Something About Mary, Day 9 - May Crowning

This Sunday our parish will hold the May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our family will crown our garden statue on the same afternoon.

If you’ve never hosted your own May Crowning, it’s quite easy to construct a floral crown for any size statue you may have. All you need is a bit of floral wire adjusted to appropriate size for your statue and a few silk flowers (should you wish to retain this particular crown for future use). You can even stitch up a small pillow (much like that used by a wedding ring-bearer) for the procession. If the weather doesn’t permit an outdoor crowning, simply utilize an indoor statue–perhaps the one you keep on the family altar or some other place of prominence.

Throughout the month of May the children can take turns “freshening up the altar,” by replacing the drooping and dying flowers with fresh ones. Wildflowers are in abundance at present and the offering made to our Lady can be as simple or elaborate as you choose…gifts offered in love are the best!

Speaking of “crowns,” here’s a crown of another sort:

The Little Crown of The Blessed Virgin Mary Chaplet Prayer
by St. Louis Mary De Montfort

Preface:
St. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus and Mary, was privileged to behold a wonderful sign in heaven: “A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Apoc.12) :
Scripture commentators tell us this vision portrays the Blessed Virgin with her virtues and privileges, especially her divine motherhood. This gave rise to the Triple Crown of Twelve Stars of the Blessed Virgin which heaven has blessed with countless favors. St. John Berchmans and many other devoted children of Mary made the Little Crown their daily favorite. :
St. Louis Mary de Montfort, universally known for his True Devotion to Mary, embellished the Little Crown by adding to each Hail Mary a distinctive invocation in praise of the Blessed Virgin’s excellence, power and goodness, ending with the joyful strain, “Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!” :
St. Louis, gave the Little Crown as a morning prayer to both his religious families, the Monthfort Fathers and the Daughters of Wisdom. He heartily recommends it to all who embrace the holy and loving slavery to Jesus through Mary. Thus the world over, from the lips of Mary’s favorite children the Little Crown rises like fragrant incense to our Blessed Mother’s throne in heaven and returns to earth in showers of divine benediction.

Since the Blessed Virgin is the spouse of the Holy Spirit, St. Louis prefaces the Little Crown with a liturgical invocation to the Holy Spirit.

Introductory Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the heats of Thy faithful and kindle within them the fire of Thy love!
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit dost instruct the heats of the faithful, grant us by this same Spirit to relish what is right and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I Crown of Excellence
To honor the divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues.
V. Grant that I may praise thee, Holy Virgin!
R. Give me strength against thy enemies!

1 (Our Father….) (Hail Mary….)
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst hear the Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who made thee and remainest a Virgin forever.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

2 (Hail Mary….)
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very one Whom the heavens cannot contain. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

3 (Hail Mary….)
Thou art all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

4 (Hail Mary….)
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars of heaven in number. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!
(Glory be to the Father…..)

II Crown of Power
To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation and the strength of her rule.

5 (Our Father….) (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joy of Heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

6 (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord’s graces! Grant us a share in thy riches. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

7 (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man! Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

8 (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times! (Glory be to the Father)

III. Crown of Goodness
To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just and the dying.

9 (Our Father….) (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God! Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

10 (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee, O Mother of Orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

11 (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee O, joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!

12 (Hail Mary….)
Glory be to thee who art ever ready to assist us in life and in death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven! Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times! (Glory be to the Father….)

Let us pray
Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son; Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit; Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity; Hail Mary, my mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope, yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine, and all that I have is thine, O Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven; until through the Holy Ghost, thy faithful Spouse, and through thee, His faithful Spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father. Amen.

Information taken from:
My Treasury of Chaplets by Patricia S. Quintiliani

Blackmail

*please pray for Elizabeth…she’s expecting our 5th grandchild (her first child…it’s a boy!) in July and had to make a trip to the ER last night…

Something About Mary, Day 8 - Making a “Holier” Communion

Here is a wonderful supplemental devotion to True Devotion to Mary, greatly encouraged by St. Louis de Montfort. Our Lady desires that we should receive her Son in the best disposition possible…

From fisheaters:

Devotion
at Holy Communion

Before Holy Communion

266. 1) Place yourself humbly in the presence of God.

