Father P -- Child Number Three

  Then

(About 5 years old. I think he was St. Aloysius Gonzaga this All Saints' Day.)

And Now

Still on the run! Good heavens! He's here; he's there; he's everywhere! 

On mission for God always. Fr. Philip Marie, CMRI

He's an organist, choir director, high
school teacher during the week
 and a mission priest in Idaho on
weekends

Baptizing his niece, Claudia. (I got to be proxy Godmother.) The Sacraments
are in his daily toolbox. He's been ordained for about two and a half years now,
but I'm sure he's already lost track of the baptisms, Confessions,
Holy Communions, and Last Rites he's been able to confer.
He probably remembers the weddings, though! He officiated at the weddings
of his brother, Kevin, and his sister, Cathy, for instance, and served at the 
weddings of his sister, Michelle and his brother, Dominic! (Can't tell you, as
a Mom, how awesome that is. Who ever would have thought?)

John Madden-style depiction of what will
be going on the altar at one of the weddings
or ordinations (not sure which). He is a master
flower arranger!

With a fan -- at his happy place.

With Fr. Gronenthal, former teacher of all three younger priests here: Fr. Borja and Fr. Geckle (L & R on the ends), high school classmates and friends through the seminary years, now -- and on to eternity.

Fr. Philip is an extremely talented artist. Here
he's helping us repair and repaint our traditional
family nativity figures.

Not everyone knows this, but he's always been
a Baby Whisperer -- from childhood.

Always in for Nerf gun wars! Take no prisoners. (Except maybe this stuffed monkey.) Like his
brothers (maybe because he has five brothers!), he's a great athlete. I'm told he starts out the
school year in his PE classes by beating his kids in a footrace. He knows how to get boys to listen up!

With three of his sisters -- and me.
Father knows where all the best
 restaurants are. It's a gift.

Repairing a rosary here. He's good for that, too.

An Excellent woodworker, he's pictured here,
in the middle of rebuilding one of our book-
cases to fit out for the large statue of St. Patrick
he repaired and repainted for us.

Walking up the hill to Mount St. Michael, Spokane
with his brothers during one of the Fatima Con-
ferences, I think he spoke that year.

Baden, Germany, 2018

The best thing Fr. Philip does. Nothing else matters much.

 We love this man of God we've been so blessed with and are so proud of him, but we never stop praying for him. No other vocation is so targeted by the devil. This admonition we've heard most of our lives has been driven home in reality by having a son ordained to the priesthood. It's true. Our priests are on the frontlines on the war against evil and receive precious little support from the world -- when they are doing the one *real* thing that can even come close to satisfying for the sins of mankind. Please keep all our hard-working and under-appreciated priests in your prayers, and do everything you can toward their moral support, too. They are so vital in the grand scheme of things; we have a grave responsibility to take good care of all of our priests. They do so much for us! They stand between us and damnation -- individually and as a society. And there are so few of them. Pray for vocations!

The harvest, indeed, is great but the laborers are few. (Matthew 9:37)

Our Lady of Prompt Succor: Help for These Troubled Times

Prayer to Our Lady of Prompt Succor

(Suggested by Fr. Gabriel for these days)

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, thou art after Jesus our only hope. O Most Holy Virgin, whose merits have raised thee high above angel choirs to the very throne of the Eternal and whose foot crushed the head of the infernal serpent, thou art strong against the enemies of our salvation. O Mother of God, thou art our Mediatrix most kind and loving. Hasten, then to our help, and as thou didst once save thy beloved city from ravaging flames and our country from an alien foe, do now have pity on our misery, and obtain for us the graces we beg of thee. Deliver us from the wiles of Satan, assist us in the many trials which beset our path in this valley of tears, and be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor, now and especially at the hour of our death. Amen

We are praying for peace throughout America during the post-election confusion, that Donald Trump's election is verified and respected, for a smooth transition into the next four-year presidency, that the process of elections is rehabilitated and corrected to prevent fraud and regain the trust of the American people, and that Christ reigns as King, His Mother as Queen over our country, issuing in a new age of Godliness, morality and wholesomeness.

The History of  the Marian Title, Our Lady of Prompt Succor

One of the earliest orders of Sisters to help settle the new world, a group of Ursulines accompanied Fr. Jean-Baptiste LeMoyne to New Orleans as early as 1727. Arriving from Rouen, France they founded a convent, school, and orphanage in the settlement. By 1809, the work of the quickly growing mission had begun to overwhelm the few Sisters, and superior at the time, Mother St. Andre, wrote to her cousin, Mother St. Michel Gensoul, in France, to join her in New Orleans -- and bring more Sisters! Sr. St. Michel wished nothing more than to cooperate in bringing the faith to the New World, but protocol had to be followed; the Sisters had to apply for permission from the Order and receive the official blessing of the pope on the endeavor. Mother St. Michel, anxious to begin her mission work,

St. Mary's, known as " the Old Ursuline Convent"
at original site on Chartres St., New Orleans

prayed to Our Lady for a "quick and favorable" answer from the Vatican, approving the undertaking, promising to have a statue made honoring the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor if her prayer were answered in speedy fashion. 

