Yep, she's a Catholic

Some days just stink. After a night of virtually no sleep with our newborn and then finding out that our church decided we can't use the parish hall for our daughters baptism three days after I confirmed it, I was just in a bad mood. Of course this was also the day of big G's Christmas show at preschool. After leaving late and forgetting the diaper bag which had my camera we finally made it to her classroom, dropped her off, and went up to the chapel to find a seat. Now, big G goes to a Lutheran preschool but she hasn't noticed any differences between their chapel and our church so far. But little G is a very smart little one year old. After we got our seats she started wandering around. A minute later she pointed to the hanging cross, then signed "Jesus" and "where?" then she got all concerned and started looking for him all over, but there was not 1 image of Jesus in the whole place. We couldn't help but laugh at how astute she was. It really made our day.

The Plagues

As I was studying the plagues in the book of Exodus today several thoughts came to my mind: What if God were to do something of that sort today? What would the plagues of today look like and what would they strike down? The purpose of the plagues in the book of Exodus were to strike down the false gods of the Egyptians and show that the God of the Israelites is the true God (see Ex 12:12 and Num 33:4). So the question is what are our false gods today? We might see the crash of our economy because of our worship of money. We might see massive loss of jobs because of our worship of success. We might see a strike against the sexual act because of our obsession with the pleasure of such acts. What if God sent a series of plague to you specifically, what false gods would he have to strike to show you that He is the true God?

After nine plagues all resulting in the hardening of Pharaoh's heart the most painful of all plagues hits: the death of the first born. God tells his people that in order to save their children they must sacrifice a lamb and spread the blood of the lamb on their doorpost. When the angel of death comes he will see the blood, recognize those families as faithful and pass over that house. What God is asking is not as simple as we might think. The lamb was seen as an Egyptian God and one that was not to be killed. By sacrificing that lamb and spreading its blood on the door the people were advertising to the world that they were rejecting the false gods. Doing so was a risk on their lives. They had to decide between risking their lives and serving the true God. Would we be willing to do this today? If God asked us to publicly risk our lives to show that we serve God would we? And what would like look like today? Maybe it would mean risking rejection because we speak the truth. Maybe it would mean risking appearing "hip" because we refuse the fashions of today that fail to glorify God. Maybe it would mean risking our reputation because we refuse to be present at events were drunkenness and sin abound. Maybe it would mean risking the acceptance of our family in order to follow the vocation God has for us. Maybe it would mean risking the pleasures of the world to fully dedicate our lives to God. Only you know what God is asking you to risk in order to fully serve him.

Through this series of plagues we read over and over again that Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Why does the truth of God harden his heart while softening others? Here is one say to see it: the sun falling on clay will make the clay hard but the same sun falling on wax will melt and soften that wax. The light of God is shining on every heart, the question is do we have hearts of clay or wax? Will be refuse God's truth and grow hard because we don't want to accept it or will our hearts be softened and mold to be more like his as the light reveals the truth to our hearts?

Saints

Ever have a moment in which you feel like someone is watching out for you? You have someone, indeed many ones. Do you know that you have saints in heaven who love you, whom you do not know but pray for your good unceasingly? Today is their day. May you feel their presence in this life and come to know them in the next. Happy feast of all saints!

Flirty 30's

One year ago I wrote a blog about turning 30. In that blog I reflected on my nervousness about being the big 3-0. Turning 30 wasn't as bad as I thought and being thirty far exceeded what I ever imagined. I always heard that the 30's are the best years of your life because by the time you are 30 you really know yourself and are settled in to who you truly are. I think the people who told me that were dead on! I can truthfully say that I think 30 was my favorite year thus far. In my 30th year of life I...

1. completed my third year teaching (the longest I have ever been at a single job) and still love what I am doing.
2. completed my first year of grad school in an amazing program that I am excelling in.
3. went to Rome where my faith was deepened and my love for the Saints was set on fire! I also met some amazing friends and prayer warriors from all over the country.
4. fulfilled my new years resolution of running a half marathon and even did it in the goal time I set.
5. went to Mexico and conquered my fear of heights on a giant high ropes adventure (well maybe didn't conquer it totally but I did complete the course).
6. was given the honor of being the godmother to two more perfect little babies (Lukas and Gabriel) who are such a joy to my life.
7. became unable to get going in the morning without coffee which I am told makes me a real working adult ;-)
8. finished out the year running my first (and not last) full marathon!

What a joy 30 had turned out to be. I can't wait to see what 31 has in store!

"I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

I long to hear my God say that "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" and on October 16, 2011 He did. Yesterday I ran my first full marathon (I wrote several weeks ago about the training). I never fully knew how much of a spiritual meditation running a marathon would be.

Two weeks ago I injured my IT band (a thick band of fibrous tissue that runs along the outside of the leg from the hip to the knee to stabilize the leg during activity like running). It is a very common runners injury that has the potential to put you out of commission for a good month. Determined to run I started working with an incredible physical therapist who believed he could get me ready for the race. I knew starting the race yesterday that it was going to be a painful journey but I was committed to crossing that finish line.

The first few miles felt pretty good. I decided to pray the rosary while I ran. I started with the joyful mysteries figuring I would save the sorrowful mysteries and meditation of Jesus' suffering and passion for the end of the race when I expected to feel the pain. About mile 5 the pain set in. My knee was experiencing sharp pains that radiated up my thigh to my hip and down through my shin. I knew I would experience some pain but I did not expect it to start so early. At this point the sorrowful mysteries got called up early. A great friend of mine sent me a text me right before my race letting me know that she had just given birth to her daughter several weeks early. I took miles 5-7 and the prayers of my second rosary and offered it all for baby Hannah to be strong and healthy. As I continued running I begged God to take away the pain so I could finish this race.

Being that the race was in San Francisco I knew that there would be some intense hills. Right around mile 6 we began a mile long hill. All through training I had been dreading those hills and looking forward to all the down hills that would follow those scary climbs. As I started up the huge hill I noticed that it didn't bother my knee as much. The pain went from sharp to a dull ache. Form is very different when running up hills as compared to flat or downhill. To my amazement the uphills were the best possible thing for me. As I got to the top and started the descent I quickly realize that running downhill sent shooting pains through the outside of my knee. This became a great meditation for me. How often do we think we know what is best and worst for us only to find out that the thing we dreaded is the best for us and the thing we desired turns out to be the most painful. Those hills ended up being a huge blessing. I kept praying that in life God would grant me the grace to know that even when something seems scary and terrible, He knows what is best and what seems so bad is often exactly what we need.

