tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22141351840311053942024-03-13T00:44:25.919-07:00Slow GoingCatholic: Faith,
Home,
Education,
Culture,
Life . . . . Without
Perfection or Pressure.Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-69137021633111456192020-04-07T20:59:00.001-07:002020-04-08T05:36:57.653-07:00A Spiritual Work of Divine Mercy During the Time of Pestilence<br />
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It is Spring of 2020 and a Pestilence has fallen upon the Earth. The Pestilence is not merely a virus. It encompases the reactions and responses on the part of individuals, governments and other bodies, some fearful, some self-serving, some draconian. It encompasses all the fallout that will result for economies, bodies, and souls. It also encompasses many heroic responses. This is where we come in.<br />
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In an effort to prevent the spread of the virus, isolation has been the foremost weapon employed. Isolation, however, has it's own harmful effects. What is more sad than to think of a loved one dying alone? The only thing I can think of is a loved one - or anyone - dying without hope.<br />
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Because isolation for those who are hospitalized is enforced by hospitals, governments, and even our bishops, many are wholly without the sacraments while lying alone on their deathbeds. This grieves me. I propose we stand in the gap. We cannot provide them with the sacraments, but we can appeal to God's mercy on their behalf. It will do us good, as well as them.<br />
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Christ died that all may be saved. He desires it. His redemptive work is available to be poured out for each person who desires it. Even the thief crucified on His right, the one who recognized in the final hour that he deserved the death he was facing, asked Our Lord "Remember me when you come into your kingdom."<br />
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I propose that we all pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those people dying without the opportunity to receive the Sacraments of Annointing of the Sick and Confession. Pray for those who may not think of their neglected Faith in the last hour because they have been away from the Church. Pray for those who have not had the opportunity to embrace Our Lord's offer of eternal life because there is no one to offer it to them in their most important hour - the hour of their death.<br />
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In The Divine Mercy Chaplet, we appeal to the Father, offering to Him His own divine Son's redemptive work, that it not be made without effect. "For the sake of his sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world." It is an irresistable prayer.<br />
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We do not believe the sacraments are magical. They are real; they effect what they signify. They are not just symbols, they effect what they signify. They were given us by God that we might have abundant life and become son's of God and saints. They cannot be done without. But without them we are. We, the faithful, ought to raise our voices to our heavenly Father, with this irresistable and perfect offering - His beloved Son's passion - to call down mercy on those who are dying alone and all who are in need of mercy.<br />
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We will only really know the true benefit of our prayers when we meet our own end, but I guarantee great good will come of it. Begin today. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet (below the picture) every day or several times a day while the Pestilence lingers upon the earth. Let us stand in prayer with our dying brothers and sisters so they may not die alone and without hope.<br />
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Jesus, I trust in Thee.<br />
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To pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, using a Rosary, pray one Our Father, One Hail Mary, and One Apostles Creed.<br />
On the Our Father beads pray:<br />
"Eternal Father, I offer You the body and blood, soul and divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."<br />
On the Hail Mary beads pray:<br />
"For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."<br />
Then three times: "Holy God, holy Mighty One, holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world"<br />
Then three times: "Jesus, I trust in You."<br />
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-29626531602480476062019-06-29T07:50:00.003-07:002019-06-29T07:50:37.116-07:00What Makes Great Children's Literature Great?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">When it
comes to reading great children’s literature, I’m making up for lost time. I
was not a voracious reader as a child, and my parents, though interested in our
education, left it up to the schools my siblings and I attended. They read to
us at home when we were younger, but it did not endure as we became more active
outside. We enjoyed the happy luxury of being young at a time when children
could safely roam the countryside with friends for hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I am now a
parent, homeschooling my own daughter and enjoying the equally happy luxury of
introducing her - and myself - to many works of great children’s literature. Led
by other parents who have trodden the path before me, I have the pleasure and
responsibility of curating my child’s literary world. And it is an immense and
delightful world.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Children’s
literature may be written-off at first glance as not serious literature. It
resides in the more colorful and potentially sticky section of libraries, which
adults have outgrown. But, it only takes a moment of reflection to realize
there is more to it than its entertainment value or ability to lull a toddler
to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What
makes it literature? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The word
literature can refer to anything from leaflets and printed matter to all the works
written for others to read. Among his definitions, Webster includes, “Writings
in prose or verse, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i>:
writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of
permanent or universal interest.” I think we can all agree on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly, I’m thinking about novels here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Likewise,
when I think of literature for children, I think primarily of longer fiction
and exclude those shorter books that are meant for reading through in one
sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there are always exceptions,
as we shall see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What
makes it great?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Literature,
to be great, whether written for juvenile readers or for adults, must be well
constructed. The writing must be good, not just technically, but crafted with a
clarity of expression that elicits image, action and emotion in mind of the
reader. It must be enjoyable to read and continue to please upon repeated
readings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">A truly
great work of literary art will draw the reader into the world of the story,
rather than leaving him as an observer. The story involves a complexity that
makes this world and its inhabitants believable and multi-dimensional. This
world must reveal organic unity, so that it not only makes logical sense, but involve
multiple layers, nuance and even surprise.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEiumCxgKwLcmbENb9wv6vLPlXlVQM-TWiZpgXMbbjcaUA57y8cce58TJWOBvmErcBfSr5d_bHMPMY6qrVnizdkYTzbSJoxxeKoE2kn2lAgMV8jpXJdTRxwD-5ecp4nWmK1dbsRu1Rqys/s1600/180745_900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEiumCxgKwLcmbENb9wv6vLPlXlVQM-TWiZpgXMbbjcaUA57y8cce58TJWOBvmErcBfSr5d_bHMPMY6qrVnizdkYTzbSJoxxeKoE2kn2lAgMV8jpXJdTRxwD-5ecp4nWmK1dbsRu1Rqys/s400/180745_900.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jørgen Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Girl Reading, c.1900</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It will
invite the reader to grapple with universal human problems, ideas, feelings,
and experiences. Ultimately, great literature (and great art of any kind) puts
the reader in contact with the good, the true, and the beautiful, even if it
has to be teased out through contemplation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What
makes it children’s?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This may
seem obvious because we generally know when a work is for children, as opposed
to adults. But when you try to put a finger on it, you’ll find there’s more to
it than just bright pictures or happy tales about kids. Just as I did, all the
book-loving parents I consulted, had to make a second attempt at this
distinction. Much discussion helped us focus on those things that truly matter
in distinguishing a work as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">children’s,</i>
versus general, literature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It is often
the case that a book written for children will have children as the protagonists.
