Introduction to Summer Session 2013

Summer is upon us!  As excited as many of us are to have our kids home from school, the time will soon come when we look forward to the school year starting over again this Fall.  We look forward to the hiking, the park days, vacations and nice weather many of us enjoy.  Let us not forget the importance of time dedicated to our own spiritual growth so we are refreshed and energized to fully enjoy the gift our Lord has given to us in our families.  I’d like to personally invite you to join our Summer Session of Saint Gabriel’s Group.

The group has chosen an exciting Catholic Blogger Lisa Hendey’s new book, “A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul” as our Summer reading material.  Her book will provide the basis for our weekly discussions.  We will have the great pleasure of "meeting" with her via Skype on July 3rd at 10am.  This will give us an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the book as well as ask her general questions.  

Since the book is broken up into 52 chapters it was obviously meant to be read weekly over the course of a year.  With that in mind we'll read the book a bit differently.  There will be chapter groupings as listed on the calendar.  Please read through the chapters and journal on the "Something to Ponder" sections.  We'll discuss those at each meeting.  

There are also two other wonderful features to each chapter.  The weekly scriptures and the traditions associate with each saint.  The plan (God and baby willing) is to have further information on several of the traditions for the group to learn and discuss.  If you would like to contribute to the tradition research/presentation, please feel free!  Each week, as listed in the calendar,  we will focus on one saint from the grouping to follow along the daily scripture readings.  

I look forward to a wonderful summer and sharing what time I can before bambino gets here with all of you! 

Father's Day Novena for Strong Men, Husbands & Fathers

Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for me to have a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

to strengthen all families, to strengthen the roles of all men in our families, our marriages and our world.  Allow men the freedom to express their faith and teach your Truth in their own home and in our society.  St. Joseph, be a role model for the unconditional love men have the ability to posses and profess.

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

Amen.

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR ONE'S FAMILY

Joseph, strengthen in our family
every bond of love which unites us --
the marriage bond,
the love of parent and child,
the bonds of mutual love between all.
Joseph, protect our family
from every danger from without
and from every threat
to peace, unity and harmony within.
Joseph, teach us to be
kind and loving towards one another,
careful for one another,
tolerant of one another,
forgiving towards one another.
Joseph, may contentment with our lot
and joy in each other
abound in our house,
as we seek faithfully to serve
and greatly to love God.
Joseph, be you yourself
a father towards the family of ours,
and pray Mary
be a mother to us.

Amen

St. Joseph Memorare

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them.

Amen.