Let's go Christmas Shopping!

Hello and blessed Advent dear friends!

I'm always attracted to the small Catholic businesses at this time of year whether I'm shopping for others or making a wishlist for myself.  Of course, I find tons of great products I would love for myself but alas my budget is tight so I'll put a couple things on my wishlist and dream about the rest.  But I thought it might be fun to share my most favorite gift ideas with you!!  The Catholic mom, Jessica, over at Shower of Roses puts together a drool-worthy Sleighful of Gift Ideas and Giveaway every year on her blog with tons of great gift ideas for the whole family!!  But since I'm a few years older than her oldest daughter, I've always found there could be more recommendations for "older" Catholic young women.  So think of this list as the ultimate gift guide for that 20-30-year-old Catholic young woman in your life!!  Or maybe you are that young woman and need inspiration for your wishlist and friends' gifts!  Well, look no further and enjoy this festive and faithful gift list!

(This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for your support of Catholic small businesses!)

1. Traditional Catholic Planners

First up on my list are calendar planners! I've been a fan of the Happy Planner designs and layouts for years after being gifted one in 2018. But just like many other secular artistic businesses, The Happy Planner includes gay pride and other woke concepts in their products so I'm looking to make the switch to a traditional Catholic calendar planner. I've been pretty spoiled by the layout and customizability of the Happy Planners so I have high expectations when searching for alternatives. Here are four of the absolute favorites that I found!

(Pictured above clockwise starting top left:)

1. Women's Traditional Catholic Planner 2022-2023 from Raising Hearts shop on Etsy

        This one is my top favorite so far with plenty of room, a simple yet elegant design, and extra goodies such as a dinner planner and Sacraments tracker!

2. 2023 Half Size Catholic Planner: Simply Catholic Edition from Elizabeth Clare Shop on Etsy

        This purse-sized planner includes both Traditional and NO calendar feasts so you'll never miss anything yet there's still plenty of room for your own plans and personalized touch.

3. Fiat: Traditional Catholic Planner from Sophia Institute Press

        A gorgeous option with the stunning artwork you may have seen in the Illustrated Liturgical Year Calendars also from Sophia.  This full-color planner is also a great portable size with room for all your plans alongside lots of Catholic richness.

4. 2023 Liturgical Daily Planner from Angelus Press 

        A classic Catholic planner with all the liturgical info you need including traditional feasts, vestment colors, and days of fasting and abstinence.  There's also room for notes and sketches!

Ps. If you've already got a classic calendar or planner for this year, I highly recommend these Feast Day Stickers from Mourning Dove Co. on Etsy.  My parents gifted them to me last year and I absolutely loved them.  The minis fit in my Happy Planner perfectly allowing ample space for other plans in the date boxes.

2. Missals

Every Traditional Catholic needs a hand missal!!  Here are some of the best and most affordable missals I've found and like!

(Pictured above in order of ascending price clockwise:)

1. St. Andrew Daily Missal from Daughters of Mary Press    

        This is the pre-1955 missal that is chock full of prayers, images, and propers for Mass!  The most economical option out there for just $40!

2. 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal from Angelus Press

        This missal is simple and easy to follow with all the basics (and more) you'll need!  Check out the link for a full description of all this missal has to offer!

3. Father Lasance - The New Roman Missal from Daughters of Mary Press

        I believe this one is a fan favorite!  You can't go wrong with Father Lasance, the beloved author of "The Catholic Girls Guide."  

4. St. Joseph Daily Missal from Fraternity Publications 

        Although this missal does not include all that the others above have to offer, this is the one I've had for years and it's still my favorite.  Easy to read text, plenty of illustrations to keep you on track with your progress in the order of the Mass, and all the basic prayers and propers in English you need!

3. Catholic Spirituality Books

1. Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. from Fraternity Publications

        Full of beautiful daily meditations on Catholic life and the Saints!  This is at the top of my wishlist this year!

