Lenten Wreath

Today I got my act together and posted about Lenten Wreaths over on the Church Ladies' Blog.




Take a look.

Helping Your Local PRC

I'm posting over at the Pious Sodality of Church Ladies this week. A couple posts in the series, "Helping Your Pregnancy Resource Center," are already up:

Working in the Prolife Field

Getting to Know You

Be A Good Volunteer

Rosary Rally

On Saturday, the Children of Mary of the University of Notre Dame (a student group independent of the international organization of the same name) and Notre Dame Campus Ministry sponsored a beautiful Rosary Rally on campus.

The email announcement from Children of Mary was as follows:

The first of hopefully many annual Rosary Rallies: Saturday, October 10, 2pm at the Grotto. The prayer begins with the Living Rosary, a devotion zealously promoted by Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC. 60-some people will each represent a bead of the Rosary, and we'll all join them to pray the Glorious Mysteries, with a sentence from Scripture before each Hail Mary. There will also be hymns to Our Lady after each decade. Then we'll process over to the Alumni Hall chapel for a 'Marian Hour' (or half-hour) of Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Rally was wonderful! Thanks to Fr. Neil Roy, beloved professor-priest and one of the most popular Canadians on campus, many of us learned a good number of very POD hymns. I think for the majority of the people present, Saturday's rally was their first living rosary. I remember members of the Blue Army coming and sponsoring one at my high school a few times, but it wasn't quite as involved as this Rally.

Unfortunately, due to midterms and the like, attendance wasn't quite as high as anticipated; but a respectable number of students and a few faculty members braved the chilly October weather to celebrate Our Lady's feast.















Photo Credits: me 10/10/09

The Divine Office: Season 1, Episode 2

"Fr. Erickson clashes with his new housekeeper. If only there was some way to get rid of her. Or is there?"




Nice commercial in there...

Divine Office - Season 1, Episode 1

The Unexpected Visitor

Little Lessons

Because my friends are crazy - a brand new on-line show: The Divine Office.

The show was first inspired by this hilarity:



"Fr. Erickson delivers his weekly lecture to the girls of St. Francis de Sales Catholic High School. This week's topic: chastity. Feel free to listen in! It'll make you miss the '40's."

Apparently I'm a pretty bad student!

I'll post the subsequent episodes over the next couple days.

Grandparents and Catholic Culture

JP Sonnen posted a nice little bit on the role his grandfather, aged 90, has had on his life as a Catholic. He couldn't have timed it better as today my Grandma turns 90!

JP writes:

"
Makes one think of this line from the Scriptures: "I handed on to you as of first importance what I myself received." (1 Cor. 15:3). Our parents and grandparents give us the Faith. Religion is often handed down from one generation to the next. We are each an heir and upon us devolves the duty of perpetuating this gift."

My Grandma is an amazing woman - who, needless to say, I love very dearly and has been a great influence in my life.

There are many beautiful stories of the role of faith in her life. She converted from Protestantism to the Catholic faith as a young woman. She suffered a good deal of pressure and criticism from her waspish family. As a girl, going up in Detroit, her mother strictly forbade her from ever entering a Catholic church, especially since she had a number Catholic friends. However, one bitter cold day (in February, I think) when she was in her teens, one of her Catholic friends, with whom she was spending the day, wanted to go to Mass. My grandmother told her she would just wait outside. After awhile (and I love my grandmother's smile every time she remembers this part), after awhile, well, it got cold. :-) So my grandmother decided to just slip inside the vestibule.

That was enough! Her face still glows as she recalls her first Mass - the incense, the music, everything - it was all so beautiful! She knew that this was what her heart had been longing for for so long.

She respected her father's wishes and waited until she was in her twenties until she converted. Easter 1944 she was received into the Church.


Besides being responsible for nurturing my mother's formation and strong commitment to the faith, my grandmother has always taken an active role my life and that of my siblings. While her childbearing, computer, and fighter pilot skills differ from JP's grandfather (as I hope at least the latter would!), the joyful upbuilding of the Church, and the fierce loyalty to faith is the same. There is no way that I could do justice my grandmother's unfailing witness on this blog or anywhere else.

Happy 90th birthday, Grandma!

Here she is, an adorable baby in 1919!

Notre Dame on the March for Life in 2009

Today's Observer featured an article by Tess C., who is excellent proof that you can be a Pious Women and be on the Observer staff! The article also include an appearance by Karlo.

Be sure to note, the staff from the Notre Damce Center for Ethics and Culture was also on the March! How exciting! I wish I could have been there too.

