The Catholic Company Blog | Sharing advice on Catholic books and gifts.

February Birthstone (Amethyst) Rosary

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Nick

The February birthstone is Amethyst. Amethyst gets its name from the Greek word “amethystos” which means “remedy against drunkenness.” The Ancient Greeks were sure that amethyst protected against drunkenness. They were so sure of the amethyst’s power that they included many of their goblets with pieces of it to protect against overindulgence. Interestingly enough, even today amethyst is thought to have a stabilizing force for those struggling with addiction.

The February birthstone has a purple hue and has been held in high regard by many different people throughout history. In fact, amethyst has been used in bishops’ rings and priests’ rosaries for years. Today one still finds amethyst rosaries, commonly called February birthstone rosaries, as the tradition of birthstone rosaries has taken off. Amethyst is honored today as the February birthstone due to its rarity, powers, and popularity.

One popular February birthstone poem says:

“The February born shall find

Sincerity and peace of mind,

Freedom from passion and from care,

If they, the amethyst they wear.”

February birthstone rosaries are stunning, and according to many protect against drunkenness and grant peace of mind. A February birthstone clearly has been thought to have a lot to offer even by many noble churchmen of the past. Those born in February have been blessed with the amethyst birth stone which can grant them the many graces connected to both the stone and the Holy Father. One might even use a February Birthstone rosary with the intention of praying for those struggling with addiction in their life. If you would like to learn more about birthstone rosaries please read the Birthstone Rosaries Guide which delves deeper into the beauty of both the rosary and birthstones. A February birthstone rosary might be the perfect gift for yourself or your friends and loved ones.

Posted in Prayer | Tagged birthstone, birthstone rosary, rosary | Leave a comment

Black History Month and Saint Martin de Porres

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Nick

Welcome to Black History Month! Black History month started in 1976 and was expanded from what used to be a Black History week. Black History month might sound too many as a month which doesn’t exactly connect with the Catholic Church in America. However, one might be surprised to hear that, according to the National Black Catholic Congress, nearly 3 million Catholics of African descent live in the United States alone. Furthermore, some notable saints such as St. Katherine Drexel have diligently supported noble causes of African Americans and are remembered for it during Black History month. Black Catholics make up a large part of the Catholic Church in America and I would like to celebrate and remember the life of the first Black American saint, St. Martin de Porres.

Saint Martin de Porres was, according to saint.sqpn.com, the illegitimate son of a freed black slave. At age 11 he became a servant of the Holy Rosary Dominican priory in Lima, Peru. In 1603, after years of begging and catering to the sick, he would become a Dominican brother after his superiors dropped a stipulation which stated that, “no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our Order.” After becoming a brother, St. Martin de Porres established an orphanage and children’s hospital for the poorest of the young. He is remembered for nursing stray cats and dogs to health as well. Saint Martin de Porres is attributed with many miracles through his intercession including raising of the dead. His feast day is November 3rd.

Saint Martin de Porres is clearly a powerful figure in Black American History and should be celebrated by all Catholics during Black History month. We can honor him today in many ways. Perhaps by giving a pet medal to our animals and praying to St. Martin de Porres for his intercession in keeping our pets healthy. If you don’t have any pets then maybe you can volunteer or donate to a children’s hospital in honor of the donation of time, love, energy Saint Martin de Porres gave to needy children. Saint Martin de Porres is just one of many notable Black Catholics to celebrate during Black History month. Which Africa-American saints would you like to recognize for their contribution to the church during Black History month?

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St. Thomas Aquinas: Angelic Doctor of the Church

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Nick

Soon we will be celebrating the feast day of one of the greatest Doctors of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas Aquinas is remembered for his numerous accomplishments in both philosophy and theology which is a rare feat amongst Doctors of The Church. Saint Thomas Aquinas is most famous for writing the Summa Theologica, written as a manual for Christian doctrine. This is still used today in universities, seminaries, colleges, and high schools across the world. Saint Thomas Aquinas is by far one of the most well-respected philosopher-theologians by both Christians and non-Christians alike.

