Monday Reflections

I am weak.  I don't know how to defend the honor of my Lord and my God.  I want to, but instead, I say nothing.  I pray in my heart, and frown, but it is little to defend the honor of His most Holy Name.  Perhaps if I suggested that my coworkers say "Oh Buddha" or the name of some other deity out of frustration, they would get the picture.
We could use the names of false gods "in vain," but would that help to bring about the conversion of those who believe in these false gods? (Hmm, perhaps I should add "o Bama!" and "governementdam" to that list of acceptable alternatives?) I don't think, though, that blaspheming their gods would really weaken their faith - it would only weaken their faith in us.
Our "charity" makes us a group of easy targets, you ever notice? We are easy to ignore and easy to offend without opposition. If a Christian criticizes anyone for their choices, they are told that they are judgmental, bigoted, and uncharitable.  Ironic, considering these virtues that we are so painfully short on weren't even considered virtues before Christianity.  It was a Christian idea that men didn't judge one another, rather that they leave judgement to God.  It was a Christian idea that we love our neighbor, regardless of his status, color, or gender, for the love of God. Before Christianity, equality was an idea unheard of.  True, Christianity did not do away with classes or slavery, but it taught mankind the equal dignity of every human in the eyes of God.
Bigoted.  Now there's an interesting word.  I actually had to look it up.  I had a fair idea of what it meant, but I wanted to be sure.  According to my handy-dandy iPod dictionary: Bigoted - "having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one's own opinions and a prejudiced* intolerance of the opinions of others." Hmmm.  Sounds like something that can go both ways.  Hey, I'll admit there are a lot of bigoted christians out there.  And I would say ALL of us have a streak of that in us somewhere - we like to be right, and we like to have our own opinions.  But see, there is this little thing called "truth" that not everyone recognizes as even existing.  I believe it does exist, and I believe that the Catholic church holds the fullness of it.  Therefore, I don't consider myself a bigot.  First, because I'm not talking about opinions, I'm talking about facts.  If it was merely my opinion that 1+1=2, and I refused to back down from that, I could be considered a bigot.  Or, to give a better example, if it was merely my opinion that 7+5-2 x 4 = 4, I could be considered a bigot.  However, math doesn't deal in opinions, it is fact.  And it is a fact that 7+5-2 x 4 = 4.  I could be wrong, though, and say that 7+5-2x4=40, and then I could obstinately refuse to listen to my math tutor explain the order of operations.  In that case I would be a bigot.
I would also like to mention that I am not a "blind sheep" following everything the Church teaches just because it says it is right.  I consider there to be sufficient evidence for what I believe.  I don't understand it all, I admit.  But when there is something that doesn't make sense to me, I look for an explanation.  After all, I want to make sure I'm understanding what I think I'm hearing. It's been said by many different people in many different ways, but to put it simply, most people hate the Church for what they think it is, not for what it actually teaches.  So far, I have found an answer to all of my questions. Prove to me that the Church is wrong, and there is nothing to hold me - I do not look for the honor and glory that comes man, only that of God.  Prove my God does not exist, and I have no reason to follow a Church that is false.  Ah, but you can't prove it.  I know it to be truth.
God Bless,
Rae

*Prejudiced: To quote my then-8 year old brother to my then-10 year old brother: "Your just prejujished.  You don't like cocoanut and you haven't given it a fair chance!"

The Wonderful World of Automation

   Habits are good things to have. (So are hobbits, as friends, but that’s another post for another time.) Ahem.  As I was saying.  Habits are good things to have, unless, of course, they are the wrong sort of habits.  Bad habits are not good things to have.  And sometimes good habits backfire on you, too.

   I have developed a habit of clipping my keys to my purse, or bag, or belt, as soon as I turn off the car, even if I plan on sitting in it for a few minutes.  This is a good habit. I know this, because there have been two or three occasions when I have not practiced this habit and have locked my keys in the car.  So now, I make it my practice to always do something with the keys, like clip them to my bag, when I turn off the car, so I don’t leave them in the ignition.  Good habit.  But, as I said, good habits can backfire on you.  Like when I clip the keys to the wrong bag.  Like I did a few months ago.  An hour and a half from home.  In the rain.  Fortunately, there was a spare key hidden on the car, I just had to find it.  Also fortunately, the bag I had in my hand was the bag with a pair of jeans, my cell phone, wallet, and a pocket knife in it.  It just wasn’t the bag with the keys on it.  It only took about 15 minutes crawling around the car (in the rain) to find the key.  Things could have been much worse.  Things could have been worse this morning, too.  This morning, there was no spare key.  And the bag with my cell phone, wallet, pants, breakfast (and lunch) AND keys was the one IN the car.  Things could have been much worse, though.  Because I was only a half hour away from home, and my mother had her car, too.  And her cell phone.  Also, I had a few minutes to spare before I had to be to work - long enough to take my mother’s car, and to call home for the spare key.  So I got to work on time, albeit with no badge, a skirt instead of my uniform pants, no breakfast, and no lunch.  Until my mother could bring them to me.  Good habits can backfire.  I think I have a bad habit, too.   A bad habit of locking my keys in the car.  

   So, my friends, it is important to develop good habits, and to make sure those habits are REALLY good habits.  My mother pointed out that if I had a habit of having the keys in my hand when I leave the car, I would be much less likely to lock my keys in the car.  She has a very good point.  Unfortunately, she said that since she gave birth to all of us children, my dad had to teach us to drive, and my dad did not instill that good habit in me.  I wonder if good habits are as hard to break as bad? They say it takes roughly two months for a behavior to become automatic.  I’m guessing it doesn’t take that long to get out of a good habit.  And it is probably longer to break out of bad habit.  Many habits are formed without our even realizing it (mostly the bad sort, I’m thinking.) We get into the habit of watching a show, or listening to a radio station, or driving a certain way to work, without ever realizing that it is a habit.  Do we even like the show or the station anymore?  Is there a better way to get to work?  I just started a new job.  I’m learning my way around things, and how and where things go.  I work in one of those really cool places where as long as the results are right in the end, there isn’t a lot of rigidity to how you obtain those results.  So, now that I have the basics down, I’m trying to figure out the most efficient way to do things, so I can build good habits before I acquire bad ones.  Now I just have to figure out how to do this at home.   I need to think before I act, so I can figure out the best action, so I can take that action and turn it into a habit.  


  Habits are those things we do without thinking.  Hopefully, we've already thought out the action, so having it automatic is a good thing.  Someday I hope I have so many good habits that I can write a novel in my head while cleaning the whole house.  A girl can dream.  But first, I need to make a habit of creating good habits.  I also, I think, need to occasionally look at my good habits and make sure they are the best habits and won't backfire on me.  There is one kind of habit I think everyone needs -- a habit of prayer.  Sure, it takes a bit of time and effort, but once it's created, it's automatic.  You need something, you pray.  You hear bad news, you pray.  You hear good news, you pray.  You stub your toe, you pray.  A habit of prayer is a great tool to have.  BUT, like other good habits, it can backfire, I think, if you don't keep an eye on it.  Because after awhile, if we aren't careful, our automatic prayers might start taking the place of our ...un-automatic prayers.  If your good habit of praying the rosary has turned into a not-so-good habit of praying a rosary in 10 minutes (guilty!) it may be time to reevaluate.  Add some new meditations to the rosary, perhaps? First assignment - create a habit of prayer.  Second assignment, make sure your prayer isn't just a habit.  Then apply above principles to keeping your bedroom clean. 

  One example I do have for a good home-habit -- I mate my socks after I wear them.  No, this is not a dufflepud thing.  It’s a habit that ensures that my socks are right side out for washing, and it keeps me from having a million mismatched socks because one ended up under the bed or in the wrong basket instead of in the load where they belong.  There is your laundry tip for the day. Do you have any good hobbits? What about bad hobbits?  Oh.  Sorry.  Wrong post.  Do you have any good HABITS that make your life easier?  I don’t need to know about the bad ones.  Unless you are looking for outside suggestions on how to change them into good habits.  It’s always fun and easy solving other peoples problems.  Far less painful than solving your own.P.S. For those of you who came looking for the VeggieTales movie, The Wonderful World of Auto-tainment, it's right here:
"It's funny, because it's unexpected!" - Larry the Cucumber

Christmas Anticipation Prayer

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.


Above is the most beautiful prayer of the Christmas Novena, aka the Christmas Anticipation Prayer, aka the St. Andrew Novena.  The mathematically inclined will point out that it is not really a novena, because it is not a multiple of nine, as it is said 15 times a day for 25 days (November 30th, the feast of St. Andrew, to Christmas Eve,) for a total of 375 times prayed.  I assure you, however, that can still be considered a novena, as the term has historically been used for other devotions that last multiple days. It is a beautiful - and simple - Advent devotion.  And it starts Wednesday!  I love this prayer because it is so simple, yet draws the mind to the whole point of Christmas: That hour, that moment, when Christ was born.  I've tried to find the history of this Novena, but in my half-hour or so of internet searching, I came up with nothing - not even on fisheaters.com!

I did, however, find the text for another novena, to be prayed from November 29th through the vigil of the Immaculate Conception on December 7th. I decided to put it into a separate post here.

There are so many ways we prepare for Christmas.  We buy gifts, bake cookies, and decorate.  Let's not forget to prepare our souls, too! There are many devotions, like the two above, and the Jesse Tree and the Advent Wreath.  There are so many fun little feasts, too, like St. Barbara (I'll update last year's post!) and St. Nicholas.  Have a Blessed Advent!

Litany of the Infant Jesus

© Octavio Ocampo

I came across this litany in my iPieta app this morning, and thought it was beautiful.  God Bless!

Litany of the Infant Jesus

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, 

Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, 

Lord have mercy, Lord, have mercy.

Infant Jesus, hear us, 

Infant Jesus, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Infant Jesus, have mercy on us.

Infant, very God, have mercy on us.

Infant, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.

Infant, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.

Infant, begotten before the morning star, have mercy on us.

Infant, Word made flesh, have mercy on us.

Infant, Wisdom of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Purity of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, only Son of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, First-Born of you mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Image of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Creator of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Splendor of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Honor of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, equal to your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, subject to your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Joy of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Riches of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Gift of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Offering of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, precious fruit of a virgin, have mercy on us.

Infant, Creator of man, have mercy on us.

Infant, Power of God, have mercy on us.

Infant, our God, have mercy on us.

Infant, our Brother, have mercy on us.

Infant, perfect Man from your conception, have mercy on us.

Infant, ancient in wisdom from your childhood, have mercy on us.

Infant, Father of ages, have mercy on us.

Infant, of days, have mercy on us.

Infant, giving life, and nourished at the breast, have mercy on us.

Infant, Eternal Word, and making yourself dumb, have mercy on us.

Infant, weeping in the crib, have mercy on us.

Infant, thundering in heaven, have mercy on us.

Infant, terror of hell, have mercy on us.

Infant, Joy of Paradise, have mercy on us.

Infant, dreaded by tyrants, have mercy on us.

Infant, desired by the Magi, have mercy on us.

Infant, exiled from your people, have mercy on us.

Infant, King in exile, have mercy on us.

Infant, Destroyer of idols, have mercy on us.

Infant, Vindicator of the glory of God, have mercy on us.

Infant, strong in weakness, have mercy on us.

Infant, powerful in abasement, have mercy on us.

Infant, Treasure of Grace, have mercy on us.

Infant, Fountain of Love, have mercy on us.

Infant, Author of the blessings of heaven, have mercy on us.

Infant, Repairer of the evils of earth, have mercy on us.

Infant, Head of the angels, have mercy on us.

Infant, Stem of the patriarchs, have mercy on us.

Infant, Word of the prophets, have mercy on us.

Infant, Expectation of nations, have mercy on us.

Infant, Joy of the shepherds, have mercy on us.

Infant, Light of the Magi, have mercy on us.

Infant, Salvation of children, have mercy on us.

Infant, Hope of the just, have mercy on us.

Infant, Teacher of doctors, have mercy on us.

Infant, First-fruits of the saints, have mercy on us.

Be merciful, spare us, O Infant Jesus.

Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

From the bondage of the children of Adam, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the slavery of the devil, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the corruption of the world, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the lust of the flesh, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the pride of life, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the immoderate desire of knowledge, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the blindness of mind, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the perversity of will, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From our sins, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through your most pure conception, deliver us.

Through your most humble birth, deliver us.

Through your tears, deliver us.

Through your most painful circumcision, deliver us.

Through your most glorious epiphany, deliver us.

Through your most devout presentation, deliver us.

Through your most innocent conversation in the world, deliver us.

Through your most holy life, deliver us.

Through your poverty, deliver us.

Through your sorrows, deliver us.

Through your labors and travails. deliver us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Infant Jesus.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Infant Jesus.

Infant Jesus, hear us, Infant Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let us pray:

O Lord Jesus, who allowed the greatness of your incarnate divinity and most sacred humanity to be born in time, to become a little child, and to suffer bitter death, grant that we may acknowledge infinite wisdom in the silence of a child, power in weakness, majesty in abasement, so that adoring your humility and littleness on earth we may contemplate your glories in heaven. We ask this of you, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns God, forever and ever. Amen

Home again, home again, jiggity jog...

Wow, what a week!  So much for a nice, quiet, summer!  It's been a fun one, though.  Last week, I had the privilege of chaperoning for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Girl's Youth Camp in Wisconsin.  It was wonderful - and exhausting.
I went into this experience entirely unsure of what to expect.  Also, I might add, everything my siblings told me to expect was wrong.  I was told (by my siblings) that chaperones got to sleep in the house.  Not true.  I was also told that the mothers and legal-age chaperones got wine after hours.  Also not true.  Actually, the disappointment of the truth in these matters was greatly lessoned by the fact that the chaperones were allowed to use the indoor bathrooms, unlike the poor campers who had to use porta-pottys.  Ah, the simple things in life!
As I said, it was a wonderful week.  Things were a little different this year, or so I understand.  The group of 90 girls was divided into 8 teams, and each team had its own chaperone.  I got the green team, which was pretty much an awesome group of girls.  My biggest regret is that I wasn't able to get to know them all better, as we were very busy with things like olympics and silly olympics and talks, and drying out our tents.
Yes, we got rained on Monday night and Tuesday morning.  Actually, it was more like poured on.  I don't think there was a single dry tent in the place.  I was lucky - only my blankets got wet.  Many girls had there bags soaked, as well as sleeping bags and pillows.  I didn't hear any complaints, though - other than those tempered with laughter.  A couple of wonderful volunteers spend the day Tuesday drying everyone's things out, enabling dry beds by Tuesday night.
Activities of the week included Olympics, with competitions like a soccer relay and tug of war (green won the tug of war!) Silly Olympics, with a sack race,  horseback riding, and a cooking contest.  I did get to help with the cooking contest, and had a blast.  Iron Chef, here I come!  My team, as I said before, was awesome.  We didn't win the cooking contest, but everyone made a good effort.  Next time we'll get it!
The best part of the week was the talks.  Everyday we had Mass in the morning, with a homily, and there was a formation talk after breakfast.  We were constantly reminded of the dignity and importance of women, and how much we can teach the world.  We are all called to be mothers, sometimes spiritually, sometimes physically.
One of the talks was on Our Lady of Guadeloupe.  There is so much symbolism in the image that I never knew about!  For example, did you know that the color of her veil was a color reserved for the Emperor, under pain of death?  Or that the angel below her was one of the Aztec gods?  I would go over all of it, but I think it may be better kept for another blog post :)
One of the greatest gifts of the week, I hope received by all, was the gift of good, true, friendships.  I made new friends, got to see some "old" friends (who I met last month at the Sursum Corda camp,) and was blessed to be able to reconnect with a very old friend, whom I had not seen in about six years.  I made some young friends, and some older friends, and the best part is knowing that these are people who will pray for me, (and who I will pray for,) and who I will hopefully meet again - if not here, than in heaven.
This is a prayer that one of my fellow chaperones shared:

Morning Prayer

Grant, O Lord, that none may love Thee less this day because of me;

That never one word or act of mine may turn one soul from Thee;

And ever daring yet one more grace would I implore: 

That many souls this day, because of me, may love Thee more. Amen

Sursum Corda young Adults Camp - Part Two

Holy Hill.

