Thursday, May 31, 2007
E-P-A-U-L-E-M-E-N-T
Rest in Peace
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Chai Frappachinos at home
Heat three cups of milk (whole milk would seem to be the best) and steep with two chai tea bags.
Combine with five more cups of milk (cold!), 1 cup of sugar and a little vanilla.
Crank away in an ice cream maker to desired consistency.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Apologetics Materials on DVD
The materials were excellent as well as timely. Last week we watched Alex Jones' conversion story "No Price Too High" and this week we watched two episodes from "What Catholics Really Believe (with Dr. Ray Guarendi). Both are available from Nineveh's Crossing. We watched the episode on "Scripture and Tradition" and the first of two episodes on the Eucharist. I also had a handout overviewing major Church Councils throughout history in order to further clarify where the Bible comes from and further debunk some of the myths about the Church (that come up on the DVD). By the way, the "What Catholics Really Believe" series will be airing on EWTN beginning June 4th. More details at the end of this post on the producer's blog.
Next week we dive into the book of Exodus to prepare to discuss the Introduction to the Holy Father's Jesus of Nazareth. Great stuff!
Now if we can only get our lit readings in for Friday (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for Gus and To Kill a Mockingbird for our teen girls), I'll be feeling pretty good about things.
Please pray...
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day
A young boy fainted during the ceremony - right around the time of the gun salute. The EMTs (who were conveniently nearby) brought him over to the shade right next to our family. Poor Frank was quite confused by this - especially after brief explanations of Memorial Day. "Why did he get killed?" he asked. I reassured him, that no, he didn't get killed, he was just too hot. "Why did he get shot?" Frank persisted.
Our prayers today are especially with the fallen, with those who are still hurting or missing loved ones and all who are impacted by war.
Hand-cranked Ice Cream
Because of this, a real (but used) hand-crank ice cream maker arrived at our house just in time for Christmas last year. It wasn't in the best of shape. The little metal piece that the inside bucket spins upon was rusted beyond belief (and all usefulness) and was out-of-stock at the one online shop we found that sold the parts.
Finally, last week, the needed part arrived and we made our first batch in the beautiful outdoors to celebrate Pentecost yesterday. We made it with whole milk (great price at Trader Joe's!), sugar and vanilla. It came out rather milkshakeish but proved to be a delicious first attempt with our "new" machine. The kids all decided it was much more fun than an electronic one with a button to push.
When the Kids do Most of the Picture-Taking...
We picked up this dragon and a few knights from Target last year for our Frank who is big on swords and all. I've decided that the dragon must be in league with the dog - all of the poor gallant knights have been chewed to bits, but the dragon remains
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Interesting Movie Site
Saturday, May 26, 2007
May Crowning and More
I've been too busy to do much blogging lately. (And I make no apologies for that!)
We had our last co-op of the year yesterday (and Margaret's last co-op before she goes off to Wyoming Catholic College in a few months) along with our annual May Crowning. This always brings tears to my eyes. Our musical mom plays the piano (we sang "Bring Flowers of the Fairest" and "Immaculate Mary") while everyone else processed around singing and carrying flowers (following the First Communicants from that year - we've never had more than one girl in this category - who wears her First Communion dress and gets to crown Mary). After Mary is crowned, everyone else places their flowers in the awaiting vases. I love the collections of flowers from everyone's yards - lots of lilacs and wildflowers.
It was a beautiful day for classes - which was good because there was a dead mouse in the basement (it stunk!) and the upstairs was fairly dirty, so most of the classes were scattered around the yard.
After co-op many of the teens stayed for some pizza while waiting for our last Latin Club meeting of the year which was held at our house a few hours later. The beautiful day was also beneficial here because the team skits (always a big part of the meetings) were held out-of-doors which seemed quite idyllic. (Look for some photos on the group website in the near future).
I've finished the 3rd chapter of Jesus of Nazareth, but won't get to blog on it until after I get some Love2learn Moments recorded this afternoon.
For those who come here searching Google for information on May Crownings, here are a few links with ideas, pictures, etc. relating to May Crownings:
Pictures and Details about a Homeschool May Crowning from "Under Her Starry Mantle"
History and Traditions of May Crownings
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Title-Blending Meme
Here are the rules: Blend two book titles together by using the last word of one title and the first word of the second title. If you want, you can blend the authors' names too.
The first one is sort of cheating because it's one Ria "accidentally" made up when she was two or three years old (but honestly, I don't think I could come up with anything better myself):
Christopher Robin Hood
Here are mine: (with a little help from Amazon)
The Evidential Power of Beauty and the Beast
The King of Ireland's Son of Charlemagne
String, Straightedge and Shadow of the Bear
In Defense of Philosophy for Dummies
The Dangerous Book for Boys and Girls of Colonial Days
The Boxcar Children of Hurin
The Man Who Knew Too Much Ado About Nothing
Here are some from Gus:
The Everlasting Man Who Was Thursday
The Babe Ruth Story of the Greeks
The Story of the First World War II for Kids (with help from Ria)
Centerburg Tales of the Greek Heroes
Blaze and the Mountain Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
I Am David and Goliath
If you're at all interested, please consider yourself tagged.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The Hobart Shakespeareans
Embracing Truth
In the course of my intellectual life I experienced very acutely the problem of whether it isn't actually presumptuous to say that we can know the truth - in the face of all our limitations. I also asked myself to what extent it might not be better to suppress this category. In pursuing this question, however, I was able to observe and also to grasp that relinquishing truth doesn't solve anything but, on the contrary, leads to the tyranny of caprice. In that case, the only thing that can remain is really what we decide on and can replace at will. Man is degraded if he can't know truth, if everything, in the final analysis, is just the product of an individual or collective decision.
In this way it became clear to me how important it is that we don't lose the concept of truth, in spite of the menaces and perils that it doubtless carries with it. It has to remain as a central category. As a demand on us that doesn't give us rights but requires, on the contrary, our humility and our obedience and can lead us to the common path.
Since we're rather unconventional bookbuyers...
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Jesus of Nazareth, chapter 2, "The Temptations of Jesus"
The Letter to the Hebrews is particularly eloquent in stressing that Jesus' mission, the solidarity with all of us that he manifested beforehand in his Baptism, includes exposure to the risks and perils of human existence: "Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted" (Heb 2:17-18). "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15)
There are two other great narratives concerning bread in Jesus' life. The first is the multiplication of loaves for the thousands who followed the Lord when he withdrew to a lonely place. Why does Christ now do the very thing he had rejected as a temptation before? The crowds had left everything in order to come hear God's word. They are people who have opened their heart to God and to one another; they are therefore ready to receive the bread with the proper disposition. This miracle of the loaves has three aspects, then. It is preceded by the search for God, for his word, for the teaching that sets the whole of life on the right path. Furthermore, God is asked to supply the bread. Finally, readiness to share with one another is an essential element of the miracle.Whenever I watch the movie The Miracle Worker (about Helen Keller) - particularly the old one - one scene especially reminds me of how God uses the things of this world (and particularly our needs) to bring us to him. The scene is when Annie Sullivan convinces the parents to let her taken Helen to a little cabin alone for several weeks so that she will have to learn to rely upon Annie and thus become more receptive to her teaching endeavors.
The whole conversation of the second temptation takes the form of a dispute between two Bible scholars. Remarking on this passage, Joachim Gnilka says that the devil presents himself here as a theologian.Interesting!
The Christian empire attempted at an early stage to use the faith in order to cement political unity. The Kingdom of Christ was now expected to take the form of a political kingdom and its splendor. The powerlessness of faith, the earthly powerlessness of Jesus Christ, was to be given the helping hand of political and military might. This temptation to use power to secure the faith has arisen again and again in varied forms throughout the centuries, and again and again faith has risked being suffocated in the embrace of power. The struggle for the freedom of the Church, the struggle to avoid identifying Jesus' Kingdom with any political structure, is one that has to be fought century after century. For the fusion of faith and political power always comes at a price: faith becomes the servant of power and must bend to its criteria.
Robbing the Poor...
[Fr. Benedict Groeschel] said the following about sin, "we are guilty of robbing the poor in ways that we aren't aware, and this is a sin which the Old Testament says 'cries out to heaven for vengance'. "He continued, "every year, illegal immigrants with fake Social Security cards pay BILLIONS of dollars into the system which they will never collect; they help keep that failing system going".