Any kind of "prompt succor" at this particular time in history, however, would have been deemed by almost anyone as miraculous, as France was at war at the time and Pope Pius VII was being held captive, but such obstacles cannot hinder the Mother of God! Within five weeks, Mother St. Michel received a letter of permission! Within about a year's time, she and her Ursuline Sisters arrived in New Orleans, bearing the specially carved and gilded statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. 

A dozen years later, New Orleans, suffered a tragedy not uncommon at that time of timber construction: fire, practically impossible to control. There were no fire brigades at that time, of course and no hydrants. Inhabitants could only flee, but the Ursulines refused to abandon their chapel and buildings. As danger neared, they placed the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in the convent window that faced the fire -- and prayed! Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us or we are lost! Miraculously, the wind immediately changed direction and the convent was preserved, when almost all else around it perished in the flames. This marks the first public miracle attributed to the Blessed Mother under this title.

See how the back of her robes were carved to look
as if they are flowing backward due to her hurry?

The second occurred during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 when 10,000 British troops descended upon New Orleans. The American soldiers, led by General Andrew Jackson, were outnumbered almost 2:1. Defeat more a probability than a possibility, the people of the city fled to the Ursuline convent for safety while the American soldiers fought from behind bales of cotton. The nuns and townspeople held vigil through the night, praying in the chapel before the image of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Miraculously, the Americans defeated the British, with almost no casualties (13 casualties to the British 285; 30 wounded to the British 1,265), and General Jackson (no Catholic, to be sure!), convinced of the heavenly support delivered by the Sisters' prayers, thanked the Ursulines in person. To this day, the Ursuline nuns celebrate an annual Mass on the day of the victory, January 8th, to thank the Blessed Mother for her intercession.

Pope Pius IX authorized the public devotion to this Marian title on September 21, 1851, designating January 8th as its local feast day. The Miraculous

Statue received the honor and approbation of the Church with the blessing of Pope Leo XIII in November, 1894 with the  Canonical Coronation of the statue and the Baby Jesus. In June of 1928, Pope Pius XI declared the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor the Patroness of Louisiana. 

The original statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, moved in the 1920s from the original site of the Ursuline convent in the French Quarter, can be seen at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor on the State Street campus of the Ursuline Academy and Convent. 

Jesus Take the Wheel

There's so much conflict in our world right now, the air practically vibrates with it, from civil unrest to rumors of pandemic -- and all that has gone with that -- [grimace], to scandal in the government, and worries about the upcoming election  -- on top of the ever-increasing evidence of immorality and evil on our very doorsteps.

 It's hard not to be overwhelmed. But we don't have to be. We have it in our power to at least approach that 'peace which surpasseth all understanding.' Even in this world that seems so hopeless.  So much is determined by our attitudes and what we allow into our minds, our hearts, our homes -- and therefore, our souls -- and how good we are at letting Jesus be our GPS.

I never bought the idea that Jesus was going to "take the wheel," though there are times when He certainly does do the driving; in reality, He's expecting us to operate the car, fill it with gas, know and obey the rules of the road, be prepared for bad weather, prudently stop for rest and dining breaks (eat more than just junk food!), and listen to the GPS -- because when Our Lord is the GPS, you'll end up at the right Final Destination, even if you make wrong turns.

But I digress. [Recalculating-Recalculating]

Here's the rest of that Douay Rheims quote. It's found in one of the letters from St. Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 4, verses 4-8:

[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. [5] Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. [6] Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus [8] For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good repute, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.

I love these comforting words from St. Paul; they're dependable road signs to follow to a peaceful, calm heart. 

First go this way: Don't worry, just pray, and trust God to have everything under control (even if we can't see him any more than we can see the disembodied voice on a GPS). 

Next, turn over here and stay on this road: For peace which surpasseth all understanding (no human reason, just God reason), St. Paul reminds the Corinthians -- and us --  to keep our hearts and minds on Our Lord (which of course encompasses His Mother, the saints, and all heavenly things). The best path to peace and sanity is when our hearts are contemplating heaven, even if our bodies are bailing out a flooded basement. We have a responsibility to do our best in our stations of life, of course, but eternal things are all that matter in the end, anyway.  Lots of prayer goes in to mastering this mindset!

