July began on the 1st with the celebration of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. What better way to honor and offer reparation to Our Lord, than to recite the Litany of the Most Precious Blood (see previous post), in the coming weeks? Litanies are one of the treasures of our Catholic faith, that have gone out of use. It is a joy to pray them and we must all work to bring back these beautiful aspects of Catholicism for ourselves, our children, and the future.
Be the restoration you wish to see!
We honor Saint Maria Goretti, young Italian girl who died for purity, on the 6th and the 9th (new/trad). She was so quickly canonized, her own mother attended the ceremony in Rome.
We celebrate the holy life of Saint Benedict of Nursia, another Italian, on the 11th. He is well-known as the father of Western monasticism and the author of the Benedictine Rule, which spread throughout Europe (therefore he became the patron saint of Europe). Benedict left the sinful world to seclude himself in a rural area, much as some Catholic laity now are beginning to do. He believed in the self-sufficient community and wrote the principles upon which such communities would thrive. Also, he was known for invoking the Crucifix and performing many miracles. His medal is widely worn by the faithful and possesses indulgences. Benedict’s abbey at Monte Cassino still stands atop a tiered hill in the beautiful Italian countryside. His twin sister, Saint Scholastica, followed her brother in founding the Benedictine Order for women. Here are some prayers to Saint Benedict…you may also read further about the medal and even buy one at The Catholic Company…
This past weekend, at the Catholic Land Movement Conference, I was privileged to walk upon the ground of Saint Kateri Tekawitha’s birth, whom we honor on the 14th. This is also the holy ground, about 10 years before her birth, where Saint Isaac Jogues and his companions gave their lives for Christ. It was an extraordinary experience. Kateri is ever-present, in spirit and in statue form, at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, located in rural Auriesville, New York.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s feast is the 16th. She appeared to Saint Simon Stock, giving him the Brown Scapular. Our Lady of Fatima requested the wearing of this scapular. Also, at The Catholic Company, here is where you can buy the scapular, in addition to a booklet explaining investiture into this privileged service of Our Lady…
Further notable feasts of July:
19th-Saint Vincent de Paul
22nd-Saint Mary Magdalen
25th-Saint James the Greater, Apostle (vigil day before) / Saint Christopher
26th-Saints Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
29th-Saint Martha
31st-Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits
We provide both trad and new feasts.
