The Rosary is taken from the Latin word “rosarium” which means “crown of roses” or “garland of roses.” To us members of the Catholic Faith, the Rosary is a form of prayer that we use along with its namesake prayer beads. When referring to the prayer, the word Rosary is usually capitalized and when talking about the beads, the lower-case form is used.

Devotion to the Rosary is one of the most distinguishable features of popular Catholic spirituality. The Rosary inspires us to meditate on the mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary. Meditation is an important of our lives as Catholics. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, meditation “engages thought, imagination, emotion and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart and strengthen our will to follow Christ.”

The Rosary is a devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary. It is made up of a set number of prayers. At the start of the Rosary are the introductory prayers which are composed of one Apostle’s Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Mary’s and one Glory Be.

In the 16th century, Pope Pius V established the standard fifteen Mysteries of the Rosaries which are grouped into three, the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Glorious Mysteries. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added a set of five to the existing fifteen mysteries and these became known as the Luminous Mysteries. Today, the total number of mysteries is twenty. 

The Luminous Mysteries include the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, the Wedding at Cana, Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist.

Through Mary, we are led to a closer relationship with her son, Jesus. The Rosary is an invitation for us to present our needs to God and to love Him more. When we recite the twelve prayers that form the decade of the rosary, we need to deeply reflect on the mystery associated with that decade. Simple recitation, whether vocally or in silence, is not enough because we miss the true essence of the prayers.

Praying the Rosary therefore is not just simply about reciting prayers. It involves reflecting on the grace of God. Praying is a powerful act that lets us develop and strengthen our relationship with God and the Rosary offers the same beautiful reward. By praying the Rosary, we meditate on the events in the life of Jesus Christ and this lets us know God more.

When we are unaware of the meditation aspect of the Rosary, we reduce the prayer to an empty, repetitive and meaningless gesture. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus Christ forbids us to practice prayer in meaningless and repetitive babbles. It is precisely the reflective nature of the Rosary that distinguishes it as a powerful and profound way of praying.

Rosaries are not just beads or a prayer that we recite during the month of October. Many spiritual battles have been won because of this symbolic act. Many hearts have been touched and many discouraged people have been uplifted because of the Rosary.

How do you plan to celebrate the month of Rosary? What is the significance of the Rosary in your personal life? How did it strengthen you in your walk of faith?

The Early Life of St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Teresa of Calcutta was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje which is now the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. The youngest child of Nikola and Drane Bojaxhiu, she was named Gonxha Agnes at birth. Her name, Gonxha, means “rosebud” or “little flower” in Albanian.

St. Teresa’s father died in 1919 when she was only 8 years old and this left their family in financial straits. Their mother raised the family in a firm yet loving household which would significantly shape St. Teresa’s outlook and, later, her vocation.

From an early age, St. Teresa became interested in the stories of missionaries and their ministry in Bengal. At 12 years old she was deeply moved to devote herself to a religious life and this conviction was later reinforced when she prayed at the shrine of the Black Madonna of Vitina-Letnice.

St. Teresa’s Life as a Teacher

St. Teresa of Calcutta joined the Sisters of Loreto at Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham, Ireland, at the age of 18. She wanted to learn English so she could become a missionary in India as this was the language of instruction used by the Sisters of Loreto in the region. She would not see her mother and sister again.

In 1929, St. Teresa arrived in India and began her novitiate in Darjeeling, in the lower Himalayas. It was here that she learned Bengali and started teaching at St. Teresa’s School near the convent. She took her first religious vows on May 24, 1931 and chose to be named after Therese de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. A nun in the convent had already taken the name Therese so she chose the Spanish spelling, Teresa.

On May 14, 1937, St. Teresa took her first solemn vows. She had started teaching at Loreto Convent School in Entally in Eastern Calcutta, a vocation that would last for almost two decades.

St. Teresa loved her role as a teacher, serving with a joyful spirit, courage and unselfishness. However, she was increasingly shaken by the poverty that afflicted Calcutta. Furthermore, when the Bengal famine of 1943 broke out, she witnessed widespread death and suffering in the city.

The Call Within a Call

On September 10, 1946, St. Teresa traveled from Calcutta to Darjeeling for her yearly retreat. During the train ride, she felt a deep longing to help the poor and the needy, an experience she described as a “call within a call.” Jesus sparked a fire in her heart to help those who were less fortunate.

