Liturgical Year
Excerpt from the Blessing of the Font
The singing of the Sicut Cervus by our choir at the Easter Vigil took my breath away.
Read MoreLighting of the Easter Candle
I am happy to be able to watch the lighting of the Easter Candle at our parish. My two youngest children fell asleep before Mass began, so I stayed inside with them during the lighting of the Candle.
Read MorePysanky Tip
“I’ve been making Pysanky since I was 12 — it can be a very spiritual tradition, gathering around the candle and thinking of the symbols and colors and their meanings. If you melt the wax with a candle flame, the flame has to be very tall: 1 1/2″ or more. The egg passes through the…
Read MoreEaster Butterflies
Once again this Lent, we ordered caterpillars from Insect Lore for our butterfly garden. Last week, four of the caterpillars started making their chrysalis. We have moved the four chrysalides (or pupae) to the butterfly garden and are still waiting for the last (and smallest) caterpillar to make its chrysalis. Four butterflies should emerge a…
Read MoreStations of the Cross
Stabat Mater Stabat Mater dolorósa iuxta crucem lacrimósa, dum pendébat Fílius. Cuius ánimam geméntem, contristátam et doléntem pertransívit gládius. O quam tristis et afflícta fuit illa benedícta, mater Unigéniti! Quæ mærébat et dolébat, pia Mater, dum vidébat Nati poenas íncliti. Quis est homo qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si vidéret tanto supplício? Quis non posset…
Read MoreThe Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us! From February 11 to July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin came down eighteen times from heaven (Introit), and showed herself to St. Bernadette Soubirous (Collect), in the cave of the rock at Massabielle (Gradual). On March 25, she said to the little shepherdess of 14 years of age:…
Read MoreRemembering
Palma Giovane Last year, on this date, my family and I were looking forward to going to Mass for the Feast of Candlemas. However, as the afternoon wore on, I started to experience some complications with my pregnancy and I knew that it would be prudent to stay home. I had experienced similar problems when…
Read MoreFeast of the Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with a burning love for the poor captive souls in purgatory, have mercy on them. Be not severe in Thy judgements but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames. Most merciful Lord, send Thy angels to conduct them…
Read MoreDaily Renewal of Enthronement to the Sacred Heart
A couple of days after my mom died, one of my cousins enthroned our home to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and consecrated it to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Since that day, our family has prayed the daily renewal prayer below prior to saying Grace before dinner. Last night, some friends heard us…
Read MoreTriduum Photos
Photos from Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday (Early Easter morning) were taken by a fellow parishioner, Michael Curtis. I have a few favorites. North American Martyrs does not have its own church, yet, so we were at the old major seminary (now Bastyr University) for the Triduum and Easter Sunday. Please pray that a permanent…
Read MoreCelebrating Easter
Growing up, I fell in love with the Christmas Midnight Mass and the Easter Vigil. This weekend, I fell in love with the Holy Thursday Mass and the Good Friday services, too. My family and I are blessed to be parishioners at a Fraternity of St. Peter parish. This year, our pastor, Fr. Saguto, had…
Read MoreSt. Joseph’s Day
We just returned from a beautiful Mass celebrated in honor of St. Joseph. Our pastor gave a very nice sermon about St. Joseph and how we should look to him as our father with a lower case “f”, as he was the second closest person to Our Lord after Mary, our Heavenly Mother. He ended with the words, “Those…
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