Attitude of Gratitude

I wanted to talk a little bit about what I am grateful for today.

I am grateful for my family--for my sister and my niece and for all the difference we can make in the lives of our elderly relatives. I am also grateful for our spouses, for being patient and understanding.

I am grateful that when I am driving home from my mom and aunt's these days, it is still light for half the trip!!!

I am grateful for my "Hairspray" CD to listen to and get me singing while I am driving.

Thanks everyone!

Attitude of Gratitude

I wanted to talk a little bit about what I am grateful for today.

I am grateful for my family--for my sister and my niece and for all the difference we can make in the lives of our elderly relatives. I am also grateful for our spouses, for being patient and understanding.

I am grateful that when I am driving home from my mom and aunt's these days, it is still light for half the trip!!!

I am grateful for my "Hairspray" CD to listen to and get me singing while I am driving.

Thanks everyone!

Awards Abound, Apparently

Thank you to Marilena of

St. Therese's Roses for awarding me

her Saint Therese Rose award.

The Little Flower has always been

one of my favorite saints.

Awards Abound, Apparently

Thank you to Marilena of

St. Therese's Roses for awarding me

her Saint Therese Rose award.

The Little Flower has always been

one of my favorite saints.

Heavenly Reality Check

Today's readings made me think that God was trying to tell us of the importance of facing reality. Moses cries out to God when the Israelites complain to him of their life in the desert. They do not like their current reality. They would like painless change.

Jesus tells the woman at the well "everything (she) has ever done." He makes her face her sins. Not usually a pleasant lesson. What is her reaction? Rather than be insulted or offended, she sees that He is the Christ, and her life radically changes.

God does not want us to hide or to run away from our sins, but to embrace them as the channel of his grace, redemption and forgiveness. Our sins are not something to shrink away from in fear and denial but to face squarely and run to the Father for His forgiveness.

In the Holy Saturday liturgy, we hear,

"Oh, happy fault! Oh, necessary sin of Adam! That won for us so great a salvation!"

Let us lay our sins at the foot of the cross and thank our God for taking them upon Himself, and beg for His grace in our lives so that we might change . It is the only way we human beings have to overcome our self-imposed flawed lives.

Heavenly Reality Check

Today's readings made me think that God was trying to tell us of the importance of facing reality. Moses cries out to God when the Israelites complain to him of their life in the desert. They do not like their current reality. They would like painless change.

Jesus tells the woman at the well "everything (she) has ever done." He makes her face her sins. Not usually a pleasant lesson. What is her reaction? Rather than be insulted or offended, she sees that He is the Christ, and her life radically changes.

God does not want us to hide or to run away from our sins, but to embrace them as the channel of his grace, redemption and forgiveness. Our sins are not something to shrink away from in fear and denial but to face squarely and run to the Father for His forgiveness.

In the Holy Saturday liturgy, we hear,

"Oh, happy fault! Oh, necessary sin of Adam! That won for us so great a salvation!"

Let us lay our sins at the foot of the cross and thank our God for taking them upon Himself, and beg for His grace in our lives so that we might change . It is the only way we human beings have to overcome our self-imposed flawed lives.

Excellent Book!

Wanted to share a great book I've just finished: Eleanor vs. Ike by Robin Gerber.

In spite of my conservative, somewhat Republican leanings, I thoroughly enjoyed this work of fiction. (My library had it under "science fiction"--what's up with THAT?)

The surprisingly believable premise is that Eleanor Roosevelt is drafted to run for President in 1952 when Adlai Stevenson drops dead on the convention floor. It is well researched and well written and a joy for anyone who enjoys the politics of the post-war era and/or the Roosevelts and their lives.

In the back of the book, are Gerber's notes regarding the sources of some of the happenings in the book--she takes them directly from history when she can.

Quite interesting stuff.

Gotta love libraries!

Excellent Book!

Wanted to share a great book I've just finished: Eleanor vs. Ike by Robin Gerber.

In spite of my conservative, somewhat Republican leanings, I thoroughly enjoyed this work of fiction. (My library had it under "science fiction"--what's up with THAT?)

The surprisingly believable premise is that Eleanor Roosevelt is drafted to run for President in 1952 when Adlai Stevenson drops dead on the convention floor. It is well researched and well written and a joy for anyone who enjoys the politics of the post-war era and/or the Roosevelts and their lives.

