A Catholic Life

Sunday, January 2, 2011

2011 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion

I am very pleased to again be a part of the coordination of 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 2011 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion.

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

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

St. Louis IX - Virgin and Child Adored by Saint Louis, King of France

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 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.

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 2011" to acatholiclife [at] gmail.com

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

Support

I participate in this devotion each year without any cost. Please take a minute and if you are a supporter of this devotion, please consider leaving us a free will donation. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps me continue working on this devotion and spreading it further.

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Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

According to the Traditional Catholic Calendar of 1955, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus occurs on the the Sunday of January 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th, or when no Sunday occurs on these days, then the feast is celebrated on January 2nd. * As listed in the 1969 Calendar of the Saints, today is the Optional Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Tenth Day of Christmas where we specifically recall that beautiful name of Our Savior. For the name of "Jesus" means "God saves."

Jesus Christ, The Great King of the World, knew rejection. He was rejected from the Inn in Bethlehem while still living in the womb. He knew cold as he lay in rags in Bethlehem. He knew hunger as the devil tempted Him in the desert for 40 days. He was rejected for His words on the Eucharist too. And He knew rejection - at the hour He needed them the most, all of his friends left Him to the Cross - only St. John would return.

Today let us recall Jesus Christ, who became like us, completely like us in all things but sin to be the sacrifice for our sins - our redemption. Let us honor His name, given to Him before His conception through the words of the angels. Read on the history of the Feast of the Holy Name.

Quotations:

"If you think the name "Jesus" continually, and hold it firmly, it purges your sin, and kindles your heart; it clarifies your soul, it removes anger and does away with slowness. It wounds in love and fulfills charity. It chases the devil, and puts out dread. It opens heaven, and makes a contemplative man. Have Jesus in mind, for that puts all vices and phantoms out from the lover." - Richard Rolle (†1349) A hermit, a mystic, and a writer of devotional works and biblical translations. Taken from The Form of Perfect Living and Other Prose Treatises, Thomas Baker, 1910 London

"At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:10-11)

Prayer:

O God, Who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Savior of mankind, and didst bid Him be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate His holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven. Through the same our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Litany to the Holy Name of Jesus (partial indulgence)
The Chaplet of the Holy Name
Holy Names of Jesus: Devotions, Litanies, Meditations

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Papal Mass for the Octave of Christmas

Each year the Holy Church celebrates on January 1st, the Octave Day of Christmas, a day on which we recall the Divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the giving of the Holy name to the Infant Christ, and the Circumcision of our Lord, who even as an infant began to offer His blood for our redemption.

The Holy Father celebrated Mass on the Octave Day of Christmas this year in a beautiful set of vestments. These vestments are strikingly similar to the vestments he wore this year on the Feast of the Epiphany.