October Skies, Colorado Style

October 9th -- And What About It?

Leif

It was on October 9th in... 1000  that Leif Ericson discoverd "Vinland" (possibly New England)

1514	that King Louis XII of France married Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII

1635  that religious dissident Roger Williams banished from Mass Bay Colony

1701	that the Collegiate School of Ct (Yale U), chartered in New Haven

1855	that Joshua Stoddard of Worcester, Mass patents 1st calliope,

  1855  that Isaac Singer patented the sewing machine motor

1865   that the 1st U.S. underground pipeline for carrying oil was laid in Pennsylvania 1876   that the 1st 2-way telephone conversation was held, over outdoor wires 1890   that was the start of the Sherlock Holmes adventure "Red-Headed League" 1915   that Woodrow Wilson became the 1st President to attend a World Series game 1920   that the world saw the 1st World Series game in Cleveland; the Indians won 2-1 1930   that the 1st transcontinental flight by a woman -- Laura Ingalls -- was completed Or this Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder on TV in the '70s) Not this Laura Ingalls. (Laura Ingalls Wilder) It was THIS one:  Laura Houghtaling Ingalls... The not-as-famous-as-she-should-be, record-breaking pilot 1936   that Hoover Dam began transmitting  electricity to  Los Angeles 1946   that the 1st electric blanket was manufactured; and sold for $39.50 1954   KTIV TV channel 4 in Sioux City, IA (NBC) began broadcasting 1959   that marked the 1st phone call between auto and plane 1961  that U.S. members of Communist Party were required to report themselves to Police 1969  that the Supremes release Someday We'll Be Together 1973   that Elvis and Priscilla Presley divorced after 6 years 1980   that completed the 1st consumer use of home banking by computer 1984  that Kathy Sullivan became the 1st U.S. woman to walk in space 1990   that Saddam threatened to decimagte Israel with a new missile 1997  that a hurricane killed 123 souls in Acapulco, Mexico 2008   that Iceland took control of 3 banks due to the global financial crisis 2010  that saw wild celebration as a drill reached an underground chamber with 33-trapped Chilean miners inside 2011    that Germany's Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to win the Formula One World Championship twice 2012 that Lisa Davis (yours truly, this Lisa Davis) got one load of whites away from completely catching up on the laundry *and* started a diet and didn't cheat even once.  Not once.  Cross my heart.   I really didn't. (And I'm starving right now -- for one of the carmels that's on the top of the fridge, hidden in the red splatterware bowl....  But I'm going to resist.) No, seriously, Gavin.  I will. (Ask me tomorrow how I did.  You'll see.  You just never know...) * All facts up to, but not including, 2012 gleaned from BrainyHistory.com

Happy Feast of St. Francis

White board artwork courtesy of Dominic.

I love the famous prayer of St. Francis, Lord, Make me an instrument of Thy peace...  Just saying those first words lowers my blood pressure, I tell ya.  And meditating on the rest of the words, for me, is the perfect tonic against stress and all my own unfortunate tendencies to frustration and self-centeredness. 

 It's so easy, as a mother of a large family, especially, to be bogged down with the consoling of every slight, the understanding of every woe, the pardoning of every offense -- or the convincing of others to do so -- and the giving, giving, giving, giving...  And it's easy in this world for a mom to have her head turned by the modern notion of personal "self fulfillment" -- through selfishness. A mother can feel squeezed out by the daily-daily of her own beloved family -- and then squashed as well by the expectations of a worldly world.  ==sigh==

 I love my life; I love my family; I am absolutely convicted that I'm doing God's will in my particular station of life as a mother of ten children....  But, still, sometimes I want to scream to the heavens:  Where's my consolation?  Where's the understanding for me?! When do I get to be on the receiving end?! AGH!  Do you ever feel that way? Don't get me wrong; this is not an every day thing.  But, gee whiz, I get tired out sometimes.  Life can be so demanding -- so unrelenting.  I admit I lose my focus.  I lose my way.  I lose my patience, my understanding, my ability to console or be consoled.  Because in the hurry and busy-ness,  I've lost sight of the real goal.

