Monday, July 30, 2012

Pictures from the Annual Knights of the Altar Boys' Camp

Make My Monday


First: The Campsite and What They Do There
Gabey, standing on the dock near camp, watching a gaggle of little campers testing for the leak in Dan's air mattress.  (Yes, the old-timer counselors do, indeed, bring air mattresses with them -- and get really irritated when they spring leaks...)

The canopy that covers the altar for morning Mass.  I think I envy this experience more than anything.  
The choir.  I would love to be a bird on a tree nearby listening to this choir...
Here's the campfire site.  Usually the campers have a big bonfire every night, but this year, due to the forest fire danger, they built a big support on two tripods and hung lanterns from the crossbar.  They tell me it wasn't the same, but it worked in a pinch.   You can roast mini marshmallows on twigs over lamplight...


Then:  The Customary Trip Down to Blue Mesa Lake and What The Boys Do There

Always gotta have some volleyball going - but take a closer look at this game...
See?  It's actually mud volleyball...  What could make a bunch of little boys happier?
Kayaking...
And the ever-popular being-pulled-behind-a-motorboat-on-an-inner-tube sport.
And of course there's got to be some fishing!  Gabe getting some fishing pointers from wonderful Fr. Jurado here.

And Finally: The Hilight of Boys' Camp, the Trek up Mt. Crucis, Carrying the Cross

Looking across to Mt. Crucis.  The campers will hike up to the top of that highest peak...
Carrying the pieces of the three crosses.
Check out the scenery all around them!  They're on the top of the world up there.
This shot gives an idea of how steep the path is.
The priests always get first right to carry pieces of the cross.  Shown here, Fr. Trough and Fr. Gronenthal.

Stations of the Cross Said Along the Way:
"We made it!"  (There's Gabey in the hat)
Assembling the pieces of the crosses.
Each of the priests accepts the honor of hammering inthe nails.  Fr Gronenthal here.

And Fr. Trough. 
Check out the really cool "angel wing" clouds that appeared just above the mountain.  
Here are all the campers and counselors with the five priests in the center, closest to the cross.
(l-r) Fr. Gronenthal, Fr. Bernard, Fr. Jurado, Fr Trough, and Fr. Gabriel just in front
And here are my boys: (l-r) "Adopted" boys, Omar and Rev. Mr. Borja (good ole Carlos),  with Dan, Gabe, and Dominic.

The View From Up There 
(As close to being there as you can get)





Thanks for the pictures, Dominic!
(And thanks for bringing my camera back safely!!)

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Just HAD To Share This One



Is she the cutest thing or what??  And what a way to share such a sublime topic!  I want to meet this girl -- I think she'd get along very well with our fast talking bunch.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Saturday Morning Silliness

This is Theresa's answer to my family video a few weeks ago.  :0)
Wins, hands-down, in the "Perfect-Antidote-for-a-Bad-Mood" category...
I love it!
It cracks me up!

Friday, July 27, 2012

R.I.P.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of the father of our friend (and school principal of Holy Guardian Angels), Sr. Therese Marie.  He was called by God suddenly early yesterday evening, only a couple of days after he and Mrs. Trough moved to the valley to be near Sister and their other daughter and grandson.   Their son -- Sister's brother -- Fr. Trough, was providentially close  by this weekend as he attended the Knights of the Altar Boys' Camp this year-- and is now with the family.

Prayers to speed their loving husband and father to heaven are the best comfort and the earnest request of the family.  Thanks so much!


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Happy Feast of St. Anne!


And Happy Name Day to our Gold-at-the-end-of-the-Rainbow Girl,
 our fourth and final daughter...



Anna!


