That little red box holds matches and a little bit of the striking pad or whatever you call it under the lid. |
Recently, as friends — and I and my family — tried to make sense of the sudden death of a young man ready to head off for college, I realized something.
Catholics think about death all the time. Where it seems to me other people really don't. And some Catholics don't either.
Not to be strange about it, but when you honor the saints as part of the day-in, day-out rhythm of the liturgical year, you can't help it.
You think about their deaths, which are their glory. (And every time we pray the Hail Mary we ask for prayers “now and at the hour of our death.” Literally fifty times a day we think about our death, when we pray the Rosary.)
Those whose eyes and hearts are on today, here, now, buying, selling, making, fixing, running, to-ing, and fro-ing, are caught by surprise by a sudden death. It's devastating. How can this have happened? Even the priest, losing his bearings momentarily, confesses… “I can't explain it.”
The hereafter is veiled. We can't see the other side, and the panic takes over.
Our pastor, who said the funeral Mass for the young man, had the Spirit with him. He noted well that eighteen years or ninety years — it's all short and sudden compared to what comes after.
For those of us who have friends over there, beyond death — the saints — it's not so impossible to assimilate the reality that an innocent, loved, young person could be called away. It's very consoling to know that heaven is real, and that real flesh-and-blood neighbors –even if separated from us by centuries and oceans and mountains — lived and loved the Lord with such a passion that the veil became transparent.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith (Heb. 13:7).
Parents, it's up to us to be practical! If we want our children to walk in faith — which means not being caught off guard by death — we have to put the love of the saints into the warp and woof of daily life.
{I hope that I don't have to convince you that just as you try to find good friends for your children, our mother the Church has a treasury of friends for us, and that if we trust her she has only good in store for us. If you have doubts, you can read about the reasons in Scripture and tradition for honoring the saints here.
I've noticed lately that the staunchest Protestants (as in, folks who previously would have argued for the sufficiency of the example of Jesus and against the cult of the saints) are starting to see the value in heroes and role models (“saints”) in the strong men and women who preceded us on the journey.
All I can say is that it's good to know that the Church has done all the research, inquiry, and probing to guarantee that the men and women held up for our edification are in fact what they are said to be. This makes life so easy and sweet. We can use our precious time honoring the saints, rather than vetting them.}
Once you understand the wonder that is the vast array of personalities that make up the communion of saints, it's easy to get fired up to make honoring them a part of our Christian life.
But how to do it?
As a convert, I've struggled over the years to develop this devotion in our family to “the cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12: 1) that surrounds us.
I'm not the best example for you. In fact I often have a sense of coming up woefully short in this as in most things, but then again, I do think that our children have a love for the saints that helps them in their faith.
And maybe in my fumbling experience I can provide that ever-useful figure, the one whose attainments you can easily surpass.
All of you who have this all figured out, I'm hoping you'll be patient here. It's for the rest of us, the easily tired, distracted, and continually late, that I share these thoughts.
Remember putting flowers by your picture of Mary in May? Remember how simple that was?
I really do think that instead of a torrent of ideas and the whole panoply of what can possibly be done, it's ever so helpful to have a simple thought of what suffices. It's good to know that God is pleased with a sincere effort on our part that doesn't necessarily knock us out!
I'm so happy that blogs and sites exist with a million ideas for crafts and special meals and desserts to celebrate the feast days. It means that when I'm up for it or think it will really help, those resources are at my fingertips.
But like a lot of things, it can get out of hand. You walk away from the computer and the basic take-away message gets to be, “I can't do all that, so I just won't do anything.”
Oh dear, no!
An icon triptych from Russia atop a little pedestal the Chief brought home from Haiti long ago. The relic is of Pius X. I found it amongst Grandma's costume jewelry! For an understanding of the tradition of relics, go here. |
Here's the secret to the simple and effective way to help your family love the saints without overwhelming them (or ourselves) with a lot of activity. It's not necessary anyway. I'll tell you how.
Ready?
