Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Lourdes Expression of Faith

Virgen de Lourdes
~Our Lady of Lourdes~
During my two visits to The Lourdes Shrine, France (1988-1989), a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees,  there is a recognized and famous site of the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. The events occurred in 1858 to a humble firstborn daughter girl of a miller; Bernadette Soubirous (7 January 1844 – 16 April 1879). 
She is venerated as a Christian Saint in the Catholic Church. The feast day is on February 11th 
In the visit to this Shrine, we spent most of the time in the Basilica and Grotto where masses and confessions in different languages are scheduled.  After lunch, we stopped over the humble house of Bernadette located at Rue 2. I admired the simplicity of this small place where the whole family lives in a modest way. The house included a mill, kitchen, Bernadette’s bedroom, various objects, and photographs of the time.
~Bernadette’s parents house, 1988~

At night, we prayed the Rosary in different languages as a universal way to unify the Catholic faith. During the continuous prayers to Jesus and Mary, there was a procession with candles to gather around the Grotto. Other members of my group went to the Healing Pools where families carried the illness’s relatives to be cured. 
Marvelous expression of faith and hope!
~Grotto, 1988-1989~
Extract from "Voyage Recollection" by Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

Monday, February 3, 2020

St. Blaise - Día de San Blas

Today, I received the Saint Blaise Blessing. Do you know what is it?
Photo Courtesy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessing_of_the_Throats
In many places on February 3rd. the day of his feast, the blessing of St. Blaise is given. The priest uses two candles, blessed on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord "candlemas", held in a crossed position over the heads or touched on the throat with them.
I received the following blessing:"May Almighty God at the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, preserve you from infections of the throat and from all other afflictions." Then the priest makes the sign of the cross over the faithful.
Who is Saint Blaise?
In The Acts of St. Blaise, written in Greek, includes the medieval legend in the Grande Encyclopédie as follows:
“Blaise, who had studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, who exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifest through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing.
In 316, Agricola, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, having arrived in Sebastia at the order of the emperor Licinius to kill the Christians, arrested the bishop. As he was being led to jail, a mother set her only son, choking to death of a fish-bone, at his feet, and the child was cured straight away. Regardless, the governor, unable to make Blaise renounce his faith, beat him with a stick, ripped his flesh with iron combs, and beheaded him.
Celebrate Traditions! Celebrate Faith!
El 3 de febrero se celebra la fiesta de San Blas con una hermosa tradición, la bendición de la garganta. Para ello, el sacerdote consagra dos velas el día anterior, y luego coloca las velas en una posición cruzada en la garganta de la persona que está siendo bendecida. El sacerdote dice la siguiente bendición: “A través de la intercesión de San Blas, obispo y mártir, que Dios te libre de las dolencias de la garganta y de todo otro mal. En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y. del Espíritu Santo. Amén”.
Se dice que San Blas un médico, que murió como un mártir de la fe en el año 316, bajo el reinado de Licinio; y que poco después de su muerte, fue aclamado y venerado como un santo. 
¡Celebremos nuestras tradiciones!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

Sunday, February 2, 2020

El día de la Candelaria - Lady of Candelaria

Our Lady of Candelaria or Feast of Candelaria remind us of the appearance of the Virgin of la Candelaria in Tenerife, in the southwest of Spain at the beginning of the XV century.

FACTS:
1.    Celebrations most commonly take place on Groundhog's Day on February 2nd 
2.   Celebrated on the official presentation of Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem, 40 days after Virgin Mary has been cleansed from the delivery, following the Old Testament’s law.
3.   In Europe, the Presentation was celebrated with processions and candles to be blessed after mass. Over time, the feasr became the " Candlemas"
4.   In Mexico, it is customary that the person who got “The baby Jesus” in the Rosca de Reyes” has to make tamales or atole, both corn-based dishes. This tradition also carries Pre-Hispanic roots; February 2nd was the eleventh day of the first month on the Aztec calendar.
5. This year is a Super Day: 02022020 
Celebrate Traditions!

 Fiesta de la Candelaria

La celebración de nuestra Señora de la Candelaria o fiesta de la Candelaria nos recuerdan la aparición de la Virgen de la Candelaria en Tenerife, en el sudoeste de España a principios del siglo XV.
HECHOS:
1.   La celebración más comúnmente ocurren en el 2 de febrero.
2.   Se celebra la presentación oficial de Jesús en el templo de Jerusalén, cuarenta días después de que María Virgen ha sido purificada después del nacimiento de Jesús cumpliendo con la ley del Antiguo Testamento. 
3.   En Europa, el día de la Presentación era celebrado con velas en procesión y se le llama la Misa de Velas.
4.   En México, es habitual que la persona que le salió el "Niño Jesús" en la "Rosca de Reyes" tiene que hacer tamales o atole, dos platos a base de maíz. Esta tradición también tiene raíces Prehispánicas; el 2 de febrero era el undécimo día del primer mes del calendario azteca.
5. Éste año es Super Especial : 02022020 


 ¡Celebremos Nuestras Tradiciones!

 Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Recipes LuzDelMes: Love Month

Love Month 💘  Mes del Amor
February is a month dedicated to Love, but what is Love?
It is a deliberate act of my will. “Love is patient and kind;
it is not jealous or proud.” ~1 Cor. 13:4~
Let's celebrate Love Month with a:
Surprise Card
Love Breakfast
Special moment
A gentle kiss
A big huge
A funny poem
Or give a book: It's also #internacionalbookgivingday!

Happy Love Month!

Febrero es un mes dedicado al Amor, pero ¿qué es Amor?
Amor es un acto deliberado de mi voluntad.
“El amor es paciente y servicial; no es orgulloso o celoso."~1 Cor.13:4~
Celebremos el Mes del Amor con:
Un tarjeta sorpresa
Un desayuno amoroso

Un momento inesperado
Un beso suave
Un abrazo rompecostillas
Un poema gracioso
O regala un libro: Es también el #DiaInternaiconaldeDonarLibros

Visita: http://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2016/02/valentines-day-celebrate-traditions.html

¡Feliz Mes del Amor! 
💗 Celebraremos el Mes del AMOR 💗
Poemas en mi BLOG: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

Welcome February /Bienvenido Febrero

Reflections by Maritza Martínez Mejía

February is a month dedicated to Love, but what is Love? It is a deliberate act of my will. "Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or proud." ~1 Cor. 13:4~
Let's celebrate Love!
                  Courtesy: http://clipart-library.com

 Love
Feel
Blissful
To be loved
Yet better give
 Love!
@Mejía2015

Febrero es un mes dedicado al Amor, pero ¿qué es Amor? Es un acto deliberado de mi voluntad. "El amor es paciente y servicial; no es orgulloso o celoso."~1 Cor.13:4~
¡Celebremos al Amor!

Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

Friday, January 31, 2020

Luz del Mes by Maritza M. Mejia ~ MCBD2020

Luz Del Mes ~ MCBD2020
Maritza M. Mejía nos habla del cuidado de nuestro planeta. De lo mal que lo estamos tratando y de cómo responde él ante el maltrato. Su poesía parece sencilla, pero no es así,  está llena de amor alas cosas, a la naturaleza, al medio ambiente. Nos enseña y nos deleita a la vez con sus letras, donde ella vuelca todo su saber y todo su amor a la vida.
Jorge Luis Seco

Poeta Laureado de Union City, New Jersey
Maritza Martínez Mejia's poems unravel inner feelings thru compassionate stories, delicate flow within the simplicity of powerful words. The true meaning of reality best expressed by experiences of a life's traveler!
Agatha Rodi
Children's Author-Educator

Luz del Mes by Maritza M. Mejia ~ MCBD2020

MCBD 2020 REVIEWS:

REVIEW by Suzan Johnson Read it 👉https://www.shjstories.com/author-reviews.html 
#LuzDelMes ✨

AMAZON REVIEWS:
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
This author's kind and caring personality comes
 thru clearly in her written thoughts.
A lift for anyone's day.
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2019
Format: Paperback
¡Me encanta y lo recomiendo!
Si amas la naturaleza es tiempo de tener este libro contigo.🤝♥️🥰
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2018
Format: Paperback
Once again, Mejia delights us with her poems, reflections, and everything we ponder in life. 
This new book is a fresh collection of inspiring
 poems in Haiku and Sonnet format in English and Spanish which is ideal for ESOL students.
 I must say my favorite is the story of The Girl and the Trees which goes on to explain how Mejia started 
Luz Del Mes, a project to rescue moral values. 
I found the poems, reflections, and short stories uplifting and believe this book will make a wonderful gift for the poetry lover in your family.
Kudos for Luz Del Mes!



Thank you! ♥️¡Gracias!
Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk