Saint Patrick
Patricius Magonus Sucatas (also spelled Patercuis, or Patritius) was born in Britain sometime around 400 AD, when the country, like most countries, was under Roman rule. Though his father was a deacon, Patrick was not a particularly religious boy, and his heroes were more likely to be Roman notables than members of the church. Not much is known of his child hood or his family life, but he is likely to have enjoyed what Americans would consider a mid, to upper-middle class lifestyle, being that his father, Calpornius, besides being a deacon also held a government job in some sort of an official capacity; his family was able to enjoy a vacation home in the country.
Sometime between the age of thirteen and fifteen, Patrick admits to having committed a sin, and he was so ashamed he was never able to name it, even in his memoir, “Confessions,” written in his later years. An unlucky teenager, Patrick was kidnapped from his home by Irish brigands who dabbled in the slave trade. He was brought to Ireland and sold into the service of a man named Milchu, who purchased Patrick to care for his sheep. For the next six years Patrick spent his days alone with the animals, and this is when he began to fear and trust God, praying day and night.
One day while tending to his duties, Patrick heard a mysterious voice telling him it was time to go home, so he simply walked away from his post. He travelled upwards of two hundred miles before reaching a port, where he located a ship of pagans heading to Europe and asked the crew to bring him along. At first the crew denied Patrick, who was despondent. As he walked away he prayed with all his might, and the captain had a sudden change of heart and called to Patrick, motioning for him to come aboard.
After three days, the ship touched land and the crew was forced to make the rest of their journey by foot. After twenty eight days of walking, they had run out of food, and were nearly starved to death when the captain began to badger Patrick about God. Patrick was always talking about his all powerful, loving God, but where was this God now, when he was suffering and near death? Patrick hadn’t given up hope; he told the captain God would provide if they would only have faith. Just then, a herd of pigs came strolling into view, and everyone present was able to eat as much as he could hold. Patrick later proudly noted that his traveling companions treated him much differently from then on. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Best Catholic Religious Gifts to Give Away
There are many items that could be included in the category of Catholic religious gifts. There are many suppliers of these gifts whether you find them in your local area or online. Listed are some ideas of religious gifts you could buy for a Catholic follower.
First Communion is a special and important day for a Catholic child. It can be made very special by buying beautiful gifts as a memory of the wonderful day. Items such as a Communion candle, plaque or a Rosary case are decorative and thoughtful gifts for such an occasion. Lots of suppliers sell beautiful Communion outfits including veils and ties to help the children look perfect.
An idea that is becoming popular is gifts crafted from Jerusalem Stone. This sacred stone can come carved as a Crucifix, an angel, a Ten Commandments plaque and the stone etched with a special message.
For those on a tight budget a small gift such as a pin can still be very much appreciated and symbolic. Pins can come with Saints, crosses, cherubs and even Noah depicted on them. This gift may be inexpensive but it is still a thoughtful present to give to a devout Catholic.
Statues are a very common gift and nowadays they come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. They can be made of wood, stone, glass, crystal or porcelain. They can show important religious events such as the Resurrection or The Nativity. The Saints, The Madonna and Child and The Flight to Egypt are also very profound and decorative statues to buy as a gift. Read the rest of this entry »
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Choosing Catholic Gifts for Your Loved Ones
Catholic gifts are a thoughtful way of filling your loved ones’ lives with the light of the divine faith. If you want to buy something really special, choose an organization in which several of the gifts are made by scholars of the monastic order. When you purchase a gift from such an organization, you will feel good about having contributed your bit to the community.
Catholic gifts make for a great present for loved ones for any occasion and any season. You can buy plaques with beautiful religious messages inscribed on them. You can also buy mugs with messages of peace and joy. These are lovely Catholic gifts to fill a household with warmth as they enjoy mugs of cocoa in the winter months.
There are a variety of household items you can buy as Catholic gifts. If the person you are gifting the item to, wishes to fill their house with beautiful religious inscriptions and texts, gift them several items that they can keep on display. Having a mini plate with a message inscribed in the dining room can be a peaceful way to grace the times the family spends together at the table. You can also buy plaques that have religious messages of love and peace on them. Hang up a couple of these plaques in different corners of your home, and make your nest a place of grace and beauty. If you want to buy a gift for someone who loves music, one of the best Catholic gifts is a Confirmation music box. The person can use the simple wooden box to keep lyric sheets and anything related to music.
First Communions are always special occasions for a Catholic, and they make for many pleasant memories years later. If someone close to you is receiving the word of God through the Holy Communion, you can make the occasion even more special. You can gift the person a bracelet and a pendant set. When you see the girl wearing these beautiful accessories as she steps forward to receive her Read the rest of this entry »
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