Setting Fire

Today is the feast day of another of my favorite saints, more so now than ever: St. Catherine of Siena.
Siena also happens to be one of my top two favorite towns in Italy, I loved it there!
So much to say about this saint, but this quote from this amazing holy faithful pushy humble strong woman, Doctor of the Church, really sums it up:

"If you are who God made you to be, you will set the whole world on fire!"
-St. Catherine

Dear St. Joseph

Sculpture by Dony McManus

It's the feast of St. Joseph!
I'm so excited.
I love a feast, everything about it..food, fest, fete, remembering, commemorating, celebrating...it's all the good stuff wrapped up into that one word, isn't it? FEAST.  Yay.  We Catholics, we love a feast!
It's also of course, the end of the novena, which is always good.
I'm reposting some of this from last year because I am just not good enough to redo my words and thoughts, no room in my brain to rephrase my ideas just for novelty's sake.
But I will point out one shift, for me, with regard to this particular saint: I'm working hard this  year on getting closer to dear St. Joseph.
I feel the need to cling to him, in particular, in prayer and my heart and I've entrusted our family to his prayers and intercession this year.  This year, in particular, and perhaps all years ahead, we need, I need, to lean on and go to St. Joseph. Not trying to be cryptic, but just so you know I have a particular need to grow closer to St Joseph, and fast, and this year is the year our relationship takes a turn for the closer.  It must. I need him. 

Anyhow, more on all that later.  A year before I also did a post on this great saint, on his feast day.  And since I can't redo my words or thoughts, and still don't really want to, please go here to get a bit on dear St. Joseph.  As my mind continues to decline and muddle, best to return to my older posts that might be a bit more um, clear.....always!  

Anyhow, the year before I wrote all about my adoption links and issues with St. Joseph.  Not HIM actually, but rather others perception of him.  I mean, give the guy some cred! He's the dad!  Ok...I begin to digress. Go read my post if you have a spark of curiosity about him and all this from an adoptive perspective.  

This year, again, I just want and need to think about dear St. Joseph.  As a faithful humble man, who served his God, his family, his child and community.  He didn't get a lot of attention for it, except for some seriously negative opinions and sniping in the beginning of it all regarding his bride.....  So he didn't get the kudos, he didn't get the understanding.  He was and is still misunderstood.  But, and here is the key for me: he didn't stand up and correct everyone and make sure they understood just what he was doing.  He didn't.  

He just went ahead and did the next thing, lived and loved deeply as the dad.  

Every day.  

In his little town, doing his regular job, no status, no notice, no blog.  

Just, day to day, keeping on.  

So, I wonder.  He was  human.  Did he ever want to stand up on one of those tables he made (sturdy, no doubt) and holler at his little townspeople or neighbors, "Hey, I know you have all sorts of ideas about what is going on, but you're wrong.  I love her.  I love him.  He's special.  Yeah, God told me it's ok, it's right even.  So. Stop judging.  It's SO much more than you know."  Ya think???? Ok, probably not.  But, I wonder sometimes.  He's a saint, but he was human.  He's a saint not because God made him extra perfect and different than us.  He's a saint because he was faithful, even when he didn't understand.  

Michael O'Brien, St. Joseph

And that, that is like a whack in the head to me.

He was faithful, even when he didn't - couldn't - understand.  Because it all didn't make sense.  But he still accepted.  And gave in to this plan.  And did what he was called to do.  And he didn't whine and whinge on about it all.  He just did it.  Every day.  Every night.  As long as he was called to do it.  And that, I struggle with that.  Every day lately.  Because I always fall into the narcissistic trap of "it's all about me."  I don't think St. Joseph did that.  Which blows my mind.  

So yeah,  he's one of my heroes.  He's still misunderstood.  But, he has much to teach me. Especially now.  

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Happy Feast Day!

Lourdes and Moms

from Basilica of Pius X, at Lourdes,
h/t: Contemplative Haven Blog

It's the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Moms, she's our patron, as always.
Read/pray the litany prayer below and remember how she, as a mom, cares and prays for us all:

Holy Mary, pray for us. 
Holy Mother of God, pray for us. 
Mother of Christ, pray for us. 
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of Christians, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, source of love, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the poor, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the handicapped, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of orphans, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all children, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all nations, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the Church, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, friend of the lonely, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of those who mourn, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, shelter of the homeless, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, guide of travelers, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, strength of the weak, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, refuge of sinners, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of the suffering, pray for us. 
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the dying, pray for us. 
Queen of Heaven, pray for us. 
Queen of peace, pray for us

Happy Feast Day, moms!

