Catholic Family Vignettes

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Acts 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.to God on his behalf.


On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel
Mt 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Read more!

By the way...the girls did get popsicles, and a walk with Granddad! Read more!

From Rorate Caeli:

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE

"A meeting took place yesterday afternoon at the Vatican, presided by the Cardinal Secretary of State, in which the content and the spirit of the expected "Motu proprio" of the Holy Father on the use of the Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962 were explained to the representatives of several episcopal conferences. The Holy Father came to salute those who were present and maintained a deep discussion with them for about one hour. The publication of the document - which will be accompanied by a thorough personal letter of the Holy Father to the singular Bishops - is predicted for within a few days, when the document itself will be sent to all Bishops with the indication of its successive coming into effect."

Let us praise God!

Te Deum

Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.

V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.

V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.

V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.

V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum. Read more!

The motu proprio liberating the Tridentine Mass for the entire Catholic Church has been given to about 30 bishops from all over the world in the Sala Bologna of the Apostolic Palace by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone

Vatican (kath.net/DieWelt/closedcafeteria.blogspot)
Die Welt report that the motu proprio liberating the Tridentine Mass for the entire Catholic Church has been given to about 30 bishops from all over the world in the Sala Bologna of the Apostolic Palace by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone.

The bishops had been invited to Rome for that purpose. At the end of the meeting, in which the motu proprio was introduced together with a letter of explanation by Pope Benedict XVI., Pope Benedict met with the bishops. The document is about three pages long, the accompanying letter about four. From Germany, Cardinal Lehmann had been invited. The circumstances of the procedure make clear that the Pope was very interested to personally inform the bishops, in collegial manner, of the content rather than from the media. The publication of both documents will take place on July 7th. It emphasizes the unity of the Roman Rite which will consist of an ordinary and an extraordinary form which are supposed to inspire each other. The ordinary/regular form will continue to be the new rite of 1969. The extraordinary form will be the Missal of Bl. John XXIII. of 1962. Read more!

There is a new carnival in town...the Carnival of Homeschooling - Surgery Edition! For those of you who are unfamiliar with blog "carnivals" - a blog carnival is a type of blog event. It is similar to a magazine, in that it is dedicated to a particular topic, and is published on a regular schedule. This latest Carnival of Homeschooling contains many topics of interest for home educators of every style.

Catholic Family Vignettes is one of the participants...so please join us this week for the Carnival of Homeschooling - Surgery Edition. Read more!

Today I purchased eight clear, plastic bins, looked at paint chips and proceeded home to begin a major renovation of my younger daughters' room. I had planned to eliminate the stuffed animal menagerie that had taken over the shelves in the corner of their room, condense their toy box into smaller clear bins for easier organization and scale down their summer wardrobes. Having accomplished that, I would proceed to scraping and painting their room. Those were my plans...but they were not God's!

Instead of slaving away in a very hot, poorly ventilated upstairs bedroom for several hours, I was given the privilege of hosting three adorable young children, while their mother tended to needs of their infant sister who is currently hospitalized.

My five youngest children were delighted at the prospect of new playmates, and my oldest son became the devoted slave of the three visitors. Zachary fixed drinks, prepared sandwiches, and even let one of the little girls press the "launch" button on his Estes rocket.

The children were accompanied by my dear friend, Krislynne, and her daughter, Erin. They were tired, a little stressed out and a bit withdrawn--understandably so, considering what they had just experienced.

But children are amazingly resilient. Within an hour, they were chattering away, playing in the sandbox, swinging, climbing, riding bikes...a joy to behold.

Thank heavens for these "blessed interruptions"--I wouldn't have traded this afternoon for a roomful of organized, clear plastic bins! Read more!

Things that go "bump" in the night...overturned trash cans...an injured cat. These are the mysteries that are a daily/nightly part of life in the country. The mystery has been solved thanks to a "catch'em alive" trap provided by a dear family friend (thanks Tom!). Meet Rocky Raccoon, cat mangler and garbage eating marauder extraordinaire!

As inconvenient and annoying as the trash issue has been, our greater concern has been for our sweet kitty, Cookie. Cookie has nearly been "eaten" several times...and bears the scars from each attack. This sweet kitty showed up about two weeks after we moved in, apparently a victim of "drive-by donation" - you know, when some nice person from the city decides that every farm needs another stray cat...

Happily for us, Cookie is a great mouser and does all he can to rid the property of other pesky garden pests. We are grateful.

Unfortunately for Cookie, outdoor life in the country can be hazardous to a feline's health, particularly if the predator is considerably larger than you are!

Well, there's one less raccoon on the rampage tonight...and probably fifty more waiting in the woods! Read more!

Beware Cytotec! What is Cytotec?

Misoprostol or Prostaglandin E1 used to ripen a woman's cervix and induce labor. Cytotec is a small pill that can be taken orally or broken in pieces and inserted vaginally.

This article, provides additional information on this potentially life-threatening means of labor induction Read more!

Sometime ago, I received a letter from a young mother outlining her concern that she was not providing adequate learning opportunities for her young daughter.

Like many young mothers, she was already contemplating home education for her child and wished to provide as firm a foundation as possible.