Then this: St. Paul tells us to fill our hearts, our lives -- and our homes --  (and I paraphrase here) with:

* things that are true

* things that are humble 

* things that are just 

* things that are holy 

* things that are lovely 

* anything that is of proven value toward virtue or orderliness

I love this last direction, because this is where a mother can truly shine for her family. If we're already praying and relying on God, and have determined in our daily lives to openly keep our eye on the prize (Our dear Lord and heaven, in general), then it's the most natural thing in the world to go about setting the scene for happiness and peace. Moms are in a unique position to surround our families with all these things in the way we choose to live:

* we can decorate our homes with a generous sprinkling of holy images and simply beautiful and comforting thigs

*  we can train our children's expectations to prefer simplicity and humility by choosing furnishings and fixtures that are not flashy, but of affordable good quality and clearly chosen for function and comfort and avoid objects (and even neighborhoods) that exemplify an overriding desire for popular acclaim or human respect

*  we can prepare our children for adult life by keeping a tidy and organized home and training them to be efficient participators in that goal (because sometimes it is just a goal... ;) )

*  we can teach them to discriminate carefully what type of information -- television, books, music, internet, conversations -- they allow to furnish their minds, hearts, and souls (garbage that goes in never really comes out without leaving debris behind -- and they need to know this!).

These are the things that should fill our minds and hearts. Even when the world is a disaster (it usually is in some way or another), our world doesn't have to be. Sometimes it's not possible to completely unplug ourselves from the media. The news of the world right now is in the very air, everywhere we go whether we like it or not, and it is important as parents to know what is going on and how to understand it all in terms of our faith -- for the purpose of voting, of protecting ourselves and our families -- and just answering the questions our children are bound to pepper us with.

But, if we want to keep our families moving heavenward, all the worldly news should be no more than billboards along the side of the road and not the scenery at all. We can't ignore that they're there, but if we're driving through beautiful country, we can make sure our children are having wholesome conversation inside the car, while focusing on the rolling hills and tidy barns instead. And if God really is our GPS, we'll hit rough patches (no question!), and the landscape might be iffy at times, but all is safe and good, no worries: Dad's steady as a rock, Mom's lined up In Praise of Mary and Enya on the CD player, the doors are locked, the children are teasing each other as children do, the baby is sleeping (God willing) in his car seat, God is never out of signal range, and everyone knows the destination is worth all the effort, even when the road are terrible and all the billboards all tell you you're going the wrong way. You can trust God's Positioning System.

Because Nobody Lives Forever

Indulgences for All Souls' Day

From noon on November 1 to midnight on November 2 (a span of 36 hours), the Catholic faithful, as often as they visit a church to pray for the faithful departed, and recite six times during each visit the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Church, may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in purgatory, under the usual conditions of:

*Confession (within a week before or after)

*Holy Communion (within the day before or up to a week after)

This plenary indulgence may also be gained from noon on the following Saturday to midnight on the following Sunday, but only by those who did not gain it on the preceding November 1st and 2nd. Note: When November 2 falls on a Sunday, All Souls’ Day is transferred to November 3rd and the gaining of the Toties Quoties indulgence begins on Sunday, November 2, at noon, lasting all through the day until midnight on November 3rd.

Other Indulgences for the Month of November

Those who, within the octave of All Souls’ Day, visit the cemetery in a spirit of piety and devotion and pray, even only mentally, for the departed, may gain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (confession, Communion, and an Our Father and a Hail Mary for the intentions of the Church (on each day of the octave, applicable only to the Holy Souls in purgatory.

Those who recite prayers or perform other devout exercises for the departed during this month may gain an indulgence of 3 years each day of the month, and a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions daily for the entire month.

Those who during November take part in public services held in a church in intercession for the faithful departed may gain an indulgence of 7 years on each day of the month, and a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions if they do so on at least 15 days.

And This

You most likely won't find it in the Catholic tradition books, and it's not something in any way required, just a little suggestion to consider. During the month of November think about making little sacrifices for the holy souls. For one soul, or several souls, or for all the Church suffering, in general. Give up coffee (or sugar or cream in your coffee) and offer it up for the soul of your grandmother -- and she gets the coffee instead of you! (or, rather, the benefit of the coffee -- which is way better!) Then offer up something else for another loved one, if you like -- like maybe put away your favorite sweater or boots for a month -- as a sacrifice for the soul farthest away from the gates and of heaven -- or the soul closest to the gates, and maybe you can get them right in! Isn't that an amazing thing to contemplate? You'd be like the Special Forces breaking a prisoner out of Sudan -- but better! 

You could offer up different things for different people each week of November and be a hero to many or stick to the same offerings all the way through and be a huge hero to one or two. There are no rules, just charity. True fraternal charity. And maybe the best thing you will accomplish this November. 

Almost definitely the best thing.

If you're lucky, someone will do the same thing for you some day. ( And it might even be the souls you help over the next 30 days.)

Heads Up: Remote Prepping for Advent

It's coming faster than you think!