St. Teresa of Calcutta began her missionary work in 1948. She adopted Indian citizenship and stayed in Patna for several months. There she immersed herself in the harsh realities and undertook basic medical training at Holy Family Hospital. St. Teresa would wash the sores of sick children, care for a sick old man lying on the road and nurse a woman sick of tuberculosis and malnutrition.

Before attending to the needs of the less fortunate, St. Teresa founded a school in Motijhil, Kolkata. A group of young women would join her at the start of 1949 and she would begin the first steps in establishing a new religious community which focused in giving support to the “poorest among the poor.”

The new congregation of the Missionaries of Charity officially began in the Archdiocese of Calcutta on October 7, 1950. The congregation would, in St. Teresa’s own words, care for “the hungry, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”

What began as a small group of only 13 members transformed into an extraordinary community. By 1997, the congregation was made up of 4,000 sisters who looked after orphanages, hospices and charity centers around the globe.

St. Teresa’s exemplary work would soon capture the attention of the world. Numerous support and recognition for her work began to pour in. She received the Indian Padmashhri Award in 1962 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. More media groups followed her activities which she humbly performed “for the glory of God and in the name of the poor.”

The Final Years of Sta. Teresa’s Life

She would finally resign on March 13, 1997 and died on September 5 that same year. Even though St. Teresa’s earthly journey has ended, her legacy and inspiring story continue to shine as a beacon of light even in the darkest places on earth. The government of India gave St. Teresa a state funeral and her body was buried in the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity. Today, her resting place draws in many people of all religions, races and economic backgrounds, all of them seeking inspiration and hope in her life and story.

St. Teresa of Calcutta is a mother to the poor and an enduring symbol of compassion and inspiration in a world in need of light.

Sainthood for Mother Teresa

On September 4th, 2016, Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint. In his homily, Pope Francis reminded the world of the power of her life's work “Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded.”
 
Saint Mother Teresa is the patron saint of World Youth Day, Missionaries of Charity.

How has her story touched you?

The Early Life and Education of St. John Marie Vianney

St. John Marie Vianney was born on May 8, 1786 in the French town of Dardilly, France. He was the fourth child in a humble family of six children born to Matthieu Vianney and his wife, Marie. The Vianneys were devout followers of the Catholic Faith and helped the needy. Marie was responsible for leading St. Vianney into the religious life.

The turbulence of the French Revolution marked St. Vianney’s childhood. The anticlerical zeitgeist of the times made it a dangerous time for religious people and many priests were forced into hiding. They conducted their ministry in secret, risking their lives in the process. 

St. Vianney was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI and was made the patron saint of parish priests. His feast day was added to the General Roman Calendar to be celebrated on August 9. This date was later moved to August 4, the day of his death.

The life and vocation of St. John Marie Vianney shows us the importance of our role in the spiritual transformation of our communities. St. Vianney was able to transcend over his limitations and humble beginnings to become an exemplary priest who changed his town and even the world. 

Every July 31, we commemorate the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the patron saint of the society of Jesus, soldiers, educators and education. In time for this celebration, let us look back to his story and find inspiration in it.

What part of the story of Saint Ignatius de Loyola touched you the most?

Which of his qualities do you admire the most?

"Where I try to raise my thoughts to heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. Love — the word — it brings nothing. I am told God lives in me — and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul."

1. It's Weaponized

2. It's About Relationship

When you are cementing a friendship or falling in love, investing time in the relationship is the only way to get it off the ground. The same applies to getting to know God. Why would we want to spend eternity with Someone we ignored during our entire earthly lives?

This time together allowed the children to see how their beloved dad labored, allowed Dad to see his children learn and work together, and gave dad and kids the opportunity to create something meaningful together.

This example of a human father warmly inviting his children to spend time with him reminds us of our Heavenly Father always seeking and beckoning His children to spend time with Him.

4. It Improves Focus

The Deceiver loves nothing more than our frenetic pace, perpetual distraction, and dopamine highs because they relegate prayer to the bottom of the barrel.  We need silence to hear God's voice speaking in our hearts, and we require quietness to wholeheartedly funnel our thoughts toward the Lord. Remember Mother Teresa's simple summation of the domino effect of silence:

"The fruit of Silence is prayer. 

