The month of February we will make Holy Water bottles available to all parishioners.  I ask that you fill them with holy water, bless your home with it, even have a holy water font by the main door to your home or in each bedroom so that you and your children can bless themselves and remember God in a profound way everyday.  Holy Water is a beautiful reminder of our Baptismal commitment.   We have been given the grace of the Holy Spirit which opens the doors to salvation.  We need to remind ourselves of this awesome gift and never be afraid to renew or remember our faith. 

We will also make Blessed Candles available for those who wish them.  The candle is a reminder of the Light of Christ which was handed to our god-parents and parents at our Baptism.  It is a symbol of how we are to keep the light of Christ burning brightly as it casts away the darkness of evil.  These candles can be lighted in times of tragedy, crisis, or sickness as a helpful reminder of God’s presence amongst us.

Sacramentals (i.e. objects of faith—statues, medals, pictures of saints, crucifixes, etc.) which help draw us to Christ in small ways are important reminders of how our Faith is not only to be a Sunday event, but one celebrated in all aspects of our lives, especially in our homes.  Our Faith cannot be an isolated, once-a-week event.  What we profess, we live out.  What we worship, we display to the world around us.  Our Christian Faith is not an embarrassment, but a joy worth sharing and shouting about.

All these little things help to make the biggest thing—the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass—more important and prominent.  Our goal is to save our souls—and by extension, the souls of our children and families.  The Faith is worth the struggle.  The world can’t give you victory, but Jesus Christ can.  Stick with Him and you can’t go wrong.