2) Renounce your corrupt nature and dispositions, no matter how good self-love makes them appear to you.

3) Renew your consecration saying, “I belong entirely to you, dear Mother, and all that I have is yours.”

4) Implore Mary to lend you her heart so that you may receive her Son with her dispositions. Remind her that her Son’s glory requires that he should not come into a heart so sullied and fickle as your own, which could not fail to diminish his glory and might cause him to leave. Tell her that if she will take up her abode in you to receive her Son - which she can do because of the sovereignty she has over all hearts - he will be received by her in a perfect manner without danger of being affronted or being forced to depart. “God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.”

Tell her with confidence that all you have given her of your possessions is little enough to honour her, but that in Holy Communion you wish to give her the same gifts as the eternal Father gave her. Thus she will feel more honoured than if you gave her all the wealth in the world. Tell her, finally, that Jesus, whose love for her is unique, still wishes to take his delight and his repose in her even in your soul, even though it is poorer and less clean than the stable which he readily entered because she was there. Beg her to lend you her heart, saying, “O Mary, I take you for my all; give me your heart.”
During Holy Communion

267. After the Our Father, when you are about to receive our Lord, say to him three times the prayer, “Lord, I am not worthy.” Say it the first time as if you were telling the eternal Father that because of your evil thoughts and your ingratitude to such a good Father, you are unworthy to receive his only-begotten Son, but that here is Mary, his handmaid, who acts for you and whose presence gives you a special confidence and hope in him.

268. Say to God the Son, “Lord, I am not worthy”, meaning that you are not worthy to receive him because of your useless and evil words and your carelessness in his service, but nevertheless you ask him to have pity on you because you are going to usher him into the house of his Mother and yours, and you will not let him go until he has made it his home. Implore him to rise and come to the place of his repose and the ark of his sanctification. Tell him that you have no faith in your own merits, strength and preparedness, like Esau, but only in Mary, your Mother, just as Jacob had trust in Rebecca his mother. Tell him that although you are a great sinner you still presume to approach him, supported by his holy Mother and adorned with her merits and virtues.

269. Say to the Holy Spirit, “Lord, I am not worthy”. Tell him that you are not worthy to receive the masterpiece of his love because of your lukewarmness, wickedness and resistance to his inspirations. But, nonetheless, you put all your confidence in Mary, his faithful Spouse, and say with St. Bernard, “She is my greatest safeguard, the whole foundation of my hope.” Beg him to overshadow Mary, his inseparable Spouse, once again. Her womb is as pure and her heart as ardent as ever. Tell him that if he does not enter your soul neither Jesus nor Mary will be formed there nor will it be a worthy dwelling for them.
After Holy Communion

270. After Holy Communion, close your eyes and recollect yourself. Then usher Jesus into the heart of Mary: you are giving him to his Mother who will receive him with great love and give him the place of honour, adore him profoundly, show him perfect love, embrace him intimately in spirit and in truth, and perform many offices for him of which we, in our ignorance, would know nothing.

271. Or, maintain a profoundly humble heart in the presence of Jesus dwelling in Mary. Or be in attendance like a slave at the gate of the royal palace, where the King is speaking with the Queen. While they are talking to each other, with no need of you, go in spirit to heaven and to the whole world, and call upon all creatures to thank, adore and love Jesus and Mary for you. “Come, let us adore.”

272. Or, ask Jesus living in Mary that his kingdom may come upon earth through his holy Mother. Ask for divine Wisdom, divine love, the forgiveness of your sins, or any other grace, but always through Mary and in Mary. Cast a look of reproach upon yourself and say, “Lord, do not look at my sins, let your eyes see nothing in me but the virtues and merits of Mary.” Remembering your sins, you may add, “I am my own worst enemy and I am guilty of all these sins.” Or, “Deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man.” Or again, “Dear Jesus, you must increase in my soul and I must decrease.” “Mary, you must increase in me and I must always go on decreasing.” “O Jesus and Mary, increase in me and increase in others around me.”

273. There are innumerable other thoughts with which the Holy Spirit will inspire you, which he will make yours if you are thoroughly recollected and mortified, and constantly faithful to the great and sublime devotion which I have been teaching you. But remember, the more you let Mary act in your Communion the more Jesus will be glorified. The more you humble yourself and listen to Jesus and Mary in peace and silence - with no desire to see, taste or feel - then the more freedom you will give to Mary to act in Jesus’ name and the more Jesus will act in Mary. For the just man lives everywhere by faith, but especially in Holy Communion, which is an action of faith.

Theology at the tap

painting by Rebecca Waring

I’m very spoiled. Every morning, as I prepare my husband’s breakfast and pack his lunch, I’m greeted by a clean and in most cases, practically empty sink. How is this miracle accomplished?

I have a dishwasher.

Now, friends…I know that many of you have dishwashers, and perhaps still have a sink full of dishes in the morning for a variety of reasons; company the evening before, many toddlers or perhaps a nursing infant, sickness or maybe you simply needed the night off.

Most of these excuses don’t fit my reality, and quite frankly I enjoy loading the dishwasher. It must be done three times a day and only takes a couple of minutes each time. Gawain makes sure that it is unloaded shortly after each wash cycle is completed, so the job is quite easily accomplished.

I love my dishwasher…as much as one can “love” a material good, certainly not for the sake of the object but how it serves this family. But…something is missing…

Three years ago our family moved from our lovely home in the suburbs, leaving behind family and friends and ventured forth into a whole new world. A life of communal living. I’m not really ready to write about the entire experience; it encompasses far more than a blog post could cover as it spanned two years. I like to refer to it as “a two year grace period.” It was wonderful, though not without challenges…the biggest one for me: NO DISHWASHER!!!!!

Up to that point, I had never been without a dishwasher and I spent many mornings, afternoons and evenings over a sink full of soapy suds washing dishes for as many as 19 people, but never fewer than 9. It was a lot of work and intensively time consuming. I’ve never fell for that line that “it takes more time to use a dishwasher than to wash them by hand.” That statement only applies if you’re washing dishes for 4-5 people a day, and really only counts the amount of time it takes the dishwasher to wash the dishes! The obvious advantage to hand washing dishes is this: when it’s done, it’s done. The dishes are washed, dried and put away. But there are certain advantages to hand washing that are not quite as obvious, and one in particular that I miss–I call it “theology at the tap.”

The repetitive and meditative aspects of soaping, swishing, rinsing and drying allowed me ample opportunity to reflect on morning, afternoon and evening happenings. Quite often, I would gain profound insight regarding problems and struggles. I had a good deal of time to talk to our Lady, remembering that Her hands were hands opened in service to Her family. How often we see images of our Lady…hands opened, streams of grace pouring forth. These were hands that served. So must mine be.

So I would soap and scrub and think. And pray. Quite frequently I would share my observations with my neighbor, which we humorously dubbed my “theology at the tap.” Nonetheless, I was never, ever excited over the prospect of washing dishes yet again, but I always left the sink relaxed and reflective. Dish washing, for me, was rather like aerobics for the soul.

Now I have a dishwasher. I’m quick and efficient at rinsing and loading. I rarely have time to think about anything other than maximizing the amount of dishes I can squeeze into it. One would think that the use of the dishwasher would allow additional time for prayer and reflection; like all things well intended, it has only freed me to accomplish more in the realm of homemaking. In other words, I have a little more time to fold laundry. Thank heavens there’s no end to repetitive tasks! Sorting, folding and stacking have become my new place of prayer.

It’s amazing how our daily tasks serve in perfecting us. So I praise God that I’m allowed to “work out my salvation with fear and trembling”…one load at a time!

Something About Mary, Day 7 - A lovely montage…

I posted this video quite some time ago and felt it particularly suitable for the month of May…

The giving tree…

Giver of shade…

Giver of adventure…

Giver of joyful play…

Giver of a really fabulous view…

Thank you, dear God, for our leafy friend…

Something About Mary, Day 6 - Praise in Poetry

In keeping with this month’s tradition of honoring Our Lady, I’d like to encourage my blogging friends to post a little “something about Mary” throughout the month of May…here are a couple lovely poems:

THE MAY QUEEN

She wears sunlight in her hair
And violets in her eyes
And her cheeks are the petals of a rose.
She bears Love on her arm
And lilies are her feet,
And they carry Life wherever she goes.
There are graces on her lips
And rainbows on her robes
And her wreath is the coronet of May.
She is Fairy Queen of earth-
The wand at her heart
Is a Bud from the Triune Bouquet.
She is Mother, Queen, and Maid,
And God is her Child,
And her Courts are the meadows where They play
And her Courts
Forever and for aye.
She is Mary full of grace.
She is Queen of Eternal May.

Marie Fischer
Robert, Cyril. Our Lady’s Praise in Poetry. New York: Marist Press, 1944.

THE MONTH OF OUR LADY

The daffodils dance at the dawning,
The may bells make clamor and sing;
What, then, is this season, good mother,
When flowers such loveliness bring?
It is the sweet month of Our Lady,
Whose Son is our Savior and King.

The violets waft their faint incense,
In glory the gillblooms blow;
What, then, is this season, dear mother,
That lilies are sisters of snow?
It is the rich month of Our Lady,
When beauty and loveliness flow.

The south wind’s a song of love’s triumph,
Twined round a child’s laugh in the lane;
What, then, is this season, O mother!
When fragrance grows vocal in rain?
It is the lush month of Our Lady,
Madonna of bliss and of pain.

Like cordons of honor, the poplars,
That stand, rigged in green, in the night,
Let us form, then, for Mary, O mother!
Our own little pageant of white.
It is the glad month of Our Lady,
Earth’s fairest, and Heaven’s delight!

J. Corson Miller
The Magnificat. Volume LXX. Number 1. May 1942.

Something About Mary, Day 5 - The “Mary” month of May…

The grass is green and in need of yet another cutting. The weeds have announced their presence in the cracks of the back patio and amongst the iris. The little seedlings growing peacefully under the grow lamp in the kitchen are anxious to stretch out in the warm, moist soil.

I love spring! How perfect that we honor our dear Blessed Mother during a month of such mildness, such verdant possibility. It is a time to sow seeds, to plow and prepare the earth for new growth.

It’s time to plant a Mary Garden.

A Mary Garden is a wonderful tradition, a visual testimony to the love and honor that we offer to the Mother of our Lord. It needn’t be complicated nor fancy. It can be as simple as a small herb garden, with a little statue of the Blessed Virgin at its center, or it can be quite elaborate - employing the use of garden walkways, a “floral rosary” and comfortable seating. A sunflower grotto is a lovely idea, as well, and would make quite a backdrop for your favorite garden statue of our Lady, as well as providing a wonderfully peaceful place of meditation and prayer. Last year, desirous to spread the joy of the Mary Garden to my own dear mother, I sent her a lovely card complete with seed packets, the “Marian” names for all of the plants and a garden diagram. It’s nice to spread the joy of gardening!

Our family has had a Mary Garden every year…some large, some small. Last year’s was quite simple: a large raised bed filled with every type of herb imaginable with a statue of our Lady in the midst of all the fragrant and flowery greenery.

It’s a lovely past-time looking up the names of our favorite herbs, and understanding how botanists, gardeners and farmers of old honored our Lady by naming various herbs and flowers for Her.

