Soldier of Christ: The Sacrament of Confirmation

This weekend, on November 14, 2020, our 15 year old daughter (along with over 50 other teens from our parish) was Confirmed in the Extraordinary Form by her uncle who had been delegated and given facilities by the bishop! That makes four sacraments now (Baptism, First Confession, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation) that she has received from her uncles! 

Three years ago, when our eldest three were Confirmed, we had hoped and prayed that someday our other children would also be able to also receive this final sacrament of initiation in the ancient rite and we are so very grateful to now be parishioners here at St. Joan of Arc. God is good!

A quick picture on our way to the church, wearing her beautiful white dress and the St. Philomena necklace her Dad and I had purchased for her. St. Philomena, pray for us!

We weren't allowed to take pictures during the Confirmations. There was a photographer though so we are looking forward to seeing those pictures! Holy Mass followed the Confirmations. 

Afterwards I went looking for her, to congratulate her, give her a hug, and try and take a picture of her with her dear sponsor... I found her in the corner of the church praying. She has such a beautiful soul. Please offer a prayer for her and for all these great young Catholics! 

In addition to the necklace, we also gave her a painting of St. Philomena and a Sacred Heart Rosary from Come Holy Spirit Rosaries. She also received a lovely bracelet from her sponsor and a necklace (pictured below) handmade with her favorite colors by my sweet and generous friend Aleesa. 

I didn't have time or energy to bake a cake, but I did make a topper for her cheesecake! 

O Heavenly Spirit! Third Person of the adorable Trinity! Whom I have received and most fervently adore, deign to take eternal possession of my soul; create and maintain therein the purity and sanctity which become Thy temple. O Spirit of Wisdom: preside over all my thoughts, words, and actions, from this hour to the moment of my death. Spirit of Understanding! Enlighten and teach me. Spirit of Counsel! Direct my youth and inexperience. Spirit of Fortitude! Strengthen my weakness. Spirit of Knowledge! Instruct my ignorance. Spirit of Piety! Make me fervent in good works. Spirit of Fear! Restrain me from all evil. Amen.

- Jesus, Make Me Worthy

St. Philomena, ora pro nobis!

Celebrating the Saints :: Our 2020 Costumes

St. Helena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Anges + Lamb, St. Rose of Lima, St, Michael the Archangel

I've been meaning to share this pictures from All Hallows' Eve here on the blog and finally had a few moments to finish up the post. I took them as we were leaving the house to head over to our parish's All Hallows' Eve/All Saints Party. It was such a fun evening for all! More pictures coming soon... 

.: St. Anges + Lamb :. 

Twinkle Toes (age 17) and Joy (age 1) as St. Agnes + Lamb 🐑

White Dress from Amazon, Blue Scarf, White Lilies and Rose Crown from the costume box

Lamb Costume from Pottery Barn, Leggings from Gap Factory, Shearling Mocs from Freshly Picked

 

“The Early Church rightly venerated young Agnes for her valor, her virginity and her boldness. Agnus is the Latin word meaning “lamb, sheep.” Her sacrifice as a young “lamb” and the holiness of the Lamb of God for whom she died resonated. She is frequently pictured and sculpted with a little lamb in her arms or by her feet.”  

 

.: St. Teresa of Avila :. 

Chiquita (age 15) as St. Teresa of Avila 🕊❤️🏹📖  

Carmelite Habit from Our Coats of Many Colors. I ordered it (and a Dominican Habit for our 3 year old) at the end of August just before they lost their warehouse and all inventory due to a fire! I've been ordering costumes from them for over ten years, praying for them and hope they rebuild their business... 

She came up with the rest with things from the costume box or around the house. 

 

St. Teresa of Avila’s heart was physically pierced by an arrow of God’s love! After exhuming her body, they discovered a puncture wound in her heart. Read the description from her autobiography:

“Our Lord was pleased that I should have at times a vision of this kind: I saw an angel close by me, on my left side, in bodily form. This I am not accustomed to see, unless very rarely. Though I have visions of angels frequently, yet I see them only by an intellectual vision, such as I have spoken of before. It was our Lord’s will that in this vision I should see the angel in this wise. He was not large, but small of stature, and most beautiful—his face burning, as if he were one of the highest angels, who seem to be all of fire: they must be those whom we call cherubim. Their names they never tell me; but I see very well that there is in heaven so great a difference between one angel and another, and between these and the others, that I cannot explain it.

I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it, even a large one. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying.”

.: St. Michael the Archangel :. 

Above the 38th Parallel 

Snuggles (age 13) as St. Michael Above the 38th Parallel

St. Michael the Archangel ⚔️ Defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who wander throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

 

Have you read Michael’s Letter or heard the story of St. Michael Above the 38th Parallel? 

It's so great and what inspired his costume this year.

.: St. Helena :. 

Rose (10) as St. Helena

Costume: Crimson Princess Costume in Large, with a wood cross made by her Dad

“She worshiped not the wood, but the King, him who hung on the wood. She burned with an earnest desire of touching the guarantee of immortality.”  - St. Ambrose about St. Helena discovering the true cross

.: St. Maximilian Kolbe :. 

Bud (age 8) as St. Maximilian Kolbe 

He was so excited to reuse his eldest brother’s costume from 2013... Amazingly the blue tape is still sticking to the shirt! He also asked me to help him print out the quote shown on the icon/Confirmation gift in the older boys' bedroom. It all came together! 

“Modern times are dominated by Satan and will be more so in the future. The conflict with hell cannot be engaged by men, even the most clever. The Immaculata alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. However, assumed into Heaven, the Mother of God now requires our cooperation. She seeks souls who will consecrate themselves entirely to her, who will become in her hands effective instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spreading of God's kingdom upon earth.” - St. Maximilian Kolbe

.: St. Rose of Lima :. 

Grace (age 3) as St. Rose of Lima

Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.” - St. Rose of Lima 💗

 

"You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint or no saint at all." 

- St. Therese of Lisieux

Sleepytime Saints A to Z

Sleepytime Saints A to Z

Have you seen the new A-Z picture book over at Marzipantz? 

Hardcover Editions of this book are only available to pre-order till tomorrow, November 11, 2020! 

(I was provided with this softcover review copy to share with you all.) 

It's no secret that I LOVE the sweet dolls that Marcy creates, I've shared them in some of last year's gift guides for Christmas and St. Nicholas Day, and have been able to snag some of them for myself my children, but they always sell out so quickly and she hasn't offered custom orders for awhile now...  Right now EVERY ORDER that is placed for a copy of this book will be entered into a drawing for a chance to order one of four CUSTOM dolls! Pick me, pick me, pick me! 

Update: Paperback Editions are now available for Pre-order! 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!

Hail, Refuge of sinners! Hail, Star of the Sea! 

Hail, Queen of Creation! Our hope is in thee.

All hail, Virgin Mary! This Star guides our way, 

our country's Protectress, America's Way!

"Whether the world has war or peace depends on the practice of this devotion, along with the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is why I desire its propagation so ardently, especially because this is also the will of our dear Mother in Heaven." -Sr. Lucy (March 19, 1939)

 

How to Precisely fulfill the Five First Saturdays Devotion

as Requested by Our Lady of Fatima

In his sermon during Mass, Father explained the devotion and how each of the five Saturdays are acts of reparation for the five ways that people offend and blaspheme against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. You can more about it here: https://www.bluearmy.com/first-saturday-devotion/