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, February 16, 2013

Saturday After Ash Wednesday
Levi (Matthew) the Tax Collector: Sinners Are Welcome

Isaiah 58:9b–14;
Psalm 86:1–2, 3–4, 5–6;
Luke 5:27–32  

Luke—and Mark—tell us the story of Levi, a tax collector whom Jesus calls as a follower in today’s Gospel passage. Levi promptly throws a party for Jesus. More tax collectors and others show up as well, prompting criticism from the Pharisees and scribes. Their disapproval draws one of Jesus’ most important responses: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31–32).
 
Why did Levi not get numbered among the disciples of Jesus whose stories are told in the Gospel, such as Peter, Andrew, James, and John? We don’t know. In Matthew’s Gospel the evangelist (who was probably not the apostle Matthew) borrowed the story from Mark and changed Levi’s name to “Matthew.” Scholars suggest that the evangelist possibly wanted to match up this dramatic story of the conversion of a tax collector with “Matthew, the tax collector” who appears in all the listings of apostles.
 
This bit of biblical trivia is less important than the lesson Jesus gives. The Gospels are full of stories where Jesus meets and dines with sinners. In doing so, he overturned the expectations of “religious” people and proclaimed the reign of God through mercy and forgiveness. We are welcome in the company of Jesus, even though we are sinners.
 
Today’s Action
 
When in your life have you been called by Jesus to follow him? Reflect on your own vocation story.  
 
Prayer
 
God of forgiveness, surprise us today with the call to a change of heart. May we hear the voice of Jesus inviting us to follow him. Amen.
 
Friedman O.F.M., Greg (2011-11-30). Lent With the Saints: Daily Meditations (p. 8). St. Anthony Messenger Press Books. Kindle Edition.
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