The Caravan Has Arrived at Camp...

That's me with the frizzy hair in the wagon...  ;0)

Still unloading trunks and pitching tents, so to speak, but we're here!  All our travels were safe and smooth, and, except for a few hitches resulting mostly from short-sighted planning (like, we haven't gotten this down yet, really?), all went amazing well this time around.


First of all, we got rid of a LOT of stuff before the move.  It took five or more 26' trucks to move us five years ago; this time it took two 24' trucks and a just a smidgeon more that we'll haul over in a little pull-behind trailer in a couple of weeks.


(Please excuse the couple of incidents of language in this....  but it's just
so classic, this Carlin philosophy -- and so true....  couldn't resist posting it.)

Also making things much easier than expected, we had TONS of help.  All the children ended up making appearances -- not all at the same time, but each of them at key times.  Considering we expected none of the grown up youngins to be able to help, this was unexpected and wondrous! Their help was invaluable!  And getting to see everyone was fabulous -- even under the circumstances.



Finally, through the prayers of many loved ones (you know who you are!) God's mercy and goodness seemed to have paved the way soft and smooth from Western Colorado, across Utah, Arizona, and most of Nevada to our new home in Las Vegas.  For both truckload trips and all our helpers' commutes (notwithstanding Michelle's adventure getting stranded in a snowstorm on Vail Pass, from which she  and her car both escaped unscathed...)  We are very grateful!



Yes, He is good all the time.  And  Every where!

Pictures coming soon!

Eight Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

This is actually a FB meme (shared by my friend, Cheryle), but... well, Facebook... What can I say about it?  I need more space for this meme -- actually, for most things! --  than Facebook can give me.  I need room to crack my knuckles and stretch out my elbows -- which I can do here at home on my blog.  Where I'm comfortable -- and where I can sit in my purple bathrobe and fuzzy socks and lean back against the soft cushion of 1,673 posts visits with friends.

The challenge, though, after six years of blogging (and a chronic case of TMI), is coming up with eight things no one knows.  But, I'm getting a break from packing and moving tonight, and I'm using this as an excuse to fortify my creative muse with a bowl of mocha ice cream... so here goes:

Eight Things You May Not Know

1) I have an overdeveloped sense of justice, and have always been very agitated by unfairness, even as a

Don't be fooled by the
look of innocence; I
was a terrorist.

child. There's a certain noodle throwing incident in defense of my little brother that my siblings might remember as one proof, and the "fingernail incident" on the school bus when I was twelve, wherein I taught my older brother to take me seriously...  I was a shy and humble child generally, but given sufficient cause, I became a terrorist.  Several decades later I'm sometimes still a moral activist, but I'm happy to report that I have matured in my methods.

Nowadays my attempts to correct injustice at home, on the highway, and in such places as the comment boxes of Pintrest and Facebook are less physical --  but (alas!) also less effective.  As an adult, I try to pick my battles carefully, pray hard for heavenly counsel, and word my objections as charitably as I can, but I seldom feel like it makes any difference.  It's all very frustrating. I don't want to scratch anybody's eyes out any more, I truly don't.  I hate fighting!

 But sometimes I really wish I could throw noodles.

2)  I make my bed every morning.  Every morning, that is, except one.  On Sundays, I offer it up as a sacrifice and leave the bed messy.  It kills me.

3)  To balance out the impression that I suffer from OCD or am some kind of sickening Martha Stewart wannabe, I hasten to add that pretty much every drawer and closet in my house is an incredible mess (or was until we just cleaned them all out and packed them), and I never clean out my fridge if I can help it.  By the time I get to that dreaded job, certain members of my household are threatening to call the Board of Health. To which I respond, "And you can't clean it yourself?  It's the least you can do for your poor mother/wife/friend..."

And seeing as we're moving the last load on Saturday and neither fridge has been cleaned yet, I am looking for volunteers...

4.  I have three mothers:

 (1) My heavenly mother, who is here for me always: perfect, loving, and understanding of all my needs, my intercessor in Heaven, my guide through my life.  I speak to her often through the day and she answers, but not in so many words; we won't get to have a two-sided conversation until we meet someday in Heaven,God willing and I don't blow it.