2. The Catholic Girl's Guide by Fr. Lasance from Angelus Press

        This book is small yet mighty with a plethora of wisdom and prayers for young girls from the tween years even up through their adulthood.  I have a hand-me-down copy that I use all the time and take almost everywhere with me because it fits in my purse.  Good for both meditative reading and prayer.  It is a wealth of spiritual nourishment that you can use for years to come!

3. The Little Flower Prayer Book: A Carmelite Manual of Prayers from TAN Books

        A newer addition to my spiritual armory, this prayer book is a must for all lovers of the Little Flower, the little way, and all things Carmelite in general!  There are excerpts of St. Thérèse's writings along with prayers to her, composed by her, and for all the special Carmelite devotions.  It is my new favorite prayer book!

4.  The Golden Arrow: The Revelations of Sr. Mary of St. Peter from TAN Books

        A wonderful and easy read about the origin of the devotion to the Holy Face and the Golden Arrow prayer that Our Lord Himself revealed to a Carmelite nun.  A beautiful and inspiring read.

4. Catholic Apparel

(Pictured clockwise starting at top left:)

1. Venite Adoremus Dominum Nativity Sweatshirt

2. Our Lady of Guadalupe t-shirt

3. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel t-shirt

4. Lattes, Leaves, & Latin Mass Please t-shirt

        I know this one is more of a fall-themed shirt but I just love the concept so much!

5. Christmas Decor

(Pictured from top left clockwise:)

1. Nativity Wood Carved Religious Icon from Kozakworkshop on Etsy

        All of their products are gorgeous!  Check them out!

2. Madonna and Child Christmas ornament from Caritas Dei on Etsy

        Also tons of other great gifts from this shop on Etsy!

3. Immaculate Heart of Mary ornament from In Aeternum Boutique on Etsy

        Such a gorgeous ornament and there are also Holy Family and Sacred Heart ornaments as well!

4. Christmas Tree Creche Candle from The Cloister Shoppe

        We get our Advent candles from these Dominican nuns!

There are so many other gift ideas such as rosaries, jewelry, art, statues, craft supplies, and music; the list is endless!  All you have to do is search "Catholic Christmas" on Etsy to find lots of great and festive ideas!  Also, I have lots of ideas saved to this board on my Pinterest!  I hope you found this list helpful for starting your own wishlist or shopping for that special Catholic young woman in your life!

Wishing you a blessed Advent and happy Christmas shopping!

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah

My Simple Daybook Vol. 2: November Edition

For Today: November 2nd & 15th, 2022

~Daybook template from The Simple Woman Blog~

Looking out my window...

The sky is cloudy but the sun is coming out!  It was very windy yesterday and today so I'm assuming the clouds blew in and they'll blow out just as quickly.  That's kind of sad because I do really like cloudy weather.  We don't get much of it here.  But there is a chance of rain tomorrow so maybe it'll stick around for a little bit!

Ps.  I've been working on the post over the course of a couple of weeks so we actually did have nearly a full day of rain and it was glorious!!  I was babysitting in the morning so it was so fun to show the baby the rain. 😊

I am thinking...

...Of all the upcoming plans I have!  I teach Latin class on Thursday (more on that in a later post probably,) have some upcoming babysitting jobs, my aunt and Granny are coming into town for Thanksgiving, I'm planning what Christmas gifts I'm making, and therefore knitting all the time!!  So much to do, so little time!

I am thankful...

...For all the dear Saints in Heaven who intercede for us, especially my patron Saints, especially on All Saints Day at the beginning of this month!

One of my favorite things...

I have a few favorite things right now!  

*cuethesoundofmusic*

First off, my new junk journal (it feels wrong to call it that because it's so beautiful!!) made by my dear friend, Cecilia!  She put so much time, effort, care, and thought into it!

Also, (story time...) I've had the same brown boots for probably 12 years (at least 11 because that's the earliest I could find a picture of them.)  I've been wearing them for probably 11 or maybe 10 years because when my mom bought them for me on clearance at the outlet, they were too big. 😂  But since my shoe size hasn't really changed since I was 13 or so, I've been wearing the same boots all these years.

