“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one's self.
To mind one's own business.
Not to want to manage other people's affairs.
To avoid curiosity.
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one's dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
– Mother Teresa
Happy new year! Today is the first Sunday in advent and the beginning of a new Church year. Fresh start. We begin a month of preparation. In our day this can be a busy month, however the most important work to be done is really very quiet. We remind ourselves of this as we carefully light one violet candle and say the blessing over it. We whisper prayers together in the glow of the flame. (video here) We come around this table every evening in December. It is the gift we give to ourselves in a season when contemplation can be hard to come by.
We pulled out the trees and lights today. Over the course of the coming weeks we will be adding ornaments and hanging garlands. We will reach for favorite stories to read a little every day, no pressure. (I explain that and share one of my favorites here.) There will be gifts gathered – some purchased and some handmade. There will be beloved saints to feast with throughout.
There will be a concerted effort not to bustle.
To help in the bustle free effort we are spending some time today and tomorrow to look ahead so we have what we need for the upcoming feasts. I will also be printing some mom-inspiration from days gone by.
St Andrew novena prayer cards here and here with an explanation of this miraculous prayer
St Nicholas ideas here
Advent Customs in the Home here
Advent sections of this book and this book
Mrs. Sharp's Traditions – Advent
Lord this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep,
Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
Let Thy love and let Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place.
– Edgar Guest
It has been a week since I have posted. Surely it is not for lack of stories to share. My photo albums are full to bursting, we have read beautiful books this summer, gone many exciting places – even in the past week, and back to school preparations are beginning. This has also been a very sober season. There are multiple novenas going daily for various intentions among those we love dearly.
Big, big, stuff God is asking of our friends and loved ones right now.
What can we do? We become Aaron's holding up their arms. This is the very definition of loving – to come up on either side and help your friends "remain steady." This is what we all need. That and the assurance that we are equal to the challenge. Perhaps this is always at the root of our fears. We look ahead to where our journey is leading and we know quite honestly that, as we stand at this moment, we do not have what it will take. Truth is, we don't. God in His economy doesn't issue us graces a minute before they are needed. (Personally, I will just say right now I have had words with Him about this policy.)
If you haven't already heard Corrie ten Boom's story about her father explaining how grace works maybe it will bless you too:
"When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?"
"Why, just before we get on the train."
"Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need, just in time."
Just in time. No matter what it is He is asking of us.
Just don't run out ahead of Him.
(side note: It cannot be coincidental that the other story that has been so influential in my life was about a trip to Holland. Because I am a slow study, it is probably not coincidental that when I was an exchange student in high school I was sent to….
wait for it…
Holland.
yep. True story. No coincidences in this life. Just a loving Father who pursues us tirelessly with grace at the ready.)
I explained to him that the penance Jesus wanted from him was complete obedience,; obey and that’s enough.
"Can’t I do some other penance?"
"Yes, you can allow yourself the penance of being patient with others and the unpleasant things of life; to accept equally the heat and the cold and the rain; to be cheerful when tired and not feeling so well and so on.”
“But,” said Dominic, “these things come to you whether you like it or not.”
“Precisely,” I replied, “offer them willingly to God; there is nothing that will please him more, and you will be doing real penance.” Thus reassured, Dominic was very happy and completely at peace.
– St John Bosco speaking about St Dominic Savio
"Hear and let it penetrate into your heart: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you:
let nothing alter your heart or your countenance."
"I don't think I got it, Mom. The sun is right behind the nest."
One hallmark of springtime in the German countryside is the return of the storks to their wheel high on a rooftop in a nearby village. Moira, tasked as she was with snapping the mama stork as we drove 'round the corner, doubted the shot was salvageable.
"Let me look at it in editing. I might be able to save it," I told her. When I went through them later, one image just caught my breath. Most of the storks we have seen have been pristine, almost regal. Through the zoom lens, however, this mama appeared a little bedraggled. Tired, but steadfast, serene as she has been every time we have passed lately. She was plucking down from her undersides and dropping it into the nest.
I keep returning to this image. It stands in start contrast to a world that insists we mothers must reach for our own oxygen masks first. Perhaps in our quest for self-preservation and fulfillment we have missed what these creatures just know instinctively: It is in giving that we receive.
"'There were in Delft innumerable storks' nests. When the fire broke out, which was on the 3rd of May, the young storks were fledged, but could not yet fly. Seeing the fire approach, the parent storks attempted to carry their young ones out of danger, but they were too heavy; and after having tried all sorts of desperate efforts, the poor birds were forced to give it up. They might have saved themselves by abandoning the little ones to their fate. But instead, they stayed upon their nests, gathered their little ones about them, covered them with their wings as if to retard as long as possible the fatal moment, and so awaited death in that loving and noble attitude.'
Truly this was a remarkable illustration of devotion, and again demonstrates the fact that there is no greater love in the world than mother love. This holds homes together and comforts in distress. This abides when all others fail.'" – Edmondo De Amicis
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
One of the biggest surprises I have had in the past several months has been a growing fascination with the Old Testament. I will admit it did not draw me in regularly for many years. It was Allen's audio bible study app that started it all. He is a man of schedules and goal setting and the whole idea of this reading all planned out appealed to him especially. He listens to his chapters on his own and then reads to us after the rosary. More often than not I am so caught up in what we hear I grab my bible after to read the sections before and after.
It's been a blessing.
Every morning.
It is Palm Sunday already and we have spent nearly 7 hrs of it on the road returning from a near perfect trip to Prague. I am still processing it all and likely will be for some time – figuratively and literally since we took some 400 pictures of that magical city.
I realized this morning that it has been 2 yrs now since we have braided palms in this family. As this article explains this is a land without palms. Instead, we receive blessed bundles of herbs or branches from flowering spring shrubs. We discovered today that it is the same in the Czech Republic. Still wonderful, still a reminder of that magnificent procession into Jerusalem so long ago. It is just another of those different things I didn't know before we came here and thought you might not either.
(You can see more pics here and here)
Whatever is gracing your altars this year, may they bless you greatly.
I will be sharing as we can in coming days but they promise to continue to be full. We are so very pleased to be preparing to host the son of our dear friends for the rest of his spring break from his semester in Florence.
St. Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,
pray for us.
*book here
*St Joseph table traditions and cut and paste model here
free printable matching card game here
* coloring page here
Starry Sky Journal 