Happy Mother's Day

The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral – a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.

"The Angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's Creative miracle to bring new Saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation."

"What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?"

~ Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty ~

Ejaculation to Our Blessed Mother

O Mary who didst come into this world free from stain obtain of God for me that I may leave it without sin.

His Holiness Pope Pius IX by a rescript from the of the Secretary of Briefs March 27 1863 granted to the faithful who with at least contrite heart and devotion shall say this ejaculation an indulgence of one hundred days, once a day.

My Prayer Book: Happiness in Goodness: Reflections, Counsels, Prayers and Devotions

edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Ligouri to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, to thee who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the universe, the advocate, the hope, the refuge of sinners, I who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse this day. I worship thee, great Queen, and I thank thee for the many graces thou hast bestowed upon me even unto this day; in particular for having delivered me from the hell which I have so often deserved by my sins. I love thee, most dear Lady, and for the love I bear thee, I promise to serve thee willingly forever and to do what I can to make thee loved by others also. I place in thee all my hopes for salvation; accept me as thy servant and shelter me under thy mantle, thou who art the Mother of mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, or at least get me the strength to overcome them until death. From thee I implore a true love for Jesus Christ. Through thee I hope to die a holy death. My dear Mother, by the love thou bearest to Almighty God. I pray thee to assist me always, but most of all at the last moment of my life. Forsake me not then, until thou shalt see me safe in Heaven, there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies through all eternity. Such is my hope. Amen.

His Holiness Pope Pius IX., by an autograph rescript, Sept. 7, 1854, and renewed by the Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic, May 18, 1934, granted to all the faithful every time that they shall say this prayer before an image of the Blessed Virgin: An indulgence of three years.

Catholic Girl's Guide by edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance 

Devotions for the Month of May

The return of May, when nature, awakened from her winter sleep, is clad in all her vernal beauty, reminds us that all should be fair and bright within us also, that our hearts ought to be adorned with fair virtues, so as to be pleasing to Jesus and Mary. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, frequent meditation on her life and contemplation of her example, earnest endeavor to imitate her virtues - these are all excellent means of sanctifying the soul and of advancing in the love of God. And since the May devotions are intended to attain this laudable end, since they are commended to us by holy Church and enriched with indulgences, it especially behooves us, who are the adopted children of Mary and her devoted clients, to perform these exercises with a willing heart and in the spirit of piety. The following suggestions will serve as your guide.

1. If possible, receive the sacraments at the beginning of the month of May, in order that the meditations and devotions may bear more abundant fruit in your soul.
2. The chapters in the fore part and at the end of this book will furnish you with suitable matter for meditation and spiritual reading; to this you may add the Litany ofand other prayers to the Blessed Virgin.
3. As your principal object propose to yourself to combat and thoroughly master some fault or bad habit, and to acquire the opposite virtue.
4. Every morning offer up your actions to Jesus and Mary, and endeavor earnestly to model your whole conduct by the example of the Blessed Virgin.
5. If you can manage to hear Mass daily, see that you do so; and if the May devotions are not held in public, perform them by yourself, either in church before the shrine of Our Lady, or at home before your own little altar of the Blessed Virgin.
6. Recite the Rosary frequently.
7. Finally, do your utmost to promote devotion to our blessed Lady among those with whom you come into contact.

Catholic Girl's Guide by edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance 

Saints for May Calendar

Last week, a friend and I were discussing the saint calendar that I have in my living room. The idea originally came from Catholic Heritage Curricula's A Year with God. Our original calendar came from Lakeshore Learning Curriculum. A little over a year ago, after our dog chewed most of our month pieces and part of our calendar, I saw CeAnne's calendar on Sanctus Simplicitus and was inspired to continue using a large wall calendar with my children. I found a slightly smaller calendar at Joann's Fabric and Craft Store for a couple of dollars that fits better with my homemade saint pages.

We have a calendar that is published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter hanging in our kitchen and we are parishioners at an FSSP parish. Therefore, I use this calendar as a guide for my family's wall calendar. After speaking with my friend last week, I thought that some families might appreciate it if I shared my saint pieces for May's calendar. As already mentioned, this month's pieces were made using the calendar published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter as a guide. If I have made any errors, please don't hesitate to let me know.

If families are interested in using these pieces, I will try to remember to share them each month.

Download pdf of May's Saints

Heat Rises

Finnian: "I am hot."

Patrick: "Well, Finnian, you are wearing pants. When it is hot outside, you should wear shorts because heat rises."