The first photographic sighting is of my sister wearing the boots in May 2011, me wearing them in April 2012, the first sighting of them being worn regularly in December 2012, and the last photographed sighting of them in November 2021.

So you see, I've been wearing them for quite a long time.  So long in fact that the sole of my right boot has cracked clear through!  My sock is visible from the outside!  (I do believe that is due to all the genuflecting I've done at church.  I wore these a ton to Eucharistic Adoration.)  It was high time for a new pair.  (I may end up getting them re-soled in the future, who knows!  They're such dear shoes. )

But in the meantime, I've been looking for a nice pair of brown leather boots to be a staple in my wardrobe.  Well, I finally found these on Poshmark!  They're the same brand as my children's boots and just as comfortable!  I got them brand new but the price was decent!

And finally, I saved the best in this list for last... I found my very special Friend at a thrift store of all places for just $30 and there was a discount as well!!  Isn't He just adorably perfect?!?!  I love my Little King.

I am creating...

... all the knitted things!!!  I just finished knitting the "The Classic Tee" by Darling Jadore.  It's currently being blocked and soon I'll be weaving in the ends!  (Look out for a post all about the knitting process!)

I also just finished my first pair of knit socks!!  🎉  (Slip Stitch Socks by Yarnspirations.)

Oh!  I almost forgot!  I also knit my first pumpkin in about 3 days!  😍

Also working on knitting Christmas gifts! (sshhhh!)

I am wearing...

The aforementioned brown leather boots all the time as well as cardigans, fall colors, and the scarf and hat I knit last year!!  So glad this fall/winter is colder than last year.  (and by cold I mean lows in the high 30's low 40's. 😅  I hear that's balmy for some people.)

I am reading...

"The Story of a Soul" by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, my patron Saint!  I believe this is either my 3rd or 4th (probably 3rd) time reading it in my life but I am sooooo incredibly excited to say it's as if I'm reading it for the very first time!!  If you've read a book more than once, you know the feeling of rereading it doesn't usually compare to the feelings you have when you read an instant favorite for the first time.  It's indescribable but for some incredible reason, I'm experiencing it again during this reading.  Thanks be to God!!  He is so good!  I'd love to do a whole blog post after I'm finished reading this and I'll rave explain more then.

 I am watching...

...plenty of different things from black & white movies, to YouTube vlogs, to a Hallmark movie or two, but the thing that our family keeps coming back to is a YouTube channel called "The Veggie Boys!"  It's such a fun show following a family farm in Pennsylvania!  I highly recommend checking them out!  They also have another show about their horse boarding called "A Stable Life."

 I am listening to...

It's that time of year again!!!  (No, not Christmas music time yet.)  I mean the time of year I listen to Autumn playlists!  Of course, I'm always gravitating toward my own curated list but I also discovered this other playlist of instrumental music that is just so cozy! 

I am hoping...

To make a trip to the yarn store.  I've been plenty of times to Hobby Lobby and Michaels but I have yet to venture to an actual yarn store.  I'm a little nervous to do so but I'm hoping my sister will go with me and help me pick out some yarn for gifts!  

I am learning...

How to knit cables and I am LOVING it!!  I want to cast on a cable knit sweater immediately! 😍

In my kitchen...

I'm just surviving really.  Leftovers all the time.  I help my mom make the meals for the most part.  Last night we got creative and made a pretty great chili mac 'n' cheese.  😛  It was really rich though and I'm really hoping to start eating healthy again before the Christmas season.  Of course, there will be Thanksgiving but other than that I'm going all in health nut! 😅  Forget about waiting for the new year!  

Some other highlights of the kitchen recently have been fall french toast!!  😍  For my mom's birthday in October we made pumpkin french toast which was delish and then this last Sunday we made Trader Joe's Maple Streusel Bread into french toast and that was absolutely dreamy!! 🤤  If your local TJ's still has the bread, I highly recommend making it into french toast!  Sooo good!!

