Pretiola!

Back when there were more than only 2 manditory fasting days in the Church, ancients would make pretzels because they only contain yeast, water, brown SUGAR and flour.

Monks used to give young children pretzels as a "little reward" or "pretiola!

Yesterday we made Lenten Pretzels.

"We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese and eggs." - Pope St. Gregory

So, here's the recipie I used:

Grease two cookie sheets and sprinkle with salt.

In a large bowl, desolve a packet of yeast in 2 tablespoons of warm water.

Add 1/3 Cup of warm water and 1/3 cup of brown sugar.

Kneed in 4-5 cups of flour until the mizture forms a smooth ball. (You may need to add more water ;-))

Kneed for 10 minutes.

Tiwst as desired.

Heat oven to 450. Fill large skillet with water adding 1 t-spoon of baking soda for each cup of water.

Bring to simmer.

Dip twisted pretzels in skillet for a bout 30 seconds. Transfer to cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 8 minutes.

Tada!

St. Joseph

Just because I neglected to do a blog post on St. Joseph's day, dosen't mean I didn't celebrate him!

Because we went all out.

My little brother made this for my Dad and brother

On Sunday we actaully went up to a Church north of us for their annual "St. Joseph Altar."

The proceeds from the event went to seminarians of the Institute of Christ the King.

The Italian food was great, espcially the firied zuchhini! There were at least 10 tables of food. Spaghetti and Bread crumbs, (which represent saw dust) Fish, symol of Christ/multiplication of loves and fishes (as the altar also symbolizes God's generosity).

I also got a fava bean. There is a "legend" that if you keep it in your pocket you will never go without fortune/food. To me, it's a good reminder to call on St. Joseph!

Special prayer to St. Joseph.

O blessed Saint Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, we pray and beseech thee to offer to God the Father His divine Son, bathed in blood on the Cross for sinners, and through the thrice-holy Name of Jesus, obtain for us from the Eternal Father the favor we implore. (Name your request.)

Appease the Divine anger so justly inflamed by our crimes, beg of Jesus mercy for thy children. Amid the splendors of eternity, forget not the sorrows of those who suffer, those who pray, those who weep; stay the Almighty arm which smites us, that by thy prayers and those of thy most holy spouse, the Heart of Jesus may be moved to pity and to pardon. Amen. St. Joseph, pray for us.

He is a "universal" patron, which means he may intercede on behalf of any intention.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Sancti Patricii, ora pro nobis.

"The ambassadors or Misionaries of Christ are of two classes. There are some who have been entrusted witha small tract of the Gentile world. They have to sow the divine seed there, and it yielded friut more or less according to the disposition of the people that received it. There are others who mission is like a rapid conquest that subdues a whole nation, and brings it to the Gospel. St. Patrick belongs to this second class, and in him we recognize one of the most successful instruments of God's Mercy to Mankind.


When is it that Ireland received the Faith? When Britain was almost wholly buried in Paganism, when the race of the Franks had not yet heard the name of the True God, when Germany had not heard of Christ's coming to Earth, when Northern Europe was deeply slumbered in infidelity; before these nations had awakened to the Gospel, Ireland had converted. The Faith, brought to the Isle by her glorious Apostle, took deep root and flourished. Her Saints are scarcely to be numbered, and went about doing good in almost every country of Europe. Her children gave, and are still giving to other countries.

Let us honour the admirable Apostle, chosen by God to sow the seed of His word in this privileged land."

~ The Liturgical Year, March 17th, by Dom Prosper Gueranger


Ireland's Constitution Preamble:

"In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred, We, the people of Éire, humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial, (...) do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution."^[36]

Can you tell I'm Irish? Not as much we'd all like to be on this day, but I do have roots! I'm also very proud of Ireland for being one of the only abortion-free countries in the world. We need to pray the snakes stay out of that beloved country!

Go mbeannai Dia duit! ~ May God Bless you!

Forty Days

Temptation of Christ by James Tissot

Psalm 19

Unto the end. A psalm for David. 

May the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of the God of Jacob protect thee. 

May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Sion.

May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt offering be made fat.

