Monthly Dedications

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Monthly Dedications

Since the 16th century, the Church has dedicated unique devotions to each month of the year to foster a deeper relationship between ourselves and God, His Son, and His Saints.
- January
- The Most Holy Name of Jesus
  
  Remembering the “name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9) is how we begin the year. There is great power and grandeur in the Holy Name of Jesus. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2666:
  “The name ‘Jesus’ contains all: God and man and the whole economy of creation and salvation. To pray ‘Jesus’ is to invoke him and to call him within us. His name is the only one that contains the presence it signifies. Jesus is the Risen One, and whoever invokes the name of Jesus is welcoming the Son of God who loved him and who gave himself up for him.”
  Major Feast: Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - January 3
  Celebration Ideas: Pray the Jesus prayer, or make reparations to the sins against the Holy Name of Jesus by praying the Divine Praises every day this month.
  More
- February
- The Holy Family
  
  We pay tribute to the Holy Family in February. The Holy Family presents the ideal example of virtue for all Christian homes and is the most perfect representation of the love of the Trinity. As His Holiness Pope Leo XIII put it:
  
  "Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues."
  
  Celebration Ideas: This month, offer prayers to your family or for them. Begin each day by pleading for the grace to emulate the love and selflessness of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
- March
- Saint Joseph
  
  We know that the earthly father of Jesus and the spouse of the Blessed Mother was a holy and just man, even though not much is recorded about him in the Scriptures. He has obediently followed God's plan for him and his family and humbly accepted his place in the history of salvation. Among the many saints who promoted devotion to this great man is St. Alphonsus Liguori. He declared:
  "We should, indeed, honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honor him by calling him father...If, then, the King of Kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right and obligatory on our part to endeavor to honor him as much as we can.”
  Major Feast: The Feast of St. Joseph - March 19
  Celebration Ideas: Join us for the St. Joseph Mass and Feast on Wednesday, March 19th, or pray the Litany of St. Joseph and consider consecrating yourself to his care.
- April
- The Blessed Sacrament
  
  All of our endeavors are directed toward the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of Christian life. Jesus' body, blood, soul, and divinity are truly present in a tiny host. By partaking of the Blessed Sacrament, we become one with God and obtain the life and healing that He so desires for us. The words of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta:
  
  “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in Heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.”
  
  Major Feast: Holy Thursday (when applicable)
  Celebration Ideas: In addition to your Sunday obligation, spend time in Adoration or attend another Mass during the week.
- May
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
  
  We are obligated to emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary's perfect humility, obedience, and openness to the Holy Spirit, as demonstrated by her "yes" at the Annunciation. She assumed the role of Mother of the entire Church in addition to being the Mother of God. Thus, to borrow from St. Francis de Sales:
  
  “Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”
  
  Major Feast: Feast of the Visitation - May 31
  Celebration Ideas: Celebrate May Crowning by decorating a statue of Mary with a crown of flowers or placing a vase of flowers next to the image of the Blessed Mother.
- June
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
  
  The Sacred Heart serves as a powerful reminder of both our Lord's humanity and His abiding love for us. It is frequently portrayed as a broken, bleeding heart that is still burning with love. This picture effectively conveys the enormous sacrifice that Christ made on your behalf. Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:
  
  "Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love."
  
  Major Feast: The Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following Corpus Christi Sunday
  Celebration Ideas: Pray Padre Pio’s novena to the Sacred Heart or begin the first Friday devotion.
- July
- The Precious Blood of Jesus
  
  We were freed from our sins by the Precious Blood of Christ. According to St. Paul, Jesus made “to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:20). It ensures our eternal inheritance, grants us life, and washes away our sins.
  
  Major Feast: Feast of the Most Precious Blood - July 1
  Celebration Ideas: Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day at 3:00 PM to help you remember the "blood and water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us."
  Learn More
- August
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
  
  Mary's heart abounds with love for God, and since she is without sin, no human heart can love God more than Mary's can. Mary is called to emulate her tremendous love for her son, and the image of the Immaculate Heart acknowledges her extraordinary holiness.
  
  Major Feasts: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - August 15 and Feast of the Queenship of Mary - August 22
  
  Celebration Ideas: Wear the Miraculous Medal, which features a picture of Our Lady's heart on the back, to keep the Immaculate Heart close to you.
- September
- The Sorrowful Mother
  
  A common depiction of Mary's Immaculate Heart depicts it pierced by seven swords, signifying the sorrows she went through with and beside her Son. Mary entered her Son's anguish in a way that only a mother can, and she gave her permission to His agony and death in total obedience to God and His plan.
  
  Major Feast: The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows - September 15
  Celebration Ideas: Consider meditating on Luke 2:34–35, where Simeon foretold the sorrows Mary would experience, or pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary.
  Learn More
- October
- The Holy Rosary
  
  One of the most effective prayer tools the Church offers to the faithful is the Rosary; popes, saints, and even the Blessed Mother herself have all emphasized the value of Rosary prayer. Much like Padre Pio said:
  “Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”
  It's an easy yet effective way to reflect on Jesus' life and to get closer to Mary, who will always guide us to her Son.
  Our Lady has promised her special protection and many special graces to all those who faithfully recite the Rosary. All during October, St. Stephen’s will be holding a staff-led rosary and angelus Mondays through Friday at noon in the parish cemetery. We will praying especially for all the deceased members of the parish, and also for vocations.
  Major Feast: Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary - October 7
  
  Celebration Ideas: Pray the Rosary, or even a decade a day. The staff will meet in the cemetery every weekday during the month of October to pray the rosary, especially for the deceased of our our parish. All are encouraged to attend.
- November
- The Holy Souls in Purgatory
  
  As Catholics, we hold that the saints in heaven, the souls in Purgatory, and the souls on earth collectively comprise the Church. Since the souls in purgatory are unable to pray for themselves, they require our intercession and offerings in order to completely experience the Beatific Vision. The month of November is designated for the faithful to reflect on and offer prayers for these of our brothers and sisters.
  
  Major Feast: All Souls’ Day - November 2
  
  Celebration Ideas: Celebrate by going to the grave and saying a prayer for the deceased. In addition to being a spiritual act of mercy, the Church grants a plenary indulgence to everyone who prays for the deceased during the first week of November.
- December
- The Immaculate Conception
  
  Because the Blessed Mother was originally conceived without sin, the angel Gabriel referred to her as being "full of Grace." Thinking back on the mystery of Mary's immaculate conception might serve as a reminder of the atoning work Jesus came to accomplish through His Incarnation, as the Church gets ready for the arrival of Christ on Christmas Day.
  
  Major Feast: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - December 8
  Celebration Ideas: Go to confession. This is a wonderful way to get ready for Christmas and will grant you the ability to emulate Mary's virtues.
  
  From Pietra Fitness