Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303 – 1373) was one of the most important and famous mystics of the Middle Ages, causing her to be named one of the patron saints not only of Sweden, but of all Europe. Among the many visions she records in her Revelations is this remarkable description of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her glory as the Queen of Heaven. In this vision St. Bridget sees Our Lady possessing seven lilies and seven precious stones in her heavenly crown. Each one symbolizes a different quality or characteristic. Seven, of course, is the biblical number symbolizing perfection.
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How to Celebrate the Rites & Blessings of Epiphany
There are many beautiful and ancient traditions that come to us from the East in the form of special blessings that the Church performs on Epiphany: the blessing of water, chalk, and homes.
8 (Spiritual) New Year’s Resolutions for Catholics
January is here again, and it’s time to make the annual New Year’s resolutions. Every Catholic should add to their list a few spiritual resolutions designed to help them walk higher up that mountain of faith. Let the freshness of a new year be your impetus to make new strides in your walk with God. There is no time but the present!
St. John the Beloved and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
What is not commonly known about St. John is that he has a strong connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion. About 400 years before devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus became widely popular through St. Margaret Mary Alocoque, two nuns at a monastery in 13th century Germany had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart: St. Gertrude the Great and St. Mechtilde
The Symbolism of The 3 Christmas Masses
Next to Easter, Christmas is the holiest day of the year. Just as we celebrate Easter as a Triduum of liturgies (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), so at Christmas we have something like a triduum of Masses. There are three Masses celebrated on Christmas Day: at midnight, dawn, and during the day. Each Mass is distinct and highlights a different aspect of the Christmas story.
11 Last Minute Religious Gift Ideas for Christmas
If you still need to take care of those stragglers on your shopping list, or if you haven’t even started yet, here are some unique religious Christmas gift ideas to help take you to the finish line. And remember, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a season that BEGINS on December 25th. So, there is no shame in spreading out your gift-giving right up to Epiphany (the original 12 days of Christmas). After all, that’s the day when Baby Jesus received his gifts!
Don’t Start Christmas without Advent: Here’s Everything You Need to Know!
Advent is given to us as a time to prepare our souls for the coming of the Lord. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter. In modern times we are tempted to skip over the penitential aspects of Advent and focus on the joy of Christmas. This is a great tragedy. Focusing only on the joy denies the truth: the Christ Child is our Lord and Savior who will suffer and die for our salvation.
A Prayer to Face Each New Day with Peace of Mind
For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things. Whatsoever I may receive during the day, teach me to accept them tranquilly, with the firm conviction that everything comes by Your holy will. Govern my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say. When unforeseen things occur, do not let me forget that everything comes from You.
The Best-Sellers: Our Ultimate Advent & Christmas Gift Guide
Getting ready for the Advent and Christmas season? We’ve put together an ultimate gift guide listing our top holiday sellers all in one spot. Each of the products listed here were our best-sellers from last season. It was tough doing this research and putting this article together, but we’ve done it just for you!
The Church Triumphant! November 1st, the Solemnity of All Saints
November 1st is the Solemnity of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation. According to the Roman Missal, this feast day celebrates all God’s holy ones in heaven, known and unknown, from the first martyrs to the recently canonized, and everyone in between. This feast day spans 2,000 glorious years of the Church’s history.
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