Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

I began the week with a meditation on a quote from St. Ignatius of Antioch about we as Christians being God bearers (Theotokos) with Our Lady, followed by an Orthodox Lenten Meditation from YouTube and an Eastern Catholic Lenten reading list. I wound up the week by highlighting three new blogs:  Vivificat, Fasting and Feasting Through the Church Year, and Catholic Home and Garden.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

I began the week with a meditation on a quote from St. Ignatius of Antioch about we as Christians being God bearers (Theotokos) with Our Lady, followed by an Orthodox Lenten Meditation from YouTube and an Eastern Catholic Lenten reading list. I wound up the week by highlighting three new blogs:  Vivificat, Fasting and Feasting Through the Church Year, and Catholic Home and Garden.

A Few New Blogs and Websites

I've discovered two new blogs that I wanted to share with you all.

Vivificat is a bilingual (English and Spanish) blogger who is an Oblate of St. Benedict and a military officer. He has an interest in Eastern Christian spirituality and posts many spiritually helpful things in that regard on his blog.

Father Moses of Fasting and Feasting Through the Church Year is a monastery cook at Holy Resurrection Monastery in California and blogs about Christianity and fasting.  He posts recipes which would be very helpful in this Lenten season when we may be scrambling to find appropriate fasting type meals.

A third website is not a new one for me, but one I really like and appreciate.  Catholic Home and Garden strives to preserve Catholic culture and traditions and support our growth in holiness.  It seems to have expanded exponentially since I visited last, with lots of pages devoted to traditional spirituality in addition to the original section on the Catholic Garden that attracted me to the site.  It seems that there is a bit of something there for almost anyone.

A Few New Blogs and Websites

I've discovered two new blogs that I wanted to share with you all.

Vivificat is a bilingual (English and Spanish) blogger who is an Oblate of St. Benedict and a military officer. He has an interest in Eastern Christian spirituality and posts many spiritually helpful things in that regard on his blog.

Father Moses of Fasting and Feasting Through the Church Year is a monastery cook at Holy Resurrection Monastery in California and blogs about Christianity and fasting.  He posts recipes which would be very helpful in this Lenten season when we may be scrambling to find appropriate fasting type meals.

A third website is not a new one for me, but one I really like and appreciate.  Catholic Home and Garden strives to preserve Catholic culture and traditions and support our growth in holiness.  It seems to have expanded exponentially since I visited last, with lots of pages devoted to traditional spirituality in addition to the original section on the Catholic Garden that attracted me to the site.  It seems that there is a bit of something there for almost anyone.

Another Lenten Reading List

Vivificat has another great reading list for Lent--this one is an Eastern Christian reading list for Great Lent.

It looks like each reading is accessible online at the link on his blog.

I think all this Lenten reading can be much more easily accomplished by fasting from things that usually takes up our time such as computer use and television.

Lent is a great time, given to us by God, for re-prioritizing our lives to be more in line with His Will.

Happy Lenten reading!

Another Lenten Reading List

Vivificat has another great reading list for Lent--this one is an Eastern Christian reading list for Great Lent.

It looks like each reading is accessible online at the link on his blog.

I think all this Lenten reading can be much more easily accomplished by fasting from things that usually takes up our time such as computer use and television.

Lent is a great time, given to us by God, for re-prioritizing our lives to be more in line with His Will.

Happy Lenten reading!

An Orthodox Lenten Meditation

Hat tip to Orthocath.

An Orthodox Lenten Meditation

Hat tip to Orthocath.

We are God-Bearers with Mary

Ye, therefore, as well as all your fellow travelers, are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holiness. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be his temples.

-Saint Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Ephesians

The Greek word for God-bearer is Theotokos and is a title given to Our Lady by the Eastern Church. The fact that Ignatius uses this title to refer to all believers in his letter to the Ephesians, shows that we, fallible though we are, are called to be holy as Mary is holy. When we say we are "only human" we really should not mean that we are created to sin. In fact, we are created to be fully,sinlessly human as Mary was (and as Adam and Eve were before their fall).

Let's pray, during this Lenten season, for the strength from the Holy Spirit to always say yes to God's will, as our Heavenly Mother did.

Mary, Theotokos, pray for us!

We are God-Bearers with Mary

Ye, therefore, as well as all your fellow travelers, are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holiness. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be his temples.