I got a political survey telephone call the other day. Actually I first got this call on Mother's Day and was pretty annoyed that a telemarketer would have the gall to interrupt that day. They fairly politely conceded to calling back later the same week at which time they told me they had a one question political survey they were taking. Can't remember the exact wording they used, but it was something along the lines of "Do you think illegal criminal fugitive aliens should be deported?" I said, "Well, it depends on what you mean by 'illegal criminal fugitive aliens'." Turns out it was their propagandized term for illegal alien. And I said, "no", I don't think all of them should automatically be deported. (and please take me off your list!)
One thing I don't understand about this whole debate is how Christians can argue, as if from a higher moral ground, that illegal aliens should be deported because they "broke the law and don't deserve to be here". Christians, at the very least, should believe that there's a higher law than the law of the land and that people who are desperately trying to support their families (and of course there are immigrants in particularly dire situations such as the Bakala family, who, thankfully were allowed to stay) should have our love and support rather than hatred and prejudice.
UPDATE: The WSJ has an interesting article on the financial component of the immigration debate. Read here
Marian Meme
Favorite Image of Our Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Monday, May 21, 2007
Funnies
- first Ria accidentally called our local baseball stadium Miller Lite Stadium.
- then Bernie called Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Miss Piggly Wiggly.
- then Kate decided, while looking at the pictures in the previous post that "Everyone wore diapers once, except for God and Mary and Joseph and all the saints. Right?"
News from Katrina... More Prayers Needed
Hi Everyone,Previous post on Katrina
We got back from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and didn't hear the news we wanted to. I do have a motor neuron disease and it's progressed into my back and arms and will continue to my upper body doing the same thing as it is doing to my legs. So there is no cure and no treatment for this one. They were able to pinpoint the exact disease I have which is great because there are over 80 lower motor neuron diseases. The one they found that I have is Progressive Muscular Atrophy. It's a form of ALS and quite similar to it, it's actually a cousin of ALS but you can live longer with it. It is basically the deterioration of muscles in the body that also kill the nerves.
A progressive neurological disease in which the lower motor nerve cells (motor neurons) deteriorate. PMA is not rapidly progressive.
What is PMA?
PMA affects only the lower motor neurons, causing atrophy and fasciculations.
PMA is noted by an absence of upper motor neuron difficulties such as spasticity, brisk reflexes, or the Babinski sign.
Patients with PMA survive longer than patients with ALS and in some cases symptoms can be restricted to the arms or legs for a long period of time before spreading elsewhere in the body.
So we are glad we went and did all the testing. It was more extensive than my other neurologist and I know I would of always wondered, if I had gone to Mayo they would of found something different, so in that aspect I am glad I went. We really missed the kids and it was a long trip. So in a nut shell this is what we found out. Thank you to everyone for all the love, support, prayers, and help you have given to our family. We really appreciate everything everyone did for us to get us there and help with the drs and tests.
Please continue to pray for us!
XO- Katrina
Sunday, May 20, 2007
First Post on the Pope's New Book
Here's a little taste of what the Holy Father teaches us about the significance of Jesus' baptism by St. John the Baptist...
Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realized what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind's guilt upon his shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners. His inaugural gesture is an anticipation of the Cross. He is, as it were, the true Jonah who said to the crew of the ship, "Take me and throw me into the sea" (Jon. 1:12). The whole significance of Jesus' Baptism, the fact that he bears "all righteousness," first comes to light on the Cross: The Baptism is an acceptance of death for the sins of humanity, and the voice that calls out "This is my beloved Son" over the baptismal waters is an anticipatory reference to the Resurrection. This also explains why, in his own discourses, Jesus uses the word baptism to refer to his death (cf. Mk 10:38; Lk 12:50).The Pope goes on to explain how "the Eastern Church has further developed and deepened this understanding of Jesus' Baptism in her liturgy and in her theology of icons." Interesting and beautiful concepts to stew on!
Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Well Whaddya Know About That?
Birthday Bookstore Browsing and Garage Sale Hopping
I found a really nice little (only slightly dinged-up) buffet for our dining room for $25! We don't actually *eat* in our dining room - it's more of a computer room and study (with a fireplace), but it could use a little bit of beauty in the furniture department (even if we have to put our two printers on top of it!) and we could use some storage space for things like tablecloths (even if they are rather frequently used for costumes!).
The books at the rummage sale were rather scrumptious (and super-cheap) too. I picked up L.M. Montgomery's Emily books, several copies of Mere Christianity (for future teen discussions), Cafi Cohen's And What About College?, books on the Opera and Great Composers by Milton Cross and a few books about British Culture.
The used bookstore netted - I was pretty much looking for major bargains last night - there was lots of other good stuff there:
We're on a Mission from God by Mary Beth Bonacci
The Young People's Book of Saints by Hugh Ross Williamson
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (not Tolkien's translation unfortunately)
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (I'm really ready for a re-read of this, but our old copy was simply unreadable)
The World's Great Catholic Literature edited by George N. Shuster (Roman Catholic Books)
It was fun running into a Catholic homeschool family we knew at the used bookstore and swapping notes and titles in the Religion section.
And from Barnes and Noble:
a slice of vanilla bean cheesecake
The Mislabeled Child by the Eides (this looks terrific so far and I'm very grateful to Willa for introducing me to their blog - very helpful and interesting!)
Friday, May 18, 2007
8 Random Facts Meme
1. I've been on Willa's Catholic Classical Education list with Maureen since Andrea started it in 1998. (at least I'm pretty sure Maureen was there from the beginning!). I can't always keep up with it, though.
2. I've lived in three states (Washington, California and Wisconsin) at 13 different addresses.
3. I really like trains - and movies involving trains - and hope to a long trip cross-country on one some day.
4. Though we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, my oldest brother was married during a YMI retreat in Chicago when I was 13. My husband and his sister were there from Wisconsin, but I didn't meet him until 5 years later at Thomas Aquinas College. Sometime during my first weeks at TAC, I mentioned the wedding at dinner in the commons. TWO people who happened to be sitting at my table were at the wedding (one, of course was John). Isn't that weird?!
5. There are certain tasks that seem to majorly hit my procrastination buttons. I can get my taxes out as soon as all the paperwork is here, but I'm always behind on "official" school paperwork for the kids (even though I leave a very thorough paper trail to polish up later) and I hate making dentist appointments and sending receipts in to our medical savinsg account.
6. I'm an office supplies and organizational tools
7. It's my birthday today! I'm planning on heading off to the bookstore later for some cheesecake and to look for Pope Benedict XVI's new book. Probably drop by the used bookstore afterwards to replace completely destroyed copies of the Iliad and Brideshead Revisited and see if I can find a few Chesterton selections we don't yet own (despite having about a foot and a half of shelf space devoted to Chesterton - yes I just measured it), especially The Poet and the Lunatics.
8. I discovered a few days ago, that I have a very cute little "birthday twin" elsewhere in the blogosphere.
Please tag yourself if you're interested!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Novena to the Holy Spirit Begins Tomorrow...
Since tomorrow (5/17) is Ascension Thursday, it will then be just nineYou can find the prayers here
days until Pentecost - so it is again time for the Great Novena.
Let us join in prayer, preferably daily Mass if we can do it, and beg
for a renewal of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit in our own life,
our
family, our country, our world.... we need His light, His strength,
His
love so desperately!
He flies!
Here he's practicing his floor routine that he'll be showing off to the whole family at the end of the school year. Photo by Ria.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The Word in History
The word revealed in history is definitive, but it is inexhaustible, and it unceasingly discloses new depths. In this sense, the Holy Spirit, as the interpreter of Christ, speaks with his word to every age and shows it that this word always has something new to say.from Salt of the Earth by Cardinal Ratzinger
Finished Helena by Evelyn Waugh
A few highlights from the end of Sacramentum Caritatis
Here it is important to consider what the Synod Fathers described as eucharistic consistency, a quality which our lives are objectively called to embody. Worship pleasing to God can never be a purely private matter, without consequences for our relationships with others: it demands a public witness to our faith. Evidently, this is true for all the baptized, yet it is especially incumbent upon those who, by virtue of their social or political position, must make decisions regarding fundamental values, such as respect for human life, its defence from conception to natural death, the family built upon marriage between a man and a woman, the freedom to educate one's children and the promotion of the common good in all its forms. Those values are not negotiable. Consequently, Catholic politicians and legislators, conscious of their grave responsibility before society, must feel particularly bound, on the basis of a properly formed conscience, to introduce and support laws inspired by values grounded in human nature. There is an objective connection here with the Eucharist. Bishops are bound to reaffirm constantly these values as part of their responsibility to the flock entrusted to them.