  The goal.  That last line of the prayer.  And all the journey through to the last line -- which is really just as beautiful. We want the goodies without the sacrifice -- the world tells us we should get the one without the other! --  and forget that to receive eternal life, we have to die in this life; to receive, we have to give, etc.   St. Francis understood these things like almost no other.  They say that he was the one man on earth who was most like Christ.  In suffering, in understanding, and in love, I'm sure. St. Francis' prayer is the job description for every walk of life:  we are to be an instrument of peace, to lead everyone we meet -- but especially our own family members -- to God through love, pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy. By giving and giving and giving -- and not looking for anything in return on this earth.

But, still, it's funny how you see, in retrospect sometimes, how it was that when we were least paying attention, we received all the giving back.  Ten-fold.  And we know there'll be more later.

Thanks and love and to St. Francis, my Confirmation saint!  Please pray for us, St. Francis of
Assisi!

Lesser Known Prayers of St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi's vocation prayer

Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen.

The Meditation Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

My God and My All!

St. Francis of Assisi's prayer in praise of God given to Brother Leo

You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom.
You are humility. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage. You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty, Merciful Saviour.

The Blessing of St. Francis of Assisi to Brother Leo

The Lord bless you and keep you.
May He show His face to you and have mercy.
May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace.
The Lord bless you!

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi before the Blessed Sacrament

We adore You, O Lord Jesus Christ, in this Church and all the Churches of the world, and we bless You, because, by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi:

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

St. Francis of Assisi's prayer praising Mary the Mother of Jesus

Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen,
Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin.
You were chosen by the Most High Father in heaven,
consecrated by Him, with His most Holy Beloved Son
and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

On you descended and still remains all the fullness of grace and every good.
Hail, His Palace.
Hail His Tabernacle.
Hail His Robe.
Hail His Handmaid.
Hail, His Mother.
and Hail, all holy Virtues, who, by grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
are poured into the hearts of the faithful
so that from their faithless state,
they may be made faithful servants of God through you.

"Enter At Your Own Risk"

This appeared on my bedroom door yesterday afternoon:

Behind the bedroom door?

(Taken with my cell phone...)

William's down with a mystery malady, diagnosed by the doc in the Urgent Care Clinic as "possibly chicken pox, though not necessarily."  He had a temp over 104 yesterday when we took him in, and was starting to break out in "viruses," as William calls them.  But the bumps didn't start out looking very chicken-poxy, and they didn't itch.  They still don't itch, but now they look more like chicken pox.  So that's what we're calling it.  Unless you're William, and then the illness is called "Chicken Pops" and the bumps are called "viruses."  (William logic; I don't know....)

 Anyway, he's down, but he's not out.  The fever has dropped to almost nothing, and he's happily ensconced in Mommy's bed (conveniently vacated by Daddy while he's working out of town), being spoiled by everyone. "Chicken Pops are not so bad,"  he says.

 It's going to be a hard come-down when he recovers and can't watch cartoons all day....

On the Feast of the Little Flower

 October 3rd

Quotes of St. Therese

"What a comfort it is this way of love! You may stumble on it, you may fail to correspond with grace given, but always love knows how to make the best of everything; whatever offends our Lord is burnt up in its fire, and nothing is left but a humble, absorbing peace deep down in the heart" - (Story of a Soul, Ms. A., Knox translation). 

"Our Lord's love makes itself seen quite as much in the simplest of souls as in the most highly gifted, as long as there is no resistance offered to his grace" - (Story of a Soul, Ms. A., Knox translation). 

"The science of loving, yes, that's the only kind of science I want I'd barter away everything I possess to win it" - (Story of a Soul, Ms B, Knox translation.) 

""when I act as charity bids, I have this feeling that it is Jesus who is acting in me; the closer my union with him, the greater my love for all the sisters without distinction" - (SS, Ms. C., Knox translation). 

