Order of the Mustard Seed

Love this edgy Flash vid I discovered through Scotty on AutumnRose's forum. It's a group of Christian young people who live a "rule of life", similar to Catholic religious orders, called The Order of the Mustard Seed, apparently begun in the 17th century by a man named Zinzendorf as an order of spiritual knighthood and taken up today by these Christians.

Zinzendorf's three rules of life were these:

1. To be true to Christ;
2. To be kind to all people;
3. To send the gospel to the world.

It is an intriguing idea that Christians of various types are discovering the idea of a vowed, committed and ordered life for Christ.

Click HERE to see the video. When you get to the page, click on the black and grey picture on the right hand side of the screen.

Order of the Mustard Seed

Love this edgy Flash vid I discovered through Scotty on AutumnRose's forum. It's a group of Christian young people who live a "rule of life", similar to Catholic religious orders, called The Order of the Mustard Seed, apparently begun in the 17th century by a man named Zinzendorf as an order of spiritual knighthood and taken up today by these Christians.

Zinzendorf's three rules of life were these:

1. To be true to Christ;
2. To be kind to all people;
3. To send the gospel to the world.

It is an intriguing idea that Christians of various types are discovering the idea of a vowed, committed and ordered life for Christ.

Click HERE to see the video. When you get to the page, click on the black and grey picture on the right hand side of the screen.

New ways to pray

I have found some very helpful sites with online Catholic meditations.

Two are online rosary sites. The first is from the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. They have a very unique online rosary site that has pictures of individual rosary beads that you mouse over with each Hail Mary. The bead changes color from blue to gold when you mouse over it. Each prayer has a picure that similarly changes from black and white to color to help you keep track of your prayers and meditations.

Each decade of the rosary is introduced with a prayer that allows you to insert your own intention right into praying that decade of the rosary. This makes each rosary very in the moment, meaningful and prayerful.

Catholic Prayer Traditions has an online Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Stations of the Cross, The Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin (Franciscan Crown Rosary) and the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin (Servite Chaplet). Each one is interactive and illustrated. The traditional rosary also has a scripture reading, prayer counter and the virtue that goes along with each mystery.

Meditations from Carmel is something completely different. It is a podcast that you can download or listen to right from your computer that features writings of various Carmelites.

All three are great ways to enhance your prayer life.

New ways to pray

I have found some very helpful sites with online Catholic meditations.

Two are online rosary sites. The first is from the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. They have a very unique online rosary site that has pictures of individual rosary beads that you mouse over with each Hail Mary. The bead changes color from blue to gold when you mouse over it. Each prayer has a picure that similarly changes from black and white to color to help you keep track of your prayers and meditations.

Each decade of the rosary is introduced with a prayer that allows you to insert your own intention right into praying that decade of the rosary. This makes each rosary very in the moment, meaningful and prayerful.

Catholic Prayer Traditions has an online Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Stations of the Cross, The Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin (Franciscan Crown Rosary) and the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin (Servite Chaplet). Each one is interactive and illustrated. The traditional rosary also has a scripture reading, prayer counter and the virtue that goes along with each mystery.

Meditations from Carmel is something completely different. It is a podcast that you can download or listen to right from your computer that features writings of various Carmelites.

All three are great ways to enhance your prayer life.

Tea Room

We have at least three (that I know of) tea rooms in Gettysburg. There is one that just changed hands and while I've been inside the physically much-improved tea room and store recently, I haven't taken tea there since the change.

I did, however, take tea at The Rose Room Tea Parlor on Steinwehr Avenue today. I decided not to wait until either of the men in my household could be dragged there. I had popped in on Memorial Day while taking in the parade and the owner of the tea room encouraged me to take tea by myself one day. So, today, I did just that.

What an enjoyable experience! The small tea room, situated inside Patriot Point Village in Gettysburg, has an ambiance all its own. Quite a contrast from the surrounding primitive country and 19th century military paraphernalia that surrounds it, the Rose Room just oozes Victorian femininity.

The tables are beautifully set with china and table cloths that center around a color theme. I had the place to myself and enjoyed looking closely at all the beautiful table settings.

I ordered a "cream tea" which consisted of a wonderfully warm scone with cream and lemon curd, some delicious finger sandwiches, including one that was asparagus wrapped in filo dough, and one pot of tea. The tea I chose, is apparently a favorite of many--English Toffee. With two lumps of sugar, it was heavenly!

So, this tea room goes on my favorites list. I'll definitely be back!

Tea Room

We have at least three (that I know of) tea rooms in Gettysburg. There is one that just changed hands and while I've been inside the physically much-improved tea room and store recently, I haven't taken tea there since the change.

I did, however, take tea at The Rose Room Tea Parlor on Steinwehr Avenue today. I decided not to wait until either of the men in my household could be dragged there. I had popped in on Memorial Day while taking in the parade and the owner of the tea room encouraged me to take tea by myself one day. So, today, I did just that.

What an enjoyable experience! The small tea room, situated inside Patriot Point Village in Gettysburg, has an ambiance all its own. Quite a contrast from the surrounding primitive country and 19th century military paraphernalia that surrounds it, the Rose Room just oozes Victorian femininity.

The tables are beautifully set with china and table cloths that center around a color theme. I had the place to myself and enjoyed looking closely at all the beautiful table settings.

I ordered a "cream tea" which consisted of a wonderfully warm scone with cream and lemon curd, some delicious finger sandwiches, including one that was asparagus wrapped in filo dough, and one pot of tea. The tea I chose, is apparently a favorite of many--English Toffee. With two lumps of sugar, it was heavenly!

So, this tea room goes on my favorites list. I'll definitely be back!

Tiny Catholic Rant

Just a little senseless mini-rant. There is a saint in the Catholic Church. Her name is Saint Therese of Lisieux. Answers.com tells us that the correct pronunciation of her name is Thé·rèse de Li·sieux (tā-rĕz' də lē-zyœ')

Just for your information and edification, it is NOT pronounced Luhsoo, or Luhsue.

*Sigh*

End of rant from a Catholic who took French in High School.

Hat tip to Lifeisgreat for reminding me to link an audio pronunciation of St. Therese's name! Click here to hear it yourself!