First Communion Candles

The month of May is filled with so many beautiful Marian Devotions and it is typically the month when the Sacraments are celebrated.

Just popping in quickly to post a picture of this beautiful First Holy Communion Candle that was definitely Hand-Made With LOVE.

Thank you to my dear friend that is so incredibly talented and giving...from the kindness of her heart, the First Communion Children will process with these gorgeous keepsake candles.

May the Light of Christ shine brightly on this day and always.

"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life." 

 ~ John 8:12

Easter Blessings 2016

Our family has so much to be thankful for, and these past few weeks are no exception.  The days continue to pass so quickly!  My desire to journal here about our days of celebrations and family joys is enormous...but the time to do so, is limited.  There simply is no time to journal and share about all the happenings...

The Immaculate Conception

"Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you."

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." 

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word."

~ Luke 1:26-38

December 8th

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patronal Feastday of the United States of America

Long before the angel Gabriel spoke those words to Mary, she was preserved from original sin.   While Mary was in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, she was kept sinless by the virtue of the foreseen life and death of Christ.  This was the Immaculate Conception.  Mary was concieved without original sin.

What better vessel to house the Son of God.  Thank you, Mary.  Thank you for your fiat.  Thank you for your motherly love.

All Souls Day

November 1st

Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

English

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Latine

V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.

R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

Credit

We were blessed with much needed rain and a beautiful sky and multiple rainbows.  God hears our prayers.  Please pray.

Corpus Christi

A lot is going on these days...fun activities, school year ending, vacations, anniversaries, parties, and then there's...

CORPUS CHRISTI

Journey to Lourdes: Part One

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

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This is the beautiful day and scenery that greeted us as we entered Lourdes, France...

Bus Ride to Lourdes

~ Happy Tidings ~

Annunciation Cake

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Although we are still in the season of Lent, we are celebrating many feast days.  There are just so many Angels and Saints and we love to learn about them and ask for their intercessions throughout the year...In Lent, or out of Lent.

"Golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelations 5:8

Thank You Flowers for Confirmation 2015 & Conductor's clay Holy Family from 2003

We just celebrated the feast of St. Joseph (March 19), the spouse of Mary, and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25).

There are many was to celebrate feast days, even in Lent:

From decorating with statues or art work, to reading about a saint, or writings from a saint.  A favorite of mine is to celebrate with foods.  We have to eat...everyday.  We might as well incorporate the day with those associated with the patron in honor.  We love to sample new and exciting international types of food.  Foods that are authentic to the lands of the saints and traditional recipes that have been handed down from both old and contemporary customs.  They can be familiar or exotic.  They can be simple or extravagant... But they always remind us of our beloved saints.

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.  This is good, and pleasing to God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  1 Timothy 2:1-4

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Celebrations

By far, the most ordinary way we have celebrated a feast day is to attend the Holy Mass, which is extraordinary.  It is the perfect prayer and celebration.  Unfortunately, this past school year has been challenging to make every Liturgical celebration.  We attend daily Mass when we can, and pray at home and celebrate with foods and decor and readings and prayers...

Let us CELEBRATE!

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2015...Year of

CONSECRATED LIFE.

Pope Francis issued a letter for the Year of Consecrated Life to be observed from the 30th of November, 2014, through the 2nd of February 2016, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

This evening, our Bishop celebrated the occasion with a beautiful Holy Mass.
In his homily, he highlighted the Aims of the Year of Consecrated Life:

1.  Look to past with gratitude.
2.  Live the present with passion.
3.  Embrace the future with hope.

Conductor in procession for YOCL Mass

"I entrust this Year of Consecrated Life to Mary, the Virgin of listening and contemplation, the first disciple of her beloved Son.  Let us look to her, the highly beloved daughter of the Father, endowed with every gift of grace, as the unsurpassed model for all those who follow Christ in love of God and service to their neighbour."  

~ Pope Francis

~ Preparing for Lent ~

Making way for the Purple...

