Christmas Novena

While a novena is normally a nine-day [or nine hour] prayer, the term sometimes is used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days. The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is often called simply the "Christmas Novena" or the "Christmas Anticipation Prayer," because it is prayed 15 times every day from the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) until Christmas. The First Sunday of Advent is the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saint Andrew.

The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew, but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. You can say the prayer all 15 times, all at once, or divide up the recitation as necessary (perhaps five times at each meal).

Prayed as a family, the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is a very good way to help focus the attention of your children on the Advent season.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

(source: by Scott P. Richert at Catholicism.about.com)

Coraggio! (Have Courage!)

THANKSGIVING DAY

A group of us are following "Total Consecration to Jesus According to St. Louis Marie de Montfort,"  with our consecration to be made on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  It's definitely a "weed out the wimps" regime of prayer.  As promised, I sent the group some encouraging thoughts and hope these will bless you today, as well:

See?  Now that wasn't so bad, was it?  I mean, c'mon.  That first week?  The "Preparation"?  A few prayers.  A wee paragraph of reading for mediation.  I don't know about you, but I was thinking, "Hey, I can do this!  This'll be a snap!"

Then we hit Week One.

You know, I've discovered already during Week One that I'm really not interested in Knowledge of Self.  Really.  Not.  As a matter of fact, I actually cringe from it.  No, really.  You know why?  The same reason why I come out of every confession sobbing, that's why.  Because of the stunning, humbling, almost debilitating realization of how abhorrent and insulting my insignificant little self must be to the Face of God.  I mean, judging from the way He spanked the ancient Israelites in the Old Testament (several times, mind you) whenever they needed it, I cannot BELIEVE that the Almighty hasn't reached down with His thumb and forefinger and flicked me off the face of the planet, just to spare the rest of humanity the boil of my existence.

But then, in the confessional, the priest utters some of the most beautiful words in the English language:  "God, the father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins through the ministry of the church. May God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

(*heavy relieved sigh*)  And I resolve to try all over again.  I swear and promise and beg and plead anew to ACTUALLY try to know, love, and serve God in this life so I may be happy with Him forever in heaven.

Now, that's a tall order.  I haven't even had my morning tea and I've failed miserably already.  But, I'm beginning to think it's okay to start there.  Because if I didn't start with failing miserably, I might have this horrible misconception that, at least in some area, I was fine, okay, enough, good, perfect.

Perfect.

Hey.  Waaaait a minute.  That sounds familiar.  Wasn't there something in Genesis about that?  About the serpent promising perfect knowledge to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?  Ha.  Yeah.  And we all know how that turned out.

So.  I examine my conscience.  Confess.  Sob.  Atone.  Get on with life.  And sin again.  So, I examine my conscience, confess, sob, atone......well, you get the idea.

The point being:  It's never a pretty picture to truly see oneself as God sees us.  The word, "vermin" comes to mind.  Yet St. Louis de Montfort, Thomas a Kempis, and the Bible (Psalm 141) all encourage us not only to be brutally honest in our self-assessment, but to be confident in the mercy of God.  Mercy is when you get what you don't deserve.  Mercy cannot be earned; it must be given.  And for eternity, only Almighty God can give it.

So, visit Him, my friends.  Make a well-worn path to the confessional, to adoration.  Be inspired in our consecration.  "Coraggio!"  Have courage!  Courage is not the absence of fear, but action in the face of fear.  Be humble yet firm of purpose as we strive to follow this way of prayer!  If you miss a day, continue to soldier on.  If you forget a prayer, return to it.  If you are distracted, redouble your efforts.  For Jesus Himself said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God," (Luke 18:27).

And THAT is a great cause for "Thanksgiving!"

(Now do you see why Luke is my favorite Gospel!?)

Please pray for me during our Total Consecration, as you may be ever assured of my heartfelt prayers for you!

May Our Lady be your joy this Advent as she leads you through the rosary, ever closer to the manger and the Sacred Heart of her Son, Jesus!

Love,

Me

P.S. - Just by way of coolness, I also found absolution in Latin:

Deus, Pater misericordiarum,
qui per mortem et resurrectionem Fílii sui
mundum sibi reconciliavit
et Spiritum Sanctum effudit
in remissionem peccatorum,

per ministerium Ecclesiae
indulgentiam
tibi tribuat
et pacem...