Here are a few examples of the names of herbs we recognize and the names given in the past to honor our Lady, our Lord and our holy faith (you can find an extremely comprehensive list of herbs and flowers at Mariana I):

Chamomile - Maiden Weed
Feverfew - Mary’s Flower
Fennel - Lady’s Fennel
Lemon Balm - Sweet Mary
Spearmint - Marymint
Marjoram - Mary’s Bedstraw
Stevia - Old Queen
Rosemary - Mary’s Bouquet
Sage - Mary’s Shawl
Savory - Mother-Of-Thyme
Fenugreek - Beautiful Mary
Basil - First Communion Plant

Our family typically spends the Saturday before Mother’s Day preparing our garden for planting. The bed is weeded, our statue “spruced up” and plants are chosen. The following day, we all participate in the planting, afterward crowning our Lady, Queen of the May. One of the first posts I had ever written was about one such Sunday…

I’ll be sure to post a few pictures, as soon as our garden is suitably prepared. I’d be delighted to host a “Carnival of Mary Gardens…” If you have a picture of yours, feel free to send me the link and I’ll be happy to post it!

Launching “the Big One”

Sunny skies, light and variable wind…in other words–the perfect day to launch “the Big One.” The rocket boys assembled this monster a few months ago and have been itching for the opportunity to launch it. Here’s a slideshow of yesterday’s excitement. Check out the incredible catch made by Gawain!

Dandelions

Why do we call them weeds when they make little girls so very happy?

Do come for tea…

Today the girls and I had the privilege of attending the 5th annual Mother-Daughter tea hosted by a gracious family from our parish.

The house was filled with lovely ladies and girls in pretty hats and dresses. And while the rain kept us from crowning the large garden statue of Our Lady, the little ones were quite happy to process around the small statue of Our Lady of Fatima while singing Mary We Crown Thee and Regina Caeli.

Our hostess had prepared quite a delightful table full of goodies, and moms and daughters brought along a few of their favorites as well. The tea was excellent, the fellowship even better and the little girls were on their best behavior.

This is truly one of my very favorite May traditions!

The refrigerator

The refrigerator:  what a marvelous, modern convenience.  The keeper of cold foods…and also, occasionally,  a science project in progress!  I’m talking about that unidentifiable casserole/cake/who-knows-what that’s lurking on the back shelf.  You guessed it, I cleaned mine today.  It’s was frightening.  There are certain odors you just don’t ever want to recall.  Ever.

Here’s a little poem I wrote to mark this momentous occasion:

It’s Time To Clean The Fridge

I think it’s time to clean the fridge
And here’s how I can tell:
The fuzzy clumps of rotting fruit,
That putrid, horrid smell!

I think it’s time to clean the fridge
Indeed, I can’t deny
Half-empty jars, the smudge, the smear;
They all assault the eye

I think it’s time to clean the fridge
Just peek inside the door,
Now grab a bag, some bleach, a rag
Behold! It’s clean, once more!

Kimberly W.

The Traditional Feast Of The Ascension

As we are a traditional Catholic family (converts, too!) very much attached to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the traditional liturgical calendar is used for most feast days.  This Thursday is the Traditional Feast of the Ascension.  We are planning a lovely “hilltop picnic” with a dear friend and her children (thanks to Catholic Cuisine for the suggestion!) and will attend the Latin Mass later in the evening.

From Goffine’s Devout Instructions:

INSTRUCTION ON THE FESTIVAL OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

At the Introit the Church sings the words which were spoken by the angels to the apostles and disciples, after the Ascension of our Lord:

INTROIT Ye men of Galilee, why wonder you, looking up to heaven? allel.: He shall so come as you have seen him going up into heaven. Allel., allel., allel. (Acts I. 11.), Oh, clap your hands, all ye nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Ps. XLVI. 2.) Glory be to the Father, etc.

COLLECT Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we who believe Thy only‑begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have this day ascended into the heavens, may ourselves also in, mind dwell amid heavenly things. Through the same etc.

LESSON (Acts I. 1-11.) The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach , until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles ,whom he had chosen, he was taken up: to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the prom­ise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth: for John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. They, therefore, who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? But he said to diem: It is not for you to know the times or moments which the Father hath put in his own power; but you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold, two men stood by them in white garments, who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand yon looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.