Just like a Sister

Icon source here

It's the feast of St. Scholastica!
And I had planned on doing a little post on  her, because we are quite fond of her 'round here.  But Anchoress  beat me to it and I can't top her.  So, I'm gonna send you over.  Go, read, it's worth it.  Scholastica's got that brother-sister dynamic DOWN.  Which makes me grin; another saint that is all too human, but even so, holy!

Here's a snip…..Go

"Perhaps I just love thinking that she had “irritated” Benedict, as only a sister can irritate a brother.

"When the man of God saw that he could not get back to the monastery because of the lightning and thunder and the great flood of rain, he was irritated and began to complain: “May God have mercy on you, my sister. Why have you done this?” And she replied to him: “See, I asked you, and you would not listen to me. So I asked my Lord, and he has listened to me. Now then, go, if you can. Leave me, and go back to the monastery.” But unable to go outside, he stayed against his will in a place where he had been unwilling to stay on his own"

Go, read the post for yourself.  You'll get a smile, especially if you've ever been a sister with a brother!

Dia de Fiesta: Guadalupe!!!

It's the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
Being from the southwest, growing up in Arizona specifically, I have a special fondness for Our Lady of Guadalupe. And you know, I just like most everything about this feast day and Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I love the Mexican culture, the food to celebrate, the miracles, the roses, the prayers, the colors, the music, the textiles.  What's not to love?

The short version of Our Lady of Guadalupe is, of course, that she appeared to St. Juan Diego on his way to Mass.  She asked for a church to be built on the spot.  She asked him to ask the Bishop.  He agreed, the Bishop didn't want to believe him.  So he kind of griped to Mary, saying that he couldn't get the Bishop to listen and he wanted a sign..  She told Juan to gather flowers from Tepeyac Hill, (ones that weren't indigenous and it was winter) and so he gathered the roses (that had miraculously bloomed in the winter snow) up in his cloak.  When he got to the Bishop, he spilled the roses out in the office and on his tilma (A type of cloak) was the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe!  Full wikipedia version here.

This is one of those times where once again, we see the universality of the Church.  Mary is not only our mother if you are of white european ancestry, but of course, she is mother to us all - the world over.  And in Mexico, today, you can see the festival celebrating her, complete with all the local cultural trimmings.

Coffeedoc and I went to Mexico City on his fortieth birthday, to go see the tilma for ourselves.  And you know, there was a time when part of me just kind of took the 'folklore' appreciation route with Our Lady of Guadalupe.  My folklore background would kick in and I'd get caught up in all the sensual aspects: the colors, textures, foods, fiestas...the layers and layers that are part of any long historical memorial.

But, going to Mexico City, to the Basilica's - the old and the new - well, it's one of those things.  You go.  You see the pilgrims who have traveled there ON THEIR KNEES.  

You see the thousands and thousands of milagros pinned up (Small metal tokens of thanksgiving left behind for answered prayers).  And you see the tilma.  

You stand in front of the tilma, and scour it with your own eyes.  You pray. And it's like C.S. Lewis says, to paraphrase: you either believe, or you think they are all lying (Or it's a big scam), or that they are crazy.  

Well, I don't think they are all lying and I don't think that it's a scam.  I think Our Lady of Guadalupe has made a huge difference in so many lives.  And I don't think they are all crazy either.  Especially not after being there.  But I didn't really ever ascribe to that one either.  I believe.  I believe Our Lady of Guadalupe is another manifestation of Our Blessed Mother.  And that like any mom, she will go to where her children are and where they need her.  And so she did.  

"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 (Entrance Antiphon for Our Lady of Guadalupe)

  

Ave María (Hail Mary)

Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo.

Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres. Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús.

Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores,

ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.

*portions of this from  last year, it's Advent, and finals....Our Lady of Guadalupe won't mind, I hope you won't either. And yes, I'm just that lazy efficient these days*

Musical Feast Day: St. Cecilia!