The first and fundamental mission that we receive from the sacred mysteries we celebrate is that of bearing witness by our lives. The wonder we experience at the gift God has made to us in Christ gives new impulse to our lives and commits us to becoming witnesses of his love. We become witnesses when, through our actions, words and way of being, Another makes himself present.
In the memorial of his sacrifice, the Lord strengthens our fraternal communion and, in a particular way, urges those in conflict to hasten their reconciliation by opening themselves to dialogue and a commitment to justice. Certainly, the restoration of justice, reconciliation and forgiveness are the conditions for true peace. The recognition of this fact leads to the determination to transform unjust structures and to restore respect for the dignity of all men and women, created in God's image and likeness. Through the concrete fulfilment of this responsibility, the Eucharist becomes in life what is signifies in its celebration. As I have had occasion to say, it is not the proper task of the Church to engage in the political work of bringing about the most just society possible; nonetheless she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the struggle for justice. The Church "has to play her part through rational argument and she has to reawaken the spiritual energy without which justice, which always demands sacrifice, cannot prevail and prosper."
We must denounce those who squander the earth's riches, provoking inequalities that cry out to heaven. For example, it is impossible to remain silent before the "distressing images of huge camps throughout the world of displaced persons and refugees, who are living in makeshift conditions in order to escape a worse fate, yet are still in dire need. Are these human beings not our brothers and sisters? Do their children not come into the world with the same legitimate expectations of happiness as other children?" The Lord Jesus, the bread of eternal life, spurs us to be mindful of the situations of extreme poverty in which a great part of humanity still lives: these are situations for which human beings bear a clear and disquieting responsibility. Indeed, "on the basis of available statistical data, it can be said that less than half of the huge sums spent worldwide on armaments would be more than sufficient to liberate the immense masses of the poor from destitution. This challenges humanity's conscience.
Finally, to develop a profound eucharistic spirituality that is also capable of significantly affecting the fabric of society, the Christian people, in giving thanks to God through the Eucharist, should be conscious that they do so in the name of all creation, aspiring to the sanctification of the world and working intensely to that end. The Eucharist itself powerfully illuminates human history and the whole cosmos. In this sacramental perspective we learn, day by day, that ever ecclesial event is a kind of sign by which God makes himself known and challenges us. The eucharistic form of life can thus help foster a real change in the way we approach history and the world.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Teen Discussion: Finished Sacramentum Caritatis
We spent a lot of time discussing the concept of "Eucharistic consistency" that came up in the text. What a beautiful and appropriate term!
Right now I am feeling so grateful for the friends God has brought into our lives who are eager and enthusiastic to read and discuss such beautiful things with us - eager and enthusiastic enough to want to continue in the summer and work out the details of future readings in a way that will be most helpful to all those in the group.
It's exciting and inspiring and humbling to be supported in our faith by such a group of friends and it is a wonderful thing to be able to learn and grow together.
Next year we're planning on diving into the New Testament, some Church Fathers and Early Church/Medieval History. We didn't set a specific ending point, though we certainly won't get as far as the Renaissance. Some key texts under consideration for study include: The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina, Pope Fiction by Patrick Madrid, and Ten Dates Every Catholic Should Know by Diane Moczar (even though certain aspects of the book drive me crazy, I think it's quite worthwhile and will work nicely within our group). Literature texts (for our monthly discussions) to coordinate will likely include Beowulf, The Song of Roland and Sir Gawain. Some saint stories and historical fiction will probably add to the mix.
Dog Magic
The craziness is over as we invested in one of these and it is SO nice! The dog happily runs around the yard with the kids and no longer darts off for a jaunt around the neighborhood (and pestering the poor Unitarian Universalists congregation nearby). The timing was sort of accidental, but it turned out to be a fabulous mother's day present. John set up the system on Saturday morning and by Sunday, Charlotte was happily enjoying the freedom of being outside without a tie-down or a leash.
My actual Mother's Day present was one of these. I am so looking forward to some night-time reading in bed. :)
One more quick dog story, though some of you have already heard this. We went to Easter Vigil Mass and were preparing for an Easter gathering at our house later in the day. The dog escaped from the house and ran over to the parking lot of the Unitarian Univeralists where she began barking at the attendees, who were just leaving their service. John was trying to coax the dog back, but overheard one of the UU's proclaim to another "That's a Catholic dog!" John was too shocked to ask for an explanation. :)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Movie Meme
Go to imdb.com and look up your favorite 10 movies, noting 5 key words for each. These are ten of my favorites - couldn't possibly consider this a final list. Guess which movies these are...
1. Norwegian-American, writer, mother, cat, San Francisco (updated to make it a little easier)
2. marriage, courtship, fistfight, Ireland, cottage
3. sea battle, healing, chariot, leprosy, slavery (come on - this one's easy!)
4. small town, alarm clock, Deja vu, piano lesson, television
5. gourmet, Paris France, refugee, feast, period piece (updated to make it a little easier)
6. secretary, harmonica, banker, grandfather, fireworks
7. Washington D.C., housing shortage, World War II, farce, lodger (updated to make it a little easier)
8. Los Angeles, translator, chef, private school, Mexico
9. New York, photographer, science experiment, agility, teenage boy
10. French Resistance, love triangle, nightclub, piano, airplane
Correct Guesses So Far:
1. I Remember Mama
2. The Quiet Man
3. Ben Hur
4. Groundhog Day
5. Babette's Feast
6. You Can't Take it With You
7. The More the Merrier
8. Spanglish
9. Spiderman
10. Casablanca
Let me know if you decide to share the fun. Way to go anonymous! :)
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Spiderman 3
Get all the details from my favorite movie review site.
Prayer Requests
For this beautiful little girl, the daughter of Bernie's godparents, who will be having major facial reconstruction surgery later this month. She was born with a very severe cleft palette and with parts of her facial structure missing.
For John's aunt who has alzheimer's is recovering from a stroke and a heart attack.
Friday, May 11, 2007
"In the Best Sense", of course...
You scored as Col. Brandon. Your husband is most like Col. Brandon of Sense & Sensibility! He is very attuned to your tastes and enjoys sharing them with you. While he resists being flashy, he is very generous, though he will never be overbearing, even if he is correct. The two of you engage in many pursuits together and enjoy a romantic, steady relationship.
Who is Your Jane Austen Boyfriend/Husband? created with QuizFarm.com |
hat-tip Shameless Plagiarism
The Quick Book Meme
Open it to page 161.
Find the fifth full sentence.
Post the text of the sentence along with these instructions.
Don't search around looking for the coolest book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.
Mine is The Aeneid for Boys and Girls by A.J. Church which I just bought at a homeschool get-together yesterday (one mom brought a couple of boxes of used books to peruse).
"Nevertheless there is still something which I can do."
Courtesy of the Cabbage Patch
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Long Overdue Movie Post
Night at the Museum was a LOT of fun - laugh-out-loud fun and I very much enjoyed watching it with the kiddos while recovering from the cold-thing I had this week and last (um, despite the awkward phraseology, we only watched it once - which is quite restrained for us). Ria and Gus were pointing out the plot-holes later that day, but enjoyed it anyway. It wasn't a movie you had to take that seriously and it was amazingly family-friendly.
Stranger than Fiction is one John and I saw quite a few weeks (or perhaps months) back. An unusual story with lots of interesting concepts floating around in the background and some very clever writing. Dustin Hoffman doing the literary interview with Will Ferrell was fantastic. Not a movie for the kiddos.
The Holiday was funny, quirky and full of surprises (not all of them good!). Overall we enjoyed it (particularly the couple in Hollywood). Again, not for the kiddos.
The new Yours, Mine and Ours was unexpectedly enjoyable. I didn't let the littler ones watch it because of the bad kid behavior, but I thought it was nevertheless an interesting example of how good can come from places we never intended. John didn't care for it.
Ikiru (thanks Ana!) was incredible. This is an old Japanese movie (Akira Kurosawa) with subtitles. If that makes you think of Godzilla, you're definitely on the wrong track. A man who has mindlessly slaved away in a government office for thirty years discovers that he has stomach cancer and perhaps six months to live. I don't want to share more of the plot than that, but wanted to mention that the faces, the expressions the camera angles and even the simplicity of the story are beautifully artistic - in a kind of primitive (as far as movies go) kind of way. A really wonderful movie - add it to your Netflix list!
Padre Pio was beautiful, but very intense. Italian with subtitles (and quite long). Ria and I watched it and both enjoyed it. It was really my first encounter with anything about Padre Pio. I knew hardly anything about him to begin with. We were tickled to find out that the actor who plays Padre Pio will be in the Prince Caspian movie.
Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School was rather interesting, but mostly weird and never quite made sense to me. I wasn't sorry I watched it, but probably wouldn't see it again. John didn't bother.
Some Rather Challenging Thoughts from Dubay
I know of no saint who lived a personally elegant life-style. Their genuineness shone through their selfless lives, their selfless frugality.
He works a transformation only in those who are transformable. He fills only the empty.
People, he says, are choked with the cares, the wealth and the pleasures of life, and they fail to come to fullness.
Lovers of pleasure may be always learning but they cannot reach the truth and so falsify the faith.
Chesterton, Montessori and Hilda Van Stockum
Anyway, this new edition has a brief biography of the author written by Jean Ann Sharpe of Bethlehem Books. This paragraph particularly struck me:
It was on this return to Holland that Hilda first read the works of G.K. Chesterton, which led to an intellectual and spiritual conversion. His brisk intellect and spiritual acuity came at a crucial time for the young artist raised in an agnostic environment; it fanned to flame the spark of spiritual perception already alight within her. A short time later, when once again back in Ireland, Hilda immersed herself in the Montessori teaching method. This training gave form to her intuitive sense of justice, a justice that sees and treats each child as a person in his own right. These two influences greatly contributed to the quietly developing spiritual framework upon which her future life and work would hang.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Bernie's Bunny
What is Necessary and What is Possible
I've been sick with a bad cold since just after the homeschool conference (a week and a half ago) and was still feeling pretty crummy on Sunday for Bernie's First Communion.
Now, I'm a perfectionist type. I LOVE to have everything just perfect when company comes over (and would prefer to have things perfect all the time!) and I have to deliberately push myself away from that. Sometimes circumstances - like illness - force me into that (and the reminders are good for me!).
I decided that getting down to the "necessary" and the "possible" for our First Communion Day celebration centered around making it a special and beautiful for Bernie. Other aspects were more flexible and impressing relatives with a perfect house was pretty low on the list. And so I did go with Bernie to five different stores on Saturday night to find some pretty white shoes (amazing that we didn't have white shoes for girl #3 in the family - but girl #2 has a way of making clothing somewhat...ahem...less suitable for future special occasions). We had to reach a bit of a compromise with some very pretty white sandals that she wore with lacy socks and she was very happy (the other four stores had nothing that would work - good thing the fifth store had something because those 5 stores within reasonable range of our house and close proximity to each other were my absolute limit - otherwise black dress shoes would have to do). So new shoes turned out to be "possible" though not strictly "necessary".
Getting ready for Mass was more challenging than usual with low energy and last-minute details and the other kids filled in more than usual on helping the little ones get dressed while I helped Bernie with her hair. I got to Mass, looked down and saw that Frank had grass stains all over his pants. I spent a lot of Mass standing in back with Frank so I wouldn't cough on the poor people in front of us (our neighbors, by a neat coincidence) and came back from communion to discover that one little girl who will go unnamed (though I should mention that it was definitely not the first communion girl) went up to communion barefoot because she was having trouble with her shoes (never would have gotten past me if I was in the pew, sigh).
But you know, those little things really didn't matter. Bernie received Our Lord lovingly (and in fact wanted to go to Mass every day this week, which sickness unfortunately overruled), rules about shoes at Church were clarified with a certain little girl, and we had a lovely party and visit with the relatives afterwards. I was remembering, during all of this time, little Gabriel and his family, who also had a First Communion this weekend and had to cancel their party. A healthy dose of perspective and a little "letting go" are just what the doctor ordered.
How Can We Change the World?
Christianity's new worship includes and transfigures every aspect of life: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). Christians, in all their actions, are called to offer true worship to God. Here the intrinsically eucharistic nature of Christian life begins to take shape. The Eucharist, since it embraces the concrete, everyday existence of the believer, makes possible, day by day, the progressive transfiguration of all those called by grace to reflect the image of the Son of God (cf. Rom 8:29ff.). There is nothing authentically human – our thoughts and affections, our words and deeds – that does not find in the sacrament of the Eucharist the form it needs to be lived to the full. Here we can see the full human import of the radical newness brought by Christ in the Eucharist: the worship of God in our lives cannot be relegated to something private and individual, but tends by its nature to permeate every aspect of our existence. Worship pleasing to God thus becomes a new way of living our whole life, each particular moment of which is lifted up, since it is lived as part of a relationship with Christ and as an offering to God. The glory of God is the living man (cf. 1 Cor 10:31). And the life of man is the vision of God.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Self Portrait on First Communion Day
By the way, we (Ria and I - the two main Bean readers in the family) were delighted to see that Juliette Bean, whose pictures always remind us of Bernie (including the missing two front teeth), also received her First Communion yesterday.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Constructive Criticism
It has been rightly noted that the sometimes necessary criticism in the Church heals no wounds unless it consists in an example of greater love:
The critic without love resembles rather a man who scratches himself all the more furiously, the more fiercely he itches, a process which of course can only result in exacerbating and spreading the inflammation. The great saints were reformers of the Church but they were edifying reformers. Not all great reformers were saints, that is to say those who truly loved; many of them destroyed more than they built up...
One can picture Catherine of Siena disapproving of the papal presence in Avignon and yet at the same time profoundly loving the pope as her "Christ on earth". Her criticism had all the marks of the Spirit: made with reluctance, moderation, gentleness, accuracy and love. One need only compare this approach with its opposite: eagerness, exaggeration, harshness, bitterness. When one reads of theological disputes through the centuries (including our own), he sees clear examples of the two types of criticism. One has the marks of proceeding from God; it builds up in love. The other bears the brand of human pride; it cuts and erodes.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Terri's Banner
First Communion Banner
Bernie was very involved and excited about the whole process even though I did the cutting and gluing (and John did the sewing!). She drew three or four possible designs, consulted with everyone on the possibilities and gave careful consideration to the placement of everything - especially the flowers.
I love seeing all the banners in the vestibule of Church during Easter Season (a different batch each week).
And while we're on the subject of First Communion, please remember in your prayers Bernie and all who are receiving their First Communion this weekend.
It is a uniquely May sort of thing...
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Manifestation of God's Love - A Great Literary Example
It was the first time that ever George had sat down on equal terms at any white man's table; and he sat down, at first, with some constraint, and awkwardness; but they all exhaled and went off like fog, in the genial morning rays of this simple overflowing kindness.
This indeed, was a home, - home, -a word that George had never yet known a meaning for; and a belief in God, and trust in His providence, began to encircle his heart, as, with a golden cloud of protection and confidence, dark, misanthropic, pining, atheistic doubts, and fierce despair, melted away before the light of a living Gospel, breathed in living faces, preached by a thousand unconscious acts of love and good-will, which, like the cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple, shall never lose their reward.
The Moms Who Blog Blog
Thanks for the great idea Lissa. Check out the blog here.
We Get to Sing Again
Alleluia, Alleluia, Let the Holy Anthem Rise
God is Love
Jesus My Lord, My God My All
Ave Maria (Communion Meditation)
Immaculate Mary
Just after the closing hymn, we'll sing the "Jubilate Deo" round that we all love so much.
This coming Sunday is Bernie's First Communion. Prayers appreciated, especially as we have a nasty cold going around. Just finished her banner today and I may get a picture up yet. And, Nutmeg, I had to have my husband sew the banner as I am not yet able to wield a sewing machine. The glue and puffy paint I can handle. :)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
In the northern states, these representations may, perhaps, be thought caricatures; in the southern states are witnesses who know their fidelity. What personal knowledge the author has had, of the truth of incidents such as here are related, will appear in its time.It's interesting to see the historical perspective the author provides us with by considering the future of the slavery issue. She might not have guessed, though, how long this history would haunt us.
It is a comfort to hope, as so many of the world's sorrows and wrongs have, from age to age, been lived down, so a time shall come when sketches similar to these shall be valuable only as memorials of what has long ceased to be.