Catholic Family Vignettes

This evening a dear friend shared with us an incredible DVD "Fishers of Men" a Grassroots Production video distributed by the USCCB to increase vocations to the priesthood. Simply put, it is phenomenal...a powerful and encouraging glimpse into the lives of the "real men" of the priesthood. I am including a small portion, perhaps one of the most riveting scenes in the video. The entire video may be ordered by clicking the link above.



Every Sunday the faithful at my parish kneel to pray an "Our Father", a "Hail Mary" and a "Glory be..." for a two fold intention: that there may be an increase in vocations and for the priest who will one day, God willing, administer the Last Rites.

This video not only provides encouragement towards the discernment of a vocation, but should be required viewing for every Catholic as a reminder of the heroic and sacrificial nature of the priesthood. God bless and increase the numbers of our holy priests! Read more!

Well...if you're a five year old girl you are only limited by the scope of your imagination and generosity! This morning, Charlotte brought a shiny new quarter to Mass. I'm not sure what her intentions were, for the quarter was a source of constant distraction. She dropped it, loudly I might add, upon the wooden pew no less than three times. I had to take it away from her and placing it upon the pew, I promptly forgot about it.

As Father made the morning announcements, he mentioned his great desire to attend a large auction of traditional Catholic art. Since many of the items were very expensive and of museum quality, Father announced that he would willingly accept donations after Mass.

The Mass was so wonderful, so reverent and so packed! What a large and lovely crowd we had this morning. As Mass ended, Charlotte began to frantically search for her quarter. Having found it, she proceeded down the aisle and asked if she could go see Father. I lagged behind a bit, talking with friends, but finally caught up with her outside where she was patiently awaiting her turn to talk to Father.

Still distracted by my own conversations, I notice that Charlotte is a bit frustrated as she is talking to Father. She has shown him her quarter, and mumbling a few words, thrusts it at him. Father says "Is that your quarter? Are you going to buy candy?" Charlotte shakes her head no and mutters something, once again, under her breath. Father says "Are you going to save it?" With considerable frustration at Father's apparent lack of understanding and once again thrusting the quarter towards him, she says "I want you to keep it and buy some art!" With a sweet smile, Father lovingly accepts Charlottes's generous contribution.

I'm quite sure that her joy was unequaled at that moment as she contemplated the work of great beauty that Father will obtain with her help. Read more!

The USCCB has issued a newsletter regarding the "Apostolic Letter on Use of the Preconciliar Liturgical Forms." In general, a charitable and equitable document addressing many questions that both religious and faithful have regarding the application of the Summorum Pontificum. The comparison chart is quite interesting...judge for yourself. I was particularly edified to see this very specific reference: only clerics or "altar boys" perform liturgical ministry. Note the word "boys", not "servers". Seems a specific instruction, should there be any question.

September 14, 2007 - The Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, is the effective date. A triumph, indeed!
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To quote my dear priest, Fr. Kevin Lutz, "the indult is no more!" We have entered into the realm of the "extraordinary"...and what a delightful place it is.
Yesterday evening, in joyful anticipation of the long awaited motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum", our dear friend, Mr. Thomas Ryan, commissioned the above confectionery from a local Graeter's Ice Cream store. Apparently the individual responsible for "personalizing" the cake was unfamiliar with the term "Motu Proprio", so Mr. Ryan, with his devilish wit, informed her that it was the name of a foreign exchange student...

This morning's Mass was attended by a wonderful group of traditional Catholics, all of whom could barely contain their excitement and many bearing in hand, copies of the long awaited documents. Now we wait with great joy and humility for the full implementation of the "Summorum Pontificum" and what this great document will mean for the people of Christ's Church--the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

God bless you, dear Holy Father! A joy filled day of celebration to you all, dear friends! Read more!

So...last night my teenage daughter goes to the grocery store to rent a video, taking her wallet (full of cash) with her. On her way back to the car, unknown to her, she drops her wallet but doesn't even realize it's missing until around 1:00 a.m. GASP!!
She retraces her steps and comes to the sad conclusion that she must have dropped it in the parking lot or left it in the store.

She doesn't even bother to call the store until the morning; she is so sure that it has been picked up, cash taken, perhaps her identification stolen, as well. She calls the store and, lo! an honest soul found the wallet in the parking lot and returned it to the store. Nothing missing. The wallet has been returned to her and she is quite touched by the honesty required to return such a large sum of cash.

Columbus, Ohio. A dark parking lot. An honest soul. One happy, hardworking teenage girl! Read more!

From Rorate Caeli:

Holy See Press Office
NOTICE TO JOURNALISTS: Publication of the Motu Proprio "SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM"

Journalists are informed that tomorrow, Saturday, July 7, 2007, the Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI "given Motu Proprio" SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, on the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the reform of 1970, will be made public.

The Document will be accompanied by an explanatory Letter of the Holy Father.

(Both texts will be available to journalists from 9.00 [Rome], under embargo until 12 [noon] of the same day.)

Waiting with joyful expectation... Read more!