I continued to run in great amounts of pain praying for God to take the pain away. About mile13 I realized that it was not God's will for the pain to subside so I started in on the glorious mysteries. As I meditated on the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord I asked not that God take away the pain but that he give me that grace and strength to endure. THAT prayer He answered to the fullest. As I began to meditate on the third glorious mystery, the descent of he Holy Spirit, I felt the Holy Spirit giving me an extra push to run through the pain. I felt Him offer me a second wind. I kept running and prayed the next two mysteries about Our Lady asking her to be with me as she was with Christ as he bore his pain. I know she was there immediately keeping me going.

It struck me that often in life we ask God to take away our pain and we can get so frustrated when he does not. Instead what if we asked him to give us the strength to bare that pain along with Him? I ran 21.2 miles in pain that never let up and I know it was only possible because God gave me the grace and will to just keep going. I focused on just putting one foot in front of the other and watched as the miles passed by.

At mile 23 I knew the end was near and was ready to be done. Unfortunately at mile 23 my knee was also ready to be done and decided that it didn't want to bend anymore. One again I was not giving up. I was forced to limp and let my other leg take up the stress. With my knee giving out my ankle came to my rescue. I didn't realize until I got to the finish line but my right ankle was really beat up from compensating for my weak knee. Again my mind raced to the teachings of Our Lord. Jesus said that the Church is like a body and all the members are necessary. When one member is weak another can step in and help carry the weight so that they both can make it to the finish line. I have many times in my life seen this among those in the body of Christ and even experienced it during the marathon. My running partner Olivia ran her first marathon with the same injury so she knew what I was feeling. Without me even having to tell her about my pain she lovingly cheered me to the finish line and never left my side. The last mile my body was tired but Olivia cheered me one and just kept saying "you can do this, your mind is strong, don't give up". As we rounded the last turn the finish line was in site. She grabbed my hand and we began almost sprinting to the end. I didn't know I had any energy left but seeing the goal gave me a final push that sent me flying. I pray that one say I fly into the arms of my Lord when I see that ultimate finish line and when I get there I long to hear him say that "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith".

Immediately after crossing that finish line I started screaming in joy and dancing to celebrate. It was the most amazing feeling I have ever experienced. I looked at Olivia and said "I want to do that again!" Runners high was happening for me that afternoon. The pain was a thing of the past. I no longer cared how bad it hurt, I was so excited to have accomplished such an amazing goal. Today I can't bend my knee or walk normal but it was all worth it! I pray that when life throws pain and suffering at me I am able to remember that it is all worth it to get to the finish line!

26.2 miles, are you crazy??

I am right now 6 weeks away from running my first marathon. As the training runs get longer and longer (16 miles just yesterday) I have been getting a lot of questions about why anyone would want to put there body through such a challenge. So here is my reflection on why I am training to do what seems impossible.

It all started this past New Years. I wanted to make a New Year's resolution that was spiritual because my relationship with God is really all that matters. I was praying about themes in my spiritual journey and the one thing that kept coming up were the words of Saint Paul, "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7). I often feel like my journey with God is one of perseverance. He is often asking me to just keep going even when I don't understand or trust. He asks me to keep my eye on the finish line and never stop moving towards it. I decided I wanted a New Year's resolution that would help me meditate on that idea. Knowing that we are body and soul I wanted both to be involved. So I decided that my New Year's resolution would be to run a half marathon. I chose to train for the OC half marathon and make every run a prayer. Every time on a run when I was tempted to stop I would think about my finish line and keep going. I would often think of Our Lord who kept moving all the way to the cross. At times I would repeat these words of Saint Paul over and over again while I ran.

On May 1st I completed the OC half marathon. I was excited to have accomplished my goal BUT if you know me you know that I don't allow myself to do anything half way. I push myself to the limit and demand the best of myself, especially when it comes to the spiritual life. For me being good is never enough, I want to be a saint! Naturally for me anything with the word half in front of it is not enough. So when my good friends Olivia and Chelsea asked if I wanted to train and run a full marathon with them I knew I had to do it!

Training for a full marathon is like nothing I could have ever prepared myself for. Training for the half marathon was actually not all that bad and I believe most anyone is good health can do it. Training for a full marathon though requires a lot of mental commitment. I mentioned that I want to be a Saint right? My training runs for the marathon have given me the opportunity to meditate on what that really means. The Saints endured incredible obstacles and embraced a lot of pain to become truly sanctified. So many times during my training I have thought I wasn't strong enough and was tempted to change my registration to run another half marathon in October instead of the full marathon. I have endured serious knee pain, the loss two toenail (so far), and felt the strain on my body in general. I have had to say no to many other fun activities because I had a strict schedule of runs that I had to follow. When I am tempted to quit though I think of the Saints and how much they must have been tempted to quit and accept just being good instead of extreme lovers of the Lord. I haven't given up yet and with every run I feel myself getting stronger and closer to my goal.

On October 16th I will run 26.2 (don't ever forget the .2) miles and with every step I will ask the Lord through my body to strengthen and sanctify my spirit so that one day along with Saint Paul I will be able to say "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Disclaimer: I will agree that extreme sports like distance running can be dangerous for the body. I just believe that the pay off is greater than the risk.

Yoga 101

Keeping checking back here and I hope that people are just enjoying the summer and that's why there haven't been posts recently (and not that I killed the blog with my last downer post). Sorry.

Anyway - I've started taking a yoga class. My two pregnancies have left me with I think 3 working muscles in my tummy, and this is my great idea to fit that. So the plan is to be downward dogging every Tuesday night until the summer session is over. This is, however, not the first time I've taken classes with a yogi (or, as a yogi?). There was a brief period that a 5:30am class was a small part of my marriage prep.

Now, I know we're not supposed to judge, and I know that all the following is somewhat shallow of me. But. I could not help from comparing the two instructors. At my first classes, the girl was young, beautiful, in amazing shape, basically one solid muscle. The kind of instructor that has perfect, gravity defying hair, no matter what crazy twist pose she did. She also had no sweat glands.

This new instructor was an older, jolly lady, who I almost didn't realize was the instructor because she was definitely on the heavy side. Not crane lifting heavy, but probably about 50+ lbs. or so over a normal height/weight. She was (and I'm sure you all can see this coming) by far the better instructor. She focused on how we were doing, tailored the class to what poses would help us best. She encouraged questions and laughing (which I thought was a huge yoga/meditation/karma no-no). And, even at one point, stopped the class flow to explain how exactly to hold our hands so we would not get bad habits. Pause the Enya!