Get your saint lineup. Then tell the story. Love is all about the story! For the best summaries of the lives of the saints, look them up on Catholic Culture. I'm happy to have their new widget on the sidebar. It'll keep you up-to-date on the saint of the day. All you have to do most of the time is tell the story… at breakfast, at dinner time, before bed.
There are some saints who are givens.
1. Mary, the mother of God — she has several obligatory feast days as well as many other ones. The obligatory ones are… obligatory. Make the most of it. Embrace it. Go to Mass on her feasts with joy.
Put her picture or statue in a prominent place and teach your children to lovingly gaze on her and greet her as their mother. Nothing — nothing — is as consoling to me as a mother as knowing that she is their good mother. Ahem.
2. St. Joseph. Once you meditate on this saint, you will start to know that you cannot live without him.
Joseph is truly the foster-father of Jesus, in the sense that he is the shadow on earth of the Father in heaven.
One of the most lovely books of spiritual wisdom I've ever read is this one:
It will help you start to understand the depths of this saint. If you, like many a modern person, are lacking a true father figure and want to have more devotion to God the Father — for healing as well as for adoration — I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's something to read in little bits, quietly, without rushing.
3. The angels. The archangels — Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael — and the Guardian Angels. Each has its feast day (well, the Guardian Angels are all on one.) Teach your children the Guardian Angel prayer — the way to learn a prayer, by the way, is to say it for a week as a family. This one is great for waking up or bedtime:
Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
4. The Apostles. What glorious fathers in faith. We owe them everything. Their feasts are solemnities! Donuts after Mass, meat on Fridays!
5. The patrons of each member of your family. If you have a name like mine, go with your middle name (Deirdre is named after an Irish queen and her name means sorrow, so since her middle name is Marie — like mine — we celebrate her name day on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, September 15).
How to celebrate a name day? In our house, to keep things simple and not make me insane doing the things that I think should be done rather than what can be done, we give a small —small — gift, a little surprise on the dinner plate — and usually a dessert beloved by the recipient or a favorite meal.
October 7th was Rosie's name day feast — Our Lady of the Rosary, since her full name is Mary Rosaleen. Just because she's a married lady expecting her own child, she shouldn't miss out on a name day gift! |
By small gift I mean usually something actually quite worldly that the person never gets although probably longs for whenever he's taken through a checkout line, like Nerds or chocolate or a pinwheel or a punch balloon or a magazine or a balsa wood airplane or a yoyo or a box of crackerjacks. Small. Of course a prayer card or book is always welcome (probably in addition to some junky candy ;).
Small. |
The most important part of the saint's day is to tell stories about the saint! Bridget's name day is February 1st (you can look up name days here — it's the easiest site I found to use; if you can find a better one, please let me know). Of course we tell her about Bridget of Ireland, a saint whose name means “strong” and who loved the poor. You can see us visiting her well here.
Our Bridget was born on the feast of St. Scholastica, the sister (tradition has it, twin) of St. Benedict. (The monks at the St. Benedict's Abbey near us are disappointed that we didn't name her Scholastica. I scoffed at this until recently I met a couple who lamented that they wouldn't be using Scholastica because they had good friends who had dibs on the name! As Bridget commented, “You mean there are two families who would consider naming a child that?”)
St. Scholastica, according to St. Gregory, conversed as usual with St. Benedict on a visit he made to her in her convent. However, he, a stickler for rules (well, after all, it's no joke being the founder of Western Civilization…), insisted he had to leave to return to the monastery. She reproached him with tears for leaving her, then prayed. The heavens opened with a torrent of rain and lightening and thunder, and he was forced to remain, passing the night with her in holy conversation. He never saw her again alive, as she died three days later. Isn't that a charming story?
6. A few other saints you have a particular devotion to, including the patron of our country (The Immaculate Conception) and our continent (Our Lady of Guadalupe). If you're Irish, St. Patrick; if French, St. Denis…et cetera.
St. Therese, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Anthony… good friends of the family.
