Catholic Family Vignettes

Today the children and I watched a lovely musical, which most people are familiar with--The Sound Of Music. The movie is delightful, the songs memorable and the cinematography outstanding.

Unfortunately, like most movies it bears little resemblance to the "real" story, which is every bit as delightful and inspiring as the movie. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, by Maria Augusta Trapp gives the reader a first person account of the daily workings of this famous family. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Trapp family, is the way they lived the Liturgical Year. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Feast Days, Name Days...theirs was a life lived by the Church calendar.

Another lovely book, Around the Year with the Trapp Family focused on the Liturgical celebrations so faithfully and beautifully honored by the family. Alas, it is no longer in print and is a little difficult to come by. This lovely blog, Around the Year with the Trapp Family provides excerpts from the publication to aid those who wish to incorporate a variety of celebratory traditions. Readers who wish to have the entire text, may find it in the EWTN library.

Read more!

Thanks to Krislynne Lyons for these incredible photos!

On the Feast Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross, the implementation of our dear Holy Father's motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, was celebrated with a Solemn High Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church, Columbus. What a joyous evening! Never have the voices of the faithful more loudly and proudly proclaimed the ancient "Credo"..."

Et in unam sanctam cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam...










Upon the altar was the 1607 Pius V Missale Romanum, the Mary Queen of Scots Chalice, a Relic of the True Cross and a vintage ciborium. Our holy priests were adorned in golden vestments from the 19th century. The english readings of the Epistle and Gospel where read from a 1st edition Rheims Bible. How beautifully each of these artifacts complimented the ancient liturgy, so beloved from antiquity!
The two motets, so beautifully rendered by the choir, Jubilate Deo (Mozart) and Adoremus Te Christe (Clemens non Papa), were performed during Holy Communion.

Voices soaring during the recessional, proudly proclaimed:

Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
all on earth thy scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite thy vast domain;
everlasting is thy reign.

The celebration that followed allowed the faithful the opportunity to venerate the Relic of the True Cross (to be able to kiss this holy relic...can words describe?!!) On display, as well, were the Missale, Bible and Chalice.

What an evening...what a grateful people... Read more!

Anastasia Yvonne Owens was born shortly after 1:00 a.m. on August 19th, 2007 to my lovely daughter Ashley, and her husband Tracy. Anastasia is welcomed home by her three big sisters: Katrina Gabrielle, Erika Elaine and Margaret Jolie. She has a head full of curly red hair (just like her mommy!), weighs 8lbs. 13 oz. and is 21 inches long. She is a much welcomed addition to her family.

I will post a family photo just as soon as I receive it! Thanks for all the prayers. Read more!

It is 9:00 a.m. on a Monday morning and every single one of my children are asleep. Dead to the world. Why? This is the aftermath of my dear daughter's graduation/birthday party.

What an evening! A breezy, moonlit night spent with fifty wonderful, traditional Catholics. The food was incredible: Roger prepared his "signature" specialty, country style ribs with "secret sauce". Smashed potato salad (my specialty), cole slaw and tomato salad (fresh from the garden), "cowboy" baked beans and a variety of delightful and tempting dishes provided by our generous friends.

And beer. Lots of beer.

Our dear seminarian, Mr. Michael Connaughton, led us all in the Latin Table Blessing and the festivities commenced. Conversation galore, entertaining stories and the occasional outburst of song from our dear priest, Fr. Kevin Lutz. The boys played football and blew up water bottles by quickly capping them after filling them with dry ice and water. The little ones played amongst the sunflowers and in the sandbox, while the young ladies engaged in earnest conversation as they observed the antics of the young "football stars."

This is how Sunday evenings should be spent. During our "Catholic Commune" days (I'll have to share that story, one day), this was the rule, not the exception. Evenings of good food, fine conversation, children running around in joyful play...a beautiful way of life.

So...thank you, my dear friends. You are a blessing to us all. Thank you for helping us celebrate this lovely young woman. May God bless each of you for the generous gift of your time...oh yeah...thanks for the beer! Read more!

Another birthday! Today Michael Gabriel Wasson is nine years old. Sunday we will host a brunch to celebrate the many joys of this month. It has been the goal of our family for many years now, to shift the focus on birthdays from the gift giving "extravaganza", to one of celebration. Don't get me wrong, here. My children have not yet attained sainthood and are just as excited over receiving gifts and cards as any other children. Nearly all of them are guilty of the "slash and shake" approach to birthday cards (you know...slash the card open, shake out the contents, pick up the cash)

We don't, as a rule, host "birthday" parties. We all like birthday parties, but in a large family it simply is not practical nor feasible. So, we host "celebrations" instead. Food, family, friends, fun. We try to encourage our children to look forward to the arrival of their friends and the fellowship which will bring true joy to the day. Any gifts received are set aside, to be opened later and thanks are offered beforehand.

Tomorrow is also the Feast of Pentecost, another birthday. "Veni Sancte Spiritus!" Happy Birthday to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church...could there be a better reason to celebrate? Read more!