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing. - Story of a Soul, Chapter VIII 

On the day of my conversion Charity entered into my heart and with it a yearning to forget self always; thenceforward I was happy. - Story of A Soul, Chapter V 

When Charity is deeply rooted in the soul it shows itself exteriorly: there is so gracious a way of refusing what we cannot give, that the refusal pleases as much as the gift. - Story of A Soul, Chapter IX

Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer... - VIII Letter to Her Sister Celine

How I thirst for Heaven-that blessed habitation where our love for Jesus will have no limit! But to get there we must suffer... we must weep... Well, I wish to suffer all that shall please my Beloved, I wish to let Him do just as He wills with His "little ball." - V Letter to Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart 

In Heaven the good God will do all I wish, because I have never done my own will upon earth. - Counsels and Reminiscences 

Even now I know it: yes, all my hopes will be fulfilled... yes... the Lord will work wonders for me which will surpass infinitely my immeasurable desires. - VII Letter to Mother Agnes of Jesus

Some Ideas To Celebrate the Day

+ 

+ Catholic Cuisine, as always, has some wonderful, scrumptious ideas to try for the feast day of our Little Flower

+ A coloring page (below).  Just click and copy. This takes a lot of ink, but is the kind our children like to color as it's more realistic and tells some of the story of the saint of the day.  Below St. Therese is shown with Pope Leo XIII

+  Two easily readable histories of the life of the Little Flower can be found here and here.

+ More extensive reading can be found online here.

St. Therese's autobiography, The Story of a Soul, can be found here.

+

JMJ

Happy Feast Day of St. Therese of Lisieux!

Especially to all the Teresas, Thereses, Theresas and Terries out there!

And to our own Theresa Philomena!

The Amazing Month of October

October is a wonderful month!  Not only does God treat us with the spectacular color show of autumn, but we also enjoy such a wonderful procession of saints through the next thirty-one days.

* First up -- and of particular note (yesterday) is the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2nd.  Not enough can be said to honor and thank our very own personal angels.  God is so good to show us this special token of His love for us!  Every person ever born gets his or her unique Angel Guardian.  It's amazing to think about!  I've related angel stories in posts many times I think, but have I mentioned practice of praying for the name of your angel -- and/or your children's angels?  Dan and I have received the names (or, at least the names we believe the children's angels want to be called) of all our children while they were still in the womb.  It's a comfort to call on each of them by name when we have special worries or intentions concerning each of the ten.  After the rosary every evening, we salute all of them, each of us in turn, and remember each of the angels of all of our family members who are not at home.  In order, starting with Dan (and including our daughter-in-law and grandbaby), we salute Angels:  Matthew, Dorian, Louis, Tony, Joseph, Anthony, Mark, Barbara, Angela-Catherine, Lucy, Judy, Augustine, and Oliver.    Thank-you, dear Angels!

* October 3rd is the feast day of our dearly loved St. Therese of Lisieux. We love this "little" saint so much, we named our sixth child, fourth daughter specifically for her.  She is the saint who promised a shower of roses on the world once she entered her heavenly reward, and she hasn't disappointed us.  A miracle alone is the fact that in this saecular-minded world, most everyone,
Catholic and non Catholic alilke know who the "Little Flower" is.

* On October 4th, it's the feast of the great St. Francis of Asissi.  Popularly known as the saint who loved animals, St. Francis' real claim to fame is his deep and transforming love of Christ.  The first saint known to have been gifted with the stigmata, St. Francis is also said to have been the one man most like Christ.

* Then comes Friday the 7th of October,  the feast of the Most Holy Rosary, one of the great feasts of Our Lady and the devotion for which the month of October is dedicated.

* On the 8th of October, we celebrate the holy life of St. Bridget of Sweden.

* Then on October 11th, we honor Our Blessed Mother once again on the Feast of the Divine Maternity, celebrating the motherhood of Mary.

* Followed by the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on October 13th (which shares the feast of King St. Edward) and recalls to mind the apparitions of Our Blessed Mother to the three Portuguese children, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia -- and particularly the messages and warnings given them for the benefit of the modern world.

