Traditional Mass Propers for the Feast of the Epiphany

For information on today's feast, besides these Proper Prayers, please click here.

INTROIT
Behold, the Lord, the Ruler, is come. He has dominion over all, and in His hand is power and might. Ps. 71:2. O God, with Your judgment endow the king, and with Your justice, the kings son. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT - O God, who by the star this day revealed Your only-begotten Son to all nations, grant that we, who know You now by faith, may be brought one day before the vision of Your majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

LESSON
Isa. 60:1-6
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thy eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered together, they are come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side. Then shalt thou see, and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee, the strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense: and shewing forth praise to the Lord.

GRADUAL
All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and showing forth praise to the Lord. V. Arise and be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Matt. 2:2 We have seen His star in the East and have come with gifts to worship the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 2:1-12
Now when Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying: "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him." And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: "In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: 'And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.' " Then Herod, privately calling the wise men learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore him.

Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, (here genuflect) and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

OFFERTORY
Ps. 71:10-11
The kings of Tharsis and the isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Saba shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him.

SECRET O Lord, look with favor upon the gifts offered by Your Church. It is not gold, frankincense, and myrrh that is offered now, but the King, God and Saviour, who was signified by these gifts, is Himself our Sacrifice and our Food, Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord; who lives and rules with You . . .

COMMUNION
Matthew 2:2
We have seen His star in the East and have come with gifts to worship the Lord.

POST COMMUNION - O Almighty God, grant that we may understand with pure minds the revelation of Christ which we here solemnly commemorate. Through Our Lord . . .

Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

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Catholic Resolutions 2015

Each year I have made what I call "Catholic Resolutions."  These New Years Resolutions are not centered on losing weight, eating more healthy, or the like.  Rather, these resolutions each year are centered around my spiritual life.  I encourage all of you to make resolutions specifically geared on improving your own Faith life and your own knowledge of the Faith.  Ask yourself:

1. Do I know the Faith that I profess to believe in?  If not, how can I learn more?  For example, CatechismClass.com has an ideal Adult Course just for this purpose.
2. Am I truly living a Catholic life?  Am I learning more prayers?  Am I helping others to learn the Faith and live it out?  Do I regularly receive the Sacraments?
3. Do you struggle with certain sins or addictions?
4. Do you need to make more donations to Catholic organizations or pro-life charities?

This is the time of year to truly set Catholic Resolutions which will have eternal repercussions.

I will begin with reviewing my 2014 Resolutions:

2014 Catholic Resolutions

1.   Continue to pray the Rosary Daily
2.   Pray the Divine Office at least 1X Daily
3.   Network with 10 more Traditional Catholics
4.   Receive the rank of Squire in the Order of Knight of our Lady and make progress in my study towards the rank of Donate
5.   Bi-Weekly Confession to help conquer old habits

2014 Catholic Resolutions

1. Overall, I did well on the first goal.  I did not pray the Rosary daily but I did go through periods of time where I did and other weeks I managed to pray it 4-5 times.
2. I made strong progress in this from August to present.  (see point #4)
3. I made limited progress with this.  It is difficult to meet people in person due to timing and a host of other issues.  Last year when I was going to, I had situations where I got lost and another one where I got in an accident on the way.  But I did made at least electronic contact with more than 10 Traditional Catholics.
4. This goal was met in early August.
5. I did not always make bi-weekly Confession but I did not go more than one month without its reception.

So, now, here are my 2015 Catholic Resolutions

1.   Bi-Weekly Confession to help conquer old habits
2.   Progress in the the rank of Squire in the Order of Knight of our Lady and make progress in my study towards the rank of Donate.  This will include three parts:  a. Daily Divine Office recitation  b. Weekly Rosary for the order  c. Saturday Mass attendance
3.  Read 3 Books to help improve my own prayer life, with one of them being during Lent (as per the Rule of St. Benedict for his monks).

I encourage you to make Catholic Resolutions as well!

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Octave Day of St. John the Evangelist

 

Coronation of the Virgin with St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. John the Evangelist, St. John the Baptist

Simple (1954 Calendar): January 3rd

Just as I mentioned yesterday on the Octave Day of St. Stephen, very little information is readily available on the Internet for the celebrations that were part of the Catholic Calendar before the 1950s, when changes to the Missal became more profound. 

This Octave is a Simple Octave, meaning with the reforms of 1911, that only the Feastday and the Octave Day itself was kept. The intra Octave days are not commemorated in the Mass or in the Breviary, which is a departure from the pre-1911 practice where they would have been commemorated in the intervening days. Those interested in the Breviary for the Octave Day of St. John as in place before the pre-1911 changes should click here.

Dom Gueranger writes in part concerning the Octave Day of St. John the Apostle:

"The Octave of the Beloved Disciple closes to-day: let us devoutly offer him our parting homage. We shall meet him again, during the year; for, on May 6, when the Resurrection of his Divine Master is gladdening the Church with the Easter joys, we shall have the Feast of our Apostle's Confession made before the Latin Gate: but his grand Feast ends to-day, and he has done too much on our behalf this Christmas for us to allow this Octave Day to pass without returning him our warmest thanks. Let us begin by exciting ourselves to a great reverence for our Saint; and to this end, let us continue the considerations we were making this day week on the favours conferred upon him by Jesus."

Collect:

Shine upon thy Church, O Lord, in thy goodness, that, enlightened by the teachings of Blessed John, thy Apostle and Evangelist, she may attain to everlasting gifts. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen

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Propers for the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

For information on today's feast, besides these Proper Prayers, please click here.

INTROIT
At the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of the Father. Ps. 8:2. O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth! V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT - O God, it was You who conferred the name of Jesus upon Your only-begotten Son, the Savior of the world. Grant that by venerating His holy name on earth we may enjoy His presence in heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

EPISTLE
Acts 4:8-12
In those days, Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: "Ye princes of the people and ancients, hear. If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole: Be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him, this man standeth here before you, whole. " This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved."

GRADUAL
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in praising You. V. You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer. From eternity is Your name.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 144:21 My lips shall speak the praise of the Lord; let all men bless His holy name. Alleluia!

GOSPEL
Luke 2:21
At that time, after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 

Adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus - by El Greco

OFFERTORY
Ps. 85:12, 5
I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. For You, O Lord, are sweet and mild, abounding in kindness to all who call upon You, alleluia!

SECRET May Your blessing, O most merciful God, which makes all creation flourish, sanctify this our sacrifice, which we offer You to the glory of the Name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and may it be pleasing to Your majesty as an act of praise and be profitable to us for our salvation. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

COMMUNION
Ps. 85:9-10
All the nations You have made shall come and worship You, O Lord, and glorify Your name. For great You are and do wondrous deeds. You alone are God. Alleluia!

POST COMMUNION - O Almighty and eternal God, who created and redeemed us, graciously hear our petitions. Receive kindly and favorably this saving Sacrificial Victim, which we have offered to Your majesty in honor of the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Pour out Your grace upon us, that we may rejoice to see our names written in heaven under the glorious name of Jesus, who is the pledge of our eternal predestination. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

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Octave Day of St. Stephen

Simple (1954 Calendar): January 2nd

Very little information is readily available on the Internet for the celebrations that were part of the Catholic Calendar before 1955 when changes to the Missal became more profound.  The 1962 Roman Catholic Missal does not include some of these older celebrations and is missing over a dozen octaves.

Like St. John the Evangelist and the Holy Innocents, the Octave of St. Stephen was a simple octave. The collect prayer for this Octave was as a result only said on the Octave Day and not on the intervening days within the Octave.  

When today is celebrated as the Holy Name of Jesus (on years when neither January 2nd, 3rd, 4th, nor 5th falls on a Sunday), the Mass is said for the Holy Name and not said for the Octave of St. Stephen. Rather, a second oration would be added for this Octave Day and a commemoration would be made during the praying of Lauds. Before the 1911 changes under Pope St. Pius X, the Holy Name of Jesus was always kept on the Second Sunday after Epiphany as one of the three Octave Days of the Comites, all previously ranked as Doubles, would have occupied this Sunday.

