Office of Faith Formation

Why should we have Masses said for our intentions?
We can pray for anyone at any time. So why do Catholics talk about having Masses said?

When a priest offers the Holy Mass, he prays that the graces which come from the Mass be bestowed on someone in particular, such as a parishioner, family member, or departed soul.

The intention he prays for is usually one that has been requested by a parishioner. That’s right!

We, the laity, can ask a priest to offer Mass for someone we are praying for, whether that person is someone who has passed away or who is still living. The intentions can vary: for conversion, for health, on birthdays or anniversaries…

But why ask a priest to offer Mass? Why not just pray for them ourselves?

It is good to do this because of the multitude of spiritual fruits gained from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the greatest and most efficacious of all prayers, because in it, we are offering Christ Himself to His Father: the perfect Lamb of God, the supreme and most pleasing Sacrifice.

As St. Leonard of Port Maurice says:
Let us be diligent in hearing Mass as often as possible, and with all possible devotion; and furthermore, let us endeavor to have as many Masses as possible celebrated for our intention. By this means, be our debts weighty as they may, and countless beyond numbering, there can be no doubt that we will be able to discharge them all completely and entirely by the treasure which is derivable from the holy Mass.
There you have it—from a saint! His words are a good reminder not to take the Mass for granted, for it is more powerful than we know.

Though the Mass is the holiest event on earth and the greatest prayer, it sometimes becomes routine for us. Distractions plague us and our minds wander. But fear not—Meditations Before Mass is here to help. Based on 32 talks given by Msgr. Romano Guardini to his parishioners before Sunday Mass to help them hear the Mass more fruitfully, this little book will become your constant companion as you attend the Holy Sacrifice.

What is the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?
We owe this beautiful feast to Spain.

The Feast of the Annunciation falls in a tough spot on the liturgical calendar. Due to its position in late March, it often falls during Lent, when the Church is focused on approaching the Passion and death of Our Lord with repentance, sorrow, and penance.

At other times, the Annunciation falls during the jubilance of the Easter cycle and is postponed until the Church’s main celebration of the Resurrection is completed.

Hoping to get around these difficulties, some Spanish bishops petitioned for a different feast day at the tenth Council of Toledo in 656. They were allowed to place the feast on December 18, eight days before Christmas, and attach an octave to it.

That way, since they were already preparing for the coming of the Savior, the Annunciation would fit right in with the liturgical cycle.

Spain observed this feast for decades, but the bishops eventually decided to return to the date kept by the rest of the Church. They encouraged the faithful, however, to keep December 18 as a feast, meditating on the Blessed Mother’s expectation of giving birth to the Christ Child.

After a time, this practice spread through the Church and the day became known as the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The feast invites us to look upon the birth of our Savior as the Blessed Mother would have done: longing to see Him after His hidden sojourn in her womb, eager for the glorification of God on earth, and desiring to throw open the doors of our hearts to receive Him.

Contemplate Our Lady’s motherhood at Christmas and throughout the year with this Our Lady of Hope Musical Figurine. Depicting the Blessed Mother standing near the manger—ready with swaddling clothes—and lovingly touching her womb, this figurine doubles as a devotional and a Brahms’s lullaby musical box.

What does the name Lazarus mean in Hebrew?
And what can Lazarus’s story teach us on a spiritual level?

The story of Lazarus is one of the best known in Scripture: Our Lord and His Apostles are away from Jerusalem; the brother of Martha and Mary falls ill; they send word to Our Lord about this fact; He remains away two more days; when He arrives at Lazarus’s house, he has been entombed for four days. After Martha and Mary express their faith in Christ, He goes to the tomb and commands the dead man to come out, which he does.

The meaning of Lazarus’s name is the finishing touch to this remarkable event. It is the Hellenized version of Eleazar, which is directly from the Hebrew for “God” (‘el) and “help” (azar). The combination of words translates roughly to “God is my Helper” or “God has helped.” Clearly, God did help Lazarus at his darkest hour.

Like all tales from Scripture, though, there is more to this one than meets the eye. It was indeed a historical event, but there are many ways to interpret it.

In his sermon on the resurrection of Lazarus, for example, St. Augustine of Hippo took this historical event and applied it to the soul.

The four days Lazarus spent in the tomb he represented as four types of sin: 1) the original sin that resulted in the Fall; 2) the sin of ignoring the natural law engraved in our hearts; 3) the sin of ignoring the written law of the Ten Commandments; and 4) the sin of ignoring Christ, God Himself made Incarnate.

Our Lord’s coming to Lazarus in the tomb represents God’s grace entering our souls. Like Lazarus responding to Christ’s call despite the tight bands of his shroud, our souls repent despite the bondage of sin and are cleansed through the graces of contrition and absolution.

And, like Lazarus, our souls proclaim that “God has helped” us cast off spiritual death and enter into a new life.

This is especially meaningful at Christmas, when we most miss those who have passed. Remember that Our Lord holds them in His Heart when you hang our Merry Christmas From Heaven Ornament on your tree. Made of silver plate, this ornament is inscribed with a beautiful verse from the Merry Christmas From Heaven poem and accompanied with a bookmark containing the full poem.

What are the “O Antiphons”?
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.”

The beloved Advent hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a musical rendering of the Greater Advent Antiphons, also called the “O” Antiphons based on the initial letter of each. They are sung at the Magnificat during Vespers (Evening Prayer) from December 17th through December 23rd.

These verses are a heart-rending plea for the Messiah to appear and save His people. They address Him by the titles He is given in Sacred Scripture and encapsulate the profound longing of God’s people for their Savior.

Thousands of years of salvation history, thousands of years of waiting—of aching—for the Messiah find expression in these short, simple, yet intensely moving words.

The great liturgical commentator Dom Prosper Guéranger notes that these Antiphons are sung at Vespers because Our Lord came at the “evening of the world,” and are placed at the Magnificat to illustrate that He came to us through Our Lady.

A fascinating fact about these antiphons is that Our Lord’s answer is rendered within them as an acronym. If you take the first letters of each Latin title, beginning with the last (Emmanuel) and working backward to the first (Sapientia), it spells ERO CRAS, which means “Tomorrow I will come” in Latin!

Here are all seven antiphons. Make them a part of your prayer over the next seven days as you make your final preparations for our long-awaited Savior.

December 17 – O Sapientia
O Wisdom, that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!

December 18 – O Adonai
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

December 19 – O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

December 20 – O Clavis David
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

December 21 – O Oriens
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

December 22 – O Rex Gentium
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Cornerstone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

December 23 – O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!

Who was called the “Snowshoe Priest”?
Meet the astounding first bishop of the Mitten’s icy Upper Peninsula.

In the vast tracts of Upper Michigan, in thick-drifted midwinter, in wind or flake or stillness, the bent and burdened figure of a man could be seen trudging across the scudded snow.

He carried bundles on his back—medicines, linens, precious Viaticum—and tramped on worn snowshoes. He had no companions, no beast of burden, no means of communication, but angels watched his steps.

This is how Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga ministered to his vast diocese of Michigan for fifteen years.

He would travel as far as 250 miles on his snowshoes, just because he’d heard rumors of stranded settlers in need of Holy Communion or of a child at death’s door. He always brought as many gifts as he could carry.

Bishop Baraga had originally come from Carniola, present-day Slovenia. He lost both parents by the time he was fifteen years old, but before their deaths he had witnessed their strong example of virtue and piety.

At first Baraga studied law, but upon graduation he entered the seminary. He was ordained just two years later, in 1823.

After seven years among his native parishes, he was sent to the United States as a missionary. His work among Germans and Indians bore great fruit. (Fun fact: Baraga wrote the first rules of grammar and a dictionary for the Chippewa language! He is holding his Chippewa dictionary in the image above.)

1853 saw him appointed the first bishop of Upper Michigan. Here he toiled among his loving flock until his death fifteen years later.

Bishop Baraga was joined in his missionary work by countless others. They established hundreds of Catholic churches and communities throughout the United States. Travel in the footsteps of these Catholic pioneers when you open up Monuments, Marvels, And Miracles:

What image is hidden in the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
This miraculous image holds marvelous secrets.

Michelangelo once said, “Only God creates. The rest of us just copy.”
Certainly the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe illustrates the divine artistry of God.

The viewer can be deeply moved simply by gazing upon the graceful composition of the image: Our Lady’s gentle expression, the radiant colors, the intricate details.

But the beauty and symbolism of this portrait go far deeper than what we can see with unaided eyes. In 1929 and again in the 1950s, the image of a human figure was discovered within Our Lady’s eyes. Further studies revealed that this image was tripled and somewhat distorted, just as a reflection in a live human eye would be.

More recently, an engineer named Dr. José Aste Tonsmann, who began his studies on Our Lady of Guadalupe’s eyes in 1979, said there are many more figures reflected in her gaze.

Tonsmann magnified Our Lady’s eyes x2500 and found a scene depicted in them: the very moment when Juan Diego unfolded his tilma to reveal the miraculous image to Bishop Juan de Zumárraga. Other witnesses to that famous scene are visible, too.

But Dr. Tonsmann’s studies revealed even more. Another group is visible at the center of Our Lady’s eyes: a family, with a father, mother, and several children. Two more figures are apparent behind the mother, which Tonsmann thinks are grandparents. Tonsmann conjectures that perhaps this image of a family remained undiscovered until modern techniques could reveal it, so that we would see this image at a time when the family was under attack.

The incredible images found within Our Lady’s eyes add to the miraculous features of this divinely-imprinted portrait. Studies have repeatedly shown that no paint, pigment, undersketching, or brush strokes were used to create it. Moreover, the plant fiber of the tilma should have disintegrated after twenty years. 500 years later, it survives in beautiful condition.

Which pope helped determine the canon of the Bible?
We don’t know much about Pope Damasus I’s life, but we do know about the great work he did in the early Church.

Damasus was of Spanish descent, but he was born in Rome around 304 A.D. History is nearly silent on him until he was elected pope in 366. Some of the cardinals, however, did not accept Damasus’s election and set up an antipope, Ursinus.

Thanks to the support of more than one Roman emperor, the split didn’t last long or deeply affect the workings of the Church. The dissenting group, however, continued to persecute Damasus for years.

Throughout the turbulence, Damasus forged ahead as a strong and faithful Vicar. He guided the Church through a rocky time when various heresies—most notably the Arian heresy—threatened to lead countless souls astray.

He persuaded St. Jerome—who was his confidential secretary at the time—to begin his great work of revising the Latin translation of Scripture.

In 382, just two years before his death, Damasus presided over the Synod of Rome. This synod’s purpose was to discern which writings were divinely inspired and belonged in the Bible. It produced The Decree of the Council of Rome on the Canon of Scripture, listing the 73 books which make up Scripture. For a long time, this Decree was known as the Damasine List.

The Damasine List was reaffirmed in several subsequent councils, the latest affirmation occurring at the Council of Trent in 1546.