* On the 15th of October, we find the feast day of  a new friend of mine, St. Teresa of Avila, the great mystic and reformer of the Carmelite Order.

* The next day, October 16th is the feast of St. Gerard Majella, the patron saint of expectant mothers (and incidentally, it's the feast of another family friend of ours, St. Hedwig, too)

* Then, on October 17th, we celebrate the feast day of the visionary of the Sacred Heart, St. Margaret Mary

* And, the evangelist St. Luke's feast is the following day, October 18th.

* Two more apostles' feast fall ten days later on October 28th, Saints Simon and Jude.

* Then we close a month of awesome saints with the great feast of Christ the King on October 30th.


God willing I'll be able to post reprints and plans for these feasts throughout the month -- with coloring pages if nothing else, and links to sites whose blog-mistresses and masters are more on top of their games than I am.  I'm going to try at least!

Happy and Holy October, Everyone!!

* Repost from 2011

Silly qestions,,,

1. How would you tell when you are out of invisible ink?
2. Why is abbreviation such a long word?  Is it meant to be ironic?
3. Money does not grow on trees but why do banks have branches?
4. Babies wake up every 2 hours but where did the expression "sleep like a baby" come from?
5. If chilies are hot, why are they called chili?
6. What is better a world without hate or a world with no love?
7. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced Onety One?
8. If police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
9. Who's idea was it to have the letter s in "lisp"?
10. If cheese was having it's picture taken what would it say?

(All Stephen Wright material -- obviously, huh?)

A Fall Tour of Southwestern Colorado

As you may know, Dan (finally!) landed a job last week.  In fact, his first day was today. (Which is a Wahoo and an Oh Bummer all at the same time, since the job is in Lost Vegas.) Also last week, in a blessing of fortune, the investments that have kept us alive the last two years threw a little extra money into the kitty.  So, in thanksgiving and celebration, we blew a little of the blessing on a three-day family holiday.  (Though, since we are feeling zero regret about it, maybe " blown" is not exactly the right verb!)

So where to go and what to do with a mini van full of kids, only three days and a limited budget? 

No brainer.  A few weeks ago, Dan and I got to go on a little mini twenty-fifth anniversary trip to explore southern Colorado, and practically everywhere we went, we kept saying, "Dang!  I wish the kids were here!  They'd love this!"  (Is that weird, or what?)  So, with our windfall, we retraced our steps -- with six of the kids in tow: Dominic (who turned 19 last Saturday), Theresa (14), Cathy (who turns 12 this week), Anna (10), Gabe (8), and William (6).  

We traveled from home in the Uncompahgre Valley through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison outside Montrose, then south to big little town of Salida and on to San Luis, west to South Fork, over to Durango, and north again in a big loop, up and over the San Juans to Ouray and home again.  On the way, we spent two nights in a little cabin on the  Rio Grande River, while we explored the Great Sand Dunes, Zapata Falls, the Stations Shrine in the oldest town in Colorado, the oldest church in Colorado, and every other waterfall we saw a sign for along the way.  We had a blast. Everything was a good time, the children were all in high spirits and well behaved, and the autumn leaves were in high-camera form.  Sadly big Nikon is in the hospital on disability right now, but we took a billion pictures with our little  baby Nikon. Here are a few of the shots we got, just to give an idea (and a small one!) of the constant delight of the eyes along the way:

This one is near Salida, on the Arkansas River -- where the leaves are only just starting to change.

In Salida -- on Dominic's 19th Birthday.

At the "entrance" to Zapata Falls.  (More on the Falls, later!)

*Hopefully I'll get a chance to get on and share some more pictures and thoughts soon.  We're moving our friend, June, in with us today and tomorrow, though -- and we have a full week of projects and fun involving the "Super Week of the Saints" this week, also, which I'd like to share -- time providing.  The Feast of our beloved Holy Guardian Angels is tomorrow, the traditional feast of St. Therese of Lisieux (our dear friend) is Wednesday, and my Confirmation saint, and always wonderful, St. Francis of Asissi celebrates his feast day on Thursday...  Big Week!  Hope it's a blessed one for everybody!