May he give thee according to thy own heart; and confirm all thy counsels.

We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we shall be exalted. The Lord fulfill all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the salvation of his right hand is in powers.  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the Lord our God. They are bound, and have fallen; but we are risen, and are set upright. O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon thee.

This Psalm is used in the Church to prepare us for the Spiritual Temptations we may recieve during Lent.  Lent is a time for reparation for our sins, pleasing God, and cleansing our souls. 

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Well hello blog!  You're looking good - the backgroud that is. (I have my sister to thank for that).  My sister also manages my music.  Thus, a few months ago you might have noticed the "If I Only Had A Brain" song.  Yeah, thanks Constance!

I hope everyone had a very enjoyable summer.  I know I did.  However, I'm still not sure what the ultimate highlight is. 

My family participated in the Pro-Life Action League's Annual Face the Truth Tour all seven days.  (Mostly mom and the kids, I was absent for only two days :()   I would have to say as an overall it was a very successful tour.  I hardly wittnessed any negativity; NOT ONE person got out of their car to "yell" at me.  On the contrary, we got many positive honks, "God Bless You!", and a few thumbs up now and then.

A few weeks after the actual week tour, we participated in the Rockford solo-day tour.  Let's just say that Rockford has a much more zealous and vocal pro-abortion presence and it deserves it's own little paragraph.  A few years ago, the very first time my family took part in this stop, my little brother got some kind of metal thrown at him.   This time it was my turn!  I GOT A GATORADE bottle thrown at me!  Let it be known: when pro-abortion people insult me, it only makes me happy!

The Truth suffers but never dies. ~ St. Theresa of Avila

Another "FUN!" thing we did was go BLUEBERRY PICKING!  I had been wanting to ever since we did the first time, about a decade ago.  So,  last minute us girls drove 3 hours to go bluberry picking out of state!  (The directions esimated two hours, but I think it took at least four just to get there)  It was worth it though, in my opinion!  We picked for about an hour or two and came back home with about thirteen pounds of blueberries, silly pictures,  a good hilarious video of mom (that I'm not aloud to show anyone) and some great memories.

Take a Stand for Free Speech!

A pro-life man, Joe Holland, was unjustly arrested for praying outside a Chicago Planned Parenthood Abortion facility on July 3, 2010. He is accused of violating the city's new "Bubble Zone" Ordinance.

According to the Thomas Moore Society, legally representing the pro-lifer:

"The "Bubble Zone" ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of a person, without consent, "for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling." According to witnesses and available video, Holland was engaged solely in prayer activity and not in leafletting, picketing or "sidewalk counseling." Video of Holland's alleged disorderly conduct can be viewed here"

Please sign this petition to Mayor Daley to DROP THE CHARGES against Joe Holland!

www.ArrestedforPraying.com

Happy Memorial Day!

To celebrate Memorial day I really recommend this movie! It's an oldie but a goodie!

Fortunately all 15 parts are on YouTube!

United in faith...

So, where do I begin?

My little sister had a her tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday. We share a room. So, while she recovers, she tries not to laugh too loudly (and hard - for it hurts her to laugh) at old Dick Van Dyke episodes. She also keeps me up to date with all the latest news on blogs she visits.

But, with tonight's news (and the thought of Mr. GQ crying), we are crying our eyes out! My nose is so "stuffed up" I can't sleep! :)

On Monday we said our last good-byes to a very dear friend of ours.

Let's start at the very beginning!...A very good place to start!

My very first first picture ever taken of 'JoJo" (left) and my sister Constance
- A Church Picnic - Summer 2008 -

We met this special young lady about two summers ago. We were at one of the summer picnics of the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago. She was one of the "Dazzo" family. There they were eating their favorite: Panera Bread. After we ate I started playing catch, with a softball, with the oldest girl, "Jo Jo" - while some of her seven siblings played soccer with my mere three. Yes, that is my first memory of my dear friend who I will respectively call "JoJo Dazzo" for this post.

Jo Jo is two years older than my sister or, the same age as me.

Anyway, as we talked with Mrs. Lady Modesty and her daughter, that very day, we discovered my sister and Jo Jowere both interested in the religious life. Particularly...with the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest (take a breath!) - whose Motherhouse is located in Italy.