But, they may also be animals, as in “Charlotte’s Web,” “Black Beauty,” or “Wind
in the Willows.” Characters might also include mythical creatures, as is the
case in The Chronicles of Narnia. What is crucial is that human adults are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> the primary actors and the story
world is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> the real-life world of
adult concerns.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzVnBxAiupK26w47P9rVgzf_3aeFAERPbop-zg39wBGyAmdVQxjqtyKTWZVcP3ihcdIQBb-dbagAKYz3oXjaIo2dULlQOglXmRacMCYGq7BKzIxhR3-gBH4DHEKfG6Y7zvtNMiaxQPb7t/s1600/alice-in-wonderland-john-tenniel-via-wikimedia-2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="759" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzVnBxAiupK26w47P9rVgzf_3aeFAERPbop-zg39wBGyAmdVQxjqtyKTWZVcP3ihcdIQBb-dbagAKYz3oXjaIo2dULlQOglXmRacMCYGq7BKzIxhR3-gBH4DHEKfG6Y7zvtNMiaxQPb7t/s640/alice-in-wonderland-john-tenniel-via-wikimedia-2.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Tenniel illustration (Public domain)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I might
mention, as a contrast, a book whose protagonist is a child, but is decidedly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> a work of children’s literature:
Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” The point of view is that of the boy, Oliver,
but the world is one of adult issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Another
thing that distinguishes children’s literature from adults’ is that, while it
must contain enough complexity to be interesting, it will be scaled down to the
developmental level of the target audience without being trite. The themes
should never be about matters inappropriate for children. The vocabulary may be
more accessible to younger readers. This is somewhat relative, however, as may
be noticed when older children’s classics are considered alongside even adult
books of today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">While a
great work will usually bring about growth in the young reader, those that
become favorites are not pedantic nor didactic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The author gets down to the eye level with the child reader. What child
would wish to open a book just to find another adult telling them what he must
do and think? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Children want to have adventures, contemplate great thoughts, and
yes, be entertained – just as adults do. These are all possible in a truly good
children’s book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can
children’s literature be great?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
greatness of some children’s books is apparent at the time of publication, but
it is only confirmed over time. As the reader grows older, the book still
speaks to her. It stands up to many readings (a mercy when parents are called
on to read it again and again to children), remaining fresh and enjoyable each
time. The title will remain beloved over many generations. A book that
contemplates perennial human issues will always speak to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Some works
of children’s fiction that have remained universally beloved over time include
Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” The “Little House” books by Laura Ingalls
Wilder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Jungle Book” and “Captains
Courageous” by Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” “The
Hobbit,” and Hans Christian Anderson’s stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The list could go on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Though I
originally limited my definition of children’s literature to novels, several
books and authors demanded exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A.
A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” is truly a poetic, philosophical work that touches
even adults with wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert McCloskey
combined his illustrations and stories in picture books (“Blueberries for Sal,”
“One Morning in Maine,” and others) that tenderly capture very real moments of
childhood, and seal them in the hearts of the children and adults who have read
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Another
anomaly among great children’s books is the series of Freddy the Pig books by
Walter R. Brooks. The characters include talking animals as well as people. The
writing is masterful. The plots are dizzyingly complex. The missing element is
that there is a complete lack of grappling with big ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, I can’t bring myself to drop them from
the list. What they lack in philosophy, they make up for in comic genius.
Brooks is the P.G. Wodehouse of children’s literature.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Time
will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Not every
book that makes a splash at the time of publication will endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consulted the list of all Newbery Medal
winners (from the first in 1922) and noted that I was not familiar with the
majority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may have spoken to the
voting committee of their time, but failed to remain in the hearts of readers
over the long haul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">A better
indication of the best children’s books is parents who grew up with them looking
forward to reading them to their children, not only to share them with the
child, but to enjoy them again themselves. Great books never really get old,
and, in fact, can be enjoyed by adults even without sharing them with children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
parents I canvassed on this question, described those books they would consider
great, or classics, using phrases such as, “perennially interesting,” “made a
big impact,” “stood the test of time,” and “get more from it with each
reading.” It is much the same with adult classics, but all the more remarkable
that they can be both formative for a child and also meaningful to an adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Popularity
isn’t always reliable.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">There are
some books that endure and are enjoyed readily by children for several
generations, but are not particularly great. These often come in long series of
non-sequential books, like the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, The Boxcar Children
mysteries or the Famous Five series. The writing is simply not the stuff of
greatness. They are not bad, but they are merely formulaic entertainment. A fun
read. They don’t hold up because of their greatness, but because children with
voracious reading appetites must be fed books continually!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Other good
books sometimes fall into neglect as well. They may go out of fashion for a
time and become hard to find. I am astonished by the number of wonderful books
I have discovered through friends that I had never heard of! The Swallows and
Amazons series is an example. First published in England in 1930, it has
remained a favorite in the U.K., but did not have as big an impact in the U.S.
until recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Future of great children’s literature.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">There is
no reason to worry that the output of truly great children’s literature will
come to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many promising
new authors whose books meet the qualifications and are gaining a following
among children and their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kate
de Camillo, as an example, has been writing books since 2000. Her stories, “The
Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” and “The Tale of Despereaux” are just two
of her moving novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Another
new author within the same timeframe is Grace Lin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her series, “Where the Mountain Meets the
Moon” is a masterful feat of story-telling. Woven through with Chinese
Folklore, and elegantly written, her books seem to be from a former era. Her
illustrations are worthy of framing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suspect they will have a lasting impact as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I’ll close
with the words of a wise, book-loving friend who contributed to the discussion
distilled here “Great books become a part of who the child is and of the
scaffolding which helps the child understand his or her world, to grapple with
human nature, and divine nature, and the big, important questions that children
are just beginning to be aware of.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnWVhxXnKaGxVCrQ-YjiSLBjEvmpQUmlPSMM31-OrXMA5E8vm2q4Vzs0ZDWB4onk7Eh_AQJN47Bn543zlM3SO8FZAkAfOHnaIrOIFOLLYCy2eFVuoK-yV9ZOCwhjzZCDst74FD6sM_F6f/s1600/2338f719-e034-488e-8428-1908d417b7f9_1.671e157d13dcc2db7ff5af812ae22482.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnWVhxXnKaGxVCrQ-YjiSLBjEvmpQUmlPSMM31-OrXMA5E8vm2q4Vzs0ZDWB4onk7Eh_AQJN47Bn543zlM3SO8FZAkAfOHnaIrOIFOLLYCy2eFVuoK-yV9ZOCwhjzZCDst74FD6sM_F6f/s640/2338f719-e034-488e-8428-1908d417b7f9_1.671e157d13dcc2db7ff5af812ae22482.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walter Firle "Story Time" 1912</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I wrote the original article for The Epoch Times: <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/what-makes-great-childrens-literature-great_2880967.html">https://www.theepochtimes.com/what-makes-great-childrens-literature-great_2880967.html</a><br />
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-65093276365571262772019-04-26T18:21:00.001-07:002019-04-27T10:48:09.513-07:00Do YOU Want To Be a Happier Parent? Have I Got a Book for You!<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Raising children isn’t as easy as it looks in those soft-focus
magazine and television ads. I think it might be some kind of ruse designed to
bamboozle us into peopling the earth (and buying all the products for it). Actual
children are messy, unreasonable, and they’re around for such a long time! It turns out it takes more than absorbent
paper towel and animal shaped multi-vitamins to raise good kids! It takes happy,
loving parents.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s the rare parents, however, who don’t admit they’re in over
their heads upon the arrival of their first bundle of joy. To get through this
extreme sport known as parenting, it is essential to seek out the commiseration
and encouragement of fellow parents-in-the-trenches to compare scars, swap
tactics, and share a whole mess of humorous anecdotes. And also to remind us what our goal is in
this crazy endeavor: eternal happiness for the whole family.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWRgNpLFaAD0ua-RTkoX71sVIBNyudS7UzosP_G-kVFTNM8TsiyU6dNYAOKeYAHpktRTkuvF0DHXfgFJ5_9cvZp-xOzmpZWV8l9zcAHM0cmxJ9ikKgLJPNkNC_M6gu6ugjqHBH3BOC2kj/s1600/DSC_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWRgNpLFaAD0ua-RTkoX71sVIBNyudS7UzosP_G-kVFTNM8TsiyU6dNYAOKeYAHpktRTkuvF0DHXfgFJ5_9cvZp-xOzmpZWV8l9zcAHM0cmxJ9ikKgLJPNkNC_M6gu6ugjqHBH3BOC2kj/s640/DSC_0348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I have the just the thing for you! I recently read Betsy Kerekes’
new book, </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><a href="https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/be-a-happier-parent-or-laugh-trying?fbclid=IwAR3l0kfpUAIVF9sqaNvVlhUcZyQJRTFjzbL-8hAmLOQJT73L23Qr21WPlTg" target="_blank">Be a Happier Parent or Laugh Trying</a></i></span><span style="color: black;">. You may know Betsy from her
humorous blog, </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://parentingisfunny.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Parenting is Funny</a></span><span style="color: black;">, or from
the two books she co-wrote with Jennifer Roeback Morse,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714460/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=p0b0d-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594714460&linkId=5b1588e25fa623188cb9f08cdb589cfb" target="_blank"> </a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714460/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=p0b0d-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594714460&linkId=5b1588e25fa623188cb9f08cdb589cfb" target="_blank">101 Tips for a Happier Marriage</a></i></span><span style="color: black;"> and </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/101-Tips-Marrying-Right-Person/dp/1594716714/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1470170949&sr=8-2&keywords=betsy+kerekes&linkCode=sl1&tag=p0b0d-20&linkId=e9feb1373da5e75375d61139dda593c6" target="_blank">101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person</a></i></span><span style="color: black;">. Betsy is flying solo this time -
