xavier to her name, in tribute to the Jesuit, Francis Xavier, who evangelized in the Orient. But Frances was met with many challenges, including jealous opposition from the founder of the orphanage—a wealthy laywoman. Eventually the orphanage was shuttered, believed in part due to the erratic behavior of the founder. Frances and seven other nuns were now homeless.

St. Frances Cabrini’s Unwavering Faith

Always unwavering in her faith, and living according to her personal motto: “I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him,” Sr. Frances was on to her next mission.

“I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him,”

The bishop of the town of Lodi sent for Sr. Frances and asked her to establish a missionary order for women to serve in his diocese. She gladly accepted and moved into an abandoned building with several nuns and soon began receiving orphans, established a school, and eventually named the order of the growing nuns she trained, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. From that moment on, St. Frances Cabrini’s life work of establishing orphanages, schools, and other institutions throughout the world began.

The Success of the Missionary Sisters

The success of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart was tremendous and word soon spread throughout the region of Mother Cabrini’s (as she became known) talents and intrepid personality. At the request of many, she established another mission in the town of Cremona and a boarding school for girls in Milan. Within seven years, seven institutions of various kinds, each founded to meet some critical need, were in operation, all run by nuns trained under Mother Cabrini. Funding these institutions was difficult, yet Mother Cabrini and her nuns worked tirelessly to raise money—from teaching needlework and selling embroidered fabrics, to tutoring children.

Even with all of her successes and many responsibilities, Mother Cabrini still felt the need to fulfill her desire of becoming a missionary in a faraway land. It was during this time (the late 1880s) that many Italians were immigrating to the US and South America in the hopes of leaving the poor conditions of their native land for a better life in the “New World.” Yet, as was typical of new immigrants, the Italians endured much cruelty and difficulties in their attempt at establishing a new life. A bishop in New York wrote to Mother Cabrini describing the prejudices and poor living and working conditions the immigrants were subjected to, and urged her to help by establishing a mission in New York to help the poor Italian immigrants. Satisfied that her institutions in Italy were thriving, Mother Cabrini set off along with a few nuns to New York to continue her missionary work in a “faraway land.”

Going Door to Door to Help Those In Need

With the help of a wealth Italian woman, Mother Cabrini was able to purchase a home, refurbish it, and began tending to immigrants in need. Soon they started taking in orphans. Setting up an orphanage was one thing, running it was another. Feeding and clothing the growing number of orphans was a challenge. Mother Cabrini and the nuns soon became familiar figures in the Little Italy section of New York going door-to-door and from store-to-store asking for any donations of food or money. Mother Cabrini spent the next several years traveling back and forth from Italy and New York tending to each institution, school, and orphanage making sure everyone’s needs were being met. Her energy was boundless and her desire to do God’s will of helping the poor, the orphans, or anyone in need was unwavering.

As more nuns eagerly joined her order, Mother Cabrini continued to reach out to those in need. Whether she was setting up a dormitory for poor students in Rome, or establishing a home on the west bank of the Hudson in New York for destitute immigrants, Mother Cabrini and her team were unstoppable.

Over the next several years, armed with her deep faith and willing groups of nuns, St. Frances Cabrini founded an all-girls school in Nicaragua as well as schools in Argentina, Panama, Paris, England, Brazil, and Spain; set up housing for the poor Italian immigrants in New Orleans, Louisiana; founded an orphanage and school for the children of Italian immigrants working in dangerous mines in Colorado; and established hospitals in New York, Chicago, and Seattle.

St. Frances Cabrini Becomes a US Citizen

In 1909, while in Seattle, Washington, Mother Cabrini fulfilled her desire to become an American citizen. Like a bird always in flight, Mother Cabrini lived the rest of her days traveling between the US, Europe, and Central and South America serving those in need. Mother Cabrini died suddenly on December 22, 1917 while making preparations for a children’s Christmas party at the Columbus Hospital in Chicago.

St. Frances Cabrini was canonized a saint on July 7, 1946. The remains of the tiny woman, who realized her dream of tending to the needy in faraway places, are housed at the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in New York City.

True or False:

All Saints’ Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church?

If you guessed true, you’re right! In the United States, the Church celebrates six Holy Days of Obligation—feast days when Catholics are mandated to attend mass. The other five Holy Days of Obligation are: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God; The Ascension of Our Lord; The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; and Christmas. (FYI: Easter isn’t usually listed as a Holy Day of Obligation because it always falls on a Sunday—the day Catholics are already obligated to attend mass). The feast of All Saints’ Day is celebrated every November 1. As one of only six Holy Days of Obligation, let’s take a moment to learn about the history and the significance of this day.

The History & Significance of All Saints Day

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) defines a saint as, “persons in heaven who lived lives of great charity and heroic virtues and who are worthy of imitation.” As the name implies, All Saints’ Day, or the Solemnity of All Saints, is a day to recognize and honor ALL the saints–known and unknown—in heaven. It’s also a day to thank God for sending these chosen, holy individuals into our lives to show us how to live a truly virtuous, righteous life.