St. Damasus I devoted a lot of time to the Scriptures because he recognized the vital importance of the Word of God in our lives. This Christmas, give the good men you know the gift of the Real Men Pray Bible. Equipped with maps, prayers, readings, and more, it’s a gift that Pope Damasus himself would love! Features laser engraving, a soft leatherlike cover, and free personalization.

The amazing “Ice Chapel” of the South Pole
In the most inhospitable place on earth, Christ can still be found.

In Antarctica, deep in the global south, where the winter temperatures plummet to 100 degrees below zero, there is a small cave composed of ice.

In that cave is the world’s southernmost chapel, a Catholic chapel located at the Argentinian Belgrano II Base.

 

Not only is this chapel uniquely located below ground, it is carved directly out of the ice.

Originally built in the 1950s, the first Belgrano Base was abandoned due to unstable and dangerous ice (large portions of Antarctica are formed from this ever-shifting ice, making safe locations for bases difficult to come by).

When a hectare of stable land was discovered, Belgrano Base II was opened, with a system of underground tunnels dug in the ice nearby. A Catholic chapel was carved from the ice inside, accessible only through the tunnels.

No matter how remote a land is, no matter the physical and emotional needs of the people, one thing can be certain: people have an innate desire to worship God. This has led to the existence of chapels and churches in some rather unlikely locations, such as the remote lands of the South Pole. As the Psalmist says:

If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there thy hand shall lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.
—Psalm 139:9-10

Although most of us don’t need to journey below ground in below-freezing conditions to pray in a chapel made from ice, we all face some cold days here and there! This winter, fortify yourself spiritually while protecting yourself from the cold with this Jerusalem Cross Leather Patch Beanie!

Why is it important that Mary was immaculately conceived in her mother’s womb?
The answer lies in the identity of Christ.

Why is it important that Mary was immaculately conceived in her mother’s womb?
The answer lies in the identity of Christ. The Immaculate Conception is, in part, a clarification of how Mary—a humble human being—could be the Mother of the all-holy God.

After all, mankind is fallen. Each person inherits original sin from parent to child, going back to the sin of Adam and Eve.

Wouldn’t Mary, then, also inherit original sin? And if she did, how could she give birth to the Son of God? For God is holiness itself, and cannot coexist with sinfulness.

This question has led some to reject Christ’s humanity; others His divinity. But rejecting either one of these fails to understand God’s identity and cheapens His loving generosity.

Yes, the Word became Flesh. Yes, God was born of a woman. But to keep the purity of God unsullied, the woman who conceived Him could not be stained by any sin.

How was this done?

The answer is that Mary was spared from original sin because God applied the graces of Her Son’s suffering to her preemptively (in other words, in advance—knowing that these graces would come to fruition) at the moment of her conception.

Just as the redemptive power of Christ’s suffering is transported over time and space to each of us in Baptism, so too was this salvific power miraculously transported to Mary at the moment of her conception.

Therefore, she was conceived immaculate, able to give birth to the Second Person of the Trinity and be a pure tabernacle for Him.

That is why the Immaculate Conception is an essential part of Christian belief: it reveals the identity of Christ

To reject this dogma is to have an incomplete, and incorrect, idea about God. Likewise, to know Our Lady is to know Our Lord.

Honor Our Lady and her Immaculate Conception all year long with a beautiful Miraculous Medal necklace! This Sterling Jasmine Blossom Miraculous Medal Necklace beautifully blends traditional Marian devotion with feminine elegance, making it the perfect gift for any woman on your Christmas list.

Which saint climbed into an oven…
…and didn’t get burned?

Sabas was a startlingly perceptive child. He was raised mainly by his aunt and uncle and received such rough treatment from them that he ran away several times. In 447, when he was eight years old, he placed himself in the care of another uncle. This uncle was good to him, but began quarreling with the first uncle about who would manage Sabas’s money for him until he was of age.

Disgusted with the quarreling and avarice among his relatives, Sabas ran away from all of them and sought shelter in a monastery. There, he discovered the sweetness of living for Christ. The monks allowed him to join them and were quickly impressed by his holiness, which was far advanced despite his youth.

One day, he was assigned to help the baker in the monastery kitchen. This monk had gotten one of his habits wet and hung it in the oven to dry. Forgetting the garment was in there, he built a fire in the oven and went back to preparing dough.

The monk was horrified when he realized what he had done. Sabas, however, reassured him, climbed into the blazing oven, and brought out the habit—which was as unscathed as he was.

When the young monk was 18 years old, he felt called to be a hermit. His mentor—St. Euthymius—told him to remain in the monastery a little longer. 12 years later, he allowed Sabas to be a hermit five days a week.

After St. Euthymius died, Sabas went to live in the desert. Like many other hermits, his solitude was short-lived due to his great holiness. Followers crowded around him, begging him to lead them in the eremitical life. In the end, Sabas had to accept them.

For the next 50 years, Sabas shepherded his flock of hermits, resisted the efforts of his family to bring him back into the world, built three hospitals and a few monasteries, traveled to Constantinople twice to aid eastern Christians, and withdrew yearly to spend Lent in solitude. He died in 532 at the age of 93.

While you should follow St. Sabas’s example of holiness, you do not need to follow his example of getting into an oven… However, even without climbing into an oven, you can still bring your faith into your kitchen with these beautiful O Come Let Us Adore Him Dish Towels!

Well, what DID Mary know?
The popular Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know?” gets a few things wrong…

You probably know the song, or at least one of its many covers. “Mary, Did You Know?” has been a constant Christmas classic since its release in 1984. You can’t turn on the Christmas radio station or shuffle a Christmas playlist without it coming on.

As beloved as this song is, it may surprise you that it is not unconditionally accepted by Catholics…and for good reason! Some have recognized that, despite its focus on Mary, this song employs some revisionist history on Mary’s role in salvation history.
Let’s take a closer look:

“Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.”

Firstly, Mary did know much of what the song speculates about. Through her familiarity with Scripture, Mary knew a great deal about the identity of the Messiah, particularly His miracles, His deity, and His offer of salvation. Moreover, through the Annunciation, Mary was made aware that the Child she would bear would be the Savior of the world. Knowing what she did of the prophecies of the Messiah, Mary largely understood what the role of mother to the Messiah would require.

This is why her fiat, her willful and complete “yes” to Our Lord, is so striking. Knowing what would be asked of her—including the great suffering she would endure—Mary willingly showed herself the perfect handmaid of the Lord.

Secondly, the song speaks of Mary’s salvation as though it hadn’t happened yet. However, unlike us, Mary was preserved from all sin at the moment of her Immaculate Conception, in view of her Son’s future sufferings. Through the merits of her Son, applied to her in advance, Mary was created perfect so as to be the perfect vessel for the Christ Child.

While the song is erroneous in its speculation, it is not wrong for you to enjoy “Mary, Did You Know?” Just keep in mind the powerful reality of Mary’s foreknowledge and Immaculate Conception!

This Advent season, bring Our Lady into your home with a framed print of L’Innocence, a stunning image of Mary with the Child Jesus that radiates Our Lady’s tender love. In your own home or as a gift, this piece of Sacred Art will inspire your friends and family to entrust everything to Our Lady’s loving arms.

What is the “Christmas Nail”?
It’s a little ornament that carries a profound meaning.

Maybe this Christmas, a friend will visit your house. As they admire your Christmas tree decorated with lights, images of the Nativity, perhaps some colorful ribbon and a snowman or two, they’ll spy a strange little ornament hanging close to the trunk of the tree. It’s almost invisible—hidden behind branches and lights and other decorations.

It’s a plain, long nail—much like the nails that pierced the hands and feet of Christ during His Passion. Your guests might wonder why such a nail would be found on a Christmas tree.

You’ll explain to them that Jesus was born in Bethlehem so that, thirty-three years later, He could die for our sins on Calvary. The Nail is a reminder of the Passion this little babe would undergo, as innocent at His death as He was at His birth. It reminds us of His sufferings and the incredible love that motivated both His earthly nativity and His death. This Nail decorates a Christmas tree, and the nails of His Passion decorated the Tree of the Cross.

The Nail is not in a place of prominence, but almost hidden away near the trunk. It is not so much a decoration, but a prayerful reminder for the family and for those guests with particularly keen eyes and hearts.

A poem explains the meaning of the Christmas Nail:

This is The Christmas Nail.
It is to be hung on a sturdy branch,
a branch near the trunk,
a branch that will hold such a spike without being noticed by well-wishers
dropping by to admire one’s tinseled tree.
The nail is known only to the home that hangs it.
Understood only by the heart that knows its significance.
It is hung with the thought that the Christmas tree but foreshadows the Christ-tree
which only He could decorate for us,
ornamented with nails as this.

You can make this tradition your own with a Christmas Nail available from The Catholic Company. Hung on a red ribbon, this Nail will become a beloved part of your Christmas tree. Comes with the Christmas Nail poem and a listing of Scripture prophecies about the Messiah.

Discover one of Thérèse of Lisieux’s favorite saints…
St. Theophane Vénard was a humble and courageous missionary priest.

“I want to go to Tonkin, too! I want to be a martyr, too!” cried eight-year-old Jean-Theophane.

He had just read about a recent missionary martyr, a native of his own birthplace in Poitiers, France.

From that moment, Theophane Vénard never wavered in his youthful desire for priesthood and missionary work. When he was eighteen, he grieved his family by asking to enter the seminary for missionaries.

The missions in the East were the path to certain martyrdom. At that time, a priest lasted about five years. If an executioner didn’t kill him, disease would.

Mr. Vénard let his son go to seminary—but the two parted with the expectation of never seeing each other again.

St. Theophane (photo by PHGCOM/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Theophane persevered in his formation despite great discouragement, giving himself to Our Lady every day as he prayed the Rosary. After ordination, he was sent to Hong Kong, and from there to Tonkin (northern Vietnam) in 1854.

He arrived in Tonkin during the fierce persecution of Christians. For six years, he worked secretly, hiding by day in a tight space with two other missionaries. His flock loved their gentle French priest and called him “little Fr. Vén.”

Then, in the winter of 1859, he was arrested and imprisoned. He lay locked up in a tiny cage for months, where he wrote many letters to his family, speaking with joy of his coming death.

Finally, he was taken out of his cage and beheaded. Twenty-three years after reading about the Tonkin martyr, Theophane’s spontaneous childhood wish was fulfilled.

St. Thérèse loved St. Theophane Vénard because she herself had desired to be a missionary—though God’s plan for her “mission work” was contained within a monastery and eventually poured forth from heaven after her death. His letters home inspired her as she pursued her Little Way during her brief earthly life. You can come to know St. Theophane through his writings, too, in A Modern Martyr: St. Theophane Vénard. Learn about the sanctity hidden in the most ordinary things through the words of this young priest. Available today at The Catholic Company!

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What’s the tradition of the Christmas “Oplatki” wafer?
The spirit of Christlike charity is baked into this wafer-bread.