My old instructor never noticed that I had my child pose wrong and that I really didn't have the "yoga feet" down. She was busy taking all the poses "a little farther" and I guess thought we'd get used to the class flow and catch up (which is true also). However, although she was gently commanding us to BREATHE, I got the idea she had not let out all the way for some years. And the more I went, the more I realized that this class was only a part of her routine, not her whole exercise. Before class, I would see her on the treadmill at a full. out. run. A scary movie, guy behind me's got a knife run. Then she walked into class, taught, put away her mat and on my way out to the car, I would see her again on the Stephen King run.

Interesting isn't it? Put these two ladies together and I'm sure 99 out of 100 would say that the young, fit one was a walking advertisement for healthy living, but really, she seems tortured by her exercise routine. The new lady, though, seems to understand the purpose of her gentle poses. And I bet has more of an acquaintance with inner peace.

And she can hold pretty much any pose known to man. Then takes it "further."

Leaving the Church

I have realized over the past few months that a very dear friend of mine is leaving the Church. I've seen for a while that it was coming, but have been afraid of it. In hoping that it would not happen, I have not talked directly about it to him, and have encouraged my husband to not "push" him out of the Church. Sounds like obviously the wrong thing to do now, but at the time I couldn't think what to do.

Now - that he's left - I'm not sure what to do. Sometimes I'm mad and want to beat him with reasons. (In this beautifully ordered world of ours, do you not think God would have an ordered way of worship?) Sometimes I'm sad and want to just ask him how he could believe so strongly and then just leave it all? His God he has worshiped for almost 30 years, just... not important anymore?

I have seen him attack all other authority figures, and knew it was not consistent to believe in the Church, but was hoping his belief in the teachings of the Church would help him see the light about the others. I'm not sure if he still believes in God, but I have a feeling that He is the next to go in my friend's search for importance, or independence, or himself.

This Sunday's reading is about the sower. I've always thought that the fertile ground, or rocky ground was describing different kinds of people, but maybe it's different times in our lives. In the parable, it's just the sower and the ground, God and my friend. There is no third helping person who brings the seed to the fertile ground. So maybe I need to accept that God can handle this relationship - but I keep trying to figure out a way that I can bring him back.

Ears to hear. Am I being called to intercede for my friend? Or is this a lesson for me to trust that God knows how to call His children to Him? I do feel called to pray for him, but feel my prayers inadequate.

Courtship

Here is a sermon my friend sent me regarding courtship and purity. So great to hear this coming from the pulpit! :)

http://traditionalsermons.com/sites/default/files/Sermon_2011-06-17-Courting.mp3

Find us ready, Lord

One of our fellow bloggers and I were recently discussing a talk a trusted priest gave, and I found it to be a source of great meditation this week. He spoke of the persecution he foresees as the homosexual agenda gets pushed in our culture, and how he wouldn't be surprised to be imprisoned for hate speech within his lifetime. For us, this could mean we flee the country eventually, if the Church here comes under attack, or we may face serious persecution ourselves. This is not intended to scare or serve as a prophecy. I lean towards a more hopeful outlook for mankind. It is hard for me to believe that people would be so closed to the truth and beauty of the faith. However, I know that Christ himself was crucified, and the blood of the martyrs has strengthened the Church for centuries.

Since this conversation, I have just found myself looking at my daily life. How do I spend my free moments? How am I a witness to others throughout my day? Do I stand up for truth in little ways? Am I afraid to speak of the beauty of the truth, which is true love, to my friends and family members? Am I ready to face persecution?

The reality is, we just never know when we may have our lives or freedom threatened just for being Catholic. I pray that we might all be ready to face whatever trials the Lord sends us knowing the He has won the war, and we have no reason to fear.

Quote of the day

"The correct theological term for many who label themselves 'liberal' or 'left-wing' or 'progressive' theologians is heretics."

from the Handbook of Catholic Apologetics

Skirts and Pants

Check out this awesome article!!

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-pants-wearing-woman-reflects-on-skirts/

10 Reasons to Dress Modestly

http://marysaggies.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-10-reasons-women-should-dress.html

Must-Read Catholic Books for Little (or No) Money

Despite my early protests, I've converted to reading digital books-- in fact, I love my kindle.  For any other kindle users, check out this website with links to inexpensive Catholic books for your library:

http://www.thinveil.net/2011/06/building-catholic-ebook-library-on.html

Catholic Feminism?

Yeah, I need to actually post something in the near future.  Until then, here is an article that I enjoyed reading and seemed appropriate for Defining Beauty...

What is a Catholic Feminist?

The "Rapture" this Saturday??

Think again.

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/major-supernatural-event-this-saturday/

Maternity Photos- Worthwhile?

A family member of mine is an amazing photographer, and has offered several times to take some maternity photos for me.

This is my second pregnancy, and with my first I hardly took any photos of my bump and I at all.  My swelled-up cheeks rivaled those from when I got my wisdom-teeth pulled in 9th grade, and my constant nausea made taking photographs the last thing on my mind.  Overall, pregnancy makes me feel self-conscious (everybody openly notices and comments on your body!), and I was not sure that I needed professional photos to remind me of it.  Lastly, I've noticed that many women choose to take maternity photos naked(!), and even the thought of my bare belly showing in a photograph makes me uncomfortable.

On the other hand, I hear from many friends that they truly cherish photos from their pregnancies, and are glad they took the time to take them.  I also think that it would be a neat keepsake for the child-- to see what his/her mother looked like when he/she was in the womb, and how exciting their arrival was to the entire family.  More than anything, I love how pro-life these photos are.  They truly celebrate the beginnings of a new life!

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, but I am curious-- what is your opinion about maternity photo shoots?

Dress Dare Update-- How's it going?

We are halfway through May (yikes!), and so I thought it would be fun to check in about how the dress dare is going for everyone.

I have to admit that it has been more of a challenge for me this year!  Being in my third trimester of pregnancy, I am tempted to choose comfort over anything these days!  Often this does mean a dress (who can argue with no waist bands!) , but often it also means my yoga-style pants and supported running shoes.

At the same time, I have also made the observation that overall, pregnancy makes me feel more feminine than ever.  Whether I am in workout attire or evening gown, I can't hide my femininity!  It is noticeable how many people open doors for me, or offer me a chair to sit down in.  Sometimes I even feel as though I am spoken to in a softer tone than usual.  All of this reminded me of last year's Dress Dare, when many of you blogged about how people treated you differently when you dressed more femininely.

So...  have you stuck to it?  How are you doing this time around?