(2) My biological mother, whom I love dearly, the Scrabble Queen of the universe, the counsel of my childhood, the tenderest heart that ever lived, the Grandchildren Doter.  I get to talk to my Mom on the phone two or three times a month (not often enough!) and love catching up with her. I wish we lived closer to one another; I'm such a terrible phone caller!

June, reading on the porch with Dominic.
(Big computer with better pics is packed...)

(3) And then there's June.  June has been living with us as a sort of live-in, house grandmother for about a year now and we love her like our own.  She is a fellow Catholic, my friend, my confidante, my co-whiner when things need whining about, my reminder of how Good God is and how grateful we must be every day and every minute for our Catholic Faith. Our temperaments are very similar; we understand one another perfectly. We talk together often throughout the day every day, but only need look at one another to know what the other's thinking.   June is 84 years young, and we don't know what we'd do without her.  Right now she's in California visiting her daughter until we're all moved in to our new house.  We figured since she's already moved 39 times in her long life, she deserved a pass out of this move, but we miss her and can't wait until she joins us in our new home!

5.  I only figured out about eye liner about a year ago, and wear more make-up now, at 49, than I did in my twenties.  In my defense: I didn't need it as much then. But now I need it in more ways than one.  Besides the fact that it covers the rings under my eyes and invents eyelashes that would otherwise not exist, applying makeup in the morning makes me feel ready for the world; it's like donning my shield and buckler. Look out  world!   And Dan is fine with it -- if he notices it at all, so, yeah... it makes me happy.  But, honestly, friends and family who see me occasionally, if I start looking like Mae West in her declining years, please tell me, OK?  But be gentle about it.  Just say, "Mae West, Lisa.  Mae West."  I'll get it.

6.  I hate breakfast cereal.  Haven't had a bowl of cereal in years. (The worst most disgusting cereal ever manufactured, incidentally, is Coco Puffs.  Uck. Blechhh. Gag. Nightmare cereal from my childhood.)

7.  I am a total sucker for down-turned brown eyes. His particular version of puppy dog eyes are a key reason I fell for my husband. I just love Dan's brown eyes...  So, yeah.  On that subject: the kids haven't bought it yet -- they think it's a stupid reason to choose a breed of dog -- but I'm trying to talk the family into letting me get a basset hound.  I would call him GK Chesterton. Or maybe Wodehouse.  Or Sherlock. And I would look on the internet for tweed hats that fit him...  And I really would not compare him to Dan. I wouldn't even think it.

8.  I talk too much when I'm nervous, and laughter is my fallback response to just about anything

(sometimes inappropriately), but I am really a closet introvert.  No, really.  I'd rather hike a quiet mountain trail or read a book than go to a party or have to mix in a crowd of people outside my immediate family. I'd rather discuss religion or politics than Miley Cyrus or preferred super powers. I fret *a lot* about social interactions.  In real life, I'm quiet and somewhat retiring.  Honest I am.

 But on my blog, hidden behind the screen, so to speak, here in my fuzzy socks and purple bathrobe, I 'm free to wax as stupid as I want.  Here in my own little world I'm free to be as silly and trivial and LOUD as I feel the need to be. We're together here, you and I, visiting in my cozy little nook. Best friends, you and I.  And you don't mind if I'm being a little goofy, do you?    (See?  I knew it!)

Parade of the Saints: All Saints' Day, 2013



Guess the Saints, name the children:

 (This is for all the siblings who missed All Saints' Day at home, but it's for you, especially, Brother Philip and Fr. Borja!)

(Theresa helped with writing this one...)

I was born in Dalmatia in 329. When I was young all I cared about was my schooling. But God called for me and I answered and fled to the desert to become a hermit.  I am most famous for translating the Bible into Latin.  My feast is September 3rd.
 Who am I?

(Mom helped with writing this one..)

I was born in 1891 in Mexico.  I was the 3rd of 11 children.  I became a Jesuit in 1911.  After I finished my studies in Europe I came home to Mexico, where Catholics were being persecuted by an evil government.  Catholics were forbidden to practice the Faith and priests were not allowed to offer the Mass.  But many brave priests, like me, snuck around in disguises like the one I'm wearing, bringing the Sacraments to the people.  I was known for my great sense of humor; also for my great prayer life.  The evil government captured me in 1927 and I was executed without a trial on November 23rd.  My last words were: Viva Cristo Rey!
 Who am I?