The Oplatki have an unassuming appearance and only the mildest flavor, looking more like a thick piece of paper.

This modest appearance, however, conceals a symbolically-rich custom.

The Christmas wafers come from Eastern Europe. The name means “Angel Bread.” Made only of flour and water, they are stamped with Christmas images such as the Star of Bethlehem or the Nativity.

On Christmas Eve, the head of the family prays for the members of his family, present or absent, then breaks a piece off the wafer and gives it to each person. As the family members receive the wafer pieces, they are greeted with a kiss and a felicitation for a joyful feast. They then return the greeting in the same way.

The lesson of this custom is that the family must be united with the bonds of charity. It reminds us that we do not seek salvation alone, but with others, especially our family. We should help each other obtain salvation, always bearing Christ-like charity toward one another. When we are united in charity, we are joined, by the head of the family, to the unbroken links of One Body, One Bread, One Christ, and One Church.

If you have family and friends who live far away or overseas, the Christmas wafer is an excellent way to reach out to them and let them know they are loved and missed and are still an integral part of the family or group. The oplatki wafers are so thin and surprisingly sturdy that they can be carefully mailed in a Christmas card without breaking.

Today, many also purchase oplatki wafers to share among a special group of friends, such as friends from church or the classroom. You can even send several oplatki wafers to your friends and family members so that they can enjoy the tradition with those who are special to them.

Do you want to renew and cultivate the bond of charity you have with your family? Incorporate the Oplatki Christmas Wafers tradition into your own family customs this year. The delicate sets of Angel Bread, colored white and pink, come in an envelope printed with the description of the Oplatki tradition. Order your Angel Bread today at The Catholic Company!
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What happened when St. Columban met a pack of hungry wolves?
This Irish saint’s holiness was visible to people and animals alike.

In 543, a wee Irish lad was born. His mother was told in a dream that he was destined to light up the world and bring many to Christ.

Columban proved to be a remarkably intelligent and handsome boy. He was devoted to his faith and was distressed when temptations of the flesh troubled him in his adulthood. He sought help from a holy hermitess, and she advised him to seek monastic life.

This Columban did, despite his mother’s efforts to stop him. He studied for several years at a monastery near his home; then, following a call to greater austerity, he made his way to Bangor in northern Ireland, to a monastery ruled by St. Comgall.

Columban remained there for some time also, attracting many through his wisdom, intelligence, and austere example. Finally, however, he asked St. Comgall to let him follow another calling: that of a missionary to foreign peoples. With sorrow, St. Comgall allowed his dearest monk to go and provided him with 12 companions.

Columban and his companions arrived in France in 585. It was obvious to the Franks that these men lived the Christian life they preached. France was hungry for such holiness. Within 10 years, Columban built three large monasteries.

Valuing his solitude, the saint frequently withdrew into the surrounding forest for days to pray and meditate. Once, as he walked and meditated on different kinds of death, he ran into a pack of wolves. They surrounded him hungrily, but he gave himself into God’s protection. The wolves sniffed at his habit, and then—they quietly melted away into the trees.

After 20 years of mission work in France, Columban and his Irish companions ran into trouble with the dissolute king and were exiled. They trekked through Europe, eventually ending up in Bobbio, Italy. There, Columban built his last monastery in 612. He went to his eternal reward three years later.

Columban may never have entered religious life if it had not been for the “thorn in his flesh.” God uses our human failings to draw us to Himself and make us beacons of hope to others. Saints Around the World shows this through the lives of 100 saints.

What is a “rule of life”?
It’s a Christian guide to perfection for laity and religious alike.

We all experience the difficulty of staying focused on our main goal in life—that is, drawing ever closer to God so that we can spend eternity with Him. But we also know it’s hard to keep our eye on the prize with all the demands and distractions of our hurried, materialistic world.

We want and need to stay focused—and a Christian “rule of life” is an excellent way to do this.

In the context of a religious community, a “rule” is something that is drawn up to provide a clear structure for the apostolate, charism, and daily life of its communities. Their “rule” is the blueprint of their life and discipline, ordered towards growth in Christian perfection and the community’s particular work in the Church.

More recently, laymen have begun to adopt a rule for their own lives. Like a religious rule, a layman’s rule of life gives focus and structure to his days, helping him adopt disciplines and practices aimed at spiritual growth.

Each layman’s rule of life, however, is personal. It takes into account the responsibilities and duties of his particular vocation and creates a flexible schedule suited to the fulfillment of those duties.

For example, a married person’s “rule of life” might list simple daily tasks such as getting the children ready for the day, heading to the office, even a coffee break (or two); additionally, it would include prayer time and various challenges aimed at growing spiritually as a spouse and parent.

A “rule of life” may take effort and contemplation to build, but St. Alphonsus Liguori is here to help. His beloved work A Christian’s Rule of Life starts you on your journey with concrete spiritual practices and guiding principles important for the daily life of every Christian. Get your copy today at The Catholic Company!

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In terms of modern-day countries, where did the events of the Bible take place?
Biblical events occurred in a total of three continents.

Nothing can compare to a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the other sacred places in which the events of Holy Scripture took place. Even if we can’t make a pilgrimage right now, finding these places on a modern map puts their events in geographical context and brings them to life in our minds—reminding us that these events really happened, in real places, on this earth.

The events of the Bible center around the Holy Land in modern-day Israel and Palestine. Almost the entirety of Our Lord’s earthly life was spent in this region: Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and the surrounding areas.

Our Lord also spent a period of His childhood in Egypt, to which He and His family fled when escaping the wrath of Herod. Egypt appears in many places elsewhere in the Bible, particularly in the Book of Exodus, where we see God’s people in bondage to Pharaoh. Through the rod of Moses, God miraculously parted the Red Sea to lead His people to freedom. The part of the Red Sea referenced is the Gulf of Suez, which in modern times has been connected to the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal.

Other places we encounter in the Bible are a little harder to geo-locate on a modern map. For example, where in the world is…

Babylon? The site of the Israelites’ infamous exile was located in the part of ancient Mesopotamia that is now modern-day Iraq. Iraq also encompasses other famous biblical locations such as Ur, the homeland of the patriarch Abraham, and Nineveh, the city that repented upon hearing the preaching of Jonah.

Philistia? Goliath and the Philistines may have disappeared as a civilization, but their name lives on as the epithet of uncultured oafs everywhere. Their home territory was mostly in modern-day Israel.

Galatia? Ephesus? Colossae? St. Paul’s letters to the Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians were written to various inhabitants of modern-day Turkey.

Corinth? The recipients of Paul’s two Epistles to the Corinthians were located in south-central Greece.

Patmos? The island where the exiled St. John the Apostle wrote the Book of Revelation is located just off the coast of Turkey, but actually belongs to Greece.

Learn more about the greatest book ever written in 101 Surprising Facts About the Bible. This fun and fascinating book investigates questions such as: how old is the oldest Bible text? What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Into how many languages has the Bible been translated? What did Alexander the Great have to do with the shaping of the Bible?

The lesser known saint of the Sacred Heart
How “Christ’s nightingale” was a devotional trail-blazer.

Mechtilde was one of those people with a magnetic personality. Everyone loved her, sought out her conversation, and asked for her prayers and advice.

She was born around 1240, so frail that her parents feared she would die at any moment. However, after her hasty baptism, the priest prophesied that she would be a saint, a religious, and a miraculous instrument in God’s hands. This prophecy quickly proved true.

At age seven, little Mechtilde visited her older sister—a Benedictine abbess—and fell in love with monastic life. Her parents permitted her to live and learn at the monastery, and she entered the order 10 years later.

She was placed in charge of the girls who, like herself, were sent to the monastery for education and spiritual formation. She also directed the choir, having a beautiful voice. She frequently suffered unidentifiable illnesses, which she united to Our Lord’s sufferings.

When she was about 20 years old, St. Gertrude the Great—aged five—was given into her care.

Eventually, Mechtilde began confiding to Gertrude that Our Lord often appeared to her and gave her revelations. He called her His “nightingale,” showing how pleasing her songs were to Him.

Gertrude recorded everything Mechtilde told her. When Mechtilde discovered this—at the age of 50—she was troubled and turned to Our Lord for direction.

He appeared to her, holding the book of visions over His Heart, and told her that all her revelations flowed from the Sacred Heart and would return to It. He desired that the book be published, because through it, many souls would be drawn to His Heart.

After Mechtilde’s passing, the book was duly published and spread like wildfire through the Church, paving the way for future devotion to the Sacred Heart.

What are 4 themes we can focus on during the 4 Sundays of Advent?
Need a good way to really tap into this brief season?

Advent always seems to pass by in the blink of an eye, and this year—with Christmas Day occurring on a Wednesday—this season is almost at its shortest. Amidst the urgency of buying a tree, stocking the pantry, and selecting gifts, how can we intentionally slow down and focus on our spiritual preparation?

A good way to stay focused is to pick a theme for each week, meditating on it during your daily prayer (and even during activities like shoveling the sidewalk or peeling apples). Here are four possible themes:

1. Hope: The first week marks the beginning of the new liturgical year. The tale of our salvation has circled back to its starting point: the expectation of the Messiah. This week intensifies our hope in the coming of a Savior Who will free us from the chains of sin and become our Way and our Light.

2. Peace: The Prince of Peace came among us at the only point in history when the whole world was at peace. Intentionally bringing stillness and peace into our souls through quiet prayer is the best groundwork for welcoming the Messiah into our homes at His Nativity.

3. Joy: While Advent and Lent share the violet vestments, the sacrificial practices, and the spirit of penance, Advent looks forward to the incredible joy of our Savior’s birth. We have been waiting for this moment for millenia, and now it is near at hand. What could bring us more happiness than the arrival of God’s greatest gift to us?

4. Love: Once the fourth week is here, only a few days remain until the Messiah is with us. Remember that God became Man because of His love for us. You can respond to this love by preparing a hospitable, loving place for Him in your soul.

An Advent tradition that reveals Our Lord’s humanity
The Jesse Tree isn’t just for kids!

Christ was a man.

Although we may know this, we often forget to consider the reality of it.
Christ was a man and He descended from a lineage of fallen, broken humans such as ourselves.

We are reminded of this profound reality each Christmas. At Mass on Christmas Eve, we read the genealogy of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. With each name and generation, we are reminded of the humanity of Our Lord, of His beautiful humility, and of our own roles in salvation history.

The beautiful truth of Our Lord’s humanity is not something reserved for Christmas Mass. We should prayerfully consider it all throughout Advent. As we prepare for the coming of Our Lord, it is important to remember how God prepared for the coming of His Son through generations of men and women unknowingly aiding in His divine plan.

This is the beauty of a Jesse Tree! A traditional Advent practice, a Jesse Tree is a special tree (usually an actual tree or a paper tree) that visually recreates the genealogy of Jesus as presented in the Catholic Bible, beginning with Adam and Eve from Genesis through to the birth of the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

Each ancestor of Jesus featured on the Jesse Tree is represented by an easily-recognizable symbol. For example, Jacob is represented with a ladder ornament that recalls his vision of a ladder descending from heaven to earth. Each ornament is hung on the Jesse Tree.