220 ND students attend protest
More than 200,000 participants marched against abortion on the National Mall

Notre Dame Observer
By: Tess C.
Posted: 1/23/09

WASHINGTON - The 220 Notre Dame students who attended the 36th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Thursday sensed new energy and purpose in the wake of the recent inauguration and were met with meaningful support, marchers said.

"There was a lot more energy in how the politicians at the rally were speaking," said junior Mary Daly, Notre Dame Right to Life club president

Onlookers were thrilled to see Notre Dame marching 220 strong.

"Walking along, people were cheering for us, calling out support," Daly said. "They'll come up and ask us how many people we brought. People are always very impressed and glad to see us there."

High school junior Colin Cortes of Chicago, Ill. said he enjoyed seeing Notre Dame's strong presence at the march.

"I loved seeing Notre Dame there, really representing what a Catholic university should be, especially now that a lot of Catholic universities don't value church teachings. It's great to see Notre Dame standing up for them," Cortes said.

"Seeing that, I consider myself a huge Notre Dame fan," he said.

The march began with a rally on the National Mall. A series of pro-life politicians and religious leaders, including rabbis, Byzantine Orthodox priests and Protestant pastors each spoke briefly to the audience of more than 200,000.

The controversial Freedom of Choice Act, commonly known as FOCA, was brought up repeatedly. FOCA is a bill before Congress that states every woman in the United States has the right to terminate a pregnancy due to health reasons or before the fetus is viable.

Following the series of speakers, several members of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops introduced themselves to the crowd by name and diocese. Marchers from the bishops' hometowns greeted their bishops with resounding cheers.

The rally concluded with the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Donald W. Wuerl, leading the marchers in prayer.

"We come before you as men and women as many faiths," he said, drawing attention to the many faiths represented at the march.

The marchers then walked to the Supreme Court building. Notre Dame students made their presence known with cheers adapted from football games, like "Go Irish! Save Babies!" and frequent renditions of the Fight Song and Alma Mater.

Daley said one big change to the march is that faculty came this year. The whole staff of the Center for Ethics and Culture joined in the march.

"With the new pro-life fund through the Center for Ethics and Culture we were able to invite the entire University hierarchy. Even though Father Jenkins couldn't come, his senior advisor, Father Jim McDonald, was able to make it," she said.

Bill Dotterweich, a 1958 Notre Dame alum, is a big supporter of the pro-life movement and Notre Dame Right to Life, Daley said. He contributed to the fund to send members of the Notre Dame administration to Washington for the march, as well as to support Right to Life efforts on campus.

Sophomore Karlo Leonor went on the march and returned on the bus later the night following.

"I thought it was really encouraging to see the professors there, especially those who brought their families," Leonor said.

Leonor said there was a sense of camaraderie among the marchers.

"You could feel the common appreciation for Notre Dame as America's Catholic institution," Leonor said.
© Copyright 2009 The Observer

Bishop D'Arcy at St. Patrick's

I've been wanting to blog for a while now, and haven't. But, today is a good day to finally get around to it. I never finished my last string of half-written posts.

What makes today so special? Bishop John D'Arcy!

This morning at 7:45 at St Patrick's (arguably the most beautiful church in South Bend - not Notre Dame) the pastor bonus of this diocese came and offered a pontifical low Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. It was a most beautiful Mass!



In his sermon he emphasized the importance of the Mother Guerin Community to the diocese, and of the diocese and bishop to us.


After Mass, he joined us briefly in the parish hall for coffee and a potluck breakfast.



He led us in prayer before the meal.



Here he is with Fr. George Gabet, F.S.S.P., the usual celebrant of this Mass, and Fr. Leonard Chrobot, pastor of St. Patrick's.

Some of the children of the community presented him with flowers, which he later presented to a statue of the Blessed Mother before leaving us to go say Mass at St. Joseph's (a C.S.C. parish also in South Bend) for the celebration of the feast of Bl. Basil Moreau.



There was a wonderful representation of the community - mostly "townies" (as it very well should be) - but also a nice selection of Notre Dame students, both undergrad and grad, faculty and staff. I was pleased to see a respectable number of departments represented.

I image more pictures and reports will follow soon on the Mother Guerin Blog.


Remember to keep Bishop D'Arcy, and all of our bishops, in your prayers!


P.S. all photos by me, and many thanks to "Bishop Neumann" for loaning me his camera since mine has come to a very sad end and now sits broken and just about entirely useless. :-(

O Sapientia

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Gaudete!

