Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne

Saints Joachim and Anne were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. Saint Anne's name means "grace." God blessed Saint Anne with many special graces, the most important being that she was the mother of Mary. Saint Anne is the patron of mothers, infertility and children. Because of Saint Anne's patronage to fertility, she is known as a patron of rain for the soil's fertility. In Italy it is said that "rain is Saint Anne's gift" and in Germany it is called "Saint Anne's Dowry." We have had tons of rain this past week during the afternoon, maybe we will be blessed with Saint Anne's Dowery today as well. Saint Joachim is the patron saint of fathers, grandfathers and grandparents. Grandparents should be shown some extra love on this day. Since we relocated out of state, my children will be sending letters and goodies to their grandparents today.

Saint Anne is my baptismal saint as well. It is custom for girls who are named for Saint Anne to wear red and green ribbons in their hair. Maybe I'll rock some cute red and green head pieces today. The day is still young. Thanks to this color combination I think of watermelon, strawberries, and fresh salads for food. I also think of beautiful red roses, lady bugs climbing on leaves and Christmastime. We are already celebrating Christmas in July this upcoming Sunday but today might have been a fun way to incorporate some cool Christmas cheer into the hot summer too.

For breakfast I decided to make a watermelon strawberry smoothie and I felt that it was appropriate for the boys to pick their meal for dinner because that's what their grandparents would do for them. Naturally they chose chicken nuggets and fries. We don't usually eat stuff like that and when we do it is probably once every couple of months. The boys are ecstatic about dinner to say the least! While the boys stuff their faces with nuggets and fries, my husband and I will be enjoying a fresh garden salad and maybe a french fry or two and attempting to stick to a healthier eating menu.

If you check out my previous post about the Feast of Saint Anne you will see it is customary to prepare some type of lobster or shell fish in Saint Anne's honor as well. In the past I have made lobster bisque and a watermelon cake, they were both delicious!

We are so blessed that we are close to the Shrine of Saint Anne. I discussed this shrine in the Ultimate Guide to Holy Places in Colorado. Today we will be unable to drive out to the shrine because Tuesdays are a busy day with behavioral therapy and other things. My little Goalie really has been struggling with controlling his emotions the past few weeks so days when we have behavioral therapy are usually emotionally draining for him. I will be planning a special trip to the shrine to have some quiet prayer time. I am also thinking I will print a couple coloring pages. I just came across this new Catholic coloring page site here too. What do you have planned today? Any fun activities or outings with the grandparents? I would love to hear all about it!

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over two years and have not been blessed with another child yet. If you don't mind please pray the attached prayer with my special intention to conceive a child if it be God's will. I would greatly appreciate it! 

St Anne Prayer (To Obtain Some Special Favor) 

Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special protection.

St. Anne, please, recommend to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue.St. Anne cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. (Here ask for favor you wish to obtain.) 

Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with You and Mary and all the saints, praising and blessing Him through all eternity. Amen.Good St. Anne, mother of her who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray to her for us and obtain our request. (Three times).

Here is a another prayer that can be said in honor of your Baptismal Saint as well. It has Saint Anne in the prayer because she is my Baptismal Saint but to make it personalized for you and your family, just replace "Saint Anne" with the name of your saint:

Saint Anne, at baptism, my parents gave me that name which was also yours. You are my companion and heavenly protector. You have borne this name honorably before God and men. May your example teach me to do the will of God, to be faithful to Christ, to go my way with the attitude and conduct of a committed Christian so that I may one day share with you the rewarding joy of having followed Christ faithfully. Amen

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

Menu Plan Monday: 7/25-7/31

It is the last week of July! You know what that means... the summer is cooling down and back to school preparations are heating up! We haven't even begun school shopping yet but we are going to enjoy this last bit of Summer for as long as possible. This week we have several special liturgical feasts and we are celebrating Christmas in July. No link up this week but writing out a weekly menu is one of several ways I keep myself accountable in my diet. If you check out how we celebrate the liturgical year you will see there is always a custom, tradition or play on words for the recipes and crafts we do. Well here is the game plan for the week.

Monday: Feast of Saint James
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Lunch: Garden Salad
Dinner: Gazpacho Pasta Salad

Tuesday: Feast of Saint Anne
Breakfast: Watermelon Strawberry Smoothie

Lunch:Three Bean Salad
Dinner: Chicken Nuggets and Fries (kids) Garden Salad for me!

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Lunch: Three Bean Salad
Dinner: Red Beans and Rice

Thursday:
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Lunch: Three Bean Salad
Dinner: Soup and Salad

Friday: Feast of Saint Martha
Breakfast: Egg, Sausage and Hash brown Casserole

Lunch: Garden Salad
Dinner: Crockpot Chicken Tarragon
*** I will be making a similar version to this recipe but making it a little healthier so it follows my Clean eating diet a little better***

Saturday: 
Breakfast:Leftovers
Lunch: Deli Meat Sandwich
Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday: Christmas in July Celebration
Breakfast: Gingerbread Pancakes
Lunch: Spiral Ham, baked sweet potato and green beans
Dinner: Leftover Spiral Ham, baked sweet potato and green beans

Gazpacho Pasta Salad:

1 lb Rotini Pasta

3 Medium Ripe Tomatoes (diced)

1 Large Cucumber (diced)

1 Green Bell Pepper (minced)

2 Green Onions (chopped)

6 Fl oz Canned Tomato Juice

2 Cloves Garlic (chopped)

1/4 Cup Parsley

3 Tbsp Lime Juice

1 Tsp Tarragon

1 Tsp Basil

1 Tsp Cracked Black Pepper

Bring pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and put aside. Combine the pasta and the rest of the ingredients together and mix well. Chill for at least 2 hours and toss again prior to serving.

***If you wanted to make traditional Gazpacho you would mix all the ingredient together except the pasta and increase the tomato juice to 4 cups. Place ingredients into a food processor and blend until it is a think soup consistency. Chill for 2 hours and serve with croutons***

Gingerbread Pancakes:

2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

2 Cups Almond Milk (Vanilla)

2 Eggs

1/8 Cup Brown Sugar

1/8 Cup Molasses (Unsulphured)

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 Tbsp All Spice

1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

3 Tsp Ginger

Pinch of salt

Preheat griddle or pan to medium heat. Combine ingredients in a large bowl together and mix well. Ladle batter onto the griddle or pan. Wait for the batter to bubble and flip. Serve with butter and syrup.

Ultimate Guide to Holy Places in Colorado

The state of Colorado is absolutely breathtaking. There are innumerable hiking trails and parks to visit. Obviously, with the immense beauty that illuminates this state, there are also several Holy Places that are a must see. Personally, I have only been the St. Mary's Cathedral but now that I have researched these holy places I would love to visit every single one at some point within the year.

St. Mary's Cathedral

This gorgeous cathedral is located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs. There are many unique statues and paintings that adorn the outside and inside of this cathedral. I have actually visited St. Mary's Cathedral several times and have enjoyed the daily mass at noon. One of the best attributes of the cathedral is that there is an established congregation of parishioners and it is not just a place that most visit once because of its great location. There mission statement is as follows:

St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral is a historic downtown parish and the seat of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. We comprise a diverse community of believers committed to serve and welcome all people. We stand for unity in our diversity by expressing our love of God through prayer, worship, and outreach. The Cathedral offers the faithful a rich sacramental life and is a refuge for all who seek solace, peace, and renewal.

There is a rich history within the cathedral that has been in Colorado Springs since 1860 thanks to the gold rush. Since it was first built, it has undergone several remodeling and redecorating projects to bring it to its current splendor. 

Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration

The location of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration is in a peaceful area of Colorado Springs known as Mount St. Francis. This is a Catholic community of Franciscan women that believe in the importance of Eucharistic Adoration. The sisters of this congregation have roots in Germany and follow the teachings of Saint Francis, Saint Clare and Venerable Maria Theresia Bonzel. This community is also attached to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.  

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Located in the state's capital in Denver, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception has a rich history. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1921 and elevated to a minor basilica on December 25, 1979. John Paul II celebrated Mass at the Cathedral on World Youth Day for the celebration held in Denver in August 1993. After the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated, the Rocky Mountain News reported, "May the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception long stand, its spires an expression of the questing, upturned face of humanity, its chimes an eternal call to the spirituality that stirs within us, and its doors a haven to the weary-hearted in search of hope and rest!"

