What time is it? It’s Novena Time!

It’s that time of year again. Summer has just begun, and that means Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati’s feast day is right around the corner! July 4th, to be exact. In celebration, please consider joining in the novena in his honor, which starts on June 25th. More details can be found here. It’s going to be awesome, and I’m looking forward to it. 

Here’s the thing about Bl. Pier Giorgio; he’s incredibly generous in Heaven, just as he was on Earth. In my own personal experience, when you faithfully and humbly approach him with sincerity, he’ll have you covered. Just one of the many, many reasons he’s my favorite man up in the Heavens. 

Besides, who can say no to this face? 

I hope you join this novena, and receive many blessings from our dear mountain climbing friend up above. 
Until next time, verso l’alto!

My Catholic Summer Reading List

St. John Bosco once said, “Only God knows the good that can come about by reading one good Catholic book.”

With summer beginning, more free time than usual, and my abhorrence with the California heat waves, there’s no better time to brush up on spiritual reading. I’ve always been a bookworm anyway. In elementary school I was one of those kids who helped in the library, just to be around the tangy scent of books and to get away from my sweaty, overheated peers out on the blacktop, under the scorching sun. 

Okay, it wasn’t that bad but the point is I preferred books to playing. 

So, as time allows I’ll be straining my eyeballs and strengthening my poor soul through the spiritual books listed below. 

The Life of St. Gemma Galgani by her Spiritual Director Ven. Fr. Germanus, C.P

The World’s First Love 
Mary, Mother of God by Ven. Fulton J. Sheen

The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori 

Preparation for Death  by St. Alphonsus Liguori 


It’s going to be a very Liguori summer, I’ve already started The Glories of Mary and it’s one of the most beautiful Marian books I’ve ever read. It won’t be surprising if it takes a whole year to finish, because it’s one of those works where you have to stop and really think about what you just read. Simply amazing. 

Anyway, this reading list is short but more books might be added on as time passes. What’s on your summer reading list?

Wise Words of Sanctification

Praise be to baby Jesus, I'm done with high school. With that part of my life now being over, it's time to let the blogging juices start flowing once more. St. Teresa of Avila, pray for me. In the meantime, enjoy the cluster of my personal favorite saint quotes. We have much to learn from the saints, and we can't learn from them unless we know them. Without further ado, I present to you my most beloved quotes from our friends in Heaven. 

"Foolish is he who follows the pleasures of this world, because these are always fleeting and bring much pain. The only true pleasure is that which comes to us through faith." -Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati

"Until we have a passionate love for our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, we shall accomplish nothing." -St. Julian Peter Eymard

"Love that cannot suffer is not worthy of that name." -St. Clare of Assisi 

"The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against itself; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain." -St. Padre Pio

"I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament, would that I be transformed into a hymn of adoration of You." -St. Faustina 

"God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint." -St. Therese of Lisieux 

"Our perfection does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but to do the ordinary well." -St. Gabriel Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows

"Oh Jesus, how are you doing in my heart? In the narrow cell of my chest in love with You, tell me, oh Jesus, how are you doing there? Oh fire always burning, without ever dying down, if only you would let all of me go up in flames? Would You let this fire perfect me? Oh Jesus, oh Love! My life, my sustenance, my strength!" -St. Gemma Galgani 

"If you have devotion to Mary, Help of Christians, you will see what miracles are." -St. John Bosco 

"As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to Heaven by Mary." -St. Thomas Aquinas



Until next time, pax. 

40 Lenten Sacrifices

A week from today, Catholics around the globe will be sporting ashes on their foreheads, which commences the beginning of Lent. 40 days of sacrifice, prayer and spiritual growth.

The big question is: what are you giving up or doing for Lent?
For some help, I’ve recruited my sisters to help come up with a list of 40 Lenten Sacrifices, that go beyond giving up chocolate… although that is a legitimate sacrifice for chocoholics. 

   

   

So without further ado, here you go.


25 Corporal Sacrifices 

1. Don’t scratch at itchy spots
2. Give up some vanity (shaving, makeup, eyebrow tweezing, etc)
3. Sleep with no pillow
4. Sleep on the floor
5. Don’t snack
6. Don’t buy what isn’t necessary 
7. No video games
8. Do 20 jumping jacks every morning, after you wake up
9. Avoid secular/mainstream music
10. Don’t eat out
11. Check social media only once a day, or not at all
12. Wear your least favorite color
13. Don’t speak unless unnecessary
14. Be externally (and internally) charitable to someone who makes you a saint (aka is extremely annoying)
15. Practice mortifying your senses (i.e not eating that extra slice of pizza, not watching the next episode of your favorite series, eat your least favorite food etc.)
16. When arriving at someones house, actually go to the door instead of texting or calling so say that you’re outside
17. Fast from a common food, like cheese, potatoes or bread, for example
18. Use stairs instead of the elevator or escalator 
19. Say goodbye to regular TV, and hello to EWTN 
20. Give up internet time for prayer time
21. Wear the same (or two) pair of shoes for all 40 days
22. Do your homework the day you receive it, no slacking
23. Don’t hit that snooze button
24. Don’t use extra salt or pepper on your food, including french fries
25. Do one act of charity daily, and also consider joining THE PACT to keep it going, even when Lent is over.

15 Spiritual Sacrifices

1. Start a spiritual journal and write one entry daily, or write daily if you already keep one
2. Pray three rosaries daily
3. Learn holy humility by praying instead of complaining, eye rolling, etc.
4. Continuously read (and finish) spiritual books until Lent is finished. For starters, Preparation for Death by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, or anything by St. Francis de Sales.
5. Meditate daily on the Passion 
6. Kiss a Crucifix daily, 5 times, in honor of Our Lord’s Five Wounds
7. Read The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord, by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich 
8. Go to adoration as often as you can, even daily
9. Go to daily mass
10. Go to confession weekly
11. Pray the Stations of the Cross every day
12. Instead of listening to secular music, listen to Gregorian chant
13. Meditate daily on the sorrows of Our Lady, which led up to the Passion. For help, click here
14. Learn about a new saint every day.
15. Say a Hail Mary for every person you encounter

Don’t be a Lenten brat

As a last note, if you’re already dreading Lent or complaining about it, you’re doing it wrong. This liturgical season is a time for deep prayer and truly looking at the Passion of Christ, the ultimate act of love for you and I, in its entirety. With that being said, let us continue to prepare for Lent with an open heart and prayerful disposition, by preparing to join our sacrifices with Christ. Pax.