 First thing to do:

Order your Advent candles if you don't already have them --  right now. I mean, stop what you're doing and get right on it. Due to postal delays associated, I guess, with covid and riot concerns, many companies are warning about delays. And you may find that Hobby Lobby's stock will deplete very quickly! Here are a few places to look online:

Honeycomb Beeswax candles for about $20

Traditional, tall, columnar, beeswax Advent candles under $25

TONS of Advent candles at prices starting at about $6 on Amazon

Second thing to do:

Go down to the basement or out in the barn or wherever you keep your holiday storage, find your wreath, shake it out, fluff up the evergreen boughs, and put it where you can find it in a jiffy. Maybe in your bedroom or hall closet.  If necessary, buy new ribbon decor now and keep it with your wreath. If you're like me, the first Sunday of Advent is going to sneak up on you right when you are busiest. Seriously. It always works that way! Impress your family with how organized you are and have everything you need right at your fingertips! Also, find your copy of the Advent prayers or print them out again and tuck them right in there with your wreath and ribbon. I posted one version here, but there are several acceptable versions.

Third thing to maybe do: 

A white candle is often used for the center of the wreath, waiting to be lit on Christmas day, but it's not a hard and fast rule to do it that way. Many families (including us) place a small statue in the center. If you like the idea and don't already have one you like for the center of your wreath, now is the time to go hunting and order. 

Find here

Find here

Thanks to the amazing shopping opportunities of the internet (my husband cringes. lol!), we have a world of beautiful images and statuary to inspire devotion for all the seasons of the Liturgical Year. A few years ago, we were gifted a beautiful Advent statue, St. Joseph leading a donkey carrying the Expectant Mother of God, and we just love it. It has a special place in the middle of our Advent wreath until right before Midnight Mass, when I sneak in a statue of the Holy Family, complete with Baby Jesus -- and change all the candles to white. There are a bazillion Holy Family Statues for this purpose available just for the searching. Hobby Lobby has quite a few lovely ones, as well. It's a little harder to find statues of the Expectant Mother, but more now than there used to be. Here are a few links (by the images) to get started if you like the idea.

Find here

Some countries, I understand, do not necessarily use the purple and pink candles, but the meaning behind them is perfect for the season: purple for penitence and waiting, pink for expectation and joy. Penitence Purple is appropriate; we don't party in real life until the baby is actually born, right? And I've always loved the very human "perk" of Laudate and Gaudete Sundays' pink vestments' message to us. The next to last week before Christmas and Easter, the joyous pink is like a little pat on the shoulder, saying: Hang in there! You can do it. We've almost made it; one more week! As for the candles, themselves, they don't have to be anything special, but it's an extra special bonus if' they're beeswax and you have your parish priest  bless them -- and even your Advent wreath. It's a great opportunity to have him over for dinner! (Make sure to mention your desire for the blessing ahead of time so he knows to be prepared to do that for you.)

It's traditional to use an evergreen wreath with the candles. The symbolism is beautiful: the evergreen represents God's providence, the cause for our hope, and the circular shape of the wreath symbolizes eternity, but that said, it's not a hard and fast requirement to use evergreens. Some might have need of a smaller display, and these can be beautifully done. I've seen several examples of candle holders, like the one shown here, that are meaningful all by themselves. The point of all sacramentals is to increase devotion, so whatever produces for your family a holy expectation for the birth of Christ -- that's the way to go.

I expect there are a lot of people who are already ready to lay hands on their Advent things and have already prepared ahead. God bless you! But for those of us who are blind-sided almost every year... Well, I hope this helps a little. You know, I mainly type this up for my own ditzy self! Just good to be reminded if you're me: as of today, there are only thirty days until the First Sunday in Advent! And it's going to go fast!

Us Nowadays

Us.

Since I haven't caught up on here in a while, here's a rundown of the family and what everyone's doing these days. Like as not, this is the worst kind of boring reading for the casual passer-by, but years from now, it'll all be riveting to us! The beauty of blogs!

Top to bottom:

That empty space on the top step we left on purpose so someone could eventually photoshop in Kevin and his wife, Ina, and their baby girl, Sophia. Together with Ina's parents, they just bought a beautiful Air BnB near a ski resort in the Bavarian Alps and are getting ready to open up. Their baby girl is one of the ten (and counting) sunshines in our lives and we can't wait to meet her and try out the BnB for ourselves! As soon as they decide this plandemic is over, we're heading over to Bavaria!

Top step, right: Dan and me. Dan's still working in IT, but has gotten to work from home since April. It's working out so well for his company, there's speculation it might become a permanent thing. Which we would love! It's only Dan, me, and the little dog, Dawsey, in the house these days, so there's no distraction problem, and he gets his tea and lunch brought right to his desk. He's loving it. So am I. 

When I'm not hiding the snacks from Dan (just kidding, honey), I'm working (when I'm motivated..) on literature study guides. A couple of them have been used already by our Catholic school teacher children for their classes; when I have enough put together, I'll publish, or offer them as PDFs, hopefully before the new year. Also working on that same novel I've been working on for -- what? -- three or four years now? Maybe I'll eventually finish it. It is called Timeless...

In the next row on the left is Paul's family. Paul, decided a couple years ago to move on from the USMC, and is now an upwardly mobile business officer for a medical tech company near St. Paul, MN; his beautiful wife, Nicole, is finishing up her Masters to become an audiologist. Our Minnesota grandchildren are the most delightful, polite children you can imagine: Gavin's going on 10; Evie is 6; and Lillian will be 3 in January. Can't wait until we see them again. Hopefully at New Year's!