RIP: Andy Williams

1927-2012

Andy Williams:  

Sunday afternoons in autumn, sitting on the brick front porch steps of our Virginia Dutch Colonial.  I'm nine years old; my brother Daniel, is a baby, my littlest brother (the seventh child) isn't even a twinkle yet.  My favorite pal and brother, Greggy, and I are discussing methods of actually flying in the next windstorm -- something having to do with black trash bags.  The smell of Sunday afternoon dinner wafts out the open living room window.  The oak and maple trees stretching way up over us are sifting red and orange leaves slowly down through their bony fingers...  

And this man's album is playing inside.  Strains of Moon River drift out with the smell of meatloaf and gravy... 

Andy Williams, God bless him, gave much that was good to the world.  May he rest in peace.

Novena to the The Little Flower

~ Day One Today ~

to end on the vigil of St. Therese's feast day;

Start tomorrow to end on her feast day, October 3rd.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ever consoling troubled souls with heavenly graces,

 in thine unfailing intercession I place my confident trust.

 From the heart of our Divine Savior, petition the blessings of which I stand in greatest need, especially….

 

(here mention your intentions)

 

Shower upon me thy promised roses of virtue and grace, dear St. Therese,

 so that swiftly advancing in sanctity and perfect love of neighbor,

 I may someday receive the crown of life eternal.

 

+ Amen

The Glory Be Novena to St. Therese

The Twenty-four "Glory be to the Father's" novena can be said at any time. However, the ninth to the seventeenth or the month is particularly recommended, for on those days the petitioner joins in prayer with all those making the novena.

The "Glory Be to the Father" praising the Holy Trinity is said twenty-four times each of the nine days in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favors given to Saint Theresa or the Child Jesus during the twenty-four years or her life. In addition, this or a similar prayer may be used:

Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, I thank Thee for all the blessings and favors Thou hast showered upon the soul of Thy servant Theresa of the Child Jesus, during the twenty-four years she spent here on earth, and in consideration of the merits of this Thy most beloved Saint, I beseech Thee to grant me this favor, if it is in accordance with Thy most Holy Will and is not an obstacle to my salvation."

After this Prayer, follow the twenty-four "Glory be to the Father's" between each of which may be included this short prayer:

"Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

ORIGIN OF THE NOVENA

Father Putigan, a Jesuit, began the Novena to Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus on December 3, 1925, asking the glorious Saint for one great favor. For nine days he recited the "Glory be to the Father" twenty-four times thanking the Holy Trinity for the favors and Graces showered on Saint Theresa during the twenty-four years of her life on earth. The priest asked Saint Theresa, that as a sign that his novena was heard he would receive from someone a freshly plucked rose. On the third day of the novena, an unknown person sought out Father Putigan and presented him with a beautiful rose. Father Putigan began the second novena on December 24 of the same year, and as a sign, asked for a white rose On the fourth day of this novena one of the Sister-nurses brought him a white rose saying:

"Saint Theresa sent you this."

Amazed, the priest asked: "Where did you get this?"

"I was in the chapel," said the Sister, "and as I was leaving I passed the altar above which hangs the beautiful picture of Saint Theresa. This rose fell at my feet. I wanted to put it back into the bouquet, but a thought came to me that I should bring it to you."

Father Putigan received the favors he had petitioned of the Little Flower of Jesus, and promised to spread the novena to increase devotion to, and bring her more honor. In this fashion, from the ninth to the seventeenth of each month, those who want to participate in the Twenty-four "Glory be to the Father's" novena, should add to those of their own, the intentions of all who are at that time making the novena, thus forming one great prayer in common. (This novena and explanation found here.)

Previous Posts on our sweet St. Therese.

Happy nameday, Theresa Philomena
And all other namesakes of St. Therese!