Saturday, June 30, 2007

How observant are you?

From Mom

Click Here!
How high can you score?
I only got 16 : P

If those everyday things go unnoticed, (as minuscule as they are) then I wonder if a common thing like a butterfly, a smile from a friend you meet all the time, a ride in the car driven by your mother (if you're a little one still), a simple thank you from your Dad, or whispered good morning from you sibling goes unnoticed or unappreciated. Or maybe the lovely daylight reflecting on the summer leaves, or the music of a bird's single chirp.
I guess it's a good reminder to appreciate little things that God reveals to us daily.

I wish my bird could do that!

Long time no blog...sorry...

Thanks to Mom sent this thru e-mail:
http://tinyurl.com/52ydx

I hope it works!

The picture, by the way, is a picture of baby lovebirds about two or three weeks old. I've forgotten exactly, sorry. But the camera finally co-operated!!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

St. Anthony, ora pro nobis!


Picture from Patron Saints Index




Sorry I've posted this late...
CT, Mom, and many other bloggers have wonderful prayers for yesterday's feast. Ms. Micki also has a lovely holy card of St. Anthony.
Composing prayers aren't what I do best... :-)


...but I was able to dig up a really old book report!

The wondrous account of St. Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan describes the exciting life of St. Anthony of Padua in the 13th century. As a child, Anthony was incredibly obedient and tried his best to please God and his parents. Anthony was well liked because of his friendliness and influential sermons. Throughout Anthony’s life, many extraordinary things happened.

When he was a child, Anthony, otherwise known as Fernando, did his best to please God and his elders. Fernando was always eager to aid his father, though the latter rarely let Fernando assist him. Because he was scrawny and undersized, he unenthusiastically drank milk in obedience to her mother’s coaching. Sitting immobile in class was not always simple for Fernando who would preferably be outside running around, but he endured the lessons and learned them. Though desirous of becoming a knight, Fernando optimistically obeyed God instead, and became a priest.

Anthony was an amiable person, an outstanding preacher, and one who could not resist being of assistance. Even when given difficult undertakings, he worked merrily, and was friendly to those who gave him the tasks. People listened with awe, marvel, and admiration as they heard Anthony’s powerful sermons. Since Anthony was the son of a significant governor, he never refused the scores of people who came to ask favors of him. He was always generous to every needy beggar at his door, regardless of how many came.

Numerous miracles occurred during the life of St. Anthony. When one priest forgot to prepare his sermon, Anthony was called to preach in his stead and delivered a brilliant homily. Having tried his best to preach to the people but to no avail, Anthony ended up preaching to the school of fishes that listened. One night, the lord of the castle that Anthony was staying at was astonished when he saw that Anthony was holding the Child Jesus in his arms! When St. Anthony was canonized, the bells of the church miraculously rang, singing of the amazing life of St. Anthony of Padua.


I wonder though...
Since St. Anthony is the saint to pray to when you've lost something, shouldn't we ask him intercede for those who have lost their faith? Or maybe their trust in God? Or their hope?

Follow the link


...to Mrs. Esther's blog!

It's a beafutiful post on "What Makes a Saint"
Picture from Patron Saints Index

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Book Review: My Life with the Saints


My Life with the Saints, by James Martin, SJ, is about the author's (who is a Jesuit priest) personal introduction to some of his favorite saints, holy persons, and companions such as: Joan of Arc, Therese of Lisieux, Thomas Merton, Ignatius of Loyola, Pedro Arrupe, Bernadette Soubirous, Mother Teresa, Pope John XXIII, Dorothy Day, Peter, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, Joseph, The Ugandan Martyrs, Alosius Gonzaga, and Mary. So this book is really for people who want more saint friends. This book would encourage people to read more about the saints and their lives. At the end of the book, there's a few pages of suggested books about the saints to read. It is sold at the Pauline bookstore, but to my surprise, it is in the library too.As the author says in the book, "You can never have too many friends."

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Descriptions of saints, by saints


I've always wondered what saints think of saints. Since reading a couple of Mary Fabyan Windeatt's saintbooks, though, I've found their description of sainthood wonderful.

St. Therese of Lisieux said that the saints were like massive mountains while she was only like a grain of sand.

St. Francis Sloano described a saint as a chalice. A saint's heart is emptied of all earthly things so that it may be filled with Christ alone. By being filled with Christ, the saint does Christ's will.

One of St. Francis Solano's friends discovered:
"Using the graces God gives him, he expected to save his soul and become a saint," regardless of status or talent.