Mother Cabrini Shrine

Located in Golden, Colorado, the Mother Cabrini Shrine was built to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. The shrine offers a variety of different facilities including the Cabrini Gardens, Cabrini Museum, Gift Shop, Grotto, Stairway of Prayer, the Spring and beautiful Rosary Garden. The Cabrini Gardens and Museum were opened to depict life and missionary work of  Saint Cabrini. The Grotto is a replica of the grotto at Lourdes, France built because of the visions Saint Bernadette had of the Immaculate Conception. The Stairway of Prayer leads to the top of the Mount of the Sacred Heart and allows you to pray the Stations of the Cross. The stations are made of stone mosaics and at the end of the stairway is the Heart of Stones. The stones were placed in the shape of a heart on Mother Cabrini's last visit dedicating the hill to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Spring that provides all the water to the Shrine is thought to have healing powers. 

Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

The Shrine of the Stations of the Cross is located on a mesa in the center of San Luis, Colorado's oldest town. The Shrine is formally known as "la Mesa de la Piedad y de la Misericordia" (Hill of Piety and Mercy) and is a historical and religious landmark. The Stations of the Cross were sculpted by Hubert Maestasare and depict a series of graphic meditations of the last hours of Christ's life. As you walk the half mile trail, you will view fifteen sculptures depicting Jesus’s judgment, sufferings, death, and resurrection. It is free to come visit this holy site but donations are accepted as well.

Shrine of St. Anne

In 1920 The Shrine of St. Anne was established in Arvada, Colorado. The shrine is a church dedicated to St. Anne who was the Blessed Virgin Mary’s mother. The church is privileged to possess a precious relic of Saint Anne, a particle of her wrist bone. The reliquary (a cabinet housing the relic) is located in the chapel, allowing the relic to be displayed to the faithful. The relic is presented for public veneration on the feast day of St. Anne, July 26th.

Shrine of St. Therese

The Shrine of St. Therese is located in Pueblo, Colorado and Perpetual Adoration is hosted everyday because Saint Therese is the patroness of the diocese and this location is a special place for prayer and pilgrimage. This is shrine is relatively new being completed in 1994 and was built to be architecturally similar holy places in France. 

Nada Hermitage

Nada Hermitage is a small community in Crestone, Colorado of men and women who live a communal life (apostolic hermits) according to the Carmelite teachings. There is another retreat location that is apart of the Spiritual Life Institute but it is located in Ireland. Both locations are open to people of all faiths who are looking for a quiet place to reconnect to God. This serene community is situated at the base of the Sangre de Christo (Blood of Christ) mountain and offers great hiking and landscapes to be enjoyed during spiritual retreats. 

Ave Maria Shrine

This particular shrine to Mary has a lot of mystery surrounding it. The beautiful chapel was created in 1934 and housed a glorious statue of Mary in Trinidad, Colorado. In 1962, vandals broke the state into more than 200 pieces but a very skilled man named Sam Arguello and his son were able to put it back together. The finding of this beautiful statue is just as magical and has become a legend that no one can prove or disprove. Here is the legend as written on the Ave Maria Shrine website:

In 1908 a Trinidad physician, was leaving Mount San Rafael Hospital, after all night duty. It was already dawn, and although a snowstorm was in progress, he was persistent to make it home.  As he was leaving the hospital he noticed a glimmer of light flickering on the hill directly behind the hospital.  At first, he gave it little attention, believing the spray of snow flurries were creating an illusion.  Then the possibility of someone hurt or stranded captured his attention.  Even at the early morning hour and in the middle of a snowstorm, the good doctor ascended the hill where the light originated.  The frozen ground and steep slope made the climb very hazardous in his pursuit to reach the small clearing. 

Upon reaching the clearing, he was spellbound at the sight of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a lit candle flickering at its base.  Awed by the vision of such a beautiful statue, he reached out and touched its outstretched hand while calling out to see if anyone was nearby. After calling out for several minutes and no one answered, he decided to stay by the statue until daybreak.

When word of the doctors discovery spread throughout the community, reactions were varied.  some believed that some person had to have been on the hill, while others were skeptical as to how a 250 pound statue could have been left on the hill, kept a candle lit during a blizzard and then disappear into thin air.  But the more faithful residents accepted this as a divine sign from God that a shrine should be built in Her honor on this mountain.

The early settlers erected a small lava rock shrine, where Our Lady was placed, and the faithful made daily pilgrimages and offered prayers to God through here intersession. 

I would love to hear about anyone's experiences at these Holy Places or some of the gorgeous photos that you may have taken on your pilgrimage. I promise to share mine once I plan some trips in the very near future.

God Bless