In the back of the book, are Gerber's notes regarding the sources of some of the happenings in the book--she takes them directly from history when she can.

Quite interesting stuff.

Gotta love libraries!

The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

Today is the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, where the Church remembers Jesus' words to Peter,

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)

Saint Peter was, perhaps the most obviously bumbling of the apostles. There has even been talk, in modern times, of St. Peter possibly suffering from something like ADHD, so impulsive were his actions.

And yet, Jesus chose Peter to lead the apostles after His death, and to serve the newborn Church in its first years. Why? Peter was an uneducated fisherman. He was impulsive. He denied Christ three times.

Perhaps Christ chose Peter to lead the Church precisely because of his apparent inability. Before Christ handed over the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter, Peter went through, what must have been a kind of "dark night of the soul". After vehemently promising to die for Christ, Peter denied Him three times, then went out and wept bitterly. He then joined the other Apostles (except for St. John) in running away while their Savior was crucified.

Who in the world would have chosen Peter to lead the Church?! Jesus. He knew Peter was the apostle through whom He could shower His graces and lead people to Himself just as God chose Moses, who described himself as "slow of speech" (Exodus 4:10) to lead His people out of Egypt.

By choosing these imperfect men, God shows His power, grace and mercy. Those who say that Peter, and his successors the popes, are fallible human beings are exactly right. In spite of their obvious humanity, God has chosen them to carry on His work in the Church, even today. In spite of all their obvious failings over the centuries, the Church still stands, as a testament to God's promise,

The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
~Matthew 16:19

The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

Today is the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, where the Church remembers Jesus' words to Peter,

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)

Saint Peter was, perhaps the most obviously bumbling of the apostles. There has even been talk, in modern times, of St. Peter possibly suffering from something like ADHD, so impulsive were his actions.

And yet, Jesus chose Peter to lead the apostles after His death, and to serve the newborn Church in its first years. Why? Peter was an uneducated fisherman. He was impulsive. He denied Christ three times.

Perhaps Christ chose Peter to lead the Church precisely because of his apparent inability. Before Christ handed over the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter, Peter went through, what must have been a kind of "dark night of the soul". After vehemently promising to die for Christ, Peter denied Him three times, then went out and wept bitterly. He then joined the other Apostles (except for St. John) in running away while their Savior was crucified.

Who in the world would have chosen Peter to lead the Church?! Jesus. He knew Peter was the apostle through whom He could shower His graces and lead people to Himself just as God chose Moses, who described himself as "slow of speech" (Exodus 4:10) to lead His people out of Egypt.

By choosing these imperfect men, God shows His power, grace and mercy. Those who say that Peter, and his successors the popes, are fallible human beings are exactly right. In spite of their obvious humanity, God has chosen them to carry on His work in the Church, even today. In spite of all their obvious failings over the centuries, the Church still stands, as a testament to God's promise,

The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
~Matthew 16:19

Feast of the Chair of Peter (in song)

In honor of today's feast of The Chair of Peter, here is a YouTube video, Tu Es Petrus (Thou art Peter) by Palestrina. The words are taken from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16, verse 18, where Christ says to Peter,

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. ~Matthew 16:18

The video is a long one, and we only get to stare at poor Palestrina throughout, but it is worth turning up the sound and listening to it meditatively, as it is quite beautiful.

Feast of the Chair of Peter (in song)

In honor of today's feast of The Chair of Peter, here is a YouTube video, Tu Es Petrus (Thou art Peter) by Palestrina. The words are taken from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16, verse 18, where Christ says to Peter,

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. ~Matthew 16:18

The video is a long one, and we only get to stare at poor Palestrina throughout, but it is worth turning up the sound and listening to it meditatively, as it is quite beautiful.

Subscribe to Dymphna's Well!

After multiple attempts, I think I finally have a reliable method of notifying people when I post new content on this blog. Simply enter your email address in the box located on the top of the sidebar and you should begin receiving notification when there are new posts here on Dymphna's Well.

Don't let me down, Feedburner!!

Oh, I also have this form on the top of the side bar at both Karumi Garden Haiku and Falling Plum Poetry. Feel free to subscribe there as well.

Subscribe to Dymphna's Well!

After multiple attempts, I think I finally have a reliable method of notifying people when I post new content on this blog. Simply enter your email address in the box located on the top of the sidebar and you should begin receiving notification when there are new posts here on Dymphna's Well.