The fruit of Prayer is faith.

The fruit of Faith is love.

The fruit of Love is service.

The fruit of Service is peace."

How do we attain that first step, silence, in a world that won't stop talking? Carve it out and create it. Find a time of day which is most conducive to a tiny retreat into peace and block out all electronics and distractions.

At first, it may seem disconcerting. You may feel fidgety, as though you should be doing something or looking at something. But as you build the habit, you will find yourself craving that time alone with God. A vital component of any conversation is silence. If we jabber throughout prayer, when does He have a chance to get a word in edgewise?

Be a good conversationalist and allow the Lord time and space to reply. Our Lord Himself instructs us,

Robert Cardinal Sarah's compelling new book, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise, will alert you to the internal and external noise in your life and will motivate you to gain control over your focus and your priorities.

Simply put, Jesus didn't recommend that we pray.

He didn't suggest that we pray.

He clearly instructed us to pray and even helpfully provided us the perfect prayer, the Our Father. Not only did Jesus tell us how to pray, He modeled it by living constantly in deep communication with The Father. You can take the first step to a powerful prayer life with the "Jesus prayer":

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Start now!

What Does the Blood of Jesus Represent?

realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

The blood of Jesus is mentioned many times in the Bible and it manifests in many traditions in the Catholic Faith such as in transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ during the celebration of the Eucharist. There are many symbols and meanings associated with the blood of Jesus and one of them is redemption.

All this sounds hopeless and depressing but this only makes Jesus Christ’s sacrifice more meaningful. Jesus was sent to the cross in order to take our place. As Catholics, we therefore look upon the blood of Jesus as a symbol of our redemption from the wages of sin.

How Do Catholics Celebrate the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus?

Catholic doctrine teaches us that the blood of Jesus Christ is part of His sacred humanity. His humanity and blood are worthy of our adoration because these unites Jesus with the Divine Word. We venerate the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Wounds of Our Lord for these same reasons.

​Pope Francis' ecumenical program of outreach to encourage church diversity has included an invitation to Hereford Cathedral Choir to make history by being the first Anglican choir to sing at a Papal Mass since the English Reformation in the 16th century.  The choir performed alongside the choir of the Sistene Chapel at Saint Peter's Basilica on June 27th, 2018.  The event is part of the ​program leading up to the Holy Mass held on June 29th, 2018 for the feast day of Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.  The Holy Mass ​was one of the biggest events of the year at the Vatican and the choir also performed there in Saint Peter's Square.

​We're extremely fortunate to have a behind the scenes look through amazing photographs taken by Tenor Choral Scholar Mark Murphy Laseter, who has kindly given us permission to profile them. Mark will shortly be moving on to study for his Masters in Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame.

​Mark was fortunate enough to capture wonderful photographs of His Holiness Pope Francis before he led the Holy Mass at Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican.

​You can ​watch the entire Holy Mass in Saint Peter's square for the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul held on June 29th, 2018, courtesy of the Vatican.

​The transcript of the homily of His Holiness Pope Francis at the Holy Mass and Blessing of the Sacred Pallium for the New Metropolitan Archbishops on the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles​.

View homily

​All photographs reproduced by kind permission of Mark Murphy Laseter.

​Statement by Hereford Cathedral - Official Hereford Cathedral visit statement and Choir Perform For The Pope

​News article by BBC News - BBC News report about Hereford Cathedral Choir visit to Rome

What food did Almighty God provide for them every morning? Bread.

What did Christ multiply for the hungry crowds who had gathered to hear Him teach? Bread.

Jesus's Shocking Truth - Bread is the Staple of Life

Following the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in the Gospel of John is one of the most flabbergasting passages in the Bible, especially when studied through the eyes of a first century Jew. The Gospels portray Jesus as a pull-no-punches straight shooter, and His use of the phrase "Amen, amen" is always a red flag to carefully heed the Truth He is about to reveal. Jesus, preaching in a synagogue, makes a jaw-dropping claim, choosing this basic staple of life - bread - to demonstrate how He nourishes us for eternity:

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?"

Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?" (John 6:47-61)

Bishop Robert Barron and others, when commenting on this discourse, have highlighted that the original Greek word used for "eat" in the passage literally means "gnaw," so the Jews listening to Jesus make this claim were likely rather revolted.

Why? Isn't Jesus just speaking metaphorically?

No. The Jewish audience clearly understood that Jesus's words were 100% literal. He wasn't employing allegory, metaphor, or spiritual symbolism. He unabashedly meant that they must gnaw on His flesh to have life within them. The Jews in the synagogue at that moment - Scriptural experts and followers of Jesus - understood the implications of His words and rejected this teaching as too difficult to accept.

As St. John Chrysostom (Doctor of the Eucharist) reminds us, "You may not doubt the truth of this; you must rather accept the Savior's words in faith; since He is truth, He does not tell lies."

Words Matter

Consider the exegesis of these Church Fathers on the transubstantiation from bread to Body:

But when words pour forth from the lips of Jesus, they ARE Truth.

They are the PERFECT words.

They ARE power.

As Catholics, we, like the first century Jews, wholly believe Jesus when He said: This is My Body. This is My Blood. Simply by uttering the words, Jesus makes it so. Only God Himself can transform the substance of simple bread into His very Body. Only God can transfer that authority down through each of His priests so that He can feed us 2000 years later.

Jesus requires us to celebrate and re-present His sacrifice as often as possible in this unbloodied form so that He can feed us throughout time ("Do this in memory of Me."). Jesus did not mean to feed his Apostles only once at the Last Supper, but desires to satisfy our eternal craving with His Body, from generation to generation.

Jesus expressed His deep longing to feed the physically hungry in His midst with simple bread while He walked the earth, but even deeper is His desire to continually feed our souls and His Church and to save us through true Communion with Him: consuming and becoming one with Him through the Bread of Life.

These gifts serve as a wonderful reminder of the beauty of the Holy Eucharist.

Holiness Through Ordinary Life

The Life of Saint Josemaria Escriva

As he walked his path to heaven, Josemaria felt the Lord strongly directing him toward encouraging sanctity in everyone, in his or her own state in life. Like another modern saint, St. Teresa of Calcutta, who advocated 'Doing small things with great love,' Fr. Escriva also promoted the perspective that each one of us, regardless of our vocation, can devote our daily duties and sufferings to God, and that is each person's conduit to holiness. We can't get to heaven by following the path laid out for someone else; we must walk – no, embrace! – the path put before us by the Lord. 

The organization had expanded to 80 countries by the time St. Josemaria died in 1975 and has reached 90,000 members today, a tribute to the desire of people to live their Catholic faith fully intertwined with every aspect of their lives. The Opus Dei website describes what it means to strive for sanctity through one's daily work:

It means working like Jesus Christ – working hard and well, honestly, and fairly, in order to love and serve God and other people. People who do that are making their work holy and helping to sanctify the world from the inside. They are making the Gospel present in all their activities, whether brilliant or humble and hidden. In God’s eyes, what matters is the love people put into their work, not its success in terms of money or fame.

Virtues Embodied by Our Saint

Notable leaders must have clear vision, and as founder and leader of this worldwide spiritual organization, St. Josemaria exercised his charisma and energy for God's glory, building this movement one person at a time. 

How Can You Sanctify Your Life?

St. Josemaria and Opus Dei have one goal: to help you become a saint. 

Not through missionary trips halfway across the world. Not through massive charitable donations and selling the clothes off your children's backs. Not through quitting your day job to become a hermit. 

He calls you to unite your interior life with your secular life, to break down the wall between your daily tasks and your prayer life. There is an appealing practicality to this approach. 

God does not require us to abandon our work or our families to find Him; rather, we find Him in the MIDST of work and family. St. Paul exhorts us to 'Pray without ceasing,' and St. Josemaria offers us a way to pragmatically find a way to do just that as we fulfill our quotidian tasks. 

Comment on this post by sharing with others your seemingly mundane tasks that turn into moments of holiness. Is it when you garden, wash the dishes, walk the dog?

Seek Him in the simplest of things!

These products will serve as daily reminders to uplift your perspective on daily life:

Saint Josemaria Escriva Medal

Saint Josemaria Escriva Rosary Heirloom Squared Crucifix

Catholic Teachings on Infant Baptism

Original sin taints every one of us, not just adults but infants as well. Children, therefore, should not be exempted from the sacrament of baptism and must be given the gracious opportunity to experience restoration to a state of grace which is possible through baptism.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1250:

Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  Luke 18:13-14

One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.  Acts 16:14-15

The Catholic Church upholds infant baptism as a precious gift from God. The church also teaches that an unbaptized child who passes away will either end up in hell or in purgatory. With respect to these children, we must trust in God’s mercy and pray earnestly for their salvation.

The Grace of Infant Baptism

Catholic Imagery

History of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts

The devotion to the Sacred Heart began with devotion to the Sacred Humanity of Jesus and to His Passion. His physical suffering on behalf of all of humanity, the shedding of His precious Blood for us, and His burning love for mankind – all of these parts of His Passion deserve a special recognition, an intense attention. St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), an instrumental proponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart, explained why Jesus wants us to meditate on His Sacred Heart:

“This gracious Captain desires that the face and eyes of His devoted soldier should be lifted up to those wounds, that his soul may stand erect and he may draw from the sight strength unshakable. For gazing on those wounds he shall not feel his own….The martyr stands fearless and in triumph…where then is the soul of the martyr? It is safe; it is on the rock; it is in the Heart of Jesus, whose wounds were opened to let it in.”

"The Heart of Jesus is of course distinct from that of Mary and surpasses it infinitely in excellence and holiness. Yet God has so closely united these two Hearts that there has never been and never will be a closer union. "Thus the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Heart of Mary. These two Hearts are but one Heart ... which was given to us by the Blessed Trinity and by our Blessed Mother, so that we, the children of Jesus and Mary, might have but one heart with our Heavenly Father and our holy Mother and that we might love and glorify God with the same Heart, a Heart worthy of the infinite grandeur of His Divine Majesty" (The Kingdom of Jesus).

What do the Images Symbolize?

The images themselves demonstrate the many similarities between the hearts and the sufferings of our Lord and our Blessed Mother, but also differences quite specific to their particular sufferings.

Both hearts are aflame, but the Sacred Heart's burning love is directed toward humanity, and the physical suffering portrayed in His image is for the sake of mankind: the lance wound in the heart, the crown of thorns, the drops of blood. Throughout His physical suffering, Christ remained committed to the Father's mission for Him. This draws our focus to the intense human suffering endured by our Lord on our behalf.

The Immaculate Heart's fire illustrates the burning love Mary has for God the Father and for her Son. Mary's heart, pierced with a sword to remind us of the sorrows she endured silently in her lifetime as Jesus's mother, is ringed with a wreath of roses. The flowers symbolize that, throughout her spiritual suffering, Our Lady remained committed to the humility, obedience, and purity for which we revere her.

How Can We Show Devotion to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts?

There are several ways to honor the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, all of which deepen our fervent dedication to the Faith and shower us with special graces.

When she appeared to the children at Fatima, our Lady bade them to dedicate five First Saturdays to her each year. This practice includes going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, praying the rosary, and meditating on the mysteries of the rosary for 15 minutes. In addition, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary every June 8.

The entire month of June is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The third Friday after Pentecost is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (May and June are rich with Solemnities!). Year-round, we can follow our Lord's own instructions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque: go to confession and receive the Eucharist at Mass on nine consecutive First Fridays. Christ also promised abundant blessings to families who consecrate their homes to His Sacred Heart through an enthronement ceremony.

There are many unique ways to celebrate these feast days, in addition to observing the First Fridays and First Saturdays and consecrating your home and family. You may enjoy incorporating cuisine and handicrafts into your celebration, especially as you create liturgical traditions for your children. These devotions will aid you in meditating on the lengths Jesus went to for your salvation, on our pure Mother Mary, and on making reparation for the pain our world continues to inflict on them through our sin and lukewarmness.

Even a brief snippet of a Marian song gives the listener a sense of how much Catholics revere and are devoted to Mary, the Blessed Mother. Many non-Catholic denominations paint Our Lady as simply an unknowing young girl who carried our Lord in her womb as a vessel carries water, and after the Nativity of Jesus, her usefulness was complete.

Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing,
Who reignest in splendor with Jesus our King. (Immaculate Mary)

Thy name is our power, thy virtues our light,
Thy love is our comfort, thy pleading our might.  (Immaculate Mary)

Our life, our sweetness, here below, O Maria!
Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria! (Hail, Holy Queen)

Advocate and loving mother,
Mediatrix of all grace. (Daily, Daily Sing of Mary)

To put it simply, Mary always leads us to Jesus. The closer we grow in our relationship with Mary, the closer she will bring us to Jesus. Even Martin Luther, leader of the 16^th century's Protestant Revolt, voiced full-throated agreement with Marian dogma:

As the Queen of Heaven, in eternal joy with her Son, no one is a more reliable and powerful intercessor on our behalf than Mary. Just as she first quietly interceded for the wedding hosts in Cana to save them the embarrassment of running out of wine, she quietly intercedes for us, if we so much as approach her and request it. It is the reason Mary is the focus of so much Catholic jewelry - wearing her close brings you closer to Jesus.

To Jesus through Mary!

Surprising Origin of Pentecost

Pentecost was an important celebration for ancient Jews long before the coming of Christ. Translated as 'fiftieth day' in Greek, it originated as a harvest observance 50 days after Passover.  In the newly formed Christian Church, 50 days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended to strengthen workers for His Divine harvest. It is even mentioned in Acts of the Apostles as one of the first feast days of the Church:

"Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus in order not to lose time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if at all possible, for the day of Pentecost" (Acts 20:16).

What happened on Pentecost that made it so important in the early Church and why do we still celebrate it today?

Put yourself into this scene:

Power of the Spirit

"When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim" (Acts 2:1).

This scene was so astonishing that the crowds out in the street accused the Apostles of being drunk early in the day. The Holy Spirit can inspire that kind of radical change when we open up to Him and ask Him to work in our lives, as the Apostles and Mary spent nine days fervently doing.

The Holy Spirit Brought Gifts to the Party

The Holy Spirit didn't just make a dramatic entrance to the Church's birthday party, but He brought gifts. Seven gifts, to be exact: 

These are seven dispositions which Jesus Christ embodied perfectly and which we can only hope to achieve with the help of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to grow in holiness.

Catholic Math

To the seven gifts, we must add the seven virtues, and together these prepare the soil of our hearts for the blooming of the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit. Seven + seven does not equal 12 in arithmetic class, but in Catholic math, it works out divinely! What are the seven virtues?

1. Prudence 

2. Justice 

3. Temperance 

4. Courage 

5. Faith 

6. Hope

7. Charity

Virtues are good habits. When we strive to grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to improve our practice of the virtues, our lives become a living outpouring of the 12 fruits of the Spirit:

charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.

Unity + Diversity

Why does the Holy Spirit distribute such a variety of gifts among the faithful? Because although we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we are all unique. We each have a specific mission and are enabled with the gifts we need to fulfill that mission in the growth of the Kingdom. Pope Francis stated beautifully that,

"The Holy Spirit creates diversity in unity, because in every time and place He gives and nurtures different charisms and graces. And he does so in a way that 'effects true union, according to God’s will, a union that is not uniformity, but unity in difference.'" 

Further, the Pope explains that:

“This is how the word of God describes the working of the Spirit: first He rests on each and then brings all of them together in fellowship. To each He gives a gift, and then gathers them all into unity."

We are each blessed with the gifts we need for the mission, but when we join our gifts with those of others on the same journey, then our diversity and union collaborate powerfully and synergistically.

The Best Leaders Delegate

Pentecost Lives On

Pentecost was an event in history, but what happened on Pentecost continues daily.

When we ask the Holy Spirit for His gifts to do God's will, Pentecost lives on.

When we practice the seven virtues in concert with our God-given gifts, Pentecost lives on.

When others see Christ anchoring our daily lives through the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost lives on.

When young men and women receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, Pentecost lives on.

Keep the flame of Pentecost alive in the world by fearlessly spreading the Good News to a world which desperately needs to hear it!

The patron saint of farmers was a lousy farmer? How is that possible? The life of Saint Isidore the Farmer is a vivid reminder that the Lord works in mysterious ways.

What are the four most important lessons we can learn from this ordinary man who became the extraordinary patron saint of farmers, peasants, day laborers, rural communities?

1. The busier you are, the more you need to pray.

Saint Isidore had his priorities in the right order. As a hired hand who had worked on Juan de Vergas's farm since his teen years, Saint Isidore started his day, every day, with Holy Mass, and then often stayed at the church after the Mass had ended. This did not win him the praise of his co-workers, who often complained to the landowner that Isidore was lazy and wasn't doing his fair share of the work. Isidore wasn't worried about getting his work done, though: the Lord regularly sent angels to do Isidore's work for him while He was at Mass.

Even today, Spanish communities depend on the intercession of Saint Isidore to provide a plentiful harvest and healthy animals.

Imagine the shock on his disgruntled workmates's faces as their pre-occupied Isidore finished his daily work even though he had put in fewer hours than they.

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last" (Matthew 20:16).

2. The Lord elevates the humble.

Isidore, born to a poor but pious Catholic family in Spain, never sought a life of honor, power, or wealth. He was content to work the land; nay, he loved the land! As we see throughout history, the Lord chooses the humble and works through them to let His glory shine. The 400+ miracles associated with Saint Isidore, both during his earthly life and after he went to heaven, demonstrate how Isidore, in his poverty of spirit, gave himself completely to the will of the Father, depending on Him for all and trusting in His Providence unwaveringly, and allowing Him to work Divinely through his humanity.

"God is opposed to the proud but gives Grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

3. The Lord provides for those who give from their poverty.

Isidore wasn't only poor in spirit. As a farmer, Saint Isidore wasn't a wealthy man and barely scraped by with his wife (also a canonized saint!) as it was. But he was known for his unending generosity to the unfortunate. St. Maria Torribia, anticipating that her kind-hearted husband would frequently bring home hungry locals, learned to always keep a pot of stew simmering on the stove. 

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness" (2 Corinthians 9:10).

4. There is honor in work.

Isidore married Maria, a sweet and pious maid servant and together they had a son who died in his youth. Their deeds and devotion are an inspiration for couples everywhere.

In spite of personal hardships, both Isidore and Maria were generous and willing to help needy neighbors and people living in poverty-stricken areas. 

Isidore died on May 15, 1170, a day declared as his feast day. He was canonized on March 22, 1622, the old Roman Rite American feast day. The remains of Isidore and his wife are buried in the main altar of the cathedral of Madrid.

Although Maria was not officially canonized as a saint. She is honored as a saint throughout Spanish countries. Her head is carried in solemn processions during times of drought.

It is certainly meaningful for us Catholics, especially if we belong in a farm family, to l the simple and saintly couple who, like farmers are “partners with God,” in sharing food and shelter with the world.

What Was Saint Isidore known for?

Many wondrous things happened to Saint Isidore as he worked on the fields. His Master De Vargas watched two angels help Saint Isidore while he plowed the field.

This is where the saying “St. Isidore plowing with angels does the work of three farmers” originated.

Reflections on the Life of Saint Isidore

The farmer is the steward of the earth and everything on its surface. He works hard on the fields and is not just accountable for himself but also the needs of the community. The farmer must make sure to produce enough for himself and for others that are depending on the fruits of his labor.

We don’t have to be farmers to emulate the life and example of Saint Isidore. As workers, we can find inspiration in the honesty and sensitive way he performs his work. 

Great things in life require patience, hard work and devotion. Saint Isidore upheld these qualities in everything that he did and so he is a wonderful role model for when we need motivation to persevere.

Whenever we feel discouraged in our work or feel that our responsibilities are too heavy a burden, we can read and reflect on the life of Saint Isidore. We can get lots of inspiration and insight from his story and life.

Prayer to Saint Isidore

Use this prayer as inspiration if you need help with any areas in your life that require hard work.

Source: “1956 Rural Life Prayerbook” (National Catholic Rural Life Conference)

How to Keep the Faith Alive in Catholic Youth After Confirmation

What can we do to keep the Holy Spirit alive and well in our young Catholics? It will take more than tut-tutting and finger-wagging. Keep in mind that using your authority to enforce the faith may very well backfire. Embracing the Holy Spirit on their own, both in Confirmation and beyond is the goal.

Reading Scripture and Spiritual Books (Knowledge and Understanding)

The faith is also abundant with the written works of many devout and spiritual saints. Read catholic based literature, from the Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, these are just some of the resources you can share to your kids as they grow older in their faith. Wisdom from the saints can provide many solid answers to the tougher questions in life they will eventually ask.

Practical suggestions:

• Join or start a Catholic Bible study for your age group.
• Start a family book club and include the lives of saints
• Talk casually about matters of faith, driving to school, at dinner time, before watching TV together.

Sharing Faith through Evangelizing and Works of Charity (Wisdom, Counsel and Fortitude)

Participating in evangelical efforts helps expose children to teachers and missionaries who have experience reaching out to the lost and the unchurched. Their testimonies can serve as great examples of fortitude, where the glory of God is proclaimed even in the face of those who oppose it.

Often, evangelical efforts are also coupled with acts of charity. Charity is an exercise in the gift of wisdom, which is the ability to value spiritual things over worldly goods.

If attachment to earthly wealth is contrary to this wisdom, then it only makes sense to strengthen in through acts of selfless giving.

Practical suggestions:

• Find and join your parish youth groups
• Organize ways for catholic youth to come together in a group activity (a trip, a dance, a speaker, a movie night). Include pizza, it works every time!
• Join a parish ministry and do good for the community.
• Help out on Sunday before or after church in the day care area or with the meet and greet after service.
• Ask you parish director of religious education if there are opportunities to volunteer for First Communion / Reconciliation preparation classes.
• Lead by example and show your enthusiasm for going to Mass on Sunday.

Prayers and Adoration (Piety and Fear of the Lord)

Practical suggestions:

• Ask your child to prepare and lead the family prayer before meals.
• Pray the rosary as a family.
• Organize teens to pray the rosary together before or after Mass once a week.
• Create family time and make a regular Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration.
• Encourage your child to pray for the Saint’s intercession when they are having a difficult time with something (friendships, schoolwork, health issues…)

Take note that these are but some of the many ways you and your children can try as you keep the Holy Spirit alive long past Confirmation. The main point, however, is this: Just as exercise keeps the body healthy, exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit does the same for the soul. Keep on striving to understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit and focus on ways to use them to live a good, Christian life.

Do you have any practical suggestions you can share with our catholic community? We’d love to hear from you!

He was also the one responsible for assembling the alliance of Catholic states to fight off the Ottoman Empire's advancement in Eastern Europe. In 1571, the Battle of Lepanto took place at the Gulf of Patras, where ships from opposing sides aimed cannons at each other and fired them off. Although the Holy League was outnumbered, they were able to defeat the Ottomans, a victory that Pope Pius V attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and went ahead to inaugurate the feast of Our Lady of Victory.

Biography

Pontificate

Pope Pius V's pontificate witnessed him deal with the spread of Protestant axioms in the West, Turkish armies advancing from the east and with the internal reform of the Church. One of the first things he did was to reduce the cost of the papal court and matched it in the same manner of the Dominican Order to which he previously belonged to. He then followed it up by asserting the liturgy of the Mass in particular, and the ceremonial in general. Compelling residence among the clergy was also one of his tactics to ensure that morality and discipline in Rome shall be restored.

Holy League and the Battle of Lepanto

He then instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, to honor the victory. Pius V financially aided in the construction of Malta's capital city, Valetta, by sending his military engineer Francesco Laparelli to organize its construction.

Passing and Consecration

Pope Saint Pius V passed away on May 1, 1572 of what is believed to be caused by cancer. Antonin Cloche, Master of the Orders of Preachers, started the process of Pius V's canonization in 1696. He was beatified by Pope Clement X in 1672 and was eventually canonized by Pope Clement XI, on May 22, 1712.

The Saint’s feast day was then inserted in the General Roman Calendar in year 1713 and is celebrated on the 5th of May, with the rank of "Double." But the date was changed on 1969 and was moved to April 30, one day before his death anniversary. Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman also declared that "St. Pius V was stern and severe, as far as a heart burning and melted with divine love could be so ... Yet such energy and vigor as his were necessary for the times. He was a soldier of Christ in a time of insurrection and rebellion, when in a spiritual sense, martial law was proclaimed.