Saint Joseph - May 1st

What emanates from the figure of Saint Joseph is faith. Joseph of Nazareth is a "just man" because he totally "lives by faith." He is holy because his faith is truly heroic.

Sacred Scripture says little of him. It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness.

Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God.

We see how the word of the Living God penetrates deeply into the soul of that man, that just man. And we, do we know how to listen to the word of God? Do we know how to absorb it into the depths of our human personalities? Do we open our conscience in the presence of this word?

Pope John Paul II from Daily Meditations


Prayer to Saint Joseph, Patron of Workers

Glorious Saint Joseph, you are the pattern of all who work. Obtain for me, please, the grace to work conscientiously and to put devotion to duty before my selfish inclinations. Help me to labor in thankfulness and joy, for it is an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from almighty God. Grant that I may work in orderliness, peace, moderation and patience without shrinking from weariness and difficulties. I offer my fatigue and perplexities as reparation for sin. I shall work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone, and of empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. For Jesus through Mary, all in imitation of you, good Saint Joseph. This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.

The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Exchange will be taking a long needed break over the next week. Please keep my First Communicant class in your prayers for this upcoming weekend as they will be receiving Our Lord and Our Savior in the Most Blessed Sacrament for the first time. I pray that God will bless them and keep them his own all the precious years of their lives.



"Love Jesus! Jesus is not an idea, a feeling, a memory! Jesus is a person, always alive and present with us! Love Jesus present in the Eucharist" (Pope John Paul II, November 8, 1978).

Easter Peace

"Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? God raised Jesus "and sent him to bless you." Easter obedience means accepting Christ's peace. The faith that comes through the name of Jesus gives us "perfect health," for that name is "glorious over all the earth." (Magnificat, April 2006, Thursday of the Octave of Easter)

Education with Maria Montessori

My friend Cay has a wonderful and insightful post regarding Maria Montessori and the Catholic Church. It includes a : Letter by Pope Paul VI regarding the centenary of the birth of Maria Montessori ~ dated Sept. 17, 1970: titled: Regarding the Problem of Education in the Modern World.

To read more follow this link to Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks.

Saint Pius X

Our oldest son is looking forward to receiving the sacrament of Confirmation this upcoming May. He has decided to take the name of Pope Saint Pius X. He was impressed with Pius X during his elementary years, while reading about him in the Vision Book: Saint Pius X, The Farm Boy Who Became Pope, by Walter Diethelm, O.S.B.


I have found it difficult to find religious items depicting this Saint. I would appreciate any information on items available such as pictures, medals, etc. Please email me and let me know: mailto:denise344@juno.comGod bless you!


Prayer to Saint Pius X
Glorious Pope of the Eucharist, Saint Pius X, you sought "to resore all things in Christ." Obtain for me a true love of Jesus so that I may live only for Him. Help me to acquire a lively fervor and a sincere will to strive for sanctity of life, and that I may avail myself of the riches of the Holy Eucharist in sacrifice and sacrament. By your love for Mary, mother and queen of all, inflame my heart with tender devotion to her.

Blessed model of the priesthood, obtain for us holy, dedicated priests, and increase vocations to the religious life. Dispel confusion and hatred and anxiety, and incline our hearts to peace and concord. so that all nations will place themselves under the sweet reign of Christ. Amen.

Saint Pius X, pray for me.

"....and they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it. And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 10:7-10

Saint John Baptist de la Salle

Well-known Founder of the Congregation of the Brothers of Christian Schools, orthodox and prayerful theologian, you realized the very great value of competent Christian educators. How great your wholesome influence has been! Make you followers continue to be Christlike models for all their students who in turn will edify others. Amen.

Eleventh & Twelfth Stations w/Meditations

Eleventh Station:

Now they are crucifying Our Lord, and with him two thieves, one on his right and one on his left. Meanwhile, Jesus says:

Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).

It is Love that has brought Jesus to Calvary. And once on the Cross, all his gestures and all his words are of love, a love both calm and strong.

With a gesture befitting an Eternal Priest, without father or mother, without lineage (cf. Heb 7:3), he opens his arms to the whole human race.

With the hammerblows with which Jesus is being nailed, there resound the prophetic words of Holy Scripture: They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones, and they stare and gloat over me (Ps 21:17-18).

My people, what have I done to thee, or in what have I saddened thee? Answer me! (Mich 6:3).