Don't let me down, Feedburner!!

Oh, I also have this form on the top of the side bar at both Karumi Garden Haiku and Falling Plum Poetry. Feel free to subscribe there as well.

in the cold
optimistic bird
singing loudly

God's Word Today

Todays first reading made me think that God was speaking to us, in the West, today.

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
~Isaiah 1:10,16-20

Without even needing to make dire predictions about future apocalyptic happenings on our own soil, God's word is coming true this very minute. "By the 'sword'" of abortion, over 1 million Americans die each year. Our culture, which puts Sodom and Gomorrah to shame, is reaping what it has sewn. In exchange for complete sexual "freedom" and license, we have sold the souls of our children. Those that are born and raised in this culture, see a steady diet of sexual voyeurism, even if they manage to avoid participating in it themselves.

This is an election year in the United States. God calls out, even to the leaders of modern day "Sodom and Gomorrah" for repentance. There is always hope, no matter who is elected. We can, as a society, "learn to do good." God holds out the promise of forgiveness to us. Our sins, "though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool."

If we repent.

God's Word Today

Todays first reading made me think that God was speaking to us, in the West, today.

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
~Isaiah 1:10,16-20

Without even needing to make dire predictions about future apocalyptic happenings on our own soil, God's word is coming true this very minute. "By the 'sword'" of abortion, over 1 million Americans die each year. Our culture, which puts Sodom and Gomorrah to shame, is reaping what it has sewn. In exchange for complete sexual "freedom" and license, we have sold the souls of our children. Those that are born and raised in this culture, see a steady diet of sexual voyeurism, even if they manage to avoid participating in it themselves.

This is an election year in the United States. God calls out, even to the leaders of modern day "Sodom and Gomorrah" for repentance. There is always hope, no matter who is elected. We can, as a society, "learn to do good." God holds out the promise of forgiveness to us. Our sins, "though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool."

If we repent.

This is adorable

This is a three year old Korean boy singing "Hey Jude".

This is adorable

This is a three year old Korean boy singing "Hey Jude".

Candle Award

Hat tip to Marilena

at St. Therese's Roses

for giving this blog her

March Candle Award.

I am truly humbled.

Thank you so much!

Candle Award

Hat tip to Marilena

at St. Therese's Roses

for giving this blog her

March Candle Award.

I am truly humbled.

Thank you so much!

Beauty and God

Today's Gospel tells us of Jesus' transfiguration. It is hope in the midst of Lent; a glimpse of the Divine in the midst of trials. Anyone who has had such a direct experience of God will never forget it. Mostly, though, we must experience God through more earthly means: the Scriptures, each other, breaking our own boundaries of fear to reach out to others.

An often overlooked means that God has given us to experience Himself is through beauty. Experiencing nature as a "calling card" from God is something that transcends denominational and religious affiliation, yet, is in danger of disappearing as more and more of us spend more and more time in front of computers and televisions. Too, during the sometimes bleak months of winter (February, somehow being the worst of them) it is easy to hibernate and begin to feel that Spring, and Resurrection will never come. It is why, I think, that God gave us the seasons-- to experience all around us, what is going on inside of us. As we allow our fallen natures to take over, we experience a kind of death. We realize that on our own, we are failing; we have failed. As we reach out to God in our helplessness, the first, tiny flowers of spring are seen blooming in the otherwise dead landscape. It gives us hope.

Man participates in creation

As human beings, God has given us the physical senses as a way to experience Himself. As human beings, we long to connect with our Creator and to express our desire and love for Him. When Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain, they experienced, for a moment, the Transfigured Christ. They saw Jesus as He really is and received a foretaste of heaven.

In our imperfect humanness, we long to recreate this experience, not only for ourselves, but to show mankind the beauty of communion with our God. We do this by spiritual expression in art. For centuries, Christians, and especially Catholics, have expressed God and His Love through various artistic means. The height of the visual arts, and of music, it can be argued, has been achieved through this Christian longing. Taking Christ out of the culture has yielded mainly an anarchy of the senses and resulted in nonsensical "art."

Far from being a distraction, art, music and other physical expressions of worship, such as incense, can lift our hearts and minds up to the Lord, show our love for Him and illustrate scriptural truths to the world.