The Jesse Tree is a great way for kids to learn their Bible stories and to help them understand how important every individual is and how they each have a role to play in salvation history.

However, it is also a beautiful reminder for Catholics of all ages to consider the gift of Our Lord’s humanity.

If you don’t have a Jesse Tree, it’s not too late! Get creative and use a small Christmas tree, a sturdy branch from outside, or craft one out of paper or felt!

This Advent, introduce the Jesse Tree as a new family tradition. You’ll find that, on Christmas morning, your family will have a greater love for our incarnate Lord and a deeper understanding of His nativity. The Jesse Tree for Families will guide you through every step of this tradition!

Which Irish saint wandered the woods in a shirt made of animal hair?
Born into wealth, St. Lawrence O’Toole chose to suffer with Christ.

That would be none other than St. Lawrence O’Toole—a man whose life was as rugged as his wardrobe! Born in 1128 into a noble Irish family, Lawrence had every opportunity for comfort and wealth. But rather than ascend to his family’s noble position and lifestyle, Lawrence was drawn to another path, one that would completely reject the wealth he was born into.

Lawrence felt God pull him into the life of a wandering mystic. He would walk through the rugged Irish countryside deep in prayer, preaching to the people he would encounter. While his work as a wandering missionary did much good, God then called him to a different kind of service: Church leadership. Lawrence became a priest and shortly after was promoted to Archbishop of Dublin, a powerful position of leadership.

This new authority did not change Lawrence’s commitment to humility and poverty. In fact, it didn’t even change his wandering habits! As Archbishop of Dublin, Lawrence adopted a practice he became famous for: roaming the countryside in a hairshirt—a rough, scratchy garment made of animal hair, worn against the skin as a form of self-discipline.

Despite his lone wanderings, Lawrence never shied away from his calling to Church leadership. He was a peacemaker during times of political upheaval, even mediating between warring factions in Ireland and England. And while some thought his lifestyle extreme, the people of Dublin saw him as a beacon of compassion, humility, and strength. He lived among them, serving the poor, healing the sick, and advocating for the oppressed.

This Advent and Christmas season, bring the humility of St. Lawrence and the beauty of Irish Catholicism into your home! This lovely Irish Christmas Blessing Candle will fill your home with warmth and faith all season long. Plus, it makes a perfect gift!

Can you name the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit?
You’ve learned about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. But did you know there are also twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit?

You probably had to memorize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as part of your Confirmation preparation. You may have accidentally thrown in a few fruits of the Holy Spirit on a Confirmation class quiz: wisdom, fortitude, knowledge…peace…or was it piety?…generosity…is that a gift or a fruit…?

Let’s have a refresher.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven specific graces He gives us, particularly in the Sacrament of Confirmation. According to the Catechism, they are permanent dispositions that help us respond to the promptings of the Spirit:

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are the result of a life lived according to the Spirit. They are the natural outcroppings of a branch closely united to the Vine, Who is Christ. In the True Vine discourse in the Gospel of John, Christ said that those who abide in Him will bear much fruit and glorify the Father.

St. Paul lists the twelve fruits in his letter to the Galatians, and this number has been confirmed by the tradition of the Church:

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

Ever notice how someone who strives after holiness just glows with these attributes? Like fire producing light and heat, a soul on fire with the Holy Spirit naturally emits these traits. Not that we are always patient, kind, and good every moment of every day, but if we keep working to remove the barriers of sin, these fruits will surely shine.

Beloved author and retreatmaster Fr. Jacques Philippe wrote In the School of the Holy Spirit to help souls acquaint themselves with the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Get to know the Holy Spirit and learn how to recognize and respond to His workings in your life with this remarkable book.

 

Who are the patron saints of each military branch?
Be sure to ask these saints to protect your friends and family serving in the military!

Did you know there are quite a few saints associated with the military? Some saints are general military patrons, some are specific to a branch, and some have even gained associations with a particular job within the military.

St. Michael the Archangel is patron of the military in general. Being an archangel, he is particularly honored by the Air Force and airborne divisions of the ground troops. Army paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC, complete the “St. Michael’s Jump” every year in honor of their patron saint.

Army

St. Sebastian, a Roman soldier, was particularly courageous, tough, and hard to kill. This Christian soldier became a captain in the Praetorian Guard, the emperor’s personal bodyguard. When Emperor Diocletian discovered Sebastian’s faith, he ordered him to be pierced with arrows, but incredibly, this didn’t kill him! Sebastian returned to challenge the Emperor for his cruelty to the Christians, at which point he was cudgeled to death.

St. Maurice was a Roman soldier from Egypt who eventually led the entire Theban Legion. He and his men were all Christians, and were martyred together when they refused to worship the Roman gods. St. Maurice is particularly honored by infantry units.

Servant of God Emil Kapaun was a U.S. Army chaplain who gave his life in the service of his fellow-soldiers when they were captured by Chinese forces in the Korean War. He died in a prison camp in 1951 and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His body was just identified a few years ago and returned to his home state of Kansas.

Other soldier saints include St. Martin of Tours—whose feast just happens to be today!—St. Joan of Arc, St. George, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and St. John of Capistrano.

Marine Corps

The virgin-martyr St. Barbara is the patroness of both Army and Marine artillerymen. Her own father martyred her out of hatred for her Christian faith, and legend says that lightning struck him as divine punishment—hence the connection to artillery.

Another Medal of Honor recipient, Servant of God Vincent Capodanno, was a Marine chaplain who was killed in action in the Vietnam War.

Air Force

St. Joseph of Cupertino is a patron saint of aviators because of his habit of levitating during prayer! Our Lady of Loreto is also the patroness of aviation and air travelers, since it is said that the Holy House of Loreto—the Holy Family’s home—was carried by angels to Italy.

Navy

St. Brendan the Navigator was a 5th-6th century Irish monk who traveled by sea to spread the Faith and monasticism in other lands. He is the hero of the early medieval legend The Voyage of St. Brendan, in which he and his companions embark on an epic sea adventure to find a promised land of the saints.

These are just a few of the great saints who take care of our men and women in the military. The Catholic Company has many gifts geared toward service members, such as this St. Michael Visor Clip that comes with the insignia of any military branch. We also have a wide selection of saints’ medals if your servicemember has a particular patron.

What does “memento mori” mean?
As Catholics we are urged to “remember our death,” but why?

We are all going to die.

Every single one of us.

And, over time, so will all those we know and love.

This reality can strike fear in the heart of even the most faithful Christian. Yet, if we are pursuing holiness and conformity to God’s will, we need not fear death. Heaven—that final union with the Lord Who is the source of our joy—is the reward of those who have been faithful on earth. And death is simply the path we must take to get there.

Knowing this means we can live freely in the light of God’s love for us. We can spend our lives seeking His will and aspiring only for His will to be done. We can let go of our fear of death and embrace the unique mission He asks of us in our finite time on earth.

Instead of focusing on the uncontrollable aspects of death, God calls us to rejoice in the gift of our immortal souls, and to embrace the hope and the promise implicit in bodily death. Christ conquered sin and death with His own death and Resurrection, and so, though we must go through bodily death, the salvation of our souls and the resurrection of our bodies await us.

Reframing the normally-scary concept of death is one of the many fruits of the practice of memento mori, which is Latin for “Remember your death.”

To take memento mori to heart is to remember our own deaths, and to live each day so that we are prepared to see the face of God. The practice of memento mori is essential, as it keeps the reality of our mortality present in our minds so that we may best live in a manner that will grant us heaven upon our death, which may come unexpectedly.

How powerful to ready ourselves in the here and now, which we know is fleeting, for the gift of eternity with Christ Jesus!

This life is precious. Every moment is gift and mystery. One day, at the hand of death, we will look upon the One Who we know loves us. His kingdom and our relationship with Him will endure into eternity, when we have left all we know of this world behind us.

So, until that day, memento mori!

Remember your death more fruitfully, joyfully, and prayerfully with Memento Mori: Prayers on the Last Things, a beautiful prayerbook that helps you pray and meditate on death and the afterlife. Encouraged by Scripture and the saints, this ancient tradition can help you manage the chaos of this world, grow closer to God, and focus on heaven.

Did you know van Gogh painted a biblical scene?
Amid personal turmoil, the painter turned to Scripture for consolation.

You probably know Vincent van Gogh. His paintings, such as Starry Night, Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, and his self-portraits, are instantly recognizable.

But did you know he painted a beautiful biblical scene?

In the final year of his life, while struggling with mental illness at
the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, Vincent van Gogh painted The Good Samaritan. In this colorful and vivid painting, van Gogh brings Jesus’ parable to life. With his signature swirling brushstrokes and movement, he depicts the Samaritan lifting a wounded traveler onto his donkey.

Van Gogh’s own life, with intense experiences of isolation and rejection, makes his choice of this story all the more powerful. Here was a man who knew suffering and loneliness, yet he chose to paint a scene of mercy. It is a moving depiction of compassion, tenderness, and Christian charity, three things Vincent himself needed at the time.

Religious art like this serves a unique purpose. It does more than illustrate; it draws us into prayer and reflection. We are comforted by visually encountering the tenderness of Christ’s love for us through sacred art. Maybe this is why van Gogh turned to religious art at this point in his life, even when it was a departure from his usual artistic subjects.

Bring home van Gogh’s The Good Samaritan in a beautiful ornate frame and you’ll have an extremely unique piece of religious art that brings color and consolation into any room! Let this masterpiece be a quiet reminder in your home to “go and do likewise.”

Five ways to help the poor souls in purgatory
And one way to receive a plenary indulgence!

Even though All Souls Day has passed, we should continue to pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory.

In fact, the Church dedicates the entire month of November to these suffering souls, urging us to remember them in our prayers.

Here are 5 ways to pray for the Holy Souls this month:

1. Visit a Cemetery (and Gain a Plenary Indulgence!)
One of the most impactful acts of prayer for the Holy Souls is visiting a cemetery, where a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Holy Souls, is available each day from November 1st – November 8th. A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment due to sin, so it is a wonderful gift to give to the Holy Souls. To gain the indulgence, follow these steps:
• Visit a cemetery and pray for the deceased.
• Fulfill the usual conditions for a plenary indulgence: go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the pope (for example, an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be), and be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.
The confession may be completed within a few weeks before or after the indulgenced work and can count for a number of plenary indulgences.

Holy Communion and the prayers for the Holy Father must be done for each work (preferably on the day of the work, but they can be done several days before or after).

2. Pray the Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Both the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are powerful ways to intercede for the souls in purgatory. The Rosary brings the consolation of our loving Blessed Mother to souls in need. Similarly, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, especially when prayed at 3 p.m. (the Hour of Mercy), is a plea for God’s mercy on all souls, especially those suffering purification.