Advent "wreath" made by Housemate C.
Photo, me 12/14/08

Dicite pusillanimes confortamini et nolite timere! Ecce Deus noster veniet, et salvabit nos!


Say to the fainthearted, be comforted and fear not! Behold, our God will come and save us!
Communion of today's Mass, '62.

I did a quick look back at this Sunday last year. What a glorious time that was! This year I feel more of "the duty of delight."

Please keep a special intention in your prayers.

Semper gaudete. Sine intermissione orate. In omnibus gratias agite: hæc est enim voluntas Dei in Christo Iesu in omnibus vobis...Ipse autem Deus pacis sanctificet vos per omnia: ut integer spiritus vester, et anima, et corpus sine querela in adventu Domini nostri Iesu Christi servetur. Fidelis est, qui vocavit vos: qui etiam faciet.


Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you... And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now.
From the Second Reading of today's Mass, '69

St. Lucy's Day

Last night, the Children of Mary group on campus hosted a St. Lucy's Day party. Since I've recently been on something of a baking kick, I decided to back some Santa Lucia Bread. I took the recipe posted over at Catholic Cuisine.

I got a late start, so the bread never actually made an appearance at the party, but it did come to the Post-Trid-Mass brunch in South Dining Hall.

Turned out to be quite lovely, if I may say so - especially with a little literal "sprucing" up.

photo: me 12/14/08

SAINT LUCY, Whose beautiful name Signifies light, By the light of Faith Which God bestowed upon you, Increase and preserve His light in my soul, so that I may avoid evil, Be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and sin.

Obtain for me, by your intercession with God, perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God’s greater honor and glory and the salvation of souls.

St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.

Amen.

Immaculate Conception

After a minor crisis, I've decided to do my best to wake up early and drive down the street to St. Pat's for Mass. For anyone else still up at midnight who hasn't decided where they should attend Mass tomorrow:

Fr. George Gabet, FSSP, the chaplain of the St. Mother Theodore Guerin Latin Mass Community of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, will offer the Traditional Latin Mass on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception in South Bend.

December 8, 2008
7:00 am
St. Patrick Catholic Church, South Bend

I suppose I'd better get some sleep then!


P.S. Other good Mass options would be 5:00pm in Alumni Hall - I'm not sure if it will be in Latin or not - and the 5:00pm in the Basilica will be sung by the Glee Club - which means the music will be excellent.

Mouse in the House

I've felt compelled to blog something the last couple days, but I really haven't sat down at a computer for more than 5 minutes. Sorry, loyal readers. Work has been keeping me on my toes. I could cry and complain that last week was midterms week - except I don't have midterms anymore. Now I can cry and complain that this week is Notre Dame's fall break, but I don't get a break! The real world is overrated.

Besides work, here is another reason the real world is overrated: Marvin.



Meet Marvin. Yes, that is a mouse - a mouse trapped in a tupperware container.

I never worried about these furry little house guests while living in a dorm. Maybe I should have, but I never did and never encountered any.

Recently one appeared in our house...ok, maybe more than one, but we've only caught one so far.

Housemate A has been scared stiff of the little bugger for the last week and a half. So today I cleaned out the pantry. Then later in the day, when we heard some mouse-like rustling, my brother and I somehow managed to corner him in the pantry. Working like cats (uh, with containers instead of claws) we penned him in (jumpy little guy). Then, as Marvin (named by Housemate C)made what he thought would be his big break, my amazing brother slammed a container down on him.

He was a pretty cute thing and being the humane humans that we are, we elected to release him away from the house. So we got in the car (with the mouse in the container) and drove a little up the road to Highland Cemetery. I let him go and he bounded away...not too far from Knute Rockne's grave.

Sorry Rock!


Don't tell Housemate A, but I know Marvin has a buddy, Mo. I've seen Mo scooting around since the removal of Marvin. But maybe now that Marvin's been taken away, Mo will get the hint and leave on his (her?) own.

In the meantime I might have to look into this:

DEPRECATORY BLESSING AGAINST PESTS

(mice and rats, locusts, worms, etc.)

The priest vests in surplice and purple stole, and coming to the field or place infested with these creatures, says:

Antiphon: Arise, Lord, help us; and deliver us for your kindness' sake.

Ps 43.1: O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have declared to us.

All: Glory be to the Father.

P: As it was in the beginning.

All Ant.: Arise, Lord, help us; and deliver us for your kindness' sake.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

P: Lord, heed my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.

