Today we remember the martyrdoms of both St. Wenceslaus and St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions.

St. Wenceslaus is known by his beloved Christmas hymn but unless we know the verses well we easily forget that he was murdered by his own brother in cahoots with his pagan mother! Faithful to the end to his Catholic upbringing through his father, he forgave his murderers as they killed him. St. Wenceslaus in Baltimore  is a beautiful historical church.

We also remember St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions. Known also as St. Lawrence Ruiz, he was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on Feb. 18, 1981 and his ceremony was the first one ever held outside of the Vatican.

Both of these men held fast to their faith until the end. What about us? Is there a martyrdom in our future?

Today at Mass, Father remarked that it is unlikely any of us will be slaughtered by a sword or tortured to death. However, he reminded us that we all have a chance – every day – to share in small martyrdoms in union with Christ on the cross. I will admit I shook my head a bit – really??!!

He continued – every time we die to ourselves and chose God’s will over our own is a small martyrdom. Every time we do what is asked, holding back from rolling our eyes or complaining, we can be as these men were. Every day we do what we are called to do in our vocation as spouses, parents, employees or employers with love, kindness and selflessness instead of giving into our selfish desires we are being small martyrs. A smile in response to the rude clerk or a silent prayer said instead of the curse. What a thought! He put into easy words something I had either forgotten or never really took to heart. Dying to self is its own small martyrdom.

I left Mass a bit more encouraged! Now I have new motivation to pick up my own bedroom! Too often, I give into my desire to check email just one more time rather than fold the laundry. I often ignore the mess of my desk and pick up that good book I am reading. Today, I have been reminded of the reason I should be a bit more diligent in my duties.

Choosing to do what I should do over what I want to do has a bit more weight for me now. But, I am left wondering if my kids ask why I am humming “Good King Wenceslaus” as September winds down.

Do you have a friend you can rely upon? Do you have a ‘sturdy shelter’, ‘a treasure’, ‘a faithful friend beyond price’?

These phrases taken from Sirach 6 are a reminder of how important is a real friend. Here we are even told, “Faithful friends are life-saving medicine…”.

Saints have known this truth and today we celebrate the feast of St. Vincent de Paul who could count among this friends both St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. While earlier in the week, we celebrated St. Cosmas and Damian. Though brothers, they were also friends who not only worked together to heal, but died together as martyrs. We have St. Francis of Assissi and St. Clare along with another pair of siblings Scholastica and Benedicta. We could list more.

Our children might be all about a new BFF each week but we know finding a good and true friend isn’t always easy. With our busy lives as spouses, parents, and much, much more, having a friend beyond our spouse can be a rare thing.

Sirach knew this as well and while encouraging us to find a good friend, he warned against those who disappear during struggles and talk about our difficulties with others. It is put so clearly; these people are “a friend who turns into an enemy.”

We hope you (and your children) find some good friends through our clubs. And while perhaps distance and the complications of life prevent you from being together as often as you’d like, knowing you have someone to turn to makes those same complications of life easier to bear.

Ecclesiates 4 will tells us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

For myself, two of my dearest friends live far from my home, literally states away in Kentucky and Massachusetts. But both of these lovely women of God can be relied upon to lift me up, listen to my complaints and never, ever judge me when I fall down. How grateful I am for them!

If you are in need of friend, consider asking St. Vincent de Paul or one of his posse of friends to provide for you in this poverty. The consolation of his friends was such an encouragement to him as he founded his order and changed the lives of so many people in France. Surely, he will help you find a friend wherever you live.

 

 

 

What a wonderful way to start off a new year of Little Flower Club meetings (as well as other Behold clubs).

She told us she would spend her days in heaven showering us with roses and I know many of us have had such experiences. Please join us again this year as we pray for all of your intentions.

You can head over to Pray More Novenas or EWTN for all the prayers.

And be sure to let us know what roses fall into your life!

Which means I seem busy than ever and I am left wondering where the summer went. But it also means that our groups are up and running all over the country and the world. Have you registered yours?

This small detail just might make a big difference in how your club runs. Granted, it will not have the same impact as today’s gospel. The of the raising of the Widow of Nain’s son changed her life but you might be surprised the little surprises we have for registered clubs. Register HERE.

In the meantime, please remember all the clubs up and running as you do your evening prayers, and be assured of my family’s prayers for your family!

A huge welcome to all the new leaders who have started Catholic Clubs this fall! God bless you for your generosity! Please don’t hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to help you in your Clubs.

A good place to start with resources for your clubs is the Registered Clubs site. There is a TON of free information available there…from free downloads to links to resources, books, videos, and websites for teaching the saint, virtue, and more. These are trusted resources that we’ve viewed and read to help you in your clubs this year.

To access the Registered Clubs materials, though, you do have to register your club. Don’t worry, though, because it is fast and easy!

Just fill out the form here and get started with your year long membership today!

Our trip to Portugal via Pine Island, MN was just too much fun. The Moms were wonderful, their daughters were so full of energy, ready to play and have fun. Hopefully, you were able to see some of the photos at our FB page. I always leave that camp with great joy and an eagerness for next year (though I’ll put in my order now for a mite cooler weather in 2018).

Forgive my forgetfulness, but I meant to post this yesterday. While in MN, Fr. Randal Kasel, our wonderful host at St. Paul’s St. Michael’s Church. told us of the novena for the rebirth of purity and chastity the Diocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis beginning this week to end on the Feast of Sts. Ann and Joachim.

While it began yesterday, let’s remember our merciful and loving God stands outside of time and space and will hear and honor our prayers regardless of what date is on the calendar.

Each day is dedicated to a different request and each prayer is powerful and clear in what it asks for. Today is dedicated to Married Couples. Please consider joining in this powerful novena!

Novena to Chastity and Purity

Now, on to Virginia with our next camp in Leesburg, VA at the Freedom Center! Can’t wait to see all the LF’s and their Mom there!

 

 

Today also happens to be the feast day of St. Justin Martyr who tells us:

We the Christians are the true Israel which springs from Christ, for we are carved out of His heart as from a rock.   – St. Justin Martyr (d. 165)

Carved from the heart of Jesus, what beautiful imagery for us. If we are carved from Christ we can never be apart from Him and isn’t that where we all want to be?

There is so much we can ponder and consider when it comes to the heart of Jesus. Pope Pius XII gave us Haurietis Aquas (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart). It is not an overly long encyclical and you might be able to find time to read it over the next 30 days.

Or take a visit to catholicculture.org for more info on this historical devotion.

Want a beautiful craft? The lovely shirts pictured above can be found over at Shower of Roses (one of my favorite sites for LF ideas and crafts). You will get all details on how to make your own wildly cool tie-dyed shirt.

 

 

“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,”

I found a more eloquent post than I could ever write at SpiritualDirection.com

And, Dan Burke, host of the site lifted it from Divine Intimacy

Much like Mary off to help Elizabeth; we are all striving to help each other – quickly and with joy – reach our heavenly home!

I wasn’t aware of this connection when the first wreath of Little Flowers was written; the peony is our flower for Love of God with Agnes as our patroness.

I just heard about this title for the flower last week at daily Mass and it makes so much sense. In my neighborhood, peonies are in full bloom all around. We have some in my parish’s Mary Garden and I noticed them this morning exploding with color and petals strewn over the ground.

Called pfingstrose in German, peony literally means “Pentecost Rose”.

Pentecost should be such a time for us – exploding with love for God in thanksgiving for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Take some time to ponder this as we continue our novenas and prayers waiting for Pentecost. God sent us a part of Himself to remain with us, even until the end of days. We are never alone – never – not matter how lonely we might feel.

If you have some peonies available they would make a great late addition to your Mary altar as we wind down the last days of May.

Peonies as a flower have a rich history. You will see them in ancient Japanese art, lauded for its medicinal properties and even being a sought after as a flavoring for foods. But, what I like most about the peonies in my garden is the ants. Yes, the ants.

Anyone who has grown these big flowers will see a steady stream of ants on peonies as they get ready to bloom. I once thought, as many d0, that the ants are necessary for the blooms but that isn’t so. The flowers will come with or without the ants, so the relationship is actually a neutral one but I find it a lovely imagery of my own relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Can I live a life without the Advocate? Of course, people all around the world do. But is my life better when I allow the Holy Spirit to be an active, involved part of my day – absolutely! So, while the ants aren’t needed for my flowers to come to full bloom I won’t do anything to inhibit them. Let them do their mysterious, silent work and wait until the flowers burst forth.

Just like the Holy Spirit – I strive to let Him do his silent, mysterious work in my heart, mind and soul and hope that God’s graces and mercy burst forth for my benefit and the benefit of all those I love and encounter.

 

 

By way of your living room!

Happy Feast of the Ascension.  Today is the day we get to wait with Mary, the apostles and the other women to await the Holy Spirit. Have you picked a novena to do either alone, as a family or with your group?

If not, perhaps you were waiting for this one from Benedictine College: Praying with Mary for a New Pentecost

Please feel free to leave your intentions in the comment box, this will allow us to better pray for each other. And be sure to share any answered prayers on Pentecost!