(The three girls researched and wrote their saints' stories all on their own and recited them from memory...)

I was born in Rome in the fourth century.  My father died when I was very young, because he was burned in the face with coal, and banished for his Faith.  He died only days later from his wounds.  My mother, who also bravely died for the Faith, was beheaded.  Deprived of all earthy possessions, the governor, Apronianus, summoned me and my sister, Demetria, to his royal court.  Demetria declared her faith strongly and bravely, then died from a heart attack at the foot of the cruel man.  Then, Apronianus, not caring about Demetria's death, sent me to an evil woman, who tried to make me give up my Faith, but I did not relent.  Apronianus, hearing of this, was enraged and ordered me to be killed.  He had me strapped to a pillar and scourged, where I died at the hands of my executioners.  I am the patron saint of headaches, insanity, and mental illnesses. My feast day is December 2nd.  

Who am I?

I was the daughter of the king of Hungary, and niece of St. Hedwig.  Since my infancy I was betrothed to Louis Landgrave of Thuringia, Germany.  I was very devoted to my husband, but even more so to Christ, the Catholic Church, and my Faith.  On one occasion I was on my way to bring provisions to the poor and sick.  On the way I met my husband, and he was angry because he thought I was doing the work of a servant.  He came up to me and opened my mantle, in which the supplies were kept, but all he saw were red and white roses.  He took one and kept it for the rest of his life.  I built many hospitals and served the sick there.  After my husband's death, I was cruelly forced out of my palace to live on the streets with my three children until I died at the age of 24 in 1231.  My feast day is November 19th.  I am the patroness of hospitals, homeless people, widows, and bakers.
Who am I?

I was born to the royal court of Burgundy, France, in the 6th century.  Though I lived among Arians, I was raised Catholic.  While still young, I married the king of the Franks who would later be called Clovis the Great.  I was very devoted to my husband, though he was an Arian and tried to lead him to the Faith by my example.  Once, when a powerful enemy was attacking France, I prayed for victory.  The victory was won. Through this victory, Clovis was at last converted, thus becoming the first Christian king of France.  I had four children.  After my husband's death, my sons fought over who would be the next heir to the throne.  This was resolved when my youngest son, Clotaire, ascended the throne.  Aggrieved by the continual strive in my family, I spent the rest of my life in solitude and prayer.  I died after having predicted my death in the year 545.  I am the patroness of brides, mothers, widows, adopted children, and the lame.  My feast day is June 4th.
Who am I?

The Feast of All Souls

We have a very special opportunity every first of November. I always tell the children about how this is the time of year we can be heroes to the Souls in Purgatory! And, lucky us, our friends in Purgatory will, in turn, pray for us. There's no greater service we can do for a fellow human being. And we can benefit, too!  We're all so much in need, it's important to make the most of our opportunities.

Here are the specs---

To receive a plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory: While visiting a cemetery during the Octave of the Feast of the Holy Souls, after a pious Confession and Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the Church, and offer prayers (silently or out loud) for the dearly departed. A traditional prayer for this occasion is the beautiful de Profundis. Some pray six Our Fathers, six Hail Marys and six Glory Be s. There is not a set of prescribed prayers for the dead that is necessary, so it's really up to you. You may gain this plenary indulgence once each day during this octave!

And you may send some souls to Heaven!


There are a lot of Catholic customs of the day, as well!  You can go here for a bunch of them.

Since we're moving throughout the month of November, we're hoping we'll remember to offer up all the pains in the neck of moving for the benefit of the Holy Souls.  And we're begging them to intercede for us in making this a safe and smooth move!

Prayers for the Holy Souls at Sunset Mesa Cemetery

Praying the rosary for all the faithful departed.

We love the headstones with the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts!

I would love to be buried in a cemetery with this view!  Not for myself, but for the comfort of the folks that I hope will be coming to pray for my soul!

Happy Feast of All Saints!

Now this is a feast I can sink my teeth into!

