Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux: October 1st, October 3rd in the Traditional Calendar

The saint who was born Therese Martin in Alcenon, France at the end of the nineteenth century is one of the most beloved saints of our time. Now known as St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower, and St. Therese of the Child of Jesus, she is the patron of illness, specifically AIDS sufferers and those with tuberculosis; florists; France; missionaries; and those who have lost parents.

Born to faithful Catholic parents, Blesseds Louis and Azelie-Marie, Therese was one of nine children, only five of which lived beyond childhood; all of these were girls, and Therese was the youngest. The sisters were very close, and in time, all of them would become nuns.

Therese’s early years, according to her writings, were ones of innocent bliss. At the tender age of four, however, her dear mother died. Therese’s remarkable sisters, strong in their faith, took up their mother’s mantle, and Therese looked upon them as second mothers. However, five years later, the family suffered another parting when Pauline, the eldest daughter, left home to become a Carmelite nun. About this time, Therese began to have the stirrings of a desire to join the religious life, herself.

Four years later, Marie, Therese’s second eldest sister joined the Carmelites, as well. By this time, Therese was certain of her vocation and longed to join the convent with all her heart, but she waited until the following year to tell her beloved father of her desire. Louis Martin, already bereft of his wife and two daughters, was heartbroken at the thought of Therese, his precious baby, leaving him. Yet, he readily consented, a holy man in his own right who was only too willing to give all that he had—even his entire family—to God. But, it wasn’t that simple. No girl as young as Therese had ever entered Carmel. She was forced to wait as the decision to admit her or not was debated among the Church authorities in Lisieux.

A few months later, Therese’s father took her and her sister Celine on a pilgrimage to Notre Dame in Paris and from there to celebrate Pope Leo XIII’s jubilee in Rome. Therese was introduced to the Pope at her audience with him as “a girl who wants to join Carmel at fifteen.” Hoping to beg the Holy Father himself to permit her admission at such a young age, Therese was devastated when Pope Leo told her simply, “If the good God wills, you will enter,” before she was ushered on to another room. Still, Therese’s great disappointment did not have to be born long. By the end of the year, she received permission from her Bishop to enter the Carmel at Lisieux.

From the moment she entered the convent, Sr. Therese of the Child of Jesus astounded all with her remarkable character, her “majestic” bearing, and her burning desire to serve God. But, Therese never considered herself remarkable. Rather, she saw herself as quite childlike, plagued by childish temptations and impulses to sin, and utterly dependent on God. “I do as a child who has not learned to read,” she wrote of herself. “I just tell our Lord all that I want and he understands.” And again, she said, “I am a very little soul, who can offer only very little things to the Lord.”

Yet, it was in these “very little things” that her sainthood lay. No sin was too small to be conquered, no mercy or act of compassion too small to bestow, and her diaries and letters--often written under direct command of her superior, for Therese thought her writings of little consequence--were to warrant her the title of Doctor of the Church. St. Therese’s writings have been inspirational to millions, particularly those who have suffered, as she did, what St. John of the Cross termed a “dark night of the soul.”

Sr. Therese of the Child of Jesus spent nine and a half years in the Carmel at Lisieux. Though always of poor health, she gratefully kept the austerities of the Carmelite. The prioress said of young Therese, “A soul of such mettle must not be treated like a child. Dispensations are not meant for her.” But, Therese’s health continued to deteriorate through the years. Meanwhile, she was plunged into her dark night of the soul. She could no longer sense God’s presence, and she suffered dreadfully. Yet, in her small way, Therese continued to turn every fiber of her being over to Jesus and served him with all her might. Sr. Therese was to become mistress of novices, a role she performed with profound compassion and wisdom. She continued to write at the demand of her superior almost right up to her death, though she dreaded the task.

Therese succumbed to tuberculosis at the young age of twenty-four. At the moment of her death, the cloud of her dark night was lifted, and Therese stretched out her hands with a look of bliss upon her face and uttered her final words: “My Jesus, I love you.” This was the message of her whole life.

When her writings were published posthumously, Therese’s “little way” was instantly recognized by the Catholic world as a valuable teaching. So profound was its message and so remarkable was the little nun who gave it that the Pope dispensed with the rules which prevent canonization from beginning until fifty years after death. Only twenty-six years after St. Therese parted this world, she was beatified by Pope Piux XI, and he pronounced her a saint in 1925.

Her feast day is October 1^st.

Here are just a few ideas for how to honor and celebrate this amazing saint in your home:

• St. Therese was deeply passionate about bringing souls to Christ, and she prayed fervently for missionaries. She even corresponded with a young missionary priest, though such a thing was almost unprecedented for a Carmelite nun. Consider giving a donation to a favorite missionary cause, and do take time to pray for the mission fields all over the world.
• If you personally know someone who does not have a relationship with God, consider sharing the Gospel message with them. Commit this person to St. Therese’s intercession in prayer.
• Therese’s “little way” teaches us that it is in the small, everyday places that God often finds us and where we can best serve him. Therese once wrote of finding God in a jam sandwich! Consider serving some jam sandwiches for lunch today, especially if you have young children. It’s the perfect time of year to crack open a jar of homemade jam, if you were canning this summer, but any kind will do.
• I’m going to be making this Rose Cake from Catholic Cuisine in honor of the Little Flower, as St. Therese is sometimes called, to serve at a mother’s ministry that I am co-leading at our parish. Our first session is on Therese’s feast, so we are dedicating our group to her intercession. Our theme will be “Meeting God in the Little Ways,” a very appropriate theme for mothers. As a mom, I certainly share St. Therese’s conviction that I am only capable of serving God in the little things.
• Read aloud from any of St. Therese’s remarkable writings. Her thoughts are rather like Holy Scripture: deeply profound, and yet simple enough for the littlest child. Why not choose an excerpt or two to add to your family devotions on October 1^st?
• In the morning, commit your day to St. Therese’s intercession. Then, strive your hardest to live her “little way.” Be conscious of all those little temptations you usually ignore or routinely give in to; resist them, and lift them up as sacrifices to Jesus. Find little ways to bless those around you today, and perform small, good deeds without seeking to be noticed or acknowledged for them.
• Celebrate St. Therese’s French heritage by whipping up a meal from her native country’s excellent culinary repertoire. Despite its undeserved reputation for being fussy and expensive, much traditional French cooking is actually quite economical and easy to make. Why not serve some French toast for breakfast? Or maybe whip up a simple cheese soufflé (surprisingly c’est du gateau) with a salad of fresh greens and a baguette for a light supper? Uncork a bottle of your favorite wine, and bon appétit!