Et ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis
in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
Amen.

"What is impossible with men is possible with God," (Luke 18:27).

Oriens Vitualamen (Morning Offering)

If your brain has as little spare room as mine, it's sometimes difficult to remember to offer up what we do throughout the day.  There are many beautiful ways to consecrate one's day to the Lord from the minute your feet hit the floor, but this one is my favorite:

Our Morning Offering:

Oh my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word, and action of this day.  Oh my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them to the interests of Thy Sacred Heart.  Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!  Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!  Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!  Amen.

And remember, as the saying goes, live your life so that when you wake up in the morning, the devil says, "Oh sh**, she's up!"

Keys Ut Regnum (Keys to the Kingdom)

My dog is a social butterfly.  There is little on this earth that makes her happier than when people come to see her, as clearly everyone must be when they arrive at our front door.  When the door opens, she leaps about in joy, delighted that another of her People Friends has made her day by dropping in to say hello.  Her enthusiasm bowls them over, as she covers them in kisses, tail whirling like the blur of helicopter blades.

Thus, the joke around our house is, if it were a burglar at the front door, she would invite them in and offer them the silver.

Despite this, however, my dog otherwise is a pretty smart cookie.  It didn’t take her long, for example, to figure out that the jingle of scooped up car keys meant the imminent solitude of her cage: abandonment.  And in the worst possible form for a dog from the pound.  Having lived in a cage and been abandoned to one, she never exactly has been what you would call an avid fan of crate training.  No matter how cozy we made her little den, my dog never truly resigned herself to the fact that, as the unfortunate possessor of a hamster-sized bladder, she must, for the sake of the carpet,  be relegated to her Cozy Canine Cubby whenever she is left alone in the house.  (And no, the charming moniker did not fool her either.)

So, when my dog hears keys rattle, she knows we are about to leave.  Keys, therefore, mean abandonment.

I was reminded of this last Sunday in church.  My husband and I are the antithesis of most Catholics;  we make a bee-line for the front row, right in front of the tabernacle.  I want to be front-and-center with the Lord, where He can keep an eye on me and I can keep an eye on Him, with minimal distractions.

But last Sunday, this wasn’t to be.

We were running late (no surprise, with six small children and my perpetual vice of tardiness), so we altered our path and entered the church from the rear vestibule, joining other late-comers in surreptitiously slinking into a rear pew, mumbling and fumbling through the last verse of the opening hymn as everyone settled in.

Although it was disconcerting for me to be what felt like a football field’s distance away from the Lord, all went well throughout the Mass -- until we stood for the closing hymn.  As the cantor announced the number in the hymnal, I had to struggle to hear her voice over a different sudden chorus of sound.  A chorus of jingling.

Keys.

Now, I would like to think that I am smarter than my dog.  And so is God.  So, it took only a moment to put two-and-two together for what my dog already knew: people + keys = abandonment.

Not a good position to be in with the Almighty, eh?  And He is a lot smarter than me and my dog.

Barring family crisis or extenuating circumstances, let’s see whose company we keep when we decide to nip out early on the Lord as we leave Mass:

1).        Judas: Hardly a model of good manners, Judas slipped out of the Last Supper before dessert to go finalize plans to abandon the Lord.  Should we collect 30 pieces of silver along with the bulletin, too, then?

2).        The Apostles: The apostles all made hasty retreats into anonymity as the Lord was dragged from Gethsemane.  Blessedly for us, however, all but one later suffered martyrdom for the Faith.

3).        Peter: The Rock of the Church himself abandoned the Lord, denying Him three times.  Not exactly one of Peter’s more shining moments.

4).        Thomas: We do not call someone a “doubting Thomas” for nothing, do we?  Possibly an aspiring lawyer, Thomas demanded cold hard evidence before he would believe that a Man, whom he personally had seen perform numerous physical and spiritual miracles, had performed the ultimate miracle Himself.

Abandoned.  Every single one of them abandoned the Lord.  Yet, all the way up to the Cross, the Lord never abandoned us.

So, why do we keep abandoning Him?

Thankfully, eleven of the twelve apostles were “scared straight,” later spreading the Good News and, for some, even giving their lives for Jesus and His Church.