Sancta Anna, 
Ora Pro Nobis!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Stories of St. Anne III

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Anne!  Here (at the end) are a few ways to celebrate the day, as well as a little more good reading from the book:

"Good St. Anne"




Miraculous Discovery of Relics

According to a most ancient and uninterrupted tradition, the body of St. Anne was carried to Gaul [a province of the Roman empire which included what are now the countries of France and upper Italy] by the same vessel which carried Lazarus and his sisters there. During the first century of the Christian era, these friends of Our Lord were banished from Palestine because of their faith. From their hands St. Anne's precious remains were taken for safekeeping to the city of Apta Julia, which in our own times is the city of Apt, France. In those stormy days of persecution, it was necessary to hide the relics of the Martyrs and Saints. 

Consequently, the body of St. Anne was buried in an underground church or crypt. The martyrology of Apt, one of the most ancient in existence, mentions this fact.

 The first bishop of Apta Julia, St. Auspicius, who died before 118, took further precautions to guard this holy treasure from desecration and had the body buried still deeper in the subterranean chapel. All approach to it was carefully concealed till persecutions and invasions should have ceased. For centuries, the country was repeatedly overrun by hordes of barbarians, and it was only natural that during these agitated years the precise spot where St. Auspicius had carefully hidden his treasure became lost in obscurity.

After Charlemagne's decisive victory over the Saracens at the close of the eighth century, peace and security returned to Gaul. It was then that the people began to restore and rebuild the holy places destroyed or desecrated by the invaders. Priests and bishops of Apta Julia began to seek for the exact Spot in the deep crypt where St. Auspicius had hidden and walled up the sarcophagus of St. Anne.

 Charlemagne's first care on his arrival at Apt was to have the cathedral reconsecrated. This took place during the Easter solemnities, in the presence of an enormous crowd of nobles, clergy and people. But there was one cause of sadness amid all the rejoicing, namely, that every effort to find the remains of St. Anne had proved fruitless. A miracle, however, was to lead to the discovery of her resting place, as is related by Charlemagne in a letter to Pope Adrian I.

 Among the young nobles who accompanied their parents on this occasion was John, a lad of fourteen, the son of Baron Casanova, deaf, dumb and blind from birth. People near the boy in the sanctuary remarked that during the services he was carried away by some overpowering emotion. With rapt and upturned face he seemed to be listening tovoices from above. Presently, he moved toward the high altar, struck with his staff the steps leading up to it and made signs that they should dig there. His persistence caused considerable disturbance amid the solemn rites, but neither the clergy nor the royal guards could quiet or restrain the youth.

 Charlemagne was deeply impressed. After Mass, he commanded that the excavation desired by the boy should be made. The altar steps were removed and a door, closed up with huge stones, was revealed. This was the door of the ancient crypt in which St. Auspicius had been accustomed to celebrate the holy Mysteries and to feed his flock with the Bread of Life. Its size and adornments reminded one of the Roman catacombs. No sooner had this door been opened and the flight of steps leading down from it disclosed than the blind boy rushed forward, as if his eyes had been suddenly opened, and led the way into this underground church. Charlemagne now held the boy's hand and gave orders to keep back the excited multitude.

John made signs that they should search farther, and he struck the wall of the crypt, indicating that what they sought lay beyond. When the wall was broken down, another and lower crypt was discovered at the end of a long and narrow corridor. As they came in view of this crypt, a bright light flashed upon the Emperor and his assistants. They beheld, in front of a walled recess, a burning lamp, which flooded the place with unearthly splendor. No sooner, however, had the Emperor and his cortege entered this place, than the lamp went out. But, more wonderful still, at that very moment the blind boy could see, speak and hear. "The body of Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, is in yonder recess," were his first words.

The awe-stricken Emperor and his followers, at first dumb with amazement, gave vent to their emotion in words of praise and thanksgiving. The walled recess was thrown open, a sweet fragrance like that of oriental balm filled the air, and a casket of cypress wood was discovered containing the body of St. Anne wrapped round and round with folds of precious cloth. On the casket was the inscription: "Here lies the body of Blessed Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary."

 Charlemagne, with all those present, venerated the sacred deposit thus brought to light. Afterward he had an exact narrative of the discovery drawn up by one of his notaries and a copy sent to the Pope with the royal letter. This letter and the Pope's answer are still extant.

 The miraculous discovery at once made the Cathedral of Apt the center of attraction for Christian pilgrims from every part of Gaul. In the wars which followed the reign of Charlemagne down to our own times, the clergy and people of Apt have watched with never failing love over the sacred treasure which is the glory of their city. Travelers visiting the venerable Cathedral of St. Auspicius will find piles of ex votos, the indisputable testimonies during eleven centuries of the wonders wrought there by Christ at the intercession of His sainted Grandmother. The chief cities of Gaul hastened to solicit from the church of Apta Julia portions of the hallowed body thus miraculously discovered. Fragments detached from the head found their way to various places through the favor of sovereigns or powerful prelates, but the greatest portion of St. Anne's sacred body still reposes in Apt.

 Vienna, Austria, possesses the right hand of St. Anne, which is devoutly venerated in the beautiful church which bears her name.

An arm of the Saint was solicited and obtained by the Popes and placed under the care of the Benedictine monks in the magnificent monastery church of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls in Rome. In May, 1960, the Benedictines gave the forearm to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Canada.
In the Cathedral of Bologna, Italy, a large portion of the Saint's head is venerated.

 Through these precious relics, which have proved efficacious in every kind of distress, miracles have been wrought-----up to the present day. 

"Good St. Anne" 
Nihil Obstat: William J. Blacet, J.C.L.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: +J. John P. Cody, S.T.D.
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
December 4, 1957

Originally published by the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Missouri in 1958. 


Some ideas/links for celebrating the Feast of St. Anne 
repeated from Monday in case anyone misssed it..

* Aussie Annie at Under Her Starry Mantel has written many wonderful posts honoring St. Anne.
*  If you live near New Jersey, Hoboken has one of the longest-standing festivals of St. Anne in the new world.  If we were less than a half continent away, I'd check it out!
*  Canada has long been known for its traditional patronage of St. Anne.  Check out the information on the pilgrimage to the beautiful and miraculous shrine of Sainte Anne de Beaupre here.
*  You can find a really neat felt St. Anne and child Mary statue/doll to make at this Catholic Crafts Blog. (Love these!)
*  This same blog, Crafolic, has a wonderful monthly link-up called "Tea With St. Anne" -- for crafty and inspiring Domestic Church ideas!  Very cool!
* Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda has a lovely coloring page for St. Anne's feastday.
*  And I love this craft idea of Charlotte's from a couple years back: St Anne's Family Album
* As always, Catholic Cuisine, is the go-to blog for culinary celebration!
* And, as you might have guessed.. St. Anne has come up in the conversation on this blog before.  Just a few times...
*  It's totally unrelated to the feast of St. Anne, but in our wanderings, researching our saint of the day (tomorrow), we found this video of the Ballad of St. Anne's Reel, sung by John Denver.  (We love John Denver... and just had to share it for anyone else who also likes our Colorado baladeer.)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Stories of St. Anne II

More exerpts from:

"Good St. Anne"



How the Saints Honored St. Anne


It would be impossible to enumerate the many Saints who practiced great devotion to St. Anne. St. Augustine, the illustrious Doctor who illumined the Church of God with his profound wisdom, practiced an ardent devotion to St. Anne. Every year on the Saint's feast, he preached on her virtues and dignity with an eloquence which encouraged and inspired his numerous hearers.