(I know this post is really documenting early to mid-November and I'm sorry for the delay, but I guess I can include my Thanksgiving make as well.)  I made two green bean casseroles this year; one for our young adult Friendsgiving meal and one for our family dinner on Thanksgiving at my cousins' house.  Other than that I actually haven't done any Thanksgiving cooking!  But I've definitely been enjoying the food! 😜

Board room

Ok, my Pinterest is just such a cozy spot full of autumnal aesthetics so instead of choosing just one pin, here is a little sampler.

Post Script

This section is to share a favorite link or account.  Well, today I'd love to share Ravelry.  It's an incredible database of knitting and crochet patterns, yarn, and more!  There are tons of free patterns and great features that allow you to organize your knitting like nobody's business.  (This is not an ad although it sure does sound like one.  😂)  If you'd like some knitting inspiration, here's my list of favorites over on Ravelry.  It's really like Pinterest for yarn art! 😍

Shared Quote

"To dedicate oneself as a Victim of Love is not to be dedicated to sweetness and consolations; it is to offer oneself to all that is painful and bitter, because Love lives only by sacrifice and the more we would surrender ourselves to Love, the more we must surrender ourselves to suffering."

~St. Thérèse of Lisieux

A moment from my day

Three things...

Praying at the cemetery for the Octave of All Souls.

Saturday morning coffee and breakfast with some beautiful young women after Adoration!

Organizing my yarn stash before the Christmas gift yarn run!  Isn't it scrumptious?

Closing Notes

Thank you so much for sticking with me to the end of this post if indeed you did!  I hope you enjoyed it.  I really like this daybook format.  Please let me know if you do too in the comments below!  (If not, that's ok too.  You'll just have to let me know what other kinds of posts you'd like to see! 😉)

God bless you and keep you, friends!  I hope you have a wonderful rest of the month of November!! 🧡

Happy Thanksgiving (Week)!

 

Hello dear friends!  That blessed time of year has arrived once more!  This season I've already been feeling quite thankful ahead of the holiday and I'm grateful for that in itself!  😄

Last year was a Thanksgiving filled with both joy and sorrow and I was grateful for the growth I had experienced but this year there is even more to be thankful for.  

I've made new friends and strengthened friendships with old ones.  I've grown in devotion and grace; thanks be to God!  I've been blessed to celebrate life and death having before my eyes the constant reminder that life is short and full of sorrows but also blessings and that the life to come is a great source of hope.  I've learned to unite my sufferings to Christ's and His have given me incredible strength and comfort this year.  I've improved my own skills and grown in courage learning to take new opportunities and face hard situations.  For all of these blessings and graces, I'm so grateful to God!

Of course, I'm also thankful for the little things too.  My family, friends, church, Catechism class after Mass, good books, Eucharistic Adoration, knitting, yarn, good food (especially Chick-fil-A 😜), fun times, hiking, dancing, tea, and the opportunity to teach again are just some of the little blessings I can think of off the top of my head.  

This last Sunday, our Catholic young adult group had Eucharistic Adoration and then a Friendsgiving potluck afterward.  It was simple and there was a fun variety of food but I was most grateful to be able to sit around a table with wonderful new and old friends.  Many of these people have had an impact on my life, whether great or small, and I'm especially thankful for them.  The real reason I mention this event, however, is that it really started the Thanksgiving week off right and I felt so excited to be wishing these friends a Happy Thanksgiving as we all made ready to leave.  The same happened on Monday night when some of us met up to play kickball at the park with dear friends visiting from out of town.  When taking our leave of one another outside of In'N'Out Burger, we wished each other a Happy Thanksgiving heartily and I was so happy.  

So don't forget to be thankful in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and also those after.  It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays that can be filled with stress and anxiety.  Remember to take a step back, think of Our Lord, and be Thankful for even the smallest blessings in your life.  He desires your thanks every single day.  It makes His heart so very happy.  

Wishing you and yours every blessing this Thanksgiving season,

In the hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Sarah

Hello again...

Oooh... what a lovely gif... 😍

 

 July....  July was my last proper blog post.  *sobs*  my poor neglected little corner.  I guess I got wrapped up in cheap social media again.  But I have deleted it from my phone once again and hope to devote more time to creating, praying, meditating, and fellowshipping with good friends like yourself here.  (If you are still here, thank you.)

