Wondering how God is calling you? Are you curious about how your job or set of relationships is really a vocation? Do you want some awesome discussions around faith in real-life and more? Think hanging out with Catholic sisters and a fun thoughtful, faith community is cool? Then you are in the right place! Welcome! Explore and be sure to visit with us every weekday at 6 pm CT in our chat room.
J.M.J.A.T.
I’ve updated my sidebar and decided to post an image of Saint Teresa of Avila … only question is, what does J.M.J.A.T. stand for?? Any idea?
Previous post: A Prayer for You
Next post: Precious Blood Sister an artist at 90
Get your nun schwag! -- We've got cool nunly items including this awesome mug at 
{ 20 comments }
I tried Googling it, but no luck. My guess is: Jesus Mary Joseph All Things, based on a reference I saw to it somewhere saying “JMJAT help me”.
LOVE your blog, btw
All times. Again, just a guess, but this one might make a bit more sense.
Okay … good job … you got the first 3 letters correct … the second two not unlike the first three.
Any other takers?
jesus mary joseph and teresa?
Jesus Mary Joseph Augustine Thomas
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Apostolate, Twelve??? Just a BIG guess. I am still looking. I know it is something to do with Apostle???
It’s Latin for “Jesus,. Mary and Joseph, I love you.” The “AT” stands for “I love you” — “te amo,” if I remember correctly from my Latin over 40 years ago!
Lisa — you are totally on the right track, but not Augustine and Thomas… getting warmer!
Nicki and New Song — very nice tries. The Latin was especially creative.
If not Augustine or Thomas, who else might merit mention (hint: important to the IHM congregation)
Could the A stand for St. Albert of Jerusalem who wrote the rule for hermits that is the origin of the Carmelite rule and T for Teresa, la Madre?
Could it possibly be And ( Blessed) Trinity?
IHMs…the A might be for Alphonsus…but I can’t figure out the T…
Takemyhand and Barbara — you’ve got the T nailed. T stands for Teresa of Avila.
“Mom” (i though it was my own mom for a minute!) — you got perhaps the most difficult one … the A is for Alphonsus!
JMJAT = Jesus Mary Joseph Alphonsus Teresa
JMJ is used by many Catholics as a quick prayer — often it is written in correspondence. Many religious communities have used it and then add in the names of founders or patron saints of their communities.
So, since the IHMs are under the patronage of Alphonsus and Teresa, we add an A and a T. Many of our letters and documents have this little prayer at the top — a good way to begin any correspondence or activity for that matter. I decided to add it to my blog because the blog is a form of correspondence and all that I do should always begin with a prayer … especially to those near and dear to my IHM congregation.
Ah, I was using the wrong context clues. I didn’t realize that the JMJAT was IHM-specific in this case. Now I get it… That was a good exercise
JMJAT
Julie, nice exercise. I would not have given away the answers, since I am an IHM. I am only writing now to confirm your historical context. We used these initials, JMJAT on our letters as a prayerful reminder that our words did matter. We called on the intersession of our patrons to guide us. For some reason or other this wonderful practice dropped out of favor in recent years. Perhaps writing quick emails and blogs is the culprit.
Many thanks, Joyce … It’s a really cool practice that I’m going to keep up! Julie
It was interesting to read this and view all the answers. I would have had no idea where to begin. Thank you!!
Hi all.
I came across this discussion trying to figure out why St Alphonsus Liguori, in his personal letters, often signed “live” or “praised be” “Jesus Mary Joseph and Teresa.” Apparently, from his teenage years, had a special relationship with St. Teresa, his “second mother” who taught him many important lessons, especially about prayer.
Oh yeah…
Forgot to say…
Sine the copyright is expired, you can read the volume of his collected works containing his letters on this awesome web site: http://www.archive.org/details/alphonsusworks18liguuoft
Other works are on there too, including the Glories of Mary, but a few volumes haven’t been posted yet.
Praised be Jesus Mary Joseph and Teresa !
Thanks for writing, Eric. One of the founders of the IHMs was Louis Florent Gillet, a Redemptorist priest. We inherited many of the Redemptorist customs — so I’m sure we got the JMJAT from them.