St. Thomas Aquinas was born in approx. 1226 and died less than 50 years later in 1274. He was discovered as having a quick and clever wit from an early age, as well as preserving in chastity that was astounding amid all of the wordly temptations. These virtues as well as his deep understanding of the metaphysics of angels have led to his title, the Angelic Doctor. St. Thomas Aquinas is also known as the “dumb ox.” He received this title during his years of schooling in Cologne in which he was very quiet and quite large. St. Thomas Aquinas joined the Dominican Order, after his years in school despite opposition from his family, and pursued writing, teaching, and preaching with great fervor.

Saint Thomas Aquinas is the master scholastic. His philosophy and theology were intertwined through the inspiration of Augustine and Aristotle. Today St. Thomas Aquinas’ largest accomplishment is his philosophy of the right connection between faith and reason. Aquinas silenced many critics in his day and even today by putting reason in the service of faith and God. He ushered in a new era in renewed interest in philosophy by theologians through his writing’s and teaching’s. Not surprisingly, St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of universities and students. His feast day is January 28^th.

Perhaps you can honor St. Thomas Aquinas by reading one of his books. Or maybe you can purchase a St. Thomas Aquinas medal for someone in your family who is studying at a university or is a student in general. A St. Thomas prayer card might also make the perfect gift to a youth group or a confirmation class. However you choose to honor St. Thomas Aquinas, have a great and blessed day remembering the life of one of the greatest Doctors and Saints of the Church.

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Saint Sebastian One of the Most Daring Saints

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Nick

St. Sebastian Saint Sebastian was an undercover Christian for most of his life. He was born into nobility and joined the Imperial Roman army only to keep his cover as a typical noble pagan. He moved through the ranks of the army and quickly became a captain of the guard and an Imperial officer. St. Sebastian spent most of his time ministering and converting countless prisoners of the Roman Army. He was a gifted healer with the Sign of the Cross and converted soldiers as well as the governor of Rome. Saint Sebastian was discovered and eventually martyred.

What makes Saint Sebastian so special?

Saint Sebastian was discovered to be a Christian when he converted the Roman governor Chromatius whom proceeded to resign his post and free 16 converts from prison upon converting. Emperor Diocletian came to the conclusion that Saint Sebastian was a Christian and ordered him tied to a stake and shot to death by arrows in a field. Saint Sebastian endured the arrows and was soon to die until St. Irene of Rome found him and nursed him back to health! How did Saint Sebastian respond to being healed? He marched up to Diocletian and PREACHED TO HIM!! Diocletian was obviously shocked to see the man he thought dead come preach to him in the middle of the day. It’s one thing to survive attempted martyrdom and go on living your life but its another thing to turn around and preach to the man who signed your death warrant in the first place!
But the story doesn’t end there, as if the story isn’t marvelous enough! Upon preaching to Diocletian, St. Sebastian was ordered to be martyred AGAIN! And this time he was to be beaten to death and then tossed into the sewers! Diocletian was certainly not prepared to have St. Sebastian return once more.

Little tidbits of Saint Sebastian

He is the patron of archers (obviously), athletes (for his energetic evangelization), and dying people (he was dying before being saved by St. Irene).
Recently, one can find St. Sebatian Medals affiliated with many different sports as popular modern intercession of St. Sebastian has centered on athletics.
St. Sebastian is typically represented with arrows in his flesh or being saved by Saint Irene.
He is buried along the Appian way and has one of the seven principal churches of Rome built over his relics and burial site.
St. Sebastian is also a patron against plagues as once a plague was afflicting the Lombards and therefore they built an altar to him in the Church of Saint Peter in the Province of Pavia which ended the plague.

Conclusion

Saint Sebastian was obviously an incredible healer, evangelist, and overall Christian. He was martyred in 288 and was educated in Milan. Saint Sebastian’s feast day is January 20^th. There are multiple St. Sebastian Prayers relating to his patronage.

Posted in Patron Saints | Tagged Arrows, Martyr, Patron Saints, St. Sebastian | Leave a comment

January Birthstone (Garnet) Rosary

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Nick

January Birthstone Rosary The January birthstone is the stunning garnet stone. Garnet is typically a deep red stone and gets its name from the Latin word “granatus” meaning “grain” or “seed.” The garnet got this name because of its odd resemblance to the pomegranate seed. One can find garnet throughout most of the world and it has been harvested for over 2,500 years. Therefore, many ancient legends and stories include the garnet.