3. Offer the Sacrifice of the Mass
Attending Mass is one of the greatest acts of charity we can perform for the deceased. The Holy Mass is the most powerful prayer because it is Christ offering Himself, the most perfect Sacrifice, to the Father. You can even arrange for Masses to be offered specifically for deceased loved ones or for the forgotten souls in purgatory. You can also offer your reception of Holy Communion up for a soul in need.

4. Perform Acts of Sacrifice and Charity
We can also aid the Holy Souls by offering up sacrifices and acts of charity, such as fasting, abstaining from favorite foods, or giving alms. Any small sacrifice can become a source of grace for these souls when we offer it with love.

5. Pray the “Eternal Rest” Prayer
The “Eternal Rest” prayer is a traditional and simple way to remember the Holy Souls. You can pray it anytime, especially when passing by a cemetery or in moments of quiet:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In this month of November, let’s remember our connection to the Holy Souls and dedicate our prayers, sacrifices, and Masses for them. Our prayers can truly make a difference, hastening their entrance into the eternal joy of heaven, where they will surely intercede for us in turn.

Remind yourself to pray for these suffering souls this month and throughout the year with this Holy Souls Rosary Bracelet. Inspired by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s vision of purgatory, where she saw souls moving from darkness into light as she prayed for them, this rosary bracelet features stunning agate, Swarovski crystal, and silver beads. Additionally, with its St. Michael medal, this bracelet will help you fight your own spiritual battles during your life so that you arrive at your death prepared!

Which Catholic queen went herself to quell a rebellion—and succeeded?
Isabella of Castile must have laughed in the face of danger more than once in her life.

The 1469 marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella—respective heirs of Aragon and Castile—had ensured the union of the two kingdoms.

But trouble began when Isabella’s half-brother, King Henry IV of Castile, died in 1474. Rebels challenged the legitimacy of Isabella’s claim to the throne, even though Henry had named Isabella his successor. The rebels supported Henry’s daughter Joan, and the result was the War of the Castilian Succession from 1475 to 1479. What a way to start a reign.

In the midst of this conflict, a particular rebellion popped up in August of 1476 in the city of Segovia. The stakes were amplified by the fact that Ferdinand and Isabella’s infant daughter was in the city at the time. Never one to waste a moment, and accompanied only by a few friends, Isabella rode out to the city to negotiate with the rebels. She succeeded in putting an end to the unrest.

It would hardly be her only victory—under her hand and that of her husband, their united kingdom would flourish as never before.

To name just a few of Isabella’s accomplishments in Castile: she decreased the high crime rate, established a police force, did tremendous work to restore the Crown’s ailing finances, and was a great patroness of education and the arts.

The King and Queen finished the work of the Reconquista—the taking-back of Spain from the Muslim invaders who had conquered it—when they regained the Kingdom of Granada. Fearless as always, Isabella was continually involved in this war, organizing supplies and medical equipment, mustering troops, and visiting camps.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus famously appeared before Queen Isabella to request support for his proposed expedition to the New World. Isabella agreed to sponsor the voyage and later sponsored other Spanish expeditions.

The Queen also harbored a deep concern for the welfare of the natives of the New World, forbidding their enslavement and insisting that their rights and property be respected as subjects of the Crown. She even enumerated these wishes in her will.
Isabella’s accomplishments are far too numerous to recount here. But her greatest attributes were her faith, devotion, and piety, which guided her life and rule. Her reputation for sanctity even earned her the title of Servant of God in 1974.

Long live the Queen—may she join the ranks of canonized Catholic monarchs soon!
Knowledge of—and pride in—our Catholic history is more important than ever before. Pick up a copy of Timeless: A History of the Catholic Church and dive in. Available today at The Catholic Company!
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Do we know anything about Mary’s early life?
Let’s learn more about Our Lady’s childhood.

This month, on November 21st, the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of Our Lady, when her parents, St. Ann and St. Joachim, took her to the Temple to offer her in service to the Lord—just as Our Lady and St. Joseph would do with the Child Jesus years later.

The day of her presentation was a day of immense joy for Mary. Her soul, immaculate and filled with grace from the first moment of her conception, desired nothing more than to love and serve her God. This day brought her more fully into his service and allowed her to assist day and night in His house. She said to her angels:
“Messengers of the Almighty, faithful friends, I beseech you to remain with me in this holy Temple of my Lord and to remind me of all that I should do. Please instruct me and direct me so that in all things I may fulfill the Will of God.”
But Our Lady’s Presentation is not mentioned in the Bible—actually, nothing about her life prior to the Annunciation is mentioned at all. How do we know what she said to the angels? Do we know any details about this part of her life?

While we do not read about Mary’s childhood in Scripture, God has given some privileged souls private revelations concerning her hidden life. While these revelations do not carry the weight of public revelation contained in the deposit of faith—nor do they constitute historical sources—and while we are not obliged to believe them, those that have met with the approbation of the Church are a wonderful way to illuminate our contemplation of these mysteries.

The quotation above is taken from The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics, a compilation of the visions of several saints—Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, St. Bridget of Sweden, Ven. Mother Mary of Agreda, and St. Elizabeth of Schoenau—concerning Our Lady’s hidden life, arranged into a chronological, easy-to-read narrative.

Devotion to Our Lady is an essential aspect of our Catholic faith. As such, it is incredibly important that we introduce our children to Our Lady intercession—she longs to receive them into the fold of her mantel! With the Mary on the Mantel Book and Mary Doll Set, you can introduce Marian devotion to your children while engaging them with fun spiritual activity for Advent! It includes a board book about Mary, daily activity cards with messages from Mary, an Advent coloring sheet, and a plush Mary doll.

Who established All Saints Day?
Well, it depends…

On November 1st, the Church celebrates All Saints Day, a glorious feast and a holy day of obligation.

However, the Church hasn’t always celebrated this holiday in November…

The feast we now know as All Saints Day was originally celebrated on May 13th, 609 A.D., when Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin Mary and all martyrs, known and unknown.

So, why don’t we celebrate All Saints Day on May 13th? The short answer is because of Pope Gregory III.

On November 1st, 731 A.D., a century after the first celebration of All Saints Day, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in the Vatican to the relics of all the holy Apostles, saints, and martyrs. Since then, the Church has celebrated All Saints Day on November 1st.

A century after that, in 853 A.D., Pope Gregory IV established All Saints Day as a holy day of obligation.

So, who established All Saints Day? Well, we have three popes to thank for that! Thank you, Pope Boniface IV, Pope Gregory III, and Pope Gregory IV for helping establish this glorious feast we celebrate today!

Happy All Saints Day! Get to Mass today and celebrate by reading a story from the lives of the saints, dressing as your favorite saint, or by wearing this beautiful All Saints Bracelet! This sturdy corded bracelet features the medals of beloved saints such as St. Padre Pio, Pope St. John Paul II, St. Benedict, and many more! With these powerful intercessors with you always, you’ll have great help on your path to joining all the saints in heaven!

What are First Fridays and First Saturdays?
This weekend, honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

This weekend, along with being both All Saints Day and All Souls Day, is a First Friday and a First Saturday! Devotion to the First Fridays and First Saturdays incorporates devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary into our monthly routines.

In the 17th century, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a cloistered nun, began receiving visions in which Christ asked her to foster devotion to His Sacred Heart. One of the devotions received through these visions is the “First Friday devotion,” which calls for the faithful to receive the Eucharist on the first Friday of the month for nine consecutive months in honor of and in reparation to Jesus’ Sacred Heart.

Jesus revealed several promises for those who observed the First Friday devotions, including reception of the sacraments before death, perseverance in the Faith, and consolation of Christ’s love at one’s death.

The First Saturday Devotion is another way to devote yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and honor our Holy Mother.

When the Virgin Mother appeared to the three children at Fatima in 1917, she told the oldest child, Lucia, that she would grant special graces to persons who practiced the First Saturday devotion.

On the first Saturday of every month, the faithful should go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say the Rosary, and meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary for fifteen minutes.

Our Lord’s Sacred Heart burns with love for you! Grow in your devotion to the Sacred Heart everyday with this lovely Sacred Heart Prayer Mug! This mug will help you unite even the most mundane moments of your day with Our Lord’s Sacred Heart. It makes the perfect gift too!

What was the “Miracle on the Vistula”?
On Assumption Day, 1920, Our Lady saved Poland.

August, 1920. As the shadow of tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers appeared on the banks of the Vistula River outside Warsaw, Cardinal Ratti—the future Pope Pius XI—raised the monstrance and processed through the streets of the city.

The current pope, Benedict XV, had called on the Catholic world to pray for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the dire situation in which Poland now found herself. The people of Warsaw prayed desperately to their patroness, Our Lady of Czestochowa.

It seemed that only a miracle could save them now.

Three years prior, Russia had been engulfed by the fire of Bolshevism, and now—as the newly-rebranded U.S.S.R.—was Lenin’s vehicle for spreading his atheistic regime to all of Europe.

Poland was first on his list, because it stood in the way of the real prize: Germany.
So Lenin sent 100,000 Soviet troops across the Polish border. It wasn’t looking good in the first days of this onslaught, as the woefully outmanned, outgunned, and unprepared Polish forces were overrun by the red wave that was heading straight for Warsaw.

The leader of the Polish forces, General Piłsudski, planned a seemingly crazy attack on the Soviets’ left flank, ignoring the British advice to surrender. The odds looked horrible.

General Piłsudski also knew the importance of faith to his soldiers, and had asked for priests to be sent to his troops, among them the famous Father Jan Skorupka—who would later be killed on the battlefield as he strove to inspire courage among the Polish soldiers.

The Soviets attacked the city on August 13th, and it looked like it was all over. But on the 15th—the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady—the tide seemed to unexpectedly turn. The Poles started pushing back the Soviets, whose quick victory had seemed all but assured.

Piłsudski launched his attack on the 16th. His troops encountered little resistance and advanced with inexplicable ease. It was so easy he thought it might be a trap—but it wasn’t.

Charles de Gaulle, a military adviser during the conflict, said:
“Our Poles have grown wings. The soldiers who were physically and morally exhausted only a week ago are now racing forward in leaps of 40 kilometers a day. Yes, it is victory! Complete, triumphant victory!”
What happened?

Captured Bolshevik soldiers attested that the Mother of God had appeared in the skies on the battlefield, visible only to the Soviets. This happened twice, once on the 14th—during the battle in which Father Skorupka fell—and once on the 15th elsewhere. The soldiers that saw her fled in terror, leaving the path open for the Poles.

Warsaw was saved. Lenin called it an “enormous defeat” for his forces. Poland’s war with the Bolsheviks ended that fall and peace terms were signed the following spring. The march of Communism had been halted, for now.

For over half the 20th century, across nearly half the globe, the Catholic Faith was repressed, restricted, or outright illegal. Starting in 1917, the atheistic doctrine of Communism was viciously promoted by state powers, whose promises of “equality for all” routinely descended into totalitarianism, slavery, and slaughter. The Catholic Church was a principal target of these regimes. In the powerful book When the Sickle Swings, you’ll find inspiring stories of the faithful men and women who held fast to their faith despite oppression and persecution.