Lately the sky has been so...
and amazingly...
Have you ever seen anything this...
I long for the cool, summer evenings. Dusk is upon us and the sky provides an unparallelled show of color. The moon, constellations and many planets slowly began to dot the sky as the light fades.

"For the wonder of each hour,
Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise."

--taken from For the Beauty of the Earth

Goodnight and God bless! Read more!

Terrible storm on the 4th...the computer is, unfortunately, dead. Trying a recovery and using Meredith's PC. Will begin regular posting once the main PC is operational. Blessings to all! And here is the rest of it. Read more!

Nothing political, just this: God Bless America!



Enjoy the 4th...I'm taking the day off! Read more!

Overheard today at the thrift store:

(Older lady 60ish stocking a bookshelf): "May I help you sir?"

(Much older gentleman in his 80's, dapper and quite spry): "Have you, perchance, seen any hardcover books on the collected works of Rudyard Kipling?"

Lady: "Should I be familiar with him, sir?"

Gentleman: "Indeed, yes! I am a great fan of his poetry in particular..."(he proceeds with a lengthy and quite beautiful recitation of a piece I was unfamiliar with...may have been "Apologies", but I'm not sure)

Unknown to him, he had an audience: a couple of ladies looking at teapots and coffee makers and me.

He shared his knowledge of Kipling and the period of history in which he wrote. It was a fascinating and unexpected treat!

By the way...thrift stores are such a great place to find incredible books, collectible and otherwise. I have located no less than two Latin Missals and a variety of beautiful Catholic literature and devotional materials. Check them out! Read more!

Who can resist a pretty apron? Women of all ages are stepping forward to "tie one on", and their desire to do so extends beyond the need to protect one's clothing. Connectivity to the past, the perception that there was once a kinder, gentler era. Certainly, no decade deserves complete idealization, but there does seem to be a growing trend to embrace traditional roles and values. As the lines become increasingly blurred, perhaps the apron is simply an outward sign of that desire.

So, after you've "tied one on", here is a great place for a few things "housewifely." And if "retro" is your style, you're going to love this!

And let's not forget the kiddos...time to get them into the zone!

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Summer is well underway. The garden now provides a lovely variety of fresh vegetables. On the menu this week: spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, greenbeans and bell peppers. A variety of fresh herbs are available as well: basil, thyme, curly parsley, cilantro and rosemary in abundance.

We are awaiting the ripening of the many blackberries surrounding the forest. Blackberry jam, blackberry pie, blackberries and cream...

Meanwhile, though we have no fruit trees of our own, sweet cherries are on sale for $1.39 a pound. My hands are a delightful scarlet after pitting more than ten pounds. This evening I will serve homemade cherry jam with fresh baked bread. Preserving the summer harvest is such a pleasure. When snow covers the ground, the pantry shelf will hold little reminders of the bounty of our humble gardens and all the pleasures associated with these little acts of self sufficiency. Read more!

What the Caveman has to say:

With regard to the suppression [of the Traditional Latin Mass in 1969], this individual wrote: "A community is calling its very being into question when it suddenly declares that what was its holiest and highest possession is strictly forbidden and when it makes the longing for it seem downright indecent."

Now THAT'S powerful! "Calling our very being into question... makes the longing for it seem downright indecent." Want to guess who said that? I'll tell ya... Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in his interview-book Salt of the Earth (1997). Gee, I've been saying that for years. Looks like I'm in good company, eh?

But for those who still buy into the myth that "the spirit of V2" is getting us back to our roots, allow me to point the following out to you;

The Latin Mass isn't something that magically appeared back in the 1500's during the Council of Trent. Neither did it simply fall from the sky when Pope St. Gregory the Great introduced The Gregorian Sacramentary in the 6th century. Even the Canon of the Latin Mass dates to the 4th century. The historical fact of the matter is, even in it's infancy, the Latin Mass has been with us since the 1st century when Sts. Peter and Paul first preached in Rome. The words of the Consecration have remained constant for 2,000 years within the Latin Mass. There simply is no getting around that.

Oh, before I forget... why did Pope St. Gregory the Great even want to retain Latin in the liturgy? Golly, could it be because he realized that Latin was unchanging, and that this new language called Italian was ever evolving and constantly changing? Yep... that exactly the reason. Boy, they didn't call him "The Great" for nothing, huh? I'd wager if he were around today, many would call him a Rad-Trad or possibly even a caveman.

Anyhow, So for all those nay-sayers who have all the theological, ecclesiastical and historical depth of a kiddie wading pool, please refrain for the soft-headed notion that the Motu Proprio is all about the SSPX, or simply pleasing (shutting up) a extremely small number of "Rad-Trads".

It's all about our very being of being Catholics. If you have any questions, direct them to the guy who lives in Rome who wears those really cool Prada shoes.. Read more!

Luke 1:39-55

39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. 40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: 55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. Read more!

John 19:31-37
31 Then the Jews (because it was the parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that was a great sabbath day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken: and that they might be taken away. 32 The soldiers therefore came: and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. 33 But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe. 36 For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him. 37 And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

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

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.


Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.

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

V. You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.
R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
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