St. Patrick's Day: phfr

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

The Heavenly Jerusalem

A blessed All Saint's Day!

All Hallow's Eve gives us a moment of Hope.  There is excitement and joy.

We can all look towards our Heavenly Home...

With each piece of candy that you enjoy...let it remind you of the sweetness of the Heavenly Jerusalem.

Celebrating All Hallow's Eve and All Saints day, domestically, has changed over the years.  We can still find that excitement and joy that remind us of the Hope of Heaven.

How do you celebrate All Hallow's Eve and All Saints Day?

A Fair Day in 2015

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

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

We had a fun day at the fair this year, as we do every year!

This is the same fair my father took my siblings and I when we were children.

~ The TAU ~

When my family and I (and 24 of our parish Altar Boys) visited Assisi, I had the opportunity to learn more about the TAU or Sign of Redemption.

  TAU is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet.  St. Francis of Assisi had an especially great love for this Hebrew mark.  

The First Christians used the Tau mark, as it was a prophecy of the Last Day, as in the Greek letter Omega.  Omega stands for the Risen Lord.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."  ~ Revelation 22:13

And Christians adopted the TAU because its form evokes the cross upon which Christ sacrificed himself...for our salvation.  Our Redemption.

The TAU is a sign of redemption.

"Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:  by whose stripes ye were healed."  ~ 1 Peter 2:24

With Lent fast approaching, I decided to begin wearing my TAU to remind me of God's plan for my own redemption.  I hope, in some little way, it will help remind me to turn away from evil and sin.

"Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."  ~ Acts 3:19

I happened to be cleaning out my closet and found my TAU hidden away with a holy card and bookmark.  These material treasures were among the pictures of the pilgrimage I took to Assisi and The Porziuncola at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.  The visit to this holy place was the real treasure.

There is a Chapel...a National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, here in San Francisco, which I plan to make a pilgrimage to as part of my Lenten Journey.  For my visitors that live afar, you can take a virtual tour here.

I learned that St. Francis used to sign all his writings with the TAU sign.  It was his "seal", if you will.  St. Francis' great conviction of "the salvation of the world lies only in the cross of Christ" is apparent in how he lived his life.  

I like to think that I belong to this great Franciscan family...about thirty-six years ago I chose St. Francis of Assisi as my Confirmation saint and namesake.

It made me so happy when I heard that our current Pope (Francis) chose St. Francis of Assisi's name, too.  His reasons were more well formed than my 15 year old mind, but I related to his reasons totally:
"the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation".  That is the person that I wanted most to emulate.

May we all 'die to ourselves' this Lent.  May we all find peace and show peace to others from now on...may we continue to be good stewards, serving and sharing the love of Christ in all that we do.  

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is discord, unity.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is error, truth.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is sadness, joy.

Where there is darkness, light.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek 

To be consoled, as to console.

To be understood, as to understand.

To be loved, as to love.

For 

It is in giving, that we receive.

It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.

It is in dying, that we are born to eternal life."

~ Saint Francis of Assisi

St. Lucy's Cookie Dough ~ White Chocolate Truffles

St. Lucy or St. Lucia is the patron saint for the blind & those with eye disorders.  

Her name means "light".  

She was born in Syracuse, Sicily, and was from a wealthy family.
She was persecuted while defending the Faith.  Lucia is often depicted holding her eyes on a golden plate, because her eyes were gouged out before she was executed. She was a young courageous Christian woman, filled with the love of God.  Read more about St. Lucy here.

  

Find the quick and easy recipe for Cookie Dough White Chocolate Truffles here.


St. Lucia, ora pro nobis!

~ Papal Cream Cake ~

After a quick search, I came across the simplest & quickest version of kremowka papieska (pronounced: kreh-MOOV-kah  pah-PYESS-kah) or Papal Cream Cake. 

This Polish dessert was renamed papal cream cake after it was learned that Pope John Paul II ate this as a youth, and apparently, he was quite fond of this delicious pastry.  

It is pretty high-profile dessert, now; and the story of how Karol Wojtyla, enjoyed this creamy pastry delight from his friend's father's bakery, is endearing.

It is the perfect choice of celebratory food, as we celebrate this 1st special occasion.  

On the first anniversary feast day of Pope St. John Paul II - we enjoy the kremowka papieska!

The Pastry Cream recipe I found, turned out to be DELICIOUS.  It was so easy to make.  Six basic ingredients:  milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, cornstarch & egg yolks.  It took about 15 minutes to make this delicious custard cream filling.

I cheated and used a pre-made puff pastry; so, I didn't need the butter after all.  The entire dessert (from start to finish) took less than an hour...that includes clean up.  I did have the frozen pastry dough thawed prior to my baking and prep time.

This was my first time making this dessert.  Perfect for a first time anniversary!

You can find the full step by step recipe for Papal Cream Cake here.

Sharing on the Catholic Bloggers Network Monthly Link Up Blitz

St. John Paul II...

We love you.

credit:  Imperfectly Living a Dream Blog

Pray for us!

"I plead with you!  Never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged.  Be not afraid."

~ St. John Paul II

Happy Feast Day ~ October 22

Joining Catholic Bloggers 2014 Link Up Blitz
Liturgical Calendar

~ Happy St. Valentine's Day ~

I was on time this year, when putting out my Valentine décor, because last year I was a little too early for some.

Planning ahead to make the actual day a little more special.  Nothing fancy, just thoughtful.   Enough to bring smiles and thanks of appreciation from my children.  I brought out items that I use every year, and even put out a few 'sweet' items.

Again, I was surprised with a bouquet of love gift from my husband.  :o)  Although, this year it also included Butterfly and Little Lamb.  So sweet.

The love bug infectiously caused a chain reaction and love notes began appearing...