Now that the vigil is over, thank God (Oh!  Did I say that out loud?)...

Um. Sorry, folks.  I know it gets the collective dander up to openly admit that we're Halloween Scrooges over here at our house, but honestly, now...  It's not like we opt out of Christmas, ya know.

We love holidays, love the annual march through the calendar of the Liturgical Year.  We thoroughly enjoy the traditions surrounding the change of the seasons -- and have no problem with secular holidays that have wholesome meaning.  We're all over Groundhog Day, do up the hearts and flowers big-time at St. Valentine's,  wave our flags on the Fourth of July, and carve pumpkins in October -- while drinking pumpkin spice latte.

But -- and we truly don't think it makes us better than anyone else -- we just don't like Halloween as it's commonly celebrated. We do not trick or treat or do the spooky-ooky thing on the day before All Saints' Day.  And I don't apologize for this.  (Sorry, but I don't  ;0)   I do feel bad if others think this choice for our family is a judgment on them, though.  And I totally bristle when folks act like they feel sorry for our children -- as if they're missing out on something.  (Sheesh! Puh-lease.)  We just prefer to whoop it up on the Feast of All Saints.

Michelle -- not here -- this is her
on All Saints' Day her last year in
high school.
(I just wanted to see her face....)

Though we attended an All Hallow's Eve Shindig hosted by our parish last night (you haven't lived until you've seen St. John the Baptist play balloon volleyball with St. Jerome!) and everyone had a wonderful time, today is the real feast day, the real celebration!  Yesterday we slaved over costumes and worried over Saints' speeches.  Today, we take the day off!  Mass at 8 a.m. for the Holy Day of Obligation (or, uh, maybe we'll make it to the 6 p.m. Mass if we can't answer the bell...), then a day, hopefully, of rest and relaxation and just hangin' out together, with Dan home for the weekend. We haven't figured out yet what kind of goodies we'll make to literally feast on, but you can be sure there'll be something baked.  Games played, movies watched.  Feet propped up.

Then back to work Saturday "Packing, Planning, and Pitching" (as in "throwing junk away") to get ready for our move in three weeks.

 We hope everyone had a safe and fun Boo-Day yesterday, but its being a mere prelude to today's real feast, I'll skip the Halloween greetings (because it makes no sense, for instance to say "Happy Christmas Eve! Or Happy Day Before Easter!)...  But we would like to wish everyone, far and near, a

Very Happy Feast of All Saints!  

 

May the prayers of all those who see the Face of our Father in Heaven cascade down upon us all!

,

Let the party begin!

*  If anyone is really interested on our opinion and reasons behind our opting-out-of-Halloween decision, you can read all about it (ad nauseum) here.  I think I've written a post about it just about every year since I first started blogging -- that was way back in 2006-2007....  Not like its a cause or anything.  Just one of those things that you can't help but need to address if you're one of very few families not  posting pictures of your kids' pumpkins full of candy today.  :0)

* Stay tuned for the Feast of All Souls tomorrow! (Hopefully I'll get that posted, or reposted, or something...)

 

* And, yeah, this is a re-make of last year's post. Did it seem familiar to anyone? I've been a little too busy (and, admittedly Zombie-Brained) lately to be original.  Maybe when we get settled in Nevada I'll get back into a writing groove again. You'll find out along with me! (If there's anyone out there reading this....  Are you out there?  Is anyone out there? Hello?)

Football and Husbands

I am a football widow and my daughters are orphans.

My husband is a football fan, a big numbers guy, and works in Vegas.  Do I need to say more?  I don't even know what a parlay is, but I know he's got great hopes for one.  And he's been eating off of his winnings for the last seven weeks.  So, yeah.  I guess I can't complain.  My very prudent spouse never bets with money he doesn't have to lose, and he never bets on something he's not pretty darn sure he'll win.  So, he and his Dad and our sons Paul and Kevin are bonding over bets he puts down on football games in Vegas.  It's all they talk about when they're together, all they text about when they're not together.  Stats. Injuries. Speculations. Odds.