Those interested in the Breviary for the Octave Day of St. Stephen as in place before the 1911 changes should click here.

Taken from Dom Gueranger's Liturgical Year:

Yesterday we finished the Octave of the Birth of Jesus; to-day we shall finish the Octave of St Stephen; but this without losing sight one moment of the Divine Babe, whose Court is formed by Stephen, John the Beloved Disciple, the Holy Innocents, and St Thomas of Canterbury. In five days we shall see the Magi prostrate before the Crib of the new-born King; they are already on the way, and the Star is advancing towards Bethlehem. Let us spend the interval in reconsidering how great is the glory of our Emmanuel in his having lavished such extraordinary favours on these Saints whom he has chosen to be near him at his first coming into the world.

Let us begin with Stephen, for this is the last day of the Octave dedicated to him by the Church. We must take leave of him now till the month of August, when we shall again meet him on the Feast of the Finding of his Relics.

In a sermon which was for a long time thought to have been written by St Augustine, we find it mentioned that St Stephen was in the flower of his youth when he was called by the Apostles to receive the sacred character of deaconship. Six others were ordained deacons with him; and these seven, whose office was to minister at the Altar here below, represented the seven Angels, whom St John saw standing near the Altar in heaven. Stephen was appointed as the head of the Seven, and St Irenæus, who lived in the second century, calls him the Arch-Deacon.

The characteristic virtue of a Deacon is fidelity. Hence, he is intrusted with the care of the treasures of the Church, treasures which consist not merely in the alms destined for the poor, but in that which is the most precious thing in heaven and earth—the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, of which the Deacon is the minister, in virtue of his Order. For this reason, the Apostle St Paul, in his first Epistle to Timothy, bids the Deacons hold the Mystery of Faith in a pure conscience.[1]

It was, therefore, more than an appropriate coincidence, that the first of all the Martyrs was a Deacon, for Martyrdom is the great proof of fidelity, and fidelity is the official virtue of the Diaconate. This same truth is still more strongly impressed upon us by the fact that the three who stand pre-eminent amongst the Martyrs of Christ are vested in the holy Dalmatic—the three glorious Deacons: Stephen, the glory of Jerusalem; Laurence, the pride of Rome; and Vincent, of whom Spain so justly boasts. The present holy season gives us Stephen, who has been gladdening us with his festal presence ever since Christmas Day, and Vincent, whose feast falls on January 22. Laurence will come to us, with his rich waving Palm, in the sunny month of August; and Stephen, in the same month, will visit us, a second time, in the Feast of the Finding of his Relics.

With the intention of paying respect to the Holy Order of Deaconship in the person of its first representative, it is a custom in a great many Churches, on the Feast of St Stephen, that Deacons should fulfil every office which is not beyond their Order. For example, the Chanter yields his staff of office to a Deacon; the Choristers, who assist the Chanter, are also Deacons, vested in Dalmatics; and the Epistle of the Mass is sung by a Deacon, because it is the passage from the Acts of the Apostles which relates the history of the holy Martyr’s death.

The institution of St Stephen’s Feast, and its being fixed on the day immediately following that of our Lord’s Birth, are so ancient that it is impossible to assign their date. The Apostolic Constitutions, which were compiled at the latest towards the close of the third century, mention this Feast as already established, and that, too, on the morrow of Christmas Day. St Gregory of Nyssa and St Asterius of Amasea, both of them earlier than the miraculous discovery of the Holy Deacon’s Relics, have left us Homilies for the Feast of St Stephen, in which they lay stress on the circumstance of its having the honour to be kept the very day after the solemnity of Christmas. With regard to its Octave, the institution is less ancient, though the date cannot be defined. Amalarius, who wrote in the ninth century, speaks of this Octave as already established; and Notker's Martyrology, compiled in the tenth century, makes express mention of it.

But how comes it that the Feast of a mere Deacon has been thus honoured, whilst almost all those of the Apostles have no Octave? The rule followed by the Church in her Liturgy is to give more or less solemnity to the Feasts of the Saints, according to the importance of the services they rendered to mankind. Thus it is that the honour she pays to St Jerome, for example, who was only a Priest, is more marked than that she gives to a great number of holy Popes. It is her gratitude which guides her in assigning to the Saints their respective rank in her Calendar, and the devotion of the Faithful to the saintly benefactors whom she now venerates as members of the Church Triumphant is thus regulated by a safe standard. St Stephen led the way to Martyrdom; his example inaugurated that sublime witnessing by shedding one’s own blood, which is the very strength of the Church, ratifies the truths she teaches to the world, and confirms the hopes of eternal reward promised by those truths. Glory, then, and honour to the Prince of Martyrs! As long as time shall last, so long shall the Church on earth celebrate the name of Stephen, who was the first to shed his blood for the God who died on Calvary!

Collect:

O God, the teacher and ruler of them that are thy ministers, who didst adorn the early days of thy Church by the ministry and precious blood of blessed Stephen the Levite; grant, we beseech thee, that meeting with pardon at the hour of our death, we may deserve to follow his example, and be aided by his intercession. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Traditional Mass Propers: Octave Day of the Nativity

Circumcision of our Lord by Guercino, 1646

For information on the spirituality and devotions for today's feast, not just the Mass Prayers, please click here.

Traditional Propers:

INTROIT
Isaiah 9:6
A Child is born to us, and a son is given to us; upon his shoulder is supreme sovereignty, and his name shall be called the Angel of great counsel.
Ps. 97:1. Sing a new canticle to the Lord, for He has done wondrous things.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT -  O God, it was through the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary that You bestowed the gift of eternal life upon mankind. Grant that we may feel the powerful intercession of Mary, through whom we were privileged to receive the giver of life, Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord; who lives and rules with You . . .

EPISTLE
Titus 2:11-15
Beloved: The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men: Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

GRADUAL
Ps. 97:3-4, 2
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth.
V. The Lord has made His salvation known; in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Heb. 1:1-2
God, who in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days has spoken to us by His Son. Alleluia!

GOSPEL  
Luke 2:21

At that time, when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given to Him by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb.

OFFERTORY
Ps. 88:12, 15
Yours are the heavens and Yours are the earth; the world and its fullness You have founded. Justice and judgment are the foundation of Your throne.

SECRET -  Accept our offerings and prayers, O Lord. Cleanse us by this heavenly rite and in Your mercy hear our petitions. Through Our Lord . . .

PREFACE (Preface of the Nativity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, the new light of Thy glory hath shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that while we acknowledge God in visible form, we may through Him be drawn to the love of things invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Throne and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

COMMUNION
Ps. 97:3
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

POST COMMUNION - O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

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More Chicagoans Are Leaving the Catholic Church? Voice Your Opinion

Yesterday I saw the front cover of Chicago Magazine featured this headline story: Catholics at a Crossroads: More Chicagoans than ever are leaving the church. Can new archbishop Blase Cupich change that?

I found the article online (see here).  Here are some excerpts from the article.  I will note, they did at least feature some of the traditional Chicago parishes in the article:

Meanwhile, 14 percent of the residents of those two counties—more than 800,000 people—used to be Catholic but have left the church. Put another way: For every 10 Catholics here, there are now four ex-Catholics. Among those born in the United States, the exodus has been greater still. Says Susan Ross, who chairs Loyola University’s theology department, “If it weren’t for Latino immigration, the church in Chicago would be losing many more people.”
...

Add in Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Misericordia (a group home for the developmentally disabled), 17 Catholic hospitals, and Catholic Charities (which offers over 150 services in 160 locations), and “there’s no single entity beyond the State that does more for Chicagoans than the Catholic Church,” says Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois and the archdiocese’s chief lobbyist in Springfield.
...

Mary Anne Hackett, a grandmother of 18 from west suburban La Grange, attends yet another church revived by a conservative pastor: the elaborately baroque St. John Cantius in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Every Sunday, she and her husband, a retired ophthalmologist, make the half-hour drive. “There are tons of young families there,” says Hackett, who is also the president of Catholic Citizens of Illinois, a group that aims to restore traditional Catholic values. (Most of its 1,400 members range from age 40 to 70, and virtually all are white, she says, adding that CCI welcomes those of all races.)