This day also serves as a reminder that the saints are available to us to serve as our intercessors before God. We can pray to them for whatever needs we may have and see God’s divine mercy work through them. They are our spiritual “tour guides” and advocates on our journey of life.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of this day is to remind us that we, too, are called by God to live a life of holiness and to learn how to pave our own path to sainthood. You, me, anyone can be a saint. While only a select few actually become saints, we are all called to live our lives as saints. What does that mean? The Lumen Gentium, one of the principle documents of the Second Vatican Council, says it best: “we must follow in His [God’s] footsteps and conform ourselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. [We] must devote ourselves with all [our] being to the glory of God and the service of [our] neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.”

If you think trying to live like a saint is impossible, remember that like us Saint Therese of Lisieux, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Benedict, and many other saints endured immense suffering during their life on earth—they suffered from depression, were persecuted, physically and emotionally battered, and struck with illnesses. They were all human and as such, many of them had a great number of flaws—they were sinners and were tempted by the devil—just like us. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (who is on her path to becoming a saint) even doubted her faith throughout much of her life and doubted if God existed. What distinguishes a saint from a “regular” person is his or her ability to believe in the word of God and His promises even in the midst of trials and difficulties in their lives. Although they are suffering in mind, body, or spirit, they never stop trying to live the life God chooses them to live. As the Our Father prayer says, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

History of All Saints’ Day

Historians have traced the history of the feast of All Saints’ Day in the Western Church back to the seventh century, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Roman Pantheon to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs on May 13, 609 or 610. The feast was observed each year on this date until the pontificate of Gregory III (731-741) when he changed the date of observance to November 1. It was on this date that Gregory dedicated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter’s to “All the Saints.” Throughout the eighth century worshippers fluctuated between celebrating All Saints on May 13 and November 1. In 835, Gregory IV formally ordered the Feast of All Saints to be universally observed on November 1.

Who are the most popular saints?

While the exact number of saints dating back to the early Church is uncertain, the number is believed to be in the thousands. Search any book on saints and there’s a patron saint for virtually every ailment, conflict, or state in life. From accountants and widows to drivers and those afflicted with a disease, there is a saint that can intercede on the behalf of many. While each saint has his or her special place in our faith, there are some saints who have had a distinct impact on the Church and are popular among the devoted. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops offered a list of “10 Saints Who Were Great Evangelizers.” They are:

• Saints Peter and Paul
• St. Jerome
• St. Augustine
• St. Patrick
• St. Francis of Assisi
• St. Ignatius of Loyola
• St. Francis Xavier
• St. Juan Diego
• St. Daniel Comboni
• St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

This November 1, don’t just sit back and admire the lives of saints. Rather, strive to actively imitate how they lived their lives. They have gone before us and have paved the way, leaving behind many valuable life lessons for us to take on our journey of life.

On November 17, 2013, Pope Francis gave some sage medical advice to the thousands in attendance at the Vatican, “I want to recommend some medicine for all of you.” Holding up a box that looked like a prescription packet of pills, he urged the people, “Don’t forget to take it,” he said. “It’s good for your heart, for your soul, for your whole life.” What was it? It was a box containing rosary beads and is what the pope described as being, “spiritual medicine.”

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. This simple string of 58 beads joined together with a cross has been the weapon of choice of many saints, popes, and religious figures in the fight against sin, temptation, war, and evil. Pope Francis gave some examples of when the “medicine” should be taken: “When we want sinners to convert, when we feel we need help in making a difficult decision, or when we do not feel strong enough to resist temptation, when we are not able to forgive someone or we want to ask for mercy for a dying person.”

The intercessory powers of the rosary

The intercessory powers of the rosary have been shown time after time throughout the past 2,000 years. One of these examples is recognized on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary which is celebrated each year on October 7. Previously known as Our Lady of Victory, this day honors the great victory of the Christians in Europe in their ability to defeat the Turkish Ottoman Empire in its conquest to form a Muslim empire in the area.

In 1571, Pope Pius V recognized the significant threat of the Turkish Muslim’s takeover and assembled a fleet under the direction of Don Juan of Austria. In addition, the pope urged all the faithful throughout Europe to repeatedly pray the rosary and to ask Blessed Mary for her intercession and for the protection of Christianity. Even the men fighting the battle carried rosaries and prayed to the Blessed Mother. On October 7, 1571, although the Christians were outnumbered, they defeated the Turkish forces in the Battle of Lepanto and the demise of Christianity to the area was avoided. The following year, Pope Pius V establish October 7 as the day to give thanks to God for His protection during the battle and to remember Blessed Mary for her powerful intercession. Pope Pius V believed the “arms” of the Rosary were more powerful than the cannons and the soldiers’ honorable fight.

