2007 Saint for the Year Devotion

The 2007 Devotion is now closed

Original Post: At this time last year I started the 2006 Saint for the Year Devotion along with someone that I found through the Internet. Over the course of the past year, I have had 475 individual requests for a special saint for the year. This is amazing! And starting today I will be taking names of anyone that wants to take part in this devotion for the year 2007.

What is the Saint for the Year Devotion? Here is my post on this from last year 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 dozens 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 Spirit 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.

I'm so excited about this coming year for this devotion. Please pass this message on through your blogs like you did last year and let all of the Catholic blogsphere have the chance to participate. I only ask that you give me some way to 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 and/or weblog link is in your profile, or please leave it below in the comment box when you ask to participate. You can remain anonymous. That is fine. Just please give me an email address and some initials or some way to identify the anonymous people apart. Last year I had nearly 30 anonymous participants, and it was hard to identify which anonymous received which saint. I will also post all results online using just first names or initials. They will be posted on a result's page, which I will create in a few days.

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

Update: Results will be emailed if email address given and/or posted on the 2007 Saint for the Year Results Page.

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Novena to the Immaculate Conception: Day Two

PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

Day Two

O Mary, ever blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Queen of angels and of saints, we salute you with the most profound veneration and filial devotion as we contemplate your holy Immaculate Conception, We thank you for your maternal protection and for the many blessings that we have received through your wondrous mercy and most powerful intercession. In all our necessities we have recourse to you with unbounded confidence. O Mother of Mercy, we beseech you now to hear our prayer and to obtain for us of your Divine Son the favor that we so earnestly request in this novena...

(State your intention here...)

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

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Pope Benedict XVI visits the Blue Mosque

Today Pope Benedict XVI also visited the Blue Mosque in Turkey becoming only the second Pope (following Pope John Paul ll) to enter a mosque. In the first photo below, Pope Benedict XVI offers a gift to Istanbul's Grand Mufti Mustafa Cagrici. I hope that this meeting will calm tensions with the Muslim community around the world. I long for the day when all peoples shall unite to praise the One True God in the Catholic Church.

According to the Catholic News Agency, Pope Benedict XVI told the Grand Mufti “this visit will help us together to find the ways, the paths to peace for the good of mankind.”

Photos:


REUTERS/Patrick Hertzog/Pool 

REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (TURKEY)

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Pope Benedict XVI visits Aya Sofya

Today Pope Benedict XVI visited the sixth century Byzantine monument St. Sofia (Aya Sofya), which was once a Church in the Byzantine Era that was converted to a mosque by the Ottman Empire. Today it is a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Photo of Pope Benedict XVI blessing a child as he visits the museum:


Tolga Adanali/Pool/Reuters

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Pope Benedict XVI joins in Divine Liturgy and Signs Declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I

Today Pope Benedict XVI joined Patriarch Bartholomew I to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the feastday of St. Andrew. This was the promise that brought the two leaders together. I am also extremely hopeful that the Orthodox Church will soon move to full Communion with Rome.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I signed a joint declaration, which should help move the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church closer to full Communion. While it didn't break new ecumenical ground, it did underline their dedication to further ecumenical work.

The Declaration:

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
(Ps 117:24)

This fraternal encounter which brings us together, Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, is God’s work, and in a certain sense his gift. We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers and to renew our commitment to move towards full communion. This commitment comes from the Lord’s will and from our responsibility as Pastors in the Church of Christ. May our meeting be a sign and an encouragement for all of us to share the same sentiments and the same attitudes of fraternity, cooperation and communion in charity and truth. The Holy Spirit will help us to prepare the great day of the re-establishment of full unity, whenever and however God wills it. Then we shall truly be able to rejoice and be glad.