We girls are like, "Huh?"  Sunday afternoons, we go down to the rec room where the tv is jerry-rigged to a wire, snaked out the corner of the window up to the rabbit ears precariously balanced on

the roof.  The eyeballs of any males in the house, youngest to oldest, are riveted to the television screen. All except for William, maybe, who's usually having a battle with various action figures and chess guys on the table down there, glancing up occasionally to check on the game's progress. Which is what we do. We're checking, but not so much on the games.  We're checking on the boys.  Making sure they're still with us.

 "Who's playing this one?" we ask. Not like it matters that much to us unless it's the Broncos, actually, but we like to pretend to be courteous -- and make sure the men haven't zoned out into football comas.

Distractedly (eyes not leaving the screen) they tell us the score. We ask, "Do we care who wins this one?"  Then we glaze over and pick at our manicures while they explain by how much which team needs to win in order to figure into some complicated gambling schematic that none of us girls will ever understand.  We just wait 'til the end of the long explanation and ask if Daddy will be eating Taco Bell or steak this week.

So, yeah...  It's what we do on Sunday afternoons -- which I can't complain about if it's buying my husband lunch.  And, really, I can't say a word when he comes home from Mass and cooks us all Sunday morning breakfast first. Then sits next to me during the game and tolerates me just grunting at his exclamations of football-play joy or dismay -- while I play on my laptop.

What rests the mind and buoys the spirit differs from one person to another. And that's OK.

Viva la difference!  

And Go Broncos!! 

“And he said unto them,
 'The sabbath was made for man,and not man for the sabbath.'" 
 Mark 2:27

“God will not supply every want; but He will supply every need.

 The trouble is that we want what we do not need....

Prayer is not the breaking down of the reluctance of God;

 it is rather the opening of a door.

 ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock’. 

The latch is on our side and not His.

 Prayer opens that door.”

 Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Wartime Prayer Book)

Meanwhile, Back at the Davises...

Well, sort of anyway...

The other day on FB my friend, Cheryle, shared a blog post written by a recent widow, and it was some of  the best inspiration I've ever read for improving my "wife life."  A must read!  Eloquently and succinctly, the writer, a mother of ten and wife of thirty-five years, lists all the things she wished she'd understood about her husband while he was alive. It's an enlightening, humbling read. (Seriously. If you have a husband, go read it!)

Dan and me,
so long ago, the photo is pixilated.

In a nutshell, though, this wise woman points out how easy it is as women to get so wrapped up in our own needs and wants, frustrations and wishes that we forget to consider our husband's challenges and feelings.

Just between you and me: I know I've been guilty of this. I haven't realized how much so until recently but reading the list really struck home ... 

We've had a difficult couple of years in our family.  Dan lost his job in eastern Colorado a little over three years ago then used his severance package to try to start a small business with a friend.  The small business didn't work out, but, thank Divine Providence and Dan's good sense and skill, the investments that he'd also made with some of the money paid good dividends and we were able to make ends meet comfortably until about a year ago when the writing was on the wall that he really had to get back into the general labor force.  Many can attest that this is a proposition easier said than done these days.

And just between you and me: We've tried to shield the kids from the bulk of the stress, but none of this crazy ride has been easy for any of us.  Through all our employment woes these last few years, I think I had an idea of how hard it was on Dan to lose his job then suffer the failure of his start-up, but, if I'm going to be perfectly honest I have to admit I've been more consumed with worry over how each of the dips and turns affected me -- and the lifestyle I wanted for us -- than how the responsibility of everything weighed on Dan, specifically. 

But we thought everything would get easier when Dan got a regular job again, "working for the man."  So, he diligently searched.  He looked here in the valley where we live; he looked in the Denver area; he looked everywhere there was a church to attend.  And out of the bazillion lines he cast into the job market, he eventually got a couple of 'bites,' but go figure, the job he ended up landing was in the last place on earth I have ever wanted to live.  I've said it many times over the years how I would never live in this place, and, it seems I jinxed myself by so doing... or, more likely, gave God the perfect place to challenge me to win grace.

But, really, just between you and me: What better antidote for a "scenic-view-addiction" could He possibly have found for me?  And what better therapy for my self-centered inclinations in the long run....   

You know where Dan got the job, right? Las Vegas.

