And...cue the trumpets!

Happy Feast Day, bloggers everywhere!

You may or may not know this...BUT...today is a hugely important day for the Salesians of Don Bosco. Why, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you: It all started at the age of 9.


For you regulars, here's the part where you may say: "O here we go..."
For you not so regulars, you may wish to say: "Hm, I could use a little refresh..."
For you irregulars, you may say: "Go on..."
And for you elderly, you may say: "Ah to be 9..."

Whatever your response may be, let's continue...

When John Bosco was only 9 years old, he had a dream that would stick with him for the rest of his life and guide him throughout his ministry with the young and the poor.  And in this dream, both Jesus and Mary appeared to him. (If you don't know this dream, check out the story here...it's really important to the founding of the Salesians.)  One thing that is important is that the Blessed Mother, She whom John Bosco's mother taught him to greet three times a day, remained with John Bosco throughout his life. And this relationship grew stronger.

Through this, his devotion to Mary, the Help of Christians, arose. (Check out the story behind Mary, Help of Christians here!)  And the Blessed Mother, particularly under this title, became so important that not only did he entitle his basilica with this title...but he crowned her under this title as the Patroness of the Salesian Family. So, long story short, today is incredibly important!


So, today, I challenge all of us, including myself, to increase our devotion to Mary, who is the Help of Christians.


Pray to her,  call out to her,  cry with her,  laugh with her,  walk with her,  live with her,  and die with her...that you might live with her for all eternity. 



Dear Mother Mary, ever-Virgin, help us to save our souls...

Praying through the mud...

Today, we are just days away from our Tough Mudder Challenge on Saturday! I figured we could get you all involved in this challenge for Salesian vocations by allowing you to pray this prayer with us every day leading up to Saturday:

Tough Mudder Prayer
Mary, our Mother and Help of Christians,
You who brought forth Love into this world
and led Him by the hand until the day of His death,
look unceasingly upon those whom your Son is calling
to serve the Salesian Congregation.
May our hearts be ever turned to you
at the finish line for the sake of vocations.

As we fall and pull ourselves up from the muck,
grasp the hands of those straying from their call
and bring them out of their muddy states of sin.
As we persevere through bitter cold,
inspire their hearts with the warmth of your Spouse, the Holy Spirit,
that they might overcome the bitterness of this world
in your Son’s holy name.

Mary, our Mother, send us priests and brothers.
Mary, our Mother, send us many priests and brothers.
Mary, our Mother, send us many holy priests and brothers.

Remain with us and in our hearts as we pray:
Hail Mary…

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

May we be reminded this day and always that we are in a battle for souls, a battle that can only be won with prayer, holiness, and joy. Arm yourself with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and join the fight! The Lord needs you!

Good Night!

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday, folks!

May the joy of the risen Christ and the peace found in His infinite mercy be ever in your heart!

On such spiritually enhancing days as today, sometimes it is good to return to the basics. Tonight, let us remember the great strength of our Lady in our Savior's passion. Let us remember the heartache that she shared in His suffering as all that was foretold was finally being fulfilled...and to HER son!

And how great is her intercession on behalf of those who share in that suffering with her! Let us end our day of mercy in the way our father, St. John Bosco, taught us. It is in this way that he said we would attain holiness:

Dear Mother Mary, ever Virgin, help us to save our souls. (Hail Mary)

Dear Mother Mary, ever Virgin, help us to save our souls. (Hail Mary)

Dear Mother Mary, ever Virgin, help us to save our souls. (Hail Mary)

May the peace of our Mother be with you this night and always. Amen.