The contemporary liturgical and art renewal movements show that this physical expression of Truth is hardly dead. As much good as can be gleaned from our Protestant brethren, iconoclasm and the permanent stripping of our altars is not something to imitate. A spiritual world devoid of artistic beauty is one which comes perilously close to being devoid of God.

Beauty and God

Today's Gospel tells us of Jesus' transfiguration. It is hope in the midst of Lent; a glimpse of the Divine in the midst of trials. Anyone who has had such a direct experience of God will never forget it. Mostly, though, we must experience God through more earthly means: the Scriptures, each other, breaking our own boundaries of fear to reach out to others.

An often overlooked means that God has given us to experience Himself is through beauty. Experiencing nature as a "calling card" from God is something that transcends denominational and religious affiliation, yet, is in danger of disappearing as more and more of us spend more and more time in front of computers and televisions. Too, during the sometimes bleak months of winter (February, somehow being the worst of them) it is easy to hibernate and begin to feel that Spring, and Resurrection will never come. It is why, I think, that God gave us the seasons-- to experience all around us, what is going on inside of us. As we allow our fallen natures to take over, we experience a kind of death. We realize that on our own, we are failing; we have failed. As we reach out to God in our helplessness, the first, tiny flowers of spring are seen blooming in the otherwise dead landscape. It gives us hope.

Man participates in creation

As human beings, God has given us the physical senses as a way to experience Himself. As human beings, we long to connect with our Creator and to express our desire and love for Him. When Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain, they experienced, for a moment, the Transfigured Christ. They saw Jesus as He really is and received a foretaste of heaven.

In our imperfect humanness, we long to recreate this experience, not only for ourselves, but to show mankind the beauty of communion with our God. We do this by spiritual expression in art. For centuries, Christians, and especially Catholics, have expressed God and His Love through various artistic means. The height of the visual arts, and of music, it can be argued, has been achieved through this Christian longing. Taking Christ out of the culture has yielded mainly an anarchy of the senses and resulted in nonsensical "art."

Far from being a distraction, art, music and other physical expressions of worship, such as incense, can lift our hearts and minds up to the Lord, show our love for Him and illustrate scriptural truths to the world.

The contemporary liturgical and art renewal movements show that this physical expression of Truth is hardly dead. As much good as can be gleaned from our Protestant brethren, iconoclasm and the permanent stripping of our altars is not something to imitate. A spiritual world devoid of artistic beauty is one which comes perilously close to being devoid of God.

A Chaplet for Lent

I wanted to share this Lenten Chaplet with you all. It can be said on a regular rosary.













On the Crucifix.......................Say the Apostles Creed.

On the Our Father beads.....Say, "Jesus, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

On the Hail Mary beads........Say, "Remember man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."

End with the Psalm from Ash Wednesday (below)

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A Chaplet for Lent

I wanted to share this Lenten Chaplet with you all. It can be said on a regular rosary.













On the Crucifix.......................Say the Apostles Creed.

On the Our Father beads.....Say, "Jesus, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

On the Hail Mary beads........Say, "Remember man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."

End with the Psalm from Ash Wednesday (below)

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

St. Valentine's Day Novena

Thanks to Gus Lloyd of The Catholic Channel on Sirius Radio, there is a movement afoot to say a St. Valentine's Day Novena to Saint Raphael the Archangel who is the patron saint of love, lovers and young people.

Are you single (as in, unmarried)? Know someone who is? Say this novena for them beginning on St. Valentine's Day, February 14th for 9 days (the traditional length of a novena, which comes from the length of time the Apostles stayed in the upper room praying between the Ascension of Christ and the Coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.)

Here is the St. Raphael Novena prayer:

St. Raphael, you were sent by God to guide young Tobias in choosing a good and virtuous spouse. Please help me (or insert name here) in this important choice which will affect my/his/her whole future. You not only directed Tobias in finding a wife, but you also gave him guidelines which should be foremost in every Christian marriage: "Pray together before making important decisions."

Amen.

St. Valentine's Day Novena

Thanks to Gus Lloyd of The Catholic Channel on Sirius Radio, there is a movement afoot to say a St. Valentine's Day Novena to Saint Raphael the Archangel who is the patron saint of love, lovers and young people.

Are you single (as in, unmarried)? Know someone who is? Say this novena for them beginning on St. Valentine's Day, February 14th for 9 days (the traditional length of a novena, which comes from the length of time the Apostles stayed in the upper room praying between the Ascension of Christ and the Coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.)

Here is the St. Raphael Novena prayer:

St. Raphael, you were sent by God to guide young Tobias in choosing a good and virtuous spouse. Please help me (or insert name here) in this important choice which will affect my/his/her whole future. You not only directed Tobias in finding a wife, but you also gave him guidelines which should be foremost in every Christian marriage: "Pray together before making important decisions."

Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Today, one hundred and fifty years ago, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubrious in a grotto just outside of Lourdes, France. Bernadette was 14 years old. Our Lady appeared 18 times in all. The last time, was March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, where she told the poor, unlettered Bernadette, who didn't understand the significance of what she heard, "I am the Immaculate Conception.

Today is also the World Day of the Sick. So many come to Lourdes each day to pray for healing.

Remember, Mary's last words in Scripture are,

Do whatever He tells you.
~John 2:5

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!!

Our Lady of Lourdes

Today, one hundred and fifty years ago, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubrious in a grotto just outside of Lourdes, France. Bernadette was 14 years old. Our Lady appeared 18 times in all. The last time, was March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, where she told the poor, unlettered Bernadette, who didn't understand the significance of what she heard, "I am the Immaculate Conception.

Today is also the World Day of the Sick. So many come to Lourdes each day to pray for healing.

Remember, Mary's last words in Scripture are,

Do whatever He tells you.
~John 2:5

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!!

World Day of the Sick

Tomorrow is World Day of the Sick, begun by Pope John Paul II in 1993, and coincides each year with the anniversary of the (Church approved) apparition of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France.

The Church asks us to pray for, remember and come to the aid of all those who are sick, and to encourage them to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
~James 5:14

World Day of the Sick

Tomorrow is World Day of the Sick, begun by Pope John Paul II in 1993, and coincides each year with the anniversary of the (Church approved) apparition of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France.

The Church asks us to pray for, remember and come to the aid of all those who are sick, and to encourage them to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
~James 5:14

Rethinking the "Blue Ladies"

One of my very first posts on this blog (if not *the* very first) was about "the Blue Ladies"--Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion--at a local parish. I was quick to judge the intended symbolism of the royal blue albs they wore (and still wear) when they serve at Mass.

The other day, I was there for the early Mass on Ash Wednesday. Because of its importance and popularity, the daily Mass that day was more of a Sunday-like Mass--complete with the "Blue Ladies".

Thanks to The Roving Medievalist,(and the Holy Spirit, of course) I've been rethinking my former opinion of them. Perhaps the royal blue they wear was not intended to make them look particularly clerical. Perhaps they wear blue specifically to distinguish them from both the priest (for whom blue is never a proper vestment color) and the ordained deacons who also serve at Mass.

If wearing royal blue albs is not proper for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, it is really between that parish and the bishop. It may not be the "hill to die on".

Is the glass half empty, or half full?

Rethinking the "Blue Ladies"

One of my very first posts on this blog (if not *the* very first) was about "the Blue Ladies"--Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion--at a local parish. I was quick to judge the intended symbolism of the royal blue albs they wore (and still wear) when they serve at Mass.

The other day, I was there for the early Mass on Ash Wednesday. Because of its importance and popularity, the daily Mass that day was more of a Sunday-like Mass--complete with the "Blue Ladies".

Thanks to The Roving Medievalist,(and the Holy Spirit, of course) I've been rethinking my former opinion of them. Perhaps the royal blue they wear was not intended to make them look particularly clerical. Perhaps they wear blue specifically to distinguish them from both the priest (for whom blue is never a proper vestment color) and the ordained deacons who also serve at Mass.

If wearing royal blue albs is not proper for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, it is really between that parish and the bishop. It may not be the "hill to die on".

Is the glass half empty, or half full?

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving--The Three Fold Cord

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12

During Lent, we are called to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. They are the "three-fold cord" spoken of in Ecclesiastes 4:12. Satan will not prevail against us if we follow Christ's call to use the three-fold cord of prayer, fasting and almsgiving as a basis for our Christian walk.

When Lent is viewed as some sort of magic formula done on autopilot, or something to "get over with" by choosing something small to give up, or do, the grace that could be obtained is lost. When we are too busy, or see ourselves as too "good" to "have" to "do something for Lent", then the grace that could be obtained is lost.

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving--a call from Christ

Jesus talks about prayer , fasting and almsgiving as a given for the Christian. "When you pray," He says in Matthew 6:5. "When you fast," He says in Matthew 6:16. In Matthew 6:3, Jesus speaks the same way regarding giving alms. "When you give alms," He says. These things form the basis of the Christian walk. Christian spirituality involves not just prayer; not just fasting and not just almsgiving, but all three woven together in a nearly unbreakable three-fold cord.

In the early Church, Lent was initially a time of preparation for Baptism for new Christians. In preparation for the great feast of The Resurrection, which forms the cornerstone of the Christian Faith, we are each called to bring ourselves back to living the Christian life through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, not in a superficial way, but as an answer to an individual call from God.

The Call to Step out in Faith

Lent is a call to step out in faith and follow Christ. The Christian life should be something that gets us out of our comfort zone. It should not be something quick and easy for us. It should influence our every choice in life.

How is God calling you to prayer today? More individual prayer, perhaps? Praying with Scripture? Meditating on the Psalms? Prayer with a church community?

How is He calling you to fast? Perhaps He is calling you to fast from mindless eating, or from overindulgence in too much media. What sin might Jesus be asking you to discard this Lent? What temporal pleasure is keeping you from being completely in His will?

How can we give alms in a way that is different for us? Perhaps we need to learn to put aside a particular amount of our income to give to worthy causes. Perhaps God is calling us to give to specific individuals in our community. Maybe He is calling us to join a local church soup kitchen or volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center.

The discomfort that is sometimes involved in praying, fasting or giving alms (especially in a direct way) may be just the thing that Jesus is calling us towards. St. Francis of Assisi learned to overcome his distaste for the poor and ill in his community by serving them directly and becoming one of them. Humility, far from being a masochistic aberration, is the way Christ calls us to growth in Him.

Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
~Luke 9:23

We are called to take up our cross with Christ, who took up His cross for us.

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving--The Three Fold Cord

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12

During Lent, we are called to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. They are the "three-fold cord" spoken of in Ecclesiastes 4:12. Satan will not prevail against us if we follow Christ's call to use the three-fold cord of prayer, fasting and almsgiving as a basis for our Christian walk.

When Lent is viewed as some sort of magic formula done on autopilot, or something to "get over with" by choosing something small to give up, or do, the grace that could be obtained is lost. When we are too busy, or see ourselves as too "good" to "have" to "do something for Lent", then the grace that could be obtained is lost.

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving--a call from Christ

Jesus talks about prayer , fasting and almsgiving as a given for the Christian. "When you pray," He says in Matthew 6:5. "When you fast," He says in Matthew 6:16. In Matthew 6:3, Jesus speaks the same way regarding giving alms. "When you give alms," He says. These things form the basis of the Christian walk. Christian spirituality involves not just prayer; not just fasting and not just almsgiving, but all three woven together in a nearly unbreakable three-fold cord.

In the early Church, Lent was initially a time of preparation for Baptism for new Christians. In preparation for the great feast of The Resurrection, which forms the cornerstone of the Christian Faith, we are each called to bring ourselves back to living the Christian life through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, not in a superficial way, but as an answer to an individual call from God.

The Call to Step out in Faith

Lent is a call to step out in faith and follow Christ. The Christian life should be something that gets us out of our comfort zone. It should not be something quick and easy for us. It should influence our every choice in life.

How is God calling you to prayer today? More individual prayer, perhaps? Praying with Scripture? Meditating on the Psalms? Prayer with a church community?

How is He calling you to fast? Perhaps He is calling you to fast from mindless eating, or from overindulgence in too much media. What sin might Jesus be asking you to discard this Lent? What temporal pleasure is keeping you from being completely in His will?

How can we give alms in a way that is different for us? Perhaps we need to learn to put aside a particular amount of our income to give to worthy causes. Perhaps God is calling us to give to specific individuals in our community. Maybe He is calling us to join a local church soup kitchen or volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center.

The discomfort that is sometimes involved in praying, fasting or giving alms (especially in a direct way) may be just the thing that Jesus is calling us towards. St. Francis of Assisi learned to overcome his distaste for the poor and ill in his community by serving them directly and becoming one of them. Humility, far from being a masochistic aberration, is the way Christ calls us to growth in Him.

Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
~Luke 9:23

We are called to take up our cross with Christ, who took up His cross for us.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday--the beginning of Lent. Lent is a penitential season meant to turn our hearts back toward God and away from ourselves. This is the point of "giving up" something for Lent. We try to shed our outer shells--our worldly crutches that give us the illusion of power and control.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:1

Jesus tells us that, to enter into His Kingdom, we must be "poor in spirit". We must know that we need God for our very existence. That is the point of Lent.

Let go and let God.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday--the beginning of Lent. Lent is a penitential season meant to turn our hearts back toward God and away from ourselves. This is the point of "giving up" something for Lent. We try to shed our outer shells--our worldly crutches that give us the illusion of power and control.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:1

Jesus tells us that, to enter into His Kingdom, we must be "poor in spirit". We must know that we need God for our very existence. That is the point of Lent.

Let go and let God.

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday (aka, Mardi Gras or fetter Dienstag) is the day before Ash Wednesday. The name "Shrove" means to be forgiven and was traditionally the day that the faithful went to confession in preparation for Lent. Domestic-Church.com explains the origin:

The English term "shrovetide" (from "to shrive", or hear confessions) is explained by a sentence in the Anglo-Saxon "Ecclesiastical Institutes" translated from Theodulphus by Abbot Aelfric (q.v.) about A.D. 1000: "In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then my hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]".

Different cultures have various food related traditions on this day. Many churches have pancake suppers or make and sell donuts. This is in preparation for a Lent where the use of dairy, eggs and fat were forbidden.

Today, sadly, the day before Ash Wednesday has become yet another excuse for extreme self indulgent behavior on the part of many.

At any rate, having pancakes or donuts today is a wonderful tradition that can be especially anticipated by children and breakfast-enjoyers alike!

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday (aka, Mardi Gras or fetter Dienstag) is the day before Ash Wednesday. The name "Shrove" means to be forgiven and was traditionally the day that the faithful went to confession in preparation for Lent. Domestic-Church.com explains the origin:

The English term "shrovetide" (from "to shrive", or hear confessions) is explained by a sentence in the Anglo-Saxon "Ecclesiastical Institutes" translated from Theodulphus by Abbot Aelfric (q.v.) about A.D. 1000: "In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then my hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]".

Different cultures have various food related traditions on this day. Many churches have pancake suppers or make and sell donuts. This is in preparation for a Lent where the use of dairy, eggs and fat were forbidden.

Today, sadly, the day before Ash Wednesday has become yet another excuse for extreme self indulgent behavior on the part of many.

At any rate, having pancakes or donuts today is a wonderful tradition that can be especially anticipated by children and breakfast-enjoyers alike!

Feast of Saint Blaise

We got our throats blessed today after the intercessions at Mass. DH, a fairly recent convert, got his blessed for the first time ever. It was Fr. Robert's first time blessing throats as he is a new priest.

In case you didn't know, the blessing of the throats, and the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday are two things that anyone can participate in because they are not sacraments.

Happy Saint Blaise Day!

Feast of Saint Blaise

We got our throats blessed today after the intercessions at Mass. DH, a fairly recent convert, got his blessed for the first time ever. It was Fr. Robert's first time blessing throats as he is a new priest.

In case you didn't know, the blessing of the throats, and the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday are two things that anyone can participate in because they are not sacraments.

Happy Saint Blaise Day!

You Make the World a Better Place

Thank you, AutumnRose for awarding me this "You Make the World a Better Place" award. Here are the rules:

1. Use Ukok’s ‘You make the world a better place’ image in your post (above!)
2. Link to Ukok’s Place
3. Award 5 bloggers.

Here are my 5 award winners:

1. St. Therese's Roses.
2. Catholic Fire
3. Dolorosa Journal
4. La Vie Catholique
5. Mulier Fortis

You Make the World a Better Place

Thank you, AutumnRose for awarding me this "You Make the World a Better Place" award. Here are the rules:

1. Use Ukok’s ‘You make the world a better place’ image in your post (above!)
2. Link to Ukok’s Place
3. Award 5 bloggers.

Here are my 5 award winners:

1. St. Therese's Roses.
2. Catholic Fire
3. Dolorosa Journal
4. La Vie Catholique
5. Mulier Fortis