Constance (left) and JoJo (right) 5/10/10

Lady Modesty is probably the only non-procrastinator I know and helped the girls plan a trip all the way to Italy in May of '09 to visit the Convent. (Last year!)

Before we knew it there was the "Going Away Party" and then the day they left.

Both girls enjoyed their week visit immensely; it was defiantly a life changing experience for them as it seems they came home with a deeper love of Christ and this particular Order of nuns.

Jo Jo was hoping to be accepted into the Sister Adorers' Order in the fall of 2010.

But, happy news came just a month ago; she would be joining the Sister Adorers' newest Convent in
St. Louis this (past - yesterday) May 12, 2010!

Fortunately, we had time to say our good-byes at a party last Monday. My family had planned to visit JoJo at the end of May while we were visiting family in the Southern Illinois/St. Louis area. Therefore, we were able to hold back some tears. {But not all ;-)}

But tonight. Great news for JoJo, but sad news for us! Tonight, we read the latest news on Mrs. Lady Modesty's blog.., Jo Jowill be leaving for Italy very soon to start her formation. We will not be seeing her as we planned. We will not be seeing her for a long time...

My sister has already made a beautiful tribute to her dearest friend here...

Jo Jo read this to us from a holy card the last time we chatted on the phone:

~Pray for me, as I will for thee, so that we may merrily meet in Heaven.~

See that purple thing? Its my cast. I broke my elbow (just a hair line fracture) while on a bike ride with another good friend of mine a week ago - I only have to wear it for two more weeks! Jo Jo signed my cast. Any guesses at her real name? :) And, I'm going to have to keep that stinky old cast now!

God willing, we will meet again on this earth... but being so far away... prayer will be the only thing uniting us for now.

I will never forget you, JoJo!

Please keep her - and her family - in your prayers!

Tighten Up!

Happy Eastertide! I did not intend to abstain from blogging for Lent but I guess I did anyway! :)

I have not been blogging all together because of many little things. But, I did get a job! It's the best job I could wish for right now! I'm the chief executive assistant, only assistant, at a little Catholic Book store near my house. I work about once or twice a week. It's awesome!

Anyway, I get really nice customers and there are also those who pass by the shop and give us "the look" or say "A Catholic store...no thanks!" But, funner than that, we get those people who come in to debate. My employers are always "faithful to the magisterium" and when someone comes in the Holy Ghost sure inspires them! So, my first encounter...

...was an older woman. She came in through the coffee store next door (!) and asked "is this Episcopal?" I said, "No, we're a Catholic store." Then, that's when it started! "Oh, you know, some people need to loosen up. Have you heard about the Episcopals? They now have a woman bishop,and she's a lesbian!" (how progressive!) I of course went into the "if Jesus wanted woman priests, why wouldn't He have made the most perfect women of all, His Immaculate Mother, the first woman priest?" But, she just ignored it and said something about the church being run by men. All I could say would be, "well, the Church has lasted this long...I don't think we're going to start changing now!" But, when you get down to it, I wish I told her that some people just need to "tighten" up. While the Pope is infaliible, there are those in the Church and schools who are confusing people!

Let's look at Fr. Pfleger on the southside of Chicago. We see this man using the his holy priesthood to preach hate.

Hold on tight, I'm shifting gears here!

So, what do we faithful do when the Heirarchy of the Catholic church in America refuse to do anything about this man and then have the audacity to reward him?!

Yes, Cardinal George/the Archdiocese of Chicago presented Fr. Pfleger the “racial justice lifetime achievement award”

Well, here's my suggestion. (With help from my wonderful mother) Let's pray for Cardinal Francis George to live up to his obligations. Of course, prayer without works is dead, so let's write to him and beg him to admonish the sinner, invoke the Church's Laws to deny pro-abortion politicians the Holy Sacrament, Canon 915. To instruct the ignorant is a Corporal work of mercy and all of us have the duty to correct the clergy when the go asstry says St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica part 2 qeustion 33.

Also, the Archdiocese is conducting a survey that you may take part in here.

God Bless!