Sweetness and Light

Flower of Carmel, Pray for Us!

 (Repost from last year) Have a blessed feast day! And here is the link to our celebration! You will recognize this from My Book :)

I lift my eyes toward the mountains: whence shall help come to me? My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

O beautiful flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven, Holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a Pure Virgin, assist me in this necessity.  O Star of the Sea, help and protect me!  Show me that Thou art my Mother!  O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Mother and Ornament of Carmel, Pray for us!

Virgin, Flower of Carmel, Pray for us!

Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, Pray for us!

Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, Friend of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, Our Patron, Pray for us!

O sweet Heart of Mary, Be our Salvation!

~ Prayer of St. Simon Stock, known as the Flos Carmeli

Here is a fun and easy way to celebrate this feast:

All you need is some Kraft Caramels, a holy card of Our Lady and a toothpick, voila, a sweet and lovely holy card stand!!  We are going to be a little more creative with this tomorrow, I'll post more pics of our celebration later, and in the meantime, check out Catholic Cuisine and also Anne at Under Her Starry Mantle for a delectable Scapular Cake, YUM!!

 

 

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus & Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Wishing you and your families a very blessed  Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus today and for tomorrow the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These are two very special feasts for us as we are consecrated to both of these devotions and will renew them today at Mass and benediction.

The Two Hearts consecration is rich with spiritual graces bestowed by Our Heavenly Father. Please visit Ruth at Just Another Day in Paradise for more beautiful prayers for the month of the Sacred Heart.

Thanks so much for visiting today and have a blessed weekend!

Remember This???

It's not too late to plan a great Saint Anthony's Scavenger Hunt for your feast day celebration this Saturday, June 13th!

 

Ironically we were at our favorite lakeside retreat this time last year too! Violet handmade the prizes and the boys were very eager to oblige her special treasure hunt!

 

Saint Anthony of Padua is a wonderful saint to invoke for many things, and most known for his ability to help you find something that may be lost!

Have fun and here is a lovely novena prayer to St. Anthony (it's not too late to say this, just double up or do a nine hour novena if you wish):

O White lily of purity, sublime example of poverty, true mirror of humility, resplendent star of sanctity. O glorious St Anthony, who didst enjoy the sweet privilege of receiving into thy arms the Infant Jesus, I beseech thee to take me under they powerful protection. Thou in whom the power of working miracles shines forth among the other gifts of God, have pity upon me and come to my aid in this my great need.

(Mention your intentions here).
Cleanse my heart from every disorderly affection, obtain for me a true contrition for my sins and a great love of God and of my neighbour that serving God faithfully in this life, I may come to praise, enjoy and bless Him eternally with thee in Paradise. Amen. 

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Sangria is a customary beverage served on his feast day, so if you're hankering for a little something special try this delicious recipe we have enjoyed:

A bottle of your favorite red wine
2 oranges thinly sliced
2-3 lemons thinly sliced
juice of 1 lime
1/4-1/2 cup sugar depending on your taste
splash of brandy or triple sec
Serve in a punch bowl or large enough pitcher with enough ice to chill but not water down, Enjoy!!

Thanks for visiting and many blessings in your feasting day! 

Cupcakes for Pentecost Sunday!

Don't miss the lovely Flames of Pentecost Cupcakes at Catholic Cuisine today! These are so easy and beautiful.  Mary always has the best ideas!

Here's a snapshot of our Pentecost celebration from a few years back, the kids really like this visual with the strawberries pointing upwards to represent the "tongues of fire"...tastes pretty darn good too :)

I hope you all have a very blessed Feast of Pentecost in conclusion of this 50 days of Easter! 

Also, Ruth is giving away an incredible Pentecost Rosary on her blog, go check it out and enter for a chance to win!

We will be traveling for this feasting weekend so a cupcake is the perfect travel celebration companion! Let me know if you try them!

Many blessings and thanks so much for visiting today!

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

 

(photo courtesy of echoofgod.com)

Today is the optional memorial of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. He shares his feast day with St. Peter Chanel and the incredible St. Gianna Molla. 

St. Louis is known for his undying love for Christ through devotion to the Blessed Mother. Here is the beautiful Treatise on True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort. I highly recommend it, it's very powerful reading!

Happy Feast to all those who love to go to Jesus through Mary! Many blessings in your day!

St. Casimir - "Omni die dic Mariae"

This beautiful hymn of St. Casimir, said to have been composed by St. Bernard is one of our favorite Marian Hymns.

Daily, Daily Sing to Mary

Daily, daily sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due.
All her feasts, her actions worship
With the heart's devotion true.
Lost in wond'ring contemplation,
Be her Majesty confess'd.
Call her Mother, call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest.

She is mighty to deliver.
Call her, trust her lovingly.
When the tempest rages round thee,
She will calm the troubled sea.
Gifts of heaven she has given,
Noble Lady, to our race.
She, the Queen, who decks her subjects
With the light of God's own grace.

Sing, my tongue, the Virgin's trophies
Who for us her Maker bore.
For the curse of old inflicted,
Peace and blessing to restore.
Sing in songs of peace unending,
Sing the world's majestic Queen.
Weary not nor faint in telling.
All the gifts she gives to men. (c. 1150)

St. Casimir is the patron of Poland and Lithaunia, and the patron saint of youth.

The Presentation of Our Lord

 

Also known as The Purification of Our Lady and of course Candlemas!

My favorite little saying for this day comes from my Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady: 

If Candlemas Day be fair and birght
Winter will have another flight
But if Candlemas Day be clouds and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again!

And of course there's always the folk lore of the ever-elusive ground hog  :)  Did you see him? Did he see his shadow?

What ever you call it, it's a great feast in our liturgical year and truly marks the finale of the Christmas season.

Many blessings for a lovely celebration of candles, doves and the light of Christ!

Double Feast!!

It's a double feast day on the liturgical calendar today!!  What an opportunity to celebrate not only the beautiful martyr St. Agnes (who the church recognizes) but Our Lady of Altagracia as well!!

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Catholic Cuisine, there are some yummy ideas for celebrating!!  My Orange Sweet Rolls are rising right now as I type :)))

Another great link for celebrating:  Alice's Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Altagracia! 

Here is a craft that we did for Our Lady of Altagracia a couple of years ago, it is very beautiful and easy!

     

Many blessings in all your celebrations today!! Thanks so much for visiting today :)

On The Baptism of Our Lord

 

A little bit of Chocolate Decadence whipped up by Violet for our celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord this past Sunday.  I love how she chose to simply place the three shells (think trinity) for the symbolism of this feast!!

If you would like the  recipe, leave me a comment and I'll be happy to send it on!!

This Just Makes Me Smile...

 

Wishing you all a delightful and joyfilled weekend with your families, and especially happy wishes for a splendid Feast of Saint Nicholas!