St Michael the Archangel prayer

I attended Catholic schools all during my youth, and yet I never once heard this prayer.  There's always something new to learn about your faith! 

Originally composed in Latin, this prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII in 1886.  Until 1965, it was recited after every Low Mass at Pope Leo's order.  In recent years, a number of parishes have begun reciting it once more, and many individual Catholics have kept the practice up. Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have urged the faithful to pray it daily, and especially after Mass. 

A prayer to 'defend us in battle' seems appropriate as you head out of the church parking lot, doesn't it?

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Saint of the Day: Catherine of Siena

Doctor of the Church
Feast day: April 29

Patron of:  Fire prevention
b.1347 - d.1380

The 25th child of a wool dyer in northern Italy, St. Catherine started having mystical experiences when she was only 6, seeing guardian angels as clearly as the people they protected. She became a Dominican tertiary when she was 16, and continued to have visions of Christ, Mary, and the saints. St. Catherine was one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, although she never had any formal education. She persuaded the Pope to go back to Rome from Avignon, in 1377, and when she died she was endeavoring to heal the Great Western Schism. In 1375 Our Lord gave her the Stigmata, which was visible only after her death. Her spiritual director was Blessed Raymond of Capua. St, Catherine's letters, and a treatise called "a dialogue" are considered among the most brilliant writings in the history of the Catholic Church. She died when she was only 33, and her body was found incorrupt in 1430.   -- from   http://www.catholic.org/

"Lord, take me from myself and give me to yourself." - St Catherine of Siena

Interesting tidbits: 

At 16, Catherine Benincasa took the habit of the Dominican Tertiaries and secluded herself in a small room in her father's house for three years, where she experienced many visions.

Catherine wrote over 400 letters to church authorities and the ruling heads of Europe.  She became a trusted advisor and consultant in many political matters.  She is best known for convincing Pope Gregory IX to return to Rome from Avignon.  Catherine is sometimes called "the mystic of politics." 

Catherine died in Rome, but the people of Siena wanted her to be in her hometown.  There is a story about a group of people who smuggled her head out of Rome in a paper bag.  When guards insisted on looking inside,  they only saw a bag full of rose petals.  The head re-materialized in Siena, and was placed in an elaborate reliquary in St. Dominic's Basilica, where it remains today.      

SieNa is the city.  SieNNa is the color named after the iron-rich earth in that part of the country.     

"Breaking Open the Scripture" Cookies

Happy Easter!

This year, I found a lovely little Holy Saturday recipe/ritual (from The Lent-Easter Book, by Joan Marie Arbogast), and I thought I'd share it with you.  My children now know that Easter is the one day of the year when they get to have a cookie for breakfast.  Enjoy!


Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp red wine vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch of salt
1 cup sugar


Supplies:
a zip-lock type baggie
wooden spoon 
electric mixer (or a strong arm and a lot of patience)
waxed paper or parchment
cookie sheet
masking tape


1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 
2. Have children place pecans (or graham crackers, or pretzel pieces) in plastic bag.  Using a wooden spoon, have children strike the bag and break the nuts.
Explain:  This reminds us that Jesus was beaten by the soldiers.
Read:  "Pilate gave orders for Jesus to be beaten with a whip." (John 19:1)


3. Measure 1 tsp. vinegar, and pour into the mixing bowl.
Explain:  This reminds us that when Jesus was dying on the cross, he was very thirsty, but they only gave him some vinegar to drink.
Read:  Jesus said, 'I thirst.'  A jar of cheap wine was there.  Someone then soaked a sponge with the wine and held it up to Jesus' mouth.  After he tasted it, he said, 'It is finished.'  He bowed his head and died. (John 19: 28-30)


4.  Add egg whites to the vinegar.
Explain: Eggs represent life, so they remind us that Jesus gave his life for us, so that we could have eternal life. 
Read: "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives up his life for the sheep." 


5.  Sprinkle a tiny bit of salt into everyone's hand, and have them taste it.  Then add a pinch of salt to the bowl.
Explain: The salt represents the salty tears that Jesus' followers wept when he died.
Read:  "A large crowd was following Jesus, and a lot of women were crying and weeping for him." (Luke 23:27)


6.  Add sugar, a bit at a time.
Explain:  So far, the ingredients don't seem as if they would be tasty.  But now comes the sweetest part of the story.  Jesus died because he loves us so much!
Read: "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me." (Galatians 2:20)  


7. Beat all ingredients (except nuts) on high for about 12-15 minutes until the mixture forms stiff peaks. 
8. Gently mix in broken nuts, and drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain:  Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was placed.
Read:  "Joseph of Arimathea put the body of Jesus into his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used.  He rolled a big stone against the entrance and went away." (Matthew 27:60)


9. Place the cookie sheet into the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF.  Seal the oven door with masking tape.
Explain:  This represents how the tomb was sealed shut and guarded.
Read:  "Pilate said to them, 'All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb.'  So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it."  (Matthew 27: 65-66)


10.  Now, go to bed!
Explain:  You may be disappointed in leaving the cookies in the oven overnight.  That's how Jesus' followers felt when he died and was buried.
Read: "Jesus said, 'I tell you for certain that you will cry and be sad... but later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel.'" (John 16:20, 22)


11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface, and the hollow center.
Read: "It was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  Suddenly a strong earthquake struck and the Lord's angel came down from heaven.  He rolled away the stone and sat down on it.  The angel said, 'Don't be afraid!  You are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross.  He isn't here!  God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would.  Now hurry!  Tell his disciples that he is alive and on his way to Galilee.  Go there, and you will see him.'" (Matthew 28:1-2, 5-7)
Explain:  The tomb is empty!  Jesus is alive!  Now it's up to us to spread the Good News!