Blessings and Curses

A blessing can look a lot like a curse. A battle can be as mundane as overcoming exhaustion to fold the laundry, and feed the children. Or even harder--speak patiently while doing so!

Today's gospel reading (John 17:12-19) reminds me that the beautiful ideal of Christ's love meets reality in the pots and pans of my life. I can imagine the joy Peter and the other Apostles felt at being among Jesus' chosen intimate friends. But to maintain that joy during their own Crucifixions and deaths. . .blessing and curse.

I have always said that I'd be a great martyr. Give me a lion, or a fire and stake, and I'd do Jesus proud! But He has asked be to grow in holiness through this every day self-denial of children, family responsibilities, and openness to life. It seems a lot harder to me than having the courage to say "I think I'm done on this side." while being roasted to death.

But the good news is I feel fortified for the fight. The laundry may not get folded today (who's idea was it to wash and dry 5 loads in one day?). the floor may not get mopped. Maybe even some of the Wednesday lessons will be held over to Thursday. But I am strengthened to do what I can, show God's love to my family, and smile through the mess, and the joy!

**Mary Catherine is missing from the photo, and Quinn is added.

Ascension Thursday

Seems like it takes a feast Day to get me to post! Happy Ascension Thursday everyone! The kids and I took the day off school (a RARE things in this house--if a Catholic took EVERY feast day off it would be hard to get a school year done in 12 months. But today is a day of Obligation after all.)

We went to Thomas Point Beach with our Homeschool group, released a red heart-shaped balloon to re-create the first ascension, talked a bit about how neat it would be if Jesus came again right now, and scooted to the 4 pm Mass at St Patrick's before trying to hit the time/space wormhole that lets a mother drop 2 children at 2 simultaneous Farm Team games 20 miles apart. Haven't found that one yet. Thalia was late, and MC and John Henry had to wait for us to pick them up.

My new knowledge for the day is that these 9 more day till Pentecost are the foundation of the Catholic tradition of praying certain prayers for particular intentions for 9 days--the Novena. The bible refers to Mary and the Apostles praying and fasting for 9 days after the ascension. Now I don't know if that began on ascension Thursday, or the day after--but on either the ninth day, or the day after the ninth day of prayer, depending, here comes the HOLY SPIRIT. I asked Mary Catherine if she knew the source of Novenas and her response was a carefree "JA MOM! The days between Ascension and Pentecost!" She even quoted the verse! Well call me the ignorant convert! Who Knew?

So tomorrow we will begin our Novena to the Holy Spirit. I don't know what our special intention will be yet. Maybe I'll get some guidance overnight.

I know there is a connection!

First--Happy Feast of Our Lady of Fatima!! If you haven't read about the apparitions at Fatima Portugal you need to. A beautiful example of the simple faith of children, and the wonderful powers of God. I have a tradition of reading Sister Lucia's own account of her first communion to my children before they themselves receive. Wonderful!

The connection I'm looking for is between the feast day, and my successful, and totally exhausting day. It's been sunny, lessons have been done well, laundry washed, folded, and even put away! Healthy lunch and even snacks. Cheese dripping. Phyllo thawing for dinner. Children playing happily outside. Can it get better than this?

I have worked hard, and prayed hard--for my children, for a family who lost their adult daughter, for my husband who is working late into the night--and I feel it in every bone. A good, full bodied tired. A tired that lets me know I am living my vocation to the fullest.

Maybe that is the connection. The children of Fatima, two of whom died young, and one lived her life as a holy nun, lived their vocations to the fullest with the encouragement of Our Lady. It is when I am on my knees (prayer, or physical collapse--doesn't matter) that I can most profoundly feel God's presence, and that of His gentle Mother. In these moments of Homemaking and Mothering fatigue I can look most assuredly to Our Lady for her loving support as I continue on the road to Jesus through this vocation of love, laundry, and laughter.

My Handsome Boy--"Miles Christi sum!"

The God of Details

First Communion with the entire cluster (7 parishes I think) can be frantic. After a school year of teaching a sweet class of 9 students, gathering with over 100 7 and 8 year olds is overwhelming and de-personalizing. To add to the stress, in the rehearsal our class was strewn throughout the mass of children. This was downright painful for the twins, whose Mama Bear Mama was ready to battle for her girls sitting together.

What is a Sacrament Prep teacher to do? Pray, and make some decisions. On the night of the sacraments I just made a new row. A St. Patrick's row. When they began filling up the woman in charge suggested that some of my children move over to even out the rows. I very sweetly said, "No. This is St. Patrick's. They are staying together." This seemed to be enough of an explanation. I felt like a Jedi: "These are not the communicants you're looking for."

So I saw them off in the procession, and sprinted upstairs to supervise the seating. I don't know what I thought I would do, but I stood behind the Knight of Columbus as the children and their sponsors filed into the pews. I especially wanted to make sure the twins were not split between pews.

Here is the Wonderful part.

A pew began with the first girl in my class. It ended with the second twin. The next pew was short because of a column. It ended with the last child in my class.
PERFECT!
Thank you Lord!! Thank you for loving our children so well as to humbly come to them as a little piece of bread, and for taking care of every little detail, including the seating.