Novena Prayer to Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, SJ

Today is the Feast Day of our friend in heaven, Blessed Miguel Agustin
Pro.
On Saturday, I went by the Sacred Heart Gift Shop on the San Jose Catholic Church campus. I recognized a picture of Bl. Pro and asked her of she had a prayer card. She gave me this photo and told me a story. A lady was visiting from Mexico, she had made her purchase, but came back inside. She asked the lady in the shop the name of the priest in the long cassock. None of the current priests wear a long cassock. She looked up at the picture of Bl. Pro and screamed, it was him! He had touched her and told her everything was going to be ok.

I am not finding out anything about his continued cause for Sainthood. He is a Martyr, but we continue to pray that he will be a Saint someday.

Blessed Martyr of Christ the King, Father Miguel Agustin Pro, you are a special patron of those who labor, those in illness, depression or despair.  You are also a friend of musicians, the captives, and all who work toward social justice.  Your beloved brothers, the Jesuits, revere you and count you among the ranks of their saints.  You love your people of Mexico and all those loyal to the Church.
I thank the Sacred Heart for loving you so dearly.
I pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe whom you love so dear, to intercede for the cause of your canonization.
I pray that you remember me in your eternal and well-deserved rejoicing, and also my needs: Please heal my children's food allergies.
Through your courageous life and martyrdom you have won the crown of life everlasting.
Remember me, Blessed Miguel, for I remember you.
Viva Cristo Rey!  Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!

IMPRIMATUR:
Most Reverend John F. Donoghue Archbishop of Atlanta
December 21, 2004

Please Continue to pray for Philip Johnson

http://philipgerardjohnson.blogspot.com/2010/11/bishop-requests-novena-for-seminarian.html

Number One Daughter asks about this young man on a regular basis.
We've been praying for his healing for a long time. Our prayers
continue...

St. Vitus Novena for Our Young Friend

We've just finished this Novena for a 7 year old friend with epilepsy.
Number One Son, this young man and his older brother prove that three
CAN be company. The past few months have been hard, more seizures
meant more medication which meant more side effects. Children can
verbalize that someone acts or behaves differently, but no matter what
we say, they are taking this change in behavior personally. In their
minds the only reason their friend isn't playing with them anymore is
because he doesn't want to. Number One Son is sad and so is this young man's brother. They are 18 months apart and best friends.

January brings hope and fear. Hope that planned surgery stops the
seizures and fear that this fiery little guy will have permanent
physical effects. Since I've worked with special needs children my
entire career, I know bad outcomes, I never see the good ones.

The Nonvena to St. Vitus helped give me peace of mind, I think I'll
keep saying it.

St. Vitus, glorious martyr of Christ; when you were young, you were
exposed to violent and dangerous temptations, but in the fear of God
and for the love of Jesus you victoriously overcame them.

St. Vitus, by the love of Jesus, assist me with your powerful
intercession to heal Your child of his epilipsey. Please give him
clear thinking, restored energy, full strength, restful sleep, calm
emotions, mindful communication and the grace of peace for his body.

O Jesus, Who hast said,
ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find,
knock and it shall be opened to you,
through the intercession of Mary,
Thy Most Holy Mother,
I knock, I seek,
I ask that my prayer be answered.

My Lord and my God! I offer up to You these prayers in union with the
bitter passion and death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, together with
Mary, ever virgin, and of all the angels and saints, particularly with
prayers of St. Vitus, in whose honor I make this novena.

Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant this precious child of yours
peace, hope, grace and love and graciously hear my prayer. Amen

Costumes

I made costumes for the kids until a few years ago. I heard, "I'll
wear the Pope costume, but I really want to be Spiderman," from Number
One Son a few years ago. I was sad, but he endulged me for several
years. He was a monkey, St. Francis, St. Michael and then John Paul
II, the Great before choosing Speed Racer, Spiderman, Batman and Darth
Vader this year. Number One Daughter was an Angel, St. Elizabeth Ann
Seton, Cinderella, St. Philomena, Batman and Toothless this year.
Number Two Son missed his first Halloween because he was sick. He has
been St. Francis, Batman and Iron Man this year.
I did get to sew All Saints Costumes for all three of them this year.
Number One Son will be Divine Mercy Jesus, Number One Daughter will be
Our Lady and Number Two Son will be St. Padre Pio. With two white
robes and one brown one, I hope to recycle/repurpose the costumes for
a couple more years. They all have such strong opinions, our children.
I wonder where they get that?
I find it strange that our children seek out the same costumes as most
other children their age even though their exposure to "characters"
is limited. I guess they will get to a point when they want unique
costumes and I will be useful again.

Happy Birthday Number Two Daughter

Hubby has a yucky URI, so he stayed home from work today and was able to go to the cemetary with us. I made allergy-free cupcakes, he planted a lily from our yard (but originally from his old house), we sang "Happy Birthday" walked around the beautiful grounds of Our Lady of the Rosary and said a Divine Mercy Chaplet before we drove home.
Before we left home, there was quite a heated discussion between Number One Son and Number One Daughter about what to call today. He insisted that it was Number Two Daughter's feast day, it was the celebration of the day she went to Heaven, he explained to his sister. Number One Daughter insisted it was her birthday. We compromised and agreed that it was both!
Number One Daughter saw little toys at the graves of other babies during our last visit. She wanted to buy her sister a toy. I was sceptical if she would actually leave a really cute cat and dog Littlest Pet Shop set dressed as an angel and devil. When it comes to her baby sister, Number One Daughter always suprises me. She is thoughtful, selfless and brave.
Number One Son was sad. We talked about how, after praying about it for several days, we decided to tell them about their sibling being born to Heaven. He agreed that it was better that we told him. He is still shocked that I wasn't told about my siblings born to Heaven until I was almost grown.
It is my sincerest prayer that our children will use this life experience to witness to others about respect for life from conception to natural death. They participated in a funeral for their sister who was the same age when most abortions take place. So much has happened in the past year, I have been grateful for all the extra prayers, today was so much more about gratitude than sadness.

Nana's and Poppie's Dog had puppies!

Poppie found a very scared, hungry Jack Russell Terrier at his camp
ground last year. She is a very shy and hides most of the time. Nana's
long tongued Pomeranian loves her. She never really warmed up to
anyone but Nana's other dog. They found a home for her, with a little
girl to love her, but then she had puppies and never could house
train, so Nana and Poppie got her back. The little girl kept a puppy.
Well, she had four more puppies this week. Number One Daughter is so
excited! She loves snuggling puppies, kittens, dolls, stuffed animals,
Beanie Babies, etc... Hubby is threatening to sneak one home in his
shirt. He misses the personality of Little Dog. We will not be getting
a puppy, but maybe one of our friends will want one and we can visit it.

Christopher Columbus and Our Lady

On August 3, 1492 Christopher Columbus left Spain on the Santa Maria.
The wind began to blow on September 8, the Nativity of Our Lady. He
sighted land on October 11, the Solemnity of the Mother of God and
landed on Hispaniola on October 12, the Feast of Our Lady of the
Pilar, Patroness of Aragon, the sponsor of his voyage. The names of
the ships "Santa Maria pinta nina" means "St. Mary paints a girl."
Thirty-nine years later, on December 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to
San Juan Diego and gave the world the miraclous image of Our Lady of
Guadalupe. Millions of conversions are attributed to this single event.
I have to thank Fr. Rocky from Relevent Radio for enlightening me to
this story written by God's hand.