I'm so encouraged by the dedication and desire of these young women, to create an environment of creativity and exploration. At the same time, it is a good idea to establish a "mission statement" - a concise statement that outlines the ultimate goal of your homeschooling endeavor...and to remember that "play" is education, too.

Here is the letter and my response follows:

Hi,

My name is Margaret and I have a 22 month old child. I am a new mom and am thinking about home schooling. I see a lot of material for pre K for home schooling, but I don't see a lot for toddlers.

Presently, we spend most of our time reading and talking. She's like a sponge. At this point, my daughter can recognize her numbers and alphabet. She knows her left foot from her right foot and knows her colors. She loves to read and when I say we read, I mean we can read non stop for a hour. She loves it. But I want to make sure I'm living up to my potential as her mom and want to do everything possible to help her. It's like she's craving for more. Do you have any suggestions?

I have a friend who was excited when she heard her say her first sentence, I didn't have the heart to tell her she's been it saying for weeks. I need to know, too, if possible, is she developing at the same rate as other children in her age group?

Any help would be greatly appreciated; sometimes I'm not sure if I'm doing enough.


Margaret (last name withheld)



Dear Margaret:

Your letter was forwarded to me by CCHE Director, (name withheld). Allow me to introduce myself...my name is Kimberly Wasson, Assistant Director of CCHE. I am the mother of nine children and have been homeschooling for an aggregate of seven years. My children range in age from 23 to 20 months. I hope that my experience will bless and encourage you as you seek to provide the best possible environment for your little one.

"Precocious learning" is most common among, though not exclusive to, first children. Your little girl is blessed to have nearly all of her socialization and intellectual stimulation provided by an adult. The fact that you are also attentive to her natural desire and proclivity to learning, will accelerate her latent abilities as well as make evident areas of giftedness. I will give you an example, by using one of my own children! My oldest daughter, Ashley, sounds very much like your little one. Ashley was walking by 8 months, potty trained by 12 months, talking in complete sentences at 18 months and reading by 3 years of age. Yes...this is somewhat unusual. Ashley does have a genius level intellect and is extremely articulate, as well. I must admit, that as a first time mom, I spent an incredible amount of time doing many of the things that you are currently doing - reading, shape, number and letter recognition. For a very long time, I believed that my efforts were the most important part of helping Ashley "be all she could be."

Then I had another child. And another. And another. Amazingly, as my time became more and more compromised, I felt that my other children would suffer as a result (not having the same concentrated effort that Ashley did). This has been proven, for the most part, wrong. All of the children have a variety of gifts and talents, some more than others. I'll contrast one of my children, for example. My oldest son, Zachary, was incredibly different from Ashley. Zachary never spoke a word until he was two years old...and then he spoke in complete sentences, no baby talk! He was not potty trained until he was nearly three, but by 26 months he could name all of the planets in the solar system, recognize simple words in print and completely disassembled the carburetor on his father's roto-tiller. There were times when Zachary was very young, that I worried about his abilities...I did not read to him nearly as often as his three older sisters (he didn't like to sit still for very long), by four he was no longer interested in learning to read and I began to doubt that he would ever read well, despite his early "prodigy like tendencies". Needless to say, those fears were all unfounded and Zachary has a mind like a steel trap! He is now 11 years old, reads at an 8th grade level, is an inventor of sorts, and can take apart and put back together nearly anything he puts his hands on. He has taken the lead in his own development, from a "giftedness" standpoint. His father and I simply provide the necessary tools to encourage him in whatever is his current interest and let him go!

Children are DEFINITELY like sponges!! They soak up everything, good and bad! Ashley's learning continued to remain accelerated throughout her life...and it is certainly a challenge keeping up with a young person whose intellect eventually exceeds yours! I would caution you, however, in your endeavors. Do make sure that your daughter has plenty of time to PLAY!! This is critical...she is more than a computer to be programmed...she must develop in stages, and sometimes the acceleration of the natural learning abilities of the gifted child can lead to difficulties in relationships...the child spends so much time "learning" that she is not "living" and interacting as a child. God created all of His children with a body, mind and soul. It is necessary to balance all of these aspects to meet our full potential. The gifted child will excel and succeed in spite of efforts to restrain her. Just take it one day at a time and remember to love her, hold her, tickle her and enjoy playing with her! It is just as easy for you to burn out as it is for her.

Homeschooling is, without doubt, the best option available for the gifted child and dedicated parent. The child is able to progress at his or her own pace and can even branch off into new interests at the drop of a hat! These options are simply not available to public school children, nor are they available within the various gifted programs offered. There are many programs available to encourage your precocious toddler and will also provide a fun learning environment. Before Five in a Row by Jane Claire Lambert, is an excellent literature based thematic learning program for your 2 to 4 year old. This program is available through Amazon books, Rainbow Resources and nearly every other homeschooling company. The web address is www.fiveinarow.com and has a lot of additional information regarding this program. Since you are currently doing a lot of reading with your daughter, this program would reinforce what you are already doing as well as show you how to implement literature to provide information on a variety of subjects.

