Happy Feast of Joan of Arc - May 30th!

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SAINT JOAN OF ARC
Feast Day: May 30
Patron of Servicewomen

Saint Joan of Arc was born in France in 1412. One day, as she cared for the sheep on her family farm, she heard the voices of some of the saints. They told Joan to help the king of France fight his enemies.

At the young age of 17, Joan went to help the king. She won the battle for Orleans, France, with a small army. She won many more battles, and helped the king to regain the throne of France. The king’s enemies kidnapped Joan and put her in prison. Joan was condemned to death because she refused to lie and say the saints had not spoken to her. She was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, at the age of 19. However, the Church later canonized her as Saint Joan of Arc.

Prayer to Saint Joan of Arc

Dear Saint Joan of Arc, God gave you great skill in fighting for France. Through your prayers may He bless all women who love and stand up for their families, their country, and their Faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us.

Memorial Day Prayer 2012

Happy Feast of St. Rita - May 22nd!

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SAINT RITA
Feast Day: May 22
Patron of Parents

Saint Rita was born in Italy in 1381. She wanted to become a nun, but her parents arranged for her to marry a man named Mancini. Rita obediently married him and gave birth to two sons. 18 years passed and Mancini was stabbed to death by an enemy. Rita prayed for him and he gave his soul to Jesus before he died. Her sons also died, and Rita became a nun. She lived 40 years in the convent, in great prayer and charity, working for peace in the area.

Rita loved Jesus very much. One day her forehead was miraculously pierced by a thorn from the Crown of Thorns. After suffering 15 years, Saint Rita died in 1457. Saint Rita loved her husband, her family, and her fellow sisters as a wife, a mother, a widow, and a nun.

Prayer to Saint Rita for Parents

Dear Saint Rita, please bless my Mom and Dad, and all parents. Help them to feel God’s love in their hearts for one another and for us their children. Protect them through your prayers and help them to be happy together forever. Amen.

Saint Rita, pray for us.

Happy Feast of St. Bernardine of Siena - May 20th!

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SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA
Feast Day: May 20
Patron of Advertisers

Saint Bernardine was born in 1380 in Siena, Italy. He joined the Franciscans in 1402 and was ordained two years later. His voice was very weak because of an illness. Through the prayers of Our Mother Mary, he was healed and began preaching.

When preaching, Saint Bernardine would often hold up a card with the name of Jesus. He urged people to turn to Our Lord and accept His grace. Saint Bernardine preached for the rest of his life and died in 1444.

Saint Bernardine was canonized a saint in 1450. He is the patron of advertisers because he was very gifted at persuading people to love God and do good.

Prayer to Saint Bernardine of Siena for Advertisers

Saint Bernardine, through your preaching, thousands of people returned to God. Help all people who work as advertisers to be wise and good. Dear God, through the prayers of Saint Bernadine, please help advertisers to use their skills for Your glory and the good of others. Help all of us to be Your witnesses in all we do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saint Bernardine of Siena, pray for us.

Happy Feast of St. Isidore the Farmer - May 15th!

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SAINT ISIDORE THE FARMER
Feast Day: May 15
Patron of Farmers and Farm Workers

Isidore was born in Madrid, Spain, around the year 1070. He rose up early every morning to go to Mass. Then he would go to work in the fields. One day some farm workers complained that Isidore was always late for work. When the master investigated, he found that an angel plowed the field while Isidore prayed.

Isidore married Maria Torribia, who is also a canonized saint. The couple had one son, but he died in his youth. Isidore died on May 15, 1130. Many miracles and cures are reported at his grave. Today, Saint Isidore is venerated as the patron of farmers.

Prayer to Saint Isidore for Farmers

Dear Saint Isidore, you let the seed of the Gospel take root in you and produce good fruit. Please pray that we will allow Jesus to live in us as you did. Dear God, through the prayers of Saint Isidore, please bless all farmers and farm laborers to love You and serve others. Please keep them safe and protect them. Supply their needs, as they supply food for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saint Isidore the Farmer, pray for us.

Happy Feast of St. Dymphna - May 15th!

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SAINT DYMPHNA
Feast Day: May 15
Patron of Counselors, Psychologists

Saint Dymphna was born in Ireland to a pagan chief named Damon and a Christian mother. When Dymphna was 14, her beloved mother died. Her father became mentally ill with sadness. His evil counselors told him to take his daughter as a wife. Saint Dymphna fled to Belgium, but her father found her and told her to return to Ireland as his bride. When she refused, he drew his sword and struck off her head. Saint Dymphna was martyred around 620 A.D. Many sick people have been healed at her shrine, built on the spot where she was buried. Saint Dymphna is the patron of counselors.

Prayer to Saint Dymphna for Counselors

Dear Saint Dymphna, through your prayers many people have been healed of mental illness. Please help and bless all counselors. Help them to bring healing, comfort, and compassion to the confused and the sick in their care.

Lord God, through the prayers of Saint Dymphna, pour out Your Spirit of wisdom and good counsel on all who advise others, that they may always glorify You and lead all Your children to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saint Dymphna, pray for us!

Happy Feast of St. Florian - May 4th!

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SAINT FLORIAN
Feast Day: May 4
Patron of Firefighters

Florian was born around 250 A.D. He was a commander of the Roman Imperial Army. He was also secretly a Christian, who helped to organize firefighting brigades. According to an old story, Florian once stopped a town from burning by praying and throwing a single bucket of water on the blaze.

One day, Florian was ordered to put some Christians to death. He refused, and admitted that he was proud to be a follower of Jesus. The other soldiers beat and tortured him with clubs, spikes, and fire. Then they tied a stone around his neck and drowned him. Saint Florian was martyred around 304 A.D. He is remembered today as the patron of firefighters.

Prayer to Saint Florian for Firefighters

Dear Saint Florian, your love for Christ burned brighter than the flames with which you were tortured. Protect all who serve as firefighters and give them a deep desire to follow Our Lord as you did. Dear God, please bless all who serve as firefighters. Keep them safe and strong. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saint Florian, pray for us.

Happy Feast of St. Peregrine - May 4th!

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SAINT PEREGRINE
Feast Day: May 4
Patron of Cancer Patients

Saint Peregrine was born in 1260 in Italy. He enjoyed many fine pleasures and riches. At the age of 30, he accepted Jesus as his Lord, was baptized, and gave his life to God. Saint Peregrine became a priest in an order of men called the Servants of Mary, or the Servites. He spent his life caring for the sick, the poor, and the forgotten. At the age of 60, he was diagnosed with a severe cancer in his leg.

The night before his leg was to be amputated, Peregrine dragged himself before the crucifix and begged Jesus to heal him. In a vision, he saw Jesus lean down from the Cross to touch and heal his leg. Saint Peregrine died on May 1, 1345 and was canonized on December 27, 1726.

Prayer to Saint Peregrine for Cancer Patients

O great Saint Peregrine, in a vision you saw Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal you. Please ask God to bless and heal all those who suffer from cancer and skin disease. May He also bless their families and those who care for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saint Peregrine, pray for us.

Happy Feast of St. Joseph the Worker - May 1st!

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SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER
Feast Day: May 1
Patron of Workers

As you may recall, we celebrated the feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, on March 19th. But he is so important, the Church wanted to honor him more, and they found a way.

For decades, May Day was the occasion for Communist countries to parade their military power.  On this day in 1955,  Pope Pius XII inaugurated the celebration of St. Joseph the Worker.  It seemed comical, even absurd, to raise up Joseph to challenge the Communist military machine on its May Day march, but look at what happened!  The disintegration of Communism is often attributed to the Lord working through the prayers of His people, and especially in response to the apparitions of Mother Mary at Fatima in 1917, urging all to pray and do penance for the conversion of Russia.

That being said, it is also true that the Lord has transformed the world through Joseph and through simple, common, obscure workers like him--like us!

As St. Paul exhorts us, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being. Do it for the Lord rather than for men. ... Be slaves of Christ the Lord". (Colossians 3:23-24).

Our obscure lives and routine work can change the world if we have faith as did Saint Joseph.  The Lord is speaking to us:  "Take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work!  For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts". (Haggai 2:4)

A Prayer to Saint Joseph  for Workers

O glorious Joseph! Who concealed your incomparable and regal dignity of custodian of Jesus and of the Virgin Mary under the humble appearance of a craftsman and provided for them with your work, protect with loving power your sons, especially entrusted to you.

You know their anxieties and sufferings, because you yourself experienced them at the side of Jesus and of His Mother. Do not allow them, oppressed by so many worries, to forget the purpose for which they were created by God. Do not allow the seeds of distrust to take hold of their immortal souls. Remind all the workers that in the fields, in factories, in mines, and in scientific laboratories, they are not working, rejoicing, or suffering alone, but at their side is Jesus, with Mary, His Mother and ours, to sustain them, to dry the sweat of their brow, giving value to their toil. Teach them to turn work into a very high instrument of sanctification as you did. Amen.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.