Journeys of a Catholic Poster Girl

Happy All Saints’ Day, friends. Don’t you love this feast?
I do–as a kid I always thought it was weird to be juxtaposed with halloween (sacred and profane, and all that), but as I grew older and realized how important the saints are to us, and how close they are, I’ve really grown to love this feast.

Here are the three saints I’m celebrating this year:

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, as always. She was the saint I chose at my confirmation, and the more I learn about here, the more I fall in love with her. She’s the most popular saint of modern times for a reason. If you’re looking for a good book on her, I recommend this one.  And there’s the movie!

St. Francis is the saint I have been studying this year. I got the idea from “Around the Year With the Von Trapp Family” to pick a saint every first Sunday of Advent that you will study during the year. I chose St. Francis since, at that time, I was applying to Franciscan University and wanted to learn more about St. Francis and the order he founded. This book is a good introduction, and this movie (also featuring St. Clare) is fantastic. (Also, in my family, my grandfather’s name is Francis, and it is my brother’s middle name.)

And finally, St. Dominic, whom, as we know from here, I have been studying. Right now I don’t have any books or movies to recomment, except–say the rosary! This great gift was given by Mary to St. Dominic, and is such a powerful prayer.

In addition to these, there is also St. Emily and St. Michael the Archangel, who are my name saints (Michele is my mom’s name, and my middle name.)

What about you? Who are your special saints?

From The Corner:

Obama to End Mexico City Policy [Ed Whelan]
AP reports that today President Obama will “sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions.” How soon until Obama’s pro-life apologists try to argue that repeal of the so-called Mexico City policy is really a pro-life step?

Life on the Mall

Roe V. Wade at 36 (NRO)

And this picture

Tony Blair becomes Catholic!
Mary and Jesus–too cute.

From Happy Catholic.

I tag Liz and Nutmeg!

*that’s me and my godson, BTW.

All About MEme

1. Male or Female: Female

2. Married or Single (or religious): Single

3. Dream vacation: Rome and England
4. Birthplace: St. Ann’s hospital, Columbus, OH

5. Area I live in currently: apt. in Central Ohio

6. Someone you wish you could meet: The Pope (I know I’m so original)

7. Biggest “pet-peeve”: They are all driving-related–not using turn signals, not having your lights on in the rain/snow/dark

8. Favorite Religious devotion: Rosary

9. Favorite Saint (besides the Blessed Mother): My Patron saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Emily and St. Thomas More

10. Favorite sport that you play: mini-golf (is that a sport?)

11. Favorite food: pasta, baby. Pasta.

12. Tridentine or Novus Ordo: Missed the Tridentine by virtue of being an 80s baby, but would LOVE to attend one.

13. Would you (or are you) home school or public school: I did public and parochial school; I would like to homeschool though, since I was originally an education major.

14. How many kids do you have: none.

15.Ever been in an auto accident: Yes. Rear-ended taxi in February (sadly)

16. Ever seen a Pope in person: No, working on it, though.

17.Languages that you know fluently: English , American Sign language. I can read French pretty well

18.Last movie you saw in theatres: Spiderman III

19.Favorite Blog: The Corner, Danielle Bean, Mom to the Screaming Masses, Life in a Nutshell, Adoro Te Devote, Recovering Dissident Catholic, Liz’s Book Blog!

20.Your thoughts on Barney, the Easter bunny, and Santa Claus: Missed Barney phenomenon, thank God. Easter Bunny–very cool. He still comes to our house. santa Claus–also very cool, even though no longer comes to our house.

No, but by looking at these pictures from Barbara, I can pretend to be:

I tried to upload the pictures to this site, but for some reason it wouldn’t work. So visit Barbara and then come back here…
The Kidron Valley
John 18: 1: “Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.”

The garden of Gethsemane

Matthew 26: 26-40, 42: “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ’sit here, while I go yonder and pray.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going a little father he fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ …Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.’”
Luke 22:43-44: “And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like the great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.”