Some Days are a Real Blessing

   A friend once told me one thing she loves about being Catholic is that even when everyday life is depressing, there's always a saint's day around the corner to celebrate and put a little joy into life.

   Well, this week she doesn't have a day. She has a streak.

   Today is the Feast of St. Michael, an Old Testament archangel, who according to my Google search is the world's sixth most popular saint. In fact, he's so popular he's recognized by many denominations, including the Amish. Because of St. Michael's Heavenly fight with the devil in Revelations, he's the patron saint of soldiers.

   During the Middle Ages St. Michael's Day was called Michaelmas. In England people feasted on goose to protect themselves from financial woes. In Ireland, finding a ring in a Michaelmas pie meant one was soon to be married. However, with all this history, I could find no celebrations for St. Michael in Gwinnett County.

   I visited Angel's Prayer Bookstore where the owner, Grace Mathis always seems to know everything that's happening in the community. 

   "No," she said, "no one celebrates his day, but with the war going on, some Catholic churches are saying St. Michael's prayer everyday. You know, it starts 'St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.'"

   Grace did go on to tell me that Friday October 1 is the Feast of St. Therese, a nineteenth century doctor of the church. (That alone is worth celebrating.) At Angel's Prayer at 3:00 p.m. the public is invited to a Divine Mercy and Rosary, followed with punch and cookies. (info: 770-279-2646)

   Now St. Francis is a different story. A twelfth century soldier turned nature-loving missionary, he is the patron saint of animals and ecologists. His feast will be celebrated all over Gwinnett with the Blessing of the Animals. People of all faiths can bring their pets for a blessing. On Saturday in Duluth St. Benedict's and St. Monica's blessings will be at 10:00 a.m. and in Snellville, St. Oliver Plunkett's will be at 11:00 a.m. 

   In Norcross Mary Our Queen's blessing will be at 3:00 p.m. and in Lilburn at St. Stephen's it will be at 4:00 p.m. On Monday, St. Francis's actual feast day, people can bring pets to St. Lawrence in Lawrenceville at 5:00 p.m.

   St. Monica's suggests that if your pet is hard to transport, you might bring a picture or stuffed animal instead. 

   I think I would be remiss to write about St. Francis and not include an excerpt from his prayer: "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light and where there is sadness, joy."

   If everyone prayed-and lived-St. Francis's prayer daily, maybe everyday life would never get too depressing.

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