What is This Saint of the Year Devotion All About?


This isn't superstition. St. Faustina and her religious order did the same thing!

I would like to explain to you about the practice of picking a saint at random to be your “holy protector and intercessor” for the year. Actually, the saint is the one who chooses us though.The tradition of letting a saint “pick you,”is not a new one. St. Faustina wrote about it in her diary, "Divine Mercy in My Soul".
The excerpt is below. . .

“There is a custom among us of drawing by lot, on New Year's Day, special Patrons for ourselves for the whole year. In the morning, during meditation, there arose within me a secret desire that the Eucharistic Jesus be my special Patron for this year also, as in the past. But, hiding this desire from my Beloved, I spoke to Him about everything else but that. When we came to refectory for breakfast, we blessed ourselves and began drawing our patrons. When I approached the holy cards on which the names of the patrons were written, without hesitation I took one, but I didn't read the name immediately as I wanted to mortify myself for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my soul: ‘I am your patron. Read.’ I looked at once at the inscription and read, ‘Patron for the Year 1935 - the Most Blessed Eucharist.’ My heart leapt with joy, and I slipped quietly away from the sisters and went for a short visit before the Blessed Sacrament,where I poured out my heart. But Jesus sweetly admonished me that I should be at that moment together with the sisters. I went immediately in obedience to the rule.”

Excerpt from "Divine Mercy in My Soul, the Diary of St. Faustina"

Monday, August 26, 2013

Guardian Angels
 
What kind of relationship do you have with your guardian angels? Are you aware that you might have more than one angel working for you, according to your needs and prayer requests? Do you realize that even the archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, know who you are and that they want to be involved in God's plans for you?
 
Angels are popular even among non-Christians, but most of the attention given to angels lack one very important piece of the picture. Jesus says, "You shall see heaven open up and the angels of God ascend and descend on the Son of Man."
 
The word "you" in the original Greek is plural; it's meant for all of Christ's disciples. He wants us to realize that angels travel between between heaven and earth to work for our benefit, but their ministry depends upon Him. Angels deliver God's messages to us, angels help us every day, angels love us, angels enjoy being in a relationship with us - but it is always through Jesus.
 
When the archangel Michael battled against the dragon, he defeated Satan and his minions because of the future victory Jesus would win on the cross. The holy angels defeated the evil ones "by the blood of the Lamb" that would be shed millennia later on our behalf. Their victory depended on Jesus.
 
The responsorial Psalm is a song with the angels. Whenever we praise God, angels join us. If we praise God in the midst of difficulties, angels surround us in a chorus that fills the air with their trust in God and their love for us and their holiness. Evil spirits won't stick around. Why not? Because this trust and love and holiness come to earth through Jesus. He is always in the midst of our praise.
 
No concern of yours is too small -- nor too big -- for your angels. Have you lost something? Ask the ministering angels to lead you to it. Are you waiting to get through the red tape of bureaucratic paperwork? Send an angel to put your papers on the top of the pile. Are you going on a long drive? As the angels to clear the way before you. Ever need a parking space near the store on a stormy day? Ask an angel to go save a spot for you.
 
Angels listen to us. They learn how they can minister to us when we ask out loud. One day, while on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, a group was climbing a steep hill and there was a man who was running out of breath and energy. He said, " Ministering Angels, push me!" Immediately, the man was able to move faster and easier to the top of the hill. What a great witness to the exhausted people who heard him and saw the results!
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