It makes me sad to see that many of the blogs I follow have not been updated in a while.   It is good however to see some of you still faithfully here on this dear old platform.  There is almost something sacred about these blogs now where you have to slow back down to read, comment, and create.  It's not so simple as snapping a picture, coming up with a quick, witty caption, and sharing it in an instant.  Blogger requires us to delve in, read, and chat in a much more slow and more intentional way.  That's why in my fast from social media I will actually be revisiting this dear community and I hope I can stick with it for a time again because I know I've said this before and almost become invisible once again.

So how are you friend?  What is new?  

God love you,

Sarah

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 9

Ninth Day: Praise to God

Opening prayer:

Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.

Thoughts of Mariam:

My God, I adore you.  You alone are great.  I adore Your greatness and Your power.  You’re admirable.  Who is like you?  There is no other God like You neither in Heaven nor on earth. 
How happy I am that God created me to call Him my God!  Let all echo with the praises to my God! (“Thoughts”, p. 24-25)

We pray with Mariam:

Whether I’m in joy or in sorrow, Lord, may your Holy name be blessed!  Whether I’m in pain or in peace, Lord, may Your Holy Name be blessed!  Whether I’m suffering or in pleasure, may Your name be blessed, O Lord. (“Thoughts”, p. 41)

 
Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions. (Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory

Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns.  I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father.  So with Jesus in the garden of Getsemani I say:
“Thy will be done, not mine”
Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

 
Amen. 

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 8

Eighth Day: Sincerity

Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.

Thoughts of Mariam:

“Uprightness is your salvation.  Even if a man has all kinds of good qualities, if he doesn’t possess an upright heart and a humbled spirit I shall not be there in his house” says the Lord.
Don’t live with falsehood.  The life of falsehood is short, very soon it shall end. (“Thoughts”, p. 79-80)

We pray with Mariam:

O Divine Savior, do not allow me to seek compliments, because if I seek praise I shall find humiliation hidden underneath, whereas if I look for humiliation I shall find the compliments of Jesus underneath.
Do not allow me to seek anything other than Your Holy will. (“Thoughts”, p. 80)
Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions. (Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory

Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns.  I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father.   with Jesus in the garden of Getsemani I say:
“Thy will be done, not mine”
Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 7

Seventh Day: Charity
Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

It’s to the extent that you love your neighbor that I know how much You love me. If you do not love your neighbor, by that I know that you do not love Me.
Every time you consider your neighbor as a creature without Jesus, you fall very low. (“Thoughts”, p. 64)


We pray with Mariam:

O my God, I continue to live with my brothers and sisters in charity, as if I had only today to live with them.
Where charity prevails, there God is found. Let them be united, may there be charity. May all their hearts be united to You. (“Thoughts”, p. 68, 66)

Saint Mariam, please pray for me and for all my intentions. (Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns. I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father. So with Jesus in the garden of Getsemani I say:
“Thy will be done, not mine”
Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.


Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 6

Sixth Day: Hope

Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

Here’s what you made Jesus to say: “Do you believe that if a hen saw its enemy coming, she would not hide her chicks under her wings to defend them?
And do you think Jesus will do less than the hen?  Do you think He can’t hide the little ones under His mantle and protect them from the great?
Then why are you afraid? (“Thoughts”, p. 48)


We pray with Mariam:

My God, no one has ever sinned as I have.  Therefore I rejoice and have much hope because I shall proclaim your great Mercy.
I seldom feel any sense of trust, I have no feeling of Hope.  But I hope against hope.
I always want to hope and abandon myself to God! (“Thoughts”, p. 50)

Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions. (Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns.  I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father.  So with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani I say:
“Thy will be done, not mine”
Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 5

Fifth Day: Faith

Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

Look at Jesus Who descends upon the altar during Mass; He comes down in response to the word of the Priest. Believe that He comes to nourish you and that with Him, you would never ever lack anything. He is there like a little child, He’s there for you- go to Him!
Faith, how beautiful, how powerful! A soul who has faith can do all, God shall give it everything. (“Thoughts”, p. 26)


