Revised Jerome Birthstone List

Research shows that the birthstone list has its origins in the Zodiac and astrology, composed by Josephus.  Saint Jerome is reported to have offered a Christian version of the list based on the stones of New Jerusalem and the 12 Apostles.  Unfortunately we do not have a copy of that list today, and it is possible that that list was related to the signs of the Zodiac as well.  I’ve composed this new zodiac-free list based on St. Jerome’s ideas about the New Jerusalem stones and the 12 Apostles, using their feast days and matching each of them to one of the New Jerusalem stones and a virtue we can learn from their life.  Since some of the Apostles share a month, I filled in the blanks with Apostle-like saints who were crucial in the formation of the Church and additional gemstones to represent them.  You can wear your new birthstone to honor your birth Apostle and pray to master his virtues.

January  —  Timothy and Titus  —  topaz —  responsibility
February  —  Matthias  —  jasper  —  hope
March  —  Epaphroditus —  sapphire —  charity
April  —  Mark  — carnelian —  repentance
May  —  Philip and James the less  — chalcedony/agate  —  wisdom
June  —  Peter and Paul  —  emerald —  evangelization
July  —  Thomas and James the greater  —  sardonyx —  courage
August  —  Bartholomew  —  beryl/aquamarine  —  honesty
September  —  Matthew  —  chrysolite/peridot  —  devotion to Scripture
October  —  Simon and Jude  — chrysoprase  —  faith
November Andrew  —  hyacinth: (jacinth/zircon)(ligure/amber)  —  endurance
December  —  John  —  amethyst  —  love

Black Belongs 2 God

Join the movement!

#BB2G #BlackBelongs2God

The Creed of St. Cecilia

As St. Cecilia lay dying, after giving her life for the Gospel, she made one last proclamation of faith. Outstretching her middle, index and thumb fingers, she declared her belief in the three Persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Folding down her ring and little fingers, she gave testimony to the hypostatic union of Jesus Christ’s Divine and Human natures. This moment is captured and preserved through the life-size image of her that tops her tomb in Rome today.

The Catholic Church is indeed a Church of trend setters. Whether you’re looking for an alternative hand gesture for your favorite rock concert, or assigning a signature move to a Christian superhero in your story, you can give thanks to God for this little bit of inspiration from the very special St. Cecilia. Thank you God!

To read St. Cecilia’s story, click here.

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Words to Live By

Enjoy yourself as much as you like – if only you keep from sin.
–Saint John Bosco

The Hero’s Song

In the Land of the Free I will rise.  Even though the darkness will fall, I am radioactive  and will prove I’m all right with my elastic heart. The only easy day was yesterday but you will remember me for centuries. I’m at war with the world because I’m a warrior inside. Even when my patience is waning, I’m  not gonna die because this will be the labor of my love that gives me my place in the hall of fame. I’m unstoppable, invincible, and I’m happy because I’ve got a Hero living in me. My Kung-Fu fighting is strong and I will hold on. I’m not sorry to be still. I’m a larger than life believer and I’m on fire to save my soul at any cost. This aint no place for no hero to get sucked into a supermassive black hole, because I am among immortals. I will be the greatest because it is in my very DNA. I don’t want to waste a moment.

Ven. Archbishop Sheen’s Spiritual Adoption of an Unborn Child

These prayers are said daily for nine months.  God will not refuse them!

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. Amen.

The name I wish to give my baby is ______.

Jesus, may Your peace and Your love embrace the hearts, minds, and souls of the family, friends, and loved ones who encourage this abortion and lead  them all to Your Sacred and Eucharistic Heart. Amen.

Calling All Spiritual Warriors!

A couple of extreme traditionalists have been criticizing and persecuting devotion to Jesus’ Divine Mercy. How many likes of reparation can we get for Our Lord? Praised be Jesus’ mercy! Let’s start a spiritual bouquet for the conversion of these souls and the comfort and guidance of those being persecuted in the comment section below.

How to Save a Country According to St. Faustina

Source: How to Save a Country According to St. Faustina

Perpetual Rosary For America

Source: Perpetual Rosary For America

This post is dedicated to St. Isaac Jogues.

Understanding Catholicism

Catholics and Protestants–what we have in common:

We believe in the Trinity.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p2.htm

We believe in a personal relationship with Jesus.

http://www.catholicbasictraining.com/apologetics/coursetexts/2k.htm

We don’t worship Mary or the Saints.

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/customs/rosary/mary_worship.asp

We believe grace can’t be earned.

A Clarification of Good Works

We believe Jesus rose from the dead.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a5p2.htm

We believe marriage and having children are good things.

http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/common-misconceptions/why-not-married-priests-the-case-for-clerical-celibacy.html

We believe in praying from the heart.

http://www.fromtheabbey.com/keys-chapel-christian-prayer/christian-spirituality-rote-prayer-vs-spontaneous-prayer/

We believe Jesus died to save us.

http://www.uscatholic.org/church/2012/03/us-and-our-salvation

We are Christians.

http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/are_catholics_christian.php

We love the Bible.

http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/bible_catholics.php

We participate in community worship and Bible reading on Sundays.

https://stpaulcenter.com/studies/lesson/lesson-one-a-biblical-introduction-to-the-mass

We believe in the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, the humanity of the unborn, and only voting for those who will respect these truths.

http://www.stjoseph-marysville.org/faqnonnegotiables.html

We believe in serving the poor and all the “least of these”.

http://www.loyolapress.com/corporal-and-spiritual-works-of-mercy.htm

We believe in the Two Great Commandments and the Ten Commandments.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2.htm

We believe God is the Creator of all things.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p4.htm

We have a passion for evangelization.

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/evangelization/

We believe faith in Christ is necessary for salvation.

http://www.shsu-catholic.org/are-catholics-saved.html

We celebrate Christmas and Easter.

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/the-catholic-liturgical-year/article/208/sort/relevance/productsperpage/12/layout/grid/currentpage/1/keywords/calendar

We believe in living a virtuous life.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a7.htm

We believe in Heaven and Hell.

What are the Four Last Things?

We believe in angels and devils.

Catholic Teaching on Angels

We believe in the Virgin birth.

http://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/virgin-birth-of-christ

We believe in miracles.

http://catholicism.org/category/miracles-and-apparitions

These are simply a few of our many common grounds.