Dominic's family is on the next step down on the right. They are in Castlerock, Colorado for the time being/ Monica is growing her photography business; Dominic is working electrical (last I heard with the Space Force at Buckley) and doing some wedding dee-jaying on the side. Little Margaret Mary (18 months) and Clara Bernadette (3 months?) are so darling; and Margaret is sprightliest, smartest little Irish lass you ever saw. We're hoping that Dominic and his girls will eventually move to the midwest. We can't get enough of them!

Next step down to the left is Michelle and Ben's family. Ben is working a diversity of jobs right now, managing the gun shop at Scheels and working up a financial business on the side; Michelle refinishes and sells furniture and is a spectacular Momma to Daria (4), Ella (3), Claudia (2), and Quinn (5 mos) They are all hearts of my heart. Since they live less than an hour away, we get to see them often and it has been the greatest pleasure watching all of them grow and learn and do -- from a grandmother's point of view. (snickersnicker) Love them all so much!

The next step down on the far right, looking bored, is Gabriel (16) -- and just sitting getting his picture taken is not on his list of favorite pastimes, for sure. He's a junior at St, Joseph's Minor Seminary near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho -- and rarely sits still this long. He's one of our most athletic sons, but is ultimately more interested in hunting and survival skills than sports. He's a daily (almost) server at the altar and is progressing very well in his studies. Always a gentleman, always thoughtful and hardworking, I cannot tell you how much we miss having him around! Can't wait to see him at Christmas!

In the middle on the next step down are our newlyweds, Cathy and Louis -- the reason for this gathering on the staircase. These steps were a focal piece of the reception hall where we had their 'Rain-checked Wedding Reception" at the beginning of the month. They were married April 4th, but due to (how shall we say?) circumstances beyond our control, we had to keep the reception following the (rather curtailed, to say the least) wedding pretty small. But we made up for it with the party this month! We're so pleased Cathy and Louis decided to call Nebraska home and live only twenty minutes away. Louis is moving up the ranks in his welding career, and Cathy is finally staying home and practicing her greatest God-given talent, homemaking, after quitting her job as a manager at the Omaha Hobby Lobby. Wearing the mask all day every day was making her sick -- and she's due in January!  

On the bottom step, on the left is Fr. Philip Marie, CMRI (with eyes closed; what is that, Fahter?). He's teaching and following his priestly vocation in all its duties, challenges, and rewards at Mary Immaculate Queen church, on the same grounds as St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Idaho., so, yes, he's teaching his brothers!  No kidding, though, they love it! This year I'm pretty sure he's teaching English and choir -- and maybe Phys Ed again? Father's such a busy guy, we don't get to see his charming self (and his famous pico de gallo) often enough! 

Anna is next to Father. She graduated from Mater Dei Academy in Omaha last year after two years in Catholic school ten years home schooled, so I was pretty used to having her around.  Seeing as she's my mini-me in a lot of ways, her company was a balm like no other (and a challenge. ;) ), but she's gone to the convent (CMD, Omaha) this year to try her vocation. As a postulant, the girls are given different tasks to help out the congregation in their duties, and Anna has gotten charge of four little kindergarten girls. Talk about the perfect first job! We miss her, but are proud of her -- and do get to see her every once in a while. She's a blur, running past, on the school campus usually, but, ah well, better than nothing. She's a beautiful blurr!

Next to Anna is Sr. Maria Antonia, CMD. She's 'stationed' in Phoenix, AZ at Our Lady of the Sun Church, teaching 6th through 8th grade (I think -- I'll double check and edit if necessary), as well as high school English, and piano lessons and playing the organ on Sundays. She is still the joy she has always been; we don't get to see her enough -- but are so grateful to live near the Mother House of the Congregation, so that when she does come home for feast days and special occasions, we can get little visits!

And last, but never least, is William. Technically a sophomore at St. Joseph's Minor Seminary, he takes all the classes of the juniors (and has followed their curriculum from day one in 8th grade), so he expects to graduate when Gabriel does, at the end of next year. He's an excellent student, a voracious reader, an almost daily server, and a sweetheart. I miss him dearly. I can't train Dawsey (our little dog) to start the coffee in the morning, and nobody else likes to watch the history documentaries like William and I do. Only about two months until he's home for Christmas, though. I am counting down the days!

The REAL Us.

Vintage Reruns

 So, I went to see my Mom a couple weeks ago. Having recently celebrated her 8th decade on earth, she's getting somewhat feeble in body -- but not in mind.

