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"

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

February 12th
Saint Ethelwald of Lindisfarne

Saint Ethelwald, you had such love and reverence for God's Word that you had the Book of Gospels decorated with the finest of precious metals and stones. Instill in me a similar love for the Word of God, and remind me that it is more valuable than any collection of gold or jewels. Teach me to read it daily, and help me to learn from God's Word the way of love. I pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord, the Living Word. Amen.
 
died c. 740: Ethelwald was one of Saint Cuthbert's chief helpers. Prior and then abbot of Old Melrose in Scotland, Ethelwald finally succeeded to the see of Lindisfarne. He commissioned Saint Bilfrid to embellish the famous Lindisfarne Book of Gospels with gold, silver and precious stones.
Be Mindful of Us, Prayers to the Saints - Anthony F. Chiffolo
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