EXPLANATION This gospel of St. Luke addressed to Theophilus, a Christian of note in Antioch, contains an account of the life, sufferings, and death of Jesus up to the time of His ascension into heaven. The Evangelist con­tinues his account in the Acts of the apostles, in which he describes in simple words that which Jesus did during the forty days following His Resurrection, and the manner in which He ascended into heaven in the presence of His apostles. Rejoice that Christ today has entered into the glory gained by His sufferings and death, and pray: I rejoice, O King of heaven and earth, in the glory Thou bast this day attained in heaven. Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth: sing ye to the Lord: sing ye to God, who mounteth above the heaven of heavens to the east. Give ye glory to God for Israel, his magnificence and his power is in the clouds. God is wonderful in his saints, the God of Israel is he who will give power and strength to his people, blessed be God. (Ps.LXVII. 33‑36.)

GOSPEL (Mark. XVI. 14-20.) At that time, Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. (And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned: And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick; and they shall recover.) And the Lord Jesus after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. But they going forth preached everywhere, the Lord work­ing withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.

The part of this gospel which is within the marks of parenthesis, is the gospel for the feast of St: Francis Xavier.

Why did Christ say to His apostles: Go ye into the whale world and preach the gospel to all creatures?

To show that no one is to assume the office of preach­ing, but must look for his mission from the lawful pastors of the Church. And when Christ sends His apostles into the whole worlds to all nations without exception, He shows His willingness to save all men. If the designs of God are not fulfilled, the blame is not to be attributed to God, but to man, who either does not accept the doctrine of the gospel, or accepting, does not live in accordance with it, or else renders himself by his obduracy in vice, unworthy of the gospel.

Is faith without good works sufficient for salvation?

No, faith that is not active in love, not fruitful in good works, and therefore not meritorious, (Gal. V. 6.) is not suf­ficient for salvation. “Such faith,” says St. Anselm, “is not the faith of a Christian, but the faith of the devil.” Only he who truly believes in Christ and His doctrine, and lives in accordance with it, will be saved.

Is ours then the true faith since all the faithful do not work miracles; as Christ has predicted?

St. Gregory very beautifully replies to this question: “Because the Redeemer said that true faith would be ac­companied by miracles, you must not think that you have not the faith, because these signs do not follow; these miracles had to be wrought in the beginning of the Church, because faith in her had to be increased by these visible signs of divine power.” And even now when such signs are necessary for the propagation of the faith, and victory over unbelief, God gives His faithful power to work them.

Are miracles wrought now in the Catholic Church?

Yes, for there have been at all times saints in the Church, who, as seen from their lives, have wrought miracles, on account of their faith, which even the heretics cannot deny; for instance St. Francis Xavier, who in the sight of the heathens, raised several dead persons to life. In a spiritual manner all pious Catholics still work such miracles; for, as St. Chrysostom says, “they expel devils when they banish sin, which is worse than the devil; they speak new tongues when they converse no longer on vain and sinful things, but on those which are spiritual and heavenly.” “They take up serpents,” says St. Gregory, “when by zealous exhortations they lift others from the shame of vice, without being themselves poisoned; they drink deadly things without being hurt by them, when they hear improper conversation without being corrupted or led to evil; they lay their hands upon the sick and heal them, when they teach the ignorant, strengthen by their good example those who are wavering in virtue, keep the sinner from evil, and similar things.” Strive to do this upon all occasions, O Christian, for God willingly gives you His grace and you will thus be of more use to yourself and others, and honor God more than by working the greatest miracles.

Where and how did Christ ascend into heaven?

From Mount Olivet where His sufferings began, by which we learn, that where our crosses and afflictions begin which we endure with patience and resignation, there begins our reward. Christ ascended into heaven by His own power, because He is God, and now in His glorified humanity He sits at the right hand of His Father, as our continual Mediator.

In whose presence did Christ ascend into heaven?