Why is St. Jude portrayed with an image of Jesus in his hands?
What is the giant medallion he carries on his chest?

St. Jude, known as Thaddeus in the Gospels, is always portrayed with a staff, a book, and a large medallion of Jesus’ face. The staff and book imagery makes sense—he traveled to spread the Gospel, and wrote a short epistle—but why does he carry an image of Our Lord?

The answer goes back to the time of Jesus’ public ministry.

According to legend, in the city of Edessa, King Abgar lay dying of an incurable disease. He hadn’t despaired of his life yet, however. Rumor had reached him of a holy man who worked miracles in distant Israel. With hope, Abgar sent a letter to this man, begging Him to come to Edessa.

When Our Lord was given this letter, He did not go to the dying king. Instead, He said He would send one of His apostles: Jude Thaddeus. Before Jude made the journey, however, Jesus pressed a cloth against His face, and gave the cloth to Jude.

St. Jude then went to Abgar and presented the cloth to him. It bore a miraculous impression of Christ’s face. Abgar looked upon it and was immediately healed.
That is why St. Jude, of all the Apostles, is depicted bearing the face of Christ—because he was entrusted with an image of Our Lord.

The patron saint of impossible causes can bring Our Lord’s healing grace to any situation. Pray for his intercession with our exclusive St. Jude Impossible Causes Decade Rosary. Fashioned with beautiful, forest-green jasper beads and a silver medal of St. Jude, this pocket-sized decade rosary will comfort you or a loved one in times of trial. Includes a card with a prayer to the saint.

What is the Roman collar?
We all recognize priests by this special vesture. But where did it come from?

Priests began wearing the standard cassock about three or four hundred years before the iconic collar. In the interim, collars changed according to the times.

Then, in 1624, the Church concluded that the time had come for clerical garb to have stricter guidelines.

Why 1624? Well, collars had grown into major fashion statements by that time. No matter how plain or embellished the rest of the garb, the collar was the crown of it all. Linen was the most common material, but the high class could display impressive filigree collars of lace. The fancier the collar, the wealthier the owner!

The Church, however, wished both the clergy and laity to always remember what a priest is: Christ’s representative on earth, who is consecrated to God, and who embraces material poverty as did Our Lord. For a priest to wear collars of expensive materials was incongruous with this aspect of his calling. So Pope Urban VIII forbade ornamentation or lace and the Church regulated the fashionable collars to simple ones.

Today, we are familiar with the most common form of this simple collar: the “Roman collar,” with its simple white square.

The Roman collar is an immediately recognizable Catholic symbol. Pass on the rich tradition of Catholicism to your children with this adorable Saintly Snacker Priestly Baby Bib! Keep your kids clean with this charming black silicone bib featuring a front pocket to catch leftovers and a white “priestly collar” design at the top.

What are the 10 principal virtues of Mary?
True devotion to Mary, says St. Louis de Montfort, leads us to imitate these virtues.

In his classic work True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort explains that this devotion to Mary “leads the soul to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of the Blessed Virgin,” especially her ten principal virtues.

He lists them as:
• Profound humility
• Lively faith
• Blind obedience
• Continual prayer
• Universal mortification
• Divine purity
• Ardent charity
• Heroic patience
• Angelic sweetness
• Divine wisdom
Today, let’s dive into the first five and we’ll go into the next five tomorrow.

Profound humility. Our Lady was the most exalted of all creatures, yet also the most humble. “My soul doth magnify the Lord…” she said during her Visitation to St. Elizabeth, recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Not only did Mary attribute everything good to God and see herself as His creature, totally dependent on Him, but she also saw her life’s very purpose as glorifying the Almighty.

Lively faith. Our Lady believed everything God revealed and in all His promises, without faltering. And she did it with eagerness and joy, not with timidity or skepticism. She trusted in Him completely, He Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. “Blessed is she who believed that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled,” said St. Elizabeth to her at that same Visitation.

Blind obedience. Our Lady was perfectly obedient to God, as exemplified by her fiat at the Annunciation. Even at those times when the way ahead seemed uncertain or fraught with danger—such as when the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt—she always obeyed, trusting in God.

Continual prayer. Mary never stopped praying. She certainly set aside specific time in her day for prayer, to be alone with God and to converse with Him, but this prayer continued even amidst her other duties. Whether she was baking bread, preparing dinner, cleaning her house, or visiting a neighbor, all was done in union with God.

Universal mortification. Mortification is the denial of one’s own will and inclinations. Our Lady never followed after her own will, but continually united it to God’s will in every circumstance. She accepted patiently all contradictions, sufferings, and hardships with love, offering all things to God with perfect resignation and charity.

We should mimic our Blessed Mother in all things, but especially in these ten virtues! Remind yourself of these virtues and their beauty with this Virtues of Mary Vintage Floral Poster! This unique way of displaying Mary’s virtues makes a wonderful accent in your home. It also makes a perfect gift for the young woman in your life. Order yours today from The Catholic Company!
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Farmer-saints to help you in your work
Who are the patrons of those who “labor and toil in the sweat of their brows”?

Whether you work for your daily bread on arable property of your own or you simply care for a handful of chickens and a postage-stamp garden, you know the anxious labor that goes into producing healthy stock and vibrant crops. Among the saints in heaven, a countless number have experienced the same and would be delighted if you brought them your prayers.

Incense is required for Benediction and may be used at certain points in the Mass, including during the entrance procession, at the proclamation of the Gospel, at the Offertory, and at the Consecration. Priests may also burn incense at funerals around the coffin to represent our prayers to heaven for the deceased person, and also to commemorate that this person’s body was holy as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Incense powerfully represents what really happens at Mass, Adoration, and Benediction. The next time you see incense in church, think about how, in this moment, your prayers are rising to God and He is descending to earth to make His presence real before you in the Eucharist.

Although we don’t often use incense at home, a beautiful candle can serve as a similar reminder of Our Lord’s presence. One of our personal favorites is this Fiat Scented Candle! Along with it’s lovely mandarin vanilla scent, this candle displays the beautiful words of Our Lady from the Gospel of Luke: “May it be done unto me according to your word.” Remind yourself to say yes to Our Lord daily with this stunning candle!

How many countries did JPII visit as pope?

The total number isn’t in the single digits. It’s not even in the double digits.

It’s in the triple digits.

History’s most well-traveled pope visited a total of 129 countries during his 26-year pontificate.

Of these, the top most-visited country was his native Poland, with nine visits (also where he literally helped topple Communism); then France, with eight visits; and our own United States comes in third place, with seven.

Some folks on the internet actually put together a fun map of all the places he went. The different shades of blue represent the number of times he visited each place:

The darkest blue means 9+ trips; the lightest blue, 1 trip; each shade in between represents a digit, with grey representing zero.

This translates to around 721,000 miles of travel. That’s like circumnavigating the earth 29 times!

Start each morning off with a good laugh while remembering this beloved saint with our JPII Stupidity Quote Mug. Featuring a great line of this witty pontiff, “Stupidity is also a gift from God, but one mustn’t misuse it”, this mug will bring a smile to your face even while making you think. Pair it with a cup of delicious Pope Saint John Paul II Peruvian Roast Coffee!

Did you know that the last emperor of Austria was a saint?

“I must suffer like this so my people will come together again.”

These were the words of Blessed Karl von Habsburg, last emperor of Austria-Hungary, as he lay dying in exile.

Karl had ascended to the throne in 1916, in the middle of World War I. The assassination of his uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, had ostensibly precipitated the war, and the death of Franz’s father, Franz Joseph, Karl’s great-uncle, meant that Karl was the heir.

Emperor Karl was one of the only voices of peace in the midst of a senseless war. He tried to negotiate Austria-Hungary’s exit from the conflict, supporting Pope Benedict XV’s seven-point peace plan, but their efforts were rejected.
With the end of the war, the secular powers-that-be had no interest in a Catholic monarchy. The land of Austria-Hungary was broken up into smaller entities, the emperor and his family were exiled, and the monarchy and aristocracy of Austria were abolished.
After attempting to restore the throne of Hungary, Blessed Karl was sent to his final exile on the island of Madeira, Portugal. There he died of pneumonia at the age of thirty-four, leaving behind the Empress and eight children.

Blessed Karl’s legacy is one of holiness, self-sacrifice, and loyalty to God, family, and his people. He was intensely devoted to Our Lord and Our Lady. His entire concept of duty centered around following God’s will and serving the people placed under his care. He was a devoted husband and father whose wife, the Empress Zita, is also on the path to sainthood.

He was everything a ruler should be. The tragedy of his reign is not in his failure, but in the failure of the world to see what they had in him.

Pope St. John Paul II beatified Blessed Karl on October 3, 2004. He is a saint for our times, standing as a contradiction to the modern-day evils of family breakdown, secularism, and government tyranny. Let us pray for his canonization and pray that he would intercede for our troubled and sinful world.

What are the three holy oils we use in the sacraments?
And when do we use these little-seen sacramentals?

Let’s say you’re visiting a church and you notice a tiny door in the wall of the sanctuary or the vestibule. You ask someone what it is and they reply, “Oh! That’s the ambry.”

“Sorry, come again?” you ask quizzically. “The ambry?”

“Yes, the place where the holy oils are kept.”

Ah, yes, the place where the holy oils are kept. You move away and are exiting the church when you suddenly think, “Wait, I forget what exactly the holy oils are.” By now, it’s too late to find your knowledgeable friend again, so you go home and consult your other knowledgeable friend—Get Fed!

You search “holy oils” and discover that these oils are blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week. There are three, each with a special sacramental use:

The Oil of the Sick is used during the Anointing of the Sick. The priest applies it to a sick person while invoking the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This oil is the vehicle through which Our Lord sends a person the graces and strength to bear illness. While it is in no way medicinal, it has been known to work spiritual, emotional, and even physical healing. It is made of pure olive oil.

The Oil of Catechumens is applied during the Baptism ceremony, right before the actual baptism with water. This oil is like a closed door between the soul and the devil, shutting out the latter in order that the soon-to-be-baptized soul may better prepare for life with and in Christ. It is also pure olive oil.

The Oil of Chrism is used in multiple sacraments. Most commonly, it is applied after Baptism and at Confirmation. It signifies the Holy Ghost and consecrates a person to God’s service. Priests at their ordination are also anointed with this oil. It is used at the consecration of bishops and churches, the blessing of new altars and holy vessels, and—now rare—at the coronation of royalty. It is made of olive oil and balsam, which gives it that distinct, incense-like aroma.

There is so much to learn about each sacrament—so why not start early? Give your children Light of the Sacraments, an interactive book that teaches children about each of the sacraments through Scripture, art, and rhyme. Kids will love the hidden images revealed with the aid of a flashlight! An excellent way to reveal the sacred mysteries to the children in your life—and, incidentally, why not refresh your own knowledge at the same time?