 St. John Damascene, another Doctor of the Church, not only most ardently venerated Mary, but St. Anne as well. He preached many sermons in her honor and composed books that treated of her glory and dignity. "St. Anne," he declares in his writing, "is a generous mother, a compassionate mother, a gracious mother, because the word 'Anne' means 'generous, merciful, gracious.' "


St. Thomas Aquinas, hailed as one of the greatest of intellectuals, a prodigy of learning, a pillar of Holy Church, an angel of wisdom and one of the most eminent Doctors of the Church, was a fervent client of good St. Anne. His example ought to strengthen our confidence in this privileged Saint and urge us to venerate her most fervently. He frequently refers to St. Anne and sets forth reasons for honoring her dignity and power. He assures us that the privilege of aiding man in every distress has been given to good St. Anne.


 St. Teresa of Avila, the seraphic virgin and reformer of religious discipline, entertained a tender love of St. Anne. This highly gifted teacher of prayer delighted to speak of St. Anne's dignity and power, and she inspired those under her care with a fervent affection for Our Lady's mother. In all convents of the Carmelite Order, she introduced special devotions to St. Anne. The same was done by St. Bridget in her order.


Anne Catherine Emmerich, who bore the sacred stigmata in her body, said, "In desperate cases of need, I always invoke the holy mother Anne."



Nihil Obstat: William J. Blacet, J.C.L.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: +J. John P. Cody, S.T.D.
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
December 4, 1957 

Originally published by the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Missouri in 1958. 

Monday, July 23, 2012

Stories of St. Anne I


The feast of St. Anne is coming up on Thursday, the 26th of July.  In honor of her special day, each day of the week, I'd like to share some exerpts from the book.  Here's the first:

"Good St. Anne"


THE DIGNITY AND SANCTITY OF ST. ANNE 


How holy must have been the woman in whom the great mystery of the Immaculate Conception was accomplished! How holy the womb into which the fullness of grace descended, in which the child “full of grace” was conceived and took flesh! Great was the dignity of St. Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist, who was privileged to have her son sanctified in her womb; but how much greater is the dignity of St. Anne, whose child, by a special prerogative, from the first instant of her conception was preserved from all taint of sin! Holy was the root from which sprouted the tree that bore the holiest Fruit, Jesus. St. Anne’s sanctity was increased still more through this wonderful conception: and indeed, how highly must she have been sanctified who bore the Mother of God! Is it any wonder that St. Jerome praises her in the words: “Anne is the glorious tree from which bloomed a twig under divine influence. She is the sublime heaven from whose heights the Star of the Sea neared its rising. She is the blessed barren woman, happy mother among mothers, from whose pure womb came forth the shining temple of God, the sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of God!”


Yes, great indeed was the privilege and dignity conferred by God on St. Anne in electing her to be the mother of the treasury of all graces! How great must have been St. Anne’s joy, how blissful her delight, when, contrary to all hope, she gave birth to a child! And what a child! Never before had earth beheld a child so fair and noble as Anne’s infant daughter, “conceived without stain of Original Sin.” Never had there been a maternity so rich in blessings as hers—she who was privileged to call her child by the exalted title of “Mother of God.”


Well indeed might St. John Damascene, a great Doctor of the Church, exclaim: “Blessed, thrice blessed art thou, O Saint Anne, who didst receive from God and bring forth the blessed child from whom proceeded Christ, the Flower of life! We congratulate thee, O blessed Anne, on the dignity of being the mother of Mary, for thou hast brought forth our common hope, the germ of Promise! All pious lips bless thee in thy daughter, all languages glorify thy child! Worthy art thou above all praise, worthy of the praise of all who are redeemed, for thou hast given life to her who brought forth our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”


Even her name “Anne” signifies “gracious, loving” and typifies her sublime destiny. She too had been chosen by God from eternity, and to her, as to her daughter, Mary, may be applied the words: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways . . . I was set up from eternity.” (Prov. 8:22-23). God prepared St. Anne with magnificent gifts and graces. Of her may be said what St. Bernardine of Siena wrote of St. Joseph: “In the kingdom of grace the universal rule is: If God elects anyone for a special privilege and a sublime state, He bestows on that person all the gifts necessary for his state and adornment.” “Anne was the most chaste of virgins,” wrote Mary of Agreda in The Mystical City of God. “From her very childhood, she possessed the fullness of every virtue. She was continually engaged in devout meditation. Her unceasing prayer was that the Redeemer might come soon.” As the works of God are perfect, it was natural to expect that He should make St. Anne a worthy mother of that most pure creature who was superior in sanctity to all creatures and inferior only to God. Had St. Anne not been adorned with angelic purity, she could not have become the mother of the Virgin of virgins. The great miracle of Mary’s Immaculate Conception fittingly took place in St. Anne’s pure womb.