The Rise of the Metrosexual, fall of the Lumberjack

A recent study has shown that hormonal contraceptives are now being linked to women's attraction to less masculine men. We have written on the blog about the crisis in manhood today, and how difficult it is to find real men in our culture. Surprise, surprise, somehow you can bring it back to birth control.

Women, are naturally drawn to masculinity when they are fertile. Since hormonal contraceptives confuse the body into thinking the woman is pregnant, she doesn't respond to the chemical signals in the masculine man as she normally would. Thus, the rise of the metrosexual. Women on birth control, are actually physically attracted to men with less hair on their chest. The study raises a lot of interesting questions looking at everything from how this affects relationships, to the health of offspring (turns out we are naturally attracted to men with immune systems that complement ours).

See the entire article here: The Tricky Chemistry of Attraction

Dare to Veil? Or not!

Last May, during our 1st dress dare, I wrote a blog on the chapel veil on daring to don a mantilla in mass. While I suggested this tradition as a way of exploring one's femininity in the presence of the Eucharist, I spoke of how it has not been mentioned since the 1917 Code of Canon Law. It has been debated, mostly since Vatican II, whether it is still required of women to veil or not.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, basically the Church's Supreme Court Justice, has spoken on the matter, quite clearly. Recently, a woman wrote him directly, asking for clarification on this issue. He responded:

“Thank you for your letter …The wearing of a chapel veil for women is not required when women assist at the Holy Mass according to Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. It is, however, the expectation that women who assist at the Mass according to the Extraordinary Form cover their heads, as was the practice at the time that the 1962 Missale Romanum was in force. It is not, however a sin to participate in the Holy Mass according to the Extraordinary Form without a veil.”

So there it is. If you are in Tridintine Mass (Extraordinary Form), it is expected that you wear a veil, but in the ordinary form, do whatever you like! If you do desire to wear a veil, there is a real dare to veil campaign going on, interestingly enough!

The Beauty of Dresses

Since the last dress dare, I have only worn jeans a handful of times without a tunic type shirt, and otherwise, it's been skirts and dresses. I felt very convicted to stick with it when the dare ended. Since last May, I have also completed a pregnancy, and lost the baby weight (I think, I try to avoid the scale). Each of the few times that I put on pants without a long shirt/dress over, I found myself so insecure, so self-conscious.

I was so aware of how big my hips, thighs, waist, were. I was perfectly healthy, and either pregnant, or post-partum, but I felt so guilty every time I put on my jeans. I fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans a few months after delivering our 2nd child, but nonetheless, even though they fit my waist, I was more aware of any weight gain in my bum, or otherwise. In my dresses and skirts, I didn't notice the slight changes that might occur on a day to day basis from the holiday treats, or a busy week without time for workouts.

I have come to realize that for me, jeans are the devil's playground. It may not be that way for all women, but for me, that is what this dare made me realize in the last year, so I am doing my best to avoid them altogether. The Lord wants us to know that our beauty lies within our soul, not in our physique, and as long as we're healthy, and caring for our temple, then we have nothing to worry about. I am wearing my dresses and skirts because they help me stay focused on true beauty. Pay attention this month, and see if you notice a difference when you look in the mirror.

Peace

I logged on to my facebook account yesterday and felt a knot form in my stomach when reading the status comments all over my news-feed.   USA "Chants" and celebratory comments such as "Take that Bin Laden" were everywhere.

As relieved as I am to be rid of the threat that this man posed to so many people, it sickens me to see Americans on the news celebrating a person's death as though they just won a sporting event.  As somebody mentioned to me, it makes us no better than watching videos of Al Qaeda celebrate their victory of the 9-11 terrors.

Of course, the Church responded quickly, and I think that their statement sums it all up:

"In the face of a man's death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for further growth of peace and not hatred." 

(Vatican, May 2, 2011)

I also enjoyed this post on the National Catholic Register.  "Let's pray"...

Dressed for the Sacrament

It is hard to host a dress dare without mentioning THE gown that everybody is talking about this week.  Needless to say, I won't shock anyone by stating that it is one of the most beautiful wedding dresses the public eye has seen lately!

A little over three years ago, I was searching for a wedding dress, and was utterly surprised by the lack of options.  Although I realize that it has become common to get married outdoors (or wherever you want) in the past years, I assumed that since many brides still do get married in Churches, appropriate gowns would be available somewhere!  Sleeves like Kates' were definitely not an option in most bridal boutiques, and even finding a gown with straps was a challenge!  The endless racks of designer wedding dresses all resembled a white version of the (strapless) party-dress-- definitely not something to wear while receiving my vocation sacrament in front of our Lord's tabernacle.

I ended up finding a gown that I loved for my reception-- and my mom sewed a beautiful bolero for me to wear during our marriage ceremony.  It is funny because looking back, I love the photos of my gown with the bolero more than without!

Why is it that Catholic brides are not covering up their shoulders in Churches these days is definitely a question that I wonder often.  Perhaps we haven't been loud enough about asking designers to give us more modest options.  Nevertheless,  I have much hope that all of the positive response about Kate's dress will start providing brides with alternatives to the tube top.

Dress Dare 2011!

Here we go!

The Official Rules are:

Wear dresses and skirts throughout the month of May.

Exceptions:  Snoozing {zzz} and Exercising.

Honor Mary, grow closer to Jesus.

Be beautiful--- be YOU!

Leave comments or email DefiningBeautyBlog@gmail.com to let us know how it is going!

It's almost Divine Mercy Sundae!

This is just too simple and too cute not to share...

http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/2011/04/celebrate-divine-mercy-sunday.html

Hello Spring!

The month of May is approaching quickly, and I have heard a few mentions of whether our bloggers and readers will be challenging each other to another Dress Dare.  Last year's dare was a bit of an experiment, to see whether what we wear encouraged us to embrace our femininity.  We also thought that wearing dresses and skirts would serve as a daily reminder of Christ, similarly to how our lenten observances do.

So...  Any thoughts?  What do you all think?  Should the Dress Dare become an annual event?

Hug your father today

Last year I posted this on the fifth anniversary of my dad's passing from stage-four pancreatic cancer. I won't write it out again, but check it out if you want to read about my selfishly-created holiday, Hug Your Father Day.

Today, on Good Friday, I hope you'll join Catholics around the world in praying the Holy Rosary. I pray for a solemn and hopeful Holy Week for you, and a joyful celebration of Easter on Sunday and thereafter.

But I also want to remind you to celebrate life around you. If possible, give your dad a hug today and tell him you love him.

It would mean a lot to me.

God bless.

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine of Hippo

The girls will hopefully forgive me for breaking the trend of female saints we’ve explored here so that I can post on one of my favorite saints of all time: St. Augustine. And considering I posted on St. Monica a few weeks ago, I thought it’d be fitting to continue.

