Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel - thank you for looking after me every day and every night.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day or night be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.

This is one of my favorite 'angel' pictures/cards

The feast day of Guardian Angels is on October 2.

Aniele boży stróżu mój, Ty zawsze przy mnie stój. Rano, wieczór we dnie i w nocy bądź mi zawsze ku pomocy. I chroń mnie od wszelkiego złego... 

Maximilian Maria Kolbe

Maksymilian Maria Kolbe was born in Poland, on January 8, 1894, died in Auschwitz on August 14, 1941. His real name was Rajmund Kolbe. He joined the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in 1907 and became priest in 1914. Father Maksymilian Maria Kolbe worked as a missionary in Poland, China, Japan, and Italy.

He was imprisoned in Auschwitz. There he volunteered to be starved to death instead of Franciszek Gajowniczek (the latter one was among the men sentenced to death because three other prisoners had escaped from the concentration camp). After two weeks of starvation, Maksymilian Maria was still alive so the camp guards killed him with a lethal injection. He was the first Christian WW2 martyr.

Maksymilian Maria Kolbe was recognized as a Blessed Person in 1971. He was proclaimed Saint in 1982.

The two above cards I was given a long time ago, when I was a primary school kid. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe was still regarded as a Blessed one then.

Saint Maksymilian Maria Kolbe's attributes are his camp prisoner's number 16670, concentration camp outfit, glasses, a book, a rosary made of bread, and a palm leaf.

He is the saint patron of prisoners, families, journalists, blood donors, and Esperantists.
The feast day of St. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe is August 14.

Lady of All Nations

Holy Mary pray for us and the entire world, may we live in peace now and always.

Our Lady - The Lady of All Nations - appeared many times (from 1945 to 1959) to Ida Peederman in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Saint Anne

Anne was the mother of Mary and Jesus Christ's grandmother. Anne's sister was Sobe. The latter one was the mother of Elisabeth. Anne died when she was 80 years old.

The feast days of St. Anne (according to different calendars) are July 25, 26 and November 20.

St. Anne is the Saint Patron of many cities and countries including Spain, Canada and Brazil.
She is also the Patroness of (among others) married couples, childless people, miners, mothers, children, housewives, and grandparents.

Her attributes are a book, a door; she is also portrayed with Mary, Jesus and/or her husband Joachim.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Feast of Sacred Heart was observed last Friday (19 days after Pentecost).

Here is a 'Sacred Heart of Jesus' holy card* from our collection which includes a painting by R. de Soto.

"The righteous cry and the Lord heareth,

and delivereth them out of all their troubles"

Psalm 34:17

*by Franciscan Mission Associates

Saint Anthony

Saint Anthony's real name was Fernando Martins de Bulhões. He was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal. He chose monastery life and became a priest in 1219. In 1220 Fernando joined the Franciscans order and changed his given name to Anthony. He died in a monastery near Padua, at the age of 36, due to ergotism he had suffered from.

St. Anthony is the patron saint of many cities, lost things, children, miners, fishermen, married and engaged couples, the poor, pregnant women, missing persons and elderly people.
He is also the patron saint of minor animals, shipwrecks, and harvests.

The feast of St. Anthony was observed on June 13. The Saint's attributes are a book, a lily, a heart, a flame, fish, bread and a donkey.

Saint Dymphna

Dymphna was born in the seventh century. She was a daughter of Damon, an Irish king (who was a pagan). Her mother was Christian. Dymphna was baptized in a secret as well. After the death of her mother, Damon was willing to marry Dymphna. The girl fled to Geel in Belgium to escape the marriage. Dymphna, supposedly, was the founder of a hospital in Geel. Since she did not want to come back to Ireland, king Damon had her killed.

The feast day of St Dymphna is on 15th May. She is the patron saint of the emotionally and nervously disturbed, victims of incest, neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Her attributes are a crown, a sword, a lilly and a lamp.

Crucifixion

The Word for today:

 'And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'

-Galatians 6:9

Our Lady of Lourdes

On February 11 in 1858, a little country girl of the name Bernarde-Marie Soubirous experienced the first appearance of Our Lady in the grotto of Lourdes. Later, seventeen more such appearances occurred. They were witnessed by citizens of Lourdes who were resting in the grotto. During one of them, a miraculous water spring appeared in the place as well.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and forever. Amen

Day of Consecrated Life

February 2 is the day of consecrated life.

God, please help all the clergymen and women to be good people and true spiritual leaders.

The card was given to us on the 25th priesthood anniversary of priest bishop Andrzej Sliwiński (1961-1986).

Christmas Call Keepsake

December/January is the time of the annual Christmas calls paid at parishioners' homes by parish priests.

Here is a keepsake received during such a visit, long time ago, from the rector of our parish church (at that time) - priest Kiedrowski.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

-2 Corinthians 5:17