It seems like I just put away my Christmas decorations...hey, wait, I did just put away my Christmas decorations...

Now it is time to start thinking about Lent, which is only 15 days away!

Since my oldest two are now in high school, I have been searching for some "age appropriate" ideas for LIVING LENT.  

We will certainly turn to our Lenten Traditions of Fasting, Alms-giving and Prayer, however, I would like to find something that my oldest two will find meaningful...something that will "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." ~ Psalm 51:10.  

Station of the Cross 2013 project

We are a very close family, and we have always actively lived the liturgical seasons as a family.  Taking time out of our day to live and pray the season together, even for a moment, is a tradition that I would like to keep alive in my home.
We shouldn't outgrow traditions, not even if my children have grown taller than me!  lol.  Traditions give us a certain closeness or unity, they also create memories for us.
Traditions teach us our Faith.  As a family, we should live our Faith together.  
I believe that God's grace and peace resides in a home that keeps true to his Traditions.
"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you..." ~ 1Cor 11:23

So, I was thinking...maybe some Lenten Fireside Chats or BookClub style discussions or maybe viewing a DVD series (and engaging in a study program together) like Catholicism, which we have owned for several years.  Maybe it is time to revisit this beautiful work...

Sharing our Faith.  Growing in Faith.  

Living our Faith. 

Family style, if you will.

Last year's Shrove Tuesday King Cake

Shrove Tuesday

I know one tradition that my children still look forward to...

This year we will be using the King Arthur Gluten-Free version...it is my absolute favorite!

All Souls Day

"The Lord is my Shepherd.  There is nothing I shall want."

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Requiem ~ Music of the Requiem by Gabriel Faure.  Beautiful.

In Paradisum

In paradisum deducant te Angeli;

May angels lead you into paradise;

in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres,

upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you,

et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem.

and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,

May the ranks of angels receive you,

et cum Lazaro quondam paupere

and with Lazarus, once a poor man

aeternam habeas requiem.

may you have eternal rest.

~ Gabriel Faure

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Guest Room Edition

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Hospitality.

 

 

Having my guests feel at home...

Treating my guests with warmth...

 

surrounding them with loveliness...

 

 

finding the perfect setting, in simplicity...

where peace can be found.

 

Using what I have, or sharing things that were given to me...

 

 Making my guests feel welcome...that's Hospitality.

The perfect nook to read a book.

 

 

{happy}

 

A visit to a book sale at my local library...happy!

There is no question, we hit the MOTHER LODE.  I could hardly contain myself as I scooped up all these beauties.  And among all my new found treasures was my very favorite, in rare vintage, preserved so well...

Someone had gifted it, Christmas 1900.  1900! 

We came home with bags and bags of lovely vintage books.  Oh yes, HAPPY.

More, happy.

Some vintage, some not.  All make me happy.

 

 

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HEAVEN or HELL?

 

A converted Corn Hole game...throwing the seven deadly sins into HELL.

And then there is the HEAVENLY game of Halos on the Saints...

 A lot of creative parents; the children had lots of fun!
Of course, the Saints Jars were also played...

 

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Butterfly shared a prayer card that she found while cleaning out her closet.

On one side is a picture of All Saints in Heaven.

On the other side of the card, reads:

 

SURPRISE IN HEAVEN

 

I dreamt death came, the other night

 

And Heaven's gate swung wide,

An Angel with halo bright

Ushered me inside.

 

And there!  To my astonishment.

Stood folks I'd judged and labeled;

As "quite unfit", "of little worth";

And "spiritually disabled".

 

Indignant words rose to my lips,

But never were set free,

For every face showed stunned surprise ---

 

Not one expected ME!

 

Speaking of saints...my children and I were privileged to view and venerate 165 relics through Treasures of the Church. 

What are relics?  Read about it, here.

I will share this one picture:

A Fragment of Mary's Veil
De Velo (from the Veil)

OK, this one too:

Which other relics did we see?

All of these, here.

What a perfect experience, so close to All Saints Feast Day.

 

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