I like saints who are writers. As a writer myself, I tend to have a soft spot for other saints who've taken up the craft (St. Paul and St. John, to name a few); and St. Augustine's story is so hopeful to me. To reiterate what I mentioned about St. Monica (his mother), he was born into a position of wealth to a Christian woman and a pagan father (who was also an official). St. Augustine’s youth was anything but holy. He lived a worldly, materialistic life that included adultery, persecution of the Christian faith and a rejection of his mother’s Catholic beliefs. Later, in his writings “The Confessions of St. Augustine”, he would talk about the struggles with purity he’d fought his whole life, even after his conversion in his thirties. We all know one quote associated with St. Augustine: “Give me chastity and continence, but not yet,” which I think is an accurate representation of how a lot of us approach our sins, whether they’re against chastity or anything else we find ourselves repeating again and again in that confessional to the priest who’s heard us sigh and confess to the same sins (sometimes in the same order even).

And that’s why St. Augustine’s such an inspiration to me: he gives me hope. Here’s an extreme sinner that was able to find love and peace through faith. I’ve read “Confessions” a few times (one of my favorite books of all time), and the sense I get from St. Augustine is this: “If I can find peace and commit myself to a life of holiness, there’s hope for anyone.” Not to put him down, but it’s true!

I think we all know someone in our lives who seems to be a St. Augustine figure, someone who’s turned away from the Church, or maybe never was part of the Church at all, but lives a life of unhappiness and self-destruction. I know someone, fitting that description, who’s gone through hell and high water, and every time I hear an update on his life, all I can think of is how there must be a plan or purpose for all this.

St. Augustine, pray for us!

The Wonder-Worker

She is deemed the "wonder-worker" quite appropriately. Although we have few details on St. Philomena's life, we know the Lord worked wonders surrounding her death as a virgin martyr, and that she continues to work wonders to this day. This pretty princess, (she was a Grecian princess known for her beauty and for this reason, the Roman Emperor Diocletian wanted to marry her, but she consecrated herself to Christ as the age of 11) changed my life in more ways than I can count. I seriously can't stress enough how much I love this girl. Seriously. My husband proposed in the Roman catacombs with the ring inside her tomb (a little creepy if you're not Catholic), and we visited her sanctuary on our honeymoon, staying in the room of St. John Vianney, above her relics! Super, super cool. Many have found her to be helpful in the most hopeless of causes. She is the patroness of purity, youth, the imprisoned and much more.

I tend to think that the saints find us, not the other way around. They are our big brothers and sisters in Christ that can mentor us, lead us by their example, and help out when we need it, because they've been a child of the same parent, and they know better than us what to do and not do. I feel that sisterly bond with St. Philomena. Should you ever seek her aid in anything, just know that she is a teenager. She is hopelessly in love with her spouse, Christ. Before she delivers what you've asked, things usually get worse before they get better. It's what happened to her. She was imprisoned for 40 days and on the 37th day, Mary visited her and told her, "I am sending my archangels Raphael and Gabriel to help you, BUT first, 3 days of torture and then, your death." A crown of virgin martyrdom awaited her. She was faithful, and expects the same of her devotees. She also likes to make deals (hence, my daughter's name, Mina). If you keep up your end of the bargain, she'll keep hers. Just don't go back on your word. I've heard stories... And it's rather fitting that she died a virgin martyr at age 13, because I think that is when so many of the teens in our culture die spiritual deaths due to the sins of the flesh. She is the patroness of purity, and there is a tradition of wearing a cord of red and white around one's waist, as a devotion to her, and sort of like a chastity belt. It is a great reminder.

So if you have any prayer requests, don't hesitate to call upon St. Philomena. She definitely has a special place in the heart of Mary and Jesus, because they tend to pay attention to her intercessions. Get to know her...http://www.philomena.us/

Also, if you do ask her for her help, please toss in a prayer for a very sick little girl named Blaise. It is through her that St. Philomena came to me, and many others.

St. Martha

St. Martha is one of those saints that get a bum deal. You know, like "doubting Thomas" and Adam and Eve... saints that are mostly remembered for the dumb things they said (or did) once and not all the rest. Seriously - you complain about your sister ONCE and everyone remembers you as stick-in-the-mud-Martha...

So I thought it was really interesting when I heard once that Martha is a recognized saint, while Mary (her sister who "chose the better part") is not. Sounds weird, right? Well, even though Mary was praised by Jesus, and is, most likely, in Heaven with Him, she never came out and stated her belief in the Gospels. Martha, on the other hand, did proclaim her faith when she went out to meet Jesus when he came to rise Lazarus.

Thinking about these two helps me a couple ways:

1) as a natural invert, I find myself sitting around thinking, thinking, thinking about things (sometimes even holy things!) and never get around to acting on them. It's good to think about Charity, but if I don't get around to actually being charitable, I'm a resounding gong. I need to be more like St. Martha, don't wait around for Jesus, go out and find Him! and

2) Just because I've chosen wrong in the past, doesn't mean that I can't move past it. I mean, Martha could have wallowed in the fact that she chose the worse part and that really could have affected her relationship with Jesus. But, instead, she feels like she can still go to Him, and has confidence in Him, even when she thinks He was recklessly tardy. "If you had been here, my brother would not have died."

St. Martha, faith so strong you can chide Jesus and still end up a saint, pray for us!

St. Joan of Arc

I was reading the March edition of Columbia (the Knights of Columbus magazine) and one of the articles was on 3 saints of war: St. Martin of Tours, St. Joan of Arc and well, I don't remember the third...I found St. Joan of Arc so interesting and brave putting all her trust in God and taking charge of the French army. When deciding on who to write about for the martyrs week she seems like a great choice.... Born in 1412 Joan was a peasant girl from the eastern part of France. When she was about 12 years old she was in a field when she had a vision. St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret appeared to her several times. At first the visions were general and not personal but then when she was 16 years old the saints appeared to her and told her to go to King Charles and help him reconquer his kingdom. The Hundred Years War was going on at the time and the English were trying to take over France. Joan went to the king and the king granted her permission to go with a small army and fight. Many people opposed the kings' decision of letting a girl into the army but Joan knew she had to fight for her country and for God. She took her army and raised the seige of Orleans on May 8, 1429. Throughout the next year she and her army enjoyed many more victories for France. King Charles was able to go into Rheims and be crowned with Joan by his side. But the war was not over yet and in May of 1430 while trying to recapture Compiegne, she was captured by Burgundians and sold to the English when King Charles and the French didn't come save her. Joan was put on trial and by refusing to retract her statements that it was the saints of God who commanded her to do what she did, she was condemned to death and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431 at the age of nineteen. What a strong, faithful woman she was! Putting all her trust in God to do His Will and to win back her country. I am definitely going to start praying to St. Joan of Arc now for her protection and strength to stand up for Christ in my everyday life. To live for Him as she did and to teach my 3 sons to do the same. I have my own little army-in-training right now! St. Joan of Arc is the patroness of soldiers and of France. Her feast day is May 30th. St. Joan of Arc, pray for us!

