forty days::restraint

{words}

fear of silence

into great silence

{food}

papal message

settling into lent

what the world eats


{consumerism}

30 days of nothing (easily adapted to lent)

100 Thing Challenge

forty days::contemplation

Tonight while reading "Abe Lincoln Grows Up" by Carl Sandburg to the children, we briefly paused for thought after reading this rather sobering passage:

And there was the ballad of Wicked Polly, who danced and ran wild and told
the old folks, "I'll turn to God when I get old, and He will then receive my
soul." But when death struck her down while she was young and running
wild, she called for her mother and with rolling eyeballs cried, "When I am
dead, remember well, your wicked Polly screams in hell."

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In this beautifully crafted and historically researched story of Abe Lincoln's life for children, Sandburg purports that this was among the ballads that little Abe's mother, Nancy Hanks sang to him. (I'll spare you the ballad in which The Brown Girl puts a little knife through Fair Ellender's throat after he remarks that she is plagued with brown and the Brown Girl's Hero pulls his sword and cuts off her head and then thrusts the sword through his own heart. Might be too gruesome.)

the three holy days of autumn

Just to clear up any confusion, I originally wrote this entry on Saturday, but just got the pictures uploaded and the whole thing posted tonight (Monday).

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Exhaustion has set in. There are a million other tasks that require my attention at the moment, but writing a blog post seems to be my feeble attempt at staying engaged and "accomplishing" something. It has been a busy three days contemplating mortality, celebrating sainthood, and praying for the dead.

On the 31st, we celebrated All Hallow's Eve--that beloved Catholic holiday--with a party and trick or treating. Years ago, we didn't celebrate this holiday. Indeed, we turned out the lights and hid in a dimmed room to avoid the horrors of costumed children and to keep the evil spirits out of our home. But then my children got old enough to know what fun they were missing and they started demanding explanations. I turned to the internet seeking solid reasons in language that I could easily give to my candy-starved clan. I came back with different answers than I expected. Much to the happy relief of my husband and to the joy of my children, I learned the Catholic roots of All Hallow's Eve. Indeed, with a Catholic worldview, we could participate in this wondrous night!

So about three years ago, we started celebrating...not just an early All Saint's Day, but a full fledged Hallowe'en. This year was our biggest celebration yet: we hosted a party. There were decorations, costumes (everyone dressed as a saint), prayers, games, and autumnal goodies. While the mothers and older girls led the games, I stood in kitchen frying up homemade spiced doughnuts and watching on delightedly. And in the evening, after everyone departed, we went trick or treating. New traditions were born.

Thursday, being All Saint's Day, is normally a day of feasting and relaxation. Unfortunately for little Sunshine, she had an appointment with the dentist that morning. Four little cavities, but the dear was as brave as ever through all of the unknown and discomfort. Afterwards, we had a lunch out with Daddy--a rare treat, to be sure! In the evening, it was off to Mass we went to honor all of those holy souls who have endured persecutions, stayed the course, and left us all with such inspiring models of sanctity and interceded on our behalf on innumerable occasions.

And finally, Dia de los Muertos arrived on Friday. A day to pray for those dearly departed who have not yet reached their eternal reward. The weather was beautiful and we headed up to Rose Hill Ranch where our dear friends raise their three children and lots of animals. From there we all visited a lovely old Catholic cemetery in the countryside. We slowly ambled amongst the tombstones, studying the years, mourning for the loss of so many infants, guessing the relationships, imagining the tales and touching the little portraits attached to the older stones. We prayed for all of those souls, knowing that many are long forgotten and neglected. And we felt peaceful.

Then back to the house for a simple but good dinner and wonderful company. And today, we absorb, rejuvenate, and rest.

Scenes from Wednesday's fete:

A host of Saints appeared in the front garden, full of joy,
exuberance, and a bit of sillines.

Among them, the generous and the brave:
St. Elizabeth of Hungary and
St. Agnes of Rome (Sunshine).

Also, St. Margeret Mary came to spread her devotion
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The usually sober St. Isidore the Farmer was
was in a particularly jovial mood.

Aptly portraying the very serious
St. Rose of Lima is my little Rosebud.

With a few words about forgiveness,
St. Maria Goretti looked the part
in attire she made herself.

We also had St. Rosalina, St. Michael the Archangel, St. John Berchmans, St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas and a little St. John the Baptist present for our hallowed celebrations. We are already looking forward to making this party an annual event!

The Original Novena

Today we begin our nine day prayer journey from the Ascension of Our Lord to the coming of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost. There are many novenas that have become traditional among the faithful, but this is the original. For a succinct explanation of novenas (and links to dozens of traditional favorites), visit the Fisheaters website:

Its name deriving from the Latin word "novem," meaning "nine," a novena is nine days' private or public devotion in the Catholic Church to obtain special graces. Though they are not part of our liturgy and remain a "popular devotion" (a very few are prayed paraliturgically), they've been prayed since the very beginning of the Church -- and before its official beginning: Mary and the Apostles prayed from His Ascension to the Pentecost, a period of nine days (Acts 1). Also, a nine-day period of supplication was a pagan Roman and Eastern practice, so novenas were easily accepted by the earliest converts in these lands.

We will be offering the Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts as found here because I really like the additional prayers that are offered on the front page. I love that Pentecost, while among the greatest liturgical celebrations of the year, remains a wholly spiritual event--that is, void of all commercialism. While some of us may don red to Mass next Sunday or even enjoy some celebratory foods, there is no peddling of must-have decorations or expectation of exquisitely wrapped gifts. The only gifts are spiritual and given to us by God through the Holy Spirit. Let us, then, prepare spiritually through the prayers of this beautiful and ancient novena.

FIRST DAY (Friday, 6th Week of Easter)

Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From
Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!

The Holy Spirit

Only one thing is important -- eternal salvation. Only one thing,
therefore, is to be feared--sin· Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and
indifference The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love.
With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and
inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke
the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what
we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us."

Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to
regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all
sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the
Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the
Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts