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.

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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.

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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!