I've added a rather lengthy comment to the article in the comment box. I encourage you to add your own comments, especially fellow Catholics in Chicagoland.  Let's take a stand for Tradition.  Continue here.

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Photos: Blessing of Wine on the Feast of St. John

Today is the annual Blessing of Wine for the Feast of St. John.  Read more here.  Photos were taken this morning at the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago.

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Remember to Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory this Christmas

As Catholics, we acknowledge Purgatory, a temporary state where those that die with venial sin may be cleansed/purified before entering Heaven. Those in purgatory, however, may be helped by our prayers. 

According to private revelation, there are more souls released from Purgatory during the Consecration of the Mass than at any other time. Christmas is the day of the year when most souls are delivered, followed by feast days of Our Lord, Our Lady, and great saints. Souls receive much grace from prayers offered for them on their birthdays, the day of baptism, and the anniversary of death. The more we work for the poor souls now, the more others will pray for us, and the more merciful Christ will be with us if we make it to Purgatory.

Our Lady asked that we pray very much for the poor souls; she asked that we pray:
5 Apostle's Creed
1 Hail Holy Queen
1 Our Father
1 Glory Be
1 Requiem

Our Lady said that if we pray the prayers, "we’ll deliver so many souls, so many souls. The Holy wounds are the treasure of treasurers for the souls in Purgatory." As Scripture states, "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins" (2 Mac 12:46)

In an approved apparition by the Church, Our Savior, Jesus Christ, gave St. Gertrude the Great this prayer. We would do well to say this on Christmas as well:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus Christ, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

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2015 Patron Saint for the Year Devotion

UPDATE: RESULTS ARE IN.  SCROLL DOWN.  I RECEIVED ST. PADRE PIO, WHO I HAVE BECOME MORE DEVOTED TO IN RECENT MONTHS (MY FATHER IS VERY DEVOTED TO HIM).  JUST LAST MONTH, I VENERATED THE BANDAGES THAT COVERED THE STIGMATA ON HIS HAND.

UPDATE (1/3/15): DRAWINGS WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAYS IN JANUARY.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE TO ENTER NAMES UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY. 

UPDATE (1/11/15): TODAY'S DRAWING IS COMPLETE AND THE LIST OF RESULTS IS UPDATED BELOW.  THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION.  LET US PRAY FOR A HOLY YEAR, A YEAR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PATRON SAINT FOR A YEAR.  LET US IMITATE THEIR VIRTUES AND STRIVE FOR A LIFE MOST PLEASING TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

I am very pleased to again be a facilitator for the Patron Saint of the Year Devotion.  I have been part of this annual tradition since 2006 and have helped coordinate devotions for hundreds of families.  It is my pleasure to now be part of the 2015 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion.

You can read about the past devotions at the following posts:

• 2006 Saint for the Year Devotion
• 2007 Saint for the Year Devotion
• 2008 Saint for the Year Devotion
• 2010 Saint for the Year Devotion 
• 2011 Saint for the Year Devotion 
• 2012 Saint for the Year Devotion
• 2013 Saint for the Year Devotion
• 2014 Saint for the Year Devotion

Again, I would like to take a few minutes to explain the devotion, which has its roots in St. Faustina.

When will the saints be drawn?  This year I will start the drawing of saints on the Octave Day of Christmas after the 10 AM Solemn High Mass and the recitation of both the Veni Creator Spiritus and the Litany of Saints.  Saints will be emailed starting that afternoon and thereafter for the next few days.

What is the Saint for the Year Devotion? Here is my post on this from years past to clarify the matter. This is from the person that draws all of the saints. I don't draw the saints. I will merely pass on your name or screenname to her so that she will draw a saint for you. Also, I will pass on the name of any of your family or friends that would like to participate. This isn't superstition. St. Faustina did the same thing!

Last year hundreds of people received saints to be their special patron, and there were miraculous connections. It was truly amazing. We pray that this year the Holy Ghost will again work so that all participants receive a saint that they will be able to pray to for aid throughout the entire year:

Saint for the Year

I want to tell you about the practice of picking a saint at random to be your “holy protector” for the year. Actually, the saint is the one who chooses us though. The tradition of letting a saint “pick you,” is not a new one. St. Faustina wrote about it in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul. The excerpt is below.

“There is a custom among us of drawing by lot, on New Year's Day, special Patrons for ourselves for the whole year. In the morning during meditation, there arose within me a secret desire that the Eucharistic Jesus be my special Patron for this year also, as in the past. But, hiding this desire from my Beloved, I spoke to Him about everything else but that. When we came to refectory for breakfast, we blessed ourselves and began drawing our patrons. When I approached the holy cards on which the names of the patrons were written, without hesitation I took one, but I didn't read the name immediately as I wanted to mortify myself for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my soul: ‘I am your patron. Read.’ I looked at once at the inscription and read, ‘Patron for the Year 1935 - the Most Blessed Eucharist.’ My heart leapt with joy, and I slipped quietly away from the sisters and went for a short visit before the Blessed Sacrament, where I poured out my heart. But Jesus sweetly admonished me that I should be at that moment together with the sisters. I went immediately in obedience to the rule.”Excerpt from Divine Mercy in My Soul, the Diary of St. Faustina"

I have a container full of names ... I will be glad to pick out the name for you and send you the name if you prefer. I am so excited by my saint(s) ... I already picked mine. Well, I should say that they picked me ... I have Saints Marcus and Marcellianus ... they are twin brothers who were sent to prison before their death. St. Sebastian visited them continually in prison and helped keep their faith alive. They are buried near St. Felix and are specifically honored in Spain.

OK now ... here are a couple of immediate ironies in regard to these saints ... I have a SPECIAL place in my heart for twins! As a child, I LOVED reading the story about St. Sebastian. I had a children's book of saints and I think I wore out the pages on St. Sebastian! Felix is my grandfather's name! Silvia, our exchange student, is from Spain! I am so excited to have these two saints to walk through 2006 with me! I'm looking forward as to where and how they will intercede for me.

Please pass this message on through your blogs and/or email distribution lists, letting all of the Catholic blogsphere have the chance to participate. I only ask that you give me your email address so that I may contact you when your saint is drawn. Usually within one to two days I can email you about your saint.

So, please either make sure your email address is in your profile or please leave it below in the comment box when you ask to participate. If you wish to remain anonymous, please leave your initials instead of your name.  And, if you would prefer to email me directly and not write your email address in the comment box, please send an email entitled "Saint for the Year 2015" to acatholiclife [at] gmail.com

So, comment below and pass this message on throughout the entire Catholic Blogsphere!

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Results:

Name	Saint
Janine D	St. Thomas the Apostle
James B	St. John of God
Michelle B	St. Louis-Marie de Montfort
Craig J	St. Matthias the Apostle
Andrew J	St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Christopher J	St. Petroc
Suzanne T	St. Florentius of Carracedo
Mike T	St. Orontius of Lecce
Cormac T	Blessed Patrick O'Lougham
Nolan T	St. Maximus of Padua
Tim W	Our Lady of the Rosary
Gemma D	St. Colman
Lucy D	St. Gregory of Tours
Julie	St. Sanctius of Vienne
Bill	St. Walter of Pontoise
Scott	St. Jerome
Blake	St. Francis Xavier
Josemaria Paulo Jeromino	Blessed Chiara Badano
James	St. John of Parma
Sandy	St. Cornelia the Martyr
Brandon	St. Servatus of Tongres
Rachel	St. Pantagathus of Vienne
Joey	St. Louis IX
Nicole	Saint Nathy
Nathaniel	St. Timothy
Ava	St. Magnus of Fossombrone
Eden	Our Lady of Carmel of the Maipu
Jacob	St. Andrew the Apostle
Xander	St. Ceollach
Genevieve	St. Thomas the Apostle
Torres Family	St. Willibald
Cathleen	St. Irenaeus
Christine M	St. Catherine of Alexandria
Evangeline A	St. Conon, Bishop of the Isle of Man
Susan M	Saint Alena
Lois F.	Blessed Crescencio Garcia Pobo
Kathy G	St. Anthony
Elynne K	St. Pius X
Lisa	St Stephn the First Martyr
Troylyn	St Andeolus of Smyrna
Tim	Blessed Marguerite Robin
TJ	The Martyrs of Hayle
Samantha	Blessed Pedro Martret y Molet
Jordan	St. Quintus the Thaumaturge
Andy M	St. Ezekiel Moreno y Diaz
Ignacio G	St. Crescentianus
Anne Marie	St Gordian
Theresa	St. Germana
John	Blessed Thomas Guengoro
Joseph	St. Claudian of Perga
Katie	St. Potamiaena the Elder
Michael Brown, OP	St. Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi
Matthew	St. Paul the Apostle
Max	St. Chrysanthus
Lisa	St. Daniel the Prophet
Bill	Blessed Dominik Trcka
Christopher	St. Projectus
Sarah	St. Nicholas of Myra
John	St. Flavian of Autun
Monica	Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores-Alonso
Caroline	Venerable Anne Cathermine Emmerich
Lucy Espinoza	St. Kevoca of Kyle
Mike Viele	Martyrs of Constantinople, Feast 7/8
Kathy R	St. Rhipsime
Cory L	St. Adelbert
Liese E	St. Helladius
Franciscus C	St. Gregory of Nyssa
Paul Walasek	St. Fugatius the Missionary
Fran T	Blessed James Thompson
ntitan22	St. Cosmas
spx1313	St. Evasius of Asti
Alley	St. Quadratus of Herbipolis
Stephen L	St. Hugh of Novara
Judi	St. Isaac the Presbyter
Natalie	St. Marcellus I
Gloria I	Blessed Bezela of Goda
Glen	St. Dogmael of Wales
Christina	Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau
Mara	St. Agathangelus
Michael	Blessed Alfred of Hildesheim
Reagan	Blessed Filip Geryluk
Karina	St. Therese of Lisieux
Juliana	St. Candida
Thomas	St. Maurice
Elena	St. William of Ebelholt
Gregory	St. Eithne
Matthew	St. Julio Alvarez Mendoza
Kara	Saint Timon
CAT C	St. Theodulus the Lector
Heather	St. Sindeulphus
Dalriata13	St. Apollinaris of Ravenna
Mark L	Blessed Basil Hopko
Lila	St. Gisogon
Dustin	St. Vaast of Arras
Cindy	St. Jan Sarkander
Tracy	St. Cosmas
Teshia	St. Teresa Margaret Redi
Christian	St. Fabiola of Rome
Jagear	St. Caldeoldus of Vienne
Ashley	St. Pius X
Sandy	St. Berthold of Parma
Sam	St. Hitto of Saint-Gall
Nate	St. Catherine of Genoa
Indigo	St. Caius, 2nd Century Martyr
Nevaeh	Blessed Jose Vega Riano
Livia	Blessed Odo of Beauvais
Dawn	St. Cloud
Ruth	St. Moloc of Mortlach
Rachel	St. Acius of Amiens
Ralph	St. Rusticus of Narbonne
Maggie	St. Jerome
John	Saint Poemus of Membressa
Steve	Infant Jesus of Prague
Toni	St. Edward the King
Ken	St. Colette
Tayler	Blessed James of Voragine
John	Saint Guido Maria Conforti
Lenore	Blessed Josefa Naval Girbes
Claire	St. Sebastian of Aparicio
Dan	St. Leontius
Nikki	St. Maruontus
Sebastian	St Laura of Saint Catherine of Siena
Chris	St. John the Baptist
Christine	St. Abban of New Ross
Butch	St. Salvius of Amiens
Stephanie	St. Joseph the Foster Father of Jesus
Jean M	St. Wistremundus of Cordoba
Anna	St. Eusebius of Laodicea
Pat M	St. Benedicta of Rome
Hailey	St. Ouen of Rouen
Donna	St. Martin of Tours
Fli K	St. Rufino
Barry M.	St. Crispin
Susan M.	St. Alexis Falconieri
Erin M.	St. Gracilian
Alex M.	St. Rheticus of Autun
Elly M.	St. Kiaran
Anna M.	St. Simeon, Bishop and Martyr
Evelyn M.	St. Theodosius of Antioch
Katie W	St. Chrysanthus
df_seals	St. Gotteschalk
Lara P	St. Abraham, the Father of Isaac
Heather T	St. Hippolytus
Jonathan A	St. Rigobert of Rheims
Jeffrey Kirkland	St. Stephen the First Martyr
Jess	St. George
Jess' future husband	St. Damien of Molokai
Jess' Mom	Blessed Herman the Cripple
Jess' Dad	St. Isidore of Alexandria
N.	St. Faustinus
M.	St. Clotsindis of Marchiennes
A.	St. Hyginus, the Pope
L.	St. Romana of Capua
jmr1979	St. Nazarius of Rome
KT	Blessed Alexander Briant
Serv	St. Patroclus of Troyes
Van Family	St. Martin of Tours
Vich Family	St. Brynoth I
Mac Family	St. John XXIII
Juras Family	St. Andrew the Apostle
Anna	Blessed Haberilla
Enrico	Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Maria	Blessed Andre de Soveral
Filip	St. Ava of Denain
Beata	St. Austrebertha of Pavilly
Apostolate	Saint Honoratus of Arles
Spor	St. Cadroe
Doc	St. Narcissus of Gerona
Joe	Blessed Sebastian Maggi
Monica	St. Apollonia
Laura	Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Amy	St. John of God
Janet G	St. Joseph the Foster Father of Jesus
mewliu	St. Forannan
Cheryl	Blessed Pope Benedict XI
Jacob	St. Vulpian of Tyre
Josie Naiser and Monique Barrios Naiser	St. Ioannes Pak Hu-jae
Ramona Andrea D.	Blessed Margaret of Savoy
Holly M. Barrios-D.	Blessed Guillaume-Nicolas-Louis Leclerq
John, Holly and Ramona D.	St. Vitus
Tony, Elizabeth and Ruaidhri D.	St. Crispina
Angela Grace D.	Our Lady, Assumed into Heaven
Michelle S	Blessed André Duliou
Michelle's husband	St. Eadsin of Canterbury
Michelle's best friend	St. Meneve
Liam O	St. Gosbert of Osnabruck
Alma R	St. Leudadd of Bardsey
John R	St. Plato
Amelia	Blessed Augustine Novello
Fiona	St. Noel Chabanel
Isabella	St. Juliana of Nicomedia
Dylan	St. Frumentius
Francesco	St. Agatha
Samantha	St. Fiace
Anthony	St. Facundinus of Taino
Hannah	St. Rosius of Campania
Zoe	St. Pretextatus
Mary Ann A	St. Giusta de Sardegna
Edmondm1	St. Ennodius
DanielleR	Blessed Aaron of Cracow
M Family	St. Restitutus of Rome
Father	St. Gundenis of Carthage
Joan F	St. Rhipsime
Kathy	St. Amantius
Mary	Venerable Sister Henriette Aymer De La Chevalerie
Ann	St. John the Baptist
Stephanie	St. Anastasius
GB	Blessed Andrew the Catechist
Robin	St. Nonno of Porto Romano
Debbie	St. Macra of Rheims
Joe	St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Thomas	Blessed William Andleby
David	St. Maturus the Novice
Stephanie	St. Agilaeus
dsmccarroll	St. Illadan of Rathlihen
Laura	St. Joan of Valois
Valerie V	St. Fabiola of Rome
Katie V	St. John of Bridlington

If you are not familiar your saint, I encourage you to research online and even pick up a copy of Father Hugo Hoever's "Live of the Saints," from which I read daily.  While the book does not include saints canonized in recent years, it is something that I am highly recommending.

Here is a prayer to honor any saint: http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2006/01/prayer-to-venerate-any-saint.html

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