St. Gianna

There are many things I love about St. Gianna, but I think more than anything, I am inspired by the fact that she lived such an (extraordinarily) ordinary vocation in today's world.  She is a "girl-next-door" kind of saint, or at least I imagine she was this way.  Of course, I don't doubt that a conversation with her would have exuded great holiness, love and joy, but even through this, she is a woman that might have attended a family wedding, or a parish picnic.  

Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian, born and raised in a devoutly Catholic family.  She volunteered many hours for young people and the elderly, while also earning her degree in Medicine and Pediatrics.  In her early thirties, she met and married Pietro Molla, and dedicated herself to raising a "truly Christian family".  She soon after had three children, and continued to balance her family life while working in medicine part-time and accepting that her husband travelled abroad frequently for his own career!  

During the early months of her fourth pregnancy, Gianna found out that she had developed a fibroma in her uterus.  Although advised to abort, she continued to trust in God and carry on with her pregnancy.  She prayed for her child's health and for a safe delivery for this little life.  A few days before the child was due, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: “If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child - I insist on it. Save him”.  

Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, about a week after baby Gianna was born, the Saint died. She was 39 years old.

Being a new wife and mother, I truly feel that St. Gianna can relate to many of my prayers.  In reading some of her letters to her husband, I've learned that she struggled and was likely sanctified through little things such as fatigue, pregnancies, and the everyday crosses of marriage and motherhood.  For this, I feel so grateful that the Church gave us her example to follow.  St. Gianna, pray for us!

St. Faustina

Being an eighties baby, (as well as Polish on my mother’s side) John Paul II was THE pope for my generation. While we love and adore Benedict, the magnitude of love that JPII professed in his vocation was without a doubt one of the best examples of how to love as Christ loved. But instead of talking about the wonderful Karol Wojtyła, today I want to talk about the quiet saint through whom John Paul II brought us the wonderful Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska.

Divine Mercy Sunday is the second Sunday of Easter, a holiday the late John Paul II established in 2000 in honor of St. Faustina’s mystic visions of Christ in the 1930s in her native Poland.

Called to be a nun at an early age, Sr. Faustina was visited by Christ multiple times, asked to spread to mercy of God to the people around her. One of the visions we know quite well is the painting of our Lord with His right hand raised, a stream of blood and water coming from His heart, and the words “Jesus, I trust in You” written underneath. Sr. Faustina instructed an artist to paint for her the portrait of Christ, but I remember reading (and I can’t find the source right now) any artist’s rendition was never quite as magnificent as her vision.

From the diary of Sr. Faustina (which, in of itself is quite remarkable, considering her limited knowledge of writing due to not many years of education), we learn about the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a prayer said using Rosary beads, the words of which Christ promised will grant mercy to those at the hour of their death. According to Sr. Faustina’s diary, the Chaplet prayers are threefold: obtaining mercy, trusting in Christ’s mercy, and showing mercy to others.

Thank you to this wonderful saint for bringing us the words of God in such a beautiful prayer!

(To say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, start with the Sign of the Cross, then say the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed. On the Our Father beads of the Rosary, say the first part of the prayer. On the ten Hail Mary beads that follow, say the second part of the prayer. After five decades, say the third and fourth part of the prayer three times.)

“1. Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of your dearly beloved Son Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.

2. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

3. Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

4. Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Amen.”

The Mother of Simple Love

Perhaps the most well known "saint" of the 20th century, although she's only beatified at this point, is Blessed Mother Theresa. This tiny nun touched the world with her wit, her strength, but more than anything with Christ's love. To me, the most inspirational aspect of her ministry, is that she didn't dream of impacting the world, her goal was to "do small things with great love."

Mother Theresa went about her life, LOVING. She loved the poor, the hungry, the sick, the unlovable, in the eyes of so many. She did this despite a dark night of the soul where she did not feel God's love or joy, yet she filled so many with the love and joy of Christ because she persevered in letting her actions show it. There is so much to learn and take from her example, particularly when we live in a country that is so rich in physical means, but so poor in spirit. Let us remember her words:

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do."

"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty."

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." (this quote was what inspired my devotion to Blessed Mother Theresa)

Her words are so simple, yet drenched in wisdom. I encourage you to keep her in mind this lent, and try to remember to smile at everyone you encounter throughout your day. If you have nothing nice to say, smile, and if you feel sad, do an act of charity. Do not just give alms, give of yourself.

St. Radegonde

The last time I saw my sister's Mother Superior, she said to me "When you go back to the States, you must spread word of St. Radegonde. No one knows about her."

Realizing "Hey - you know this great saint, St. Radegonde..." wasn't the best conversation starter, I immediately thought that I would have to name a child after her. Funny that it didn't occur to me that Radegonde doesn't make for the best child's name either.

But six years later, I find myself explaining who Radegonde is, how to pronounce her name correctly, and yes, that my daughter's middle name is after a dragon slayer.

A dear friend of mine visited my sister's convent for a while and would send out Europe Updates. Of all the descriptions of St. Radegonde's life, I still love her's the best. So below is my friend's Life of St. Radegonde...