Sugar Cookies and Icing

These sugar cookies are more like shortbread cookies. They are not very sweet which means sweet icing complements them perfectly. The almond flavor of the cookies and the sugary sweetness of the icing taste very good together.

Supplies:

• Cookie cutters
• #2 metal tip (we use Wilton, sizes vary between brands)
• Various other metal tips (optional, depending on how you want to decorate your cookies)
• Mixer
• Pastry bags and/or squeeze bottles (I would like these and maybe these.)
• Toothpicks and cornstarch*

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tsp. almond extract**
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 5 cups flour, sifted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter. Add powdered sugar. Mix in egg, almond extract, vanilla, and flour. Roll dough into two individual balls and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill dough until stiff (about an hour). Roll to 1/4" thickness on a well-floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on greased cookie sheet or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (I prefer doing the latter). Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cookies should not brown. Decorate when cool. The number of cookies will vary, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.

Royal Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 Tbsp. meringue powder
• 5 Tbsp. water
• Gel food colors

Directions:

Mix all ingredients on low speed until peaks form. If using a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment. This icing is good for piping on the cookies. Store the icing in an airtight container.

We divide the icing into a couple of airtight containers and use the gel food colors to color the icing. We begin by piping the icing on the cookies. Once all the cookies have piping around them, we take some of the icing and thin it in separate containers.*** Place the thinned icing in the squeeze bottles to flood your cookies. Let the cookies dry thoroughly (we leave them overnight), and then decorate as you wish.

*We use toothpicks dipped in cornstarch to move stray piped icing. Clean toothpicks can be used to put a little color in the flooded icing. The toothpicks can be dipped in the gel food color or thinned icing and applied to the flooded icing on the cookie (we did not do that with these cookies).
**Lemon zest, lemon juice, or  lemon extract can be used with equally good results. That being said, my children prefer the taste of the almond cookies.
***Add one teaspoon of water to the icing at a time to thin it. If the icing becomes too thin, add a little powdered sugar.

Enjoy your cookie baking and decorating!

Wise Pondering

The other night during dinner, I mentioned something about wisdom. One of my children responded, "I would rather be a fool and alive, than wise and dead." Before I could say anything, Theresa said, "I would rather be wise and dead. If I were a fool and alive, then I would commit sins like fools do." Without missing a beat, my husband chimed in, "He who truly fears the Lord, has no fear of death."

I love my family.

Turning the Other Cheek

Sibling: "Patrick, your 'r's don't look right. They're supposed to be in the lines, not up there."

Patrick: "If you don't like my 'r's, then you should see my capital 'D's."

Me: "What's wrong with your capital 'D's?"

Patrick (showing me one of his 'D's): "Look."

It looked fine to me. Truth be told, Patrick's writing may be neater than the critics, but I'm not going to say anything. :)

Lighting of the Easter Candle

Elizabeth fell asleep on our way to Mass on Holy Saturday, so we laid her down in the pew and I stayed inside with her while the rest of my family went outside for the lighting of the Easter fire and the Easter candle.

As everyone processed back inside, the scent of beeswax filled the church and I was happy to respond, "Deo Gratias" to the "Lumen Christi".  The Easter Vigil always takes my breath away.

Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia!

Eastertide Daybook

I hope that everyone had a joyous and blessed Easter.

Outside my window...

The sky is blue and it is supposed to be another beautiful day. I think that it was in the 70s on Easter Sunday.   We are on Easter vacation this week and thoroughly enjoying the beautiful weather.

In the kitchen...

Catherine made our lamb cake for Easter and did a much better job than I did last year. The boys used all of my wood skewers for arrows again, so we didn't have anything available to place a flag in the cake.

We finally made sugar cookies to give to friends as Easter gifts. I have been wanting to do this for a few years, but never got around to it. The children had a lot of fun making them and eating them. Yesterday, Elizabeth said, "Mommy, all those yummy cookies are gone. Can we make more?" Hopefully, we will have time to do so soon.

I am listening to...

Theresa talking to Kieran. He absolutely loves her. If he isn't in my arms or playing next to me, he is usually with Theresa.

I am wearing...
a jean skirt and a red shirt.

I am praying for...
my family. I am also praying for friends who are pregnant.

I am thankful...

for the beautiful weather and that we are on Easter vacation. The children have been helping in the garden this week. We also spent a couple of hours at the beach. Brendan, Theresa, and Patrick had fun skimboarding. I was very thankful to a young man who gave the children some skimboarding tips and loaned them one of his boards.

We were able to have our Easter egg hunt outside this year.

In the learning rooms...

Catherine is crocheting roses for Elizabeth. All of the children are enjoying the books that they received in their Easter baskets. The girls are practicing for their piano and violin recitals. Brendan wants to go skimboarding again. We're enjoying our vacation.

Living the Liturgical Year...

We were blessed to have Fr. Skeris visit our parish for Holy Week and Easter. On Palm Sunday, he chanted the Passion along with our pastor and our assistant pastor. He has an amazing voice. Once again this year, we went to the Triduum Masses and service. Brendan served as Crucifer on Holy Thursday. Kieran and Elizabeth slept through the Easter Vigil which allowed me to fully participate in the Mass. This Friday and Saturday are the firsts of the month and we will be going to Mass again. I love the Catholic Faith. Christus Resurrexit!

I am pondering...
these passages from Story of a Soul:

“As little birds learn to sing by listening to their parents, so children learn the science of the virtues, the sublime song of Divine Love from souls responsible for forming them.” (p. 113)

 “…joy isn’t found in the material objects surrounding us but in the inner recesses of the soul.” (p. 137)

I am reading...

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. I cannot help but wonder where my mind was the first time that I read this book. I remember enjoying reading it; however, I do not remember it being so rich in wisdom. I am thoroughly enjoying reading St. Therese's words.

Plans for the rest of the week...

We will be going to First Friday and First Saturday Mass.
We're going to visit with one of my husband's old college friends.

I will be getting ready to start teaching my children again next week. I have been doing a little reassessment, trying to determine how best to help each child spiritually and academically.

A picture thought...

Happy Eastertide!

Oh Come and Mourn

Oh come and mourn with me awhile!

See, Mary calls us to her side;

Oh come and let us mourn with her;

Jesus, our Love, is crucified!

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah! Look how patiently He hangs;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!

How fast His Hand and Feet are nailed;
His blessed Tongue with thirst is tied;
His failing eyes are blind with Blood;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!

Seven times He spoke, seven words of love,
And all three hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men;
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!

Death came, and Jesus meekly bowed;
His failing eyes He strove to guide
With mindful love to Mary's face,
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!

Come take thy stand beneath the Cross
And let the blood from out that Side
Fall gently on thee, drop by drop,
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!

~ Fr. Frederick Faber ~

My children learned this beautiful hymn last year in their choir class.

What We've Been Reading - March

I wasn't very good about keeping track of everyone's reading this month.

Preschool - Second Grade Read Alouds

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie de Paola

Saint Patrick and the Peddler by Margaret Hodges

Petook: An Easter Story by Caryll Houselander
This is one of our favorite Easter picture books. The story can also be found in More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls.

Miniature Stories of the Saints by Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ

Catholic Children's Treasure Box Books by Maryknoll Sisters

Bible Stories for Little Children under the approbation of Cardinal McCloskey

Saint Ciaran: The Tale of a Saint of Ireland by Gary D. Schmidt

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor

and more...

Second Grade

Daniel Boone by Esther Averill

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott

Fifth Grade

Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie Brink

The Ginger Horse by Maureen Daly, illustrated by Wesley Dennis

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

The Treasure in the Little Trunk by Helen Fuller Orton

Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune

Angel on the Square by Gloria Whelan

The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan

On Top of Concord Hill by Maria D. Wilkes

Sixth Grade

Ethelred Preston by Fr. Francis J. Finn, S.J.

This book and a couple of other titles by Fr. Finn are currently on sale for $3 at Tan Books via the above link.

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle

The Story of the Champions of the Round Table by Howard Pyle

The Tolkien Reader by J.R.R. Tolkien

Eighth Grade

Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott

Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

The Wide Horizon by Loula Grace Erdmans

The Good Land by Loula Grace Erdmans

Ethelred Preston by Fr. Francis J. Finn, S.J.

The Imitation of Mary by Thomas à Kempis

Saint Helena and the True Cross by Louis de Wohl (read on Easter, March 31)

Tenth Grade

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Me

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux

Handbook For Parents by Fr. Paul Wickens

Husband and Wife: The Joys, Sorrows and Glories of Married Life by Fr. Paul Wickens

Read Aloud

Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book by Enid Blyton

The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess

Bernadette: Our Lady's Little Servant by Hertha Pauli

  

Audiobooks

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, read by Rob Inglis