According to legend, the garnet was hung on Noah’s Ark to light the way through the dark and stormy nights of the flood. Furthermore, garnet was used during the Middle Ages to cure diseases in the West such as the plague or Black Death. The garnet was also known to change color if their wearer was in danger and therefore became a prized jewel of the wealthy in Western history.

As one can see, many legends, myths, and powers have been attributed to the unique garnet stone. One can be sure that garnet is a deep and intriguing stone which has attracted people for years. The garnet has earned itself a name on the list of birthstones due to its history and has been given the title of the January birthstone. Many different gifts exist in which one can give this beautiful January birthstone, and therefore how does one decide how to give this January birthstone to a friend or loved one born in that month?

I encourage you to consider giving the January birthstone in the form of a rosary. Birthstone rosaries are beautiful treasures which include wonderful stones which have been praised for years. The January birthstone rosary brings one to prayer through its elegant beauty which is uniquely tied to the owner. If you would like to learn more about rosaries, please see my Birthstone Rosary Guide.

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Using the Rosary and the Catholic Bible to encourage Catholics

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Nick

Catholics Come Home Throughout the month of December you might have noticed many advertisements from catholicscomehome.org. I wondered what are all of these commercials about all of a sudden? Why now? The fact is that more Catholics go to Mass, pray the rosary, read the Catholic Bible and Catholic books during the Advent and Christmas season. Catholicscomehome.org is attempting to encourage these Catholics to continue coming to Mass and renew their catholic life.

Perhaps you know of many Catholics who tend to be more Catholic and Christian during the Advent and Catholic Season. How does one encourage their friends and fellow parishioners to continue what they started which is developing a relationship with Christ? I propose that the best way to encourage them to develop a relationship with Christ is through encouraging them to pray, and specifically encouraging them to pray the rosary, read the Catholic Bible, and attend Mass.

For many the power of personal invitation is very strong and therefore inviting someone to pray the rosary with you or read the Catholic Bible with you could make all the difference in their prayer life and life with Christ. I encourage you to invite those friends of yours that need the extra push to pray the rosary with you maybe just once or twice a week. If you’re part of a Catholic Bible Study then maybe you could invite them to join, or simply read the Catholic Bible with them. And inviting your friends to Mass and saving them a seat always encourages them to come and experience Christ in one of the most unique and powerful ways available.

For some of us, giving that friend or loved one the personal invitation is not an option due to distance or other constraints. If that is the case then maybe simply giving your loved one a simple rosary will make the difference. Or perhaps you can send your loved one daily verses from the Catholic Bible over email or Facebook. I know that many of us have loved ones that could use the extra encouragement during this season to have a reversion to the Catholic Faith — and more importantly, a reversion to a relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Posted in Catholic Bibles, Prayer | Tagged Catholic Bible, Catholics Come Home, Prayer | Leave a comment

The Catholic Must Read Book List of 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Nick

It has taken a few weeks but I have finally forged a small must-read list of catholic books to read for 2012. These catholic books cater to a wide-range of different audiences and therefore even if the book isn’t the perfect book for you, it might be the book that someone in your life could really use. I hope that you enjoy reading this list as much as I enjoyed writing it and if you have any books you think ought to be added, please leave a comment! This catholic books of 2012 list is in no particular order.

In Conversation with God (Complete 7 Vol. Set) by: Francis Fernandez

This series is composed of daily meditations for every day of the liturgical year. Each meditation is deep and fruitful based on the Daily Readings and is about 5 to 6 pages. This is one of the most popular devotional series amongst Catholics as it offers a stunning devotion each day. These devotions draw you closer to God and closer to a fuller understanding of how Christ’s teachings, message, and ministry applies to us today. If you or someone you know is in need of a great devotional series then this beautiful devotional set could be the perfect gift.

Weightless: Making Peace With Your Body by: Kate Wicker

This book is one of the few to take a Catholic approach to self-healing in the midst of struggles with body image. This book can be used personally or in a group and comes with meditations which help women to view themselves in a different way. The author of this book is a health columnist for Faith & Family as well as a celebrated journalist. This books has been praised by many women for its practicality and inclusion of important spiritual tools to address typical struggles. This book could be the perfect gift your you or someone in your life who has or is struggling with their body image.