In the presence of His apostles, and many of His dis­ciples, whom He had previously blessed, (Luke XXIV. 51.) and who, as St. Leo says, derived consoling joy from His ascension. Rejoice, also, O Christian foul, for Christ has today opened heaven for you, and you may enter it, if you believe in Christ, and live in accordance with that faith. St. Augustine says: “Let us ascend in spirit with Christ, that when His day comes, we may follow with our body.

Yet you must know, beloved brethren, that not pride, nor avarice, nor impurity, nor any other vice ascends with Christ; for with the teacher of humility pride ascends not, nor with the author of goodness, malice, nor with the Son of the Virgin, impurity. Let us then ascend with Him by trampling upon our vices and evil inclinations, thus build­ing a ladder by which we can ascend; for we make a ladder of our sins to heaven when we tread them down in combating them:”

ASPIRATION O King of glory! O powerful Lord! who hast this day ascended victoriously, above all heaven, leave us not as poor orphans; but send us, from the Father, the Spirit of truth whom Thou hast promised. Alleluia.

To signify that Christ, of whom the candle is a figure, has gone from His disciples.

On dreams and nightmares…

One morning, two years ago, my husband called me from work. He asked about our son, Galahad. Noting the worry in his voice, I assured him that Galahad was playing in the yard and that he was fine. He then did something very strange…he asked me to bring him inside. He didn’t really want to explain, but I pressed him. He told me about a terrifying nightmare he had that night about Galahad…he told me he watched our son die. He said, “I never dream. Never.” I reassured him that I would, of course, do as he wished, and offered him all the comfort that I could. I read him reassuring quotes from Scripture about dreams and told him this was “most certainly not a prophecy, but a trick of the devil…a means to disturb both mind and soul.”

Though I still didn’t completely understand his feelings, I kept the children (all of them) in that day, and found other ways to entertain them, without telling them why they were being kept inside. By the next morning the worries and fear over the previous night’s events disappeared, and life continued as it ever does, with no further discussion of the frightful images that tortured my dear husband for a brief time.

Two nights ago, I had a similar nightmare. It was Emily. I witnessed, in this dream, the death of my child. It was so real, so horrifying, the emotions so intense and heartrending…I awoke literally screaming. The feeling of intense grief, enveloped me like a cloud and I spent the entire day doing everything I could to dispel the image.

I apologized to my dear husband. It was, after all, just a dream. But the feelings were as real as anything I’ve ever felt. I had no idea what he had suffered that day, two years ago, and feel that I was perhaps more condescending, than understanding.

Dreams…I’ve never really seen them as anything other than what they are. As a “vivid dreamer,” I’ve enjoyed the nightly show and have laughed out loud over some of the silliness that the evening’s rest reveal.

Nightmares, on the other hand are great disturbers of the peace. Our Lord means for us to have rest, and they come like thieves in the night to steal from us the peace we are meant to have. Is it not strange that we never seem to expect that our good dreams are portents of future happiness? We recognize them for what they are…silly pictures and images, but never prophecies. Yet, how many of us have felt secret dread after a nightmare, fearing perhaps that the images of terror will reveal some unavoidable destiny?

Dreams and nightmares. Both are equally distracting, though the latter is certainly the more disturbing of the two.

The nightmare of two nights ago has faded, it is receding to that place that all bad dreams go. But it left a bit of sweetness behind in its wake. Though I will never share that night’s horror with the children, I spent the rest of the day trying very hard to let each member of this family know how precious they are, how cherished. I encouraged the children to remember that we all have such a little bit of time to share our love on this earth, and doing it well here counts for all eternity.

From the book of Sirach:

1 The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.
2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
3 The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man’s likeness is before the face of a man.
4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?
5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:
6 And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them.
7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.
8 The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

Hey buddy…can you spare a couple million?

Yesterday marked the first day the United States government began issuing economic stimulus payments.

Are you looking for a worthwhile charitable investment? How about Catholic radio? St. Gabriel Radio, an EWTN affiliate, is seeking funds to expand. The following video provides all the details:

The Encampment

The morning dawned cold and gray. Our hopes were quickly dashed with the realization that our plans would have to change…attending the Civil War Encampment wouldn’t be much fun in the rain.