We entreat you, Lord, be pleased to hear our prayers; and even though we rightly deserve, on account of our sins, this plague of mice (or locusts, worms, etc.), yet mercifully deliver us for your kindness' sake. Let this plague be expelled by your power, and our land and fields be left fertile, so that all it produces redound to your glory and serve our necessities; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God, the donor of all good things, and the most merciful pardoner of our sins; before whom all creatures bow down in adoration, those in heaven, on earth, and below the earth; preserve us sinners by your might, that whatever we undertake with trust in your protection may meet with success by your grace. And now as we utter a curse on these noxious pests, may they be cursed by you; as we seek to destroy them, may they be destroyed by you; as we seek to exterminate them, may they be exterminated by you; so that delivered from this plague by your goodness, we may freely offer thanks to your majesty; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Exorcism

I cast out you noxious vermin, by God + the Father almighty, by Jesus + Christ, His only-begotten Son, and by the Holy + Spirit. May you speedily be banished from our land and fields, lingering here no longer, but passing on to places where you can do no harm. In the name of the almighty God and the entire heavenly court, as well as in the name of the holy Church of God, we pronounce a curse on you, that wherever you go you may be cursed, decreasing from day to day until you are obliterated. Let no remnant of you remain anywhere, except what might be necessary for the welfare and use of mankind. Be pleased to grant our request, you who are coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.

The places infested are sprinkled with holy water.

1962 Rituale Romanum

Harsh stuff. On second thought I feel kind of bad cursing the little guys to obliteration...

Church Ladies Together

Gianna and I just finished breakfast in P.E.'s kitchen. It's nice to be back home.

Yes, I'm at Notre Dame right now. Yesterday one of my old roomies was married - it was such a beautiful wedding!

Today, Gianna and I woke up early and Johnny Domer came to pick us up for Mass at St. Patrick's downtown. What a beautiful church! I am so happy that the Latin Mass community has been given such a happy home.

We came back, made breakfast and - well Gianna can tell you the rest over here.

Overdue Repairs

One of today's main projects has been sitting on my to-do list for well over a year. It is a good and pious church lady task.

May of last year I was car-less. So, my family picked me up from Notre Dame for the summer. The car was packed to the hilt with my junk and every family member. We were ready to go, but decided to grab a meal at Perkins right next to the toll road entrance before hitting the road. Someone opened the wrong car door at the wrong time and my 2 foot plaster statue of the Immaculate Heart slid out and smashed on to the parking lot pavement.

I was horrified. My beautiful statue was decapitated. (Admittedly, it could have fared worse.)

I carefully collected every shard and placed them all in a styrofoam cup from the restaurant.

Since then I've been meaning to repair the statue. I even brought everything back out to ND with me in hopes of taking care of it on a quiet day (hahaha, like those ever happen out there!). Unfortunately, the decapitated figure just stood up on the top shelf with the Perkins cup at her feet. The face peering out from the cup reportedly scandalized a few curious friends.


Today, I finally got around to starting the work.

Liturgical Laundry

Gianna emailed the Pious Sodality of Church Ladies tonight to make sure we had seen Fr. Z's post on the awesome forthcoming publication from Angelus Press about liturgical laundry

"All the various common linens are presented with descriptions of what they are for and what they might mean, for example in the case of the symbolic meaning of the amice, a vestment the priest uses during Mass.

"There are clear directions and also step by step drawings for how to fold the linens, which is very important, especially in the case of a corporal, which has the function of capturing particles of the Host which might have been missed.

Here is what we find on the contents page:

i Quick Reference Chart
ii The Purificator
iii The Corporal
iv The Pall
v The Lavabo Towel
vi The Amice
vii A Few Guidelines and Tips
viii Altar Linens
ix Glossary
ix Notes page

This little book provides a bit of direction for those ladies who are so generous
helping Holy Mother Church (and her sacristans) with laundering,
ironing, and mending."

Oh it looks like the most fantastic Pious Women Guide ever! I can't wait!

For your enjoyment, the conversation re this news:

Gianna: did you see that email I sent about the laundry guide?
Me: Yessss
Gianna: ahh, Angelus Press...
Me: it's really a wonderful thing, even if slightly schismatic on a bad day
Gianna: hey, laundry is laundry ;-P
Me: Oh no! Not Schismatic Laundry!! haha
Gianna: the scandal!!
Me: Terrible: "Excuse me ma'am, but I believe that chasuble just questioned the authority of the pope"
Gianna: ROFL

If anyone wants to get that little book for me when it comes out in July, let me know. Maybe I'll set up some starving-recent-college-grad Paypal donation button or Amazon Wishlist or something. Haha


I mean after all, THIS should never happen!