"I guess you need some background on St. Radegonde before you can really appreciate this story. Radegonde was the queen of the Franks in the middle of the sixth century, but she was not happy about it. If you remember from your history class, the first Christian king of the Franks was Clovis. He had two sons who became kings after his death. Unfortunately, these sons did not appreciate the whole "God is Love" aspect of the gospels, and they went about burning and pillaging lands bordering their kingdom. They invaded Thuringia (now in Germany), killed the king, and captured his two young children, ten-year-old Radegonde and her little brother. Many years passed. When King Clotaire's wife died, he decided that he wanted to marry Radegonde. After being caught trying to run away, Radegonde eventually was forced to marry the king. (Side note: Would YOU want to marry the guy who killed your father? I don't think I would find that kind of guy attractive, personally.) Anyway, Radegonde used her position and wealth to feed the local poor, tend the local sick, and plead for poor souls who were unjustly imprisoned. She would also spend her nights kneeling on the cold stone floor of her bedroom and doing penances.
This went on for a while until the already unattractive King Clotaire cold-bloodedly assassinated his beloved wife's only surviving relative, her little brother. Hint to all men: This is NOT a good way to keep your wife from running away from you, as Clotaire found out. Radegonde ran to the local bishop and gained his permission to leave her husband and join the monastic life. Clotaire was forced to agree to this after one day, after the newly planted oat stalks in the field through which Radegonde was fleeing grew to be over five feet tall, hiding Radegonde from the view of the king.
After this all happened, Radegonde settled in Poitiers, where the king gave her the land to found a monastery, L'Abbaye de Saint-Croix, which I think was on the same piece of land that the convent I am at right now is on, but it was bigger. Now, the part of the original abbey that is left is a curious rock formation that is just off one of the main streets here. Radegonde spent her days praying, taking care of the local sick, and bringing stability to the kingdom by making peace between her two stepsons, who had become kings after their father died. When she died, she was buried in a church named Sainte-Marie-hors-les-murs, which eventually became called St. Radegonde's because so many people went to visit her tomb there. You can actually still go visit her sarcophagus, which is right underneath the altar.
Back to the legend, the story has it that there was a dragon named la Grande Goule that lived in the area around the monastery. This dragon was especially villified because it would eat all the young nuns who ventured out alone after dark. Not good. So, one day, St. Radegonde left the monastery in search of the evil dragon and killed it, thereby winning the admiration of her fellow nuns and of the townspeople.
Side note: The skeptics among you might be thinking "This story is stupid. There are no such things as dragons." Well, have you ever seen the movie Dragonheart? I remember being forced to watch it in the bus taking us to the fateful honors retreat my freshman year of college. I was sitting next to my new buddy Clare, and we were both appalled by the film's lack of, well, anything that makes a movie good. Anyway, the movie puts out the theory that dragons did exist, and that the last dragon was actually a selfless creature who just wanted to help out humanity. The point is: Some weird people do think that dragons existed.
Actually, the real point is that whether or not the story is literally true really makes no difference. It just means that if God would give anyone the strength to kill a nun-eating dragon, he would give it to St. Radegonde because she was so holy.
These days, the Grande Goule is that local den of debauchery, the discothèque, which is found right across the street from the Church of St. Radegonde. I personally would feel very satisfied if the body of St. Radegonde rose up, walked across the street, and put the fear of God into the proprietors of the discothèque, but it probably won't happen."

St. Monica

I first read about St. Monica going into my first year of university and was absolutely blown away by her story. She was the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, who’s also an inspiring saint for me (but that’s another blog post). Funny enough, the name “Monica” runs in my family; my sister was named Monica (my dad named her), and my paternal grandmother’s middle name was also Monica.

What’s inspirational about St. Monica is her devotion to prayer, and her incredible patience while waiting for God to change the heart of her (then) pagan son, Augustine. The wife of Patritius, an official in present-day Algeria, and also a pagan, Monica endured a rather lonely Christian life. She made use of it by devoting her time to prayer for the conversion of her husband and son. God’s will was definitely to see those two men become spiritual leaders in the family: Patritius converted to Christianity before his death, and her son went to be a scholar for the Church and then a saint. (The story of St. Augustine is a wonderful story that always lifts me, knowing that there’s always hope for people we think might be beyond hopeless. We can’t forget that!)

As someone who struggles with patience almost daily, St. Monica is a good saint to celebrate and learn about. Imagine, years of praying for the same person to change his or her ways, to find Christ, when after years and years it seems to be getting more and more hopeless. I know true love knows no boundaries, but I truly can’t imagine the doubt she would have been up against throughout those trying years. Compounded with her unhappy marriage to Patritius (abuse and adultery in tow), it would have been quite the difficult life, and years of looking at someone without change would have been daunting.

Now imagine her celebration and joy when those men in her lonely Christian life found refuge in God.

Incredible!

Thank you, St. Monica, for praying for your husband and son!

The Mother of the Mother of God

A saint who, to me, defines Beauty is the mother of the most beautiful woman to ever exist. Not only did Mary likely resemble her own mother physically, but she was the one who formed her, taught her, and nurtured her. As a wife and mother, I look to St. Anne because she had a holy marriage, as her husband is also a saint, and she raised a saint. When I think of my personal spiritual goals, that's it: for my husband, my children and I to all become the saints God wants us to be. The best way to achieve that, is for me to be a saint...no pressure ;-)

St. Anne participated in the immaculate conception, although she herself, was not conceived without sin. God saw her as a worthy vessel for the most perfect human being ever created. She housed Mary in her womb, and then housed her in her home, preparing her for that fiat that brought our Savior into the world. St. Anne was just like us. We are just as capable as she was of raising saints, of building holy marriages, and of personal sanctity. She was beautiful because she was the woman God wanted her to be, and I bet, considering how beautiful Mary has been reported to be, by those she's appeared to, St. Anne was physically beautiful as well.

So if you are a wife & mother, don't forget this beautiful woman who lived her vocation to the fullest. And if you are a Grandma, remember to pray to St. Anne all the more, because she's Jesus's Grandma!

St. Pelagia

"Who?"
That's what the bishop who confirmed me said as I approached him and he asked me what name I was taking.

There are actually many accounts of a St. Pelagia it turns out, and many possible feast days. Here's the story of my St. Pelagia (apparently also known as Margaret):

Pelagia was a beautiful and wealthy pagan actress who gave up all of her wealth when she was walking by a church and heard a homily about the Judgement Day given by St. Nonnus. She instantly repented and begged St. Nonnus for baptism. He said the only way for her to be baptized was for her to renounce her profession (during the 5th centtury in Antioch actors were not allowed to be a part of the Church because...well let's just say it was a very dirty profession) and start catechism classes with Blessed Romana, who would later become her godmother. Very soon afterwords she desired to do penance for the horrible life she had led and received a brown habit from St. Nonnus. Then she visited the Holy Sepulcher and all the places where Jesus visited during the passion. She built herself a house on Mount Olive and became a hermittess. People called her "the beardless monk" and it was only after her death that they realized she was a woman. A little tomb was built for her and centuries later people started making pilgrimages there. Stories say that whoever visited her tomb was held there by invisible bonds stronger than any human could ever make until they confessed every sin they'd committed.

Her feast day is October 8.

St. Pelagia, pray for us!