Why do priests burn incense at Mass and Adoration?
Love the scent or hate it, incense is a valuable part of Catholic worship.

Love the scent or hate it, incense is a valuable part of Catholic worship.

So why do Catholics use it so often?

We derive our use of incense from Scripture. Psalm 141:2 reads, “Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands an evening offering.” Also, in Revelation, John describes incense as a symbol of the prayers of the saints in heaven.

Incense has long been a part of Judeo-Christian worship. In the Old Testament, incense was used for worship, and Catholics used incense even in the early Church.

We use incense at Mass and Adoration to symbolize our prayers rising to heaven, and how the grace of the Mass purifies and sanctifies us. Also, when the burning incense rises into the air, representing our prayers going to heaven, we’re reminded of the spiritual connection as earth and heaven meet in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Incense is required for Benediction and may be used at certain points in the Mass, including during the entrance procession, at the proclamation of the Gospel, at the Offertory, and at the Consecration. Priests may also burn incense at funerals around the coffin to represent our prayers to heaven for the deceased person, and also to commemorate that this person’s body was holy as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Incense powerfully represents what really happens at Mass, Adoration, and Benediction. The next time you see incense in church, think about how, in this moment, your prayers are rising to God and He is descending to earth to make His presence real before you in the Eucharist.

Although we don’t often use incense at home, a beautiful candle can serve as a similar reminder of Our Lord’s presence. One of our personal favorites is this Fiat Scented Candle! Along with it’s lovely mandarin vanilla scent, this candle displays the beautiful words of Our Lady from the Gospel of Luke: “May it be done unto me according to your word.” Remind yourself to say yes to Our Lord daily with this stunning candle!

Which saint saw her special place in hell?
Behind every great saint, there is a great conversion.

Most of us know St. Teresa of Ávila as a mystic, visionary, author, reformer, and foundress. She was all of these things, but she was also something more: she was a convert.

Born into Spanish nobility in the 16th century, Teresa entered the Carmelite Order at the age of 20. For nearly two decades, Teresa’s life as a Carmelite was marked with inconsistency: she often suffered from ill health and grew in the spiritual life during her illnesses, but when she regained her health, she returned to indifference toward prayer.

Despite her own indifference, however, she frequently told other sisters within the monastery how they ought to pray and live the Carmelite life. Before long, they began pointing out her hypocrisy to her.

Finally, Our Lord Himself stepped in. One day, He took Teresa to a horrible place—a place so awful that words fail to describe it, but which she likened to a slimy, dark tunnel filled with an inexpressible stench.

This place, He told Teresa, was her very own place in hell. This was the spot reserved particularly for her, Teresa of Ávila, and which awaited her in the next life. He showed it to her that she might understand her danger, humble herself, and start to take her religious life more seriously.

Teresa did just that. From that day until her entrance into heaven, she clung to Christ as her Savior and Spouse, throughout all the heavy crosses and trials of her life. She not only grew consistent in prayer and her observance of the Carmelite Rule—she reached immense heights of mystical prayer and became the great reformer of the Carmelite Order. She is one of the Church’s greatest teachers on prayer and a Doctor of the Church.

This great saint knew what truly matters in life and she is eager to teach us. Bring her greatest lesson home in the form of our St. Teresa of Ávila Parchment Print. Illustrated with the complexity and richness of a medieval manuscript, this print features Teresa’s most powerful quote. Take it from a saint who saw hell—these words of confidence and comfort are concrete and sincere!

Which Marian apparition was scheduled in advance…
…and had to be pushed back?

When Our Lady first appeared to the three children of Fatima on May 13th, 1917, she told them she would return to the same spot on that day for the next six months.
She did indeed come on the 13th of every month—but one day, the children were unable to keep their appointment with the Blessed Mother.

Here’s why.

It was August 13th, 1917. By now, enough people had heard of the apparitions at Fatima that the children were famous, and many people went to the site with them.

The governor, a staunch anti-Catholic, was very displeased and concerned about the crowds these children were drawing. So, he got in his carriage, and drove toward the apparition site.

On the way there, he encountered the children, and offered them a ride to the site in his carriage. Once they got in, however, he drove them to his house and locked them up.

The next day he subjected them to relentless interrogation, threw them in jail, and even threatened their lives—but all to no avail. The next day he finally released them, having gained nothing.

On August 19th, nearly a week after the arranged date, Our Lady appeared to the children in a different spot. After that, the apparitions continued as originally planned.

Today, Our Lady of Fatima is one of the most famous apparitions of the Blessed Mother. “We would be mistaken,” said Pope Benedict XVI, “to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete.” Do you know the truth about this miraculous apparition? Fatima for Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope carefully analyzes the events that took place in Fatima and clears up lingering questions and doubts about their meaning. This important book will deepen your understanding of this important Marian apparition!

What is the Litany of Trust?
Your SOS in spiritual distress.

Fear is arguably the greatest and most powerful emotion in our lives. There’s a lot we might be disturbed and anxious about—relationships, politics, health, our vocation, our job, even severe weather. We can become fixated on the fear and inner turmoil, unknowingly trying to draw on our strength alone to fix everything.

In times like this, what should we do? What can we do?

The answer is simple: pray the Litany of Trust.

“What?” you think. “What does trust have to do with my anxiety?”

Actually, trust is the remedy for fear. We fear because we do not trust in God. The Litany of Trust is a prayer which flings the soul wholly upon God. It asks Jesus to grant us the sweet grace of complete faith in Him, Who is our security and support. It helps us to face and renounce our reluctance to rely on Jesus.

The Litany was written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, a member of the Sisters of Life. During a time of inner turmoil and anxiety, she contemplated the root of her distress and discovered it to be a lack of trust. After she consciously placed all her trust in Jesus, relinquishing her desire to control everything herself, peace returned to her soul. This experience inspired her to compose a prayer that anyone can repeat in times of need, or on a regular basis.

Right now, in the midst of natural disasters and the election season, we need to trust God’s Providence more than ever! This St. Michael America Rosary is a beautiful way to prayerfully entrust our country to Jesus through Mary.

What does a day in the life of a saint look like?
Let’s tag along on a day in St. John Vianney’s life.

Well, of course, they’re all different, but one thing that is shared amongst all the lives of the saints is a commitment to prayer and the Holy Mass.

Let’s take a closer look at how prayer and Mass formed the cornerstone of St. John Vianney’s life.

Often, St. John Vianney would begin his day around 1 or 2 a.m., spending hours in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He once said, “Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: if you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But join these straws together in a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky.”

Unlike most of us, 6 in the morning was the highlight of St. John Vianney’s day. It was at this early morning hour that he would celebrate Mass. His love and intense reverence during the liturgy often moved people to tears.

We are only at breakfast time and St. John Vianney’s day has already been filled with more prayer than most of us get in throughout a whole week. And it doesn’t even stop there!

After Mass, St. John Vianney would spend up to 16 hours in the confessional. It was during these long, difficult hours that he gained a reputation as a powerful confessor. Fueled by the Mass and hours in prayer, his confessions were incredibly healing. Pilgrims from across France sought his counsel and absolution. He encouraged penitents with a reminder: “The good God will forgive you if you do not despair of His mercy.”

One can only imagine a weary St. John Vianney exiting the confessional after one of these long days spent bringing God’s mercy and absolution to hundreds. A normal person would take the night off after a day like his, but not St. John Vianney…he simply would turn his eyes up to heaven in gratitude for another day in the confessional and begin his additional ministries.

His evenings were filled with catechesis, teaching children and adults about the Faith, and visiting the sick.

Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon and day began to close, St. John Vianney was ready to wind down his evening. He would end his day just as he began it: in peaceful prayer. He would pray the Rosary and reflect on the lives of the saints. As he closed his eyes at the end of his day, he would lay his head down on a hard bed, or even on the floor.

Whew, what a day.

Now, while we should all be inspired after reading about how St. John Vianney spent his days, we should not be discouraged if ours do not look like his! We all have different vocations, and our prayers and penances will look different depending on our roles and responsibilities. We can draw inspiration from St. John’s life and, according to our own abilities, apply his dedication, prayerfulness, and love to our own busy days.

You don’t need to wake up at 1 a.m. or spend hours in a confessional in order to fully give your day to God—but you do need discipline and a plan. The Saintmaker: 90 Planner and Journal is the perfect way to start modeling your life after the saints. Combining the science of positive psychology with ancient Catholic mystical tradition, The Saintmaker is a one-of-a-kind guided spiritual journal and life planning system to help you create the life you dream of, become a more fulfilled person, and deepen your faith.
Did you know that there are also black scapulars, green ones, even red and blue ones?

Many of the scapulars with which we are familiar actually have their origins in religious orders, being a miniature version of the much larger scapulars worn as part of the religious habit. The smaller “lay” scapular is usually a sign of a person’s membership in an order’s confraternity: an association of faithful who are not members but partake in the spirituality and benefits of the order.

Let’s look at some examples. The Brown Scapular is one of the best-known Marian sacramentals. In 1251, Our Lady appeared to the English Carmelite St. Simon Stock and, giving him a brown scapular, said that anyone who wore this habit “would not suffer eternal fire.” The promise extends to the Confraternity, who wear a miniature version of the original brown Carmelite garment which covers the entire front and back of the religious habit.

The Passionist order, founded by St. Paul of the Cross in the 18th century and devoted to the Passion of Jesus Christ, has an all-black habit with a distinctive badge: a heart with a cross and the words Jesu XPI Passio—“The Passion of Jesus Christ.” The Confraternity’s scapular has a replica of this heart along with the words sit semper in cordibus nostris, meaning, “The Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts,” a favorite saying of the Order.

An interesting example of a scapular that is not connected to a religious order is the Green Scapular, which was given by Our Lady in the 19th century to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu of the Daughters of Charity (the same order as St. Catherine Labouré, who had received the Miraculous Medal ten years earlier).

Through this scapular, Our Lady promised the grace of spiritual conversion to unbelievers and lapsed Catholics who would wear it and recite a short ejaculation to her Immaculate Heart. If an individual in need of conversion refuses to wear it, the giver can slip it into their belongings or under their pillow and recite the prayer on their behalf.

The fascinating world of scapulars is vast; we’ve only touched on a few of them here. The Brown Scapular is certainly the best known and loved and is certainly a highly-recommended devotion for every Catholic. If you do not currently wear it, we encourage you to order this beautiful Premium Our Lady of Mount Carmel Brown Scapular and ask your parish priest to enroll you in the Confraternity.

The day the Blessed Mother saved the Christian West
With Christian Europe under threat, Our Lady came to the rescue.

By the mid-16th century, Christian Europe was in shambles. The Protestant Revolt had caused a spiritual and political earthquake throughout the West. Europe’s leaders were occupied with internal wars and colonial expeditions in the New World.

