St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!! Who is St. Patrick and why do we celebrate him? St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity and entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. He lived in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering. He died March 17, 461 in Saul, Ireland, where he had built the first Irish church. He is believed to be buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, Ireland. His grave was marked in 1990 with a granite stone. In the United States, he is the patron saint of immigrants.

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Today's Gospel isn't very difficult to understand. It states plainly that those who follow in the Lord and trust in the Lord will reap their benefits in Heaven. Those who value material things, those who do not reach out to others, who will not repent, will suffer their fate in Hell. It is basically "you reap what you sow". However, these are the very same people that we need to show mercy to. We need to pray that the Lord will change their hearts. 

In Jeremiah, the story reminds us that we should not rely solely on ourselves. We will become like a tree that is planted in the middle of the desert. There is not much nourishment for a tree planted in sand and exposed to heat with little water. If you plant that same tree near a water source, where there is equal parts sun and shade, that tree will grow big and strong. God's word is water to our souls. It provides us the substance we need in order to grow in our faith. 

Lent is the best time to renew yourself in God's love, to dive deep into His word. It will fill your soul with all you need to make your faith strong so that you will be able to withstand the storms that will eventually come into your life. Take some time to reflect on today's reading and take an inventory of where you stand with your beliefs. Ask yourself if you are too reliant on yourself instead of placing your burdens with God. 

Be blessed, dear reader. And, as usual.... be a nice human.

Here is today's reflection from Father Bill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zeek62WTFs

Here is a wonderful song to get your heart prepared for prayer and reflection: https://youtu.be/4g-iYws5868

Mental Illness, Faith, and Patron Saints

There seems to be a patron saint for almost anything and any place. So, when I came across this article, I found it really quite interesting that there are saints that we can invoke spiritual support from for our mental illnesses. The story of St. Dymphna was truly heartbreaking. I shared it with my daughter who thought the same thing. But, we can use her story as inspiration for our own trials. AND....we need to share our trials with others so we can inspire and uplift them, as well. God never gives us problems without a way to use them for the good of ourselves and others.


As one who suffers from anxiety and depression, it makes life really hard. Recently I ventured out by myself and went to an early evening Mass at a nearby Franciscan chapel. That was a big thing for me. I really haven't been anywhere on my own in quite some time. But, I felt I needed to be there, so off I went. And I was glad to have gone. Unfortunately, my anxiety wouldn't leave me alone enough to enjoy the peace and serenity of it all, but it still was an accomplishment. The whole idea is to at least do SOMETHING, no matter how small. AND... be proud of yourself for accomplishing it, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Give this article a read. If nothing else, it will give you some hope that you can keep surviving and moving forward. https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/mental-illness-patron-saints-6296?fbclid=IwAR30K5Np3eQjI0mqkycPB_TkHzWudUmPrQ0Q1ydBEwcDU17JjVlTkrCpqCc

Sending Love and Blessings. 😊💙✝️

Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic (August 8, 1170 – August 6, 1221)

Saint Dominic is the Saint of the Day for August 8. 

Saint Dominic was born into a prominent family in Spain in 1170. His parents were members of the Spanish nobility and related to the ruling family. His education was in theology and the arts; he spent six years studying theology and four years studying the arts. Dominic was praised by his professors for his exceptional performance in his classes. However, Dominic felt he had a higher calling and chose to become a priest. In 1194, he joined a Benedictine order, the Canons Regular in Osma, Spain where he became the Prior of the Chapter in 1201.

As part of his ministry, Dominic founded an institution dedicated to preserving the progress that was made against the Albigensian heresy (a branch of the Catharistic belief, which was a heretical movement that had a different, and more extreme belief within Christianity). He also felt that the nobility needed a place to educate their children, and that Catholic women needed a safe place to go to worship, away from the hostile heretics. To that end, Dominic established a convent at Prouille, France in 1206, which became the first Dominican house.

Dominic’s vision was to live ones life with God, study, and prayer in all forms. As he journeyed through France, he shared this vision with other priests he had met as well as others whom he encountered. As he and his fellow priests slowly came together as a community, they decided that they would need a permanent place where they could live and minister to one and all. In 1215, Dominic founded a religious house at Toulouse, thus becoming The Order of Preachers or Dominicans. To this day, the monastery remains as the Notre-Dame-de-Prouille Monastery.

During a trip to Italy in 1221, Dominic fell ill. Upon reaching the convent of Saint Nicholas in Bologna, Italy, it was noted that he appeared exhausted and feverish. His health continued to decline, and at twelve noon on August 6, 1221 Dominic went home to be with God. He was 51 years old at the time. It appeared that his illness and subsequent death was due to exhaustion from his austere lifestyle, his many laborious journeys and his unfailing work.

Dominic was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on July 12, 1234, with his feast day commonly observed on August 8. He is usually depicted in icons with a dog, or lilies, holding a book. He is the Patron Saint of astronomers, astronomy, the falsely accused as well as being the Patron Saint in several cities and countries.

Stained glass | St. Dominic sends out the Friars

Helpful Links:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-dominic/
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=178
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Dominic