Confirmation Saint - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha 1656 – 1680 (died at 24)

I was confirmed in June of ’98 along with my classmates at St. Clement Roman Catholic Elementary School. Growing up in a Catholic household, and seeing the older students ahead of me going through the rite of Confirmation, I had been thinking about which saint to choose as my patron and representation when the time came. Initially, I was taken by the story of St. Joan of Arc, being strong and faithful to God when the mores of society were against her, her young life, her martyrdom, her strength and her place in a period of European history, which fascinated me as a girl.

But my father had a different idea. I was his first-born, so none of his other daughters had gone through Confirmation just yet. We were alike in many ways, which included a strong fascination of our own Canadian history, especially from the Southern Ontario region. This area is well-known for its First Nations Peoples (“Native Americans” as they'd be known in the States), the Ojibwa and the Mohawk tribes’ histories prominent in local storytelling and art. Not being of First Nations descent, this culture fascinated both of us, and we shared this passion by visiting Martyr Shrine in Midland, Ontario, where there is an adjacent First Nations fort kept intact for history buffs and tourists. We also vacationed yearly to Lake Huron, on the outskirts of First Nations reservations, and would take long walks on the beach together towards the limits of our land.

I don’t remember how it came about, but it was my dad who recommended I take Blessed Kateri’s name as my confirmation name, and the saint as my patron. Since her name was the Mohawk translation of my own, it worked well, and it would mean a lot to him and me, considering our shared passion.

And so I did. I learned about Blessed Kateri and her patronage for the environment, which seemed appropriate, my dad being the gardener he was. I was happy and honored to announce to the bishop on the day of my confirmation that I would take the name Kateri as an adult in the Church, and so I was baptized with the Holy Spirit as Kateri.

The strange – or wonderful – thing about this very meaningful decision is that well after my dad passed away at age 50, I discovered another one of Blessed Kateri’s patronages: Patron of those who have lost parents.

It’s unlikely my dad knew about that patronage.

But thank God for that gift of this beautiful saint praying for me from the time I chose her at age thirteen to today, five and a half years after the passing of my dad, who felt called to suggest her for me. 

Please pray for this wonderful woman's canonization!

St. Jane Frances de Chantal

I cannot say that I am completely proud of how I chose my confirmation Saint.  At the time, I saw it as another "homework" assignment to check-off my to-do list.  There was nothing prayerful about it at all.  I literally googled "St. Chantal", and despite discovering that no St. Chantals have been canonized (yet), I ended up finding St. Jane Frances de Chantal.  From there I quickly filled out the information on my worksheet, turned it in, and did not think much of it for quite some time.


College was when I began to dig deeper into my belief in Catholicism, and it was then that I started look to the Saints for their example and their prayers.  I quickly learned that God had provided with an amazing spiritual companion for my faith journey. 


One of my favorite things about St. Jane Frances de Chantal is that she was a wife to a Baron and mother of six (two of her children died in infancy).  Knowing that she experienced the marriage vocation encourages me to turn to her in prayer often, especially when I am struggling with day-to-day challenges.  Like many other Saints, St. Jane also had a great love for the poor, and was known around her community for her generosity.


St. Jane's husband was killed during a tragic hunting accident when she was only twenty-eight.  Although her husband forgave the man who killed him minutes before he died, Jane was very heartbroken and struggled with forgiveness for a long time.  She took small steps daily, until she reached true forgiveness.  She ended up loving the hunter so completely, that she became godmother to his child!  If you ever struggle with forgiving someone, St. Jane is a wonderful saint to pray to for strength.


Saint Frances de Sales became Jane's spiritual director.  She greatly desired to become a nun, but he convinced her to defer this until her responsibilities as a mother had been met.  Eventually, with Frances de Sales' support Jane founded the Visitation order for women who were rejected by other orders due to advanced age, poor health, or being widowed.  Soon after she underwent much suffering during a plague in France, as her children and St. Francis de Sales died, but she cared for the sick and continued to follow God's will for her life.


By the time Saint Jane Frances de Chantal died in 1641, at the age of 69, there were 86 convent houses in her order.  When she died, St. Vincent de Paul saw her soul rise up, like a ball of fire, to heaven.


"Should you fall even fifty times a day, never on any account should that surprise or worry you. Instead, ever so gently set your heart back in the right direction and practice the opposite virtue, all the timespeaking words of love and trust to our Lord after you have committed a thousand faults, as much as if you had committed only one. Once we have humbled ourselves for the faults God allows us to become aware of in ourselves, we must forget them and go forward."- Saint Jane Frances de Chantal


Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Pray for us!

St. Elizabeth of Hungary - A Real Princess

While I was completely unformed when I chose my confirmation saint, and admittedly, just liked the name Elizabeth, God knew what He was doing when He sent St. Elizabeth of Hungary to be my patroness. I had no desire then to become a nurse, but 6 years later, when I decided I was going to apply to nursing school, and was looking up the patron saint of nurses, low and behold, there she was!

She has an inspiring story, as most saints do, and is particularly appealing to young girls, because she was a princess. She was betrothed at a young age and sent to live with her future in-laws to be raised alongside her future husband. He actually died before they were married, so she was married to his younger brother. She grew up a very pious child, as her husband's family was also very religious. They had a happy, holy marriage, and he very much supported her desire to serve the poor. It is said that he often held her hands while she prayed at his bedside. They had 3 children. She gave generously, and spent much of her time serving the poor, and ill. One year, while her husband was off fighting in a war, she built a 28 bed hospital to care for the sick, and fed 900 people daily.

Sadly, when she was only 20, 6 years after she was married, and 3 weeks after her 3rd child was born, she received the news that her husband had been killed in battle. She cried out, "The world with all its joys is now dead to me." While devastated, she remained faithful, and became a 3rd order of St. Francis. She continued to serve the poor, and as her children were sent to be raised by other family members (given some strain in the royal family), she devoted herself completely to the care of the sick. She died at the young age of just 24, and was canonized within 3 years of her death.

The thing that struck me most while reading her biography recently, was her uniformity with God's will, in her daily life, and her desire to be a saint. She was about little mortifications, faithful prayer, and detachment from material goods. This aided her in accepting great tragedies, and the smaller moments that didn't go her way. She also accepted the leadership of her husband and spiritual directors humbly. She had one spiritual director who was said the be so harsh, he would at times inflict physical penance, but he was the biggest propagator of her cause for canonization after her death, and said she had such a desire to grow in holiness. This struck me in particular because when the leaders in our lives are trying to lead us, our job is to ask ourselves, "Is what they're saying true?" Even if we don't like the way it feels, is it going to lead us to greater sanctity? St. Elizabeth of Hungary is one beautiful example of this humble love for Christ and fervor for sanctity.

For full bio, click here: St. Elizabeth of Hungary