Mysterious Mysteries?: An Introduction to the Rosary, Part III

"The Rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes are closed upon the shadow of this world and open on the substance of the next. The power of the Rosary is beyond description."

- Archbishop Fulton Sheen, The World’s First Love

Some critics believe that the rosary is just a mindless recitation of rote prayers, but they are very mistaken. The prayers of the rosary are meant to calm the body and focus the mind upon the mysteries of the Christian faith. This is the core thought process that underlies the verbal recitation of prayer. As I said in a previous post, there are four sets of five mysteries. By praying all 5 decades in a rosary, you recite a complete cycle of one set of mysteries. You can pray any set of mysteries you like, but each day of the week is also granted its own set of mysteries, so that you can pray through the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries twice weekly and the Luminous mysteries once a week. This might sound confusing, but it helps to think of it like this:

Joyful Mysteries (recited on Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
   

Sorrowful Mysteries (recited on Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
   

Glorious Mysteries (recited on Wednesdays and Sundays)

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Mary
   

Luminous Mysteries (recited on Thursdays)

1. The Baptism of Our Lord
2. The Wedding at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

It may seem difficult at first to meditate on the mysteries while praying the appropriate prayers aloud (or silently, if necessary). This will be particularly true if you are only just familiarizing yourself with the prayers.

I recommend, before beginning the rosary, taking some time to recall each mystery. You might want to pull out your Bible and read over the Scripture accounts, as well. I love to find a word or phrase from Scripture for each mystery and use lectio divina meditation while praying the rosary. If you have young children or are currently learning the prayers and the mysteries, I would strongly suggest using visual aids to help you in your meditation. There are fantastic works of art for each of the mysteries. Why not get an inexpensive postcard, a laminated holy card, or a poster—or even a computer printout—of your favorite visual representation of each mystery and use them while you are learning to pray the rosary?

Rosary-center.org has some wonderful tools for meditating on the mysteries. Their online mysteries aid has a work of art for each mystery along with a reflection (a thought or a passage of Scripture) for each of the ten Hail Marys in a decade and a spiritual fruit to meditate on and pray for with each mystery. Here is an example of what they have for the joyful mysteries. You can also purchase these and other aids in booklet or leaflet form for around $2 from their website.

If you’re unfamiliar with what any of the mysteries are, they are easily researched, but you can also feel free to leave a comment here or email me if you’d like more information. If you’re new to the rosary, I recommend finding out more about the mysteries over the next day or so before we move into the specifics of how to pray the rosary.

A Michaelmas Celebration

Delicious St. Michael’s Bannock for breakfast. We served ours with raspberry jam. Technically, it’s supposed to be made with currants, but the bulk section at our store was out, so I used sultanas. It was delicious, so tender and buttery—but it only uses 2T of butter!

We prayed Lauds this morning as a family before Brian went to work. I love how the liturgy of the hours is so holistic. Since it was Michaelmas (in the traditional calendar) and the feast of the Archangels, Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (in the modern calendar), the liturgy focused on angels in its readings, psalms, and canticles. Does anyone know a good hymn for angels? I would love to add a song to our reading of Lauds on this day next year, but I couldn’t think of one this morning.

During the day, I attempted to teach Sophia the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Well, she’s gotten very adept at doing the Sign of the Cross, but that’s about as far as we got. Still, memorization or no, it was wonderful to be engaging spiritually with my little girl, beyond grace and bedtime prayers and Mass. She understands what angels are (at least to some degree) now, and she was very fascinated by the story of St. Michael. I’m already excited about what more she’ll be able to glean from the feastday next year!

Wouldn’t you know that with blackberry bushes running amok from Bellingham to Vancouver to Spokane, don’t I just live in the one neighborhood in Washington state where all the blackberries died last week while I was out of town? I’ve been scouring the neighborhood for the past three days, in vain. And of course, as I said before, blackberries are so prolific in the area that no grocery store in our neighborhood even sells them—because no one would pay for what they can just grab on the side of the highway. So, purchasing fresh berries was out. At last, after managing to pick only a scant cup for all my searching, I broke down and bought some frozen blackberries from the grocery store to make this out-of-this-world blackberry slump. It was invented by chef Geraldine Ferraro at the Four Swallows Restaurant on Bainbridge Island, right here in the Puget Sound, so it’s local! I got a kick out of that.

I didn’t take a picture of my version because, well, it’s not much to look at. It is a slump, after all. But, let me tell you, it was fantastic! The secret is a cup of white wine in the cake batter. And, since it’s a holiday, I had that on hand. I tell you what, though, next year, I’m nabbing some blackberries from the bush when I see them, and I’ll freeze them for Michaelmas!

Prior to the slump, we had roast chicken basted with a honey-lemon glaze with roasted garnet yams and Golden Delicious apples, a side of broccoli, and homemade bread and butter. Not exactly roast goose and apples, but it’s close, besides being a much better fit for my American family. Have you tried tracking down a goose in the States? I love Maria Augusta Trapp’s story of trying to find a goose for her family’s first Christmas in Philadelphia. She eventually found one for a pretty penny, and her American neighbors couldn’t understand why a poor immigrant family would go to such lengths just for a goose. Frankly, I’m with the neighbors, but vive la tradition!

