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"

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Jonah: The Sign of God’s Mercy

Jonah 3:1–10;
Psalm 51:3–4, 12–13, 18–19;
Luke 11:29–32  

Most of us know the story of Jonah and the whale. But today’s readings give us the rest of the story. Jonah’s mission as a prophet was to deliver a warning from God to the pagan city of Nineveh; his watery adventure was part of his wish to escape that mission. God ensures that Jonah does deliver the message, and when he does the results are overwhelmingly positive. Sadly, Jonah cannot accept the mercy God shows in the face of the surprising repentance of a whole city—including the livestock. (Jonah’s disappointment is related in another part of the biblical book not given in today’s selection.)

The point of this delightful and humorous story is precisely the merciful response of God. (The gracious nature of that mercy is emphasized in the tale in the repentance of the Assyrians, one of the most dreaded nations of the ancient Near East.)

So often we find it difficult to understand how God can be God. God seems to be able to show mercy to people we’d rather not forgive or even tolerate. It was the same for the opponents of Jesus. They could not accept him and how he brought God’s forgiveness.

As today’s Gospel shows, God had yet another surprise—the “sign of Jonah” present in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Today’s Action

List three people in your life you haven’t yet forgiven for some slight or offense. Ask God to help you to forgive them.  

Prayer

God of the prophets, pursue us until we are ready to accept your call. Then grace us to be bold in proclaiming your love and forgiveness in the world. Amen.

Friedman O.F.M., Greg (2011-11-30). Lent With the Saints: Daily Meditations (p. 16). St. Anthony Messenger Press Books. Kindle Edition.
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