Movie Review - St. Rita

We recently joined Netflix and have been enjoying the ease of use and selection available. This past week, Saint Rita arrived. I suppose I chose it mainly because it is Lent and I wanted something a little more spiritual, but it was also a movie I thought the whole family could watch.



The whole family started watching, but Zeke fell asleep halfway through (as is the norm for him) and Graham played with action figures the whole time (I really didn't expect him to pay attention!). Dash, Angelina, hubby and I watched until the very end.

This is a great movie and it has everything a viewer might want ... sword fights and death, romance and marriage, children, poverty and wealth, war and eventual peace, respect for the Catholic faith, and English dubbing (thank goodness). It is long, however! It's over 3 hours, but it is set up in 2 parts if you want to split your viewing. We chose to watch the entire movie last night.

Silent Sunday

Statue of Saint Therese

Outdoor garden on the grounds of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church - Key West, FL

St. Blaise

Growing up, my family never missed getting the Blessing of St. Blaise. Although his feast day is February 3, we usually received the blessing on the Sunday following his feast. When we lived in town and could attend St. Mary's Cathedral, the blessing was given on the feast day and we made an effort to go to daily mass for this blessing. We'll miss the blessing on his feast day this year because the local priest is out of town and I'm not able to drive an hour to daily mass (or the 100 miles to St. Mary's). Maybe the visiting priest will give us the blessing this coming Sunday?? I know it's considered optional nowadays, but I feel like I'm missing something important anyway - I especially miss St. Mary's on days like this. So, in honor of St. Blaise, we'll forgo dessert today (and I'll forgo my Dr. Pepper).

For more information about Saint Blaise, check here or here.

The Blessing of St. Blaise (given by the priest)
“Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

St. Blaise Prayer

O glorious Saint Blaise, who by thy martyrdom has left to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. Thou who didst miraculously cure a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy powerful protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending Almighty God. Amen.

*Until researching, I didn't realize there were different ways to spell his name: Blaise, Blase, Blasius. While most of the information is the same regardless of spelling, I used the spelling I remember from childhood!

Annual Patron Saint

Years ago, when we lived in Kearney, NE, I was introduced to the idea of annual patron saints. The idea is to randomly pick a saint from a pile or group; and in the coming year, you are to learn about that saint and ask them for intercession in your life. Some say that the saint chooses you.

Early in the new year (or maybe it was December), while shopping at a local Catholic bookstore, I picked out an annual patron saint at the checkout. What a wonderful project for a store to undertake...making sure their 'patron's' have a patron saint to help them through the year. The saint's name and a verse were written on a thin strip of paper. Mine was St. Helena and I'll admit that I don't know much about her, other than remembering she is credited with finding the true cross. If I could find the strip, I'd share the verse, but I can't find it. I distinctly remember Graham holding it and that I took it and put it somewhere safer. Ha!! Haven't we all done that! Anyway, I hope to share more as I learn more.

Shrine to Saint Helena at St. Peter's Basilica

Then, at our first Family Formation parent class in January, I was again given the opportunity to pick an annual patron saint from a face-down pile of cards. After asking if it was okay to have two patrons - as if I don't need more help! - I chose one for myself and my husband, who wasn't able to attend. My second patron for the year is the Infant Baby Jesus. The card showed this beautiful picture of Mary and Jesus with the following phrase and prayer:

Newborn Baby Jesus

"Today when Jesus is born and by His birth brings immeasurable joy, love and peace, I call you, in a special way to say your 'yes' to Jesus. Open your hearts so that Jesus enters into them, comes to dwell in them and starts to work through you. Only in this way will you be able to comprehend the true beauty of God's love, joy and peace." *

~Let the baby Jesus be your guide, pray that all mothers would choose life for their unborn child.

If you don't have an annual patron saint, but would like to participate, go grab a saint book. With your eyes closed, flip through the pages and just stop at some point. Consider this your 2009 annual patron saint. Live and learn with your saint over the coming year.

*From page 321 of 'The Visions of the Children: The Apparitions of the Blessed Mother at Medjugorje' By Janice T. Connell. Check here for more information on the book and author.

Intercession

A while ago, I was having an especially difficult time with one of my children - in every area of our relationship. On quite a few days, my mother listened patiently to my struggles and offered me encouragement and solace. After one particularly trying day, she sent me an email with a list of the following patron saints.

This is another of those lists that I paste in my dayplanner.

A few of my friends remember this time in my life and are now at a similar point with one or more of their own children. (This post is for you!) The intercession of these saints, the prayers of my mother, and a lot of forgiveness (70x7 rang in my ears often!) has finally started to heal the relationship between me and this child.

St. Thomas Aquinas – Academics
St. Ambrose – Learning
St. Nicholas of Myra – Children
St. Aloyisius Gonzaga – Youth
St. Jude – Desperate Situations
St. Gregory the Great – Teachers