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"

Saturday, January 26, 2013

I can't believe that in April, it will be 9 years already since I went on the pilgrimage of my life to Italy and Medjugorje! What a true life changing experience! If you ever have a chance to go on a pilgrimage, do it! No matter where it is to, just do it!

I always said that there were three things that I wanted to see in my lifetime, (people now call it a "bucket list") and I was able to see all three during this trip ...
  1. Pope John Paul II (we were close enough to touch him!)
  2. the Colisseum
  3. Medjugorje
I truly was blessed! And even 9 years later, I still think about what I experienced and thank God that I had the opportunities!

"Spirit Daily" had an article on Medjugorje this morning and I wanted to share a beautiful comment with you that touched me from Father Zovko ...

"The Rosary in your hand and prayer in your heart... In the five decades of the Rosary I see the five smooth stones of the prophet David. There is nothing you cannot conquer. This is the weapon against your Goliath, against your enemy. Yes, you can defend your Jerusalem and your Israel. Can you believe that you are Our Lady’s David? Do not be afraid. Today Our Lady places the Rosary in your hand and the gift of prayer in your heart."Fr Jozo Zovko
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