RosaryMart blog

St. Joseph's humility and obedience to God in the exact fulfillment of his duties is what makes him a model in heroic virtue.

St. Joseph is the model of heroic virtue.  So much so, that he has a whole month every year in his honor, as well as multiple feast days.March is the official month of  St. Joseph, with March 19th being especially dedicated to him, as the husband of Mary.  When he was engaged to Mary, and when he learned about her pregnancy -- they were a chaste couple -- he considered breaking up with her.  An angel appeared to him in a dream and told him that Mary had not sinned against him; the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be the Saviour of the world.  St. Joseph then stayed with Mary and protected her and Jesus his whole life.  His role in their life was absolutely necessary for the Incarnation.  For at that time, Jewish law would have required that Mary --pregnant outside of wedlock-- be stoned.

May 1st celebrates St. Joseph the Worker.  St. Joseph was considered a "just man" and earned his living as a carpenter.  A carpenter's life was not glorious, and he lived in daily simplicity providing for the needs of his family. more...

Ash Wednesday is the day that always begins the liturgical season of Lent. On this day, Catholics attend a Mass or a service where ashes are marked on the foreheads of the faithful in the sign of the cross. Sometimes these crosses are clear, but they may look like smudges. For some, a mark on the forehead is an embarrassment, or just an external sign that means nothing more. However, the faithful do not wash off these marks, but wear them proudly at work, and wherever they may be that day. The mark is a symbol, but also a sacramental: a means of grace and encouragement to love God at a deeper level. The ashes represent repentance and a commitment to a permanent change. Ash Wednesday is the start date for all Catholics to recommit to their baptismal call and challenge their spiritual health. An examination of conscious is to be made with a mindful commitment to reform whatever is spiritually ill. To help with this change all are to be held accountable for 40 days, since it takes about 30 day to break a habit. The repentance comes from recognition and gratitude for being given a gift from God that is not deserved. This gift is threefold: more...

The internet is a boon for many people. Whether you need to buy or sell to simply wanting to gain some knowledge, the internet offers so much! Not only this, the internet offers you an opportunity to read a Catholic online Bible without any trouble. The Bible is a canonical anthology of texts considered holy in Christianity and Judaism. The Catholic Bible comprises of 73 book canon, which is recognized by the Catholic Church. It includes the Deuterocanonical Books. The Catholic Bible is composed of about 27 books of the New Testaments and 46 books of the Old Testament.

You can trust the Catholic Bible because they are careful about publishing according to the prescription of Catholic Canon Law: more...

Saint Valentine is infamous because of the holiday that surrounds his name.

Cards. Gifts. Flowers. Romantic feats.  These are expected by lovers to be given every February 14 -- St. Valentine's Day. But who is the man behind the tradition of offering signs of love?There are many Saint Valentines recognized by the Catholic Church, including a woman. (Her name was St. Valentina.)The identity celebrated on this famous day is a man who lived in the third century. He is thought to have died around A.D. 270.  In fact, Saint Valentine was a prisoner of the State and eventually beheaded. His was sentenced to death because he had married Catholics. This was during a time when it was illegal to be a Catholic.  It is no surprise then, that as a priest, and a martyr for celebrating marriage, Saint Valentine is now the patron of engaged couples and happy marriages. more...

Catholic Liturgical Calendar 2015

The Catholic Church follows a Liturgical Calendar which usually begins in late November/early December. The first four weeks are called "Advent" and are a special preparation for Catholics to be receptive to the coming of Jesus Christ, whose birthday is celebrated on December 25. "Christmas" is not one day, but lasts a few weeks. In the "Christmas" season, the Church celebrates Jesus' presentation at the Temple, His Baptism, and His ministry. There is a brief time that is considered "Ordinary", before  the Church prepares for His Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Immediately following this is Pentecost, the "Coming of the Holy Spirit".  These events are remembered and celebrated during "Lent" and the "Easter" season.  After "Easter", the remainder of the year is "Ordinary" until "Advent" begins again. more...

February is honored as the month of the Passion of Our Lord. This is fitting because this is when Lent  begins. Lent is a period of time set aside to specifically commemorate Jesus' Passion, Death and Resurrection. Ash Wednesday kicks it off through fasting and repentance. Penitents are blessed with ashes and reflect on conversion that they need in their life. They promise amendment and focus on one thing to change, and for forty days they practice that change. It takes about thirty days to break a bad habit, so this structured forty days helps it to become a permanent change.

Now the Church hasn't arranged the season of Lent to force a sinner to repent, or for gruesome reflections on Christ's Passion, rather it is offered because of the love relationship between Christ and His members. If you know you are hurting your spouse/lover, you'd want to stop, right? Also, it is appropriate to reflect on and be grateful for the sacrifices that your lover made/makes for you. The Church sees Lent as an opportunity for her members to be better lovers to Our Lord. more...

Every person was uniquely created to participate in the Kingdom of God; we know this because God said to Jeremiah: “Before you were in the womb, I knew you.”  (Jeremiah 1:5) This indicates Divine Providence, a plan for each of God’s creatures.  However, unlike robots, He did not “program” us to respond to His plans in an autonomous way.  This is because God wants us to freely choose to love Him.

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in Himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him a share in His own blessed life.”  (CCC 1)

The ability to choose to love or reject Him also means that we are responsible for the consequences—good and bad— of all we do.  For instance, if we choose to overindulge in sweets, God isn’t going to step in and “magically” undo the effects.  He is like a good parent who allows His children to discover and explore; He wants us to learn how to recognize and act for not just the perceived good (instant gratification of taste), but the actual good (health and longevity of life).  Also, like a good parent, He doesn’t leave us “unguided”.  Thus, while He allows us to make our own choices, He never turns a blind eye to us, but gives us the tools and gifts we need to make informed decisions. more...

January 2015: MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

The name "Jesus" is powerful.

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   (Philippians 2:10)

Among the Ten Commandments, God ordered that His name shall not be said in vain. Adam was given authority to name creatures. Many names in Bible are changed when something new is happening. What is it about a name and naming that commands so much respect and power?

Names say "this is what I am in my essence", and thus, informs all who hear and speak it the person's purpose.  God's name tell us who He is.  "Jesus" is the syncopated variant of " Yəhōshūaʿ " meaning, "God is help". more...