The practice of dedicating the month of October to the Holy Rosary gained popularity during the papacy of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903). He greatly encouraged the daily recitation of the rosary as a way to honor our Blessed Mother. The Pope was so passionate about the rosary that he wrote 12 encyclicals (documents or letters written by the pope to the public) on the rosary. These encyclicals focused on the value of the rosary and on its role within the Church and society. In these encyclicals, the pope made frequent reference to the constant struggle the Church found itself battling: “violent storm of persecution, which in many parts of the world, has been unleashed against the Church, depriving it of its liberty, saddening it very cruelly with calumnies and miseries of all kinds, and making the blood of martyrs flow again and again.” He urged all followers to not despair, but to find solace under the protection of our Blessed Mother. He reminds us that the Scriptures tells us, “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” One of the best ways to “knock” and to seek Blessed Mary’s refuge is by praying the rosary. As St. Irenaeus expressed, “she has been constituted the cause of salvation for the whole human race.”

15 Graces From Praying The Rosary

The power of the rosary is so great, even Blessed Mary herself urged the children at Fatima during her apparitions,

“Recite the rosary every day to obtain the peace for the world and the end of the war (World War I).”

Blessed Mary revealed the 15 graces those who dedicate themselves to the rosary will receive:

1. To all those who shall recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.
2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary shall receive some signal grace.
3. The Rosary shall be a very powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin, and dispel heresy.
4. The Rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it will substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world, and will lift them to the desire of heavenly and eternal things. How many souls shall sanctify themselves by this means!
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Those who shall recite my Rosary devoutly, meditating on its mysteries, shall not be overwhelmed by misfortune. The sinner shall be converted; the just shall grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who recite my Rosary shall find during their life and at their death the light of God, the fullness of His graces, and shall share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I shall deliver very promptly from purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.
10. The true children of my Rosary shall enjoy great glory in heaven.
11. What you ask through my Rosary, you shall obtain.
12. Those who propagate my Rosary shall be aided by me in all their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity shall have for their brethren the saints of heaven during their life and at the hour of death.
14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are all my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Although the Battle of Lepanto was fought more than 400 years ago, the threat of war hasn’t subsided. Other evils such as sin and temptation are constant battles we must all fight. Today, more than ever, we need to pray to our Holy Mother for her constant intercession. Remember to pray the rosary not only in October, but every day.

Saint Faustina & The Divine Mercy

“You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.”

“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!”

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

It seems rather harsh, but St. Joseph of Cupertino—the man canonized a saint in 1767—was once referred to by his Franciscan brothers as “Brother Ass.”

Why?

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“As we are under great obligations to Jesus for His Passion endured for our love, so also are we under great obligations to Mary for the martyrdom which She voluntarily suffered for our salvation in the death of Her Son.”

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“In my soul, I feel just the terrible pain of loss, of God not wanting me, of God not being God, of God not really existing.”

It may surprise many that these words would ever be uttered by Blessed Mother Teresa. But they were; Blessed Mother Teresa often wrote letters to a few trusted friends and spiritual directors expressing how she doubted her faith and felt completely abandoned by God at times throughout her lifetime. Blessed Mother Teresa’s personal letters were gathered by Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk as part of his investigation into the cause for her elevation to sainthood. Continue reading

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!


Leader: Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, 


All: That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.


(Optional)
 Leader: Let us pray.


All: O God whose only begotten Son by his life, death, and Resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant we beseech thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hail Holy Queen Laminated Prayer Cards 25 Pack

Mary and Infant Jesus are displayed on the front of the prayer card and they are each wearing a crown signifying their royal place in Heaven. The back of the card has the prayer Hail, Holy Queen!
Prayer cards sold in packs of 25 per order.
Cards are laminated for durability.
Designed with a gold accent border.
Made and designed in Italy from Fratelli Bonella Artwork.
Measures 2.5″‘ X 4.5″

Click here to learn more about the Hail, Holy Queen Prayer Card

One of our very creative customers created this crucifix using a handmade wooden cross and a Risen Christ statue.
He attached the Risen Christ to the wooden cross and made it into an Risen Christ crucifix. He will be adding this piece to an auction to help raise money for their church.

Risen Christ Statue, Hand Painted, Marble Composite – 25″H

The Risen Christ statue is a stunning piece to mount on your wall. Christ wears red and white garments and His arms are outstretched. He is a one of a kind remarkable masterpiece created to worship and to be a constant reminder of our faith. The marble composite material is strong and sturdy and compatible for indoor or outdoor use.
The Risen Christ statue was hand crafted with detailed contour lines and many exquisite characteristics. A contrasting color palette complements the statue beautifully.

• The statue is made from a high quality hand painted marble composite material.
• The statue is built from Master Italian artisans with the utmost attention to detail.
• This statue is suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
• The dimensions of the statue are 20″L x 3″D x 25″H.
• The statue is handmade in Italy.

Click here to find out more about the Risen Christ Statue

She is lovely and was perfectly packaged. She is now in our memorial garden at Christ Church Episcopal, having been blessed this past Sunday. Thank you for the excellent workmanship and care. Here are a few pictures..the base isn’t cracked in the first photo…our priest blessed her and trickled some holy water over her! We are very glad to have her..she was placed in the Garden on the occasion of my husband’s one year anniversary of his death.

Many parishioners have had their ashes interred there now and Kirk, my husband, was instrumental in seeing that the Garden happened several years ago. Continue reading