After dinner, we snuggled up on the sofa and read Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. The story is certainly not meant for your average toddler. It’s quite long and definitely on what most people would call the scary side. But, what can I say? Sophia loves it! Just goes to show that our children are capable of a much higher literary caliber than we often give them credit for.

So, that’s how we spent Michaelmas in our home. How did you celebrate?

Prayers of the Rosary: An Introduction to the Rosary, Part II

“The Virgin” by Pinturicchio

Before I delve into how to pray the rosary, I want to spend a little time going over what to pray in the rosary. Since the verbal prayers of the rosary are meant to be a sort of underscore to the meditations on the mysteries, it helps if these prayers are familiar. You can, of course, pray the rosary even if you are just learning them, but be warned that you may find it cumbersome in the beginning until the prayers become second nature to you. Don’t be discouraged! Before long, the words of these ancient prayers will be written on your heart, leaving your mind freer to reflect on the mysteries of the Faith. For those who are already familiar with these prayers, I have included a brief explanation of each, which I hope all my readers will find edifying.

The Sign of the Cross

[recited while crossing oneself by placing the fingers of the right hand on the forehead, over the heart, and touching each shoulder]

In the Name
of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

A prayer in itself, this is the common method of beginning all prayers in the Roman Rite. It is typically the very first prayer that a Catholic child will learn. My two-year-old is currently learning the words, though she can already cross herself.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of Heaven and Earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
suffered, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell.
On the third day,
He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

This is the creed of belief that has been passed down from the very beginning of the Church. It is the faith declaimed by the apostles and handed down to us today. The words of this creed will be familiar not only to Roman Catholics but also those from the Western Orthodox, Calvinist and Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist, and Anglican churches, who all use the same phrasing in liturgy and catechesis.

Pater Noster, or The Our Father, or The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father,
who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And, lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

The “Our Father” predates Christianity as a religion—because Jesus Christ gave us this prayer during His lifetime on earth. In fact, it is the prayer that He taught His disciples to pray. Versions of it appear in the Gospels of Matthew (6:9-13) and Luke (11:2-4). It is the best-known prayer in all of Christendom. The doxology, “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever,” does not appear in the Gospel of Luke or in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew, though it does appear in later Byzantine documents of Matthew’s gospel. It is not used in the Roman Catholic version of the prayer, though is often added by Protestant denominations and some Eastern Rites. Presumably, the practice of adding this doxology to the end of the Lord’s Prayer stemmed from the common Jewish practice of ending prayers doxologically, though it was probably used only in congregational worship.

Gloria Patria, or Glory Be

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

This common doxology dates back to the earliest days of the Church. It appears often in many Christian traditions. Roman Catholics will find it in the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, in responsories, in the Introit of the Mass, and in other non-liturgical devotions. The Easter Rite churches use the Glory Be frequently in liturgical service, in private prayer, and in series of hymns. Anglicans recite it in their Daily Offices, and Lutherans and Methodists often recite it at the conclusion of the recitation of psalms in various liturgies.

Ave Maria, or Hail Mary

Hail Mary,
full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

The first phrase of this prayer is drawn from the salutation of the Angel Gabriel in Luke’s gospel. The second phrase is the greeting St. Elizabeth gave to Mary at the Visitation, also from the Gospel of Luke. The final phrase is a petition for the Blessed Mother’s intercession on behalf of all her children. This is the prayer used most frequently in the recitation of the rosary.

Some non-Catholic Christians are put-off by this. “Why do you address ten prayers to Mary and only one to God for each decade?” First of all, this is inaccurate. There are ten prayers addressed to Mary and four addressed to God for each decade, but nonetheless, the rosary contains a great deal more Hail Marys than any other prayer. To understand why this is, you must understand the orthodox view of Mary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ” (487). In brief, Mary points us to Jesus.

We know that it was through Mary that our Lord Jesus was given to the world. Jesus spent ten times as many years with His Mother as with His disciples (think about that one), so we know that we can benefit from deep relationship with her, if Christ did. Mary is the pinnacle of human virtue, and we long to emulate her. We do not worship Mary, but we do venerate her above all other saints. There is no danger in venerating her, for she always turns those who approach her toward her Son. When an angel greeted her and proclaimed her “full of grace,” Mary was not proud; she humbly yielded herself to receive God’s Son in her womb and deliver Him to humanity. When Elizabeth declared her blessed among women, Mary reflected this praise directly back to God, extolling her famous Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord!” When the servants turned to her at the wedding feast at Cana, she stepped aside, pointed to her Son, and said, “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary was the closest person in the world to Christ. The nearer we draw to her, the closer we come to Him.

Peggy Noonan, in her work John Paul the Great made a thought-provoking observation:

It is interesting that those countries whose Catholics love Mary most ardently, and who have by tradition been most public in that love, have tended to be those that have known intense political oppression and poverty: Poland, Ireland, Mexico, Italy, the Phillippines. Why would this be? Maybe protracted trouble helps human beings admit they need as much help as they can get, and if a father, a son, and a mother are available, they’ll take all three.

The Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of Hell,
and lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those most in need
of Thy mercy.
Amen.

A variation on the ancient Jesus Prayer, the Blessed Mother gave this prayer to Bl. Lucia Santos, and Bl. Jacinta and Francisco Martos when she appeared to them at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. It was afterwards added to the recitation of the rosary.

Salve Regina, or Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen,
Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, O most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.

Authorship of this anthem, which is also sung as a hymn, is highly debated, but it was composed sometime at the end of the 11th century. It has been widely used in Catholic liturgy and in devotions such as the rosary since the 13th century. It also appears in the Liturgy of the Hours, most notably at the end of Compline.

I know that the words of this prayer may be off-putting to non-Catholic Christians. I urge you, again, to reflect upon the orthodox understanding of Mary as you read it. Consider these words from Archbishop Fulton Sheen:

Mary receives praise as a mirror receives light: she stores it not, nor even acknowledges it, but makes it pass from her to God to Whom is due all praise, all honor and thanksgiving.