                                                                      ❤

She remembers every single little thing that happened 50 years ago, I tell ya.  And I'm ok with that, because, doggone if I haven't caught myself doing the same thing! At five and a half decades, I wince a little when I realize I'm starting to sound like an old rerun. But my Mom? She gets it, of course. She just smiles gently when I finish with her the iconic sentences belonging to the famous family stories, like:  

* The Episode of the Giant Escaped Crab 

* The Stolen Rowboat Scandal

* The Poop on the Shoe Incident

* Steve the Pyromaniac Meets the Norfolk Fire Department 

* Toddler Climbs on Roof, Doesn't Die, But Mom has Heart Attack 

Stories like that. Every family has them! (Tell me you do. You do, right? 😳)

My parents with the first four of us

Anyway, while I was helping rearrange my Mom's room last week to fit her handy-dandy new hospital-
type bed more comfortably in with her existing furniture, I came upon an obscure box tucked under a bookcase. In it we found my Dad's wallet. 

In my Dad's wallet, we found his driver's license, his military ID, his "in case of accident, call a priest" card, and one of those old fashioned, accordion-style photo organizers that used to come in wallets. Remember them? My Dad's is about ten "sections" long and each section is *stuffed* -- with every single school picture of every year of every one of his seven children -- plus some of his parents and of course, my Mom. ❤ That's almost 100 photos of the ones he loved.

Now, my Dad (gone about three years now) was a reserved man, as many fathers of his generation, you know. The "Great Generation." They were about *doing* not emoting. My Dad took for granted that his love was obvious in his practical care of all of us, body mind, and spirit. He didn't wear his heart on his sleeve. Nope. But we found out where he did. He wore it in his wallet.

And here. Here's a goofy little share, then, to go with the story: all 12 years of little me. (Not 13, because I graduated out of 11th grade.) Mom and I had a ball with these. 

* A2 - A4, I was in the principal's office more than I like to admit. Not for disrespect to teachers or anything like that, but usually for fighting with boys. I had less than no use for them. Darn their hides. (Why I identify with Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.)

* The Infamous Hair Disaster year. See it? 3rd grade, A-4. They sent us into the photographer straight after recess without even combing and straightening us back up 'What *were* the Sisters thinking?" ;)

* (B-4) Wrote my first novella at this age -- but got in trouble (temporarily) for passing the notebook around in class, serial fashion, every couple days so my friends could see what happened next. (My teacher gave me amnesty after reading it, bless his heart. 😊 He didn't even red pen it!)

* Full On Dork Year -- when I was channeling Nadia Comaneci -- obsessed with gymnastics after the '76 Olympics. (C-1) Good thing I grew out of that -- literally! Gymnastics did a number on my back that I'm paying for now, 44 years later! 

* The Fuzzy Sweater Before the Disaster picture. (C-2) For years I couldn't look at this picture without a pang of loss. This sweater was my *favoritefavorite* article of clothing. Got ruined in the wash shortly after this picture was taken, though 😪 (by whom, we will not say, but she didnt act like she felt the same sorrow about the accident that I did. Could be she was sick of that sweater...  Hmmm...)

* The Long Long Hair picture -- though you can't see any hair here. (C-3) "Should've pulled some over your shoulder." I agree, I should have. It's never been that long since. It came down to my waistband -- and wavy/curly TANGLY. I was glad to cut it off.

* The 1980s Victorian Era (C-4, 11th grade) -- when the newest phase was high collar ruffles and I still didn't have a whole lot of use for the male of the species at this time -- but I might have given thought to one who quoted Tolkien, wore suit coats with patches on the elbows, and vests with pocket watches and who smoked a pipe. I think I was looking for a tall Hobbit -- but they didn't exist in my high school. =Sigh=

And then, the next year, when I was 17, I taught 1-3 at OLV -- and was "Miss Chenoweth."  No more school pictures, which I guess, proved in a tactile sort of way, that I was "grown up."  At least I thought I was. ;) I now know that that never happened. 

Anyway, thanks for indulging me while I put the "log" in blog and record these memories with the photos. It's likely I'll never forget any of this -- even when I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning, but I won't always be here and these tiny wallet-size pictures that my Dad archived in his old wallet are now also archived here, along with the record of my parents' love for us -- and mine for them.

Cool Catholic Stuff: Holy Water

 

We find holy water, one of the most readily-recognized sacramentals of the Church, utilized by our priests in numerous rites and ceremonies of the Church -- such as the blessing of religious articles, Baptisms and funerals, and general blessings of the Faithful in holy Mass -- but it's also an important staple of the Catholic home. No home should be without it! Blessing oneself with holy water upon entering or leaving our own home gains us the same indulgences as we do upon entering a Church and blessing ourselves (though the presence of the Blessed Sacrament kicks all prayers up a huge notch, of course!).

Holy water is well known as a strong defense against evil spirits, in general, and is carried by some Moms I know in their purses! (They are really "packing!") 

In dangerous times, the head of the household (or anyone!) may bless all the windows and doors -- and his family! -- with a sprinkle of holy water at nightfall or when deemed necessary. Naturally, it would be irreverent to splash or play in holy water (a thing to be sure our children realize), but it is permissible to scoop up a little holy water for little ones who cannot reach the font so that they may dip their fingers
in from the basin of our hand. This is not considered "playing patty fingers in the holy water." (Quiet Man reference familiar to many...)

Maureen O'Hara in a still from the movie,
"The Quiet Man" (1950), also starring
John Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald.

Blessing ourselves with holy water, wherever we may find it, is an automatic reflex for many of us, but
not an act that should be taken for granted, such grace attaches to our pious attention! It's a simple procedure, but a beautiful one really. Dipping the fingertips of our right hand in the Holy water, we cross ourselves in the familiar Catholic blessing, touching first, the forehead, then breast, left shoulder, right shoulder saying: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 

But it's equally beneficial and traditionally a pious practice in some places to pray:

By Thy Precious Blood and by this Holy Water, cleanse me (him/her) from my (his/her) sins, O Lord.

When they were still tiny, we taught our children the significance of the tactile action of the blessing that incorporates so well the words of both of these prayers. At the same time that we trace the sign of our salvation, the cross of Christ, upon ourselves, we should be reminded to love our dear Lord with all our mind (as we touch our forehead), all our heart (as we touch our breast), and all our strength (as we touch our shoulders).

Blessing oneself with holy water is three prayers in one: one connected with the grace of the sacramental inherent within the holy water, itself, one verbal (the words and meaning of the prayer), one mental (understanding the significance of the tactile forming of the cross upon ourselves). It's such a wonderful thing as a Catholic to be able to honor our triune God with a trinity of a prayerand sacramental like this -- upon all our comings and our goings in our most important places: our own homes and Jesus's home!

 Good Things to Know About Holy Water

+ Many don't know that it is permitted that the sick or spiritually oppressed be given sips of holy water. Taking it in small amounts, or adding a few drops to foods is common, but it should never be consumed as a beverage.

+ The salt added to most holy water acts as a preservative, but if your holy water has gone bad (green), the proper way to dispose of it is the same as for all other sacramental: it must be returned to the earthly elements. In other words, dig a hole and pour it into the earth.

+ Interesting to note, too, that holy water is a somewhat renewable resource. As long as your container of holy water is half full, you can fill it to the top, rendering the new water, once added, equally blessed. In other words, it is not "half strength" or diluted. Once the 'added-to' bottle is again half empty, it can be filled again. I tell my children it is like the miracle of the loaves and fishes -- or, perhaps even more accurately, the ever increasing holy water works along the same principle of God's providence and power that allows for a crumb of the Sacred Host to contain in its entirety still, Christ in His entirety, body, blood, soul, and divinity, the very same as an entire Host.

Where Does Holy Water Come From?

Holy water  is blessed notably on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6) -- and any time thereafter that holy water is needed. 

First, the salt to be added to the water is exorcized and blessed. Then the water itself is blessed with these words:

I exorcise thee in the name of God the Father almighty, and in the name of Jesus Christ His Son, our
Lord, and in the power of the Holy Ghost, that you may be able to put to flight all the power of the enemy, and be able to root out and supplant that enemy and his apostate angels; through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.

God, Who for the salvation of the human race has built your greatest mysteries upon this substance, in your kindness hear our prayers and pour down the power of your blessing into this element, prepared by many purifications. May this your creation be a vessel of divine grace to dispel demons and sicknesses, so that everything that it is sprinkled on in the homes and buildings of the faithful will be rid of all unclean and harmful things. Let no pestilent spirit, no corrupting atmosphere, remain in those places: may all the schemes of the hidden enemy be dispelled. Let whatever might trouble the safety and peace of those who live here be put to flight by this water, so that health, gotten by calling Your Holy Name, may be made secure against all attacks. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

* Holy water may be easily obtained in the vestibule or entrance of every true Catholic Church and is placed there specifically for the easy access of the faithful. If the dispenser is not easily found, contact the pastor. If yours is a mission church, again, contact your pastor or visiting priest to obtain holy water. It's a common request, and he will be more than happy to supply your family with this sacramental so beneficial to your use.

*  Important to note: Know that the exorcism of water is omitted in the new rite, just as it's been removed from the blessing of salt! Be sure that all your holy water is obtained through a verifiably ordained priest.

* Also, note that "regular" holy water should not be confused with Easter Water -- or the miraculous

water obtained from Lourdes or other holy shrines (Mother Cabrini's spring, as another instance.) Waters from sacred places, unblessed, are not sacramentals -- which is not to say they do not have unique inherent blessings, but they cannot be used in place of holy water.

Fr. Philip offering Mass at the
Franziskanerkirche in Uberlingen,
Baden, Germany

Easter water, or baptismal water, is the water that is blessed on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter) and is used to baptize Catechumens. This water receives a more solemn sort of blessing than "regular holy water": the Easter Candle is dipped into it three times, and the priest blows his breath over it thrice, recalling the Spirit over the waters at Creation, and the Spirit causing the waters of Noe's flood to subside, and how the Spirit appeared as a dove over the waters at Christ's Baptism. If you've ever attended the beautiful Holy Saturday blessings and read the prayers as they are prayed over the water on this day, you can't help but be impressed by the special strength and solemnity added to the Easter water!