In her visions, the servant of God, Anne Catherine Emmerich, beheld St. Anne in ecstasy, enveloped in heavenly splendor and surrounded by a host of Angels at the moment of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. She beheld how the heavens opened, and she saw the holy Angels and the Most Holy Trinity rejoice. Equally great was the jubilation at the Blessed Virgin’s birth. These are but a few rays of St. Anne’s dignity and sanctity.


"Good St. Anne" 
Nihil Obstat: William J. Blacet, J.C.L.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: +J. John P. Cody, S.T.D.
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
December 4, 1957

Originally published by the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Missouri in 1958. 



For the week ahead: here are some ideas/links for celebrating the Feast of St. Anne 


* Aussie Annie at Under Her Starry Mantel has written many wonderful posts honoring St. Anne.
*  If you live near New Jersey, Hoboken has one of the longest-standing festivals of St. Anne in the new world.  If we were less than a half continent away, I'd check it out!
*  Canada has long been known for its traditional patronage of St. Anne.  Check out the information on the pilgrimage to the beautiful and miraculous shrine of Sainte Anne de Beaupre here.
*  You can find a really neat felt St. Anne and child Mary statue/doll to make at this Catholic Crafts Blog. (Love these!)
*  This same blog, Crafolic, has a wonderful monthly link-up called "Tea With St. Anne" -- for crafty and inspiring Domestic Church ideas!  Very cool!
* Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda has a lovely coloring page for St. Anne's feastday.
*  And I love this craft idea of Charlotte's from a couple years back: St Anne's Family Album
* As always, Catholic Cuisine, is the go-to blog for culinary celebration!
* And, as you might have guessed.. St. Anne has come up in the conversation on this blog before.  Just a few times...
*  It's totally unrelated to the feast of St. Anne, but in our wanderings, researching our saint of the day (tomorrow), we found this video of the Ballad of St. Anne's Reel, sung by John Denver.  (We love John Denver... and just had to share it for anyone else who also likes our Colorado baladeer.)

Friday, July 20, 2012


Camping Out

Cathy and Anna tried out Gabe's tent for him last night.

Heaven knows, they had enough bedding and pillows in there to make it comfortable -- and as far as I know, the only critters prowling around here at night (besides mosquitoes) are cats, dogs, and the possible sibling lying in wait to scare backyard campers...


Dan, Dominic, and Gabe are heading out for the annual Knights of the Altar Boys' Camp this weekend.  They always come back in high spirits and (ahem) high aroma -- and we girls are a little bit jealous of their week in the wilderness.  Jealous with reservations, I should say.  

We're all about the moon and the stars and the scenery and the fresh air -- but none of us is really comfortable with the wild part of wilderness...  I mean, seriously: there may really be raccoons, and hedgehogs, and skunks, and snakes, and bears - and maybe even tsi-tsi flies away up on the mountain tops at the Knights of the Altar campsite....  And, the way we look at it, we girls 'd be like bonbons to a bear. 

 But we aren't worried about the boys; if we were a raccoon or a hedgehog or a skunk or a snake or a bear we'd stay as far away from those dozens and dozens of unwashed feet as we could possibly get.  We don't think the boys are in any danger.

Just sayin.


Us  We girls are going to be just as happy as we can be in our comfortable, critter-safe, insect-free beds under the swamp cooler...

See ya' next week, guys!