The Blessing of Children

On Saturday, October 28, we had the privilege of witnessing our tenth godchild’s baptism. I was surprised and honored when our godson’s mother called and asked if we would be godparents to their soon to be adopted baby boy. Little did she know that Mikhael would be born one month early and shortly after calling me, she and her husband would be holding their first son, Mikhael Pierre, in their arms. Little did any of us know that Mikhael would be baptized three days after his original due date.

Before the baptism, I was thankful to hear the priest speak about the gift of children. He shared with everyone that parents do their best to contain their children during Mass and to keep them quiet. He commented that we shouldn’t complain about the noise of young children in the church. He said that rather we should be thankful for the noise because the noise of young children means that the church has a future. The priest’s comments reminded me of the holy priest who baptized our oldest daughter telling me that when Joan cried, she was praising God in the only way she knew how.

I pray for purity, holiness, (eternal) happiness for Mikhael and all my children and godchildren each day. I pray that they all become great saints and bring greater glory to God. May God watch over and protect our children that they may one day sing His praises in Heaven.

Advice from My Mom

Growing up, my mom shared a lot of her wisdom with my brother and sisters and me. One of the best pieces of advice that she gave us came when my sisters and I were fighting. Like all children, we would sometimes tattle on each other. My mom would remind us that there are two sides to every story, and then she would say, "God knows the truth and that is all that matters."

I heard these words so many times from my mom that I internalized them. I learned that false accusations against us and what others say about us doesn't matter. We are not in this world to win approval from our fellow man. We are here to learn to know, love, and serve God. We are here to bring Him greater glory. When Padre Pio (one of my mom's favorite saints - he wasn't canonized until after she died) was calumniated, he followed Christ's example and remained silent. We are called to do the same. 

If someone wrongs us, speaks about us behind our back, and tries to turn others against us, we should simply pray for them. If someone falsely accuses us and leads others to think badly of us, we can simply offer it up. Our focus should not be on earthly matters, it should be on Heaven. Our focus should be on striving to become great saints so that we can one day be with God in Heaven, singing His praises. In the end, God knows the truth and that is all that matters.

St. Padre Pio, ora pro nobis!

Rest in Peace, Kim

It is with a heavy heart that I share that Kim died this morning. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for her.

May Kim rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon her. I will always remember Kim's smiling face, sense of humor, zeal for life, and sharp wit. May Our Blessed Mother keep Kim's husband and their children close to her Immaculate Heart!

I love you, Kim!

July Daybook

Outside my window

The sun is shining and the children are running through the sprinkler. At least they were when I started to write this daybook.

I am wearing
a denim skirt and a black t-shirt.

In the kitchen

I am hoping to get our barbecue's propane tank filled so that we can have a barbecue tonight. Check, I did it!

I am thankful for

friends who give me beautiful flowers to grace our table and home.

I am also thankful for children who cut flowers from our garden to give to Our Blessed Mother.

I am hearing

the children playing outside.

I am continuing to pray for

the repose of Fr. Walker's soul and for Fr. Terra. It is amazing that Fr. Terra survived. My friend, Elena, shared this photo of Fr. Terra with me. In your kindness, please pray for Fr. Terra's complete recovery.

We are also praying for Fr. V. as he begins his new assignment. We are praying for Fr. H. as he begins his first year of his priesthood and we are praying for our pastor, Fr. S. We are so blessed to have such a holy priest for our pastor.

We are learning all the time

Brendan was blessed to be able to participate in our parish's boys' camp, Camp St. John Eudes, this summer. Fr. V. organized it and three FSSP seminarians (two from our parish) helped him run it.

After reading Greg's Microscope, Patrick and Finnian became very interested in using our microscope. So, Anthony has been using it with them regularly, looking at bugs' wings, legs, etc. The boys have also started making a bug board again. I''ll have to share a photo of it eventually.

Cecilia has been bitten by the sewing bug again and has been making tiered skirts, following these instructions. As the title states, they are easy to make. I think that the lovely pearls hair band looks so pretty in her hair.

Agnes is learning all about sales and has been happily taking photos. After we received these liberty bow bobby pins, she decided that she had to take some photos of them. I like how she captured the rain on the rose. Agnes is very artistic and she tends to see things that others might not notice.

I am reading

The Glories Of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori.

I am listening to

Fr. Ripperger's presentations on modesty. I have also been listening to Fr. Walker's sermon on Mercy and Justice. Thanks go to my pastor for the latter recommendation, as he told a friend and me about the sermon after Mass one day.

Plans for this week

• Meet with a homeschooling mother to show her our Lilla Rose samples.
• Go to the beach
• Visit with a friend who has signed up to be a Lilla Rose consultant on my team. If any of my readers are interested in becoming consultants, please let me know. I would be happy to have you join my team.
• Go to First Friday Mass
• Have a 4th of July barbecue
• Garden
• Clean up around the house
• Start checking to make sure that the children have everything that they need for the camps to which they will be going.
• Enjoy my husband's 4 day weekend! I really like it when he gets to spend a few extra days at home with us.

A favorite prayer

My Jesus, I adore Thee.

My Jesus, I love Thee.

My Jesus, I trust in Thee.

My Jesus, have Mercy on me, a sinner.

My Jesus, Thy Will be done.

Finnian's First Holy Communion

Ready to leave for Mass

During the weeks leading up to Finnian's First Holy Communion, he was bubbling over with excitement. On Mother's Day, he came to me and said, "Happy Mother's Day to you, Mommy, and happy quizzing day to me." Fr. S. and Fr. V. were going to be quizzing the First Commumion children that morning. Fr. S. told me later that Finnian had done a good job and I shared how excited Finnian was to receive both his First Confession and his First Holy Communion.

Finnian and his Godparents

On Saturday, May 17, Finnian woke up early and anxiously waited to leave for the church so that he could have his soul made pure and clean like it was on the day of his Baptism. As we drove to the church, he expressed concern that he might forget some of his sins. We reassured him that as long as he didn't intentionally forget any of his sins it was okay. After he had gone to confession, he told us that he liked going and stated, "Confession isn't bad at all.". I think that he is looking forward to going again. Fr. V. gave a beautiful sermon in which he spoke about St. Paschal and his love for the Eucharist.

Finnian with his Godparents and their Daughters

On Sunday, May 18, Finnian received his First Holy Communion. The Mass began with our parish's May crowning and the singing of the Salve Regina. Fr. S. gave an incredible sermon on the Eucharist that brought tears to my eyes. Shortly thereafter, Finnian went up and knelt to receive his First Holy Communion. I was thankful to see him do so. Finnian studied joyfully, prayerfully, and well to prepare for this special day. I hope that he always has a great love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Our Family

May our Blessed Mother watch over my little boy and may God bless and keep him close to

His Heart!

Keeping the Company of the Saints: St. Bernadette Soubirous

 "Every moment that I live I shall spend in loving."
~ St. Bernadette Soubirous ~

The Grotto at Lourdes

The Bells of the Angelus 

The bells of the Angelus, Call us to pray. 

In sweet tones announcing the sacred Ave 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.  

An angel of mercy, led Bernadette's feet, 

Where flows the deep torrent, Our Lady to greet. 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.  

Immaculate Mary, Our hearts are all thine. 

Protect us, your children, Who kneel at thy shrine. 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. 

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

The Spring

Several years ago, on the Feast of our Blessed Mother's nativity and the days surrounding it, my husband, Catherine, and I were privileged to visit Lourdes with most of my family and some friends. Prior to thinking about or planning our trip to Lourdes, we learned that I was pregnant and decided that if we had another daughter, we would name her Bernadette. While we were in Lourdes, we read a plaque that shared the date of St. Bernadette's birth and I commented to my husband, "St. Bernadette's birthday is the day after my ultrasound due date."

Catherine at the Grotto

On St. Bernadette's birthday, I went to my doctor for a non-stress test and he told me, "You need to get to the hospital. You're having contractions every two minutes and you're 5 centimeters dilated." I wasn't feeling any pain or discomfort and had no idea that I was in labor. I asked the doctor if I could please call my husband before heading to the hospital. When my husband arrived at the hospital, I said to him, "This is a girl." He asked, "How do you know?" I responded, "Because it is St. Bernadette's birthday and we chose the name Bernadette for a girl." My husband jokingly replied, "Watch the baby be a boy." However, I knew in my heart that our baby was a girl.

Catherine and her daddy at the Grotto

For our daughter's Baptism, her godmother gave her goddaughter Fr. Lawrence Lovasik's Our Lady of Lourdes. Although I had watched The Song of Bernadette many times, I think that this was the first book that I ever read about "our Lady's little servant" and I thoroughly appreciated this children's book.

Some of my family, Bernadette's godmother, and me
outside St. Bernadette's home

As Bernadette grew, I knew that I wanted to teach her more about the patron saint after whom she was named. My parents gave her the video Bernadette: The Princess of Lourdes. My parents-in-law gave Bernadette their old copy of Saint Bernadette (A First Book for Little Catholics) (out of print) by Fr. Gales. I purchased Saint Bernadette Soubirous: And Our Lady of Lourdes by Anne Eileen Heffernan, FSP and Mary Elizabeth Tebo, FSP and the vision book Bernadette: Our Lady's Little Servant by Hertha Pauli. Last February, I read the latter book to all of my children. They all liked listening to and learning from the story. Bernadette expressed an interest in learning more about her patron saint, so I checked Bernadette Speaks: A Life of St. Bernadette Soubirous in Her Own Words by Rene Laurentin out from the library for her. She and her older sister enjoyed this book. We also watched Navis Pictures' film St. Bernadette of Lourdes on either February 11 or 18.

 

In the spring or early summer of this year, I spoke with Fr. Dennis Gordon, FSSP about the Catholic camps that he was hosting. During our conversation, we talked about St. Bernadette and he recommended the book, Saint Bernadette Soubirous: 1844-1879 by Abbe Francois Trochu. I am thankful that he did so.

My children gave me Saint Bernadette Soubirous: 1844-1879 for Christmas. This book gave me a greater appreciation of and love for St. Bernadette, and a great desire to return with my family to Lourdes and to visit Nevers (I became sick previously, so we didn't make it to Nevers). It also impressed on my mind that St. Bernadette didn't become a saint because she saw Our Lady of Lourdes; rather, she became a great saint because she did her best to live her life according to God's will. Only someone who was living their life according to God's will could write:

"O Jesus, keep me under the standard of your Cross... Let the crucifix be not merely before my eyes and on my breast, but in my heart, alive within me! Let me be crucified alive like Him, transformed into Him by the union of the Eucharist, by meditation on His life, on the inmost feelings of His Heart, drawing souls not to myself but to Him, from this high Cross to which His love fastens me alive for ever!"

~ Saint Bernadette Soubirous, pp. 341-342 ~

This month, as in years past, we will be receiving a call from my dad on February 18 (the day that the French celebrate St. Bernadette's feast day), wishing our daughter well on her patron saint's feast day. He is so good about remembering our special days. I wish that I were better about celebrating my children's name days. I am embarrassed to say that we often do nothing beyond mentioning that it is their patron saint's feast day and praying, "St. ____, pray for us" after our grace before meals. Other times, we will also read a book (if available) and/or watch a movie about the patron saint. Occasionally, we will have a special dessert on a name day. We have a special meal for the feast of St. Agnes on January 21 and the feast of St. Patrick on March 17. Hopefully, by being reminded who they are named after and by learning about their patron saints, my children will fall in love with their name saints and be inspired to live their lives according to God's will, embracing their crosses and thanking God for everything.

"...When you realize that God permits a thing,

you do not complain."

~ Saint Bernadette Soubirous, p. 33 ~

St. Bernadette, priez pour nous!

Immaculate Mary

(sung each evening by candlelight in Lourdes)

Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing.

Who reignest in splendor with Jesus our King. 

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria!

In Heaven the blessed thy glory proclaim;

On earth we thy children invoke thy sweet name. 

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria!

Thy name is our power, thy virtues our light,

Thy love is our comfort, thy pleading our might.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria!

We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth,

And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria! 

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

The Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes (an easier novena prayer) begins tomorrow, February 2, Candlemas (a.k.a. the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and ends on February 10, the day before the Feast of Our Lady Lourdes. We will be praying one of the above novena prayers for our baby who I will be holding in my arms the day after the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

I am joining Meredith at Sweetness and Light for Keeping the Company of the Saints.

2013 A Year in Review

Last year, I posted a year in review a couple of days early. This year, it's better late than never... 

In January, we celebrated some birthdays and Baptism anniversaries with family and friends.

I also continued to take a lot of photos of our little boy.

February saw our little boy crawling and pulling himself to a stand. It also saw us making crafts and cupcakes.

Naps, painting, and Legos kept us busy too.

In March, the children and I watched as our new pope was elected.  Brendan went skim boarding for the first time. We made Easter cookies.

Best of all, we celebrated Easter. It is hard to believe that this year Lent only begins in March.

The children were happy to take care of Mr. B.'s (my husband's college friend and best man) dog in April while Mr. B. and his family went on vacation. The children really miss our dog. The boys got as much playtime as they could in with their friends who are living in Monterey for the year. We can't wait for our friends to move back up here.

In May, we celebrated a birthday and built a new playset.

The recipient of the playset is still terrified of using the baby swing.

June was a busy month. It began with Kieran receiving his first haircut. Popsicles are invaluable when it comes to giving little boys haircuts.

We went to the beach with some friends.

We also went to the park with friends and said "goodbye" to our assistant pastor.

Birthdays were celebrated with family and friends in July. 

Two of our children participated in our local community center's swim team. While they swam, Bernadette helped out at home meets, and I played outside with our youngest. Kieran also started to walk in July.

In August, our four oldest children went to wonderful Catholic camps. My two youngest and I were happy to visit one of my sisters and her family. This sister was my best friend growing up. We share many memories.

In September, we continued with our studies.

We enjoyed our annual parish picnic.

I had my third or fourth ultrasound.

I finally felt well enough in October to invite our new assistant pastor over for dinner. The children enjoyed playing badminton and checkers with him. Our two oldest boys went hiking with the Knights of the Sacred Heart. 

Brendan carved a Celtic knot pumpkin.

November saw our pastor coming over for dinner and playing Stratego with Patrick. We celebrated birthdays with family and friends again. Somehow, I failed to take any photos on Thanksgiving.

I had a 30-week (one day shy of 31 weeks) ultrasound in December which included this 3D picture of our baby. I can't wait to hold him/her in my arms. 

Theresa received the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

We celebrated Christ's birth by going to Midnight Mass which Brendan and Patrick had the privilege of serving. Our two oldest girls sang in the choir. Our youngest son remained awake until the very end of Mass when he finally drifted off to sleep in my arms. Elizabeth was happy to visit Baby Jesus after Mass with her daddy.

My husband's father and brother visited and our assistant pastor came for dinner which was made by my brother-in-law and Catherine.

We are truly blessed to have wonderful priests, family, and friends.

I hope that everyone's 2014 is filled with

love and joy.