Devotions

A group of people in a Catholic church during a ceremony, facing an altar with religious statues and decorations. The participants are dressed in white robes over dark clothing, with a priest in liturgical vestments leading. The altar is adorned with candles and religious symbols, including a crucifix and statues of saints.

Feast of St. Blaise

Did you get your throat blessed today?  (Church of Saint Agnes, St. Paul, Minnesota)

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A depiction of Our Lady of Guadalupe in traditional attire, with a blue-green cloak and gold stars. She is shown praying, surrounded by rays of light. A crescent moon and angel are at her feet. This is a Catholic icon representing the Virgin Mary's apparition in Mexico.

Our Lady of Guadalupe and Lepanto

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Catholic-themed illustration of Ember Days with a cross, seasons labeled Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Symbols include wheat, candle, chalice, and oil container. Text references "With Christ Through the Year" by Rev. Bernard Strasser, O.S.B., 1947."

Ember Days

Those of you who follow the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Liturgy, you will know that today is Wednesday in Ember Week.  The Ember Feasts are days that follow closely the changing of the seasons and are set aside for partial fasting and penance.  This liturgical custom has seen a renewed interest and practice in…

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Text reads: "20 ✠ C ✠ M ✠ B ✠ 13. Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ bless this dwelling place)." Black text on white background. Catholic blessing with crosses and initials, likely for a home blessing."

Feast of the Epiphany–The Annual House Blessing

  (picture courtesy of Fr. John Trigilio’s blog) *Many local parishes will provide the faithful with blessed chalk and incense. If your parish does not offer this, approach your priest (pester him if you have to!) and ask him to bless a piece of chalk for this traditional house blessing and devotion. The family gathers…

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A young figure in a red robe holding a golden chalice, likely depicting Saint John the Evangelist. The background is dark and muted, emphasizing the figure's contemplative expression. Text at top reads "SHEAN"."

Today is St. John’s Feast Day–Did You Have Your Wine Blessed?

If not, grab a couple of bottles and run over to your parish and have Father bless the wine! When uncorking the bottles, don’t forget to raise the glass of blessed wine to one another (including the children, as is the custom) and toast: “Drink to the love of St. John the Divine.” Prayer at…

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The Fourth Sunday of Advent

It is our pleasure to provide our readers prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Not only are these prayers appropriate for the lighting of the final candle of the Advent Wreath, they are appropriate as part of the mealtime or evening prayers throughout this week until Christmas. We hope these are providing some spiritual sustenance for…

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Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday

It is our pleasure to provide our readers prayers for Gaudete Sunday. Not only are these prayers appropriate for the lighting of the rose candle, they are appropriate as part of the mealtime or evening prayers throughout this week. We hope these are providing some spiritual sustenance for your Advent.–The Board of Directors Prayers for Gaudete Sunday…

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The Second Sunday of Advent

It is our pleasure to provide our readers prayers for the Second Sunday in Advent. Not only are these and all the prayers for the Sundays in Advent appropriate for the lighting of the candles on the particular Sunday, they are appropriate as part of the mealtime or evening prayers throughout each of the weeks in…

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Four tall candles in purple and pink colors arranged in a wreath with greenery, red berries, pine cones, and gold accents. This is an Advent wreath used in Catholic tradition to mark the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

The First Sunday of Advent

During the next several weeks the Bellarmine Forum will be posting some prayers to cultivate devotions in the home for you and your families. We hope that these devotions will help you in your spiritual life as the Church prays with the rhythm of the seasons in her liturgical life. The beauty of these prayers…

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