We pray with Mariam:

Lord, so many desire You, but they’re blinded, they don’t really know You, nor search avidly for you. They don’t see You, nor find You, darkness blinds us. I, Lord, am also one of them… (“Thoughts”, p. 22)

Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions. (Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns. I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father. So with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani I say:
“Thy will be done, not mine”
Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 4

Fourth Day: Mary, Mother of God

Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

Because of Her faith and humility Mary feels unworthy to become the Mother ofGod. It was Her faith that made Jesus grow in Her each day.
If we have such faith, Jesus will also grow in our hearts. (“Thoughts”, p. 40)

We pray with Mariam:

At the feet of Mary, my dearest Mother, I found life again.
Oh, all you who suffer come to Mary, at the feet of Mary I found life again. Your Salvation and your life are at the feet of Mary. At the feet of Mary I find life again. (“Thoughts”, p. 42-43)

Saint Mariam please pray for me and for all my intentions. (Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns. I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father. So with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani I say:
“Thy will be done, not mine”
Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 3

Third Day: The Holy – Spirit
Opening prayer:

Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

I saw a dove before me and above it an overflowing chalice as if there was a spring within it, and the overflow watered the dove and washed it.

At the same time, I heard a voice coming out from this most admirable Light. It said: “If you want to look for Me, to know Me, and to follow Me, invoke the Light, the Holy Spirit”.
The Holy Spirit will come and heal the sick and awaken those who sleep… (“Thoughts”, p. 38)


We pray with Mariam:

Source of Peace and light, come and enlighten me.
I’m hungry, come and feed me!
I’m thirsty, come and quench my thirst!
I’m blind, come and enlighten me.
I’m poor, come and enrich me.
I’m ignorant, come and instruct me.
Holy Spirit I abandon myself to You… (“Thoughts”, p. 38)

Saint Miriam, please pray for me and for all my intentions.

(Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns. I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father. So with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani I say: “Thy will be done, not mine”

Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 2

Second Day: Jesus Christ

Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

I saw our Lord Jesus poor, sad, suffering, and searching for lodging, and He said to me: “I’m searching for a lodging, a home, and nobody wants to receive me.  As soon as I present Myself, they send me away.  Even you sometimes drive Me out from your heart… Oh if only I could find someone who would but work solely for My Glory, I would do everything for him!” (“Thoughts”, p. 27)


We pray with Mariam:

Forgive me my God! You alone, You alone!… Jesus is not known.  Jesus is not loved!  The white Bread is being rejected in favor of the black bread*.  It's deplorable, it's saddening to be eating the black bread.

How can we cling to His works and not to Himself?  You alone, You alone, My God! (“Thoughts”, p. 32-33)

Saint Miriam, please pray for me and for all my intentions.

(Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns.  I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father.  So with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani I say: “Thy will be done, not mine”

Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified Novena: Day 1

Hello my dears!  Today is a very special day!  Not only is it the start of the Divine Infant King Novena from the Institute of Christ the King, but it is also the start of the novena to my dear Confirmation Saint, St. Mariam!!  If you want, please join me in praying!  I'll post the specific prayers each day here.  At the end of this novena, I will have a post all about my beloved friend.  I can't believe I haven't shared her yet with you!  She is definitely very special, so stay tuned!

First Day: God the Father

Opening prayer:
Holy Spirit, inspire me;
Love of God, consume me;
On the true path, lead me;
Mary my mother, look upon me;
With Jesus, bless me;
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.


Thoughts of Mariam:

Seek God alone without dwelling upon anything created.
If you speak, do so as if you were not speaking. - If you listen, do so as if you were not listening.
God alone is all.  The creature is but nothingness and sin.  All here below are vanities because all that passes is nothing.
At the moment of death, how sorry we shall be for not having taken advantage of the time allotted to us. (“Thoughts”, p. 20)


We pray with Mariam:

I know well, Lord, that You strike us against Your will but your justice is more powerful.
 Enough, Lord, have mercy on us.  Don’t treat us according to Your justice, but according to Your Mercy. (“Thoughts”, p. 21)

Saint Mariam, worries and concerns move my heart.  I bring them to you, so that you present them to our Lord Jesus Christ, and intercede for me.

