Catholic Family Vignettes

I hope you've been able to check out the blog at Wordpress. Looks like this is permanent.

I will keep this one up for a bit, for the sake of nostalgia, but hope you will join me at my new location:

Catholic Family Vignettes

**To all of my dear friends who have been so kind to link me in sidebars, etc...would you please update your sidebar? Traffic is already steadily increasing.

Thanks! Read more!

I've had it with Internet Explorer!! And Blogger!!!

I'm so frustrated...I simply can't resolve the problem with this blog. Many of my readers are still (gasp!) using IE7. Despite numerous efforts, I simply can't make this blog look the way it should with IE7. I should have been viewing the blog in multiple browsers when making customizations...mea culpa! Since everything looked okay with Firefox, I never checked with IE7. Here are some of the problems for IE7 readers: Only one post is visible...for some readers only the sidebar. Some readers can't access the comment feature.

So...in desperation I have transferred the entire blog to Wordpress. Everything is the same. Well...almost everything, the account is wordpress.com, instead of blogspot.com. There's a lot of tweaking that I will have to take care of...after Lent.

Could you stop by and take a look? Let me know if this format is little more "friendly". I'm very interested in your opinion. Suggestions are most welcome!

Here's the new CFV:

Catholic Family Vignettes Read more!

Here is an amazing political twist on the Emperor's New Clothes from Red Cardigan at And Sometimes Tea:

The Candidate's New Cloak (A Barack Obama Fairy Tale)

Once upon a time, in a land not nearly far enough away, there was a Contest to see which of several candidates would win a four-years' stay in a certain House of White. The Contest was lengthy and protracted, and many valiant knights fell by the wayside during its fierce and daring battles. Some yet remember the names of the illustrious fallen: Rudy of the Burning City, who failed to ignite his followers into any passion; Romney the Unflappable, who famously tried to seem a Man of the People, and failed miserably; Edwards the Miller's Son; William the Large; Fred the Sleepy-Eyed; and Duncan the Hunter were but a few of those who tried, but could not contend, and lost their way in the earliest of some verbal Jousts, which were called Debates, and which consisted of the candidates' attempts to agree with each other in the sneakiest and most tricky of ways, so that agreement seemed like profound discord. ('Tis true, though strange; such ways are not the ways of common men.)

As the time of the Contest, called an Election (owing, it is suspected, to the People's profound indifference to the whole matter and their election to remain at home while the partisans of the Contest braved bad weather and dimly-lit polling stations to register their choices) drew nearer, lo, there were but a handful of candidates remaining who had not yet withdrawn their names from the ring, and who were prepared to contend mightily with each other to the final hour, or at least to their Party's conventions. These few were McCain the Warrior, Huckabee of the South, Paul the Scholar on the one side; and Lady Hillary the Strident and Obama the Enigmatic on the other. Though it might appear that the sides were uneven, it was generally agreed that Huckabee and Paul, could they but have been combined, would make one good candidate instead of two indifferent ones; and thus the matter was accepted by both Parties.

And it came to pass that more Debates were planned, and more such minor battles, when someone whose name was not recorded, and who is therefore not important, had an idea to help the People to distinguish which among these candidates should advance to the final round of the Contest, called the General Election, though no generals were involved, and would not be elected in any case...

Read the rest of this incredible tale here.
Read more!

Bread bakers: check out the video at Fast Food.

I've baked four loaves of this delicious bread...it is comparable to the delightful rustic bread one would purchase in an authentic Parisian boulangerie. Read more!

Six inches of snow and a total white-out today...crystal clear and three degrees at 11:00 p.m. Time to grab the camera to catch the last total lunar eclipse until 2010.

The pics were not terrific. My little point n' shoot Canon is just not quite as fabulous as Clementine's extremely sophisticated number...not to mention that fact that I just don't have her skill. Or a really good tri-pod...

Maybe I should leave the photography to the experts.

Ah, well. It was nice standing in the snow with Arthur and my dear husband, observing the eclipse and at least trying to capture a bit of it. My boy loves the night sky nearly as much as his mom and dad.

Good heavens, it was cold! Read more!

Just had to show them off a bit:

My lovely granddaughters...

"It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty. To the contrary, I believe that it would be possible to rob even a healthy beast of prey of its voraciousness, if it were possible, with the aid of a whip, to force the beast to devour continuously, even when not hungry, especially if the food, handed out under such coercion, were to be selected accordingly."

Albert Einstein Read more!

"She can turn a meal into a love story..." --Babette's Feast

What an incredible film! If you've not yet had the privilege, and I do mean privilege of viewing this incredible piece of cinematic art, then let me help you out.

This movie, which is in every way a feast for the eyes, is a family favorite (my children actually prefer it with the subtitles) and one that I've not owned until recently. In a fit of, shall I say, "absentmindedness" I managed to purchase two copies last week. I thought for sure I had ordered a copy of Miss Potter...oh well...

My inattention is your gain! Simply translate the following menu from French to English, and you'll have your very own copy! The DVD is in new condition (I only purchase pre-viewed titles!) and I will be happy to mail it to the winner.

Here's the menu:

§ Potage a’la Tortue

§ Blini Demidoff au Caviar

§ Caille en Sarcophage avec Sauce Perigourdine

§ La Salade

§ Les Fromages

§ Baba au Rhum avec les Figues

Bonne chance!

***the first correct translation wins!


Read more!

A few friends have asked that I post about our "prayer board"...

