Living a Catholic Life in the Modern World
So they won’t be Dumb as rocks via Homeschool buzz.
Seriously, this is worth reading if just for the laugh and little bit of self-congratulating.
Here are the main points if you don’t want to bother clicking things:
I am still waiting for the debate over the “Golden Compass” to reach Harry Potter levels of hysteria. Or actually maybe not. I think there is much less wiggle room on the “Golden Compass” than there was with HP (which DH and DD15 have read and enjoyed). But it is definitely one thing on the “looking at but haven’t decided on list”. We don’t really go to movies and since the kids aren’t in public school it will most likely be a non-issue for us, but time will tell.
Over at Standing on my head there is a few wonderful thoughts on our aweful hymns citing one of the main issues… how the mass is misunderstood. My thoughts on that topic are here.
Advent 2007 begins (for the Catholic liturgical calendar) on December 2 this year. So, exactly one month from today. This year I firmly resolve to buy the candles for my advent wreath before the end of the first week of advent. I am lucky enough to live about five blocks from a wonderful little bookstore that I know will have them. If I get in early enough. Last year I procrastinated and ended up not being able to find candles and I had to hunt around for three purple and one pink candle. So, I will be better this year. (If you don’t have a local source you can purchase them here)
Saying “Hi”, to the Christmas Alliance with the gentle reminder that Advent starts in one month!
This is bound to be a crazy busy week for us. I find some strange, small comfort in the idea that I am not alone in this. Happy Catholic has a fun post about busy times and counting your blessings that is worth reading.
Over at The Court Jester Jeff Miller writes : Some time ago I also started to pray for him as I try to do for the priests of the parishes I attend. A couple of months ago I was surprised to find how my attitude had changed towards Fr. Sullivan. Before seeing him with his idiosyncrasies and casual treatment of the Mass could cause me to get rather heated inside, but instead I started to become more aware of the positive things that he did and the negative ones made less of an impression on me or I could more easily ignore.
I find this is often the case for myself and one reason why I try to remind my children that if someone is really annoying you pray for them. Prayer helps put you in God’s frame where you can more easily see the good in your fellow human and be more forgiving of the bad. Christ loved that annoying person enough to die for them; there must be some good in there somewhere. Even if it is hard to find. So I try to be slow to give-up on people. But it is prayer that makes the most difference. It is very difficult to judge harshly someone for whom you are praying.
I am one of those people who is a compulsive planner and worrier. I really spend far too much time fretting about some things then it actually requires to do the thing I stress over. I found this small devotion written by Blessed John XXIII at Daughter of the Kingand I am copying it here for easy reference:
How Much More Will the Father Give
1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.
2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone except myself.
3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.
4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
5) Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.
8 ) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
10) Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
~Blessed John XXIII
My plan is to reference this for the month of November each day. Each day is its own, its troubles and its graces and I really need to get better about keeping that in mind. We will see how this goes.
Well, here I start my Christmas Alliance posting. I told the Random Yak that I might be able to come up with a few simple-minded Christmas reflections and I will attempt to be good to my word.
I love Christmas. But it usually sneaks up on me and stresses me out in about mid December. So this is a good thing that I am working on something to remind me that it is coming… with all its joy and tinsel and such.
One thing I was considering this year was forgoing poinsettias. Why you might ask? Well here is an article that just made me go ick. I can not think of a single thing that would be more of an affront to our Lord than spending money where I know part of it will go to support Planned Parenthood the murder of unborn children on the celebration of His birth. But.. I think I may go hog wild now because of this:
Down Home Ranch from their site
Value Statement
Down Home Ranch seeks to be faithful to the Christian mission to provide for those in need.
Mission
The mission of Down Home Ranch is to build a rural, self-reliant community for adults with mental retardation, offering training, housing, recreation, and dignified employment, as well as opportunities for growth in mind, body, and spirit.
Some of my readers may remember that I have a daughter who is severely autistic and while her issues are more profound than the issues that the Down Home Ranch supports I can’t help but feel good to see these young people here in such a lovely place.
(nod to Kint Tigether in Love)
I found this rather by accident while searching for a good version of “This is my song” with the following lyrics.
Being that I love boys’ choral music I was then swept away into youtube music ecstasy and spent way way too much time listening to the various pieces. So I thought I would share the joy.
On Called by Name Fr. Kyle Schnippel shares a story from Whispers in the Loggia . This is on of those stories that made my heart happy while bringing tears to my eyes. Msgr Ed Petty passed away last week. From the Homily at his funeral mass there was this:
For Ed, Catholicism was thoroughly fun. And real fun is being a part of something greater than yourself. Belonging to the church is fun because it expands beyond the limits of this world. Ed knew the thrill of being a part of something that brings us together with all the angels and saints—the worship of almighty God in spirit and in truth….
I love that thought. The joy of being part of something so wonderful and magnificent. We are made for sacrifice and love. Hope, joy, faith and love.
Over at “Woman Honor Thyself” I was thrilled to read a great post about the decline of decent conduct in blog comments. Something I have vented about here before.
It is one of those incredible “proofs” of the inate human inclination to sin that the second responsibility is removed from a right we sink inevitably to the lowest level.
Simply Catholic 