Know that you will always be finding out about more saints from the past, and of course new ones are added all the time! That's okay. It's like reuniting with cousins or long-lost friends — it's all good.
That's enough for now. The more childlike you approach this, the better. It's much simpler than you think. Year after year, tell their stories. Light a candle. Gather your friends in heaven around you.
priest's wife says
What a beautiful post!
First of all- I am sorry for the loss in your community- very hard when it is a young person- it is out of the proper order- but I guess in God's time
In my husband's country, feast days are bigger than birthdays (presents don't factor in much because it isn't a rich country)- Even if it is only cultural, I love it that everyone in the country named Joesph is celebrating on that feast and semi-strangers will wish you a happy name day.
_Leila says
The loss was such a grief. Only our faith could console us. Nothing else. Nothing.
HollyElise says
I love this!
I wanted to tell you that I'll be starting the “Becoming a Catholic” course this Sunday 🙂 Thank you, Aunty Leila, for your encouragement.
lena says
lovely post.
may i learn to better live out our faith with simple devotions.
pax Christi – lena
SAR in SB says
As a convert to Eastern Orthodoxy from protestantism, I can definitely agree with you about thinking about death now more (and quite differently) than I used to. I also agree that more protestants are learning about and appreciating saints, even if they aren't venerating them in so many words. My mom (a protestant) and I have had some interesting and enlightening conversations along those lines. You've given me some good ideas here, particularly about name day celebrations– thanks!
Jen says
Dear Leila
Thank you so much for this touching information.
I discovered your blog quite recently and your openness about your life has been so inspiring to me-God has used you to minister His Grace to me at a difficult period in my life.
I am an Evangelical Christian,but a disillusioned one,and I have been impressed by Catholicism in the last few months,largely because I am not finding answers in my church.Lately I find that the more I look into the Catholic Church,the more it speaks to me!
You really struck a chord with me when you wrote that most people don't think about death.
I know I am thinking about death so much,but in a sobering way,not in a macabre way,and it is really alienating me from the Christians in my circle.I have 9 children,two of whom are in Heaven,so this no doubt informs the way I think,but regardless,life is short,and it really is only a preparation for the heavenly life.
Once again,I appreciate all your scriptural references!
I think Christians frequently overlook the inspiring exploits of saints in favour of all the modern-day excitement,which is sad when you realize that the lives of departed saints have withstood the test of time.
As an Australian,I am really proud of Mother Mackillop!What a great opportunity for us to highlight the story of her service to the Lord!And God is honouring her for it!I also love ideas for making little rituals into our everyday lives,remembering God's word as we go about our everyday business.
I love how you have grasped that you cannot separate our physical vocation(motherhood)from our spiritual service.Thank you once again from a searching reader!
priest's wife says
Jen- you might like to read the blogs Conversion Diary and Secret Vatican Spy- the writer of Conversion Diary was an atheist before she became a catholic- but I still think you would be interested in her journey
Nadja says
Thank you for this! What a wonderful post. And I love all the sweet corners of your home, graced as they are, by the saints. Our home is similar; in fact, 90% of the art up on our walls and shelves is religious. I always feel a bit scandalized if I walk into a Catholic home and see no signs of a family's Catholicism! One of the first things our babies learn is to point to a crucifix when we ask, “Where is Jesus?” And we also celebrate name days with a special dessert.
Again, thanks…this was a lovely read!
Alice says
This reminds me that I recently got egg all over my face in a spiritual sense when I learned that there is, in fact, a Saint Alice (after years– almost decades, since I was fascinated by Saints from an early age) telling people that there was no Saint Alice.
Anyway, Saint Teresa of Avila's feast is on Friday, and my less than edifying plan to celebrate is to drink spicy “Mexican” (it also traveled to Spain in the sixteenth century) hot chocolate until I'm ill.
Before I started doing Medieval Creation theology, I studied Medieval hagiography. Many, as you say, charming stories, but fortunately not all of them made it into the canon.