-Saint Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Ephesians

The Greek word for God-bearer is Theotokos and is a title given to Our Lady by the Eastern Church. The fact that Ignatius uses this title to refer to all believers in his letter to the Ephesians, shows that we, fallible though we are, are called to be holy as Mary is holy. When we say we are "only human" we really should not mean that we are created to sin. In fact, we are created to be fully,sinlessly human as Mary was (and as Adam and Eve were before their fall).

Let's pray, during this Lenten season, for the strength from the Holy Spirit to always say yes to God's will, as our Heavenly Mother did.

Mary, Theotokos, pray for us!

You're My Spirit

I've got a new playlist on YouTube of Seeker's music.  The Seekers were an Australian pop folk group from the 60's that sang quite a few spirituals. This song is from their 1993 reunion tour.

You're My Spirit

I've got a new playlist on YouTube of Seeker's music.  The Seekers were an Australian pop folk group from the 60's that sang quite a few spirituals. This song is from their 1993 reunion tour.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This was a fairly short blogging week for me.  I started out with Another Wonderful Tea perhaps to go along with my Egyptian Rice and Lentils dish.  From a Catholic point of view, I posted a prayer request for my brother in law and also about some Lenten Reading Plans.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This was a fairly short blogging week for me.  I started out with Another Wonderful Tea perhaps to go along with my Egyptian Rice and Lentils dish.  From a Catholic point of view, I posted a prayer request for my brother in law and also about some Lenten Reading Plans.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Koshary--Egyptian Rice and Lentils

I made this dish last night and it was surprisingly good. The original recipe came from Extending the Table...A World Community Cookbook put out by the Mennonite Central Committee to foster a connection with a wide variety of world cultures and bring the world together through cooking.  There are recipes in the book from all over the world from Ireland to Iraq, from Hungary to Haiti.  I love using this book during Lent as a way to connect with the simpler and often healthier ways of eating around the world.

The cookbook says that Koshary is sold in the streets of Egypt and is popular among Coptic Christians during Lent.

Here is the recipe as I made it last night.  The original calls for the lentils and rice mixture to be put on top of macaroni.

1 small can tomato paste
3 c. crushed tomatoes
3/4 C chopped celery with leaves
1 1/4 C lentils
3C boiling water
2T. olive oil

To taste:

garlic powder

salt

cumin

tomato salsa

chopped green onions

Heat oil in cast iron or other heavy frying pan.
Fry lentils in hot oil for 5 minutes.
Carefully add boiling water and stir.
Heat on medium for 10 minutes
Stir in celery, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and spices.
Cook for 10 more minutes to blend flavors.
Serve over cooked brown rice.

Koshary--Egyptian Rice and Lentils

I made this dish last night and it was surprisingly good. The original recipe came from Extending the Table...A World Community Cookbook put out by the Mennonite Central Committee to foster a connection with a wide variety of world cultures and bring the world together through cooking.  There are recipes in the book from all over the world from Ireland to Iraq, from Hungary to Haiti.  I love using this book during Lent as a way to connect with the simpler and often healthier ways of eating around the world.

The cookbook says that Koshary is sold in the streets of Egypt and is popular among Coptic Christians during Lent.

Here is the recipe as I made it last night.  The original calls for the lentils and rice mixture to be put on top of macaroni.

1 small can tomato paste
3 c. crushed tomatoes
3/4 C chopped celery with leaves
1 1/4 C lentils
3C boiling water
2T. olive oil

To taste:

garlic powder

salt

cumin

tomato salsa

chopped green onions

Heat oil in cast iron or other heavy frying pan.
Fry lentils in hot oil for 5 minutes.
Carefully add boiling water and stir.
Heat on medium for 10 minutes
Stir in celery, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and spices.
Cook for 10 more minutes to blend flavors.
Serve over cooked brown rice.

Prayer Request

I would like to ask prayers for my brother in law who is in the hospital with a broken jaw after falling off a ladder trying to get ice off his roof.

He will have surgery tomorrow morning and have his jaw wired shut for 6 weeks.

He has been out of work for about 7 months.

Thank you all!

Prayer Request

I would like to ask prayers for my brother in law who is in the hospital with a broken jaw after falling off a ladder trying to get ice off his roof.

He will have surgery tomorrow morning and have his jaw wired shut for 6 weeks.

He has been out of work for about 7 months.

Thank you all!