(Mention your requests in silence)

Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory


Final Prayer:

God, our Father, through the intercession of Saint Mariam, and through my trust in Your Divine Son, I present to you all my concerns.  I do not know whether what I have asked is according to Your Holy Will, my Heavenly Father.  So with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani I say: “Thy will be done, not mine.”  Be close to me through Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

16 Things to Expect When Dating a Catholic Woman: My Revision

 If you come across a list-type article claiming to be Catholic on secular blog sites such as The Odyssey Online or BuzzFeed, spare yourself and don't bother clicking on them.  😅  I've seen a couple quick lists like this before and while they're written by someone claiming to be Catholic, they usually do not reflect Holy Mother Church's teaching but a very secular, haphazard view of Catholic life.  They're pretty goofy and fall short of what to expect of true Catholic girls.  So today, I'd like to revise this list of 16 things to expect when dating a Catholic girl.  The original list was directed mostly to non-Catholic men but I think even Catholic men can take notes from this list.

First issue: You don't date a Catholic, you court her with the purpose of discerning marriage!  😉

Second issue: The article claims "Depending on the woman or her intensity, don't worry about her forcing her religion upon you. It's a stereotype."  That's true, but we will desire and pray for your conversion!  We don't force but we definitely want to be instruments of God's grace and will naturally bring up the beauty of the Faith anytime we can!  The goal of matrimony is to get our spouses and children to Heaven, of course!

Now, on to the 16 things to expect.  I've taken each title from the article and then revised it or given my comments below:

1. Church before dates

       

    This is one they do get right. Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation are super important to her faith. If she asks you to go along, do!! Just use your senses to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of Holy Mass. The Mass is the source and summit of her Catholic Faith so she would highly appreciate your respect and attention.

2. She respects her body

    Yes, this title is true, but according to Catholic teaching and contrary to the caption in the odyssey's list, a true Catholic couple will always save themselves for marriage because the right to the other person's body is a gift of matrimony.  So not only does she respect her own body, but she respects yours.  If your relationship doesn't work out, you will not have given yourselves to each other prematurely and you will have protected the gift of yourself for the person you marry.  This statement could go one step further because some Catholic girls may want to save other physical parts of a relationship for engagement or even the wedding day such as handholding and kissing.  It may sound weird at first but saving these bonding moments for the time when the two people are wholly committed to each other allows for courtship to be a fruitful time of getting to know one another without creating harmful attachments or distractions. 

3. Her family and friends mean the world to her

    Ok, also correct.  Not only does the Catholic girl appreciate you respecting her family but she's actually watching to see how you treat her family and your own.  A girl can tell a lot about how you will treat her by the way you treat your own mother, sisters, and other women in your life.  The fruits of marriage are family life so a Catholic girl wants to make sure you will provide and care for your future family.

4. She is loyal to a fault

    Loyal?  Yes.  To a fault?  Eeehhh... 🤔  A true Catholic girl will have her priorities of loyalty straight.  She is loyal to God first and foremost.  A Catholic young woman should also be loyal to her father who is her head until she is given away in matrimony.  And then to a degree, she is loyal to her friends.  Yes, we are called to forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but that most certainly does not mean a girl has to put up with any shenanigans.  From the points above, you can tell that a Catholic girl values virtue and faithfulness.

5. She will be praying for you and encouraging you to pray

    

    Also, not wrong.  Again, a Catholic woman will not "force" her religion upon you, but if she cares about you that means that she cares about your eternal soul even more.  She knows that each and every person was created for eternity in Heaven contemplating God in all His perfection and united in perfect charity with the saints and angels.  So you can be sure she's praying for your conversion; for your openness to God's grace and His merciful love to be poured into your heart.