Any clean water can be used in Baptism, of course, and often is, as in cases of emergency; but the use of Easter water is preferable in ordinary circumstances.

And then there's...

Gregorian Water -- holy water mixed with wine, salt, and ashes -- which is used in the consecration of churches, altars and altar stones. And that's a whole other post: the consecration of churches. 

                                                                                                                                           (Stay tuned.)

 

An October Prayer

Mother, at thy feet is kneeling

One who  loves thee -- it's thy child

Who has sighed so oft to see thee;

Bless me, Mother, mother mild.

And when storms are raging 'round me,

And when tempests hover near,

In thine own sweet arms enfold me,

Shield me, Mother, Mother dear.

Mother when my Savior calls me, 

From this world of sin and strife,

Clasp me upon thy spotless bosom,

Let me bid farewell to life.

Plead for me when Jesus judges,

Answer for me when He asks

How I've spent so many moments,

How performed so many tasks.

Tell Him I was weak and feeble,

Yes, that I so often strayed

From the thorny path of virtue

To the one with roses laid.

Yet, O Mother, tell my Jesus

That I loved Him, fond and true

And, O Mother, dearest Mother,

Tell Him I belong to You

Then He'll place me,

(yes, I feel it)

Close to thee, O Mother, dear,

Then I'll praise and bless

and thank thee

Through eternity's long years.

Amen.

- AnaStPaul

On the Feast of the Holy Rosary

 A Catholic Mom's take on the importance of the Family Rosary...

If I hadn't had ten children and a husband (and countless dogs, cats, canaries, chickens, goats, cows... etc.) to keep track of over these 33 years of our family, I'd have been a gypsy and sold tie-died tee shirts out of an RV or something.  Honestly. I wouldn't even have owned a watch.  

But, as much as I hate to admit it, order and routine really are a good thing.  It was imperative when we had children in Catholic school to live by the clock, but even when we were still home teaching all the kids, it was necessary to keep a general framework around our daily lives  to preserve my sanity and to give the children a feeling of security -- and the most important crossbeams of this framework have been our daily prayers.

I remember from my own childhood the truth of the addage that children learn from what we *do* more than from what we *say*.  One of our neighbors growing up used to strongly warn her children about smoking, but the mother was a pack-a-day addict; darned if her children didn't end up being smokers.  Someone else we knew couldn't understand why his children had such foul mouths, even though he told them they'd sure as *%# not cuss around him!   In the same way, I think that some Catholic parents are intent upon their children staying true to the Faith, and they talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.

I've seen families build their days around sports events and practices or what television shows come on when and then, when little Johnny and Jane fall away from the Faith as young adults, their parents are dumbfounded.  They always took the kids to church on Sundays, and the children had always been raised to know they were Catholic; they may even have gone through twelve years of parochial school.  But, they didn't surround their children with the complete framework of their Faith.

If a child knows all the players' stats of his favorite football or baseball team, or if he can name all the songs his favorite band ever recorded, or if she gets to every  barrel racing trial and places in all the events at the county fair...  but doesn't know the saint of the day, can't tell you in detail the lives of her patron saints, doesn't remember when he last went to Confession, and never prays the rosary, the parents have constructed a house that will fall.  It's all facade, with nothing behind it to hold it together.

If the Mass and the Sacraments are the foundation of a life of real faith, the rosary has to be the nails that hold everything else together. Praying the rosary is the best guarantee we have for personal growth as well as family harmony, and it's vital that it be prayed away from the church, as well as within it. It should be something that every Catholic can remember being part of daily home life from earliest childhood.

Because it's shared by a family within the walls of the home, children properly raised will associate comfort, peace, and togetherness with the rosary --  with the prayers themselves, with the intercessor of the prayer, Our Blessed Mother, and with the Faith, in general.  And, there's little doubt in a child's mind that religion is an important thing if Mom and Dad make a point to gather the family together *every day* to practice it.

There's little doubt that they believe in the power of prayer when the children see their parents committing to Our Lady's hands the worries and troubles of their lives.

And our world desperately needs prayers -- especially the prayers of children.  A bond of prayer within a family is the strongest, deepest security that parents can give their children; it brings the Holy Family into the very heart of the home, into the hearts of all the family members, and into the nation and the world, in general, because the family is the building block of all society. Strong and wholesome families build a strong and wholesome world.

In short, there can never be harm in putting aside twenty minutes a day for the rosary, but there can be great harm in forgetting it.  Our Lady of Fatima stressed to Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco how very important it is to pray the rosary.  And the greatest of all mothers always has our best interest at heart.  If we love our children and want to help them save their souls, we have a duty as Catholics to lead them to Jesus through Mary through the rosary.

Our Lady, Queen of the Rosary, pray for us!

An AWTY edit from 2013