Prayer After the Rosary

O God,
whose only begotten Son,
by His life, death, and resurrection,
has purchased for us
the rewards of eternal life,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that by meditating
on these mysteries
of the Most Holy Rosary
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain
and obtain what they promise
through this same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

This prayer is optional, but I prefer to say it whenever I pray the rosary.

An Introduction to the Rosary

The devotion of praying the rosary has been an integral part of the Roman Catholic experience for over 500 years. It is a method of prayer which combines the tactile senses (feeling the beads in your hand), verbal prayer, and mental reflection upon the central mysteries of Christianity. The rosary is a powerful method of prayer. Pope John Paul II, a great lover of the rosary, declared it “a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.” It is perhaps fitting, then, that October, the month of the earthly harvest, should be dedicated as the month of the Most Holy Rosary. In honor of this and because I have personally found the rosary to be a spiritual fount of great wealth, I would like to do a short series on this ancient devotional method.

Please know that devotion to the rosary is not relegated to Catholics. Any Christian can benefit from the practice of praying the rosary. In fact, there are many testimonies of people who were not Christians who came to faith in part by praying the rosary. During this month of the rosary, why not try praying it for the first time, and witness the grace that God can bestow through this most holy method of prayer.




A Brief History of the Rosary




The practice of praying with counters predates Christianity and is believed to have originated in Hinduism. The early Christians adopted the idea of prayer counters. One popular method was to place a certain number of stones in one’s pocket or purse and cast one away for every prayer recited. In the ninth century, Irish monks used knotted ropes as an aid in reciting all 150 psalms. The devotion became popularized among the lay faithful by replacing the psalms, which were difficult to memorize, with 150 “Our Fathers.” In the thirteenth century, Medieval theologians began interpreting the psalms as “mysteries” speaking about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. They developed Psalters in honor of Jesus and Mary in response to these interpretations. Each of these two sets of 150 Psalters was divided into groups of 50 that became known as Rosariums, a reference to an analogy of a collection of prayers to a bouquet of roses. Later, during the fifteenth century, the Dominican order developed a particular method of counter prayer, which has become the foundation of what we know as the rosary today.




The Dominicans replaced the more complex Psalters with familiar prayers: “The Our Father,” drawn verbatim from the Gospel of Matthew and the “Glory Be,” a common doxology used from the very earliest days of the Church. The “Hail Mary” was developed around this time from the scriptural greetings of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation and St. Elizabeth at the Visitation; both accounts can be found at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke. These prayers became the foundational structure of the verbal prayer of the rosary, though other prayers would be added later. These prayers were set in a certain order, one prayer for each knot or bead on a thread. Each set of 10 prayers came to be known as a “decade.” While reciting the decades, one would meditate on the mysteries of the Christian faith. Around the year 1700, the meditation aspect of the rosary started to take on the character of narratives. St. Louis de Monfort composed the most popular set of these narratives, which were later divided into three sets of five mysteries: the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added a fourth set of five Luminous mysteries.



Why Pray the Rosary?




Our age is a spontaneous one. Tradition is often viewed today as quaint, at best, and archaically sterile, at worst. I would argue against both of these perspectives and declare with G.K. Chesterton that

Tradition means giving a vote to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man's opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man's opinion, even if he is our father.

However, the perspective persists, and many ask why anyone today would want to engage in a method of prayer that seems to some quaint, at best, and archaically sterile, at worst—or worse yet, superstitious.

First, let us be clear that the rosary is not a superstition. There is no teaching within the Catholic Church that says, “Pray so many decades of the rosary and Aunt Mildred will be cured of cancer.” The rosary is a form of prayer. As such, it is a communion with God, a yielding to Him, and it can be used for reflection, petition, or intercession. Just as God is not a genie-in-a-bottle, so the rosary and other forms of prayer are not magic wishes. Using the rosary beads and rote prayers is not a form of superstitious mumbo-jumbo; these are tools to help quiet the body and still the mind in a holy attitude of prayer.



An article from EWTN.com says this about the rosary:

The rosary has been called the preparation for contemplation and the prayer of saints...[T]he heart, mind, and soul of the Christian is formed according to the Gospel examples of the Savior and His First Disciple, His Mother. In God's own time, when this purification of the heart, mind, and soul has advanced sufficiently the Lord may give the grace of contemplative prayer, that special divine insight into the truth which human effort cannot achieve on its own.

While contemplative prayer—indeed any form of prayer—is a worthy endeavor, there are reasons why praying the rosary is a particularly important and worthy devotion. For one thing, it enables us to recite regularly the foundational prayers of our faith. It also takes us through the mysteries of the Christian faith, centering on the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Our Lord. It takes approximately twenty minutes to half-and-hour to pray a full rosary; this is a very workable time frame for most people today. The rosary is portable and can be prayed anywhere, even while driving: a useful aspect for many in our on-the-go modern age. You can’t exactly read Scripture or do a Bible study on your morning commute. The rosary is universal and unitive. On any given day, millions of the faithful all over the world are joining together in praying the same prayers, reflecting on the same mysteries.



The rosary is not a panacea or a magic wand, but it has been proven to be highly efficacious as a form of prayer and a channel of God’s grace. Pope Pius IX said, “Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been so favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary.” And again, “There is no surer means of calling down God's blessings upon the family . . . than the daily recitation of the Rosary.”


As a practice that calls the Christian to regular communion with God and reflection upon His life, Passion, and Resurrection, the rosary is a constant call to holiness. Bishop Hugh Doyle once said, “No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary.”

Our Lady has referred to the practice of the rosary in many of her apparitions. Our Lady of Lourdes taught St. Bernadette to pray the rosary. When Our Lady appeared at Fatima in 1917, she exhorted us, “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world,” and she even added a prayer to the recitation of the decades. When Our Blessed Mother appeared to St. Dominic and Bl. Alan, she spoke of fifteen promises to those who faithfully recited the Most Holy Rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.
3. The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.
10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.

But, perhaps you are not Catholic. Perhaps you do not believe in the apparitions of Our Lady. Perhaps you do not trust the wisdom of the Church or the assurances of the Holy Fathers. Then, do not take my word for it. Do not take the word of the Church or the popes or even Our Blessed Mother. Take up the beads, and begin the practice of praying the rosary. God’s grace in your life will be your assurance.



Looking Ahead



In the rest of this series on the Most Holy Rosary, I plan to cover

• the prayers of the rosary
• the mysteries of the rosary
• how to pray the rosary
• my own experience with praying the rosary

If you have any questions or topics regarding the rosary that you would like me to address in this series, please leave them in the comments section of this post, or as always, you can feel free to email me.

Better-Than-Boyscout Caramel Corn

We've been enjoying the first chilly days of autumn here in Seattle. This is my absolute favorite time of year! I love everything about autumn--the colors; the crisp, sunshiny days; the smell of clean, cold air mingled with the sweet smell of dying leaves. Most of all, though, I love the food!

We found ourselves with a lazy Sunday afternoon, since we were going to be guests at a friend's house for dinner and I didn't need to prepare anything. So, to celebrate the change of season, we used our time wisely by making some tasty homemade caramel corn. It was the first time Brian had ever had homemade caramel corn, and he was in heaven. "This is way better than what the boyscouts sell!" he declared. What higher praise is there than that?


So, here is my recipe for Better-than-Boyscout Caramel Corn. It's extremely easy and very yummy. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
4 T. vegetable oil
2/3 c. popcorn kernels
2 sticks butter
2 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
2 c. chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Oil the foil (hee hee). Set aside.
   
2. Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven with lid. Place 2 kernels in oil. When both kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn all at once. Cover with lid. Toss occasionally, with lid on, until all kernels have popped. Pour into a bowl.
3. Meanwhile, make caramel in a large stockpot. Melt butter. Add sugars and corn syrup. Stir over moderate heat until boiling. Continue to boil without stirring until candy thermometer reaches 300F, about 6-8 minutes.
   
4. Stir in baking soda and salt with a heatproof spatula, being careful to scrape the sides of the pot well. Quickly add popcorn and pecans and stir well to coat.
5. Spread caramel corn on prepared baking sheets and cool (about 15 minutes). Break into pieces, and gobble!
   

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jog

My family and I were back East this week, visiting family and attending a friend’s wedding. It was a whirl-wind trip, filled with more time in the car than any of us would like to remember but also some great memory-making moments with loved ones. Highlights from the trip include an awesome party thrown by my mom and her amazing boyfriend for both sides of my family (since we didn’t have time to go to everyone’s houses for dinner) and a visit to the Seneca Park Zoo with Auntie Meghan (pictures of the zoo trip throughout this post).

I have to confess that this was not an easy trip for me. Over the past few years, I have struggled a lot with homesickness. Living 3,000 miles away from your family is no picnic. Doing it with young children is even more difficult, emotionally and otherwise. But, with lots of prayer, support from my amazing husband, and some good old-fashioned initiative, I have come to love our new home in Seattle. This was the first time I had been back to my hometown since my heart truly began to feel at home out West. And, for the first time, my heart learned to speak the words of Thomas Wolfe, “You can’t come home again.”

My family moved a great deal when I was a child, but Rochester was always home for me, even during the years we lived away. Now, I have a new home. Finally, it feels like home and not merely some location where my family is currently living. Now that this is home, I have found that I cannot go home to Rochester again. Because it no longer feels like home. It is merely a location where I used to live and where my family sometimes goes to visit.

Of course, hearing the noisy din of my extended family all around me, feeling the arms of my best friend enveloping me in a hug, cooking with my mother at her kitchen stove--there is something magical and wonderful and nostalgic about these things. These are the things I used to believe I needed in order to feel at home. My poor husband was tormented by the thought that he could never give me these things, as we knew his career would never enable us to relocate to Rochester. (Believe me, we explored every avenue!) After a few years of riding an emotional see-saw, I came to the realization that I needed to turn my heart over to the Lord and learn to let Him satisfy me where I was. Slowly but surely, God worked in my heart, giving me the ability to find a new sense of home.

Home for me now is the familiar meals that I cook for my husband and children, the smell of freshly baked bread that I’ve kneaded with my own hands, my daughter’s little arms around my neck, the feel of the bed my husband and I share, the smell of my babies after a bath, Sophia’s stuffed animals and Duplo blocks scattered on our living room rug, the view of Mt. Rainier towering over the shimmering lake as I cross the 520 bridge, the scent of pine, picking berries at our favorite local farms, roasted salmon, sharing an impromptu dessert with our downstairs neighbors, blushing golden Rainier cherries purchased on the roadside in the summertime, the cozy patter of rain on the roof as I curl up with my family in our own house, watching a movie and snacking on homemade popcorn.

For the past three and a half years, well meaning friends and family have reminded me during my bouts of homesickness that “Home is where the heart is.” For too long, I tried to split my heart in two. I know some people who can do this successfully, but I have never done well with living in limbo. I need stability, and I need to be whole. Now that I find that my heart is at home here in Washington, with my husband and children, there is a grieving inside me for the home I cannot come back to. Yet, at the end of the grieving, I sense that there will be a peace. Rochester is no longer my home, but it is a nice place to visit, a place full of friends and family, familiar sites, fond memories, and a lot of love. And in my new home, there is family also and friends, sites that grow increasingly familiar, fond memories in the making, and love, and love, and love.

Michaelmas: September 29th

"St. Michael" by Raphael

In the traditional liturgical calendar, September 29th is celebrated as the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. In Britain, the holiday became known as "Michaelmas," since the faithful gathered for "Michael's Mass" on that day. I wrote about St. Michael last year in honor of his feast, if you'd like to learn more about him. In the contemporary calendar, Saints Gabriel and Raphael are also honored on St. Michael's feastday, but in our home, we still call it Michaelmas and focus on the older celebration, which specifically commemorates when St. Michael cast Lucifer out of Heaven.

Here are some ideas for celebrating the holiday in your family:

• Go blackberry picking. Legend has it that when St. Michael cast Satan out of Heaven, the devil fell into a blackberry brier and cursed it. It's supposed to be bad luck to pick blackberries after Michaelmas Day. Where we live in the Pacific Northwest is particularly famous for abundant blackberry crops this time of year. Most grocery stores don't even sell them because people can pick them anywhere--their backyard, a local field, even on the edge of the freeway! We'll certainly be picking some of these delicious berries, complete with story-telling of the legend, and bake a tasty dessert with them to celebrate. I'm toying with the idea of this Blackberry Upside Down Cake, but I may just stick to a tried-and-true lattice-top pie. Can't go wrong with pie.
• Roast a goose! You heard me: goose. If you can get one. And, if you like the taste. Personally, I find it to be an acquired one. Nonetheless, goose and Michaelmas just go together and always have done. For one thing, they were abundant this time of year in the British Isles where Michaelmas was celebrated in style, particularly during the Middle Ages. It was considered to be good luck if your family could afford a goose for the occasion. The bird was also a sort of symbol for St. Michael, seeing as they both have wings. If you can't obtain (or don't wish to obtain) a goose, do consider roasting some sort of poultry for dinner: a chicken or a duck, perhaps.
• In England, St. Michael has long been associated with St. George. St. Michael cast out Satan, who is often depicted as a serpent. St. George was legendarily famous for slaying dragons. The connection is easy to see. Why not gather the family around to enjoy a read aloud of St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. The gorgeous illustrations, reminiscent of medieval illustrated manuscripts, give a historical and liturgical flavor to the tale that is perfect for Michaelmas.
• Talk about St. Michael with your family. Young boys, in particular, seem to be drawn to St. Michael's heroism and position as the commander of God's Heavenly host. Speak about how we, as Christians, are warriors for Christ. Talk about the significance of this calling. Ask each family member to commit to one way in which they can strive to boldly do battle for God's Glory in the coming year.
• Make toy swords with the little boys in your life (this is easily done by cutting out cardboard in the shape of a sword and gluing tinfoil to the "blade" portion). You can fashion some angel wings, too, if you'd like. Let the boys don whatever play armor they've got. Then, let them have at it!
• St. Michael is God's chief warrior against Satan. It is fitting that, on his feast day, we would seek his intercession and protection against the devil's snares in our own lives. Pray that St. Michael would defend you and your loved ones from the temptations of Lucifer, and that he might aid you in your fight as God's warriors. Again, this goes over particularly well with the lads of the household.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host --
by the Divine Power of God --
cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Methodists Host "Theology of the Body" Seminar

I stumbled across this article today, and my heart leaped with excitement! As a passionate advocate of Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, I was thrilled to see that mainstream Protestants are starting to delve into this incredibly timely teaching on human sexuality.

To me, no doctrine on sexuality--the Church's stances on homosexuality, contraception, and sex within marriage, for example--makes sense without the understanding and perspective that Pope John Paul II so perfectly laid out in his Theology three decades ago. In order to form sound doctrines on these issues and enforce them successfully within the Church, we must truly understand what Scripture and God's Natural Laws have to tell us about the big picture of our human sexuality. Otherwise, we will find ourselves, as believers, adrift in the ebb and flow of societal standards and personal instincts regarding sexuality.

The Catholic Church has remained stoically firm in its teaching on sexuality, but I know many Protestant denominations have been tossed to and fro over the past few decades over these issues, and a few have even famously come to schism. The United Methodist Church, in which both my husband and mother grew up, is one such denomination that has been in turmoil over the past couple of decades regarding issues of sexuality. I find it incredibly encouraging that Protestant communities may start to benefit in a large way from the Theology of the Body. It is a blessing for the entire catholic Church.

Avoiding Overexposure

Whenever I tell people that I'm planning to homeschool my children, the second objection I get (after the inevitable "socialization" queries) is how I will expose them to different people and ways of life. Since all the other homeschooling families I presently know in the area are Christian--most of them Catholic--this might be a legitimate objection, but I happen to disagree with the implication that my children will be harmed by not being exposed to "life" in the same way public-schooled children are. After all, is there any "one" way to experience life?

For one thing, I don't believe that homschooled children necessarily lack exposure to various lifestyles and schools of thought. A homeschooled child, for example, may accompany her parents on a mission trip to Mexico or Africa, being exposed to ways of life and thought that are not available to the average public-schooled student. Homeschool co-ops in our area are often comprised of families from the city, suburbs, and rural areas, which means that these homeschool students are being exposed to families from these different locales, as opposed to simply other families who live in their neighborhood. They are also exposed to a wider range of classes and living situations, since they are socializing with children who are not their immediate neighbors.

Homeschooled children are also exposed to a variety of adults, as they accompany their parents in the adult world outside the classroom, exposing them to various age groups. Homeschooled children tend to choose their friends from a broad spectrum of ages, rather than confining their friendships to other children within one year of their own age.

Moreover, since homeschooling parents have more freedom in setting their curricula than the average public-school teacher, they have the freedom to incorporate various lifestyles and ways of thought into the education of their children. For example, whereas many public school educations (particularly at the elementary level) are abysmally lacking in study of the histories of Africa, Asia, and South America, a homeschooling parent could easily incorporate courses on the histories of these continents into the homeschool year. Most public schools do not offer courses in philosophy, but a homeschooled child who is interested in this subject could easily work out a curriculum with his parents that could expose him to the great thinkers from Socrates and Plato to Kant and Nietzsche to Hannah Arendt. Talk about a wide range of thought--and lifestyles!
Finally, however much I might want it to, homeschooling is not going to shield my children from the world in a theological or moral sense. My children are going to know that we live in a fallen world; their theology will tell them that. They will know that there is sin in the world; their own natures will tell them that--and so will mine! They will be exposed to various lifestyles and choices simply because of the relationships and interactions they have with other people.

My parents are divorced. My father committed suicide. We have dear friends who are gay and live with their partners. Many of our friends and family members are or have been engaged in premarital or extramarital sexual relationships. The vast majority use contraception. We have friends and family members who are substance abusers. On the religious side of things, we have friends and family members who come from a wide variety of backgrounds including about a dozen different Christian denominations, as well as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist and Agnositic.

We cannot--nor will we--deny our children access to relationships with these wonderful people simply because they live differently than we. But, we will be purposeful about helping our children to understand these things in relation to God's truth and laws.

My problem is not with exposure but with overexposure. Think about what happens with a photograph. You need a certain amount of light in order to take a picture, but too much light, and the picture will be ruined by overexposure. What happens when you brave the elements without proper gear and know-how? You risk overexposure, which can be deadly.


Something similar happens to our children when they are overexposed. The world our children encounter leaves imprints on their forming characters; we need to see that they are not overexposed during their formative years. Our children will have to go out to face the proverbial elements one day, but we need to make sure that they have the skills and tools necessary to face those "elements" without the danger of overexposure.

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, in her book, For the Children's Sake, says this:

Parents should seek, prayerfully, to become worthy leaders with understanding, wisdom, and love. They should also consider very carefully whether a particular institution—be it school, camp, or other—will be the right place for their child. Children are able to understand that there are many people who do not believe in the framework of God’s morality. We do them no favor if we shield them from the generation in which they must live. But we must tread with extreme care when we hand over to others the delicate task of providing for large chunks of the growing time of our children. (emphasis added)

Do I want to shield my children from the immorality of this world--the brokenness, the hatred, the sin? Yes, on some level, of course I do. No one wants to be exposed to these things, least of all children. Still, I know that I will never be able to shield them entirely, and considering that they must live as responsible citizens of this world, I do not wish to shield them indefinitely. Homeschooling will not shut out the world, but it will give me the ability to reveal the world slowly and appropriately to my children once they have a firm foundation from which they can properly understand the world around them. Then, by God's grace, my children will be able to be in the world but not of it.

Holy Cross Day: What Are These Christians About?

"Crucifixion" by Sandra Boticelli

I read this passage today in the Divine Office at Universalis.com, and I found it so provocative on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I wanted to share it with you all. I hope you find it as thought-provoking and heartening as I did.

What are these Christians about, exalting an instrument of torture?

First, we rejoice that something so terrible should have been transformed into a means of redemption for the whole human race.

Second, we remind ourselves of the fact that Christianity is not an abstract and spiritual religion. It springs from God’s direct intervention in the affairs of the world, a real historical event involving real people and, in the end, a real execution on a real cross.

We may theorise and theologize all we like; but all our theorizings and theologizings are nothing without the history on which they are based. Take away that history – take away the Cross – and Christianity is nonsense.

Please continue praying for Baby Magdalene.

Prayers for Baby Magdalene: Update

Praise God, Baby Magdalene came out of surgery safely today. Thank you so much for all your prayers, but we are asking anyone who is able to continue praying for this family. Here are some prayer request updates (again, I won't go into details for the sake of the family's privacy).

• Thanksgiving for a successful operation.
• Prayers for speedy and safe recovery for Baby.
• Hopefully Baby will be transferred in the next few days to a hospital nearer Mommy and Daddy's home where she will have a private NICU room where her parents can be with her round the clock. Please pray that this transfer will happen soon.
• The family is still waiting for a complete diagnosis of Magdalene's condition. Please pray fervently that there will be no further illnesses or complications. (This is their biggest prayer request at the moment.)
• Thanksgiving that Mommy's family was able to come in from out of town to be with the family during this time.
• Prayers for rest, health, and peace for Mommy and Daddy.
• Thanksgiving for the awesome gift of an incredible faith that Baby Magdalene's parents possess, and prayers for strengthened faith during this difficult period of waiting.
• Prayers for Mommy's comfort post-partum, and that she would soon be freed from any physical pain.
• Prayers that God's Will be done and that this incredible family will be granted all the graces necessary to submit to that Will with joy and peace.

Thank you for your prayers.
St. Mary Magdalene and St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us and especially for Baby Magdalene and her family!
God, thank you for the gift of this precious baby girl.

Prayers for Baby Magdalene

Some very dear friends of ours just gave birth to their first child on Friday, a beautiful baby girl. Unfortunately, Baby Magdalene has an obstructed bowel and needs surgery. She will be in the hospital for at least two weeks. The surgery will take place at 9 AM tomorrow (PST).



Please pray for Baby Magdalene and for her parents. For privacy, I will not be giving out too many details, but here are some ideas if you'd like to pray for specific requests for this family:

• Baby Magdalene's parents are especially invoking the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Therese of Lisieux.
• Thanksgiving for a safe and healthy labor and delivery for Mom and Baby.
• Praise in celebration of Baby Magdalene's life.
• That God might further strengthen the beautiful and vibrant faith of Baby Magdalene's parents through this trial.
• For rest, nutrition, and comfort for Mom during Baby Magdalene's hospital stay.
• For a transfer to a hospital nearer the family's home, which also has individual rooms for NICU patients so that Mom and Dad can spend more time comfortably with their baby girl.
• For strength for Dad so that he can be a true leader and support for Mom during this time.
• For out-of-town grandparents and other relatives, that they might have peace during this time when they cannot be with Baby Magdalene and her parents.

Thank you. Your prayers will be a tremendous blessing to this family.

Holy Cross Day: September 14th

In Latin, the feast celebrated on September 14th is called Exaltatio Sanctae Crucis, which literally means, "Raising Aloft of the Holy Cross". The English call it Holy Cross Day. This feast, the last in the ligurgical calendar before the Autumnal Ember Days, commemorates the finding of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified on Calvary by St. Helena, Empress of Rome, mother of Constantine the Great, in 326.

Theodoret in his Ecclesiastical History, Chapter xvii, gives the most detailed account of the finding of the True Cross:

When the empress beheld the place where the Saviour suffered, she immediately ordered the idolatrous temple [of Venus] , which had been there erected, to be destroyed, and the very earth on which it stood to be removed. When the tomb, which had been so long concealed, was discovered, three crosses were seen buried near the Lord's sepulchre. All held it as certain that one of these crosses was that of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the other two were those of the thieves who were crucified with Him. Yet they could not discern to which of the three the Body of the Lord had been brought nigh, and which had received the outpouring of His precious Blood. But the wise and holy Macarius, the president of the city, resolved this question in the following manner. He caused a lady of rank, who had been long suffering from disease, to be touched by each of the crosses, with earnest prayer, and thus discerned the virtue residing in that of the Saviour. For the instant this cross was brought near the lady, it expelled the sore disease, and made her whole...

She had part of the cross of our Saviour conveyed to the palace. The rest was enclosed in a covering of silver, and committed to the care of the bishop of the city, whom she exhorted to preserve it carefully, in order that it might be transmitted uninjured to posterity."

It is said that the Holy Nails with which Jesus was crucified were found with the Cross. According to some accounts, St. Helena took these back to Rome with her. One story says that she had them incorporated into the helmet and shield of her son, the Emperor.

St. Helena and St. Constantine ordered that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre be built at the site of the discovery. In 335, a two-day festival was conducted to mark the dedication of the Church. The consecration occurred on September 13th, and on the 14th, the Cross was brought outside so that all the faithful gathered could pray before the True Cross on which their Savior died to save them. Can you imagine? It is this date, the date when the faithful were able to venerate, in person, the True Cross, that Holy Cross Day continues to be celebrated.

In 614, the Persians abducted the portion of the Cross that is encased at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The relic remained missing until it was recaptured in 628 by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. A year later, the cross was returned to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Other fragments of the Cross were further broken up and spread widely throughout the Christian world. St. Cyril of Jerusalem wrote of it, "The holy wood of the Cross bears witness, seen among us to this day, and from this place now almost filling the whole world, by means of those who in faith take portions from it."

Unfortunately, this dispersal of the relics led numerous churches to claim that they possessed a part of the True Cross. So widespread was this claim that it led John Calvin to write the following criticism in his Traité Des Reliques:

There is no abbey so poor as not to have a specimen. In some places there are large fragments, as at the Holy Chapel in Paris, at Poictiers, and at Rome, where a good-sized crucifix is said to have been made of it. In brief, if all the pieces that could be found were collected together, they would make a big ship-load. Yet the Gospel testifies that a single man was able to carry it.

Personally, I rather like the vision of small portions of the Cross on which Jesus gave His life for all the world being scattered throughout that world, among all the believers and followers of Christ. Of course, nobody wants to venerate a relic that isn't really a relic, and substituting a fraud is a terrible sacrilige on the part of those churches that have done so throughout the ages. Verifiable relics may be found at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Santa Croce in Rome, Notre Dame in Paris, Pisa Cathedral, and Florence Cathedral, among other places. These by no means constitute the entire cross. No one knows where all the relics may be found. Perhaps that is best. I like to think that they could be anywhere, inspiring believers in the remotest corners of the world, hidden and obscured but still carrying their powerful message of the greatest story ever told.

Here are some ideas for celebrating Holy Cross Day in your family:

• Red is the liturgical color for the day. Why not have the family dress in red? Dress your home with red decorations: perhaps some flowers or a red tablecloth at the dinner table.
• Tell the story of the finding of the True Cross. Discuss what it might have been like to be there all those centuries ago, to find the very cross on which Jesus was crucified.
• Reflecting on the True Cross can help us to recall that these events really and truly happened. They are not just a story. The Cross is not just a metaphor. Jesus really bled and died on a real cross made of real wood. Set aside time today to focus on the significance of this reality. You might consider praying the stations of the cross at your church. Do, at least, take time to pray before an image of the crucified Christ.
• The True Cross was made of olive wood. Why not bring out any items in your home made from olive wood? You might use olive wood serving utensils or bowls at meals, for example. Touching the same kind of wood that the Cross was made from can make Jesus' Passion more viscerally real for us. You might also like to incorporate dishes with olives into your menus for the day.
• Sing hymns that speak about the cross. Some good examples are "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Lift High the Cross," and "Beneath the Cross of Jesus."
• Discuss what the Cross means in your lives. Ask each family member what it means to them that Jesus died on Calvary for their sins.
• Foster discussion about the Cross and Jesus' Passion. Invite your kids to ask the "hard" questions: Why did Jesus have to die? What was crucifixion like? If you don't have the answers, commit to finding them out together with your kids. Write down your questions and ask your parish priest or pastor at the next opportunity.
• Watch The Passion of the Christ. Please note that this movie is very graphic and not appropriate for younger family members.
• Serve foods in the shape of crosses or that are decorated with crosses. Maybe some hot cross buns for breakfast or cross-shaped cookies at tea-time. A cherry pie with a cross cut into the top crust would incorporate both the cross symbolism and red, the liturgical color of the day. Many snackfoods, such as carrot sticks, celery, pretzel rods, and string cheese, can lend themselves to being made into crosses.
• Among Christians in the Middle East, a dish of lentils, eggplant, and pomegranate is traditional served on Holy Cross Day. Here is a recipe that I plan to try with my family this year.
• Legend has it that St. Helena found the burial place of the three crosses because it was marked with a fragrant plot of sweet basil. This would be a great time to use up the last of your basil harvest, perhaps in a dish of pesto!
• Jesus calls us to take up our own cross daily and follow Him. Take some time to share, as a family, what crosses you are carrying. Make sure each member of the family has an opportunity to share. Then, pray for each other. Ask Jesus, by the power of His Cross, to help you as you carry your own crosses in His Name.

Picture credit: The Finding of the True Cross by Agnolo Gaddi