June is the Month of the Sacret Heart of Jesus

Do you remember as of last month, we are starting something new and exciting?  If you go back to May’s post, you will see a list of 18 ideas of how to focus on the theme of the month.  We are picking them at random, just to make it fun and challenging.  Hubby once again picked it out of a plastic cup and this time, came up with:  Location!  That means, I have the task of finding a location relating to the Sacred Heart. 

Well, that didn’t require a lot of thought…

Sanctuaire du Sacre-Cœur ~ Paray-le-Monial

Charolais-Brionnais, France

This is where Our Blessed Lord appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, showing her the ineffable love of His Sacred Heart.  Have a look at their site above, for an informative 18-minute video and more.  Excerpt:

“Three great apparitions of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary focus on the message for the attention of all men…They took place between the end of December 1673 and June 1675.  One can identify three great dimensions of this message: a declaration of love (I), a complaint (II), a demand (III).”

These 3 dimensions are described in detail on the Home page.

It just so happens, this is a very special year in the United States, for devotion to the Sacred Heart!  From Sacred Heart Enthronement Network:

“…the United States Catholic Bishops will offer prayers of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, on behalf of our nation. This historic event coincides with the 250th Anniversary of our nation and serves as an invitation to place our trust in Christ. Catholics are encouraged to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, pray for our nation, and perform acts of charity and service, as we prepare for this important moment. You can watch the Consecration take place in Orlando, Florida, via livestream on the Catholic Bishops Website. 

…we are in a great spiritual battle between good and evil. Now is the time to pray, consecrate, enthrone, honor, and share the message of His Heart more fervently than ever.”

…And pray for peace!

The USCCB is also taking this opportunity to honor Catholics who have historically contributed to the United States.  They are producing a video series on this (see link above).  Sacred Heart Enthronement Network is promoting a Sacred Heart Revival, which you may participate in.  Here is the Novena to the Sacred Heart on their site, which begins June 3.  There is so much else to discover that this ministry is doing and also a Catholic shop.

The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is on Friday the 12th , and is a solemnity, therefore no penance is required.  This is also the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.  Let us lift up our spiritual fathers to the most loving Heart of Our Lord in their many needs.  We cannot help but notice the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the very next day!  This is obviously no coincidence, as Holy Church shows us how intimately the 2 Hearts are united.  The feast of Corpus Christi  (the 4th in the trad, the 7th in the post-con, known as the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ) is also linked to the Sacred Heart, as it is an aspect of the Corpus of Christ.  We may also invoke His Eucharistic Heart in this wonderful Mystery of the Incarnation.

Note below, we celebrate several New Testament figures this month:  Saint Barnabas (mentioned in Acts), Saint John the Baptist, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.  As of Trinity Sunday, this past Sunday, we have entered the Time After Pentecost and remain therein until Advent, in the trad.  We continue to meditate on the Mystery of the Redemption for the rest of the Liturgical Year.

Some key feasts coming up from both calendars…

11th-Saint Barnabas

13th-Saint Anthony of Padua-Companion of Saint Francis, Visionary of the Christ Child, Doctor of the Church

23rd-Vigil of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

22nd-Saint Thomas More, Martyr

24th-Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

29th-Saints Peter & Paul

30th-Commemoration of Saint Paul / First Martyrs of the Church 

****** Prepper Challenge for Spring ******

With current events in mind, it’s the same as it was for March, April & May...Make a plan and begin implementing it.

15 Points Preparedness Worksheet

Biblical Support for Preparedness

Noah was the Original Prepper ~ Build Your Ark!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us!

Saint Margaret Mary, Pray for Us!

Have you started your Novena to the Holy Ghost for Pentecost?

You can still do it! Go here…

EWTN Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts

Divine Mercy Sunday

During this concerning time of war and crisis, there is nothing more important we can do than beseech the Divine Mercy!

Here are some good links for today…Did you pray the Chaplet Novena starting Good Friday? You still can!…

EWTN Divine Mercy

There is a Plenary! Vatican Document

A Feast of Unfathomable Grace: Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy On This Blog

In This Month of Saint Joseph: A (relatively) New Prayer!

…As of 10 years ago, when I posted it on this blog…

O Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord and Our Lady, intercede for us before the Divine Majesty.  O holy and humble carpenter, pray for God's children in all our great need.  We pray this in the Name of the Christ Child, once held in your loving arms. 

Amen.

This prayer has been received well and it is about time for a PDF! Here it is…

“O Saint Joseph” PDF Printable

Here is the original post, where I explain why I wrote it: A New Prayer to Saint Joseph!

BONUS PDF…not too late to start this for the month of March…

THIRTY DAYS PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

March is the Month of Saint Joseph-Part 1

As we begin this Month of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, Foster-Father of Our Blessed Lord…a month which begins and ends in Lent…here are 10 links to help you honor him and learn more about the most illustrious person other than the Blessed Virgin…

Saint Joseph-Related Posts on This Blog

Saint Joseph-Catholic Answers Encyclopedia (from original Catholic Encyclopedia)

Protection Prayer to Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph Products-The Catholic Company

Featured: Sleeping Saint Joseph Decaf Coffee, Consecration to Saint Joseph,

Saint Joseph Medal & Prayer Card

EWTN: Saint Joseph

Scripture Verses Mentioning Saint Joseph

The Life of Saint Joseph as Seen by the Mystics

The Mystery of the Staircase at Loretto Chapel, NM: Built by Saint Joseph?

Extraordinary Saint Joseph Painting by Bernadette Carstensen

Hymn to the Terror of Demons: Te Joseph Celebrent-Chants of Deliverance

Fatima Prayers for Lent with PDF!

I am taking this Lent to renew my devotion and commitment to Our Lady of Fatima and her requests. One of the requests is to pray the Rosary daily. It is a tradition to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries each day of Lent.

Please see the following link for more info (the 4 requests are right on the Home page) and also check out our Fatima Family Holy Hour topic to the right>>> (this is meant to be performed on the 13th of each month from May to October, but you can do it any time):

World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Here are a collection of prayers associated with Fatima, along with a PDF below (please note any material on this site may be copied and freely distributed, as long as you say where you got it, we do not ask for donations online ever, even though running this thing costs a lot, only prayer and sharing:)…

Fatima Prayers

Daily offer the sacrifices demanded by the duties required of your state in life, as well as whatever hardships and difficulties God permits in your life, in reparation for sin and for the conversion of sinners.

Morning Offering

O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.

O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them to the interests of Your Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Sacrifice Prayer

O Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Pardon Prayer

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.

Angel Prayer

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

Eucharistic Prayer

O most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the most Blessed Sacrament. 

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to you all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as you wish to accomplish your designs in the world.  O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism, kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to you, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.

(Venerable Pope Pius XII)

Fatima Prayers PDF Printable

February is the Month of the Holy Family / Update

UPDATE:  This blog and the work of Nomen Christi Apostolate will be undergoing changes this year.  Please be patient as we work out these changes.  The monthly theme posts will remain similar, including one idea as to how we might celebrate the focus of the month.  The homeschooling suggestions will be replaced by one preparedness task each month.  If you are conducting your children’s Catholic education at home, you might want to look at the “Homeschool Activities” topic to the right>>> to get some fresh ideas, but we will not be dealing with this topic as often.  Please note, we always welcome the thoughts of our readers and may share them!  We also appreciate a first name and city/country.

If you look at the past numerous years I’ve been doing the Catholic monthly dedications, you will see I have always done The Passion of Our Lord for February.  This is because I was working with a certain calendar for many years and this is what it indicated.  The monthly themes are not official, some months have more than one.  These themes have developed over the centuries in different times and places.  The consensus for the month of February is actually the Holy Family, so this will be our first presentation of this theme.

There is no feast of the Holy Family this month, but let us look at when the feasts are, in the post-conciliar and the trad calendars…

Vatican News mentioning both feasts:

The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is normally celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas. This feast developed at the beginning of the 19th century in Canada and then spread to the entire Church in 1920. At first, it was celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. It is a Feast that seeks to portray the Holy Family of Nazareth as the “true model of life”…from which our families can draw inspiration and know where to find help and comfort.

So in the trad, we celebrate the Holy Family in January and the newer calendar celebrates it in December.   We can see the logic in keeping this triune family close to Baby Jesus’ birth and also near the visit of the Magi to them.  Certainly honoring and meditating upon this most noble and of families, a reflection of the Most Holy Trinity, is greatly worthy…so holy Church in her traditions, has given us this month to do so.  December was concerned with the Divine Infancy and January with the Holy Name of Jesus, both months containing those feasts.  Now we move to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the environment chosen to bring this Divine Life into our world, to give Him His Name and to raise and nurture Him, until He came into His mission to proclaim the Good News…and to redeem us by His death.  It is quite appropriate to honor the Holy Family in this month which usually closes the Cycle of Christmas (some years, this will be January, if it’s an early Easter).

The one feast this month which relates to the Holy Family is the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Presentation of Our Lord (also known as Candlemas), on the 2nd.  Certainly, Saint Joseph would have been with Our Lord and Our Lady in the Temple on that day, as they rejoiced together, observing the Jewish law. 

One way to give honor to the Holy Family this month is to pray the beautiful…

LITANY OF THE HOLY FAMILY

…perhaps on Candlemas?

Oh, did I mention Septuagesima begins on the 1st?  Every year, my penance begins during Septuagesima because I have to keep typing that word.  That is not a joke, you try it.  Septuagesima.  That’s 3 times.  Someone just got out of Purgatory.

Ash Wednesday is on the 18th, get ready for Lent!  Wow, we also have the Ember Days of Lent, or Spring, on the 25th, 27th and 28th.  See “Ember Days” topic to the right>>>.  Let us pray for mercy and blessings upon the coming season.

Additional notable feasts of February, from both calendars:

3rd-Saint Blaise, Blessing of Throats

7th-First Saturday of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart

8th-Sexagesima Sunday

11th-OUR LADY OF LOURDES

14th-Saint Valentine, let us pray for chastity

15th-Quinquagesima Sunday

24th-Saint Matthias, Apostle

***   PREPPER TASK FOR FEBRUARY   ***

Were you rushing to the store just before this past week’s big storm?  Don’t be that person.  Be the person who is sitting by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate laughing at all the people panicking and running to the store!  Of course as preppers, we are not only concerned about the short term emergency, but also the longer term one, or even permanent societal change.  So having a well-stocked and well-organized pantry is essential.  Here is the task…

Throw out all the expired food in your cupboard.  Arrange food roughly according to expiration date, oldest in the front, newest in the back.  I have a “fast track” spot for almost expired items.  (If you have children, this is a wonderful family activity and also a prepper lesson).  You’ll be able to see what you are lacking, and make a shopping list for these things.  This is your new lifestyle!

First be concerned about getting your everyday pantry organized.  Then you can start on what we call “stocks.”  (As opposed to “stockpiles.”  We are not doing institutional prepping here.)  These will be kept in a cool, dry, mouse-free area of your house (don’t assume mice won’t be able to tear through heavy packaging, believe me they can smell and tear through almost anything.)  These will be food and other essential items that your family needs for longer term storage.  There are many companies now that deal specifically in these types of items, just do a search.  Of course, buying in bulk can be a great option too.  Again, these have to be organized according to expiration date.  One way to do this is to have a separate shelf for each expiration year.

Prepping is a lifestyle that requires work and commitment, there’s no getting around that.  But the peace of mind it provides is more valuable than gold.  Gold.  That’s another topic!  Look into it (but this is not financial advice).

Have a blessed February and a Lent that will bring you closer to the risen Christ.

Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord

Today is Epiphany in the post-conciliar calendar of the USA. In the trad, it is always January 6th, immediately following the 12 Days of Christmas.

Here is the traditional Epiphany Blessing of the Home, which has become more popular in recent years. This version is Nomen Christi Apostolate’s, based on research involving several good sources. How wonderful to revive these treasures of our Holy Faith!

epiphany blessing of the home PDF

And here is our Epiphany Topic for further info.