Little Lamb worked on making the Valentine napkin holders found in the silk heart.

Before

After

She decorated short-bread cookies & pumpkin cupcakes; while the rest of us helped eat them.

So who was St. Valentine and why do we celebrate like we do?

St. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269.  He is the patron saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people.
In 496 AD Pope Gelasius I marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of St. Valentine's martyrdom.  Archaeologists unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine was discovered. 

And Cupid?

He is one of the gods in Roman mythology; from the latin word cupido which translates to love & passion.  In our Western Culture he is symbol of love & romance. 
I think he is a little like Santa Claus...turning things towards commercialism and secularism.

St. Valentine's Day is about the life of a saint - a priest and martyr.  He was martyred for marrying Christian couples and for not acknowledging the Roman emperor as a living deity.  I can see how the meaning of Valentine's Day took a change to celebrate romance - especially in married couples. 
So, do you celebrate St. Valentine's Day...and how?

Which reminds me, St. Patrick's Day will soon be here...

Hoping you had a LOVEly St. Valentine's Day


Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network ~ Family Journal

~ Our Lady of Guadalupe ~

 

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,

and on her head a crown of twelve stars”

~ Revelation 12:1 

 

Isn't she lovely?

 

I just love her.  The Patroness of the Americas.  This is the only apparition where Our Lady left an actual picture of herself! 

On December 12, 1531, her image was imprinted on the tilma (or cloak) of St. Juan Diego.  Now, nearly 500 years later, it is still perfectly preserved!

A miracle?

And so many interesting scientific discoveries surrounding this image...

Go ahead, search it.

 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

 

“Listen and let it penetrate your heart…do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?”

~* ~ Our Lady’s words to her servant Juan Diego ~*~

~ St. Nicholas ~

As our Homeschool Group's First Friday Mass Coordinator, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, who is the patron saint of children, with a festive flare.

So I visited this website and came up with some fun activities to help celebrate the occasion.

Some of the activities included:

ST. NICHOLAS GAMES & ACTIVITIES

St. Nicholas Coin Toss

Chocolate St. Nicholas craft

Nutter Butter St. Nicholas Cookie Decorating

St. Nicholas Guessing Game (adapted from Catholic Inspired)

Apple St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas roll-up

Coloring Table of St. Nicholas, St. Lucia & Our Lady of Guadalupe

St. Nicholas Story Time

CROZIER
St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, carried a crozier to be a shepherd for his people. 

Guess how many candy-cane “croziers’ are in the jar?

CROZIER
A hooked staff carried by a bishop; represents a shepherd's staff as the bishop is to be the shepherd of the people, as Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Again, a crozier is a general symbol for bishops, but unique to Nicholas among gift-givers.

~ +~+~+~

Life saver

for children
St. Nicholas, is a “Life saver”; he saved 3 children from the wicked inn keeper.

Guess how many “life savers’ are in the jar?

LIFE SAVER

FOR CHILDREN
Show Nicholas as the protector of children, from the story rescuing young children or students from the evil butcher or innkeeper. Usually three children are in the tub, but sometimes only two are present.

~ +~+~+~

sailors
when sailors were in a ‘crunch’, as the angry seas tossed their ship about for 2 days; good st. Nicholas prayed, bringing them safely to the harbor of myra.

Guess how many “crunches” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

animals
quick fact:  another st. Nicholas, st. Nicholas of tolentino, is know as a patron saint of animals. A studious, kind and gentle youth, at the age of 16 Nicholas became an Augustinian Friar.

Guess how many “animal cracker cookies” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

fish
the fish in the sea swam in the angry seas that tossed the sailors about, before st. Nicholas brought the boat to safety.

Guess how many “swedish fish” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

coins
st. Nicholas gave of his own ‘coins’ to help 3 young maidens pay for their dowry, sparing their lives from slavery.

Guess how many “coins” are in the jar?

~ +~+~+~

Advent is a time to reflect on the lord's coming.
December holds many opportunities to learn about him,
to know him,
through his saints and through his mother.

~ advent ~
Preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily.

Linking up to Equipping Catholic Families Saints Cele-Linky
&
Catholic Bloggers Network
~+~ Homeschooling & Liturgical Calendar ~+~

{pretty, happy, funny, real} : Sweet Saints Edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

Equipping Catholic Families Saints Cele-Linky,

and Catholic Bloggers Network
+ Family Journal +

{pretty}

 Butterfly's Collections.

She arranges them just so...pretty.

{happy}

I save boxes and containers, just in case. 

So I was {happy} to find a good use for these empty gelato containers (that have been taking up space in my pantry closet). 


Thanks to Jennifer at Catholic Inspired for the idea, the labels and, of course, the inspiration!

Each Jar named a saint...and the contents had saint themed goodies inside.  Check our her ideas, and get her label printouts, here.

Thank you, Jennifer for sharing this wonderful idea!

{funny}

As our homeschool groups new First Friday Mass Coordinator, I organized an Ice Cream Social, which took place right after the Mass.  Fun.  We also made "saints" for the All Saints Party.  The children traced each other, and then painted in a saint.  This was Little Lambs contribution...

Everyone had fun making their saint...there were some really talented artists!

They will be added to all the previously painted saints.

{real}

Working on schoolwork, activities, organizing clubs, events...my desk is a perpetual mess.
I actually have layers of stuff...sometimes things (my ipad) teetering on top of books and things.  Thank goodness for little helpers...

She's ready to help..."as an American Heritage Girl, I promise to be: 
Compassionate, Helpful, Honest,
Loyal, Perseverant, Pure,
Resourceful, Respectful, Responsible, and Reverent."  ~ The AHG creed

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

Catholic Bloggers Network's Link-up Blitz

and don't forget to

Visit Equipping Catholic Families to find more saintly activities!