St. Cecilia, by Raphael

It's the feast of St. Cecilia!
We love her, and my eldest daughter has a particular affinity for her as well (maybe a number of my kids have her as a patron - music is so integral to their lives, not just the ipod hookup of standard teenhood, but the passionate playing of music...it's part of who they are).   I also like to think of her as my Hannah's patron due to her 'shine' (meaning both Cecilia and my girl).  St. Cecilia is the patron of our near and dear Dominican Sisters here too. They are filled with music and radiance and are just joyfully compelling, just like their patron must have been.

 Poussin, St. Cecilia

 From St. Augustine, apropos of this musical feast day:

Sing to him a new song, sing to him with joyful melody. Every one of us tries to discover how to sing to God. You must sing to him, but you must sing well. He does not want your voice to come harshly to his ears, so sing well, brothers!

Now, who is more worthy of such a cry of jubilation than God himself, whom all words fail to describe? If words will not serve, and yet you must not remain silent, what else can you do but cry out for joy? Your heart must rejoice beyond words, soaring into an immensity of gladness, unrestrained by syllabic bonds. Sing to him with jubilation.

Carlo Saraceni, St. Cecilia and the Angel

 And I think that means that even us musically challenged folks can sing out on this day celebrating the life of St. Cecilia, flat notes and all! That's my story and I'm sticking to it at any rate!
So, sing out!

St. Cecilia, pray for us!

Feast of Christ the King

It's the Feast of Christ the King!
Which  means it's the last Sunday in the liturgical year, already!

Here is a bit of Fr. Andre, and his most excellent homily on this special day.  Go read the whole thing, his meditation on the two crowns of Christ as King is worth the time.  But for a lead in, here:

Pilate asks Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?...
Pilate’s arrogance does not intimidate Jesus, who then gives his own answer in the well-known words: “My kingdom is not from this world”....

Pilate is very astute. He does not see in Jesus’ answer a denial of his kingship. In fact, Pilate infers and insists: “So you are a king” (v 37). Jesus accepts his claim without hesitation: “You say that I am a king. For this I came into the world”. For what? To inaugurate a world of peace and fellowship, of justice and respect for other people’s rights, of love for God and for one another. This is the kingdom that penetrates our human history, illuminating it and leading it beyond itself, a kingdom that will have no end. When we pray the “Our Father”, we pray for this kingdom to come in its fullness.

Happy Feast Day.
Christ the King, my Lord and my God, pray for us. 

Double Feast: St Luke

El Greco, of course!

Today is the Feast of St. Luke!
You all know him, gospel writer and all.

But what sometimes gets overlooked is that St Luke is a man of many talents.  Not only was he a  a writer of the gospel and all...so his faith of course is inspiring....but he was a physician and tradition has it also an artist.  Now, the arts part has been disputed, but who can know really?  And tradition has brought St. Luke down as an  honored patron saint of the arts and painters, in fact as an iconographer of Mary...so I'm running with it.
I mean, St. Luke is like the double whammy patron of the house, or our marriage, no? Yes!  How cool! You've got the whole doc factor for Tom, and the arts factor for me, and the faith factor for us both! Whoa.
Frankly, I'm just really dig that.

After those two connections, you then add the whole Mary connection and well, this is a lock on the patron of the house deal for us.  We love Mary.  I love Mary!  And I love painting Mary!  So...St. Luke, he's the man...surely to goodness he's an intercessor to turn to.  His gospel has some of the most profound parables as well:

"Luke is the one who uses "Blessed are the poor" instead of "Blessed are the poor in spirit" in the beatitudes. Only in Luke's gospel do we hear Mary 's Magnificat where she proclaims that God "has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1:52-53).

Luke also has a special connection with the women in Jesus' life, especially Mary. It is only in Luke's gospel that we hear the story of the Annunciation, Mary's visit to Elizabeth including the Magnificat, the Presentation, and the story of Jesus' disappearance in Jerusalem. It is Luke that we have to thank for the Scriptural parts of the Hail Mary: "Hail Mary full of grace" spoken at the Annunciation and "Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus" spoken by her cousin Elizabeth.

Forgiveness and God's mercy to sinners is also of first importance to Luke. Only in Luke do we hear the story of the Prodigal Son welcomed back by the overjoyed father." 

Anyhow...just so you know.  Today is the Feast of St. Luke.  He was  born in a pagan family and was a convert to the faith.  He worked with Paul and preached the "mystery of Christ's love for the poor." He is inspiring. St. Luke lived the gospel through his spoken and written words, his art,  his hands.   Just like I should do, in some small measure, every day. 


From the divine office, morning prayer:

" Saint Luke gave us the gospel message and proclaimed Christ as the dawn from on high."

Painting by Maarten de Vos, 1602

So, my Tom/Coffeedoc, 

Happy Feast Day!

St. Luke, pray for us! 

Holy Cake!

It's the feast of the Nativity of Mary! 

Today is the day we celebrate and remember the nativity of our Blessed Mother, Mary. The birth of the Theotokos, Mother of God. I know some have questions or issues with this whole concept...but I am all about loving our Blessed Mother, and all about celebrating birthdays, so I can run with it! Go here for a quick bit on it as well.

I am so grateful for her and for her birthday that we will celebrate with flowers for her and maybe even a yummy dessert....Because living the liturgical year is fun and cool and gives much needed texture, rhythm, and depth to the warp and woof of our lives.

And here is a lovely prayer for the day:  from the Liturgy of the Hours: 

Father of Mercy, give your people help and strength from heaven.
The birth of the Virgin Mary's son
was the dawn of our salvation.
May this celebration of her birthday
bring us closer to lasting peace.
Grant this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

-- the Liturgy of the Hours

Birth of Virgin Mary to St. Anne in Santa Maria Novella, Florence.  By Domenico Ghirlandio


So, this is a bit rambly...but well, think of your Mother today...your Blessed Mother and maybe say a prayer of thanksgiving for her. Because like all of us moms, she loves us even when we don't love her nearly well enough back....and, yes, in case you're wondering, we will have cake!

Happy Birthday Mary!

"Nativitas tua genitrix virgo gaudium annunziavit universo mundo"

(Thy birth, O Virgin and Mother of God, brings joy to all the world).

Servant of Servants

Drawing by Matt Alderman, a fellow "Domer."  

His pen and ink work is always fantastic.

It's the feast of Pope St. Gregory the Great!
Or, as we know him around our house: St. Gregory, Chris' patron.
We hit him up for prayers, ok, I hit him up for prayers for my eldest son quite often.
By which I mean, I'm a dreadful nudge about it all.  But he is a faithful patron, and I am grateful for his prayers for my son.

It's the feast day of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

 I don't remember all of Buddybug's reasons for choosing St. Gregory the Great as his patron. But I suspect that his love of music was one of the links. St. Gregory promoted sacred music, now known to us as, duh: "Gregorian Chant." And Buddybug (and his mom and dad) love Gregorian Chant. So, no surprise there.

St. Gregory is one of the few who have "the Great" attached to their name, and is also a doctor of the Church (meaning a great teacher). He sent missionaries into England and Ireland, and then Germany - spreading the hope and faith throughout Europe. He was highly educated and founded seven monasteries. Eventually he even was elected Pope. As Pope, he tirelessly worked in service for the Church.  Indeed, he is the one who so aptly coined the most appropriate and under-used title for the Pope: "Servant of the servants of God."

I always just mostly think of my son when I think of St. Gregory the Great. And another little but extra pleasing link for me: St. Gregory's mother was St. Silvia. My mother's first name is Sylvia (hence, Buddybug's grandma is Silvia). I know, teensy nothings, but yet, they make me smile. And since this saint and my boy are connected in my daily prayers, they are kind of supernaturally and eternally connected I think too (and certainly are in my head).

So, I thank St. Gregory for his prayers for my boy.

And I wish him and my Buddybug:

Happy Feast Day!!

St. Gregory the Great, pray for us!

It's never too late: Augustine

Its the feast day of St. Augustine!
Ok, now this saint, from north Africa, {born in Tagaste, in Africa, in 354} is one of the biggies: a doctor of the church of course and one of the great writers throughout Church history. I like him for so many reasons, not the least of which is his connection with his mom and her devoted prayers for her son. You know, I will always have a soft spot for a mom and son....

His teachings are noted throughout Christendom for their lasting influence and, simply put, their beauty. Perhaps it was his years of living a life that was wild, utterly hedonistic, and dipped into all sorts of heresy and convoluted ideas of god.....but when he returned to the Faith, he did so in a big way, using his brilliant mind to convey the beauty of Truth to generations to come.

Indeed, this is the antiphon from evening prayer tonight:

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, 

late have I loved you.  

You called, you shouted and you shattered my deafness."

"Late have I loved you..." Indeed. And perhaps, that is part of his appeal to so many, so many of us (ok, me), have really felt that, lived that. Late, have I loved You. I missed so much, for so long. The "band width" of my life was so slim, and I didn't even know it. But I was fooled by the hedonistic life I lived into thinking it was so wide. I was arrogant enough to think I knew it all. Only, later, later when I finally "let go" of my grip on that did I finally come to realize how small it all was.

And then St. Augustine, once more, came through for me with one of his most famous prayers:

"You have made us for yourself, oh God. 

And our hearts are restless, until they rest in you." 

Ah. I know, I'm paraphrasing that quote, but that's how it sticks in my head and heart. And that about sums it all up: St. Augustine, life in general, me in particular.

So, it's really never too late to wake up to love.  

Thank goodness!

Happy feast day!
St. Augustine, pray for us!

{Again, a melded post...last year, busy time now, but new prayers and comments.}

Skinned

 Painting by El Greco

It's the feast of St. Bartholomew!

Detail of Michaelangelo's Last Judgement, 

w/ skin of St Bartholomew (but using Michaelangelo's features)

Now, there is no getting around it...St. Bartholomew died a grisly death: skinned - literally flayed for his faith.  Now that's a martyr! He was also one of the apostles (John 1: 43-51) and clearly, his faith was such that he called people to the truth and away from pagan worship.  This very thing made the rulers of the time very angry and obviously frightened at the power of this man, though we all know it was the power of the Truth, to cut through the chaff and smoke of falsehood and evil.  So, of course, they had to kill him.  We do the same thing today, and it's a story in many of our movies today that rake in the big bucks.  But this time, way back when, the gore was real and horrifying.  But the faith was strong and true and overrides even the horror.  What treasure that truth must be for a mere man to be willing to be skinned alive to uphold it.

Collect (Prayer) of the Day: Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle

Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

painting by Rembrandt van Rijn

 Happy feast day!

St. Bartholomew, pray for us!

B is for Bernard

It's the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux! 

(It's also my Tom's bday, but that the next post this morning!)

Now, he is a biggie saint, St. Bernard was known for his humility, intellect, mediation skills, homilies...his influence helped build the Cistercian order and spread throughout Europe, with many conversions to faith.  But for me, the big deal is that he composed one of my favorite prayers and one that I only pray when I'm really kinda desperate: The Memorare.   

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

I don't mean to say that this prayer or any prayer works as any sort of formula or incantation, God forbid!  But what I mean is that it is a serious petition and I just don't like to use it lightly, say for instance...."please help me get a parking place so I'm not late again."  Or, "please pray that these kids do a decent bedtime because I am so tired and I need to be done for today" (did I type that out loud? oops..).  I use this prayer when the stakes are high and important because I know that Mary, as a mother, is faithful and wants our best good and so will take the important stuff to her son, Jesus.  And I don't want to be a pest.  I want to approach in prayer, with this prayer, only when I'm really focused and the need is worth the pestering.  Does that make sense? I hope so.  Suffice it to say, St. Bernard also came from a big family (Seven kids, six boys, one girl...what is it with big families and saints...a training ground for holiness due to the forced coping with a certain level of chaos? Hmm, a mom's gotta wonder...that's my take on it anyhow and I'm sticking to it!) and he knows you don't bug your mom without a good reason.....hence, this prayer.

Anyhow, I digress.  St. Bernard is worth a look, he's a Doctor of the Church and a big saint.
So, my Tom, and all, happy feast day!
St. Bernard, pray for us!

Assumptions on the Assumption

Mary's house in Ephesus, where she is believed to have lived out her days.

It's the feast of the Assumption of Mary!

I know, another uber Catholic post and event. Still, fascinating and cool for us and if you want to know more, go read here. I love this one!

It's also a big Ethiopian Feast: Ethiopian Orthodox celebrate this feast in a big way and it is called "Filsata Mariam" - and Marta grinned with excitement when told what today is. So it's a big deal even in the the other ancient Christian faith traditions.

That said, however, this is one of those Marian Catholic things that makes some folks a bit nuts. But really, it all makes sense. It is traced back to the apostles themselves:

At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, when bishops from throughout the Mediterranean world gathered in Constantinople, Emperor Marcian asked the Patriarch of Jerusalem to bring the relics of Mary to Constantinople to be enshrined in the capitol. The patriarch explained to the emperor that there were no relics of Mary in Jerusalem, that "Mary had died in the presence of the apostles; but her tomb, when opened later . . . was found empty and so the apostles concluded that the body was taken up into heaven."

In the eighth century, St. John Damascene was known for giving sermons at the holy places in Jerusalem. At the Tomb of Mary, he expressed the belief of the Church on the meaning of the feast: "Although the body was duly buried, it did not remain in the state of death, neither was it dissolved by decay. . . . You were transferred to your heavenly home, O Lady, Queen and Mother of God in truth." from Catholic Culture.org

Again, it makes sense to me and to me, it's beautiful.

"The Assumption completes God's work in her since it was not fitting that the flesh that had given life to God himself should ever undergo corruption. The Assumption is God's crowning of His work as Mary ends her earthly life and enters eternity. The feast turns our eyes in that direction, where we will follow when our earthly life is over." From Catholic Culture.org

When I think of and meditate on this mystery, this feast, I always can't help but think of Mary and her close relationship to her Son. A love from two pure souls, not smudged up by selfish hurts or striving, pure true love.

And, because it's always about me, I think of me and my sons. I am about to take my second son up to school, to move him out of the house. My eldest has already moved back up, he left last Sunday.  And I am already starting to leak tears here and there. And it will make me cry when we have to begin our drive home again, without him. I will try not to sob (not in front of him on campus, ok? Not cool.). But I will grieve him going. I will be very happy for him to be there, but it makes me cry to let him go. The house will echo without them here.

And then, I remember, when they come back on break or I go to visit them, the electric JOY that makes the world light up and a grin break across my face and dance to my feet. And that, that feeling, that reunion is what I think about, finally, every time, on this day.

My Jon

My Chris

Because no matter how old the mom is or how old the son(s).....that feeling surely cannot change, it hasn't yet.

The sheer undiluted JOY that must be had at THIS reunion - when Mary is lifted to heaven, after being physically separated for so long from her only dearest Son, and His for her. Think of that glee, those grins...I don't imagine a static statue of elegant repose and small appropriate smile on their faces. I hear and see whoops of laughter and hugs and glee and tears and grins and kisses. The best reunion of all. Glorious.

So, does the Assumption make sense? Oh yeah, to a mom, I think it makes Perfect sense. And it is a happy glorious feast!

painting by Botticini
{official busy disclaimer; much borrowed from years past, but not all...mom to eight, 'nuff said}

St. Max, saint for modern days

Today is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe!

He is my son Jon's patron and one very awesome saint.
He is a 'modern' saint, of the twentieth century, completely devoted to Mary and a Franciscan.

But what St. Maximilan is known for is his sacrifice, his martrydom of charity.

St. Maximilian was sent to Auschwitz Concentration camp, for being a Catholic and a priest. After ministering to his fellow prisoners during his time there, sick and hungry as the rest, Maximilian made the ultimate sacrifice: he stepped forward and volunteered to go to his death in order to spare a father of a family from this fate. St. Maximilian went to his death in a father's place; dying after two weeks of forced starvation and ultimately, an injection of carbolic acid (and forgiving the one who gave him that shot as he was injected).

As such, not only is he a hero, among many other things, he is the patron of families, and he is the patron of addiction (the needle connection, I'm guessing, and really IMHO due to his inner core of strength and faith, something anyone prone to addiction of any sort needs to get well and be well).


We are big on family here around the coffeeblog.  We hit up St. Max for prayers for many of our friends and families who are going through different hard things but also this year for my Jon as he heads off to college and needs a strong faithful patron to also keep him in prayer.  And the prayers of a righteous man, a saint and patron of families, who knows from sacrificial living, are worth much. So, thank you St. Maximilian, for your patronage of my son, and for your prayers for so many!

Happy feast day Booboo!
St. Maximilian Kolbe, thank you for your prayers! 

Official disclaimer: Much but not all of this post is reposted from last year because things are slamming here at the coffeehouse. 

Wordless Wednesday: saint edition

It's the feast of St. Clare today!

As you all know, she's the great friend of St. Francis of Assisi, and founder of the sister order to his Franciscans: the Poor Clares.   It's wordless wednesday, so I'll not write much more (shock, I know)...except this quote and then prayer that sums it up from St. Clare:

"Love God, serve God, everything is in that."

"Let us pray to God together for each other,
for, by sharing each other's burden of charity in this way,
we shall easily fulfill the law of Christ."
St. Clare of Assisi

The Basilica of St. Clare, Assisi 
{that's Jon and Marta way up in the photo, tiny}

Dia de Fiesta: Santo Inigo!

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola!

He is a Spanish saint and one that intrigues me, but kinds unnerves me.
Because not only is the the founder of the Jesuits, but his "Spiritual Exercises" are something that I know I should undertake, but of course, haven't and may not ever due to my utter wimpiness.
They are rigorous to say the least, a four week program of spiritual surgery, so to speak.   I know many who have done them and say they are as difficult as reported but oh so worthwhile.  Hence, my intrigue with them but my cold feet.  Truthfully, as well, trying to gather that focused time means I have to realign the cosmos too....

But anyhow, back to our saint, he's a biggie and he  has brought many others into the church and a life of service, not the last of which would be St. Francis Xavier and Father Pio ( a local friend), some of my favs.  

St. Ignatius was a mystic and a man of deep prayer, and his influence is still felt to this day.  He is one of the saints who did what we are all called to do: he changed the world.  He calls us all to give everything back to God himself: AMDG - "to the greater glory of God."

Ignatius recommended this prayer:

“Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”

Yeah, you see why he is compelling yet daunting. 
Right; I've got a loooong loong way to go.  
St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

Feast of St Martha

Today is the Feast of St. Martha!

Which means that it is also my Marta's feast day as well.
What a big day for her! She is also going to her freshman retreat, along w/ Hannah, today and tomorrow...I'll post about it tomorrow.
But today is her patron's feast day: St. Martha.

We all know the stories of St. Martha: she's the busy, maybe pushy one.  She's the one who loved her brother so much, she kind of hollered at Jesus, scolding him for taking so long to come to her brother's side when he was sick and dying.  Jesus knew this family well, stayed with them frequently, and he took Martha in stride, he knew her as only Christ can, he knew her  heart.  So he reassured her and then raised Lazarus from the dead.  Well, I can only imagine that quieted her down and had her scurry to help.  But I digress...

I love St Martha for many reasons: she is much like me, very busy, sometimes losing herself in the busyness, maybe a little bossy and controlling.  (See, I told you...just like me!) She's task oriented, but underneath it all lies a heart of love and faith.  She knew if Jesus was there, it would be ok.  She loved.  She loved her brother, she loved Jesus...and she loved by doing.

I know too, she loves my Marta, Martha.  We asked her for prayers for our discernment about bringing Marta home; we still ask for her prayers for our girl.  She did, and she does.  Our Marta is much like her, she is a doer - happiest when she is involved in DOING something and good at the domestic side of life.  She is well named.  Marta is happiest being a caretaker of sorts, as was her patron.

So today, we ask St. Martha to help us learn to serve Christ better in our service to each other, and I ask her to pray for us, and as ever,  for my Marta.

A Prayer to St. Martha
Feastday July 29th 

 

                               O blessed St. Martha, your faith led Jesus to proclaim, “I am the resurrection and the life”; 

and faith let you see beyond his humanity when you cried out, 

“Lord I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 

With firm hope you said, “I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him”,

and Jesus called your brother Lazarus back from the dead. 

With pure love for Jesus you welcomed him into your home. 

                                Friend and servant of our Saviour, I too am “troubled about many things”. 

(Pause for silent prayer.) 

Pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love, 

and that Jesus, who sat at your table, 

will hear me and grant me a place at the banquet of eternal life. 

Amen.    (Luke 10:38-42 / John 11:1-54)