On Ash Wednesday each family member submitted five names for our prayer jar. These names are written on red hearts and placed in the jar. Each night the family gathers to pray the rosary. One of the children draws a heart from the jar. Blessed candles are lit, the statue of the Blessed Virgin is placed on a low table and the heart containing the name of the person or family we are praying for is placed at the feet of Our Lady. We pray the rosary for that person or family and try to email or call to let them know that we are praying for them. The names are then tacked onto our prayer board and surround the image of Our Lord upon the Cross. We continue to add hearts to the jar, as the need arises and on some days we draw more than one heart.

The children enjoy this devotion greatly and the families and individuals that have received the gift of prayer are so very touched.



Read more!

Here's a peek at our week:

Monday: the most amazing sunrise I've ever seen. A beam of pure, pink light shooting straight to the heavens


Tuesday: Charlotte has titled this picture Jesus is Love...how appropriate!


Wednesday: A breath of spring! My seeds are here!


Thursday: We had a brief post on our Valentine's feast...here's Clementine and Charlotte spreading a little love:


Friday: Ahhh...No Knead Bread...you should give it a try!


That's the week in pictures!

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The winter "blahs"...

Apparently, I'm not the only one suffering from them! So many of my homeschooling friends seem to be "stuck". Lacking inspiration. Struggling with feelings of inadequacy.

I've been there, sisters...many times. I've been digging out my rut for the past week.

The unfortunate tendency of mine during these "down times" is to scale back... to do less. We call it "core"; a nice way of saying "just the essentials, please!" In my experience, it only seems to exacerbate the problem. Feelings of guilt over not doing enough, frustration over merely "doing" school and not "living" it, abound. And boredom, boredom, boredom!

It seems that the moment that I'm most ready to throw in the towel, it becomes increasingly obvious that I'm being called to take up the cross and persevere.

So...I'm in evaluation mode. As a classical home educator, I'm constantly searching for the best "Multum non multa" (much not many) approach. I've used packaged curricula, but none have ever seemed to fit well for my large family and teaching style. Our current program consists of whatever product best suits the subject being taught with Latin and Religion forming the base upon which the entire "house" is built. I'm constantly seeking the best of the best, questioning others on the efficacy of a particular text book and listening to both experienced and novice home educators. Believe it or not, in spite of the fact that our homeschool boasts three graduates (two from our homeschool and one who went to public school her senior year) and all three have made it to college, I agonize as much as any novice over whether or not I'm up to the challenge of home education.

I prefer "flying by the seat of my pants", adhering to (as much as this home educator is capable) the principles set forth by Dorothy Sayers' excellent essay The Lost Tools of Learning. The following quote aptly summarizes the desire of most of the home educators with whom I am acquainted:

What use is it to pile task on task and prolong the days of labor, if at the close the chief object is left unattained? It is not the fault of the teachers--they work only too hard already. The combined folly of a civilization that has forgotten its own roots is forcing them to shore up the tottering weight of an educational structure that is built upon sand. They are doing for their pupils the work which the pupils themselves ought to do. For the sole true end of education is simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain.

What a terrific reminder!

So...having decided to persevere in the face of the "blahs", I've happened upon a real gem...one I've been meaning to read for sometime. The Latin Centered Curriculum by Andrew Campbell has truly helped this classical home educator get back on track. Too many distractions, too many diversions from our primary goal has dimmed the original vision, indeed the mission of this homeschool. Time to get back on track...

My point: whether you're a classical home educator, Thomistic/scholastic, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unschooler--whatever--if you're in a rut, dig out! Find inspiration. Remember why you're doing this. And don't just "do school". Live it.

Nothing succeeds like success!

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Today Gareth is eight years old!

Happy Birthday, my dear young man! What a blessing he has been to his family.

So many fears during the months before his birth...a mom on bed rest for three months, a possible brain anomaly, steroid injections to prepare for early delivery, born five weeks early.

Gareth is so very full of life in every way! An absolute clown and performer, hot tempered and full of fun.

We love you, buddy! May God grant us many more years with you! Read more!

Just a quick note to wish you all a most joyous St. Valentine's Day!

We celebrated this morning with our own little "love feast":

St. Valentine is waiting for the guests to arrive...


The table is set for the feast


Goodness! The world's smallest Valentine...for mom!


You could say my plate is full...how lovely!


Happy St. Valentine's Day from all of us!


Thoughts of love...how perfectly expressed by Mr. William Shakespeare:

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.



William Shakespeare

(1564 - 1616)

Read more!

Well...I've had an afternoon of "feasting"...visiting a few "friends", dropping a line here and there (especially here!) I'm taking the rest of the week off, and will post again next Sunday, God willing and the flu doesn't catch me!

This year's Lenten devotions include a daily reading of Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich's The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. What heart-rending images these writings invoke. I'd like to share a passage that has particularly touched me, though I'd certainly recommend reading the entire chapter for the purpose of context. Only in eternity will I ever grasp fully the level of suffering our dear Lord so willingly undertook to redeem humanity, and more specifically, me.

You can find the entire work here. And the chapter that this paragraph is taken from here.

Have a blessed week!

When God had created the first Adam, he cast a deep sleep upon him, opened his side, and took one of his ribs, of which he made Eve, his wife and the mother of all the living. Then he brought her to Adam, who exclaimed: 'This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. . . . Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.' That was the marriage of which it is written: 'This is a great Sacrament, I speak in Christ and in the Church.' Jesus Christ, the second Adam, was pleased also to let sleep come upon him--the sleep of death on the cross, and he was also pleased to let his side be opened, in order that the second Eve, his virgin Spouse, the Church, the mother of all the living, might be formed from it, It was his will

p. 108

to give her the blood of redemption, the water of purification, and his spirit--the three which render testimony on earth--and to bestow upon her also the holy Sacraments, in order that she might be pure, holy, and undefiled; he was to be her head, and we were to be her members, under submission to the head, the bone of his bones, and the flesh of his flesh. In taking human nature, that he might suffer death for us, he had also left his Eternal Father, to cleave to his Spouse, the Church, and he became one flesh with her, by feeding her with the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar, in which he unites himself unceasingly with us. He has been pleased to remain on earth with his Church, until we shall all be united together by him within her fold, and he has said: 'The gates of hell shall never prevail against her.' To satisfy his unspeakable love for sinners, our Lord had become man and a brother of these same sinners, that so he might take upon himself the punishment due to all their crimes. He had contemplated with deep sorrow the greatness of this debt and the unspeakable sufferings by which it was to be acquitted. Yet he had most joyfully given himself up to the will of his Heavenly Father as a victim of expiation. Read more!

Arthur has discovered a new hobby...the cord rosary! Right after he assembled his first one, he immediately presented it to his big sister, Clementine. She was delighted to receive it, and has promised to keep it in her car.

We've place an order with FNT for additional cord...the color selection is absolutely astounding! The website also contains detailed instructions for completing your very own cord rosary.

Still not convinced? How about a free rosary kit? Divine Twine is giving away a free cord rosary kit. Just send a self-addressed stamped envelope (three stamps) and you'll receive all the twine you need to complete a five decade rosary.

Arthur is hoping to make a few rosaries to give to his brothers and friends. He's also considered selling them as a fundraiser to attend a Catholic boy's camp this summer...what a lovely new hobby! Read more!

Looking for a new meatless recipe for Lent? Check out my recipe for Shrimp with Penne Pasta and Vegetables in Fast Food!

Check out the latest project in the Needle Tatting Gallery! Read more!

...the flu, that is! Egads, this thing is long-lived. Yesterday, my dear husband fought a fever all day. Today Clementine is down. The little ones continue to cough, but have been fever free for the past 3 days. I was finally able to attend Mass for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Total number of family members who attended Mass last Sunday: 3

Ash Wednesday: 0

This Sunday: 3

The lingering coughs still shake the rafters...thus far Arthur, Galahad and Mom remain uninfected. Keep praying, dear friends!! This stuff is bound to pass soon enough.

On a slightly more hopeful note, look what I spied peeking up through the dirt:



The recent rain and springlike weather seems to have awakened these "sleepers." The problem? Yesterday it was 50 degrees. Today it is 15 and it feels like -3.

Poor little daffodils...hope they can survive this... Read more!

Just a quick note: Here is an outstanding homily given by Fr. Eric Flood (FSSP) that I had tried to post last evening before my internet service went down in the middle of a thunderstorm.

An excellent lenten reflection for all mothers:

SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION
05/08/2005: Maple Hill, KS given Holy Family 1/13/08 Columbus, OH
Motherhood

In the name of the Father…
On this feast of the Holy Family, we turn to the Blessed Mother and look toward her example so that we may imitate her virtue and create a holy family in our own home.
We know her to be the Mother of God, for she gave birth to Our Lord.
And now that she is in Heaven, she will continue to be the Mother of God for all eternity.

We have many images of Our Lady holding her Son in her hands; statues and pictures with Our Lord sleeping peacefully in her arms and resting against her shoulder.
And many times in the Bible are we commanded to imitate and follow Christ.
So as He rested in her hands; He also commands us to rest in her hands. How else are we going to follow Him?

If we prefer to not be so close to Our Lady, then we will not be so close to her Son.
For it is difficult to separate these Two from each other who are united in a love which began in eternity, and was nurtured in the womb.
Sure, it can be embarrassing to be around Our Lady when we misbehave, but her motherly love will soon forget our flaws.

So we have to gaze upon her as Our Lord must have also.
For at their home in Nazareth, as the eyes of Christ's Soul were in continual union and contemplation of God; what was going on with the eyes of His body as He saw His Mother working and praying around their home?

Was He not in awe of the splendor He created in such a perfect woman?
More beautiful than the sunset, more intricate than a rose;
So that overflowing in satisfaction while He marveled at her; He uttered the word which was fitting only for her by the mouth of God: Mommy.

And here it is how most women can imitate her: by becoming a mother and letting it be done according to God's word.

Our Lady also teaches mothers what to expect after the birth of her child: a life of trials and joys which never cease.

How easy would it be for any mother here to flee into another country just weeks after giving birth to her child? Yet, Mary fled to Egypt, and on foot.
How boring some consider motherhood to be when secluded at home instead of working in the world, or spending hours on the phone, or frequently visiting friends; yet Our Lady seldom left her home, and she kept a holy reserve about herself.

Of course, there are many occasions in which women must leave the home, but how often do we leave our home in order to escape it?

Where else should a mother want to be than close to her children, living in her palace which she is queen of?

Her home may not be as glamorous as a palace, but when it is looked upon for what it is, the defects fade away.
For her home becomes proof of her husband's love for her and the children.
And anything built upon love will never be unattractive; neither will it ever be entirely conquered by the devil.

Furthermore, her husband protects his home, even though he may be miles away at work, for his love is unceasing.

And this gives security to a wife and mother; that is, when she knows of her husband's love.

The wisdom of the world says that motherhood is not glamorous, but this is contrary to the wisdom of God.

For how lovingly God looks upon a mother who has offered her womb as a place He can work with His creative hands.

Each year her garden is plowed in anticipation of God forming yet another man within her; and sometimes there is a new flower that grows; other times, God waits for another season.

But it is God who gives the increase; and blessed be God in His goodness.
And when the child is born, the strength of the mother will depend upon her closeness to God.

This is why Our Lady makes motherhood look so easy, even though she bore the burdens of a Son who was hated, hunted, and hanged upon the Cross.

But for those not so close to God, how difficult it is to remain at peace in their heart even during small sufferings such as a headache or fatigue; so that when the great ache of motherhood escalates, these mothers will no longer be content with life.

Mothers have to be careful to remain close to God by not being close to the TV, for daily adoration of the television will deaden her ability to guard and care with her motherly heart.

Also, a mother cannot be close to God if she is not close to Our Lady,
For mothers must allow Our Lady to hold them as mothers hold their own child.
So do not deprive your Heavenly Mother of the privilege of mothers: that is, to hold her own child; so let her hold you.

Cries of injustice would be made if a mother was unjustly separated from her child; and so it is in Heaven, for cries of injustice are made when mothers refuse to be close to their Heavenly Mother.

So put her picture or statue in your bedroom and upon the place where you gather your children every day to pray.

Liturgically speaking, isn't the center of a Catholic Church supposed to be the Altar and Tabernacle.

We even ridicule churches which are built with the Tabernacle off to the side or hard to find.

So too should not the physical center of a Catholic home be the place where the family gathers and prays to Almighty God.

And the most important things we can put there are images of Our Lord and Lady.
So feed your child not just food from the family table, but feed your children's souls from the food of the family Altar in which the family prays in front of.
And since motherhood does not offer many moments of silence, use the sparing occasions of the day to listen to God's voice by going before this sanctuary in your home instead of spending on the phone or on the Internet.

And whereas the home is the physical center, the spiritual center is the heart of the mother.

When we think of a good mother, we think of a woman who is gentle and kind, always reading to bestow great love and attention upon her children, and prudent enough to discipline.

For a mother's heart is full of kindness, enkindled with love, and having this gift, a mother imitates God's own Mother.

For God knows the great patience which is necessary for mothers, not only in dealing with their husbands, but in keeping a watchful eye over their children who so quickly fall into dangers.

So an extra measure of patience, gentleness, and kindness is given to mothers, and a good mother will put these virtues into practice, and cultivate them even further.
But it is a frightening thing when a child sees vice in his mother instead of virtue, for these quickly take root in the child's heart and are pulled up only with the most difficult trouble.

And here lies a great duty of mothers, for since God has designed it that the father will be away from the house most of the day working,
So He has placed the responsibility of teaching virtue to children, most especially upon the mother.

So it is best to have the necessary requirements for the job before one accepts the job.

Mothers can also easily impress the Catholic Faith upon their children.
Read holy books to them, even though they be only 1 or 2 years of age.
We make a big deal about the child's first steps, so too, we ought to make a big deal about our child's first steps in his Catholic Faith.

So in our age of imitating the famous, then imitate Our Lady who has already been famous for 2000 years.

For why would a mother want to have many friends to talk to all day, when she could have the Mother of God as her close acquaintance to speak to all day?
So that as her heart is never far from her children, a mother sacrifices the remainder of the life that is within her for her children.

They draw their strength from her, sapping the energy left in her.
But when she goes before God at the end of her life: she will be able to present a trophy to Him: a Soul in love with her children, which never wore out giving itself for her children.

Read more!

The past few days have been exhausting. One by one, the children are succumbing to this devilish illness. The little girls have remained feverish, with temperatures exceeding 103. They feel a bit better, then they feel worse. The boys are suffering as well, though their temperatures haven't been as high. Thank you, friends, for your continued prayers!

As we approach the holy season of Lent, I've decided to take a bit of a sabbatical from blogging. I'm preparing to renew my Consecration to Our Lady and feel called to limit my distractions as much as possible. Having devoted so much time of late to tending the sick has helped me to realize that I really need to shift my focus...

It's such an odd thing: I'm never so patient, so solicitous of the needs of my family as I am when they are sick. Why is that? They are the same dear children and I am their mother, yet I find myself annoyed by the constant interruptions and distractions that make up day to day life.

Except when they're sick.

They can interrupt me anytime. Even when I'm sleeping. I'm charmed by how happy they are when I serve them hot tea (when they didn't ask), sat down and read a book to them (when they didn't ask), and watched a young boy play a video game (and he didn't ask)...

Over the past few weeks, I've developed a nasty habit: I've been spending a lot of time filling requests, rather than genuinely serving. I enjoy serving, willingly, so much better. So I'm going try to be present. I'm going to try a little harder to give those little acts of kindness before they have to ask. And I'm quite sure, my patience will be tried more than once.

But I'm going to try...

I'll be thinking of all my dear friends, and will keep you in my prayers. Could you pray for me? Thanks...I knew you would! Read more!

How do you console the suffering, the ones who didn't get to attend Candlemas and a First Holy Communion?

With tea and candles...



Thanks to dad who remembered his suffering family, bringing home a variety of over the counter pharmaceuticals and yummy teas. Not to mention the oh-so-important blessed candles.

Charlotte is very ill, at present. Please continue to pray for her recovery. Little Emily is bouncing back like a rubber ball...she is so much happier today. Gareth has joined the ranks of the sick. Meanwhile, we continue to pray that none of the other children will fall to this dreadful virus.

Thank you for your prayers, dear friends. A blessed First Saturday and Candlemas to you all!
And here is the rest of it. Read more!

Ah, Candlemas! The Feast of the Purification of the Virgin and the day on which the faithful eagerly await the blessing and distribution of candles. Though the "girlies" and I will be home, our men will join the great feast and return home to a lovely brunch to celebrate the day. Traditional fare on Candlemas? Crepes Suzette. We may have to forgo this little tradition, in favor of pancakes due to "tender tummies."

Here is an interesting Scottish prediction regarding the weather:

If Candlemass day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter's to come and mair;
If Candlemass day be wet and foul,
The half o' winter's gave at Yule.'

And one on the blessing of candles:

This done, each man his candle lights,
Where chiefest seemeth he,
Whose taper greatest may be seen;
And fortunate to be,
Whose candle burneth clear and bright:
A wondrous force and might
Both in these candles lie, which if
At any time they light,
They sure believe that neither storm
Nor tempest cloth abide,
Nor thunder in the skies be heard,
Nor any devil's spide,
Nor fearful sprites that walk by night,
Nor hurts of frost or hail.

From fisheaters:

The Dream of the Candle
A Tale from the Golden Legend
By Jacobus de Voragine, A.D. 1275

We read an example of a noble lady which had great devotion in the blessed Virgin Mary, and she had a chapel in which she did do say mass of our Lady daily by her chaplain. It happed that the day of the purification of our Lady, her chaplain was out, so that this lady might that day have no mass, and she durst not go to another church because she had given her mantle unto a poor man for the love of our Lady. She was much sorrowful because she might hear no mass and for to make her devotions she went into the chapel, and tofore the altar she kneeled down for to make her prayers to our Lady.

And anon she fell asleep, in which she had a vision, and her seemed that she was in a church, and saw come into the church a great company of virgins, tofore whom she saw come a right noble virgin crowned right preciously. And when they were all set each in order, came a company of young men which sat down each after other in order like the other; after, entered one that bare a burden of candles, and departed them to them above first, and so to each of them by order he gave one, and at the last came this man to this lady aforesaid and gave to her also a candle of wax.

The which lady saw also come a priest, a deacon and a subdeacon, all revested, going to the altar as for to say mass. And her seemed that S. Laurence and S. Vincent were deacon and sub-deacon, and Jesu Christ the priest, and two angels bearing tofore them candles, and two young angels began the introit of the mass, and all the company of the virgins sang the mass.

And when the mass was sung unto the offering, her seemed that thilk virgin so crowned went tofore, and after, all the others followed, and offered to the priest, kneeling much devoutly, their candles.

And when the priest tarried for this lady that she should also have come to the offering, the glorious queen of virgins sent to her to say that she was not courteous to make the priest so long to tarry for her.

And the lady answered that the priest should proceed in his mass forth, for she would keep her candle and not offer it. And the glorious virgin sent yet once to her, and she said she would not offer her candle.

The third time the queen said to the messenger: Go and pray her that she come and offer her candle, or else take it from her by force. The messenger came to this lady, and because in no wise she would not come and offer up her candle, he set hand on the candle that this lady held and drew fast, and she held fast, and so long he drew and haled that the candle brake in two pieces, and that one half abode still in the hand of the lady aforesaid, which anon awoke and came to herself; and found the piece of the candle in her hand, whereof she much marvelled, and thanked our Lord and the glorious Virgin Mary devoutly which had suffered her that day not to be without mass.

And all the days of her life after she kept that piece of that candle much preciously, like an holy relic, and all they that were touched therewith were guerished and healed of their maladies and sicknesses.

Let us pray then humbly to the glorious Virgin Mary, which is comfort to them that forsake their sins, that she will make our peace to the blessed Son and impetre and get of him remission of all our sins, and after this life to come to the glory and joy of heaven, to the which bring us the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Read more!

I suppose it was inevitable...everyone we know has been sick. Miserably so.

Last night, Charlotte had a fever and began to cough. This morning, Emily awoke with the stomach "bug" and all the lovely symptoms that accompany it.

Prayers, my friends! Both girls are feverish and miserable and extremely sad that they will be missing Candlemas tomorrow. A dear little girl we know is making her First Holy Communion. Read more!

To all my dear readers using IE (Internet Explorer):

Apparently, many of you have only been able to view a single post at a time on this blog for the past couple of months...Egads, how boring! I'm attempting to address the problem (which doesn't exist BTW when viewing with Firefox...which is what I use). I'm not sure what the glitch is...any of you senior bloggers out there willing to offer any suggestions?

Meanwhile, I'm researching and will try to correct the problem ASAP.

BTW: If you're an IE user...consider Firefox. Download speeds are far superior and the pop-up blocker NEVER fails. The interface is extremely easy to use and there are far fewer crashes and lockups. That's my sales pitch for the day.

Yes...I'm a geek...

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From today's Daily with De Sales:

What a great mystery the human spirit is! Religious would like to sing the song of the bishops, and married people that of religious, "so as to serve God better," they say. You fool yourself, my dear friend. You should not say you want to do this to love and serve God better, but to serve your self-satisfaction better. It is your own self-satisfaction that you love, far more than God's satisfaction! The will of God, for example, can be found in sickness and as a general rule even better than in good health. If we prefer good health, please do no let us say we do so because we want to serve God better. (T.L.G. Book 3, Ch. 10; O. V, p. 140)

Thanks, St. Francis. You always set me straight...
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15 degrees and it feels like 9...a winter storm is on the way...

But--what a glorious sunrise!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Sunrise on the Hills

I stood upon the hills, when heaven's wide arch
Was glorious with the sun's returning march,
And woods were brightened, and soft gales
Went forth to kiss the sun-clad vales.
The clouds were far beneath me; bathed in light,
They gathered mid-way round the wooded height,
And, in their fading glory, shone
Like hosts in battle overthrown.
As many a pinnacle, with shifting glance.
Through the gray mist thrust up its shattered lance,
And rocking on the cliff was left
The dark pine blasted, bare, and cleft.
The veil of cloud was lifted, and below
Glowed the rich valley, and the river's flow
Was darkened by the forest's shade,
Or glistened in the white cascade;
Where upward, in the mellow blush of day,
The noisy bittern wheeled his spiral way.

I heard the distant waters dash,
I saw the current whirl and flash,
And richly, by the blue lake's silver beach,
The woods were bending with a silent reach.
Then o'er the vale, with gentle swell,
The music of the village bell
Came sweetly to the echo-giving hills;
And the wild horn, whose voice the woodland fills,
Was ringing to the merry shout,
That faint and far the glen sent out,
Where, answering to the sudden shot, thin smoke,
Through thick-leaved branches, from the dingle broke.

If thou art worn and hard beset
With sorrows, that thou wouldst forget,
If thou wouldst read a lesson, that will keep
Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep,
Go to the woods and hills! No tears
Dim the sweet look that Nature wears. Read more!

Today I was given the singular privilege of teaching a young woman a new skill...needle tatting. As a relatively new "tatter", it was quite an honor to pass this skill on to my dear friend, Krislynne. As a dear friend had taught me, so now I must teach.

"Each one teach one..."

It is imperative that the "gentle arts" be passed on, from woman to woman, generation to generation. A few years ago, tatting, lacework, knitting, etc. were slipping into obscurity. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the very young, not to mention an incredible array of resources, the image of "granny" in her rocker with her knitting/sewing basket has been dispelled forever.

The needle arts are hip...whether you are male or female, old or young. The desire to create and the meditative aspect of the gentle arts appeals to this fast paced society of ours. You can't multi-task and tat, thank heavens!

Make a list of things you want to learn and set out to learn them! Find a teacher, read a book, study online tutorials.

Then pass it on. The delight in the eyes of your students will be all the reward you'll ever need...
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Lovely Amy Caroline at Knit and Pray has given me a most delightful, though undeserved award. Thank you my "bloggy" friend!

The rules: By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you have to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. Thank you out there for having such great blogs and being such great friends! You deserve this! Feel free to award people who have already been awarded…

I'd like to pass this one along to the same motley crew that I just can't seem to get enough of:

Esther
Margaret
Jennifer
Allison
Barbara
Raulito
Patrick
The RCP Gang
Amy Caroline
Matilda
Elena Marie

What a lovely and diverse group! Pass it on, ladies and gents!


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What a darling website!

I'd like to encourage you to pay a visit to Daddy's Little Princess. A very talented mom has designed a line of literature inspired children's clothing.

Adorable! Read more!

Emily discovers new and creative uses for a director's chair.

Voila! An airplane...notice the the super-neato headgear. She calls those her "ear pods". I think that's the toddler version of ipod... Read more!

An interesting meme...I haven't done one in a while, so here goes!

BTW, thanks for the tag Esther!


1. Thai or Mexican

Mexican (I've never had Thai!)

2. bubble bath or back massage

Back massage...by the very best masseur, my husband!

3. boots or sandals

Boots

4. the 90% "pro-life" good chance or the 100% pro-life long shot

The 90% prolife good chance.

5. a cruise ship or a mountain cabin

A mountain cabin

6. Rome or Paris

Rome

7. Ordinary or Extraordinary

Extraordinary

8. Rosary or Stations

Rosary

9. surf or hang glide

Hang glide...weeeee!

10. Regal Cinemas or Netflix

Regal Cinemas

11. sweet or salty

Salty

12. pen or pencil

Pen

13. how-to book or fantasy novel

How-to-Book

14. crossword or sudoku

Crossword

15. lose a leg or lose your sight

ooooh...tough one...sight, I guess!

16. North or South

I'm originally from the South, y'all!

17. a power outage at home or a dead car battery at Costco

There's no place like home...even without electricity ;-D

18. classic rock or country

Classic rock!

19. wool or linen

hmmm...almost equal...both natural fibers...wool?

20. lots of good friends or a few great friends

A few great friends

21. soup or salad

Soup, glorious, soup!

22. Merlot or Chardonnay

Merlot

23. Picasso or Da Vinci

Da Vinci without question!

24. charades or trivial pursuit

Trivial Pursuit

25. Evangelical Protestantism or Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism (my grandfather was Jewish)

26. stone age or dark age

Dark ages...I really hate that term...it was first used by Petrarch to denounce the Latin literature of the time. It has also been used to refer to the religiosity of the time (which was Catholic!).

27. Steven Spielberg or Ken Burns

Spielberg

28. Thermopylae or Alamo

Thermopylae

29. Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster

Sweet Nessie!

30. babies or teenagers

I like the portability of babies and the usefulness of teenagers...tough one! I'll choose babies, because they represent beginnings...there is so much "separation" as they grow up. Can't we just keep them little forever?


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Introibo ad altare Dei, ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

I will go unto the altar of God, to God who giveth joy to my youth.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of a dear friend, Mr. John Bianco. John passed away last year, quite unexpectedly, just a few short months before he was to wed the love of his life, Amanda.

John was...unique...precious, in fact. To know him was to love him. He cherished his friends and had such great love for the Traditional Latin Mass. John was the first person to greet a newcomer to the Mass and the first to ask "So...how do you like the Latin Mass?" His quirky sense of humor, his mischievous merriment when introducing a controversial subject (just to see the sparks fly!) and his delight in hearing the whistle of a train are so missed by his family and friends. I miss him.

A couple of months ago I happened upon a blog written by John...it was such a surprise. The title of his last post? still here...

And so he is. In the hearts, thoughts and prayers of his friends. If you could, in your charity please pray for the repose of his soul and for the comfort of his family and friends, most especially his dear fiancee, Amanda.

Requiescat in pacem, John Bianco.
July 8, 1974 - January 28, 2007

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My dear son, Galahad, has such a great devotion to the brown scapular. He never takes it off...well, he does take it off to shower, but only because a wet scapular doesn't exactly promise a good night's sleep.

This evening, one of his scapular cords broke, frayed to pieces it was. He was desperate to have it sown back together as soon as possible. When he handed it to me, I couldn't believe how absolutely worn out the poor thing was. See for yourself:



It is "patched" now, but will have to be retired soon. Tomorrow I will have the replacement blessed, though I wonder what I should do with such a beloved sacramental? I know all the prescriptions: bury it, burn it, etc.

I think I might have to save this one. It's his first. Maybe it should go in his baby book.

The rest of the family is so touched by this young boy's devotion. We are making plans to have the entire family "invested" this month.

Pope Benedict XV said: "Let all of you have a common language and a common armor: the language, the sentences of the Gospel; the common armor, the Scapular of the Virgin of Carmel, which you all ought to wear and which enjoys the singular privilege of protection even after death."

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There are so many reasons to avoid this vaccine. Here are a few more:

Two Women Die After Receiving Cervical Cancer Vaccine

From FoxNews and the Daily Mail:

The death of two young women who received the cervical cancer vaccination is causing some in the U.K. to question a strategy that calls for hundreds of thousands of school girls to receive the shot next fall, the Daily Mail reports.

The young women who died received the vaccination, marketed under the name Gardasil, in Germany and Austria, respectively. The European Medicines Agency has not released their ages.

The two deaths follow the deaths of three U.S. females, ages 12, 19 and 22, who were reported to have died days after receiving Gardasil, which protects against the human papillomavirus believed to be the leading cause of cervical cancer, was administered.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently reported that 28 women miscarried after receiving the vaccine.

Click here for more on that report

Neither U.S. nor European health officials have directly linked the deaths or miscarriages to Gardasil. The FDA has said there is no reason to reexamine approval of the drug.

A spokesman for Merck, maker of Gardasil, told the Daily Mail there were no plans to change the company's recommendation on use of the vaccine.

Click here to read more of this story from the Daily Mail

Here's a quote from the National Vaccine Information Center criticizing the FDA:

"There is too little long term safety and efficacy data, especially in young girls, and too little labeling information on contraindications for the CDC to recommend Gardasil for universal use, which is a signal for states to mandate it," said Fisher. "Nobody at Merck, the CDC or FDA know if the injection of Gardasil into all pre-teen girls - especially simultaneously with hepatitis B vaccine - will make some of them more likely to develop arthritis or other inflammatory autoimmune and brain disorders as teenagers and adults. With cervical cancer causing about one percent of all cancer deaths in American women due to routine pap screening, it was inappropriate for the FDA to fast track Gardasil. It is way too early to direct all young girls to get three doses of a vaccine that has not been proven safe or effective in their age group." Read more!

I've been living in a shell...a nice little shell. No television. No newspapers. I don't listen to the radio. I check the weather every morning via the internet, scan the headlines at CNN and FoxNews, research what I really need to know and try to get as close to the source as possible for all of my information. I tend to stay away from "conspiracy theories"...I'm a homeschooling mom, for pete's sake! There are a few things in this world I simply don't need to know to live my vocation.

BUT...sometimes I run across something so bizarre that I'm compelled to consider the possible implications. Perhaps you've already seen this clip. Even dismissed it. It is certainly worth viewing and whether true or false, I was surprised by my extreme reaction to the idea of the disappearance of my country, the Constitution and a change in currency.



Weighty issues, my friends.

I love being an American. I like pennies, dimes, quarters, tens and twenties. I like the idea of protected borders.

Once again I'm reminded to pray for the preservation all of those things that have made our country great.

Let us pray:

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of Your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as Your Spouse; God the Son who chose Mary as Your Mother, in union with Mary we adore Your Majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to You. Through her we wish to thank You for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our President and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of Our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the Will of your Divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

Imprimatur: Patric O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington May 8, 1959 Read more!

Life isn't easy
For the Pin Cushion Queen
When she sits on her throne
Pins push through her spleen.

--The Pin Cushion Queen, Tim Burton

Yesterday marks the beginning of a new adventure for the little ladies of the house: the joys of handwork.

Charlotte and Emily are six and four, respectively. With great delight I began teaching them the basics of handwork. We traced dotted lines, varying the lengths and spaces and then "sewed" them, with needle and thread. I was amazed at how quickly they caught on, particularly four year old Emily. Excitedly, they begged additional lessons, so we made plans to hold another class. That was today.

Once we finished with school, the boys sat down at table to begin their own project...the excavation of ancient ruins. What a mess! My dining room looks like an archaeological dig site, there is dust everywhere, but what fun!

The girls, who were more interested in the project that the boys were involved in, came to their sewing class reluctantly. Many tears from the four year old, as she tried to master the plastic canvas, which I thought would be an aid to her in explaining the "ins and outs" of sewing.

No...she had absolutely no patience for it. Charlotte had no difficulty in grasping any technique I showed her, and I began to lament that I had included Emily. Perhaps four is a bit young.

Throwing caution to the wind, I pulled out the fabric, needles and thread. A quick demonstration of a running stitch and the girls were set. Our first project: very small pillows for very small dollies. The pillows were finished very quickly and the girls couldn't have been more excited. Emily was much more comfortable with the fabric, she even sewed a tiny button on her little pillow. Both girls were so very excited that three of their brothers asked if they, too, could join the adventure.

And so they did...

This evening amidst the dust, the pieces of thread, the scraps of fabric and resting upon the sofa which has, indeed, been turned into a pin cushion, rest five lovely little pillows in shades of pink and blue.

The delight of the children who have gained a new skill is quite sweet, never mind that mom was, for a time, a pin cushion. They are already making plans for pillowcases and marble bags.

I hope they enjoy the handwork. I only have one sewing machine...

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The world holds us to be fools; let us hold it to be mad.


Today is the feast of St. Francis De Sales. St. Francis is the patron saint of writers, authors, journalists, educators and is also the patron of Columbus, Ohio. My own devotion to St. Francis De Sales has grown over the years, but most particularly after reading one of his finest devotional works, Introduction To The Devout Life. It is, along with the Imitation of Christ, one of the most astounding instructional tomes. Were I only able to choose three books to "feed my soul", I would choose Sacred Scripture, The Imitation of Christ and Introduction To The Devout Life.

Here are a few excerpts:

What is True Devotion?
The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;--love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;--and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God's Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations.

(A personal favorite)
Undertake all of your duties with a calm mind and try to do them one at a time. If you try to do them all at once, or without order, your spirits will be so overcharged and depressed that they will likely sink under the burden and nothing will be done.

In all of your affairs, rely on the Providence of God through which alone you much look for success. Strive quietly to cooperate with its designs. If you have a sure trust in God, the success that comes to you will always be that which is most useful to you, whether it appears good or bad in your private judgment.

Think of the little children who with one hand hold fast to their father while with the other they gather berries. If you handle the goods of this world with one hand, you must also always hold fast with the other to your heavenly Father's hand, and turn toward him from time to time to see if you are pleasing him. Above all, be sure that you never leave his hand and his protection, thinking that with your own two hands you can gather more or get some other advantage.


and this gem:
We can never please the world unless we lose ourselves together with it. It is so demanding that it can't be satisfied. "John came neither eating nor drinking," says the Savior, and you say, "He has a devil." "The Son of man came eating and drinking" and you say that he is "a Samaritan." It is true, Philothea, that if we are ready to laugh, play cards, or dance with the world in order to please it, it will be scandalized at us, and if we don't, it will accuse us of hypocrisy or melancholy. If we dress well, it will attribute it to some plan we have, and if we neglect our dress, it will accuse of us of being cheap and stingy. Good humor will be called frivolity and mortification sullenness. Thus the world looks at us with an evil eye and we can never please it. It exaggerates our imperfections and claims they are sins, turns our venial sins into mortal sins and changes our sins of weakness into sins of malice.

an excellent reminder:
How displeasing to God are rash judgments! The judgments of the children of men are rash because they usurp the office of Our Lord, the just Judge. They are rash because the principal malice of sin depends on the intention and the counsel of the heart, and these are hidden things not known to human judges. They are rash because every person has things that could be judged, and, indeed, on which one should judge oneself.

On the cross our Savior could not entirely excuse the sin of those who crucified him, but he extenuated the malice by pleading their ignorance. When we cannot excuse a sin, let us at least make it worthy of compassion by attributing the most favorable cause we can to it, such as ignorance or weakness. We can never pass judgment on our neighbor.

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Sacred Heart Academy is taking a little history side trip. We've stepped out of ancient history for a bit to delve into the early history of our great land, focusing particularly on the American Revolution.

We are currently reading Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. Do you remember Johnny Tremain? What young person, particularly the boys, could help but be inspired by this young man's example of valor and perseverance?

Last night the family viewed this video. Even the youngest children were fascinated by the exciting events leading to the Revolutionary War. Today we will continue our discussion, delving into the life of Paul Revere and watching these (I love School House Rock and yes, I know the words of every single song!):







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This would be painful to watch, if it weren't so doggone funny!

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48,632,071 little lives lost since January 22, 1973.

Thirty-five years of Roe vs. Wade. Thirty-five years of legalized infanticide. Thirty-five years of "civil" war on the front lines of the pro-life crusade. Thirty-five years of political doublespeak.

Thirty-five years of prayer and sacrifice.

From the USCCB:

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373

Shall we pray? From Priests For Life:

Prayer to End Abortion

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

May God bless all of the good pilgrims on their way to our nation's capital to give witness to the sanctity of human life. Read more!