and she was tipsy when she wrote this book too! (It contains more tips than the
apron of the prettiest bar maid at Oktoberfest.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's clear that she’s a happy, fun person (Betsy, not the bar
maid), who followed the advice from her previous books. It's not that she
comes across as the perfect wife and mom, nor is she preachy and
didactic. In fact, many of the pro tips that pack this slim volume were
gleaned from her myriad mom friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
shares her struggles and successes with a healthy dose of humility and humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, maybe it’s more a gluttonous dose of
humor – because, it’s huge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I guarantee, by a few chapters in, you will feel like you’re
sitting in her kitchen, enjoying coffee with the author, sharing parenting
stories, while your children play (or bicker) with hers nearby. The writing is
conversational and encouraging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We can all use a little more encouragement these days when it’s so
easy to feel like a failure if you can’t keep up with the “perfect” example of
those moms we see on television, blogs, and magazines. You know, the examples
they save to show the public for our emulation – even though hey probably
don’t live up to it either. Betsy is refreshingly real. While she does give examples
from her own successful experiences, she shares her failures as well. She never
comes across as superciliously saying, “Just do it like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> do; it’s so easy!” This is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>
an instruction manual.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each of the ten chapters is headed with an inspiring quotation
from a saint. It’s just one of the things that make apparent Betsy’s
goal of not merely curating a fun-filled family environment, but of helping us to
build a happy family in the truest sense. Aristotle names happiness as our
ultimate goal and virtue as the means to get there. Kerekes leads us through
various ways to grow in virtue as a parent and help our kids do so as well, and
always with the purpose of reaching our true end of eternal happiness – as well as
daily happiness gleaned from a loving, peaceful household.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are chapters that focus on having fun, dealing with tears
(yours as well as your kids’), discipline, the frustration of trying to keep an
orderly house, teenagers, matters of faith, and gaining help from the saints.
She shares a couple of additional essays on the heartbreak of infertility and
the loss of children. As a mother raising four kids, she has experienced her
share of all of these topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
irrepressibly positive attitude has carried her through difficulties and is
uplifting to read.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a good deal of wisdom behind her cheery words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the pages of this little book, you will learn
the housekeeping secret of “The Magic Chair” and of allowing angry kids slam
doors. Betsy comes across as sort of a phlegmatic version of Mary Poppins
steeped in Saint John Paul II’s teaching of respect for the dignity of the
human person.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the approach of Mother’s Day <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> Father’s Day, this is a book to consider getting for yourself,
your spouse, and anyone who has or is contemplating having kids any time in the
future. You can even give it to your parish priest, because he can see from the
pulpit the parents who might benefit from such a book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It may take more than animal shaped multi-vitamins and absorbent
paper towel to raise real life kids. This little book will give you a spiritual
multi-vitamin pick-me-up to face your family with a renewed sense of happiness
and humor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/be-a-happier-parent-or-laugh-trying?fbclid=IwAR3l0kfpUAIVF9sqaNvVlhUcZyQJRTFjzbL-8hAmLOQJT73L23Qr21WPlTg" target="_blank">Be a Happier Parent or Laugh Trying</a> (Our Sunday Visitor)<br />
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By Betsy Kerekes</div>
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-40385484806257403002019-04-02T12:49:00.001-07:002019-04-03T06:17:28.546-07:00The Waking Beauty Around Me: A Photo Essay<div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are times I wish I could hibernate like the chipmunks. Those times are called Winter. I know many people love the brutal brumal season - but part of me drifts off to slumber with the bleak, cold, somnolent, natural world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't even reside where the Winter is harsh. It's not the snow; that's pretty! Besides, here in the South snow signals a play day. No slogging to work over </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">slushy roads or slipping on</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> icy sidewalks here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's the dreary absence of greenery and visible life that brings on this seasonal torpor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That is why I love what I love about Spring. Verdant Spring. The wakening world around me rouses and blinks. The warming sun resuscitates nature as she breathes and pulses anew with life. Vitality is restored to our surrounding woods and fields. The trees are atwitter with avian friends marrying and home-making.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Creation reveals the full pallate of the Artist, stroke by stroke. First the daffodils emerge, trumpeting, "Wake up! The time has arrived!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yBU9DS1c7EjKHwDgdVmIL00cXqulxmWiRKKOGlBOOZIrWvlXqz3zOJNVUNjiToHA9eKRWWlG4UjaXTyAEEBzaeOGMRu3hOIJ9JeDNMexudfAXMl7V2YYrLWwPMSFfHrhW5Hb0ucjJx0g/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yBU9DS1c7EjKHwDgdVmIL00cXqulxmWiRKKOGlBOOZIrWvlXqz3zOJNVUNjiToHA9eKRWWlG4UjaXTyAEEBzaeOGMRu3hOIJ9JeDNMexudfAXMl7V2YYrLWwPMSFfHrhW5Hb0ucjJx0g/s640/DSC_0644.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking down, the greening ground unsheaths individual blades, answering the call of rain and sun. Clover waves its resemblence to its triune Creator.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqCny4pihJu90eq1v9NWL98BU-G3qTQkR6D597QqrJIJ39o45DNBnoXng9Cp4tCTt82VvytIlck9EHUfEFLqC9_Mn_pNL5fULkqCqfxfyHFX0Mz8lKvttHMxoB0W7Q66S-hab7VBXFyE6/s1600/DSC_0312+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqCny4pihJu90eq1v9NWL98BU-G3qTQkR6D597QqrJIJ39o45DNBnoXng9Cp4tCTt82VvytIlck9EHUfEFLqC9_Mn_pNL5fULkqCqfxfyHFX0Mz8lKvttHMxoB0W7Q66S-hab7VBXFyE6/s640/DSC_0312+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The green swath becomes the canvas sky on which tiny stars are painted.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CCGbgTAQerwnX1Yg9cBxRFYh6b0fytdwKQrUxeSJHrwFwzl8G3RniWx6XAt3qehs6M02RL2M-8z9kQJO87mCeslCLZb7-bKRzXFrswtcq_Cw9W4ZsH91HwPLqXC-gI4p1pmh_aM6OfwE/s1600/DSC_0219+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CCGbgTAQerwnX1Yg9cBxRFYh6b0fytdwKQrUxeSJHrwFwzl8G3RniWx6XAt3qehs6M02RL2M-8z9kQJO87mCeslCLZb7-bKRzXFrswtcq_Cw9W4ZsH91HwPLqXC-gI4p1pmh_aM6OfwE/s640/DSC_0219+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And firework thistles explode.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDpSMvRhO7yAFQQVIzHH7bYLtFIW8MZ-1mNqSY7plXDdVb7c7ncjcDlYsE28X2YE8gxPvYchBAvy_bpalcM2fYakb1mDmHBPZCgKH3OoZhf7AHMyhzUw2CZ7L-O772l0oenf9MvdRyqIw/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDpSMvRhO7yAFQQVIzHH7bYLtFIW8MZ-1mNqSY7plXDdVb7c7ncjcDlYsE28X2YE8gxPvYchBAvy_bpalcM2fYakb1mDmHBPZCgKH3OoZhf7AHMyhzUw2CZ7L-O772l0oenf9MvdRyqIw/s640/DSC_0216.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The silent earth, thawing, releases a choir of peepers, hidden in the wetland.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgu8jdGtaB1HLRl6v4urvb0GkTtDBZVTRPkqzgRpBJkdxeD9dzw3qryG9KNU0YH8KOp4dHTna411wGNt1MVjtRXiAo1HFAKOzJvTwXICG7glA-aHC4beNtrKawNcNGuwpRsYR82nyDIwV/s1600/DSC_0212+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgu8jdGtaB1HLRl6v4urvb0GkTtDBZVTRPkqzgRpBJkdxeD9dzw3qryG9KNU0YH8KOp4dHTna411wGNt1MVjtRXiAo1HFAKOzJvTwXICG7glA-aHC4beNtrKawNcNGuwpRsYR82nyDIwV/s640/DSC_0212+%25282%2529.JPG" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Puddle ducks dabble in the abundant mud.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8am51GRf6xcMxYLDukPZp-cIK5AXljGrTD0QcSklz-Ex-alIiyqCJo1fv-cco5NSGlx7wqlFNeIPvzsBs7rApkvils4ONSNv4PI5GslpWoQV0nQr39I33XKd0dym72SrJU7BxHCPKZFT/s1600/DSC_0206+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8am51GRf6xcMxYLDukPZp-cIK5AXljGrTD0QcSklz-Ex-alIiyqCJo1fv-cco5NSGlx7wqlFNeIPvzsBs7rApkvils4ONSNv4PI5GslpWoQV0nQr39I33XKd0dym72SrJU7BxHCPKZFT/s640/DSC_0206+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Marshy streams of sky on earth reflect the sun-blue heavens above.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhweXRZdPTpBZijm19GIOgRWELJ2lnsdrtQXUQan5knv1oKPBqMJCOtqOqP7NngPkgdCayqIXIp0RPZrOsdYqZQHQIf6zxccCSvWrn1AnD2w9ycf_KvQdXxxCpuqDwPmR3RI9n0noG8YH/s1600/DSC_0213+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhweXRZdPTpBZijm19GIOgRWELJ2lnsdrtQXUQan5knv1oKPBqMJCOtqOqP7NngPkgdCayqIXIp0RPZrOsdYqZQHQIf6zxccCSvWrn1AnD2w9ycf_KvQdXxxCpuqDwPmR3RI9n0noG8YH/s640/DSC_0213+%25282%2529.JPG" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking up, trees stretch their empty limbs toward the brightening, scattering clouds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdsMlH-tlJEhsqJxnfbmLRY6LzePRnW9tnVCNkw72i4Oh37Q2LUb9iTVp_XgtAJQiGhtz1saSITf0_coAoNmUiK9pYOvPU0s_MLb2KHCJZJeB8gETG_zDyllkXW0r7Yh8wBvsGpnMOGS6/s1600/DSC_0313+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdsMlH-tlJEhsqJxnfbmLRY6LzePRnW9tnVCNkw72i4Oh37Q2LUb9iTVp_XgtAJQiGhtz1saSITf0_coAoNmUiK9pYOvPU0s_MLb2KHCJZJeB8gETG_zDyllkXW0r7Yh8wBvsGpnMOGS6/s640/DSC_0313+%25282%2529.JPG" width="612" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sap rises. Limbs limber, warm up, and sprout!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-FFkiGrv2oxbcOIU84TKkTP3-eHlhiP-atW0hanHt8j631551Qfyo_-lxOqszv92mxKDHrONGC4ZeI-sOhwWs-dbMqhnZqigw9jOzIeb9DU4T714Ct59q-DYmA7my2g3Z1UpguFfaBxs/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-FFkiGrv2oxbcOIU84TKkTP3-eHlhiP-atW0hanHt8j631551Qfyo_-lxOqszv92mxKDHrONGC4ZeI-sOhwWs-dbMqhnZqigw9jOzIeb9DU4T714Ct59q-DYmA7my2g3Z1UpguFfaBxs/s640/DSC_0309.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finger branches tingle with bursting life. The return of the leaves!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkWLbmDk-FR_0tDcjS9DUgz-Cm7Pyt2o1Fx0rUuvox6Ki6wmA3b9ZXBILGx8s5KYdux5MdgVwO4MoM-TZ6LDzuIHdPLUzipa2M3o7g3hRfMlFdrY_dyP5u68x5Og9kHswll0SQVPYgSnU/s1600/DSC_0320+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkWLbmDk-FR_0tDcjS9DUgz-Cm7Pyt2o1Fx0rUuvox6Ki6wmA3b9ZXBILGx8s5KYdux5MdgVwO4MoM-TZ6LDzuIHdPLUzipa2M3o7g3hRfMlFdrY_dyP5u68x5Og9kHswll0SQVPYgSnU/s640/DSC_0320+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And my little neighbor wakes to come celebrate with me once again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2C-RGjATVJ_XC-325ibKjGYgJHajTJ6YXGkQszoOfHhpfbqwCMgcJNrmOytbOBKl50yIc7KRoxmP9pmRwXv9-EJT49PeJskLycdE1qwAsh3J4WALulse2XL9N8fmJLJQI9Es98vIvE2H/s1600/IMG_8225+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1519" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2C-RGjATVJ_XC-325ibKjGYgJHajTJ6YXGkQszoOfHhpfbqwCMgcJNrmOytbOBKl50yIc7KRoxmP9pmRwXv9-EJT49PeJskLycdE1qwAsh3J4WALulse2XL9N8fmJLJQI9Es98vIvE2H/s640/IMG_8225+%25282%2529.JPG" width="604" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Spring, my small friend!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All photos and words by Susannah Pearce</span><br />
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Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-15777648956252046132019-03-13T20:18:00.001-07:002019-03-13T20:18:50.151-07:00Only the Heart Sees Rightly<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes this is true. A picture comes
in handy when seeking a suspect in a crime. If all they posted on the “Most
Wanted” board at the post office was a thousand words describing the ne’er-do-well,
it would be significantly less likely to be noticed. The concepts of Geometry
would be really difficult to grasp without pictures. There is a reason Ikea
assembly instructions are mainly laid out in pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But,
while it may be true in these cases that a picture is worth a great many words,
it is not merely a matter of bookkeeping (1 picture = 1,000 words). There are
times when only words will do. It is, in fact, mildly ironic that the phrase,
“a picture is worth a thousand words”, gets across a point in seven succinct
words that would be difficult to make with a picture!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone
who has looked through an old family photo album knows the frustration of
turning over a photograph in the hope of finding the subjects of the snapshot
identified, and finding it blank. How then can we make sense of the picture
without the words?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing the Picture<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
well written passage in a good work of literature that describes scenery can
convey something more about the place than can be captured in many photographs.
I have never been to Norway, but reading Norwegian author Sigrid Undset’s
novels, set in her native country, has made me long to go to this land where
the breathtaking and dramatic landscape has shaped the history and cultural
character of the people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Willa
Cather has done the same for Santa Fe, New Mexico in her brilliant work, “Death
Comes for the Archbishop”. If I am ever fortunate enough to visit, I will feel
a familiarity and connection with these places because the authors have invited
me into their love for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVmTBcYqCHe-OJvOmw3F_7uDx_AsoeCalsagS5KwLlHA9oFUb1BGVvdNkP5nN72W2JFZ7PShlv-_Mum6M-q26DUJhoQkiKSO39cb-yZA5spekFJAqOz2F1FJzUe8E3vi5H5nd7y0ro-rF/s1600/53671941_580719779109478_5489460914346262528_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="960" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVmTBcYqCHe-OJvOmw3F_7uDx_AsoeCalsagS5KwLlHA9oFUb1BGVvdNkP5nN72W2JFZ7PShlv-_Mum6M-q26DUJhoQkiKSO39cb-yZA5spekFJAqOz2F1FJzUe8E3vi5H5nd7y0ro-rF/s640/53671941_580719779109478_5489460914346262528_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Fe landscape. Photo by Janelle Ortega</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poems
too can convey vivid images that a picture could not capture. Take, for
instance, William Wordsworth’s poem, “Daffodils.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
wandered lonely as a cloud<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That
floats on high o'er vales and hills,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
all at once I saw a crowd,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
host, of golden daffodils;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beside
the lake, beneath the trees,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fluttering
and dancing in the breeze.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuous
as the stars that shine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
twinkle on the milky way,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They stretched
in never-ending line<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along
the margin of a bay:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ten
thousand saw I at a glance,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tossing
their heads in sprightly dance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
waves beside them danced; but they<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out-did
the sparkling waves in glee:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
poet could not but be gay,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
such a jocund company:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
gazed—and gazed—but little thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What
wealth the show to me had brought:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For
oft, when on my couch I lie<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
vacant or in pensive mood,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
flash upon that inward eye<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which
is the bliss of solitude;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
then my heart with pleasure fills,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And dances
with the daffodils.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
a mere 153 words, the poet conjures up in the reader’s mind more than simply an
image of some daffodils - more even than the whole scene he saw. He seems to
magically offer to the reader the happy feeling the scene brought about in him.
With words, he causes a spring breeze to cool the reader’s cheek. No wonder his
name is Wordsworth!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96drhyphenhypheno8UBTAirDQ4EDRY_C-mqXEdbiNXk0UIqXQrjn-rf-cisrsvrynGA9aEjKhS9DAUQQnYPi1KkUIL0x5E7s9Z2a4disGTRyEg1MI_Rhx5qh9DdTl4E8Jui3dWNBpPm0_ojoPDeCkf/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96drhyphenhypheno8UBTAirDQ4EDRY_C-mqXEdbiNXk0UIqXQrjn-rf-cisrsvrynGA9aEjKhS9DAUQQnYPi1KkUIL0x5E7s9Z2a4disGTRyEg1MI_Rhx5qh9DdTl4E8Jui3dWNBpPm0_ojoPDeCkf/s400/DSC_0644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Susannah Pearce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poetry
consists of words - with a weird magic, much like the way an optical illusion
boggles the visual senses. Or a great work of art transcends a mere diagram of
the same scene. What gives them this mysterious quality?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
think the answer is found in the most memorable passage of Antoine de
Saint-Exupéry’s strange and beautiful novella, “The Little Prince”: “It is only
with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the
eye.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Wise Fox<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These
wise words were said to the little prince by the fox that had asked the prince to
tame him – and was now, as a result, sad to have to say good-bye. What is essential
is the relationship – the ritual and care - that had transformed them both when
the fox had been tamed by the boy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
gives a deep quality to their vision, by which they see each other differently
than they see all other boys and all other foxes. It is the mutual caretaking
of what lies between the two that sparks to life something that did not
previously exist in either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzekRpKRv12vKuy3ss8zyc70f4dbmnwNvDZUYH965TvROvlZQTikLq8UWgA-7Z3YdlzBsC1dV1OMkqDxrJK9BDzKm9bMxYSD6GDQGrlzvCL20vSQ3WOzuuYcFfNGvszOdCrOViltNPUDpf/s1600/DSC_0050+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1600" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzekRpKRv12vKuy3ss8zyc70f4dbmnwNvDZUYH965TvROvlZQTikLq8UWgA-7Z3YdlzBsC1dV1OMkqDxrJK9BDzKm9bMxYSD6GDQGrlzvCL20vSQ3WOzuuYcFfNGvszOdCrOViltNPUDpf/s640/DSC_0050+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paage from "The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Photo by Susannah Pearce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Transformed by a Spark<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
spark of life also transforms words from description into poetry. The scene
inspires the poet, whose careful attention and work “tames the scene”, giving
it a meaning it did not previously possess when it was not his. The poet becomes
responsible for the version of the scene, which captured his imagination and he
translated onto paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
can be the same with a painting. The exact rendering and balanced composition in
a work of art is not the only thing that makes it an object of beauty. It is
often wrongly said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder – as if beauty is
merely an opinion. In reality, beauty is, in a way, in the heart of the
beholder. And what is in the heart of the beholder is a recognition of the
beauty that actually exists in the thing. The appreciation of this objective
beauty makes the artist more than he was – and he makes the scene into a new
thing – his thing - on canvas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Delight in Beauty</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An
artist or poet then invites the beholder of his work to share in this weird
magic. It is felt by the reader or viewer as delight – a sort of tickle deep in
the heart. That is what good poetry and great art do. They enfold the observer
in the embrace of the original relationship and the beauty recognized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That
there is in us the capacity for delight is itself a bit of magic. Why should
our hearts tickle at the sight of, the memory of, or another person’s account
of beauty? What beautiful relationship are we being enfolded into? Where does
this magic come from?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGS8Mj_RmmoTwuVC48TXG7UqBnLginCTntIxrZey5mI_M2sih0heiYg2NKdlpBKnLUmxwBF18tzA2Eg7xfXoTbljJu_eQo0soNWQci673zJ43noxEMbd7iagrHUagKXp4wpkyqu3bHEt3/s1600/mother+child+levy+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="495" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGS8Mj_RmmoTwuVC48TXG7UqBnLginCTntIxrZey5mI_M2sih0heiYg2NKdlpBKnLUmxwBF18tzA2Eg7xfXoTbljJu_eQo0soNWQci673zJ43noxEMbd7iagrHUagKXp4wpkyqu3bHEt3/s640/mother+child+levy+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mother and Chile" By Emile Levy (1826 - 1890) (Public Domain)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
do not create it ourselves. Think of a mother delighting in her baby. She smiles
at him and her smile causes the delighted baby to smile, which increases her
delight in him. All of creation resounds with the creation and cultivation of a
divine poet. The Poet of perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Words
well composed are sometimes worth a great deal more than a picture. They allow
us to participate in the poetry of creation <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This article was first published on <a href="https://theepochtimes.com/only-the-heart-sees-rightly_2818238.html" target="_blank">The Epoch Times</a>.</span></span></div>
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<br /><br />
Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-31242924178964022242018-08-13T12:19:00.000-07:002018-08-14T07:17:15.354-07:00The Lady Vanishes: The Great Value of Invisible Motherhood<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Years ago, we were watching a 1946, black and white movie
co-starring a talented young actress. Someone recognized her from
one other movie, and commented that she seemed to have just disappeared after
that. It's not an unusual comment, but that time, the word
"disappeared" bothered me and set me thinking about how our
superficial culture values visibility. Disappeared? The
assumption is that since audiences never saw her on the silver screen again, it
was clear that her career as an actress had fizzled. She had failed
in Hollywood. She was a nobody. Poor girl.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">But, as a new wife and mother myself, that attitude of our culture