Yeah. Just between you and me: 'Not-so-fabulous Las Vegas.'  Sin City.  The ugliest place on earth.  The place where I've always joked that God would likely put me to spend my Purgatory: Nevada...  in the desert... in a single-wide trailer... with no air conditioning... sports radio droning incessantly in the background.  But I digress...

We decided not to move the whole family there in the hopes that something better would come up on the job front, but it's been a year now with no new leads and Dan's been making the nine hour commute from Vegas, home, and back every weekend.  Thank the good Lord he has a four day work week at least, so we see him a good two and half days instead of only one and a half!

Just between you and me: Woohoo, huh?

But, honestly, it's been a good job in a lot of ways. Some weekends he's able to catch the cheap commuter flight home, saving wear and tear on him and his car. He likes the people he works with and he's good at the work he's doing (though he finds it pretty unchallenging). And, yeah, it pays the bills.  Or, it would...  if my poor husband didn't have to pay to live in a hotel four days a week (the cheapest hotel that's still safe in Vegas), and if he didn't have to fork it over for the gas to commute (which has been a killer).  So, yeah, the job obviously doesn't work for us on a lot of levels.  Needless to say, we've hated the separation most of all, and Dan doesn't like Vegas any more than I do... so we've continued searching all this time for a better job in a better place -- preferably here in the valley.  But with no luck.

Just between you and me: All this time I've been hoping and praying, and praying and hoping, and wrapping all my plans around the family staying right here, where it's pretty, where we're comfortable, where we feel safe -- where I personally like to be...  Regardless of the stress it's putting on my husband. For a long time, I didn't even consider anything else.

But, you know how sometimes God sends a postcard?  Sometimes it's a passive exclamation instead of a subtle signal grace.  Sometimes He just keeps saying "No" until we change our question.

So, we've decided it's time to do just that; we're going to make a stab at changing our approach.  Instead of Mohammed getting to come back to the Mountain.  We're moving the Mountain to Mohammed.  We're pulling up stakes, striking camp here in Western Colorado, and unless something dramatic happens soon to change our forward momentum, we're moving the family to Las Vegas to be with Dan.

Just between you and me: Wow. Can't believe I just wrote that out loud.

No worries if it's a misstep. We know from experience that if this move isn't part of His plan, God will throw a monkey wrench into the works and stop us, and we'll just try putting our collective foot out in another direction.

Just between you and me:  I can't say I'm not scanning the horizon for a flying monkey wrench.

(What is that: the third or fourth metaphor I've mixed into the pot?  And are you getting sick of the "just between you and me" bit yet?)

But, it's all good. If it's God's will that we be in Las Vegas (of all places!), then we'll go to LasVegas -- and doggoned if we won't make something good out of it.  We will learn to love the desert.  Or, um...  maybe just not hate it, anyway.  (Likely we'll be taking lots of drives to California to hang out at the beach in order to tolerate Nevada.)

But, really, just between us:  hopefully I'll finally learn not to be so hung up about what I want that I miss what God wants. And what my husband needs.

This past year while the family's been in our comfortable house enjoying one another's company in beautiful Colorado, Dan's been stuck working in an ugly city, staying most of the week in a dusty hotel with nobody he loves near him.  Not fair; not right.  He needs us and we need him.  And the kids and I are determined to fix it.  Even if it has to be in Las Vegas (of all places!)  Because we love him that much.  And he's worth it.




Just watch: 
We'll make lemonade out of sand and neon lights. 

And we do continue to pray that this is not our last move!  Hope springs eternal!  There's got to be a good job for Dan someplace out there close to Mass that's also pretty, right?  (If not Colorado, I'm personally voting for Idaho...  We'll see what God's thinking.)

Check this out.  An oldy but a goody.

 The first song  sort of sums it all up...

Video made by (now 26 year old) Paul for our

twentieth wedding anniversary, six years ago.

(The children all look so little in this! Holy cow!

How things have changed -- and yet stayed the same!)

The Feast of St. Margaret Mary



Image from here.

The Life, Letters, and Promises of St. Margaret Mary,
the visionary of the Sacred Heart!