The second part of our journey was a trip to The Shrine of Our Lady, Help of Christians on Holy Hill, about a half-hour north east of Milwaukee.  I have wanted to return to Holy Hill since my last visit, about nine years ago.  I was with a church group, and didn’t have half the time I would have liked, then.  This trip we STILL didn’t have enough time, but I think we got to see much more than before.  

  If you ever get the chance to visit Holy Hill, jump at it.  It is gorgeous.  There is so much natural beauty in the area, and the craftsmanship throughout the Shrine is so beautiful, I cannot describe it.  It lifts the mind to God and to Heaven.  We cannot imagine the splendors of heaven in our ordinary surroundings.  In these extraordinary surroundings, we see enough of a glimmer of that splendor to realize just how amazing it must be.  I could do a full post on each section of the shrine, but there are other things I want to get to, as far as the weekend goes.  Perhaps another time.  For now, here are the highlights.

 I love the statues in the St. Therese chapel.  They are done in white, with gold trim, and the detail is magnificent on each.  Note the mirroring pieces of marble on the high alter, with the (I think) inlayed mosaic flowers.  There were so many mosaics EVERYWHERE we went!  It was so neat to see the detail in them!

  After the St. Therese chapel, we climbed the 170-some stairs to the tower.  Talk about a long way up!  The view was definitely worth it, but I admit I was shaking by the time we got back down again.  Who needs roller coasters with a thrill like that?

    Our next stop was the main church.  What little breath I had left after our climb was taken away by the beauty of it.  The mosaic above the high alter is unbelievable, and strips of marble radiate from it like heavenly rays.

  This technique is mirrored in the side chapel, where Our Lady, Help of Christians is being crowned.  It is in this chapel that I light my candles.  

  

We were only able to see one of the Stations of the Cross, due to our limited time.  I hope I will be able to go back someday soon to make the full half-mile journey.  

  Our last stop was the Lourdes Grotto.  Of the three grottos we saw, this was the largest.  Holy water runs down the face of the rock and into a pool, and there are spigots on each side to fill holy water bottles.  

  This is just a small part of Holy Hill (we took over 200 pictures!)  Everyone says to come back in the fall, when the leaves are changing.  I recommend allowing far more than two or three hours to really enjoy it - and be sure to bring your camera!   

Sursum Corda Young Adults Camp - Part One

Yes, I survived the weekend - even the driving.  It was glorious.  We even had perfect weather.
Between my sister and I, we took LOTS of pictures - 1161, to be exact.  Of course, not all of them turned out, but I'm sure I can find a few to post ;).

Our journey started with a trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, just outside of Green Bay, WI.  It is the site of a Marian apparition in 1859, which has been recently approved by the Church - the only approved site in the United States.

Mary asked Adele to teach the children "their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments." Adele started a school and a chapel. 

  The candles were in the crypt below the chapel, built on the site of the apparitions.

There was also this beautiful pieta statue.  If you look closely, you can see crutches in the background, from those who have had favors granted.











As promised, I lit a candle for my family, friends, and readers.

We happened to be visiting on the feast day of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, making these statues in the main chapel even more meaningful...and a bit of a surprise!

The main alter has a beautiful statue of Mary and the Child Jesus.  On one side of the chapel there is a display with a statue given to Sr. Adele for processions (and still used today!) and two reliquaries.  One (center) contains wood from the trees Mary appeared on, and the other (right) a piece of the Blessed Virgin's veil.

Outside, they have a field with the Stations of the Cross in the center, and the mysteries of the rosary around the outside.  I really liked the way they did the rosary.  There were five banners, and on one side would be the first mysteries (for example,) and the other side had the fifth, so it didn't matter which side you started on.  Between the mysteries there were a couple of shrines and benches to stop and pray, such as this small grotto.

Another beautiful little spot was this Fatima shrine.  The statues are just gorgeous!

So concludes the first stop on our journey.  We had to drive a few hours south to our hotel, and we did a little shopping for some lavender lotion.  The mosquitos were very healthy - and hungry - in Wisconsin!  I also bought some awesome sandals :)

Packing...

...for my weekend of pilgrimage/retreat/camp!  I can't believe how quickly time has passed - it's already July!  I will be gone for the next 5 days, with no access to a computer, save my handy-dandy iPod touch, so I won't be able to post anything along the way, as much as I would like to.  But rest assured I WILL have my camera with, and I WILL take pictures, and I WILL post about our journey!

St. Raphael, guide us in our travels

In the mean time, all of my readers are in my prayers, as well as all of the intentions on my prayer wall- feel free to leave your intention, please!  We will be going to at least two pilgrimage sites this weekend, and I believe there will be daily Mass starting Friday.  I can't wait!  God Bless!

Vigil

It was dark when he awoke.  This is not where I went to sleep.  I don’t think,  the little boy thought, looking around.  He was laying on something hard, and there was a coat under his head, and another over his legs.  A spicy smell filled his nose.  He knew what it was, but he didn’t know why.  Where was he? Strange singing filled his ears.  People were standing over him, but they weren’t looking at him.  They were looking at something he couldn’t see.  He sat up, and looked to see what they were seeing.  Through the darkness, there was a light.  It was a cauldron, with flames leaping towards the ceiling, casting strange shadows on the wall.  Standing over the cauldron was a big man in strange clothes.  He was waving something over flames, chanting.  Other, smaller figures surrounded him.  Huh, the little boy thought.  He watched for a moment, leaning against the wood back of the bed he had somehow found himself in.  He blinked a few times, yawned, and lay back down on his makeshift pillow.  Must be dreaming, he said to himself, falling back asleep. He rolled over, not noticing a quick movement beside him, keeping him from slipping off the pew.

                The young mother looks down at her three-year-old.  How would this first Easter Vigil be remembered?  She smiles, wondering what thoughts were drifting through his little mind, and wondering what dreams the strangeness of those few minutes would bring.  Standing to hold the boy on the pew, she turns her mind back to the priest, and the beautiful, ancient ceremonies she was blessed to witness.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

   This is one of the stories from my creative writing class.  The assignment was to write a story that could be read in three minutes or less.  The inspiration for this short tale is, of course, the Easter Vigil.  I remember one year, probably four or five years ago, when we attended the Easter Vigil in the Extraordinary form and, for once,  I was not singing.  My little brother was only three or four, and this is pretty much what happened.  It's funny when you think of how the ceremony could be remembered, or misunderstood.  

   This year was the first in three or four years that I was able to attend the vigil AND I wasn't in the choir.  It was great!  I could see what was going on, and follow along without having to worry about the next song or response.  It also helped that my missal had both the Latin and the English for all of the readings, but I digress.   

   I love each of the services of the Triduum, and I love the way each builds on the last.  Holy Thursday begins everything now, as it did then.  It is a service both joyous and serious.  In the beginning, we have the bells and the organ and the Gloria.  In the end, the alters are stripped and Christ is in the garden, preparing for the sacrifice of the next day.  Did you know that the Mass on Holy Thursday does not officially end?  There is no dismissal.  Good Friday, there is no Consecration, as it is the continuation of Mass on Holy Thursday, just as Christ's offering of His Body and Blood in the form of the bread and wine of the Passover on Holy Thursday was the same as His sacrifice on the cross on Good Friday. 

  The service on Good Friday is not technically a Mass, as there is no consecration.  That said, I've always loved the solemness of the Mass of the Presanctified, as it is called (for the record, the "presanctified" refers to the reserved Hosts, not to the state of the people's souls.) The Tabernacle is empty, and the whole church feels empty.  It is a reminder to us of the emptiness of the world after Christ's death.  The organ and bells are silent, the alter is still stripped, and the choir is somber.  Even the candles and holy water are gone.  

  Holy Saturday, there is no Mass until the vigil.  The church stands empty.  Then, after sundown, is the vigil.  It begins with the blessing of the Easter fire.  I love the way the light spreads through the church as the candles are lit from person to person, the flame growing and spreading without diminishing, like our faith.  I admit, it makes me nervous watching the little kids with candles!  Especially remembering how I nearly set myself on fire a few years ago!  But that's another story....

  After the blessing of the fire, there is the blessing of the holy water. Here again, we see the rich significance of everything, from creation to now, and how it ties together.  The prayers talk about how in the time of Noah, the water purified the earth, and it talks about the water from Christ's side purifying our souls.  There are so many things we take for granted, yet they have so much meaning! 

  Gradually, what was missing for the days and weeks leading up to Easter is brought back again.  I realized this year how usually when we go to Mass, Christ is sacramentally there when we get to Church- in the Tabernacle.  But at Easter, the Tabernacle is empty, even through all of the prayers and blessings.  It is not until the consecration of the Mass that He is there again, fully present with us...as in the Resurrection.     

Happy Easter! 

St. Michael, Protector

It may be spring in the rest of the world but here in Minnesota, winter refuses to give up.  Tuesday and Wednesday brought March's characteristic temperamental weather, and naturally I had to drive through some of the worst of it.
I thought I might get home without trouble Tuesday night.  When I left school, the weather was quiet, with just of bit of rain.  I knew that things were supposed to get nasty, but hoped I would have an hour to get home before the rain turned nasty.  I don't remember when I said my guardian angel and St. Michael prayers, whether it was before or after the rain picked up, but I do know I prayed them.
I didn't get far before the light rain turned heavy, and I could see sleet on the hood of the truck as I waited at the last stop light as I headed out of town.  Still, it wasn't too bad.  Everyone was going slow.  It was hard to tell if it was raining or sleeting, but the roads weren't slippery, so I wasn't too worried.

I was half way home when I started wondering what I would do if I had to stop.  The wind and rain were picking up, and I could see the sleet building up on the road.  I was still going fairly slow, and I couldn't feel it, but knowing it was there made me mentally prepared for trouble.  I was also worried about flooding.  This is my first spring driving these roads, and I don't know if they have any problems.  I could see, even in the darkness and rain, that the small, quiet rivers were rising quickly.  Even on my regular route I knew there was a risk of flooding this year.  But, with no place to stop and my sister to pick up from her classes, I figured I should keep going until I had good reason to stop.  But I knew, at that half way point, that the worst was ahead.
There is one state highway I have to take that has a couple of hilly curves.  It isn't a problem most nights, but when the weather gets bad, well, it's been known to get messy.  As I pulled onto the highway, a snowplow pulled on, a car ahead of me.  I didn't expect it to go far - maybe a few miles.  The bright lights were annoying, but I was thankful for the salt spread on the road.  The plow was going very slow, and I started hoping that it would pull off soon.  By this time the rain was pouring down, mixed with sleet.  I could see the spray of the sleet off the snowplow.  It occurred to me that maybe this was my escort, and that maybe St. Michael was driving the plow.  As the miles passed, I could no longer tell where I was along the route, but I just kept following the plow, saying a prayer of thanksgiving for the path it was making and the guide it provided.  We parted ways when I reached the next highway of my route, and I made it safely to my destinations.  My sister said there were at least 6 accidents in the county that night, but I didn't see any, nor did I slip once.  When I told her who I thought was driving the plow, she reminded me of an old story of St. Michael she heard on the radio once.  I'll post that story next time.

St. Andrew Novena

I fully intended to do some research and write up a nice little history and such on this, but I ran out of time. So here's the short version. Also, I realize that it is a little late.

The St. Andrew Novena is to be recited 15 times a day from the Feast of St. Andrew on November 30th (yes, I know that is today, and that it is almost over,) to Christmas Eve.




Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.


(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

For more info, wait until next year or visit

http://www.fisheaters.com/customsadvent7.html (Fisheaters is one of my favorite sources for Catholic Tradition Info!)

http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/qt/Andrew_Novena.htm

http://www.4marks.com/articles/details.html?article_id=5851 (Probably the best out of these three for information on the St. Andrew Novena)

My family and I have been praying this Novena for the last few years, and I also find it to be a wonderful meditation for the Advent season.  I believe I have also had some favorable results in obtaining favors.