MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas

Sretan Bozic

Buon Natale

Joyeux Noel

Feliz Navidad

Froehliche Weihnachten

Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Wesolych Swait

Bozego Narodzenia

God Jul

CHRIST THE KING

What child is this, who, lay to rest,

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary

SAINT JOHN PAUL ll

Unique medal honoring St. John Paul ll.

Pope John Paul ll was born Karol Josef Woytyla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland.  He was ordained a priest in 1946.  He became cardinal in 1967 and the pope in 1978.  He made history by becoming the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years.  As the Vicar of Christ and the successor of St. Peter, he has revolutionized the office of the modern pope.  He has taken his mission out of the Vatican and traveled to more than 100 countries spreading his message of faith and peace.  He had a great love of prayer, especially Eucharistic prayer.  He has written an extraordinary number of encyclicals, letters and homilies.  He canonized 482 saints and beatified 1,338 people.  He was also a vocal advocate for human rights who was credited with the fall of communism in his native Poland.

Pope John Paul ll was a great influence on the youth.  He always had a wonderful relationship from his early days as a priest by inviting them to mass, conferences, hiking and spending time outdoors until his last days as the pope always inspiring them with his strong faith and love for them.  He reached out to them when he became pope and gathered with millions of youth around the world throughout his pontificate and during World Youth Day.  Pope John Paul ll was blessed with charisma and a youthful spirit and it showered through the love that the youth had for him.

"Do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium, if you become what you are, you will set the whole world on fire."

+St. John Paul ll+

Pope John Paul ll died on April 2, 2005.  Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Bendict XVI, presided at the funeral Mass and concluded his homily by saying: "None of us can ever forget how, on the last Easter Sunday of his llife, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing urbi et orbi ('to the city and to the world').

St. John Paul ll is the patron of World Youth Day.  His feast day is celebrated on October 22nd.

DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS

LIFE IS A BLESSING COLLECTION

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month.

These unique and beautiful sacramentals celebrate life and remind us that "life is a blessing".  Wear these powerful sacramentals in honor of those with Down syndrome.

In honor of life and Dr. Jerome Lejeune, a percentage of the proceeds of the 'Life is a Blessing' collection will be donated to the Jerome Lejeune Foundation.  Dr. Jerome Lejeune was a passionate doctor, a dedicated research worker and a valiant defender of life.  He discovered that the presence of an extra twenty-first chromosome causes Down syndrome.  Dr. Lejeune was an incredible role model to many by his ability to combine his Catholic faith with his amazing abilities as a scientist.

Handmade in the awareness colors of Down syndrome, blue and yellow, these sacramentals are a reminder as Dr. Jerome Lijeune said that 'Before God and man we bear witness that for us every human is a person'.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

This beautiful little wrap is a wonderful reminder to honor, remember and support women with breast cancer.  Wear this bracelet in honor of your grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, cousin, friend, neighbor and all women with breast caner.  The tiny Miraculous Mary medal or St. Michael the Archangel medal is strung unto pink cord and has a slip knot closure which is adjustable.  the sacramental comes wrapped on a cared, ready for giving.  This bracelet is also a wonderful reminder to pray everyday for those who have breast cancer.

A percentage of the sale of this little sacramental will be donated to Atalie's Hope, a not for profit foundation dedicated to helping children of women who have lost their fight with breast cancer.  Along with breast cancer awareness, Atalie's Hope supports children both emotionally and financially to bring comfort and a little bit of joy.

PRAYER TO ST. AGATHA FOR HEALING OF BREAST CANCER

St. Agatha, woman of valor, from your own suffering we have been moved to ask your prayers for those of us who suffer from breast cancer.  We place the name (s) before you, and ask you to intercede on their behalf.  from where you stand in the health of life eternal - all wounds healed, and all tears wiped away - pray for _____________, and all of us.  Pray God will give us His holy benediction of health and healing.  And, we remember  you were a victim of torture and that you learned, first hand, of human cruelty and inhumanity.  We ask you to pray for our entire world.  Ask God to enlighten us with a "genius for peace and understanding."  Ask Him to send us His Spirit of Serenity, and ask Him to help us share that peace with all we meet.  From what you learned, from your own path of pain, ask God to give us the Grace we need to remain holy in difficulties, not allowing our anger or our bitterness to overtake us.  Pray that we will be more peaceful and more charitable.  And from your holy place in our mystical body, the Church, pray that we, in our place and time will. together, create a world of justice and peace. Amen.

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

And from your celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!

Come, source of all our store!

Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul's most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,

Shine within these hearts of yours,

And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught,

Nothing good in deed or thought,

Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;

On our dryness pour your dew;

Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;

Melt the frozen, warm the chill;

Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore

And confess you, evermore

In your sevenfold gift descend;

Give them virtue's sure reward:

Give them your salvation, Lord;

Give them joys that never end. Amen.

Alleluia.

IRISH BLESSING BRACELETS

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Oh ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings.  Look upon me with mercy.  When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.  I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.  My loving Mother, obtain my request.  I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in eternity.  Amen.

ST. VALENTINE

Beautiful and unique medal honoring St. Valentine.  St. Valentine was a 3rd century priest in Rome.  St. Valentine healed the daughter of a prefect and converted the entire family to Christianity. 

St. Valentine is the patron of lovers.  His feast is celebrated on February 14.

St. Valentine sacramental available on rosarium.etsy.com