Saint Dominic Savio . . . the soul of a young saint.

Saint Dominic Savio (1842-1857) was a young man under the spiritual care of another great saint,  Saint John Bosco. Saint Dominic Savio pursued his studies for the priesthood early in life until he became ill and died at the age of fourteen. I find it amazing that such a young man would determine his path in life so devoutly and persistently.

 

At the age of only twelve, Saint Dominic Savio decided on four rules of life which he vowed to live by in order to eventually attain sainthood.  Everyone that reaches Heaven, is a saint. Some saints, however, make an impression on the world that is known long after their death. Saint Dominic Savio's four rules worked for his spirituality and are wonderful in the simplicity that is available to everyone.

1. I will go to Confession and to Communion often.

2. I will keep holy the feasts days.

3. Jesus will be my best friend.

4. And I would rather die than to commit a sin.

Baked French Toast?

Every time the temperature goes down a bit, I'm encouraged to turn on the oven. Okay, so it has gone from the 100-degree mark this week to all of 90! Although my family enjoys French Toast, I've never thought of baking it in the oven. Seems like a perfect way to get every one's breakfast ready at the same time yet leave work space on top of the stove for doing eggs and bacon. This recipe sounds easy and, ultimately, very good. It is on my list of recipes to try in the very near future. I even have a gluten-free bread recipe to try for my version of it.

Baked French Toast
1 loaf of French Bread
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons corn syrup (Molasses if you like a 'deeper' taste)
6 large eggs
2 cups milk (you can substitute 1/2 cup of the milk for heavy cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash of cloves

Vegetable oil spray a baking dish about 9" x l3" or so. Slice the bread to 3/4-inch thick.

Cook the sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a pot until it is liquid and syrup-like. Pour this mixture into your prepared baking pan. Place the bread in a layer, one deep, over the syrup mixture.

Beat together the eggs, milk (milk and cream), vanilla, and spices. Pour over bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Bake the next morning in a 325 degree oven for approximately 20-30 minutes or until hot through, browning on top, and bubbly. Serves 6-8.

With the sugar/butter layer, you might not even need more syrup on it when served!

Benghazi and some facts . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ds1nnJ3t14&feature=youtu.be

Some interesting facts about a travasty of American justice. The journalists and reporters in America have to start reporting the news not what they and the government would like the news to present. Taxpayers shouldn't be told lies and American lifes should be protected. This is very sad.

Sweet Potato Biscuits - Sweet or Savory

This is the basic recipe for some colorful biscuits to grace your luncheon salad or dinner party. What I like about it is that you can also add more sugar to taste along with some spices and have a sweeter version that is good for snacks or breakfast and still keep the healthier properties of the sweet potato.

Sweet Potato Biscuits
1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon softened butter
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment or use vegetable oil spray to grease.

Beat sweet potatoes, butter, and sugar until well blended. In another bowl, combine the baking soda in the butter milk and then add to the potato mixture. Stir together the salt and flour and add to the mixture. Gently combine to just mix. Roll out to approximately 1/2-inch thickness on floured board.

Using a small cookie cutter, round works best, cut and place biscuits on prepared baking sheets. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Should yield about 2 dozen biscuits depending the size cookie cutter you used.

For sweeter biscuits, increase the sugar to 1/2 cup and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, dash of cloves, nutmeg, and ginger to taste. Mix as already directed.

Whip together an egg white and tablespoon of sugar and glaze the tops of the biscuits before baking.

Happy Mother's Day Greetings from the Famous!

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.
William Makepeace Thackeray

The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.
Barbara Kingsolver

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories.
Honore de Balzac

"A mother is not a person to lean upon, but a person to make leaning unnecessary."
Dorothy Canfield Fisher

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
George Washington, U.S. President

"By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."
Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President

"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all."
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Pentecost is coming - Novena in Honor of the Holy Spirit!

NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (Recite before the novena prayer for the day)

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the strength and light of my soul! In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You, asking in Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy One, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say always and everywhere: "Speak Lord, for Your servant hears." Amen.

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DAY 1 - FRIDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: Holy Spirit! God of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!

The Holy Spirit: Only one thing is important-eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared-sin. Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love, bringing sevenfold gifts enlighten the mind, strengthen the will, and inflame the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation, we should invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helps our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit asks for us."

Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, Who has vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and has given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit - the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and guide us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen. (Our Father & Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at end of novena)

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DAY 2 - SATURDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: Come, Spirit of the poor. Come, treasures which endure. Come, Light of all that live!

The Gift of Fear - The Gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial love for our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God. "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls."

Prayer

Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever. Help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, world without end. Amen. (Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 3 - SUNDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: You, of all Consolers best, visiting the troubled breast, does refreshing peace bestow.

The Gift of Piety - The Gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God as our most loving Father. It inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested with His authority, the Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers. He who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice of religion not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service.

Where there is love, there is no labor.

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority lawfully exercised over me. Amen. (Our Father & Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 4 - MONDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: You in toil art comfort sweet, pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.

The Gift of Fortitude - By the Gift of Fortitude, the soul is strengthened against natural fears and supported to the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy that move it to undertake without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample human respect underfoot, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall persevere unto the end shall be saved."

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, and give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.

(Our Father & Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 5 -TUESDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: Light immortal! Light Divine! Visit these hearts of Yours, And our inmost being fill!

The Gift of Knowledge - The Gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth-in their relation. to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals our emptiness, and points out our only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity and directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge is a fountain of life to them that possess it."

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things that I may eschew vanity and work only for Your glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond earthly goods to You and Your eternal rewards. Amen. (Our Father & Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 6 - WEDNESDAY- Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: If You take Your grace away,

Nothing pure in man will stay; all his good is turned to ill.

The Gift of Understanding - Understanding, as a Gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our Holy Religion. By faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, increasing in the knowledge of our God."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation, and thereby merit at last to see the eternal light in Your glorious light; grant us the ultimate vision of You and the Father and the Son. Amen. (Our Father & Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 7 - THURSDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: Heal our wounds-our strength renew; on our dryness pour Your dew, wash the stains of guilt away.

The Gift of Counsel - The Gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that God may direct you in the way of truth."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Your Holy Will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Your Commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. (Our Father & Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 8 - FRIDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: Bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen, warm the chill. Guide the steps that go astray!

The Gift of Wisdom - Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of Wisdom it is written, "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, while the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: "Take up your cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power, and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them forever. Amen. (Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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DAY 9 - SATURDAY - Recite the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit. Then: Descend Holy Spirit, on those who confess and adore You! Fill us with Your sevenfold gift, and as we die, give us life with You on high - give us joys that never end.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit - The gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service becomes more sincere and generous, our practice of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God to serve Whom is to reign.

Prayer

Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Your heavenly fruits, Your charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Your inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with You in the love of the Father and the Son, Amen. (Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Prayer for the Seven Gifts at the end of the novena)

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PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - (Recite daily at the end of each novena prayer.)



O Lord Jesus Christ, Who before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant that same Spirit to us to perfect in our souls the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant us:

The Spirit of Wisdom, that we may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal;

The Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten our minds with the light of Your divine truth;

The Spirit of Counsel, that we may always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven;

The Spirit of Fortitude, that we may bear our crosses with You and overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose our salvation;

The Spirit of Knowledge, that we may know God and know ourselves and grow perfect in the science of the Saints;

The Spirit of Piety, that we may find the service of God sweet and amiable;

The Spirit of Fear, that we may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark us, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate us in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

Realities of our Fallen Natures . . .

The news from Cleveland, Ohio was both joyful and horrendous yesterday. I can only imagine the happiness of the families of the three women released from the sordid home of those three perverts after more than a decade of captivity. While the joy is very much real, it is another shock to the world that such evil is existing right next door in so many circumstances these days.

The world had reduced it's modesty and grace to a very low standard. We don't stop premarital sex, we find ways to prevent the 'side effects' like disease and . . . babies. Women want to be taken seriously yet dress like they are recruiting business on the streets. Women have the choice of carrying a disposable fetus or expecting a baby. No choice for a baby struggling to survive the horrors of being burned or butchered through abortion. Women demand equal rights and snub men who dare to be polite and open a door for them. Sex isn't a gift a married couple shares. It is now a part of recreation and it doesn't have to be within a committed relationship. Yet, we are still shocked when the level of cruelty and horror takes another step as in the discovery of the three victims in Cleveland.

Years ago, Ruth and Billy Graham presented the world with a quote and it keeps gathering meaning over the years. God doesn't allow bad things to happen so much as allow us to use our free will and forget about praying for discernment before utilizing that gift of free will.

"If God doesn't soon bring judgment upon America, He'll have to go back and apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!"