Novena to St. Joseph

Because the Feast of St. Joseph falls during Holy Week, it will be celebrated on March 15th this year. If you begin the novena today, you will finish on Saturday the 15th--the day my parish has dubbed Irish-Italian day in order to cram a good bit of St. Patrick and St. Joseph celebrating into one day before beginning Holy Week. This is my favorite unfailing prayer to St. Joseph. It is perpetually on my sidebar and I find myself praying it pretty much every day, often several times a day. What a faithful Daddy good St. Joseph has been to my husband and me throughout our married life!
Holy St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary, be mindful of me, pray for me, watch over me. Guardian of the paradise of the new Adam, provide for my temporal wants. Faithful guardian of the most precious of all treasures, I beseech thee to bring this matter to a happy end, if it be for the glory of God, and the good of my soul. Amen

Lent Day 27

Fast: Refrain from self promotion.
“The only way to make rapid progress along the path of divine love is to remain very little and to put all our trust in Almighty God. That is what I have done.” — St. Therese

Pray: Is there someone who inspires feelings of inferiority in you? Offer a Memorare for her intentions.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.          

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Give: Page through your wedding album with your children today. Remember how loved you felt that day. Love your family well.

Knitting Lessons

In through the front door,
Once around the back,
Peek through the window,
And off jumps Jack!

Lent Day 26

Fast: Let go of despair and know that God gives you sufficient grace.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — St. Francis of Assisi

Pray: Pray to know how God wants you to spend your time online.

Give: Make sure that every one in your family gets at least one of your hugs today.

Lent Day 25

Fast: Let go of self-recrimination.
“There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand among sinners, but leap aside.” — St. Basil the Great

Pray: For a few minutes tonight, after your children are sleeping, kneel beside their beds. Let your breath rise and fall with theirs. Entrust them to the Father and thank Him for lending them to you.

Give: Do not say “In a minute” or “When I finish this” at all today. Instead, put aside your agenda and meet their needs (and even some wants) immediately and cheerfully.