1. We have recalled with thankfulness the meetings of our venerable predecessors, blessed by the Lord, who showed the world the urgent need for unity and traced sure paths for attaining it, through dialogue, prayer and the daily life of the Church. Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I went as pilgrims to Jerusalem, to the very place where Jesus Christ died and rose again for the salvation of the world, and they also met again, here in the Phanar and in Rome. They left us a common declaration which retains all its value; it emphasizes that true dialogue in charity must sustain and inspire all relations between individuals and between Churches, that it “must be rooted in a total fidelity to the one Lord Jesus Christ and in mutual respect for their own traditions” (Tomos Agapis, 195). Nor have we forgotten the reciprocal visits of His Holiness Pope John Paul II and His Holiness Dimitrios I. It was during the visit of Pope John Paul II, his first ecumenical visit, that the creation of the Mixed Commission between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was announced. This Commission met with the aim of declaring and re-establishing full communion.

As far as relations between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople are concerned, we cannot fail to recall the solemn ecclesial act effacing the memory of the ancient anathemas which for centuries has had and still has a negative effect on relations between our Churches. We have not yet drawn from this act all the positive consequences which can flow from it in our progress towards full unity, to which the mixed Commission is called to make an important contribution. We exhort our faithful to take an active part in this process, through prayer and through significant gestures.

2. At the time of the plenary session of the mixed Commission for theological dialogue, which was recently held in Belgrade through the generous hospitality of the Serbian Orthodox Church, we expressed our profound joy at the resumption of the theological dialogue. This had been interrupted for several years because of various difficulties, but now the Commission has been able to work afresh in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. In treating the topic “Conciliarity and Authority in the Church” at local, regional and universal levels, the Commission undertook a phase of study on the ecclesiological and canonical consequence of the sacramental nature of the Church. This will permit us to address some of the principal questions that are still unresolved. We are committed to offer unceasing support, as in the past, to the work entrusted to this Commission and we accompany its members with our prayers.

3. As Pastors, we have first of all reflected on the mission to proclaim the Gospel in today’s world. This mission, “Go, make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19), is today more timely and necessary than ever, even in traditionally Christian countries. Moreover, we cannot ignore the increase of secularization, relativism, even nihilism, especially in the Western world. All this calls for a renewed and powerful proclamation of the Gospel, adapted to the cultures of our time. Our traditions represent for us a patrimony which must be continually shared, proposed, and interpreted anew. This is why we must strengthen our cooperation and our common witness before the world.

4. We have viewed positively the process that has led to the formation of the European Union. Those engaged in this great project should not fail to take into consideration all aspects affecting the inalienable rights of the human person, especially religious freedom, a witness and guarantor of respect for all other freedoms. In every step towards unification, minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the distinguishing features of their religion. In Europe, while remaining open to other religions and to their cultural contributions, we must unite our efforts to preserve Christian roots, traditions and values, to ensure respect for history, and thus to contribute to the European culture of the future and to the quality of human relations at every level. In this context, how could we not evoke the very ancient witnesses and the illustrious Christian heritage of the land in which our meeting is taking place, beginning with what the Acts of the Apostles tells us in evoking the figure of Saint Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles? In this land, the Gospel message and the cultural tradition of the ancient world met. This link, which has contributed so much to the Christian heritage that we share, remains timely and will bear more fruit in the future for evangelization and for our unity.

5. Our concern extends to those parts of today’s world where Christians live and to the difficulties they have to face, particularly poverty, wars and terrorism, but equally to various forms of exploitation of the poor, of migrants, women and children. We are called to work together to promote respect for the rights of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God, and to foster economic, social and cultural development. Our theological and ethical traditions can offer a solid basis for a united approach in preaching and action. Above all, we wish to affirm that killing innocent people in God’s name is an offence against him and against human dignity. We must all commit ourselves to the renewed service of humanity and the defence of human life, every human life.

We take profoundly to heart the cause of peace in the Middle East, where our Lord lived, suffered, died and rose again, and where a great multitude of our Christian brethren have lived for centuries. We fervently hope that peace will be re-established in that region, that respectful coexistence will be strengthened between the different peoples that live there, between the Churches and between the different religions found there. To this end, we encourage the establishment of closer relationships between Christians, and of an authentic and honest interreligious dialogue, with a view to combating every form of violence and discrimination.

6. At present, in the face of the great threats to the natural environment, we want to express our concern at the negative consequences for humanity and for the whole of creation which can result from economic and technological progress that does not know its limits. As religious leaders, we consider it one of our duties to encourage and to support all efforts made to protect God’s creation, and to bequeath to future generations a world in which they will be able to live.

7. Finally, our thoughts turn towards all of you, the faithful of our Churches throughout the world, Bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious, lay men and women engaged in ecclesial service, and all the baptized. In Christ we greet other Christians, assuring them of our prayers and our openness to dialogue and cooperation. In the words of the Apostle of the Gentiles, we greet all of you: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 1:2).

 From the Phanar, 30 November 2006

Photos:


REUTERS/Patrick Hertzog/Pool

Patrick Hertzog/Pool/Reuters

Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

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Begin Novena to the Immaculate Conception

PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

Day One

O most Holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, who by your blessed Immaculate Conception, from the first moment of your conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive our prayers as we implore you to present at the throne of God the favor we now request...

(State your intention here...)

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

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Feast of St. Andrew

Today is the Feastday of St. Andrew the Apostle, and today is the day to begin the St. Andrew Christmas Novena.

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Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates Mass in Ephesus

AP Photo/Cem Oksuzl
Today Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Ephesus, near Selcuk, Turkey. Ephesus is the ancient city where St. Paul preached, St. John the Evangelist lived the final days of his life, and an ecumenical council was held in 431 AD. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated it at the shrine of Meryem Ana Evi called "Mary's House," the place where the Most Blessed Virgin Mary lived the last years of her earthly life with St. John the Apostle before she was assumed into Heaven. Due to security measures, only around 250 people were present in the congregation.

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Pope Benedict XVI Meets With Patriarch Bartholomew I

Today His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI met His Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The Holy Father's visit was to help heal divisions following the break between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in 1054 AD. However, unlike protestants, the Orthodox Church also has a valid priesthood and therefore, valid Sacraments. In reality, only Baptism and Marriage are truly authentic Sacraments in some protestant churches.

Follow up: See the declaration issued at the end of this meeting

Photos:



REUTERS/Ecumenical Patriarchate (TURKEY) 


REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (TURKEY) 


REUTERS/Ecumenical Patriarchate (TURKEY)

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Schedule of Pope's Trip to Turkey

REUTERS/Patrick Hertzog/Pool
This is a schedule of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey from November 28, 2006 - December 1, 2006. Please join in the Catholic Blogsphere's prayers for the Pope.

November 28:

• 9 a.m. Departure from Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport of Rome/Fiumicino to Ankara
• 1 p.m. Arrival at Esemboga International Airport in Turkey
• Visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum
• Welcome ceremony and courtesy visit to the President of the Republic
• Meeting with the Vice Prime Minister
• Meeting with the President of Religious Affairs (Address of the Holy Father)
• Meeting with the Diplomatic Corps (Address of the Holy Father)

November 29:

• Holy Mass at Ephesus (Homily by the Holy Father)
• Moment of prayer at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul and private meeting with H.H. Bartholomew I

November 30:

• Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George
• Visit to the Museum of Saint Sofia
• Visit to the Blue Mosque
• Moment of prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and meeting with H.B. Patriarch Mesrob II
• Meeting with H.E. the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan
• Meeting with the Grand Rabbi of Turkey
• Meeting and dinner with the members of the Catholic episcopal conference

Demcember 1:

• Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Homily by the Holy Father)
• Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Istanbul
• 1:15 p.m. Departure from the Airport of Istanbul to Rome
• 3:45 p.m. Arrival at the Airport of Ciampino in Rome

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