All this disunity and distraction was not lost on the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turks had been a powerful threat to Christendom since the 1300s and were ramming the doors of the West once again, trying to gain a foothold through the Mediterranean.

Pope St. Pius V was one of the only rulers to recognize the growing threat. He desperately tried to get Europe’s monarchs to do something. But they were caught up in their own affairs, and few responded to his pleas.

However, Philip II of Spain did send his half-brother, Don Juan of Austria, with dozens of ships. Other volunteers joined, and a force—called the Holy League—consisting of ships and men from Spain, Venice, the Papal States, and other parts of Italy was cobbled together. Included among the ships were vessels called galleasses with innovative side-mounted guns, which would prove invaluable to the fight.

But the greatest contributions were not in troops or weapons. Hearing of the situation overseas, the Archbishop of Mexico commissioned a copy of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and touched it to the original. He sent it to Philip II with instructions to mount it on one of the ships. This was done.

Pius V then asked all of Christian Europe to pray the Rosary for the success of the offensive. The men of the Holy League prayed it, too, each man being given a set of rosary beads before they set sail from Sicily.

The Christian fleet met the Ottomans near the Gulf of Corinth on October 7th, 1571. The wind was against the Christians at first, but it switched direction somehow, and blew them right where they needed to be.

It was a bloody and costly battle for both sides, but in the early afternoon, the Holy League claimed victory for Our Lady. It was the last time that the Turks would seriously threaten Christian Europe from the Mediterranean.

On October 7th of the following year, Pope Pius V instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory in thanksgiving for her intercession. His successor, Gregory XIII, renamed it the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary—the same feast that we celebrate today.

The Rosary is a weapon that wins battles and commands winds. It is one of the most powerful things you can have in your home. With this beautiful Praying Madonna Family Rosary Hanger, you can keep your family’s rosaries ready-at-hand! This rosary hanger will not only keep your family rosaries untangled and ready to use, it also beautifully displays Our Blessed Mother, the Hail Mary, and your family name for all in your home to see. Order yours today from The Catholic Company!
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Can Catholics believe in ghosts?
Supernatural visitors may not be what you expect…

It’s October which means that all around us our culture has begun its month-long celebration of Halloween. In every yard and supermarket aisle, you’ll see plastic skulls, gravestones, and ghosts.

There’s a lot we could talk about when it comes to Halloween (Halloween is traditionally a deeply holiday!) but today let’s focus on those pesky ghosts you may see hanging off trees in your neighborhood.

Can Catholics believe in ghosts? Well, the word “ghost” has so many connotations that we need to strip it down to its original meaning before we can answer that question. It comes from an Old English word, geist, which means “spirit.”

Ghosts, properly understood, are disembodied souls, and disembodied souls belong to human beings who have died—since death results when the soul separates from the body.

The Catholic Church has not offered an official teaching on the subject of ghosts, although her theologians have discussed the matter for centuries. St. Thomas Aquinas had this to say:

“…according to the disposition of divine providence, separated souls sometimes come forth from their abode and appear to men . . . It is also credible that this may occur sometimes to the [souls of the] damned, and that for man’s instruction and intimidation they be permitted to appear to the living.”

So yes, it seems that what people call “ghosts” are departed souls.

Of course, not every claim of ghostly activity is genuine. Most paranormal reports can be attributed to natural causes.

Furthermore, demons are capable of pretending to be departed souls; so not all “ghosts” are from purgatory.

This quote from the popular Catholic book Hungry Souls is helpful to understanding the distinction between departed souls and demons:

“Some apparitions that present themselves as souls of the dead may indeed turn out to be demons in disguise, seeking to deceive the credulous…[S]o-called manifestations of the dead during…magic or occult sessions…are by no means the departed persons they pretend to be, but hoaxes or demonic imposters.” -Gerard J. M. van den Aardweg, Ph.D., Hungry Souls

So, now that we understand a little bit more about what ‘ghosts’ actually are, do you want to hear a ghost story?

Real ghost stories are not things to be afraid of but can actually be beautiful examples of the Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints in action!

Let’s take a look at one such example that can be found in Hungry Souls. The life of Eugenie von der Leyen (1867–1929). Eugenie was a holy woman chosen by God to be a source of grace for those in purgatory. She had many encounters with the faithful departed, all of whom were in varying stages of purification.

The souls that appeared to her were not clearly visible at first; but as prayers and sacrifices were offered, and their purification advanced, the features of their faces became more recognizable.

Here is an example from her diary, recounting an experience with the soul of a Dominican religious who came to her. It was several days before she recognized him.
September, 5. …face was still wholly unrecognizable, a grey lump. He is rather quiet, but mutters incomprehensible words, it seems Latin.

September, 10. The Dominican is not frightening, but very often around.

September, 13. The Dominican is a father I have known well, a Frenchman. Was a long time with me, nodded assent when I started praying.

September, 17. I was very sad about something this night and cried. Then a hand was laid on my head. I looked up, it was the Dominican. He said: “Why do you weep?” I: “Because I am not content with myself.” …He: “Have confidence and be humble!” I: “How can I help you then?” He: “By mortification.”

Eventually, Eugenie stopped receiving visits from her Dominican as he joined the ranks of the Saints in Heaven! You see, ghost stories can be joyful things filled with hope!

You can read more about supernatural visits and how we can all do our part in praying for the souls in Purgatory in Hungry Souls. More than just a collection of “Catholic ghost stories,” Hungry Souls also discerns from these accounts important truths about the afterlife, God’s mercy, and ultimately, the urgent need to pray and perform sacrifices for our brothers and sisters in purgatory.

Which saint’s father tried to take away his inheritance?

Francesco Bernardone was not bothered when his father—taking him before the authorities of the town—threatened to disinherit him.

Francesco Bernardone was in big trouble. He had sold some family possessions to pay for the restoration of the Church of San Damiano, which he believed the Lord Himself had asked him to rebuild.

But Francesco’s father was furious at his son for disposing of family possessions without permission. Despite having his money restored to him, Signore Bernardone was so angry that he wanted to take away his son’s entire inheritance.

But Francis of Assisi—as we now know him—had never been an indecisive man and he gladly forsook the inheritance, declaring that he now had “but one Father in Heaven.”

Having once been the star of Assisi, leader of youth, a popular, fun-loving young man with no plans for the religious life, Francis still possessed a natural spirit of magnanimity toward the poor. He had wanted to be a knight, to win glory and fame in battle. But God worked on his heart and called him to a different kind of knighthood.

Praying one day in the Church of San Damiano, Francis heard a voice from the crucifix say to him, “Francis, go and build up My house, which, as thou seest, is falling into ruin.” Francis— taking the Lord at His literal word—set about restoring San Damiano, until it was clear that God’s plans for “rebuilding” related to more than just a building.

He then became the founder of a new order of mendicants who owned nothing yet possessed everything in Christ. Francis’s natural joie de vivre found its full flowering in this way of life, detached from materialism and worldly distractions and totally dedicated to the work of God.

Men of all ranks and stations were drawn to this life. These new friars dedicated themselves to preaching, the care of the poor, and prayer. We know them now as the Franciscans.

St. Francis’s life is full of lessons for all of us—no matter our age! Give the little ones in your life a saintly friend with this beautiful board book The Canticle of the Sun! Written by St. Francis of Assisi in 1225, this beautiful song of praise to God has touched hearts for centuries and is now brought to life for little readers with beautiful illustrations!

Can Catholics believe in ghosts?
Supernatural visitors may not be what you expect…

It’s October which means that all around us our culture has begun its month-long celebration of Halloween. In every yard and supermarket aisle, you’ll see plastic skulls, gravestones, and ghosts.

There’s a lot we could talk about when it comes to Halloween (Halloween is traditionally a deeply holiday!) but today let’s focus on those pesky ghosts you may see hanging off trees in your neighborhood.

Can Catholics believe in ghosts? Well, the word “ghost” has so many connotations that we need to strip it down to its original meaning before we can answer that question. It comes from an Old English word, geist, which means “spirit.”

Ghosts, properly understood, are disembodied souls, and disembodied souls belong to human beings who have died—since death results when the soul separates from the body.

The Catholic Church has not offered an official teaching on the subject of ghosts, although her theologians have discussed the matter for centuries. St. Thomas Aquinas had this to say:

“…according to the disposition of divine providence, separated souls sometimes come forth from their abode and appear to men . . . It is also credible that this may occur sometimes to the [souls of the] damned, and that for man’s instruction and intimidation they be permitted to appear to the living.”

So yes, it seems that what people call “ghosts” are departed souls.

Of course, not every claim of ghostly activity is genuine. Most paranormal reports can be attributed to natural causes.

Furthermore, demons are capable of pretending to be departed souls; so not all “ghosts” are from purgatory.

This quote from the popular Catholic book Hungry Souls is helpful to understanding the distinction between departed souls and demons:

“Some apparitions that present themselves as souls of the dead may indeed turn out to be demons in disguise, seeking to deceive the credulous…[S]o-called manifestations of the dead during…magic or occult sessions…are by no means the departed persons they pretend to be, but hoaxes or demonic imposters.” -Gerard J. M. van den Aardweg, Ph.D., Hungry Souls

So, now that we understand a little bit more about what ‘ghosts’ actually are, do you want to hear a ghost story?

Real ghost stories are not things to be afraid of but can actually be beautiful examples of the Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints in action!

Let’s take a look at one such example that can be found in Hungry Souls. The life of Eugenie von der Leyen (1867–1929). Eugenie was a holy woman chosen by God to be a source of grace for those in purgatory. She had many encounters with the faithful departed, all of whom were in varying stages of purification.

The souls that appeared to her were not clearly visible at first; but as prayers and sacrifices were offered, and their purification advanced, the features of their faces became more recognizable.

Here is an example from her diary, recounting an experience with the soul of a Dominican religious who came to her. It was several days before she recognized him.
September, 5. …face was still wholly unrecognizable, a grey lump. He is rather quiet, but mutters incomprehensible words, it seems Latin.

September, 10. The Dominican is not frightening, but very often around.

September, 13. The Dominican is a father I have known well, a Frenchman. Was a long time with me, nodded assent when I started praying.

September, 17. I was very sad about something this night and cried. Then a hand was laid on my head. I looked up, it was the Dominican. He said: “Why do you weep?” I: “Because I am not content with myself.” …He: “Have confidence and be humble!” I: “How can I help you then?” He: “By mortification.”

Eventually, Eugenie stopped receiving visits from her Dominican as he joined the ranks of the Saints in Heaven! You see, ghost stories can be joyful things filled with hope!

You can read more about supernatural visits and how we can all do our part in praying for the souls in Purgatory in Hungry Souls. More than just a collection of “Catholic ghost stories,” Hungry Souls also discerns from these accounts important truths about the afterlife, God’s mercy, and ultimately, the urgent need to pray and perform sacrifices for our brothers and sisters in purgatory.

Which saints spoke to their guardian angels?

Did you know that some saints actually saw and spoke with their guardian angels?