Lenten Reading Plan

I was made aware of this link through a poster on Fr. Z's board--What Does the Prayer Really Say?  This link has a number of Lenten Reading Plans which I think is such a wonderful idea! The reading plans on this site include a Church Fathers reading plan, a Lives of the Saints reading plan, a Fr. Faber and Cardinal Newman reading plan, and a Fr. John Vianney reading plan.  The wonderful thing about this reading plan is it has access to the texts online!

An alternative reading plan is Thoughts on the Ladder of Divine Ascent.  Inner Light Productions gives a short overview of each of the 30 steps to union with the Divine outlined in the original text by St. John Climacus.  

The suggestion was made on Fr. Z's blog, that this accompany a lessening of activities such as television or computer use, in order to make time for more spiritual reading.  

In addition to these online reading plans, there is a beautiful sermon on Great Lent by Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America. In it, he says Lent is a "tithe of the year" that we give up in order to give back to Jesus. Lent, he says, is a time for repentance, in order to help us recognize the depth of our need for change.  Fasting is done in order to stop exposing ourselves, temporarily, to the stimuli that cause us to sin.  Lent is a hospital to heal us from our attachment to the passions.

Fr. Z also warns us not to have the Lent of a child.  Giving up chocolate, he says, is a child's Lent. 

Ouch.  

Let us strive to become close to God and to do His will during Lent and always.

Lenten Reading Plan

I was made aware of this link through a poster on Fr. Z's board--What Does the Prayer Really Say?  This link has a number of Lenten Reading Plans which I think is such a wonderful idea! The reading plans on this site include a Church Fathers reading plan, a Lives of the Saints reading plan, a Fr. Faber and Cardinal Newman reading plan, and a Fr. John Vianney reading plan.  The wonderful thing about this reading plan is it has access to the texts online!

An alternative reading plan is Thoughts on the Ladder of Divine Ascent.  Inner Light Productions gives a short overview of each of the 30 steps to union with the Divine outlined in the original text by St. John Climacus.  

The suggestion was made on Fr. Z's blog, that this accompany a lessening of activities such as television or computer use, in order to make time for more spiritual reading.  

In addition to these online reading plans, there is a beautiful sermon on Great Lent by Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America. In it, he says Lent is a "tithe of the year" that we give up in order to give back to Jesus. Lent, he says, is a time for repentance, in order to help us recognize the depth of our need for change.  Fasting is done in order to stop exposing ourselves, temporarily, to the stimuli that cause us to sin.  Lent is a hospital to heal us from our attachment to the passions.

Fr. Z also warns us not to have the Lent of a child.  Giving up chocolate, he says, is a child's Lent. 

Ouch.  

Let us strive to become close to God and to do His will during Lent and always.

Another Wonderful Tea

Today I picked up a variety pack of Dilmah tea.  The box contains 5 each of Earl Grey, Ceylon Supreme, English Breakfast and English Afternoon.  I just finished a pot of English Afternoon with some German Chocolate Cake my husband brought home from work.

This tea is a  full bodied and aromatic black tea that has a flavor that delivers.  I will be on the lookout for a decaffeinated version that I can drink this all the time!

Another Wonderful Tea

Today I picked up a variety pack of Dilmah tea.  The box contains 5 each of Earl Grey, Ceylon Supreme, English Breakfast and English Afternoon.  I just finished a pot of English Afternoon with some German Chocolate Cake my husband brought home from work.

This tea is a  full bodied and aromatic black tea that has a flavor that delivers.  I will be on the lookout for a decaffeinated version that I can drink this all the time!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week has been a busier blogging week than I thought it might be.  I guess 2 major snow storms have finally caught up with me!

Last week started with my proposal for Lent: giving up Facebook and message boards.  Then I blogged about the proposed changes to DSM-5, posted a recipe for red bean chili, and an idea of spring cleaning for Lent.

I posted 2 videos for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes,  talked about a gorgeous blog I came across (Trail of Flowers) and included some thoughts of beauty in the same post, and, lastly, I posted a Valentine from Jesus.

Happy St. Valentine's Day, everyone!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week has been a busier blogging week than I thought it might be.  I guess 2 major snow storms have finally caught up with me!

Last week started with my proposal for Lent: giving up Facebook and message boards.  Then I blogged about the proposed changes to DSM-5, posted a recipe for red bean chili, and an idea of spring cleaning for Lent.

I posted 2 videos for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes,  talked about a gorgeous blog I came across (Trail of Flowers) and included some thoughts of beauty in the same post, and, lastly, I posted a Valentine from Jesus.

Happy St. Valentine's Day, everyone!

A Valentine from Jesus

Who better to get a Valentine from than from Christ, the cause and origin of Love itself? He gives us His Heart and awaits our answer to His call.

A Valentine from Jesus

Who better to get a Valentine from than from Christ, the cause and origin of Love itself? He gives us His Heart and awaits our answer to His call.

A Beautiful New Blog and Some Thoughts on Beauty

I wanted to highlight a beautiful new blog I have saved on my sidebar under Catholic (Western).

 It is Kindred Spirit's Trail of Flowers blog. She combines gorgeous artwork, breathtaking poetry and inspirational quotes for a restful reminder of what is important.  Her blog is the sort of place you want to stop by every morning before getting down to the business of the day,  every afternoon while drinking a cup of your favorite tea, or every evening before going to sleep.

Her blog is perfectly illustrative of the spiritual concept that "beauty will save the world".  Humanity's search for beauty has led us down many a stray path in recent times and our despair is reflected in much of our art and music. As we give in to this despair, we dig ourselves a hole which is difficult even to see out of.

True beauty, in all its forms, is the way to and expression of the Divine in the world.  Genesis tells us that "God saw that (His creation) was good."  Mankind attempts to encompass that Beauty through our own creation.  When we reject that goal and create things that purposely go against our quest for Beauty, we debase our own soul.    

If you like the art at A Trail of Flowers, drop by the Art Renewal Center whose mission is to support classical realism in art. The artwork they have in their online library is inspirational, breathtaking and gorgeous as well!

This includes the picture above, A Young Woman Holding a Bouquet of Summer Flowers by Ferdnand Toussaint.  You can browse their museum and even buy some of their prints.  Part of their mission is encouraging high standards in today's artists and  to that end they have a category of paintings in their gallery called "Living Masters" that you can enjoy and purchase as well.

As many of us try to dig out from recent winter storms of historic proportions, I encourage you all to continue the search for Beauty in all its forms and to visit A Trail of Flowers as part of that search.

A Beautiful New Blog and Some Thoughts on Beauty

I wanted to highlight a beautiful new blog I have saved on my sidebar under Catholic (Western).

 It is Kindred Spirit's Trail of Flowers blog. She combines gorgeous artwork, breathtaking poetry and inspirational quotes for a restful reminder of what is important.  Her blog is the sort of place you want to stop by every morning before getting down to the business of the day,  every afternoon while drinking a cup of your favorite tea, or every evening before going to sleep.

Her blog is perfectly illustrative of the spiritual concept that "beauty will save the world".  Humanity's search for beauty has led us down many a stray path in recent times and our despair is reflected in much of our art and music. As we give in to this despair, we dig ourselves a hole which is difficult even to see out of.

True beauty, in all its forms, is the way to and expression of the Divine in the world.  Genesis tells us that "God saw that (His creation) was good."  Mankind attempts to encompass that Beauty through our own creation.  When we reject that goal and create things that purposely go against our quest for Beauty, we debase our own soul.    

If you like the art at A Trail of Flowers, drop by the Art Renewal Center whose mission is to support classical realism in art. The artwork they have in their online library is inspirational, breathtaking and gorgeous as well!

This includes the picture above, A Young Woman Holding a Bouquet of Summer Flowers by Ferdnand Toussaint.  You can browse their museum and even buy some of their prints.  Part of their mission is encouraging high standards in today's artists and  to that end they have a category of paintings in their gallery called "Living Masters" that you can enjoy and purchase as well.

As many of us try to dig out from recent winter storms of historic proportions, I encourage you all to continue the search for Beauty in all its forms and to visit A Trail of Flowers as part of that search.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick--February 11

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Here is a film of the Grotto of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, MD which has a replica of the grotto in Lourdes, France, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, and outdoor life size crucifixion sculpture, an outdoor Rosary Walk with mosaic illustrations, many beautiful statues and a glass chapel where Mass is said.

On this feast day of Our Lady, take a minute to travel to the Grotto and lay your intentions at the foot of Our Lady in prayer.



Today is also The World Day of the Sick and Father James Kubicki has this reflection on Lourdes and suffering.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick--February 11

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Here is a film of the Grotto of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, MD which has a replica of the grotto in Lourdes, France, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, and outdoor life size crucifixion sculpture, an outdoor Rosary Walk with mosaic illustrations, many beautiful statues and a glass chapel where Mass is said.

On this feast day of Our Lady, take a minute to travel to the Grotto and lay your intentions at the foot of Our Lady in prayer.



Today is also The World Day of the Sick and Father James Kubicki has this reflection on Lourdes and suffering.

Spring Clean for Lent

I saw this suggestion on a forum and thought it was a good one.

Every day during Lent this year, empty one bag of 'stuff' that is no longer needed from your house, totaling a loss of forty bags of stuff!

1.) Taking a look at the size of your family and household, with an acknowledgement of how much 'stuff' is present, make a prudential choice on the size of bag to be employed during this challenge. Bag size should be small enough that the goal of 40 bags during the season of Lent is able to be accomplished, while not being too big that you are left with nothing. We must still live in the world, after all!

2.) If smaller children are a part of your family, a 'gauge' may be helpful to keep them engaged and help them keep track of progress. As part of your preparations, make a 'paper chain' of forty numbered links. As each new bag is started, place a new link in the bottom of the bag. This way, as the chain gets smaller, there is a greater sense of accomplishment.

3.) This challenge necessarily involves sacrifice. Each member of the family should be encouraged to give something to each bag, or there could be designated bags for each member of the family.

4.) Instead of just throwing things away, recycling is a great way to encourage good stewardship of the gifts we have been given, as it symbolizes that we are passing along our gifts to others. Families with children are encouraged to pass along clothes that no longer fit or toys that sit dormant in a closet to families in need instead of just throwing them away.

5.) Units of count need not necessarily be trash bags either; however they should be equivalent. For example, a box of gently used toys or clothes could equate one bag off the chain. A stack of books donated to the parish library is another easy equivalent.

Spring Clean for Lent

I saw this suggestion on a forum and thought it was a good one.

Every day during Lent this year, empty one bag of 'stuff' that is no longer needed from your house, totaling a loss of forty bags of stuff!

1.) Taking a look at the size of your family and household, with an acknowledgement of how much 'stuff' is present, make a prudential choice on the size of bag to be employed during this challenge. Bag size should be small enough that the goal of 40 bags during the season of Lent is able to be accomplished, while not being too big that you are left with nothing. We must still live in the world, after all!

2.) If smaller children are a part of your family, a 'gauge' may be helpful to keep them engaged and help them keep track of progress. As part of your preparations, make a 'paper chain' of forty numbered links. As each new bag is started, place a new link in the bottom of the bag. This way, as the chain gets smaller, there is a greater sense of accomplishment.

3.) This challenge necessarily involves sacrifice. Each member of the family should be encouraged to give something to each bag, or there could be designated bags for each member of the family.

4.) Instead of just throwing things away, recycling is a great way to encourage good stewardship of the gifts we have been given, as it symbolizes that we are passing along our gifts to others. Families with children are encouraged to pass along clothes that no longer fit or toys that sit dormant in a closet to families in need instead of just throwing them away.

5.) Units of count need not necessarily be trash bags either; however they should be equivalent. For example, a box of gently used toys or clothes could equate one bag off the chain. A stack of books donated to the parish library is another easy equivalent.

Red Bean Chili

I made chili last night and in spite of its lack of meat, it was pronounced a success by my dh.  Here are the ingredients--most in estimated amounts. 

1 pound of dry red beans, cooked using the 90 minute no soak method.
1 can italian stewed tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, grated
1/4 cup brewed Yogi Sweet Mexican Chili Tea

To taste: 
     tomato juice
     worcestershire sauce
     soy sauce
     salt
     garlic powder
     cumin
     oregano
     chili powder
     peanuts (to substitute for the cashews the recipe called for)

Top with plain yogurt or sour cream

Red Bean Chili

I made chili last night and in spite of its lack of meat, it was pronounced a success by my dh.  Here are the ingredients--most in estimated amounts. 

1 pound of dry red beans, cooked using the 90 minute no soak method.
1 can italian stewed tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, grated
1/4 cup brewed Yogi Sweet Mexican Chili Tea

To taste: 
     tomato juice
     worcestershire sauce
     soy sauce
     salt
     garlic powder
     cumin
     oregano
     chili powder
     peanuts (to substitute for the cashews the recipe called for)

Top with plain yogurt or sour cream

DSM-5 Proposed Document

The American Psychiatric Association has released a draft document of the fifth edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and is asking for public comment.  The website, dsm5.org, has a list of proposed revisions to the DSM-5  that you can click on and read.

So, if you have any personal opinions on the classification of mental illnesses or if you have a general interest in psychiatry and mental health, click on the above link and take a look.

Do remember, though, that diagnosing mental illnesses is a subjective task, which is why the DSM changes as often as it does.  Diagnosing is up to the individual psychiatrist.  There are no blood tests or any objective measures for doctors to use.  Those who do not fall neatly into the categories proposed must be diagnosed via the drugs that work to control their symptoms and hence, please the insurance companies.

Nevertheless, the proposed DSM-5 makes for interesting reading and is open to public comment.

DSM-5 Proposed Document

The American Psychiatric Association has released a draft document of the fifth edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and is asking for public comment.  The website, dsm5.org, has a list of proposed revisions to the DSM-5  that you can click on and read.

So, if you have any personal opinions on the classification of mental illnesses or if you have a general interest in psychiatry and mental health, click on the above link and take a look.

Do remember, though, that diagnosing mental illnesses is a subjective task, which is why the DSM changes as often as it does.  Diagnosing is up to the individual psychiatrist.  There are no blood tests or any objective measures for doctors to use.  Those who do not fall neatly into the categories proposed must be diagnosed via the drugs that work to control their symptoms and hence, please the insurance companies.

Nevertheless, the proposed DSM-5 makes for interesting reading and is open to public comment.

Lent 2010

This year, I'm giving up message boards and FaceBook for Lent.  Since Friday, dh and I are, *gasp* sharing a laptop and I've really noticed a big difference already.

I've also begun to notice that both message boards and FaceBook are big mood alterers for me (and not in a good way).    As someone recently pointed out to me, Facebook updates (and Twitter too) are really ways to create a persona and are not helpful in discovering the "real" self and certainly not the self that God wants me to be.

Centuries ago, food and drink were the main mood alterers for a society that had yet to develop technology much beyond the wheel.  Fasting is still a very worthy practice, and one mandated by the Church, but for some of us who have layered technology on top of food as ways to escape, technology has to go first.

I am still going to blog, especially about spiritual issues, and I'll still write poetry.  I will still check my e-mail, but less frequently.

As someone who has always been a proponent of less TV (back in the day when it was the dominant technology) I can't believe its taken me this long to come to this conclusion.

I hope to have a fruitful and God-focused Lent and I hope all my readers do as well!

Lent 2010

This year, I'm giving up message boards and FaceBook for Lent.  Since Friday, dh and I are, *gasp* sharing a laptop and I've really noticed a big difference already.

I've also begun to notice that both message boards and FaceBook are big mood alterers for me (and not in a good way).    As someone recently pointed out to me, Facebook updates (and Twitter too) are really ways to create a persona and are not helpful in discovering the "real" self and certainly not the self that God wants me to be.

Centuries ago, food and drink were the main mood alterers for a society that had yet to develop technology much beyond the wheel.  Fasting is still a very worthy practice, and one mandated by the Church, but for some of us who have layered technology on top of food as ways to escape, technology has to go first.

I am still going to blog, especially about spiritual issues, and I'll still write poetry.  I will still check my e-mail, but less frequently.

As someone who has always been a proponent of less TV (back in the day when it was the dominant technology) I can't believe its taken me this long to come to this conclusion.

I hope to have a fruitful and God-focused Lent and I hope all my readers do as well!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

Last week began with a post about Candlemas, The Presentation, and weather. Later in the week, weather hit my area with a vengeance! We've gotten over 2 feet of snow with more coming later in the week. My pictures are here and here.

I had a post about nuns being on Oprah this Tuesday,  and some beautiful sung night prayer from England to round out the week. 

Have a blessed week, everyone!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

Last week began with a post about Candlemas, The Presentation, and weather. Later in the week, weather hit my area with a vengeance! We've gotten over 2 feet of snow with more coming later in the week. My pictures are here and here.

I had a post about nuns being on Oprah this Tuesday,  and some beautiful sung night prayer from England to round out the week. 

Have a blessed week, everyone!

Feathered Visitors

One more pic from the Blizzard of 2010. This rock leans up against our house and was covered with snow. When I let the dog out, I noticed that we'd been blessed with a feathered visitor! I'm sure there's a poem brewing in this pic somewhere. When it makes itself known, I will share it!

Feathered Visitors

One more pic from the Blizzard of 2010. This rock leans up against our house and was covered with snow. When I let the dog out, I noticed that we'd been blessed with a feathered visitor! I'm sure there's a poem brewing in this pic somewhere. When it makes itself known, I will share it!

Scenes from the Blizzard of 2010

Here are scenes from the blizzard of 2010. The first picture is the path that my husband dug out to our street before he had to rest.  This is a heavy snow, and there's lots of it.  Next is our '72 VW bug which was partially underneath the carport.  On the bottom is a snow drift covering a bush next to our house and our dog shaking in protest at having to be outside--even in a coat!

Scenes from the Blizzard of 2010

Here are scenes from the blizzard of 2010. The first picture is the path that my husband dug out to our street before he had to rest.  This is a heavy snow, and there's lots of it.  Next is our '72 VW bug which was partially underneath the carport.  On the bottom is a snow drift covering a bush next to our house and our dog shaking in protest at having to be outside--even in a coat!

Night Prayer

Relax, light a candle and experience Evening Prayer as sung by the Benedictine Monks of Ampleforth Abbey.

Night Prayer

Relax, light a candle and experience Evening Prayer as sung by the Benedictine Monks of Ampleforth Abbey.

Tune In This Tuesday!!

Mark your calendars for February 9, 2010.  The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are going to be on Oprah!!!

They are a young order (founded  13 years ago on February 9--coincidence...?!) whose average age is only 26.  Their apostolate is education and they have 100 sisters in California, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan, Arizona and Texas.

This is an exciting opportunity to spread the gospel via the secular media and to get recognition to this beautiful order of young women who have given their lives to Christ.

Tune In This Tuesday!!

Mark your calendars for February 9, 2010.  The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are going to be on Oprah!!!

They are a young order (founded  13 years ago on February 9--coincidence...?!) whose average age is only 26.  Their apostolate is education and they have 100 sisters in California, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan, Arizona and Texas.

This is an exciting opportunity to spread the gospel via the secular media and to get recognition to this beautiful order of young women who have given their lives to Christ.

Happy Candlemas!!

Today is Candlemas Day--the day when all the candles used for the upcoming year are traditionally blessed. Candlemas marks the day when winter is halfway over. We are now midway between the shortest day of the year and the Spring Equinox. For those of us who think that having a Christmas season that lasts until January 6 is a long time, there are some cultures who celebrate it until Candlemas!

Candlemas is also the origin of Groundhog Day. Here is the nursery rhyme that we still follow (albeit in a more secular context) today:

If Candlemas day (2 February) be dry and fair
The half o' winters to come and mair
If Candlemas day be wet and foul
The half o' winter's gane at Yule.

Here is a more modern version:

If Candlemas day be bright and fair,
There’ll be two winters in a year.
If Candlemas be fair & bright,
winter will have another flight.

On the church calendar it is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, also known as the Purification of Mary. On this day, Jesus was circumcised in the temple and given His Name, and Mary, as a new mother, went through the ritual of purification. It is also when the prophet Simeon and Prophetess, Anna recognized that the Baby in Mary' arms was indeed the promised Christ Child.  Simeon also prophesied that "a sword will pierce your (Mary's) soul," which is the origin of many works of art of the Sorrowful Mother.

Christ, be our Light! 

Happy Candlemas!!

Today is Candlemas Day--the day when all the candles used for the upcoming year are traditionally blessed. Candlemas marks the day when winter is halfway over. We are now midway between the shortest day of the year and the Spring Equinox. For those of us who think that having a Christmas season that lasts until January 6 is a long time, there are some cultures who celebrate it until Candlemas!

Candlemas is also the origin of Groundhog Day. Here is the nursery rhyme that we still follow (albeit in a more secular context) today:

If Candlemas day (2 February) be dry and fair
The half o' winters to come and mair
If Candlemas day be wet and foul
The half o' winter's gane at Yule.

Here is a more modern version:

If Candlemas day be bright and fair,
There’ll be two winters in a year.
If Candlemas be fair & bright,
winter will have another flight.

On the church calendar it is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, also known as the Purification of Mary. On this day, Jesus was circumcised in the temple and given His Name, and Mary, as a new mother, went through the ritual of purification. It is also when the prophet Simeon and Prophetess, Anna recognized that the Baby in Mary' arms was indeed the promised Christ Child.  Simeon also prophesied that "a sword will pierce your (Mary's) soul," which is the origin of many works of art of the Sorrowful Mother.

Christ, be our Light!