With such sacrifice in mind, I mean, really, is it that critical we get out of Mass a few minutes early?  Do we all have a dying parent to whose death bed we are rushing?  Do we not have a mere two more minutes to sing, praise, and give thanks to the God from Whom we profess to believe all blessings flow?  Or do we have one eye on our hymnal and the other on Father to see if we can beat him to the door.  As my grandmother used to say, “It’s not a race, you know!”

This is where our Protestant brothers and sisters excel.  They’re still enthusiastically singing several hymns for hours, while we’re busy watching the clock and leaving skid marks out of the church parking lot.  Forget the Sign of Peace – turn on your blinker and get out of my way, pal!

If we’re going to put an egg timer on Mass, then we’re there for the wrong reason.  Stop.  Slow down.  Take a deep breath.  Maybe even stick around for a few minutes and enjoy the soothing silence once the church is almost empty.  Don’t just show up and punch in and out.  Be there.  Be present.  Take time to be with the Lord.  After all, He’s waiting there just for you.

That’s right – the Creator of the known Universe is waiting in the tabernacle just for lil’ ole YOU!  Isn’t that grand!?

“Ugh!”  I can hear you say.  Do I sound like your mother?  Maybe.  Or a grouchy old harpie?  Probably.  But, I’ve got six young babies of my own, so I’ve already had a ton of practice in reminding little people about the importance of our Faith, which I also frequently do not fully appreciate nor utilize.

So please, remember the wisdom of a small dog:  keys mean abandonment.  You’re not fooling anyone, least of all the Lord.

He’s a pretty smart cookie, you know.

P.S. - Please note, sadly, this beloved dog has since passed away.  But, we still have our 130lb., cantankerous, grouchy, clever, perpetually hungry, protective, bear-hunting Akita.  Just in case you had your eyes on the silver.  ;-)

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  (Matt. 26:40-41)

NFP - Natural Family Planning

I realize that hawking NFP (Natural Family Planning) here on a Catholic homeschool blog is a bit like preaching to the proverbial choir, but you never know who's out there who might read this....

A friend asked me to write the following brief article (brief?  from me!?  ha!) a few years ago about our successful use of NFP, and I felt called to repost it to share.  Some people's mission in life is not to have children, because God has chosen another purpose for them to exemplify His greater glory.  But, if you or someone you know and love is despairing of having any or more children, yet feel certain that it is God's Will for you, don't give up!  Believe!

"For nothing is impossible with God!" (Luke 1:37)
 

Now do you see why Luke is my favorite gospel!?

Please be assured of my prayers for any of you who are searching for His Divine Will and purpose in this regard.  And remember, especially during this 40 Days For Life, that adoption is an option, too!

 ______________________________________________

NFP ARTICLE

“Infertility.”  The diagnosis is a death knell to someone who wants a large family.  The fact that it is even a “diagnosis” (like terminal cancer or emphysema) is intimidating enough.  But, infertility also seemingly robs one’s future of the dream of a family, children, grandchildren.

It is a rough pill to swallow.

I swallowed a lot of pills after being diagnosed with infertility.  First came the vitamins and “natural” remedies.  Then came endless rounds of pharmeceutical drugs.  Finally, one day, I had enough of being an overdosed infertility lab rat.  There were plenty of children already in the world, I thought.  Let’s start buying them up!

And we did.  We adopted a beautiful baby boy from Ukraine.  Two years later, after eleven years of marriage, we began paperwork for a second adoption.  But instead, the Lord surprised us:  I became pregnant with our daughter.

Whoa.

“Pregnancy” had been deleted from my mental and emotional radar screen.  But now....  If it could happen once, maybe it could happen again!

Surprisingly, although raised Catholic, I never considered Natural Family Planning (NFP) to conceive.  I assumed it was a way to avoid conception, and not a very successful one at that – The Rhythm Method, my mother called it disparagingly.  “You don’t know how many rhythm babies there are out there!” she snapped.

Thankfully, a dear friend stepped in and gave me accurate advice.  And a gift – a set of NFP study materials, with the command to use them.  Following NFP, it took only one cycle for us to hit the jackpot.  Nine months later, our third child was born.

For nothing shall be impossible with God.

As faithful Catholics, my husband and I were at peace using NFP, because it honors the fullness of the marriage covenant between a husband and wife, yet allows them to delay or attain pregnancy.  NFP’s only drawback is poor or inaccurate P.R.  If other obstacles to pregnancy have been ruled out for you, get an NFP counselor, get the materials -- and believe!