6. Divorce scares her

   

     "Scares" is an interesting and inaccurate word to use.  A Catholic young woman shouldn't even believe in divorce.  When you say "I do", it is until death do you part and not before.  A discussion of your opinions on divorce should definitely be had but do not be deterred by her rejection of divorce.  This means that she values the sacrament of Matrimony and her vow to her future husband.  Once she is married, she is in it for the long haul to pick up her cross alongside her husband and follow Christ.

7. She may want a big family

    To be more accurate, a Catholic girl will be open to as many children as the Good Lord wills to send.  God's first commandment to man is to be fruitful and multiply. (See Genesis 1:28.)  The purpose of marriage is to create more souls for the kingdom of Heaven and to work to get them there.  So sure, a Catholic young woman may want a big family, but more importantly, she wants a family according to God's providence.

8. She loves to talk about the future

    Ok, true.  She will most definitely be interested in knowing your views on a slew of questions and will seek to discover what virtues you value.  Dating, or more appropriately, courting is the time when two people get to know if they would be suitable matches for each other in marriage.  It's naturally a time of questions about the future!

9. She'll always love God above all things

    100% true statement.  Not only should you respect that, but you should appreciate it!  She loves Love Himself and this love is being poured into her heart to be shared with all those she comes in contact with.  This is not a superficial or mushy kind of love.  It is charity; willing the good of the other.  So because she has a deep love of God, she will also love those whom God gives her very deeply with a self-giving and sacrificial love.

10. She may tell you all about her favorite Saints

  

     Guilty as charged.  They're not just our fairy tales like the article attests, but they're so much more!  (We like fairy tales too, by the way.)  The Saints are actual people of history who lead exemplary and heroic lives of virtue.  They are our role models who are now also our intercessors in Heaven.  Not only will a Catholic girl pray for you, but she'll also recruit her heavenly team of patron Saints to pray for you as well.  When she starts to tell you about her favorite Saints, listen and learn about her rich Catholic history!

11. She may be a little naughty

    Ok, this is where they lose it.  The whole caption of this one... *cringe*  Catholic girls who know the teachings of the Church know the rules are there to help us get to Heaven.  We love Holy Mother Church and want to be her humble children listening trustingly to Her teachings.  A Catholic girl shouldn't want to push boundaries because that could result in her being outside of God's grace and offending the Lord she loves.  Does this mean Catholic girls don't know how to have fun?  Of course not!  But she knows she doesn't have to sacrifice her virtue or reputation to have it.

12. Holidays are really important to her

    Ok, nice little diversion there after number 11.  🙄  Yes, the Holy Days of the Church are very important to her.  Each of these feasts is a great opportunity for grace and to celebrate the Faith that is so dear to her.

13. Her favorite TV shows may be all on TV Land

   

     Eh, maybe.  Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy, and other classic TV shows are favorites but I'll be willing to bet a lot of her favorite TV shows are based on classic books.  Think Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Anne of Green Gables (Not you, Netflix 😡), North & South, All Creatures Great & Small, and other classics.  If it involves chivalry, virtue, sweeping country scapes, and tea, count her in! 😉  Movies on the lives of the Saints are also a huge plus.  

14. Her dream vacation is somewhere in Europe

   

     Ha!  That is probably true.  Good job on that one.

15. She will love you unconditionally

    'Unconditionally' is a strong word for dating, but I think the sentiment is true.  A Catholic woman's love is strong, true, self-sacrificing, and Christ-like.  It has so much more depth than a self-seeking and carnal "love."  But the article is right; you do not want to mistreat her or disrespect this love because...

16. She is fierce

    This soldier of Christ has an invisible army of angels and Saints assisting her on this journey to Heaven.  

So, what do you think?  Was the original list good enough?  Was I just copying a sufficient list?  Or was it sorely lacking in the beautiful benefits of discerning marriage with a Catholic woman?  Please let me know what you thought in the comments below!  What are some other things to expect when courting a Catholic woman?  I thought this was a fun little revision to do in light of true Catholicism.  I hope you enjoyed it!!

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah