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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Apologies!!


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...

Read more!

From the wisdom of St. Francis De Sales...


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...
Read more!

This morning's view...


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!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Each one teach one...


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...
Read more!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

This blog is rated "E"...thanks!


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!


Read more!

Inspired by literature...


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!

While mom was teaching math...




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!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Another meme...

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?


Read more!

In Memoriam...


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

Read more!

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Scapular

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."

Read more!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Lethal injection...

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!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Living in a shell...


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!

The Pin Cushion Queen


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...

Read more!

The Feast of St. Francis De Sales



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.


Read more!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

History side trip...


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!):







Read more!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Get this man a cup of coffee, please!

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

Read more!

Never forget...


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!

Monday, January 21, 2008

This Cookie's a Monster...

You have to read this post of Amy's. It provides the perfect backdrop for this:

I have a cat. I didn't want a cat.

Late last summer this really adorable kitten (we live on a farm...everyone assumes we are the local animal shelter, they drop off cats all the time!) showed up on the back porch. I quickly informed the husband and children that we were not, under any circumstances, keeping the cat. No matter that he was very cute. And that he had blue eyes.

(all together now: awwwwwww...isn't he cute!)
Cookie Monster

No cat.

Then the cat caught a mouse. Outside the storage building. Quickly and efficiently. "He stays!" I boldly proclaimed, thinking cheap cat food and a flea treatment will take care of his most basic needs. Charlotte named him Cookie Monster.

When the temperatures dropped, we decided to bring the poor dear inside, he was rather scrawny (he'd been fighting off assorted wildlife for his dinner)...and made all of the arrangements to accommodate a feline, including the dreaded litter box.

The smell, was unbearable. We tried every type of litter, scooping twice daily, deodorizing...to no avail.

Then a good friend stopped by for a visit. She took a good long look at our cat and said, "I think he's a Rag Doll..."

"Yeah...he is kind of cute, but the smell!" was my reply.

She proceeded to explain that Rag Doll was the breed. A fairly expensive and desirable breed and we should do a little research.

Sure enough, this "throw away" cat, is without doubt, a Rag Doll. Check the comparison:





Well, the cat's diet improved dramatically after that revelation, away with the cheap food! Amazingly, the "stinky litter box" problem disappeared just as soon as his highness' diet was improved.

The great thing about Rag Dolls: they are more dog than cat. They don't pounce on you, they don't have the energy to chase a ball of string let alone tear up your curtains. They can be picked up and placed in any position imaginable...and they'll stay there! Guests have stepped on our cat...he just lays there. He is absolutely enormous now...getting bigger every day.

The downside: he thinks he's a dog. He simply refuses to urinate in the litter box. He must go outside or he'll "go" all over the kitchen floor. Huge puddles. Like a dog.

The worst yet? He peed on me. Last night.

Quick. Tell me he's a really pretty cat. Or it's Craigslist.

Read more!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

A "must have" for the large family...


The shoe rack. If you don't have one, and you have more than four children, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!

Shoes off at the door. On the rack. No more lost shoes...

My old rack broke several months ago. We've been limping (hah, nice pun!) along since then, without it.

Until today. An expandable shoe rack, sitting by the back door.

Life is good. Perhaps one day I'll be able to "upgrade" to this:


Read more!

Septuagesima Sunday


"Septuagesima Sunday, on which the canticle of the Lord, Alleluja, ceases to be said"

from the Roman Martyrology


The Christian Year

by John Keble

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made.
Romans i. 20.

THERE is a book, who runs may read,
Which heavenly truth imparts,
And all the lore its scholars need,
Pure eyes and Christian hearts.

The works of God above, below,
Within us and around,
Are pages in that book, to shew
How God himself is found.

The glorious sky embracing all
Is like the Maker's love,
Wherewith encompass'd, great and small
In peace and order move.

The Moon above, the Church below,
A wondrous race they run,
But all their radiance, all their glow,
Each borrows of its Sun.

The Saviour lends the light and heat
That crowns his holy hill;
The saints, like stars, around his seat,
Perform their courses still.

The saints above are stars in Heaven-
What are the saints on earth?
Like trees they stand whom God has given,
Our Eden's happy birth.

Faith is their fix¹d unswerving root,
Hope their unfading flower,
Fair deeds of charity their fruit,
The glory of their bower.

The dew of heaven is like thy grace,
It steals in silence down;
But where it lights, the favour'd place
By richest fruits is known.

One Name above all glorious names
With its ten thousand tongues
The everlasting sea proclaims,
Echoing angelic songs.

The raging Fire, the roaring Wind,
Thy boundless power display:
But in the gentler breeze we find
Thy Spirit¹s viewless way.

Two worlds are ours: 'tis only Sin
Forbids us to descry
The mystic heaven and earth within,
Plain as the sea and sky.

Thou, who hast given me eyes to see
And love this sight so fair,
Give me a heart to find out Thee,
And read Thee everywhere. Read more!

Feast of St. Sebastian


The Golden Arrow Prayer seems a fitting prayer to recite on the Feast of St. Sebastian:

The Golden Arrow Prayer


May the most holy, the most sacred, the most adorable, the most incomprehensible, and ineffable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, with the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Golden Arrow was revealed by Our Lord Jesus Christ to a Carmelite nun of Tours in 1843 as a reparation for blasphemy.

Jesus said: "This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully, and heal the wounds inflicted by blasphemy."

To learn more about my patron saint for 2008, read this. Read more!

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Tonight I'm thankful for...


Two little girls, with soapy clean faces and sweet smelling hair, blanket pajamas and bedtime...

Four young men, with fresh haircuts, clean ears and hands...

Six pairs of shoes, ready for Church...

Enough black socks for the boys and clean tights for the girls...

Getting to bed before midnight...

God bless you all and good night!
Read more!

Changes...

I decided to change my blog header for a bit...a breath of spring, I guess you could say in the midst of sub-zero temperatures.

It is ridiculously cold, arctic cold in fact...feels like -15 to -25 below. We could all use a little springtime, right now.

I love the snow...even ice. But not this. This is brutal.

God bless and protect the homeless poor! Read more!

Friday, January 18, 2008

The cast is assembled...


Check out our many blessings.

The cast of characters have assembled (ranging from the oldest to youngest):

Jane and Elizabeth (from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice)
Clementine(because she likes the name) "oh my darling, Clementine..."
Arthur (as in King, of course!)
Gawain, Galahad and Gareth (the faithful Knights of the Round Table)
Charlotte and Emily (the Bronte sisters)

Only the names have changed. The comedy continues! Stay tuned... Read more!

Reality check

"The names have been changed to protect the innocent..."

I remember these words from this television program. I remember thinking it would be pretty cool to be able to change your name (I didn't particularly like mine!), but consider myself blessed that I've never had to.

Until now. I'm changing my family's blog names, to protect the innocent!

As a relatively new blogger (since 5/2007) I've been pretty free with information regarding my family. Using real names, cute photos and such comes naturally to those of us who still have a good deal of confidence in humanity, in general.

Unfortunately, my confidence is a bit shaken, at present. I can't elaborate the seriousness of my concern at present, but I can share this:

Last night I noticed in my stats that someone had "googled" my oldest daughter at home. Due to a very delicate situation (the one I can't elaborate on) we were both very concerned. It was imperative that we discover the location of the person who was looking for her (this is local).

Folks...I'm a 40+ homeschooling mother of nine children, and it took me less than 30 seconds to not only get this persons IP address, but search it and graph the coordinates right down to the street address.

The good news: it was someone she knew.

The bad news: if I can do this, anyone can.

I'm certainly not so naive as to believe that changing a few names equates solid anonymity. But I've been a bit too free. Ultimately, everything is traceable. By anyone with the knowledge and desire to locate information or individuals.

So...time to get creative! And do a lot of backtracking. I'll introduce you to our "cast of characters" shortly.

Read more!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Encouragement...


Because we all need it now and then...

"Be at Peace,"
by Saint Francis de Sales

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, Whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His Arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding Father Who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Read more!

Math humor...

A little homeschool math humor currently circulating on the Mother of Divine Grace homeschool loop:

A note passed from a big sister to a little sister:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
You are dumb
And so is Saxon.


You have to laugh or you'll cry...

Read more!

Spread The Love...


My dear Esther, of A Catholic Mom In Hawaii has honored me with a most thoughtful award: Spread The Love. How sweet! All I can say is, "right back atcha, Esther!"

There are so many inspirational blogs, but knowing how quickly these awards spread, I'll choose five of my favorites:

Jen at Cozy As Spring: I love her fresh outlook and ability to roll with the punches...not to mention her "crafty" ways!

Margaret at Minnesota Mom: Honest, poignant and roflol funny! Her ever-so-mild sarcasm suits me just fine, her devotion to Church and family is inspiring.

Allison at Totus Tuus: Ahhh, me little traddie...I love Allison's sweet photos and great love for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Barb at Praying For Grace: Pro-life, devoted homeschool mom. Makes me smile daily. I've got to meet her one day...

Amy Caroline at Knit Together In Love: She knits. She homeschools. She's so very funny...I enjoy my daily visits much!

There are many wonderful blogs out there, and not nearly enough time in the day to visit them all. Check out the five above...tell them Kimberly sent you!

Read more!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

My little artist..

Portrait of a Seminarian by the young artist, Charlotte.

Medium: crayon/pencil

Subject: Seminarian Michael Connaughton.

Photobucket

Observe the artist's attention to detail: the credence table, thurible and vestments.
Note how the delicate blue background enhances the overall effect.

I love you, Charlotte! What a lovely drawing... Read more!

Smile!

A few years ago, a dear friend gave me this book as a gift. My kids laughed harder than I did! Here are a few gems, as well as a couple "funnies" circulating the web:






From Mother Teresa:

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”

“Peace begins with a smile.”


Read more!

Monday, January 14, 2008

Harbingers of spring...

Today's forecast: snow showers and a high of 32.

Sure enough, snow. To be expected in January. Northwest Ohio, you know.

A quick trip to the mailbox...and voilà! Harbingers of spring:



Burpee, Park and Johnny Seeds...a bright ending to an otherwise dreary day.

Read more!

Making progress...


I'm getting it...the mental block is gone, and I'm finally making sense of the needle tatting patterns.

Yippee!

Why am I so excited? Well, it is certainly nice to learn something new...I'm walking proof that you can teach and old dog, new tricks!

My excitement, however, is spawned more by information given by an FSSP seminarian that this new craft can serve my Church. It is extremely difficult for priests serving the Traditional Latin Mass to find high quality surplices, altar cloths, purificators and other necessities, all of which are embellished with lace. Lace is both a symbol of joy and purity, and what greater joy than to embellish the surplice of a holy priest of God.

I'm going to try. I'm completing projects very quickly now, learning the more difficult aspects of pattern reading. I'll keep you posted...St. Sebastian, patron of lacemakers and the saint who chose me for 2008, pray for me! Read more!

Tea and Temptations...


Ahh...Temptations!

The ultimate knitting and yarn emporium!

Saturday afternoon my dear friend, Sandra, presented me with yet another lovely birthday gift...an afternoon of Tea and Temptations. Both Teh Ku Tea House and Temptations are nestled in cozy Dublin, Ohio and share the same parking lot.

Temptations
is a delightful yarn shop that caters to knitters and crocheters. The fiber selection is excellent, with plenty of browsing room and delightfully displayed products and projects to "tempt" even the novice. Knowledgeable and helpful staff, a restful atmosphere, plenty of table and chairs encourage a thorough perusal of patterns and fiber. Temptations offers a variety of classes, but also invites the fiber artist to just "sit and knit." We spent nearly two hours in this delightful shop. I finally settled upon a lovely sock yarn in an intense brick orange shade, while Sandra picked up a few deliciously soft skeins of Baby Cashmerino.

Here are a few photos:











While the yarn was being rolled into balls, we stepped across the parking lot to Teh Ku Tea House. A relaxing contemporary interior, outstanding selection of tea and helpful staff made for a pleasurable afternoon of sipping tea and tatting. The lunch menu offered several sandwiches and salads, all prepared to order. The Tiramisu Blend was quite lovely and the grilled roast beef sandwich with horseradish was outstanding. Staff and management were extremely cheerful and solicitous of our needs, going so far as to offer to wipe the table while we were engaging in our needlework, so as not to stain it.

The afternoon ended too soon, of course, but two very grateful wives returned to husbands who had managed the children for several hours...giving us the best gift ever. The time together was precious, and as both of us have several children at home, those times are rare.

If you happen to be in the Columbus area, stop by Dublin. Tea and Temptations await you...don't miss it! Read more!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Ad orientem...


Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sistine Chapel "ad orientem."

May God be praised!

For additional information on praying the Mass ad orientem, check out this outstanding article from Notitiae 332, Vol. 29, No. 5, May 1993,
pp. 245-249, this article was translated from Italian by Fr. John T.
Zuhlsdorf
.)

PRAYING AD ORIENTEM VERSUS


(Published as an editorial in Notitiae 332, Vol. 29, No. 5, May 1993,
pp. 245-249, this article was translated from Italian by Fr. John T.
Zuhlsdorf.)

1) The Eucharistic celebration is, by definition, connected to the
eschatological dimension of the Christian faith. This is true in its most
profound identity. Is this not perhaps the sense of the wondrous change
(mirabilis conversio) of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of
the Lord of glory, who lives always with the Father, perpetuating His
paschal mystery?

2) The sober description of the Acts of the Apostles in the first summary
concerning the life of the community speaks of the "joy" (agalliasis)
with which those joined in the assembly (epi to auto), broke bread in the
homes. This term (agalliasis) is the same that Luke used to indicate
eschatological joy.

3) There is a logic of Ascension in the Eucharist: "This Jesus that you
have seen ascend into heaven, will return. . ." In the Eucharist the Lord
returns; He anticipates sacramentally His glorious return, transforming the
profound reality of the elements, and He leaves them in the condition of
signs of His presence and mediation of communion with His own person. It is
for this that the various liturgical families underscored a common point in
different ways: with the Eucharistic prayer the Church penetrates the
celestial sphere. This is the meaning of the conclusion of the Roman
prefaces, of the chant of the Sanctus and of the eastern Cherubicon.

4) In analyzing the origins of the Eucharistic prayer one is struck by the
typically Christian variant introduced in the initial dialogue. The
greeting, Dominus vobiscum, and the invitation, Gratias agamus, are
common to the Jewish berakha. Only the Christian one, beginning with the
first complete redaction that we possess-the Apostolic Tradition-inserts
the Sursum corda. Habemus ad Dominum. For the Church, in fact,
celebrating the Eucharist is never to put into action something earthly,
but rather something heavenly, because it has the awareness that the
principal celebrant of the same action is the Lord of glory. The Church
necessarily celebrates the Eucharist oriented toward the Lord, in communion
with Him and, through His mediation, toward the Father in unity with the
Holy Spirit. The priest, ordained in the Catholic and apostolic communion,
is the witness of the authenticity of the celebration and at the same time
the sign of the glorious Lord who presides at it. Just as the bread and
wine are the elements that Christ assumes in order to "give Himself," the
priest is the person that Christ consecrated and invited to "give." 5) The placement of the priest and the faithful in relation to the
"mystical table" found different forms in history, some of which can be
considered typical to certain places and periods. As is logical when
treating liturgical questions, symbolism took on a noteworthy role in these
different forms, but it would be difficult to prove that the architectural
interpretation of such symbolism could, in any of the forms chosen, have
been considered as an integral and basic part of the Christian faith or of
the profound attitudes of the celebrating Church.

6) The arrangement of the altar in such a manner that the celebrant and the
faithful were looking toward the east-which is a great tradition even if it
is not unanimous-is a splendid application of the "parousial" character of
the Eucharist. One celebrates the mystery of Christ until He comes again
from the heavens (donec veniat de caelis). The sun which illuminates the
altar during the Eucharist is a pale reference to the "sun that comes from
on high" (exsultans ut gigas ad currendam viam) (Ps. 18:6) in order to
celebrate the paschal victory with His Church. The influence of the symbol
of light, and concretely the sun, is frequently found in Christian liturgy.
The baptismal ritual of the East still preserves this symbolism. Perhaps
the Christian West has not adequately appreciated this, given the
consequence of having come to be known as a "gloomy place." But also in the
West, at the popular level, we know that there remains a certain
fascination for the rising sun. Did not Saint Leo the Great, in the fifth
century, remind the faithful in one of his Christmas homilies that "when
the sun rises in the first dawning of the day some people are so foolish as
to worship it in high places?" He adds: "There are also Christians that
still retain that it is part of religious practice to continue this
convention and that before entering the Basilica of the Apostle Peter,
dedicated to the only and true God, after having climbed the stairs that
bear one up to the upper level, turn themselves around toward the rising
sun, bow their heads and kneel in order to honor the shining disk" (Homily
27, 4). In fact, the faithful entering the basilica for the Eucharist, in
order to be intent on the altar, had to turn their backs to the sun. In
order to pray while "turned toward the east," as it was said, they would
have had to turn their backs to the altar, which does not seem probable.

7) The fact that the application of this symbolism in the West, beginning
from very early on, progressively diminished, demonstrates that it did not
constitute an inviolable element. Therefore, it cannot be considered a
traditional fundamental principle in Christian liturgy. From this it also
arises that, subsequently, other types of symbolism influenced the
construction of altars and their arrangement in churches.

8) In the encyclical Mediator Dei, Pius XII regarded as "archeologists"
those who presumed to speak of the altar as a simple table. Would it not be
equally an archeologizing tendency to consider that the arrangement of the
altar toward the East is the decisive key to a correct Eucharistic
celebration? In effect, the validity of the liturgical reform is not based
only and exclusively on the return to original forms. There can also be
completely new elements in it, and in fact there are some, that have been
perfectly integrated.

9) The liturgical reform of the II Vatican Council did not invent the
arrangement of the altar turned toward the people. One thinks concerning
this of the witness of the Roman basilicas, at least as a pre-existing
fact. But it was not an historical fact that directed the clear option for
an arrangement of the altar that permits a celebration turned toward the
people. The authorized interpretors of the reform-Cardinal Lercaro as the
president of the Consilium-repeated from the very beginning (see the
letters from 1965) that one was not dealing with a question of a liturgy
that is continuing or passing away (quaestio stantis vel cadentis
liturgiae). The fact that the suggestions of Cardinal Lercaro in this
matter were, in that moment of euphoria, little taken into consideration,
is unfortunately not an isolated case. Changing the orientation of the
altar and utilizing the vernacular turned out to be much easier ways for
entering into the theological and spiritual meaning of the liturgy, for
absorbing its spirit, for studying the history and the meaning of the rites
and analyzing the reasons behind the changes that were brought about and
their pastoral consequences.

10) The option for celebrations is coherent with the
foundational theological idea discovered and proven by the liturgical
movement: "Liturgical actions are celebrations of the Church. . .which is
the holy people of God gathered and ordered under the bishops" (SC 26). The
theology of the common priesthood and the ministerial priesthood, "distinct
in essence, and not in degree" (essentia, non gradu) and nevertheless
ordered to each other (LG 10) is certainly better expressed with the
arrangement of the altar versus populum. Did not monks, from ancient
times, pray turned toward each other in order to search for the presence of
the Lord in their midst? Moreover, a figurative motive is worth
underscoring. The symbolic form of the Eucharist is that of a meal, a
repetition of the supper of the Lord. One does not doubt that this meal is
sacrificial, a memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ, but from
the figurative point of view its reference point is the supper.

11) Furthermore, how does one forget that one of the strongest arguments
that sustain the continuance of the uninterrupted tradition of the
exclusive ordination of men, lies in the fact that the priest, president in
virtue of ordination, stands at the altar as a member of the assembly, but
also by his sacramental character, before the assembly as Christ is the
head of the Church and that for this reason stands there in front of
(gegenuber) the Church.

12) If from the supports we pass to the applications, we find much material
for reflection. The Congregation of Divine Worship, taking into
consideration that a series of questions has been rising up in this regard,
proposes now the following guiding points:

1. The celebration of the Eucharist versus populum requires of the priest
a greater and more sincere expression of his ministerial conscience: his
gestures, his prayer, his facial expression must reveal to the assembly in
a more direct way the principal actor, the Lord Jesus. One does not
improvise this; one acquires it with some technique. Only a profound sense
of the proper priestly identity in spiritu et veritate is able to attain
this.

2. The orientation of the altar versus populum requires with great care a
correct use of the different areas of the sanctuary: the chair, the ambo
and altar, as well as a correct positioning of the people that preside and
serve in it. If the altar is turned into a pedestal for everything
necessary for celebrating the Eucharist, or into a substitute for the chair
in the first part of the Mass, or into a place from which the priest
directs the whole celebration (in almost a technical sense), the altar will
lose symbolically its identity as the central place of the Eucharist, the
table of mystery, the meeting place between God and men for the sacrifice
of the new and eternal covenant.

3. The placement of the altar versus populum is certainly something in
the present liturgical legislation that is desirable. It is not,
nevertheless, an absolute value over and beyond all others. It is necessary
to take into account cases in which the sanctuary does not admit of an
arrangement of the altar facing the people, or it is not possible to
preserve the preceding altar with its ornamentation in such a way that
another altar facing the people can be understood to be the principal
altar. In these cases, it is more faithful to liturgical sense to celebrate
at the existing altar with the back turned to the people rather than
maintain two altars in the same sanctuary. The principle of the unicity of
the altar is theologically more important than the practice of celebrating
facing the people.

4. It is proper to explain clearly that the expression "celebrate facing
the people" does not have a theological sense, but only a topographical-
positional sense. Every celebration of the Eucharist is praise and glory of
God, for our good and the good of all the Church (ad laudem et gloriam
nominis Dei, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque Ecclesiae suae
sanctae). Theologically, therefore, the Mass is always facing towards God
and facing the people. In the form of celebration it is necessary to take
care not to switch theology and topography around, above all when the
priest is at the altar. The priest speaks to the people only in the
dialogue from the altar. All the rest is prayer to the Father, through the
mediation of Christ in the Holy Spirit. This theology must be visible.

5. At last, a conjectural consideration that is not to be left in silence.
Thirty years have passed since the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium.
"Provisional arrangements" cannot be justified any longer. In the re-
organization of the sanctuary if a provisional character is maintained
which is either pedagogically or artistically badly resolved, then an
element of distortion results for catechesis and for the very theology of
the celebration. Some criticisms of certain celebrations that are raised
are well-founded and can only be taken with seriousness. The effort to
improve celebrations is one of the basic elements to assure, in so far as
it depends on us, an active and fruitful participation.
Read more!

Traditional Feast of the Holy Family


The first Sunday after Epiphany marks the Feast of the Holy Family, according to the traditional calendar. A most lovely feast, honoring the Holy Family, and especially significant for parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus, OH.

This morning we were most blessed to attend a Solemn High Mass, with celebrants Fr. Eric Flood (recently designated District Superior General for the FSSP), our dear seminarian and former Master of Ceremonies, Michael Connaughten and Fr. Kevin Lutz, Holy Family's very own pastor.

Fr. Flood's homily on the Holy Family was touching, instructive and illuminating. A few highlights (summarizations and not the complete text):

*We must remember that one of the best ways we can emulate our Lord, is to imitate the child Jesus, resting peacefully and confidently in the arms of His dear mother, Mary. As Mary lamented the "loss" of her child (when he was teaching in the Temple), so she mourns those of us who are "lost" to her. We must return to our Mother, just as Jesus did. Mary was "mommy" to Jesus...

*If we wish our children to be virtuous, we must manifest constantly all of those virtues which Mary possessed. We must eliminate distractions, seeking our joy and finding salvation in our vocation. Mary didn't "gad about". She lived a quiet and hidden life of virtue. Her home was her castle, and she was Queen. So must we, as mothers, be queen of our castle.

*Fathers must continually seek the intercession of St. Joseph to successfully live their vocation as parent and spouse. The desire to protect the weak is inborn...men wish to be heroic. They must be heroes within their own homes. If a father attends Mass weekly with his children, 80% of these children will remain practicing Catholics. If the children are taken to Church by the mother only, the numbers fall to 25%.

*The path to heaven is by way of the family.

Here is a slideshow of this lovely Mass:



Read more!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Night school...


9:00 p.m.

The time that all children should be sleeping peacefully in their beds.

Except mine. I taught the last class of the day at 9:00 p.m. last night. After battling the scholars all day long to finish up "this and that", I was pretty sure we were finished for the evening by 6:30 p.m.

Until Gareth reminded me he had not read to me. How I wanted to turn him away! D-O-N-E...and T-I-R-E-D! But there he was, a sweet smile and an innocent request.

So we read. And I praised him for his fine effort and desire to finish all of his subjects.
If only he and his siblings had been so motivated, earlier in the week! Our extended Christmas vacation has thrown everything off balance. I'm still trying to put the house in order, take down Christmas decorations, teach school, cook, and maintain my sanity while trying to motivate the children.

This is perhaps the toughest "back to school" week that we've experienced in quite some time. Our school days typically start by 8:30 a.m. and end by no later than 2:00 p.m.--with lunch and breaks in between. This week's schedule has been full of starts and stops, outside interruptions, illness and just plain laziness!

As I told a dear friend last night, I was hopeful that this week would end better than it started. That the children would "find their footing and get down to business". She reminded me that the next day was Friday and the week would be over.
Time flies even when you're not having fun!

So, dear friends...say a little prayer for this homeschool family. No major catastrophes--just a few grumpy people that really haven't felt like doing school this week. Even the college student is having a bad week.

Next week will be better...next week will be better...next week will be better... Read more!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Schola


Schola classes resumed today under the tutelage of Monsieur L’Abbé Michael Connaughten. I love the formal title for this dear seminarian, though most of the boys know him simply as FSSP Seminarian Michael Connaughten of Holy Family, Columbus.

Abbé Connaughten led the boys (and moms) in the Angelus (in chant) and then proceeded to conduct a review of past materials. The results: the students are progressing nicely.

Here are a few lovely photos. Especially notice the traditional clerical garments. Michael's dear mother stitched both the full length wool cape and the shoulder cape. If you are at all curious about traditional clerical garments, here is an excellent resource.

Our Schola Master:





The Angelus...


Such joyful faces...


Ave verum...


Read more!