Remember to seek fellowship with other moms! They can offer a variety of ideas, support and encouragement. And lest I forget...academic excellence is just one of the "perks" of homeschooling, and is only a small part of why I homeschool. It is an awesome task and tremendous blessing to be able to provide your child with a faith-based education, wholesome fellowship and socialization and build family relationships at the same time. I thank God everyday that I'm able to do this great thing! Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to assist you! I know this is a much longer response than you were probably looking for, but when inspiration strikes...you just go with it ;-D

In Christ,

Kimberly Wasson Read more!

A hearty welcome to Catholic-Tube! "Broadcasting Christ and His Church to the world!


"{God's people also share in Christ's role as a prophet. [...] Priests, laity, and religious can all colaborate in the church's missionary and evangelization activity, catechetical ministry, the teaching of theology, and the use of all forms of contemporary media."- U.S. CC for Adults - pg 118

May God bless your efforts to propagate the faith! Read more!

A simple case of poor judgment? Or yet another reason to keep your children as far away from public education as possible?

Here is an excerpt from a recent CNN news report (the full text accessible below):

"The visit was part of the YMCA's STAY program, for students considered at risk of dropping out of school, abusing drugs or getting into trouble with the law. The trip, a week ago, was part of a tour of several social service agencies in the city, to show the students where they could go for support and recreation during the summer."


Now, just exactly what part of a visit to Planned Parenthood would be deemed "recreational." May God have mercy!
After-school trip to Planned Parenthood prompts investigation
POSTED: 3:39 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007 CNN

Read more!

Or perhaps I should say destruction...alas, my html skills are lacking.

Having followed all the instructions for a nice little "tweak", including backing up my previous template, I have lost a few things here and there. Sigh...oh, well! You live, you learn and you read the instructions a little more closely...

Onward and upward! Read more!

Una voce. One voice. This is the cry of the Traditional Catholic. Give us the beauty of the liturgy in the "voice" of the ancients--Latin!

English, too, is a beautiful language. It is our daily speech, our words of love and encouragement. It is Shakespeare, Keats, Browning, Shelley and others. Rhyme and reason.

Despite it's beauty, English (other languages as well) continues to be problematic when translating the Liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass from the original or ancient "voice" to the "voice" of a particular age or culture. Simply put, too much has been "lost in translation." The ongoing struggle to undo some of the more unfortunate "translations" are evident as the "ICEL attempts to restore the sacral vocabulary and linguistic rhythms of the Roman Rite" within the confines of the Novus Ordo Mass.

The following op/ed article from George Weigel, a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. illustrates the tendency to "dumb down" the translation of the Mass.


We are not morons
By George Weigel

Writing in the May 21 issue of America, Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, called the lay people of the Church to the barricades, urging us to “speak up!” in response to the new translations of Mass texts being developed by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. I’d like to take the bishop on his generous invitation, even if my remarks may not be precisely the kind he intended to provoke.

Bishop Trautman worries that the new translations are just, well, too darn much for “John and Mary Catholic,” whose participation in Sunday Mass will, he suggests, be impaired by a translation of the Creed that describes the Son as “consubstantial with the Father” and “incarnate of the Virgin Mary.” But that’s hardly the end of it. Will “John and Mary Catholic,” Bishop Trautman asks, “understand these words from the various new Collects: ‘sullied,’ ‘unfeigned,’ ‘ineffable,’ ‘gibbet,’ ‘wrought,’ ‘thwart’?” What will “John and Mary Catholic” make of the Collect for June 27, which hails St. Cyril of Alexandria as “an unvanquished champion of the divine motherhood”? Can they grasp the depiction of St. John of God on March 8 as “suffused...with the spirit of mercy”?

My hunch is that they’ll do just fine. “John and Mary Catholic,” in these United States, are among the best-educated Catholics in history. In my rather typical parish, “John and Mary” can understand legal contracts, Russian novels, architectural plans, IRS forms, the Atlantic Monthly, columns by George F. Will, the calculations necessary to compute an Earned Run Average, their children’s math homework, the Federal Register, New England Journal of Medicine articles on osteoporosis therapies, the fine print of their pension plans, and Sports Illustrated stories on the Cover-2 Defense; they’re not going to come unglued over “unfeigned” or “consubstantial” or “thwart.” In a word, they’re not morons.

John and Mary are also smart enough to have figured out that the present translation of the first Collect for Trinity Sunday is heresy (it’s addressed to the Father, who’s informed later in the prayer that he is “one God in three Persons”). Having read Paul’s letter to Titus, John and Mary may wonder why, at each Mass, the translators Bishop Trautman evidently prefers have transformed a theological fact (“our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” [Titus 2.13]) into an emotional condition (“...as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior...”). And no matter what Latin John and Mary may have forgotten — or never learned — they’ve been scratching their heads for forty years over how “Et cum spiritu tuo” became the supremely clunky “And also with you.” The list could be multiplied ad infinitum and ad nauseam — phrases John and Mary Catholic readily understand.
A witty, post-Vatican II Anglican convert to Catholicism was once asked what he missed most about his former ecclesiastical home. “The Mass in English,” he immediately replied. Bishop Trautman is clearly a man of intelligence and learning, so it’s all the more puzzling why he seems to defend the indefensible. For how can anyone with a sense of the majesty of the English language defend the See-Spot/See-Spot-Run vocabulary and syntax the new ICEL translations are intended to replace?

Are there clunkers in the new translations? Undoubtedly. But will ICEL’s attempt to restore the sacral vocabulary and linguistic rhythms of the Roman Rite to Catholic worship within the Anglosphere destroy our ability to pray as a community? Please; we’re not morons. I’d even venture the guess that prayers translated with far more fidelity to the Latin originals will be a step toward a deeper, more prayerful encounter with what Bishop Trautman rightly calls “the greatest gift of God, the Eucharist.”

Bishop Trautman would likely agree that, as a general principle, “pastoral” doesn’t mean “dumbed-down.” Yet that’s precisely the strategy many professional liturgists have advocated in the post-Vatican II translation wars. I, for one, am grateful that they’ve lost the argument.
Because we’re not morons, and we shouldn’t be treated as such.

George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Weigel’s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Denver. Phone: 303-715-3215.
Read more!

The Path that leads to Nowhere
Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

There's a path that leads to Nowhere
In a meadow that I know,
Where an inland island rises
And the stream is still and slow;
There it wanders under willows
And beneath the silver green
Of the birches' silent shadows
Where the early violets lean.

Other pathways lead to Somewhere,
But the one I love so well
Had no end and no beginning —
Just the beauty of the dell,
Just the windflowers and the lilies
Yellow striped as adder's tongue,
Seem to satisfy my pathway
As it winds their sweets among.

There I go to meet the Springtime,
When the meadow is aglow,
Marigolds amid the marshes, —
And the stream is still and slow. —
There I find my fair oasis,
And with care-free feet I tread
For the pathway leads to Nowhere,
And the blue is overhead!

All the ways that lead to Somewhere
Echo with the hurrying feet
Of the Struggling and the Striving,
But the way I find so sweet
Bids me dream and bids me linger,
Joy and Beauty are its goal, —
On the path that leads to Nowhere
I have sometimes found my soul! Read more!

Well, well, well. It appears that Joseph Kennedy was unable to obtain that annulment after all (article from 1997 here). The following article from Time Magazine outlines the details of the decision issued by the Roma Rota in 2005, and kept secret until the final written document was prepared.

This decision is good news for Catholics who feared the process of annulment was beginning to take on the appearance, of what many in the secular world, refer to as "Catholic divorce." Interestingly enough, Sheila Rauch is Episcopalian, and many felt her non-Catholic status would not provide her with a fair appeal. Obviously, this was not the case. Read more!

Have you slain any dragons lately? The "dragon" I am referring to is a personal one, the one that is living in your home...clutter! There are some of you out there (God bless you Kristen - everyone, please read this post, and Margaret, for setting the stage for the rest us) who provide such an incredible inspiration and example by your minimalist perspective.

For those of you living with clutter, find out what your particular "dragon" is, and slay it today! I have long been of the opinion that we all live with our own "dragon(s)", mine is a fabric dragon. Clothing, blankets, towels, sheets...all of the fabric that it takes to wrap the bodies of 9 people...and many yards more than any of us could ever need.

Two moves within the past two years have forced our family to greatly downsize our "stuff" - we have limited storage, but are still hanging on to far too much. So...here's to digging out. God grant me the courage to continue to let go of these earthly "tethers" and as Holy Scripture so aptly puts it "store up treasure in heaven." Read more!

I love surprises. So do my parents. This past Sunday, we were most pleasantly surprised by my dear brother. My husband and I returned home from Mass to find his convertible parked out front. We quickly hid the car and my brother, as the parents were just behind us. Needless to say, mom and dad were touched by his desire to share the last few hours of their visit with all of us before their journey back to Kentucky.


I love him dearly...

He had been rather surprised himself, a few days earlier, when we all decided to video the absolute worst rendition of "Happy Birthday" ever recorded and presented it (via email) along with several hysterically funny cards and photos wishing him a most joyous "38th" (HAH!) birthday.

Thank you, dear brother, for the gift you are to all of us. We love you and are so happy you dropped in... Read more!

A Return to the Latin Mass
Clashes with congregants may erupt as a growing number of young priests push for a revival of pre-Vatican II customs
By Eric Ferkenhoff
Posted 6/17/07

Nearly two generations of Catholics now have grown up in a post-Vatican II world, worshipping in a church that celebrates mass in their local languages and, at least to some extent, embraces modern customs as much as it once rejected them.

So it seemed anathema when the Vatican confirmed recently that Pope Benedict XVI would relax restrictions on celebrating the 16th-century Tridentine Mass, citing "a new and renewed" interest in the ancient Latin liturgy, especially among younger Catholics.

Given the fierce fight that preceded Vatican II—the liturgical and doctrinal reforms of the mid-1960s that sought to make the church more accessible—a similar war would seem needed to overturn them. But a movement is building at seminaries nationwide to do just that: In addition to restoring the Latin mass, young priests are calling for greater devotion to the Virgin Mary, more frequent praying of the rosary, and priests turning away from the congregation as they once did. Perhaps most controversially, they also advocate a diminished role for women, who since Vatican II have been allowed to participate in the mass as lay altar servers and readers.

Such changes would seem to aggravate the church's growing attendance problems(in 2003, 40 percent of Roman Catholics said they had attended church in the past week, down from 74 percent in 1958) as well as enhance its air of exclusivity—the notion of Catholicism as the only true faith. Yet proponents of the movement argue that just the opposite holds: More people will attend mass if the traditions are richer and the doctrine stricter. The Latin mass, they say, would restore a sense of community they believe was diluted when the church allowed local culture to override tradition. In Chicago alone, mass is now said in some 50 languages.

"The traditional Latin mass simply excels at conveying the majesty and mystery of God," says Michael Dunnigan, a canon lawyer and chairman of the pro-Latin mass group, Una Voce America. Rejecting comparisons to fundamentalism, he denies that proponents are simply seeking more structure and discipline. "At the heart of the movement is a longing for beauty and an attitude of profound reverence," he says. Andrew Vogel, a seminarian from Rochester, Minn., notes that before Vatican II, mass attendance was at its highest and seminaries were full. "People just think we must have been doing something right," he says.

In today's Catholic churches, priests are free to celebrate a contemporary Latin mass, but they cannot celebrate the Latin mass as it was structured before 1962 without permission of their bishop. It is this restriction that the pope is considering lifting.

The proponents of the old Latin mass are said to number no more than 2 percent of Catholics, and polls show that the majority of Catholics embrace the reforms of Vatican II. But the Latin movement may be strong enough to carve a divide. Thomas Reese, a fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University predicts "a clash of cultures between clergy and the more liberal congregations as more of these conservative priests graduate and make their presence known."

He predicts that other old practices will be restored as the Vatican tries to impose the conservative values of Benedict on a more liberal world. "This is so much more about politics than it is about Latin and liturgy," Reese says.

According to published reports, the pope was, among other things, trying to bridge a divide with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, even though that group has expressed concern about reversing the gains of Vatican II.

The Latin movement also has its detractors outside the faith. Jewish leaders take offense with older rites' references to Jews as faithless, and they worry that a revival of the old traditions could foster anti-Semitism.

But such arguments seemed far from the minds of the 20-odd worshipers who gathered last Friday for the Latin mass at Chicago's St. John Cantius Church. "You put the old rite and the new side by side, and there really is no comparison," says Simon Varnas, 35. "The old rite is far superior. It is more conducive to prayer, recollection, and personal dedication."

This story appears in the June 25, 2007 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
Read more!

Dinner is late. A lovely Italian dinner. We would've eaten nearly an hour ago, but my men are hunting an illusive beast...an escaped emu.

Two hours ago, Gareth comes inside in a panic to inform us all that "there's something strange in the field...it has two legs and it's not a person!" Roger and I were slow to respond to this strange declaration, but the boys quickly bolted to investigate this claim.

Two minutes later, four very agitated boys are yelling excitedly that there is some kind of giant bird, "like an ostrich" at the edge of our yard. Arthur arms himself with his air rifle, dreams of a big-game hunt dancing in his head (he seems to have overcome his previous squeamishness). Dad and I noticed quite quickly that the giant bird, is in fact, an emu and definitely a domesticated bird, belonging to one of the local farms. Problem is, we don't know which farm.

The bird has attempted to head toward the road, so the boys have continued to herd it toward a safer location. This has been going on for quite sometime. So dinner is late.

I'm not quite sure what their goal is. I think, at this point, it is simply the thrill of the chase. After all, it's not everyday that a large bird roughly the size of a llama shows up in your yard.

Curiouser and curiouser... Read more!

This Father's Day, my dear husband gave a precious gift to our youngest son, Maximilian. Max made his first confession, with his father and grandfather patiently waiting for his emergence from the confessional.

It has always been a great joy to both of us to present our children to this beautiful sacrament. The boys, especially, have developed a great love for confession and frequently avail themselves of its graces.

Maximilian is on his journey towards the reception of First Holy Communion. He will receive on the Feast of Christ the King, just as his brother Michael did, last year. After making his first confession, Max could hardly contain himself as he contemplated the day he will receive Jesus. He told his older sister Meredith, "He's really there, you know!" Such a simple statement, and yet how profound.

"He's really there, you know!" Read more!

A most joyous and blessed Father's Day to our spiritual fathers...God's Holy Priests. May your day be filled with happiness and the knowledge that you are loved and appreciated by your "children".

A very happy Father's Day to our own "father"...Fr. Kevin Lutz. We are blessed to call you Father...thank you for all that you do.

Father! - to God himself we cannot give a holier name.
~ William Wordsworth Read more!

Tomorrow is Father's Day and my children and I will be blessed to spend it with two of the best fathers ever...my husband and my dad. These two men are such beautiful examples of fatherly love and we will all be blessed to spend tomorrow honoring them.


Here is a beautiful prayer for all fathers:

Prayer of Pope John XXIII - for Fathers

Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus
and chaste husband of Mary,
you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty.
You supported the holy family of Nazareth
with the work of your hands.
Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you.
You know their aspirations,
their hardships, their hopes.
They look to you because they know
you will understand and protect them.
You too knew trial,
labour and weariness.
But amid the worries of material life,
your soul was full of deep peace
and sang out in true joy
through intimacy with God's Son entrusted to you
and with Mary, his tender Mother.
Assure those you protect that they do not labour alone.
Teach them to find Jesus near them
and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done.

Amen.

May this Sabbath day be filled with the joyful celebration of fatherhood. Blessed be our own Father, God, forever. Read more!

Happy Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! May you find His Most Sacred Heart to be the source of all joy and comfort.

It was a beautiful day. We reveled in the glories of nature at a local park, once again the children splashing and playing in the cool waters of Darby Creek. The evening meal was followed by a solemn yet joyful "re-consecration" of our home and family to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and a lovely "re-enthronement" as well.

The children assisted in decorating the mantle with wildflowers and large thorns they had gathered this afternoon. The glow of many candles illuminated the simple altar and provided a lovely setting for the enthronement of the image of our Lord's Most Sacred Heart. The grandparents had never participated in an enthronement ceremony, and so made their first consecration. It was quite a touching event to have the entire family gathered in prayer.

The rest of the evening was spent recording the most hilarious birthday video for my brother. Afterwards, we celebrated the joys of the day with ice cream and brownies. A sweet ending to a truly sweet day. Read more!

The Twelve Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

Litany to the Sacred Heart

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, Response: have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, ..
God the Holy Spirit,...
Holy Trinity, one God, ...
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, ...
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mother's womb, ...
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, ...
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, ...
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, ...
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, ...
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, ...
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, ...
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, ...
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, ...
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, ...
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, ...
Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, ...
Heart of Jesus, wherein are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, ...
Heart of Jesus, wherein dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, ...
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, ...
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, ...
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, ...
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, ...
Heart of Jesus, rich unto all who call upon You, ...
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, ...
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our offenses, ...
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with reproaches, ...
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our iniquities, ...
Heart of Jesus, obedient even unto death, ...
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, ...
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, ...
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, ...
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, ...
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, ...
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, ...
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, ...
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, ...

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
R. Make our hearts like unto Thy Heart.

Let us pray, Almighty everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy dearly beloved Son, and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners and for those who seek Thy mercy. Be appeased, and grant us pardon in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee forever and ever. Amen.

Read more!

"For the Record - URGENT - Italian Papal News website:
Motu proprio "signed and imminent"
Quotes from the Accompanying Letter"

The above statement is taken from Rorate Caeli, a very credible/conservative resource for news regarding the liberalization of the Traditional Mass. The full text of the article may be found here Read more!

Our days are so very full...how quickly the week is passing! Each day is full of adventure and discovery.

Granddad took the boys on an "archaeological expedition" into the woods beyond our home. Armed with shovels and determination, our explorers trekked into the wilds, only to be thwarted by a tremendous amount of poison ivy. Arthur is so horribly allergic, that not one of the troop was willing to expose him to even the slightest danger...God bless them! They returned, sad but hopeful that another opportunity will present itself when the poison ivy is not quite so rampant.

Wednesday the entire family spent the day at the Columbus Zoo. Grandma Carole is an absolute trooper...she may be 84, but she has no difficulty in keeping up with the rest of the group. The children are so solicitous of her comfort, slowing down when they felt she needed a break and delighting in showing her all of their favorite animals and exhibits. It was a truly lovely day, though a bit hot at times. The children cooled off later that afternoon in the small pool in the backyard. The evening was spent roasting marshmallows and making s'mores...such fun!

Today we spent our early morning and afternoon in the shade of beautiful Darby Creek Park. The children and adults all enjoyed a bit of a "splash" in the creek. Crayfish, minnows and a variety of aquatic life kept the children entranced for several hours. Five year old Charlotte caught a baby painted turtle and proudly shared her discovery with her siblings as well as a couple of new found friends. We were all so very proud of Grandma Carole. She managed to hike the trails, climbed up and down stairs and the children had great fun showing her all of their discoveries.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all that remain of their time with us. It is passing quickly, yet joyfully. The memories that are being created together will last a life time and I'm so thankful for the great gift the grandparents and the "great" are giving us...the gift of their time. Read more!

Twenty-six years ago today, Roger and I began our journey together as husband and wife. What an incredible trip it has been! Nine beautiful children, three (soon to be four) lovely grandchildren, extended family and friends and the most incredible "parish family" we could ever ask for. Blessed years. Hard years, at times, too. Sick children, horribly difficult pregnancies, unemployment, disappointments, financial woes...you name it, we've seen it. Amazingly, each trial has been replaced with triumph and our bond has only become stronger. This has been the greatest of all blessings. No matter the trial, no matter the trouble, as a couple we only ever grow stronger. Most of the credit goes to Roger. His patience is awe-inspiring. He is an absolute rock. No matter how "shaken" I may be, he is the "calm in the midst of the storm." I praise God that in His infinite wisdom, he chose the most beautiful person for me. I love him so dearly and wish only to be worthy of the love he gives so unreservedly, so generously. I could go on and on. But I'm going to fix him breakfast in bed, instead. Happy 26th anniversary, darling! Read more!

The grandparents are coming! The grandparents are coming! The children are so very excited...grandma and granddad and great-grandma arrive this afternoon and will stay for a week. The week will be full of activity...trips to the zoo, the park, walks in the woods and hilarity in general.

Posting may be a bit sporadic, but promises to be interesting! On the 15th, we will renew our consecration to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Hope this week is a blessed one for all of you! Read more!

Today promises to be a very busy day...thank heavens the temperature is 20 degrees cooler and the humidity non-existent!

Here are a couple "must reads" and "must see"...great articles:

The Domestic Monastery

Urban Distributism

St. John Cantius - Photos

Hallowed Ground - amazing images...take a look! Read more!

Cardinal Rejects Pro-Choice City Label

Philadelphia Council Adopts Resolution for New Status

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, JUNE 8, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Justin Rigali issued a statement against the city council's new resolution to adopt the status of a "pro-choice city."

Cardinal Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia, in Thursday's statement called upon "all people of good will to join me in rejecting the divisive and erroneous label that Philadelphia City Council has forced upon the citizens of Philadelphia today."

"I reject the resolution because so many heroic efforts are made continually to safeguard unborn children from the evil of abortion, to protect vulnerable children and families and to defend all women and men in crisis," he said.


Cardinal Rigali, who is also the chairman of the U.S. bishops' committee for pro-life activities, continued: "In a city where so many people vigorously defend life at every stage, proclaiming Philadelphia 'pro-choice' is inconsistent with reality. It unfairly saddles those who support life at all stages with this shameful label.

"Philadelphia is experiencing homicide at a record rate; now is not the time to affirm the false choice of procured abortion. Rather, all residents should rally around the common cause of eliminating the hopelessness that generates violence.

"Everyone deserves to be born and live in a society that builds conditions conducive to life, not despair and death."

The 72-year-old prelate added: "The dialogue between individuals and groups working to build a just society is ill-served by City Council's unproductive resolution.

"I commend those members who opposed this resolution. Council members who voted for it should apologize to the thousands of Philadelphians they have offended today, and turn their energies toward improving the quality of life and the safeguarding of all residents."
Read more!

Frustration. That is what I felt this morning when my 17 yr. old daughter informed me that she had to go into work early. For those of you with older children, I'm sure you recognize the feeling...elation at their growing independence and confidence, frustration at their lack of availability for household responsibilities.

Incredibly, with Meredith's growing independence, I have discovered that there are a few other children in this house who are more than capable of picking up the slack!

Today, quite unexpectedly, the four boys (ages 13, 10, 9 and 7) "stepped up to the plate". I had to take Meredith to work before we had all finished putting away the groceries, and was quite pressed for time. Zachary steps in and says: "Don't worry, Mom, we'll take care of these." I had known they would, but it was nice to have him stop me and assure me that he was "in charge". I took the two little girls with me, as I always do and left the "men" to their work...

Forty minutes later I returned home and nearly had heart failure! Of course, they had put the groceries away...but they had also cleaned the kitchen, wiped down the counters, mopped the floor, taken out the trash, vacuumed the entire downstairs, cleaned the living room and dining room. Zachary even had classical music playing when I entered the house. Amazing! They have always been great helpers and will do whatever I ask (sometimes willingly, sometimes begrudgingly) but their realm has been primarily outside the house. This was such a spontaneous, loving and gentlemanly act requiring no hints or coercion of any kind. It was a lovely surprise!

Once again, I am astonished that all our teaching is taking root. That the next "team" is ready to play its part. That my girls and boys want to serve their family, as they themselves have been served...lovingly and without reservation. Read more!

Yesterday my 13 year old son experienced a young man's "rite of passage". There are many defining experiences in the life of an adolescent boy, but as Arthur is my eldest son, I am a novice in this area.

A young raccoon (slightly smaller than the family cat) showed up in front of the big barn in our backyard. It was terribly injured...it's right foreleg had been torn off. The animal was in pain, and like most suffering creatures, was exhibiting threatening behavior. Arthur was the first to notice the animal and approached cautiously. Within minutes his siblings were crowding around, creating further distress in the raccoon.

I asked the children to move away from the animal and Arthur assessed its condition. Dad was at work, but a quick call confirmed what we both knew he would do.

ARthur had saved his money for nearly 6 months to purchase a Crosman air rifle. He is immensely proud of this weapon. Many times I have left the house and seen my young soldier patrolling the perimeter of our yard. He has become quite the marskman, but thus far his experience has been limited to shooting inanimate objects and paper targets bearing the visages of an assortment of motley characters.

The animal had begun venturing beyond the barn, continuing to behave in a menacing manner. Now, the young warrior's determination to end the poor creature's suffering was replaced with his concern that it might hurt his little sister, who was peacefully playing in the backyard.

A well-aimed shot and he took the animal down. Pride in his accomplishment, and then sorrow at the realization that he had killed a living thing. It was such a perfect opportunity to talk about a young man's need to responsibly protect his family. To explain to him, that there is no merit in the suffering of animals...they do not possess an immortal soul and do not gain virtue through their sufferings. To reiterate that "mercy killing" can only be engaged in as it regards to the suffering of animals and not people. That to responsibly protect your family is a right and a duty. That it is also a good thing to feel a bit sad at ending that poor animal's life...that is what makes him both human and humane.

My boy is becoming a man. There will be many such "rites of passage"...this one is poignant. I am watching the last vestiges of childhood peeling away and I am so proud of what is being revealed. Read more!

The most beautiful May Procession I have ever seen! Click here to view an incredibly lovely slideshow from The Saint Benedict Center. And here is the rest of it. Read more!

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Call it bad timing.

When former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was asked to respond to recent comments from a religious leader likening him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who condemned Jesus to be crucified, lightning from outside the debate site briefly cut off his microphone.

Giuliani couldn’t pass up commenting on the strange coincidence, joking, “For someone who went to parochial schools all his life, this is a frightening thing that’s happening right now.”

Giuliani then defended his religious beliefs and his position on abortion.

“Religion is an important thing to me and my life, but ultimately I’ve been in public life most of my life, and taken oaths of office to enforce the law, and I’ve got to make the decisions that I think are the right ones in a country like ours,” he said.

“My view on abortion is that it’s wrong but that ultimately, government should not be enforcing that decision on a woman.”

–CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Elena Marie Vidal, author of the novels Trianon and Madame Royale, as well as the very lovely blogspot Tea at Trianon; has "tagged" me. The rules are:


"For this meme, each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."

1. I am a convert to Catholicism. A deep longing to provide my children with the stability and truths of the Faith led me to the Church in 1991. My husband, Roger, and my dear grandmother, Carol, entered the Church the following year. In 1994, my mother entered, as well. This year, with great joy, the entire family welcomed my precious father into the fold. Thus far, my dear brother remains the lone "hold-out"(his wife is Catholic...it's just a matter of time!)

2. As a teenager, I never wanted children nor did I babysit. Amazing how things can change! As the mother of 9 children (1 in heaven) and grandmother to 3 (the 4th is on the way!), I can't imagine my life without them. They are a "sanctifying grace" in my life and I would be an absolute shell of a person, devoid of all tenderness and feeling, without them.

3. In 1995, I was involved in a terrible car accident. While traveling the north bound lane of a major interstate (and praying the 5th Joyful Mystery of the rosary), my vehicle was struck by a semi. The vehicle was propelled across the median, flipped over 1 1/2 times and was skidding on its hood when it was struck by another vehicle in the south bound lane. My vehicle was upside down at the time, and the front of that vehicle entered the rear of my mini-van and sheared off the driver's seat (which I was in). At the time of the accident, I was quite sure I would die, and remember asking our Lord (quite calmly, considering the situation) to not "let me kill anyone else". That prayer was answered in the most perfect way. Six vehicles were involved in this accident, twelve people suffered minor injuries. I crawled out of my absolutely destroyed vehicle, through a broken window and managed to obtain a cut on my elbow which required three stitches. I have occasional neck pain, but nothing unmanageable. I was actually a bit angry at surviving...at the time I felt that I was ready to go (haha...no sacramental confession in years), and wondered why I had survived. I've had five children since that accident...the wisdom of God has no equal!

4. My children have been in public school, private school, homeschool, back to public school and finally, back home again! I spent an 18 month period in which I had lost absolute confidence in my ability to provide my children with the education they needed and deserved. Two back to back difficult pregnancies (bed rest from the sixth month on and the inability to walk for several weeks after birth) shook my perceptions. The realization that I was merely trading one set of problems for other and worse problems became apparent within a few short months. Thank God, the counsel of a good friend led me back to reality.

5. I am a recovering knit-a-holic. I have knit to the point of pain! I have passed this skill on to as many "converts" as I can find, and when unable to knit myself, could vicariously enjoy the efforts of others.

6. My husband and I recently left our home of 17 years and stepped out in faith to live in a place where our family could enrich and expand our faith-life. We spent two years in the "Catholic Commune" (as our parish priest lovingly referred to our home), a lovely Greek revival/federalist home divided into three residences. This beautiful home housed three Traditional Catholic families. We shared meals, parties, and faith...it was an incredible experience. Prior to our journey to Ohio, we had never attended the Tridentine Rite. We are so completely won over...though we had a Catholic Church directly across the street from the "commune," we still got up at the crack of dawn and drove 30 miles to commute to Holy Family. The children were as insistent upon this as the parents.

7. I want to FLY!!! Not take lessons to fly a small, private commuter plane...I want a microlight!

8. I am absolutely obsessed with hats...there are hats everywhere in my house. I have had to enforce a "hat diet" as they are taking over the wall space in my bedroom.

Not quite a "nutshell," more like a very large suitcase. I tag : Ginny, Esther, Krislynne, Danielle, Amy, Elena, Meredith, Mrs. V.

Don't feel obligated to "tag" 8 people...this has been going around pretty quickly. Just have fun! Read more!

Two days ago, I hung laundry out to dry. Not exactly a monumental task and certainly no modern innovation. Nonetheless, it was a first for me. The morning air had already begun to warm, the cat was madly purring and curling around my ankles as I struggled with the world’s largest comforter.

Here are a few cherished family photos...just a brief introduction to my beautiful family.

Gawain

Charlotte

Clementine and Charlotte

Emily

Gareth

Galahad

Arthur

Elizabeth and Charlotte

Clementine and Arthur

Clementine

Dad and Mom

Galahad and Father Lutz

View from my back yard

Big brothers are great!

The future of the Latin Mass

My granddaughter, Joy

Cookie Monster

Incredible moonrise!

Jane and Thumbelina

My grandaughter, Rebecca