Catholicism for Dummies by: Rev. John Trigilio Jr., PhD, ThD and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD

The popular for Dummies series has made one for Catholicism. This book is one of the best Catholic reference books for anyone and everyone through its easy-to-read “Dummies” style. This book does an honest job at attempting to cover everything Catholicism is about from such titles of chapters as “Ten Famous Catholics” to “Showing Your Love for God” and everything in between. This fantastic book also comes with a cheat sheet including common prayers and Articles of the Catholic Faith. This popular reference book might be the perfect gift for yourself or your loved one whom might need a refresher course on Catholicism or a very well-written Catholic reference book.

Sinner – The Catholic Guy’s Funny, Feeble Attempts to Be a Faithful Catholic by: Lino Rulli

Sinner is a collection of stories from the life of Lino Rulli (aka the Catholic Guy). Lino is a three-time Emmy winner and lives with nineteen cats while hosting The Catholic Guy. Lino tells stories on his adventures in the confessional, his take on suffering, and why he remains single. Many have commented that the best thing about this book is that it is real and is a book that many Catholic adults can easily relate to. If you or your loved one are looking for an easy-to-read, encouraging, witty, and hysterical book then this could be your perfect match.

Hungry Souls by: Gerard J.M. Van Den Aardweg

This book recounts many stories about interactions between this world and souls from purgatory. Many of these stories are trustworthy, Church-verified accounts about visitations from the dead. The author, Gerard J.M van den Aardweg, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist with extensive work in parapsychology and, more specifically, near-death experiences. This book also includes images from the “Museum of Purgatory” which includes evidence of burn marks which cannot be explained naturally or replicated artificially. This book could be perfect for yourself or a loved one interested in paranormal activity and the souls of purgatory.

This list includes just 5 of the many great catholic books out there which one should and could read this coming year. I hope that one of these catholic books might have sparked your interest and could be one of your favorite reads of the coming year.

Posted in Catholic Books | Tagged catholic book, Catholic Books, Must Reads of 2012 | Leave a comment

Christmas Season review with the Prayer Journal

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Nick

Leather Prayer Journal Congratulations! You are close to completing another Christmas season. A season that has probably been filled with stress concerning gift-buying, relatives visiting, bills, and much, much more. But I also hope that it has been filled with love, Christ, prayer, heartfelt gifts, and fellowship. The Christmas season is meant to be a celebration of Christ and our love for him. This is obviously not the easiest task amongst all the other distractions of the season, but none the less important.

The Christmas Season is now close to being over and this hopefully less stressful time provides the best time to self-reflect in prayer and self-evaluate in order to determine how best to improve for next Christmas. The question then remains: How does one go about this self-evaluation and reflection in prayer? I propose that the best way to go about this is the prayer journal. If you don’t have a prayer journal perhaps starting it with a little honest self-evaluation is a great way to get into the habit. Or if you already have a prayer journal then maybe spending a few minutes of your time reflecting would be another great way to use the prayer journal you already love.

The prayer journal is a fantastic tool for self-reflection which allows you look back into the past and learn from it, but the prayer journal is not the only one. One can also spend time reflecting in simple silence and prayer. For this to be effective you need to find a good spot to pray which lends itself to silence and easy focus. An example of this would be in a chapel or in a prayerful area of your house. One could simply pray to Christ and the Holy Spirit for their inspiration in your self-reflection, and maybe even bring a prayer journal with you. Spending time in prayerful reflection is one of the keys to improving on your Christmas season experience in years to come; remember, as many have said, if you don’t learn from your mistakes then you are bound to repeat them.

The Christmas season is a beautiful one in which we have the chance to show our love for Christ and one another in a unique way; therefore it is important to make the most of the season. I hope that you will consider using a prayer journal, or catholic book in order to prayerfully reflect on the Christmas season and many other seasons to come.

Posted in Catholic Books, Catholic Events, Prayer | Tagged Christmas Season, prayer journal, reflection | 1 Comment

Baptism Gifts and Their Importance

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Nick

Baptism, one of the sacraments which Jesus himself recieved accroding to the Bible, is one of the few sacraments of the Faith which one only receives once. This is because the sacrament of baptism initiates one into the Church and leaves an indelible mark upon the soul which never goes away. The graces of baptism are unique and powerful and before infant baptism many put off baptism until the end of their lives so that their souls would be very clean and they would enter the celestial city unscathed. Today baptism is practiced differently but its importance is still the same.

Baptism gifts are also an important part of the baptism tradition. Whether one is giving baptism gifts to an infant or adult receiving baptism the purpose of the gift is the same: to lead them to lives of holiness and relationship with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. If one is giving a baptism gift to an infant then perhaps something like a Children’s Bible or Catholic children’s books which are appropriate for their age could be the perfect gift. One should also note that something as simple as a Children’s rosary or baptismal cross could be a part of their lives for many years to come and they could come to find real comfort and strength in that devotional item. Remember that baptism is only celebrated once in a person’s life and therefore it is important to make the most of the opportunity to give that special someone a baptism gift which will nourish their life with Christ for many years to come.

Baptism gifts could be a part of your loved one’s life for longer that you could imagine. I still have my first Catholic Bible which I received from my Godparents on the day of baptism. I have turned to this Bible many times in my life and have numerous bookmarks throughout the Bible highlighting passages that have meant very much to me throughout life. For example Psalm 23 has been and continues to be a great source of strength and reassurance that the Lord is guiding me and cares for me throughout my days. One cannot underestimate the possible influence of the right Baptism gifts and therefore I encourage you to get for your loved one gifts which will truly make a difference in their lives.

“The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures you let me graze;

to safe waters you lead me;

you restore my strength.

You guide me along the right path

for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley,

I fear no harm for you are at my side;

your rod and staff give me courage.”

Psalm 23: 1-4

Posted in Catholic Events, Catholic Gifts | Tagged Baptism, Baptism Gifts, Catholic Gifts | Leave a comment

Saint John the Evangelist and Beloved Disciple

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Nick

Saint John the Evangelist is also known as Saint John the Apostle and the Beloved Disciple. He is one of the sons of Zebedee and Salome. Saint John the Evangelist was a disciple of Saint John the Baptist with his brother, Saint James the Greater, before becoming an apostle of Jesus Christ. As the Beloved Disciple, St. John the Evangelist held a special relationship with Jesus Christ. Scripture recalls that he was one of the few present at the Transfiguration, the raising of Jarius’s daughter, and the Agony in Gethsemane.

Saint John the Evangelist also . . .

Saint John the Evangelist was also the only apostle to not forsake the Savior in the hour of his Passion and therefore, was made guardian of the Mother of God by Jesus and took her into his home. St. John was one of the first to reach the tomb of Jesus after hearing of the resurrection and he was the first to recognize the Risen Lord at Lake Tiberias.

Saint John after the Resurrection: Little fact is known of Saint John’s doings after the resurrection accept for a few points. He is attributed with having written the Fourth Gospel and possibly three Canonical Epistles. We do know that he baptized many converts in Samaria and founded numerous churches in Asia Minor. He was imprisoned with Peter after Pentecost and his final words were “Little Children, love one another.”

The Legends of St. John the Evangelist

According to Legend, once while St. John was denouncing idol worship as demonic, a large group of followers of Artemis attempted to stone him but the stones turned around and attacked the followers instead.
Once while praying at a temple to Artemis, fire from heaven killed 200 idol worshipers at the temple. The remainder of the group begged and pleaded for mercy and therefore St. John raised the 200 from the dead and the whole of the group converted and were baptized.
One of the most popular legends of St. John the Evangelist tells of an account in which St. John was brought to Rome for persecution. Initially he was beaten then they attempted to poison him but he blessed the chalice and the poison in it which turned the poison into a snake. Then, getting desperate, the Roman officials had him thrown into a cauldron of burning oil and he emerged unharmed. This story commemorates the feast of Saint John before the Latin Gate.
Same say that once a year his grave gives off a dust which cures the sick.

Important Facts on St. John the Evangelist

St. John’s feast day is December 27^th in the Roman Catholic Church and he is the patron of authors, theologians, and friendships.
He is usually represented with either an eagle (symbolizing the heights he rises to in the first chapter of the fourth Gospel), a chalice (symbolizing either the cup of sorrows of Jesus or the chalice in the legend of the poisoning attempt) or both as seen in St. John Medals.

Posted in Patron Saints | Tagged Beloved Disciple, Patron Saints, St. John | Leave a comment