Happy Independence Day!

In this great country, we celebrate the separation of our American Colonies from the British government as stated in the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776.  It was our day of freedom.  It marked the beginning of a new nation - of our new nation.  There were many more hardships ahead for the American people to endure before the United States could become how we know it today.  Though we have grown into a nation of great reputation, of strength, and of integrity, there are more hardships for us to undergo.  That is why it is very important for us as responsible citizens to participate in the functions of our nation.  We must - and should - vote.  We must - and should - pay taxes.  St. Thomas Aquinas wrote on the virtue of patriotism and our duties to follow the directions and orders of the superiors God has placed above us.  Jesus Himself said, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto God what is God's". We are blessed to have the system of the United States government.  Although it is sometimes very hard to see the results of one person's actions, your vote, your input, your religious convictions and free speech add weight to the direction our country is heading. 

This 4th of July, remember to thank God for our nation, to praise Him for creating such a beautiful land, and to ask Him to direct the hearts of our political leaders to morality and a holy way of life.

For more reading on the Catholic standpoint on patriotism, visit CatholicCulture.org.

Crusade for Souls

Join The Catholic Kingdom's crusade to free as many Poor Souls from Purgatory as possible.  All that is requested is that you say St. Gertrude's prayer fervently, hoping that God wil hear your petition.  God promised St. Gertrude that if she and the faithful prayed this prayer with complete sincerity, 1,000 souls would be released from Purgatory each time it is recited.  Not only does praying for the souls in Purgatory help them, your prayers also give you merit towards your Eternal Salvation.

If the crusaders' combined number of prayers equalls 33,000, each person will receive a special prize for taking part.  Join Dominique's Crusade here!

St. Nicholas' Day!

How many of you woke up this morning with candy in your shoes?  Happy St. Nicholas' Day! 

Here is a prayer to St. Nicholas:

O good holy Nicholas,
you who brought joy to children,
put in my heart the spirit of childhood
about which the Gospel speaks.
Teach me how to sow
happiness around me. Amen

(Prayer from http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/prayers-for-children/ originally from Catholic Greetings)

(From The St. Nicholas Center http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/media-images/)

Visit the St. Nicholas Center to learn more about St. Nicholas!

Saint Luke

Luke the Evangelist was an early Christian who is said by tradition to be the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke was born in Antioch, Turkey of a wealthy family. He was well educated and became a Physician. Luke converted to Christianity and became a disciple of the apostles and later followed Paul until the death of his friend. Luke died of Natural causes in AD 70.

Visit this site to find out more about St. Luke: http://www.catholic-saints.info/patron-saints/saint-luke.htm

Saint of the Day: Saint Faustina

The following is an excerpt from the EWTN website.  Follow the link to read more about St. Faustina, her apparition, and the Divine Mercy.

On October 5, 1938, a young religious by the name Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the terrible years of WWI. Sister had had only three years of very simple education. Hers were the humblest of tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or the vegetable garden, or as a porter.

On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy for all mankind. Saint Faustina tells us in her diary under this date:


"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord
Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing,
the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening
of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one
red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord;
my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After
a while Jesus said to me, 'paint an image according to the pattern
you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'"

Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:

"The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous;
the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These
two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at
that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the
Cross....Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for
the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/stfaust.htm#ixzz1ZuTHR7b0

Helpful Link

Here is a link to My Catholic Source.com.  You can find lots of fun activities at this site.  Several of our wordsearches have come from this website.  Have fun looking around!

http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_word_searches.htm