Alice says
I also meant to stop talking about myself and offer my sympathy & prayers to your friends. I'm glad you are all finding comfort in your faith– faith is such a blessing, isn't it (and I mean that quite literally).
MamabearJD says
Dear Leila,
Thank you (again) for posting so sweetly. It is clear, from reading the comments, that you are a welcome spiritual friend for those of us who are not blessed with our own “Auntie Leila.” You have something special here.
In addition to the saints you mentioned, we call upon St Joan of Arc as a buddy for my young daughter, St Michael for my young son to give courage in the dark of night, and St Monica to combat the willingness of the human spirit to give up on people. St Padre Pio is fun to introduce to children because he lived so recently and you can play audio on your computer.
hope says
You are such an encouragement to all of us! I really look forward to your posts and they always enlighten me in some way. Although we do celebrate baptismal days and we do read about the saints on their feast days (going for the simple except for a few that we love), we haven't as of yet done namedays largely because I have one that I'm never sure what to do about! I'll have to just pick one for him!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your openness about life and death! We will offer up our prayers today for that young man's family!
Kate says
I have started doing saint copywork/handwriting with my younger children. They trace or copy something very simple about the saint – their name and the feast date, then a little something about them (for example, on St. Jerome's feast: “St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin.”) Then we pick a holy card (from my stash or google images) or picture to color and paste it on the copywork page. Some years I have gotten a little more ambitious and printed out a small map of the country where the saint is from to add to the copywork. While they are working I read the life of the saint to them. Some out of print saint books that I really like are: Saints for Boys and Girls by Catherine Beebe; Lives of the Saints for Boys and Girls by Caroline Peters and Saints for Home and School by Thomas Melady. These are all well written and would appeal to older children as well as younger. Catherine Beebe also has children's books on the life of Mary and another on the Apostles, as well as the popular Vision book, St. Dominic and the Rosary.
Melanie B says
2 year-old Sophie, sitting on my lap because she's scared of the garbage truck, saw your picture of the statue of St Joseph holding baby Jesus. Her comment: “He's holding him so he won't get scared or lonely.” Indeed!
Deirdre says
Lovely, Mama!
I would just like to note that the legendary Deirdre was not actually a queen, but the intended bride of a king (she was in love with someone else and ran away… never ended up marrying to become royalty).
I love Our Lady of Sorrows and I love my name. 🙂
Rabbit says
What a wonderful post, even after such sad news. I recently lost my grandfather and actually just got off the phone with the parish secretary regarding readings and hymns for the funeral. My prayers are with you and those in your community who are grieving.
In the months I've been reading your blog, I've noticed the icons scattered around your home. I know you & your family are Roman Catholic, but had anyone in your family practiced a non-Roman rite at some point? Maybe it's my youth or ignorance or lack of exposure (or all!) but I had always associated icons with non-Roman rites and Orthodoxy. My husband is Byzantine Catholic, I am Roman but we attend Byzantine liturgy. Regardless, I think it's great!
Blessings.
priest's wife says
Hi Rabbit- I don't know about Leila's family- but my family of origin is Roman-rite and most of the sacred art in their homes is Eastern- it's just great art!
Rabbit says
Hello! Thanks for your comment–this is so interesting to hear. I guess my family of origin was…different? 🙂
OH MY GOODNESS! I just clicked on your blog!!! I am so excited at what I saw. YOU ARE BYZ CATH TOO! I was wondering what type of priest your husband was… WOW. Off to read/explore!
_Leila says
Hi Rabbit,
The religious art we have comes in most part from my husband's family. His parents, the most Boston Irish people you could have met, went over to the Melkite Rite after some years of discomfort in the worst of the changes in the Roman churches.
His dad became a deacon — the protodeacon, actually, of the Melkite Cathedral in Boston!
So naturally we inherited a bunch of stuff.
The Russian icon (with the relic in front of it) my husband gave to me as a gift.
(The picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe is actually a second-class relic (it has been touched to the original image), given to me by a monk from the Abbey. )
I love icons! And I think that many RCs are starting to appreciate them…and our western religious art (new art, rather than reproductions) is maybe getting less individualistic and more sacred.
Rabbit says
Just seeing this now–thanks for the reply to my comment! That's so fascinating that your in-laws changed rites. You rarely hear about people changing rites–most people I've encountered don't know that there are other types of Catholics besides Roman.
Mary says
Thank you Leila for such a beautiful post! I am so sorry for the loss of the young man.
I grew up in a family where the Saints were treated as members of the family – dear friends who were always there for us. We talked (and I now do this with my own children) about the ways in which we can be more like them and also what they struggled with that we can learn from (age appropriate of course! ha!) – reminding us that they were real people who lived real lives and who listened and followed God in the ways they were called to. I love that no matter what I am facing in my season of life there was someone in the communion of saints who faced that very same problem and learning how they dealt with it is so helpful.
Our family's patron Saints include:
Our Lady (My name is Mary)
St. Joseph
St. Therese
St. Teresa
St. Michael
St. Damien <- what an amazing story of LOVE from our own time! St. Anthony <-never fails us! Ha! St. Cecilia St. Zelie and St. Louis Martin St. Gianna <-again a profound story of the sacrificial love of a mother I love your idea to mark their feast day with a small gift, special dinner and stories. 🙂
Angela says
Hi Leila-
I've been reading your blog for over a year now, and just had to tell you how much it's meant to me. I grew up in a Protestant home, but converted to Catholicism at Easter, this year. I have two little ones who are now Catholics too:) Maybe someday my husband will join us. In any case, I have a wonderfully organized mom who is also an excellent cook and on top of cleanliness. But she's not a Catholic mom. You are. So I come here for advice to blend all of those things, and to grow in my vocation as a mother and wife. Oh and I was an English major and teacher before I had my family, so I love all the tidbits about books too. Thanks for all your good advice and humor:)
priest's wife says
I converted when I was 12- all of us kids had First Communion on Easter except for the youngest. Thank goodness for a wonderful lady who became a Catholic grandma who advised my mom on the white dress and veil for the smallest kid's First Communion a few years later- everyone assumed that we would know! My sis would have been in a nice dress- but not white and no veil
Breanna says
Hey, just wanted to drop a bit of encouragement from a Protestant who is discovering that she can stay Protestant but still honor Mary and love learning about the extended family–which is, after all, what the saints are. I have loved the Rosary so much lately.
My father always told us that it was all right to find death confusing, sad, and offensive–it is the only thing we are told made Christ weep. The difference, of course, is that we know death isn't the end; it's just a pause, like missing someone who is in another country.
Which only makes it a little easier; I was reminded, Leila, of when our family lost a perfect nephew at birth due to a tragic, stupid accident that resulted in a broken neck. It makes no sense, none whatsoever, and you just have to hide in the heart of God. Praying for you all.
priest's wife says
Breanna- in response to the first part of your comment…
A good argument for respecting and loving Mary- Should you ignore a Jewish mom when you want to get close to her son (or her Son)?
haha
_Leila says
Thanks, Breanna. Your dad is right. We grieve and our grief makes us so much more grateful for the consolation!
Elizabeth Nichols says
Thank you as always. I am guilty of the “wellll I could never do alllll that…”. Next year we will start celebrating Maximilian Kolbe's feast day for little Max and…we will celebrate whichever name day we name our next one. *wink* (Did Annie tell you yet?)
Teresa says
Love this post, Leila – the Communion of Saints is so important to me – one of the best gifts the Church has given to us – I love them all so much. Thinking of our saints gives me so much encouragement – I cannot begin to tell you. That my brothers and sisters – once weak like me? – could and did become such perfect lovers of Christ that they attained sanctity here on earth just makes me want to soar with happiness. Examples of hope. Examples of courage. Examples of great great love. Thanks for posting about your family's love and traditions.
By the way, I loved seeing all the icons, photos, statues, etc around your home. I used to wonder if I was over-doing it with mine. Ahem. If the Lawler household can go hog wild like that, I'm following right behind. 🙂
Suzanne says
We are very excited here in South Australia, birth place of Mary MacKillop whose canonisation is taking place this weekend in Rome….she will be known as Mary of the Cross….my children attend St Josephs school where Mary taught at one stage so it is great for the children to be envolved in something so wonderful….
Lisa says
Thank you for this gentle post. Something I hold onto about the intense sadness of death, is something explained by a very holy priest at our church a few years back. He said that death entered the world through original sin. Sin is what separates us from God. At a funeral, when someone we love has died and we are unbearably sad, we are to realize that it is only a hint of the pain we would feel if we are separated from God for all of eternity, through sin. And of course that reminds us that there is an eternity in which we will see our beloved ones again, with God. Having experienced the loss of my dad a few years back, which was incredibly difficult, I know that faith and time are needed, but peace does come. Take care.
debbie says
This may also help:
And while we are on the subject of music: I see that you are a very visual person, Leila, and that is certainly a key component of Catholic worship and teaching; but there is a reason music has always constituted the major part of devotion in divine services throughout history! Polyphony is one of the most precious gifts of Christian civilization, and the embodiment in sound of the theological statement that the great Gothic cathedrals captured in space and matter. Come hear the sublime organ at Notre Dame one time (not the one in the Basilica; the one in the Reyes Organ Hall in DPAC); I guarantee you one of the most transcendent experiences ever.
Love,
Debbie
Anne says
Thanks for the ideas. I find that even though I have written all our name days down on a list on my kitchen wall I still can't seem to remember the days! I have a new idea on that score though…I WANT to celebrate name days, I really do.
Barbara says
Thanks for the name day celebration inspiration. Two of my children are in college now, but it's never to late to start, right? When I went to Catholic Culture, the first three names I looked for weren't there. I had better luck at http://www.catholic.org/saints/ (found two out of three). Their lists look longer.
I just installed the saint of the day widget on my blog, too. We sometimes read from a saint book or the paragraph in Magnificat, but this link looks just right.
_Leila says
I find that the stories of the saints on CC are less sanitized, more exciting, than the ones in the Magnificat, although I do appreciate that resource for other things. Sometimes the latter will say something like “he was a bishop and a prolific writer” and then you find out he converted tens of thousands…
Lacy says
How have I never known about this blog?! I love this post! I have no idea (with the amount of Catholic blogs I read) that I had not yet stumbled upon this blog. Until today. Someone posted it over on 4 real forums. Anyway, I really loved everything you had to say about keeping celebrating the liturgical year simple 🙂
I'll be back to sort through your archives as soon as I have the time. Lol! I wish time would start to grow on trees! 🙂
Sarah says
I love your simple approach. Thank you for sharing this post.
Kelly says
How incredibly timely! This is what I feel capable of…simple acts of love to the saints…but it hasn't felt like enough until I read your lovely post. Thank you!
Celine says
My condolences on the loss of your family member. May his soul Rest in Peace and may all who love him find comfort in their sorrow.
My computer may be playing tricks on me, but I see no photo of a book, nor a title of one where you mention, “One of the most lovely books of spiritual wisdom I've ever read is this one: ” Could you please list it here?
You have inspired me to seek out my family's name days! Thank you so much. Any excuse for a special dessert is welcomed around here.
_Leila says
Thanks, Celine. The boy wasn't a family member but he was a neighbor and friend. But your prayers are appreciated for his poor family.
The book is called Joseph, Shadow of the Father, and you can find it here http://www.amazon.com/dp/0818906448?tag=httpthefa…
I highly recommend it!
Lauren says
Auntie Leila,
How do you know us all so well? That many of us really are out there checking out what other moms are doing and then become completely overwhelmed that we end up not doing anything! Thank you for offering a great and do-able starting place for celebrating the Saints. After I read your post, I knew that this is something that I can do!
Elena says
Great post!
What we have found ovr the years is that we develop little traditions along the way – like St. Thomas Day cookies and angel hair pasta for the feast of the arch angels. These are traditions that are as important to my family now as having a Christmas tree!
Kalee says
This could not have come at a more appropriate time for me! I have been feeling like we needed to pay more homage to saints in our home lately (along with our Catholic faith in general….I'm looking for a font to put up by the front door as a way to remind ourselves of our faith as we leave our home each day). I stumbled across a chalkware statue of St. Therese at a thrift store the other day and grabbed it up. She now occupies a place in our front room. We also picked a ceramic holy family statue. I've had a Mary statue for years and years and currently she sits above my stove, watching as I provide nourishment for my little family. I think it's so so important to remember those whose path was true.
GinnySheller says
“the easily tired, distracted, and continually late”
that's me Leila. Thank you so much for this post. As a convert this (making the saints a part of our lives) continues to be my biggest struggle.
dhkile says
I'm so glad I found your blog tonight. I'm not even sure how I got here, but I'm thankful I did. 🙂
Love this post. St. Cecilia is my patron saint, and I also favor St. Anne (I'm a musician and a stay at home mom). Hubby, also a musician and a Marine, favors St. Cecilia, St. Joseph, & St. Brendan. Our other “go-to” saints are of course St. Anthony, St. Jude, St. Theresa, and being that we are a military family and travel a lot, St. Christopher (even though there is the great debate about whether he was a real person. lol). And although he's not a saint yet, JPII gets some of my time.
My fridge, which is right next to my sink, is my devotional area… it is covered in prayer cards. Since I spend a some time at the kitchen sink everyday, it's a good time for me to offer up all my little prayers. The other spot I spend a great deal of time at is my computer desk. I have a handful of prayer cards taped and tacked up around that area too.
Every night during bedtime prayers with our kids (ages 14 & 15… I'm so thankful they still humor their old mom & dad and gather with us for bedtime prayers every evening! lol), we pray for “all the poor souls in purgatory & all the faithfully departed”, and at that time give our special shout-outs to whoever's feast day it is, or which ever saint we feel “helped us out” or “saw us through” the day. 🙂
Again, so glad to have found your blog. I look forward to reading more. 🙂
God bless and Merry Christmas!
MLA says
I know this is an old post, but I just stumbled upon it at this late hour and it couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. I have a Protestant friend that tonight revealed to me she has all but lost her faith. Her mother passed away about four months ago and she has been struggling ever since, now questioning everything she has ever believed in. She told me that for years she seems to pray for people yet they still suffer and she has yet to see a miracle. This got me to thinking at how differently we Catholics view death from our Protestant friends…Imagine my surprise when this post was under the 'others you might like' section! I am answering her back tomorrow in an email and will be using some of your thoughts posted here to explain some things I want to share with her. I had lots of thoughts that were scattered regarding the Communion of Saints and how we view death and suffering, but seeing your thoughts so nicely put together is really going to help me pull my email together. Thank you!
M. says
Leila, I’m coming late to the party. Here’s what you posted:
One of the most lovely books of spiritual wisdom I’ve ever read is this one:
But I don’t see the link. What am I doing wrong? Thank you and God bless.
Julie says
Ah, Scholastica! So, my first set of twins (we have two sets, so far) are a boy and a girl, and I desperately wanted to give them the middle names Benedict and Scholastica. It particularly delighted me that I could name a daughter after a saint and honor learning for my daughter, as well as holiness for both twins! We went with my husband’s and my middle names, instead, but if we ever again have boy/girl twins, I am not going to lose the opportunity a second time!
Also, this is lovely and helpful, and a balm to my easily tired, distracted, overwhelmed self, a convert truly blessed by the richness and variety of the saints, but too prone to doing to much or nothing at all in celebrating them with my family.
I also would love to see the book you mentioned above, about St. Joseph – the link doesn’t appear to be present/working.
Julie says
Ah, I see where you mentioned the book in earlier comments, now!