“Blessed the barren woman, if she be blameless.  Better to have no children, yet to have virtue.  It holds triumph through eternity, having emerged the victor.”  (from Wisdom 3:13, 4:1-2)

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.” (Psalm 127:3)


 

Basium Pro Jesu (A Kiss for Jesus)

"Look-look-look!" I whispered fiercely to my toddler as he struggled up on tiptoes on the kneeler to see Father holding up the host during the consecration at Mass today.

"Look!  See?  See that little circle?  That's Jesus!  Father's holding up Jesus!"  And then I whispered in my son's ear, "We love you, Jesus!" and surreptiously blew Jesus a kiss across the church, a gesture my son generously bestows on everyone he loves.  Eagerly, he mimicked me.

Then my little daughter blew the moment right out of the water.  "Mom!" she breathed urgently.  "I have to go potty!"

Young-daughter and toddler-son in tow, we crept quickly to bathroom, where an intercom system enabled us to continue to listen to Mass.  My son froze, eyes wide, fascinated.

"Who dat!?" he gasped.  Then inspiration lit his face.  "Dat Jesus!  We love you, Jesus!" he screeched as he happily blew a kiss to the wind.

Oh, from the proverbial precious mouths of babes!  Thank you, Lord, for this moment of unabashed loving joy!

"You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet." (Luke 7:45)

Ora Pro Mater (A Prayer for Mothers)

Summer has been luxurious, like a cat's long, languorous stretch in a warm sunbeam.

Alas, however, I am the mother of six Lilliputians, all but one in single digit ages and several still in diapers.  Now, as we begin the homeschool year, I find myself feeling that initial shock of jumping into a cool pool and feeling the water close over my head.  With that last quick intake of breath, and before the panic of lack of air sets in, I push upward immediately through the chilly depths toward air and light, gasping deeply like a landed fish when my head breaks the surface.  And I realize I will survive homeschooling!

It is both a challenge and a privilege to homeschool one's children, and I remind myself often of that on good days and bad. Toward that end, I'd love to share with you a prayer, which I partially composed and keep visible on my teacher desk.  I hope it brings you inspiration, solace, courage, and joy....especially on days when you'd rather be throwing a vase at the wall!

"Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation and its many responsibilities.  Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience." (1)  As I respond to my children's repeated needs just one more time, fill the depths of my heart with Your Loving Concern and instill on my tongue the Wisdom of Your Words.  Transform my tiredness, frustration, and anger into Your Joy, Compassion, and Love.

Sweetest Lord, "I want to do what you ask of me, in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it." (2)  Help me believe I can do what you ask me to do.  Forgive me for the times when I fail.  Strengthen me to rise and reach for Your Hand when I fall.  Give me joy in attending to my Little Ones.  As I embrace each of them, graciously infuse my anxious soul with the same quiet, peace, and surety of Your Holy Mother's Loving Embrace.

Sweetest Lord, let my feeble limitations as a parent dissipate and be swept away by your Almighty strength.  Grant me the grace to live a long life of loving fidelity and generous surrender to You, through the gentle care of my children.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I Place My Trust in You!

Amen.

1 - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

2 - Pope Clement XI

"....never tire of doing what is right." (2 Thessalonians 3:13 )

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." (2 Corinthians 4:1)

Nos Promptus Ut Rugio (Let's Get Ready to Rumble!)

It can be so disheartening....

We just read on-line that an upcoming memorial service, to be held by NYC Mayor Bloomberg, commemorating the anniversary of the September 11th attacks SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDES religious or clergy representatives or references.  Really?  Is this how we remember our loved ones and ask God to Bless America?

Subsequent to that....

We just read on-line that, due to damage sustained by the earthquake, the service for the unveiling of MLK's memorial in Washington, D.C. will be MOVED from the Episcopal National Cathedral to the Catholic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, "the largest Catholic church in the United States and North America and one of the ten largest largest churches in the world" (sources: www.dcquake.nationalcathedral.org/ and www.nationalshrine.com).  The Lord works in mysterious ways!

Let us pray for all who will be present for this service, as they suddenly find themselves present in the premier Catholic church in America, in the Eucharistic presence of Our Lord, dedicated to our country's patron saint!

May Our Lady gently move each person's heart closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! 

May each person be inspired by the visual homage and praise of the cathedral!

Most of all, may the Eucharistic presence of Jesus flood each person's heart with the Joy of His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity!

Vive Jesu!

"After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.  His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, 'Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.' "  (Matthew 28:1-6a)

In Caelum (On Heaven)

So you wanna hear today's giggle from my monkeys?  We were in the van and the subject of "paradise" came up.  "What's paradise?" my young son asked.  "Some people think it's heaven," my little daughter immediately replied, and then excitedly continued, "And some people think it's Hawaii!"

My daughter also got a stunner this weekend when she had to use a one-room, unisex bathroom with her younger brother and my husband, and saw for the first time a urinal on the wall.  "What's that!?" she asked, looking concerned as she pointed at the urinal.  My son (fresh from his experience of "pee-ing like a man" for the first time on the Blue Knights camping trip with Daddy) grinned proudly and said, "That's for me and Dad.  We can pee standing up!"

My daughter looked horrified.  "You mean like an animal!?" she gasped.

The blessing of animals traditionally takes place in autumn, as the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4^th.  St. Francis's love of all God's animals is well-documented, particularly in his "Canticle of the Creatures."

Lacrima Pro Vereor (Tears for Fears)

So once again, one of my kids found her suuuuuuuuffering unimaginably interminable.  You know, one of those hand-to-the-forehead, drama queen, "Woooooooooe is me!" moments (*sigh*).

"Offer it up!" I quipped (for the forty-eleventh time).  This remark was met with a blank look, which definitely would have been an eye-roll-look, if eye-rolls-at-adults were allowed in our house.  Which.  They.  Are.  Not.

"Offer it up for the souls in purgatory," I continued.  "Pick a soul," I added, just to make it interesting.  "Pick the soul who needs one more prayer to get out.  Pick the one at the end of the line who'll be locking up.  Pick the youngest soul, the oldest soul, the tallest soul, the skinniest soul, the soul who has absolutely no one to pray for him, the soul with a wart on his nose, the soul with the horsey laugh....." and on I went with ever-more ridiculous characteristics, hoping to lighten my daughter's mood.

It worked.  My wee banshee began to giggle and happily went about her assigned task, which moments ago had been the proverbial bane of her immediate existence.

But then my little son, just stood there looking thoughtful, then slightly concerned.  "I'd pick the youngest soul," he said, tears beginning to pool in his large dark eyes.  "Because he might be a little afraid to be there."

My heart dropped, my throat closed up, and I dropped to my knees on our kitchen floor to hug both these kids and thank God for them, praying we all actually might make it to heaven together some day after all.

This was a moment just too good not to share!

"He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death.  But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.  Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin."  (2 Maccabees 12:43-45)

Datum Grate (Donate Happily!)

Okay, so I removed the majority of our two year old's and about half of my clothes closet at 11:30p last night.  I mean, seriously folks, let's be honest -- after giving birth to five of our six kids, my posterior end just is never gonna see the inside of those pants nor skirts EVER again, no matter how many pilates I do (...which, I don't do any, so that might be part of the problem.  Bon-bons are not very slimming).   :-)

I feel GRRRREAT!  How incredibly blessed are we that I've packed up so very, very, very many clothes to donate, and yet my closet still looks "full"?  The breath of fresh air space is marvelous and already I can't even remember which clothes I pitched.  Many of the items are excellent quality suits and skirts from when I was gainfully employed (in another life B.C. -- Before Children), so our church's thrift shop is about to get lucky!  Here's hoping this counts toward "clothing the naked".  Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!  My recommendation - just do it!

"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (II Corinthians 9:7)

"Why are you anxious about clothes?  Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.  They do not work or spin.  But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.  If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?"  (Matthew 6:28-30)

Pax Inter Mutationes (Peace Amidst Change)

"Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you everyday.  He will either shield you from suffering, or He will give you strength to bear it.  Be at peace and put aside anxious thoughts and imaginations." (St. Francis de Sales)

 

"Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but He was asleep.  They came and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are perishing!'  He said to them, 'Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?' Then He got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm."  (Matthew 8:24-26)

On Hand-Holding During the Our Father

Recently, the question was raised among friends about the appropriateness of holding hands during Mass while the congregation prays the Our Father.  Predictably, this potentially polarizing topic quickly stiffened more than a few spines.  Could we disagree on this critical subject, yet still remain friends!?

I have too many diapers and Math tests today to share here anything more in-depth than a quick weigh-in (and lunch and laundry are right around the corner!  Oy!), but here's my take on our discussion:

You see, I believe we only will benefit and increase our erudition in the Catholic Faith by learning the Church's specific intent behind the clearly articulated rubrics of the Mass, via either respectful personal discourse (as with my dear friends) or edifying dissertation.

As the highest form of prayer, the Mass deserves our highest consideration, as do our fellow Catholics who, like us, also seek to praise and worship Almighty God as He deserves.  Let us be truthful yet amiable in our speech, lest we defeat the origin and fruits of our worship by allowing ourselves to degenerate into morally opprobrious conduct amidst each other.

"He gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ."  (Ephesians 4:11-15)

(...my underline emphases added...)

So.  That's how we discuss it.  Now how do we practice it?  Having just concluded the Eucharistic Prayers, during which our Lord Himself has been made Real and Truly Present on the altar, do we turn the focus on ourselves and stretch across the aisle kumbaya-fashion to hug, shake hands, fist bump, or engage in other similar gestures?

Um, no.  I'm with Father Z.* on this.  While the Our Father inherently unites us in Faith, the reverential aspect of the Mass demands our highest regard and obeisance.  Personal interpretations of the Mass (other than ethnic/cultural variations approved by the Holy See) by priests or laity, no matter how seemingly insignificant, small, or well-meaning, whether unwitting or deliberate cozenage, are scrofulous and a slippery slope to outright heresy.  And certainly no congregation specifically should be impelled to participate in a way that is not within the rubrics of the Mass.

Far more wise and saintly hearts and minds than mine have weighed in on this oftimes delicate topic, so I encourage you to research it personally, as well.

*  Father John Zuhlsdorf addresses this and many other liturgical questions on his excellent blog, "Father Z's Blog - What Does The Prayer Really Say?"  You can find his entry regarding the above topic at the following link:  http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/05/quaeritur-our-father-hand-holding-fr-z-rants/

 

Meus Nomen Alexander (Call Me Alexander)

Okay, folks -- in light of ACTUAL urgent prayer needs, I have the most mundane of all possible prayer requests.  It's for me.

Ever read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?  Yep.  Well, you shoulda been at my house today.  Australia was looking better and better by the minute.  In the immortal words of Jimmy Buffett, "the doggies were a-yellin', the children were a-bitin'....".  I am bulbous as a beach ball (baby #6 is due later this month) and just as slow, the top of my desk has disappeared beneath the layers of an avalanche of papers and "things to do", and The Shriek Scale (both for me and the kids) seems to be rising exponentially.

I'm almost looking forward to a trip to the hospital for extreme pain just to get away.  After all, you get room service once the baby's born, right?

A wise woman, however (...okay, it was Amy M.), told me never to make homeschool decisions in February.  Today being the last day for that injunction, I opted (with great difficulty) not to quit, but instead fed the children (didn't I just feed them yesterday?) and read to them and tucked them in w/ my strained smile and their genuine, strong, tiny, warm little hugs (....*sigh*....okay, so THAT was the good part of the day).

So.  For whining publicly like this amidst my innumerable blessings, I suppose I've just earned at least another 10 years in purgatory (assuming I even make it that far).  Anyone willing to toss up a few Hail Marys for me will be my hero (and my children's)!  And have my eternal gratitude.

No, really.  I mean it.  Even in Australia.

With Love, Gratitude, and Great Mortification,

I Thank You! 

 

Beer Pro Meus Ferrum (Beer for My Horses)

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum -- we had six children!  (Did you read our "About Us" tab at www.AveMomma.com?  No?  Go ahead.  I'll wait.  Really, go.  I'll wait right here.)

So.  Here I am, homeschooling our little sapling souls.  Since our eldest child has special needs, we sometimes have a need for expensive equipment or services, so I began Ave Momma as a small way to contribute some pin money to the family fortunes (thus beer for our horses), as well as follow Our Lady of Fatima's recommendation to spread the Joy of the Rosary.

We're looking forward to sharing some uplifting thoughts with you!

Thank you for joining us on the journey!

"Happy are all who fear the LORD, who walk in the ways of God.  What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper: Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, like olive plants your children around your table.  Just so will they be blessed who fear the Lord."  (Psalm 128:1-4)