And we, our soul rent with sorrow, say to Jesus in all sincerity: I am yours and I give my whole self to You; gladly do I nail myself to your Cross, ready to be in the cross-roads of this world a soul dedicated to You, to your glory, to the work of Redemption, the co-redemption of the whole human race.

Points for meditation

1. By now they have fastened Jesus to the wooden cross. The executioners have ruthlessly carried out the sentence. Our Lord, with infinite meekness, has let them have their way.

It was not necessary for him to undergo so much torment. He could have avoided those trials, those humiliations, that ill-usage, that iniquitous judgement, and the shame of the gallows, and the nails and the lance... But he wanted to suffer all this for you and for me. And we, are we not going to respond?

Very likely there will be times, when alone in front of a crucifix, you find tears coming to your eyes. Don 't try to hold them back... But try to ensure that those tears give rise to a resolution.

2. So much do I love Christ on the Cross that every crucifix is like a loving reproach from my God: '... I suffering, and you... a coward. I loving you, and you forgetting me. I begging you, and you... denying me. I, here, with arms wide open as an Eternal Priest, suffering all that can be suffered for love of you... and you complain at the slightest misunderstanding, over the tiniest humiliation... '

3. How beautiful are those crosses on the summits of high mountains, and crowning great monuments, and on the pinnacles of cathedrals...! But the Cross must also be inserted in the very heart of the world.

Jesus wants to be raised on high, there: in the noise of the factories and workshops, in the silence of libraries, in the loud clamour of the streets, in the stillness of the fields, in the intimacy of the family, in crowded gatherings, in stadiums... Wherever there is a Christian striving to lead an honourable life, he should, with his love, set up the Cross of Christ, who attracts all things to Himself.

4. After so many years, that priest made a marvellous discovery: he came to understand that the Holy Mass is real work: operatio Dei, God 's work. That day, when he celebrated Mass, he experienced pain, joy and tiredness. He felt in his flesh the exhaustion of a divine task.

For Christ too it cost a great effort to carry out the first Mass: the Cross.

5. Before you start working, place a crucifix on your desk or beside the tools you work with. From time to time glance at it... When tiredness creeps in, your eyes will go towards Jesus, and you will find new strength to continue with your task.

For that crucifix is more than a picture of someone you love —parents, children, wife, sweetheart... He is everything: your Father, your Brother, your Friend, your God, the very Love of your loves.



Twelfth Station:

On the uppermost part of the Cross the reason for the sentence is written: Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews (John 19:19). And all who pass by insult him and jeer at him.

If he is the king of Israel, let him come down here and now from the cross (Matt 27:42).

One of the thieves comes to his defence:

This man has done no evil... (Luke 23:41).

Then, turning to Jesus, he makes a humble request, full of faith: Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom (Luke 23:42).

Truly, I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).

At the foot of the Cross stands his Mother, Mary, with other holy women. Jesus looks at her; then he looks at the disciple whom he loves, and he says to his Mother:

Woman, behold thy son.

Then he says to the disciple:

Behold thy mother (John 19:26-27).

The sun 's light is extinguished and the earth is left in darkness. It is close on three o 'clock, when Jesus cries out:

Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matt 27:46).

Then, knowing that all things are about to be accomplished, that the Scriptures may be fulfilled, he says:

I am thirsty (John 19:28).

The soldiers soak a sponge in vinegar and, placing it on a reed of hyssop, they put it to his mouth. Jesus sips the vinegar, and exclaims:

It is accomplished (John 19:30).

The veil of the temple is rent, and the earth trembles, when the Lord cries out in a loud voice:

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46).

And he expires.

Love sacrifice; it is a fountain of interior life. Love the Cross, which is an altar of sacrifice. Love pain, until you drink, as Christ did, the very dregs of the chalice.

Points for meditation

1. Et inclinato capite, tradidit spiritum, and bowing his head, he gave up his spirit (John 19:30).

Jesus has breathed his last. His disciples had so often heard him say: meus cibus est..., my food is to do the will of him that sent me and to bring his work to fulfilment (John 4:34). He has done so to the end, patiently, humbly, and without holding anything back... Oboediens usque ad mortem (Phil 2:8); he was obedient unto death, even death on a Cross!

2. A Cross. A body fastened with nails to the wood. His side pierced... Only his Mother, a few women and a young man remain with Jesus.

The apostles? Where are they? And the people who were healed of their infirmities: the lame, the blind, the lepers?... And those who had acclaimed him? Not a single one acknowledges him! Christ is surrounded by silence.

You too some day may feel the loneliness of Our Lord on the Cross. If so, seek the support of him who died and rose again. Find yourself a shelter in the wounds in his hands, in his feet, in his side. And your willingness to start again will revive, and you will take up your journey again with greater determination and effectiveness.

3. There is a false asceticism which presents the Lord on the Cross as furious and rebellious. A contorted body apparently threatening mankind: 'You have broken me, but I will hurl down on you my nails, my cross and my thorns. '

Such people do not know the spirit of Christ. He suffered all that he could —and, being God, how much he could suffer! But he was loving even more than he was suffering... And, after dying, he consented to let the lance open another wound, so that you and I might find refuge next to his most loving Heart.

4. Many times have I repeated that verse of the Eucharistic hymn: Peto quod petivit latro poenitens, and it always fills me with emotion: to ask like the penitent thief did!

He recognised that he himself deserved that awful punishment... And with a word he stole Christ 's heart and opened up for himself the gates of heaven.

5. From the Cross hangs Our Lord 's —now lifeless — body. The people, seeing what had been done, went home beating their breasts (Luke 23:48).

Now that you have repented, promise Jesus that, with his help, you will not crucify him again. Say it with faith. Repeat, over and over again: I will love you, my God, because ever since you were born, ever since you were a child, you abandoned yourself in my arms, defenceless, trusting in my loyalty.

From The Way of the Cross, St. Josemaria Escriva

Deeds of Mercy

Our Lord's words: "...I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it. I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first, by deed, the second, by word, the third, by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy." (Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, #742).

Marians of the Immaculate Conception: click on Marian Press to visit their website for further information.

Don't forget, Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23rd.

St. Isidore Patron of the Internet, Computer Technicians

Saint Isidore of Seville

I'm wondering if this is the only picture of St. Isidore of Seville? Anyone find any others? (Let me know). I enjoyed coming across several of Isidore's maxims, apparently from Book of Maxims. Here are just a couple:

"Heresy is from the Greek word meaning 'choice'.... But we are not permitted to believe whatever we choose, nor to choose whatever someone else has believed. We have the Apostles of God as authorities, who did not...choose what they would believe but faithfully transmitted the teachings of Christ. So, even if an angel from heaven should preach otherwise, he shall be called anathema."

"If a man wants to be always in God's company, he must pray regularly and read regularly. When we pray, we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us."
-Saint Isidore

For more on St. Isidore and additional maxims, head to Catholic-Forum at this LINK from the Patron Saint Index

Hmm, St. Isidore, Patron of the Internet...Follow this LINK.

Isn't it great....a "Prayer before logging onto the internet" at this LINK.

A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky

By Lewis Carroll

A BOAT beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July-

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear-

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die:
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream-
Lingering in the golden dream-
Life, what is it but a dream?

Ordinary Life

I mentioned previously that while the intent of this blog is to primarily focus on aspects of Catholic spirituality, and was originally ventured into as my eutrapelia (leisure holy or "good play") to be shared, at the request of some readers I'll focus occasionally on the "Moderator" of this blog :)

As the profile states, we are a Catholic homeschooling family. We have three sons and a daughter; our oldest son just turned fifteen, our daughter is twelve, our next son is six and our youngest son is age two. My husband and I have been married for seventeen years, both cradle Catholics and have homeschooled our children from the beginning. And so at this time in our scholastic history our homeschool consists of a high schooler, a middle schooler, a lower elementary age schooler and a resident Montessori toddler :) This age assortment makes for a very interesting and lively academic day. Going from Algebra to one-two-threes.......A-B-Cs, to latin translations........Catholic theology and morality to "Who made you?.....God made me"; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to Pachelbel's Canon in D.........

Our family lives in a very, very small rural town in northeastern Ohio. It makes Mayberry look like a metropolis! We are part of the farthest northern end of the diocese of Steubenville; our church is only a few minutes away from our home right here in the middle of town (village). This is the same Catholic church my spouse and I met at, were married at and all our children were baptized at by the same pastor, who was assigned here for twenty years, but was re-assigned to southern Ohio in 2004. We feel very blessed to have had such consistency and stability facilitating our spiritual growth all those years in this predominantly protestant area.

I'll share more with you another time, until then, as the song goes: "These are a few of my favorite things...." Thank you for stopping by to visit and letting me share this place with you. God bless!