Two hours later, the clouds cleared and we ventured forth! What a lovely day, lots of interesting sights and sounds and a wonderful opportunity to expand our knowledge of American history. It was a lovely day!

Turning the table…

After centuries of persecution, the table is turning. Tonight the Christians will feast upon the lions!

A big thanks to Catholic Cuisine for this lovely suggestion to celebrate the feast of St. Mark. We altered the recipe just a tad…replacing the caramel corn with butterscotch chips. Why? Because we had them on hand! The story of my life–I’m the queen of substitution!

Why lions? The winged lion is the symbol for St. Mark. In the book of Revelation, St. John records a vision in which he sees the Throne of God surrounded by four winged creatures: a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle.

Here’s an interesting observation:

It has customarily been supposed that these represent the four Gospels, or the four Evangelists (Gospel-writers). One way of matching them is to say that the man stands for Matthew, whose narrative begins with the human genealogy of Jesus; that the lion stands for Mark, whose narrative begins with John the Baptist crying out in the desert (a lion roars in the desert); that the ox, a sacrificial animal, stands for Luke, whose narrative begins in the Temple, and that the eagle stands for John, whose narrative begins in Heaven, with the eternal Word.

Don’t you just love being Catholic? I can’t imagine living any other way…

Back to the scholars, now.  We’re nearly finished for the day, and it’s about time to start “chowing down” on a few lions!

The Feast of St. Mark - Evangelist

Today is the feast of day of St. Mark the Evangelist. If you’re looking for a simple way to mark the feast, check out the recipes at Catholic Cuisine. On the menu: Pasta San Marco (easily converted to meatless for this Friday’s fast!) And the the Lion Cupcakes are the cutest things, ever!

A new dance step…

Today the children learned a new dance. The FlyLady calls it the 27 fling boogie. It’s a nifty little “dance” that will help you declutter a room quickly. Check out the back of my van…just a few short minutes and a lot of stuff that will never have to be washed or folded or put away.

Desperate situations call for decisive actions. The boy’s room is a disaster. No…that’s putting it mildly. The boy’s room looks like a nuclear test site. Yes…that’s about right. This morning I realize what a disservice I was doing them, by constantly organizing and reorganizing the clutter. To quote the FlyLady: “You can’t organize clutter, you have to make it go away!” We’ve discovered that plastic bins only give birth to more plastic bins. Enough, I say! It’s time to let go of these things. So here’s what we did:

I set the timer for 15 minutes early in the morning. Each boy takes a bag, runs to the room and tosses in 27 items. I encouraged them to ask themselves when looking at an item (ala FlyLady) “do I love you? Use you? Need you? Are you broken? Are you a blessing to me?” If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, than it’s time to let it go! We did this with toys and with clothing. Clothing is the big issue in this household. We have six adult sized people (and three little people) and that’s a lot of laundry…a lot of sorting, washing, drying, folding, hanging and putting away. It’s also a lot of clothes that constantly end up on the floor. More clothes = more clothes to wash, dry, etc. Just like last year, we’re making a list of necessary items. Each boy will have a set number of shirts, pants, shorts, boxers, socks, etc. which will help them keep tabs on what is clean and what is dirty a little better.

And the best news? I’m establishing laundry “teams” at the suggestion of a dear friend. Arthur will take care of washing his and Gareth’s clothes (Gareth will help with folding, hanging and putting away) and Gawain will take care of washing his and Galahad’s clothes (Galahad will help with folding, hanging and putting away). I will assign the boys separate wash days to avoid conflicts. This is the advantage of having a large family…delegation! Not always one of my strong points…but definitely necessary! We owe it to our children to equip them with all the skills they will need to aid the family in day to day living.

Changeable weather…

Ah, the changeable weather…what is seasonable in the morning, is not quite as comfortable as the day progresses. Emily has had to adjust today’s “fashion” statement from this:

to this: