Christ + Mass = CHRISTMAS

A very blessed Christmastide to my family, my friends, and all mankind...

May the joy and peace of the Christ Child remain in your heart and soul, forever.

The gift that keeps on giving.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  ~ John 3:16

O Holy Night: Christmas Eve 2014

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace 

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

December 2014: Surprises {phfr} style

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny, and real family fun!

{pretty}

Little Lamb surprised me with this pretty nativity set she made.

{happy}

Conductor and I will surprise the altar boys with this modest gift for the altar boys of our parish.

{funny}

This is the outcome of two photographers trying to get a pic of one another; Surprise!

{real}

The old ones have worn...St. Nicholas' feast day is the perfect time to 'surprise' them with a new set.



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

Advent 2014: Week Three

+ Preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily +

"We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us, since they harm themselves and do us good, and adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory."

                               -St. Anthony Zaccaria

With our parochial vicar's prompting, my son and I have been working on gifting our altar boys & acolytes, with a modest 'thank you' gift, for all the wonderful service they have given to our church.  Every year our pastor has gifted them a little treat, which they always appreciate.  

I think they will like this year's treat, as well.

Preparing for the Celebration
I woke up to find, on my desk, a wooden peg nativity set.  It was lovingly colored by my Little Lamb.  We are all looking forward to the coming of Our Lord.

A bonus was the mini-celebration of our Papa Francis ( who shares my confirmation name sake).  Son Dulce de leche was in order, as was a splash of Frangelico.  I will have to re-purpose this bottle after its contents have been used...

The Jesuscaritaest blog reinvigorated me to pull out our Ero Cras O Antiphon House; which we were inspired to make many years ago.  Even though I brought it out on time, we have not had a moment to do the readings with all the other activities going on:  from choir to ice skating to a trip to the ER...  

My children took this picture on their own, to thank me for their gift...I think they were happy with their slippers/socks.

                                             Sharing Family traditions, reflections, activities & crafts over at 
                                                                             Catholic Bloggers Advent Link up

Happy Birthday Papa Francis

Fresh eggs from the coop...just what I need to bake a simple cake for such an occasion.  It seems that Dulce de Leche is one of Pope Francis' favorite desserts.  An Argentinian delight, I found a recipe in a cake version - Dulce de Leche Layer Cake with Frangelico liqueur.  Perfecto!

Guilty

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!