The Sacred Heart of Jesus:
A Salutation Prayer by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Hail, Heart of Jesus, save me!
Hail, Heart of my Creator, perfect me!
Hail, Heart of my Saviour, deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge, grant me pardon!
Hail, Heart of my Father, govern me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse, grant me love!
Hail, Heart of my Master, teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King, be my crown!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Shepherd, guard me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend, comfort me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother, stay with me!
Hail, Heart of the Child Jesus, draw me to Thyself!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross, redeem me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all Thy states, give Thyself to me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness, have mercy on me!
Hail, Heart of splendor, shine within me!
Hail, most loving Heart, inflame me!
Hail, most merciful Heart, work within me!
Hail, most humble Heart, dwell within me!
Hail, most patient Heart, support me!
Hail, most faithful Heart, be my reward!
Hail, most admirable and most worthy Heart, bless me!

Sacred Heart of Jesus  Prayer from The Raccolta

O Divine Heart of Jesus, grant, I beseech Thee, eternal rest to the souls in purgatory, final grace to all who are to die today, true repentance to sinners, the light of faith to pagans, Thy blessing to me and to all who are mine.
To Thee, O most loving Heart of Jesus, do I therefore commend all these souls, and for them I offer all Thy merits, together with the merits of the most Blessed Mother and of all the saints and angels, and also together with all the Sacrifices of the Mass, the Holy Communions, the prayers and good works that are made today throughout the entire Christian world.

To Celebrate the Day:

Catholic Cuisine has a number of good ideas, mostly sweet, but a couple savory, too, for feasting on this feast day -- using the image of the Sacred Heart in honor of St. Margaret Mary.  I think we'll start the day with the Sacred Heart toast and egg, then maybe do something with strawberries for dessert time!

* Craft ideas for the day: From St. Peter's List , Catholic Icing,  Catholic Mom


* A coloring page may be found here at Waltzing Matilda's, or the following print can be copied, as well; though the quality is a little 'pixilated' when enlarged too much, it works just fine in 'holy card' size:

Happy Nameday to all the Margaret Marys out there -- especially my cousin, Micki!

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my salvation!

St. Margaret Mary, Pray for us!

Feast of St. Teresa of Avila, October 15th

Words of St. Teresa:

Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.

Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All things pass; god never changes.  Patience attains all that it strives for.  he who has God finds he lacks nothing; God alone suffices.

What great favor God does to those he places in the company of good people!

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.

Pain is never permanent.

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.

God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person. 

When they say... that someone is a saint, it's bound to be nonsense.

 To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience. 

It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found - not hidden away in corners but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater. 


Facts Concering St. Teresa of Avila:

Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Born	March 28, 1515 Ávila, Crown of Castile (todaySpain)
Died	October 4, 1582 (aged 67)[1] Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church Lutheran Church[2][3] Anglican Communion
Beatified	April 24, 1614, Rome by Pope Paul V
Canonized	March 12, 1622, Rome by Pope Gregory XV
Major shrine	Convent of the Annunciation, Alba de Tormes, Spain
Feast	October 15
Attributes	habit of the Discalced Carmelites, Book and Quill, arrow-pierced heart
Patronage	bodily ills; headaches; chess; lacemakers; laceworkers; loss of parents; people in need of grace; people in religious orders; people ridiculed for their piety; Pozega,Croatia; sick people; sickness;Spain

* Compliments of Wikipedia

+ Here is an easy-to-read version of her life online.
+ And a more in-dept online version here.
+ But, the best way to get to know St. Teresa is to read her own words. Here's a short list of her writings:

The Book of Life (1562)

The Way of Perfection (1566)

Interior Castle/The Mansions (1580)

Foundations (completed 1582)

+  St. Teresa also wrote many meditations, prayers, and hymns for the benefit of the nuns of her Order. She wrote, as well, thousands of letters to the Carmelite friars and to the clerics and laity who were her benefactors. 450 of these letters are known to be still in existence.

+ You can find several of St. Teresa's works to read online, here.

Ways to Celebrate the Feast Day:

+ Some tasty ideas from Catholic Cuisine can be found here.

Coloring Pages:  

+ See below a lovely simple one, compliments of Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda, which can be downloaded here.

+ And then there's this one:

A little bit of a scary picture, depicting the demons tempting St. Teresa ....  But I bet this is the one my children will choose to color...

Dear St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!!