The Epiphany Blessing format suggests singing a hymn at the end, here is…

“We Three Kings of Orient Are”

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart / Marian Triad of the Months Begins

August is a very Marian month!  Let us see why…

We begin on the 2nd, the first Saturday, with an opportunity to offer reparation to the Immaculate Heart we celebrate this month.  If you can’t do 5 Saturdays in a row, according to the Communion of Reparation devotion, that’s okay.  Go whenever you can at a parish near you that offers this important act of love for Our Lady, an antidote to these crazy times.  See Fr. Edward Broom’s short video below for an explanation of this devotion.  He holds up a picture of Our Lady with her Immaculate Heart and also mentions Saint Augustine, who we honor on the 28th…

DEVOTION OF THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS

On the 15th, we remember the glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation (with a vigil).  It is on a Friday, but since it is a solemnity, no penance is required.  On the 5th, we celebrate Our Lady of the Snows, which refers to a miracle in Italy.  On the 22nd, we have a beautiful double Marian feast, with the Queenship in the post-con and the Immaculate Heart in the trad.

And we’re not done yet, as there are several saints associated with Our Lady, who we honor in August.  Saint Dominic of the Holy Rosary’s feast is on the 4th and the 8th.  Saint Maximilian Kolbe, who received a vision of the Mother of God as a child, is celebrated on the 14th.  Her illustrious father, Saint Joachim, is the 16th.

The Transfiguration of Our Lord, the 4th Luminous Mystery, is the 6th. 

As for the theme of the Immaculate Heart, here is a well-written, comprehensive page at Covenant Catholic.  Following are some edited excerpts:

[From] Preparation for Total Consecration to the Immaculate Heart, according to Saint Maximillian M. Kolbe, by Fr. Matthias M. Sasko.  A day-by-day guide for 33 days of preparation for Consecration.

1.      Consecrate yourself and your home to The Immaculate Heart of Mary and pray The Shorter Act of Daily Consecration each day. 

2.      Keep an image of the Immaculate Heart in your home.

3.      Pray daily the Litany of the Immaculate Heart or the Prayer to the Immaculate Heart.

4.      Contemplate what Mary pondered in her heart as you pray the Mysteries of the Rosary and meditate on the events of her life and the life of Jesus.

5.      Memorize or meditate on Scripture verses and places in the Catechism that highlight the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (Luke 2:19, 2:51)

6.      Begin this August to go to Confession and Mass on the Five First Saturdays of the month, keeping the request of Our Lady of Fatima.  

7.      Learn and sing the “Salve Regina” [Hail, Holy Queen] with your family or friends.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, ordered his entire ministry to the praise and glory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In response to the ever more militant Luciferian force of the Freemasons against the Church, he established a spiritual army called the Militia of the Immaculata to win souls for the Queen of Heaven. St. Maximilian consecrated all its activity to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart and worked to spread devotion to Her Miraculous Medal. He carried a pocketful of them at all times and called them his spiritual “bullets.” St. Maximilian believed and taught, “If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother.”

Something we do here at Nomen Christi Apostolate, is the Marian Triad of the Months and the Christological Triad of the Months.  There are 3 consecutive months which Holy Church dedicates to Our Lady:  August of the Immaculate Heart, September of Our Lady of Sorrows and October, Our Lady of the Rosary.  The purpose of this exercise is to meditate on these 3 aspects of the Mother of God and to see how they might interrelate, during this 3-month time of the Church year…with the guidance of the Holy Ghost.  You may share any insights you receive and we may post them.

Other notable feasts this month, in both the trad and post-con calendars:

1st-Saint Peter in Chains

11th-Saint Clare (Chiara, Clara) of Assisi, Foundress of the Poor Clares, Companion of Saint Francis

12th-Saint Clare (trad)

23rd-Saint Rose (Rosa) of Lima, Patroness of Gardeners

24th-Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

27th-Saint Monica, Mother of Saint Augustine

28th-Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

29th-Passion of Saint John the Baptist

30th-Saint Rose (trad)

Homeschooling Activities for August

1)       Draw a picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

2)      Write an essay on the life and death of Saint Maximillian Kolbe.  5 paragraphs:  Introduction, childhood, ministry, death, conclusion.

3)      Read the Gospel accounts of the Transfiguration and compare them:  Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:28.

Novenas to the Sacred & Immaculate Hearts

The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus started yesterday (you can still do it!) and the one to the Immaculate Heart of Mary starts today. Find a novena you like. Here’s a great resource:

Pray More Novenas

The Original Novena Reminder

There’s never been a more important time!