wasn’t good enough for me. I suggested that the actress hadn’t
failed; she had likely achieved what was, for her, a better and sought after
position, for which she happily traded the fun of her acting stint and hope of
future riches. She probably got married and raised a family. She had weighed her options and chose the better portion – for her. While
it’s true that some actresses of that time were able to do both, the 1940s and
‘50s were a time when being what is now called a “stay-at-home mother” was seen
as the norm. Hollywood often made women choose between stardom and
motherhood through <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/classic-hollywood-abortion" target="_blank">violent</a> end to pregnancy.* Hollywood
has never been kind to women.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our society tells us we must be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seen</i> succeeding
to matter. This supposed scandal of invisibility reveals not only a
grossly self-centered sense of importance in the viewer – if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> can’t see
you, you don’t really matter – but also the lie that our own most important
audience is that of our peers. Naturally we come across this in the
celebrity culture; being noticed is what celebrity is all about. But
celebrity based on ethereal appearance, momentary popularity, outrageous
behavior is not what really gives us importance – or dignity. It is
a lie to believe that we are important only to the extent that others admire us
for how we appear or what we do. Our human dignity <i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">does</i> reside
in an image, but it lies in the fact that we are made in the image of God. And He is our most important audience.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This great source of dignity surpasses our visibility to our peers. The
dignity of each human person is to be respected, whether that person is a movie
star, a stay at home mother, a billionaire, a person living on the street, a
sports hero, a prison inmate, a monk, or the tiniest child hidden in a womb.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzKRygliXyh8OuvtEBpNIfddEtPvrYZQHQ7YAWLhgkiyT6hN_FkN7qXrhOyq0ttb1AUdMifzwVmxfRqCGw0uCFyIo7cStUXUBAZ5_A_yD7SDCpnskPpdKysn69Zbj0DS9MnEjeM3Kh8rM/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzKRygliXyh8OuvtEBpNIfddEtPvrYZQHQ7YAWLhgkiyT6hN_FkN7qXrhOyq0ttb1AUdMifzwVmxfRqCGw0uCFyIo7cStUXUBAZ5_A_yD7SDCpnskPpdKysn69Zbj0DS9MnEjeM3Kh8rM/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Dolores Hart now and as rising starlet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You may have seen articles about women who gave up everything to
be a nun. <a href="https://churchpop.com/2015/08/09/3-beautiful-celebrities-who-gave-it-all-up-to-become-nuns/" target="_blank">Dolores Hart</a>, for instance, acted
opposite Elvis Presley and was his first screen kiss, but followed God's call
to a Benedictine Abbey. We love to hear stories about what they gave
up. Why is it always that they “gave up everything” or “threw it all
away”? It’s really more like they quit a very public, superficial
job to receive everything. They sold all they had to buy a pearl of
great price.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And a person following the will of God in his or her life, aspires
to a far, far greater goal than the person who merely “follows her dream!” Hard
work toward a goal is admirable of course, but the prize of mere glory and
celebrity rather lacks luster compared with the crown of glory given by God to
one who has lived a life of self-sacrificial love for the good of others. Sometimes,
when the latter is the goal, the former accompanies it. Just think
of Mother Theresa who became famous and beloved even though she did not seek
celebrity.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There is great dignity in being a mother that transcends visible
glory. Or, maybe “eludes it” would be more accurate. It’s
not glamorous. It’s generally hidden. It’s often lonely,
isolated, monotonous, and difficult. You could say the same about
climbing Mt. Everest – or any great endeavor. But, in the
glamour-seeking world “out there,” devoting one’s life to one’s children is not
awarded the same glory as those great endeavors. We have all heard -
or maybe used - the phrase, “just a mother.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
When I lived in a university community amongst professors and their families, I
would often see mothers of young children and big families, whose previous
accomplishments were unseen in their current context. Unless you knew
them, you wouldn't know that the mom patiently pacing the sidewalk with her
newest walking baby was a pharmacist. That lady piling her crew into the
minivan had been a smart, D.C. attorney. The woman pushing two cherubs
on the swings had starred in an opera in Italy. Now, they were anonymous
moms.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Even though the role of mother is highly sought after by many
women and dreamt of by many doll-toting little girls, the actual job does
entail a good deal of tedium and hiddenness. Often, the world
doesn’t even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> to
see this job happening. At least, that is the experience of many
mothers when they take a gaggle of children to the grocery store, cope with a
screaming toddler at Mass, or nurse a baby in public.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mothers would do well to meditate on the greatest event in time
and space, the Annunciation, for inspiration and aspiration. While
the greatest event ever, it was among the most hidden. On the human
scene, Mary was something of a nobody. But, in reality, she was <a href="https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/hail-mary-conceived-without-sin" target="_blank">The Woman</a>, anticipated from the
beginning of history. The Angel Gabriel appeared to her with the
announcement that changed human destiny – and awaited her assent. The
Incarnation of God occurred in a hidden womb in a private room without an
audience, without a press release, without even a Selfie taken of the event! Mary
told no one. She sought no celebrity. God handled the
publicity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDyuWDGxaWVEbkKLgJv-AonlP1czDyLGYLNkWQhtkRb5IxyFnDjfY7gp4SuoubAeFp6kMmFuoj92UKxUt__aspcu8rHduut6m_UFFFuOBeJn6cltV5B9X7_pJylu6Vs9i8oCscnKqtpfW/s1600/Fra_Angelico_069-annunciation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="480" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDyuWDGxaWVEbkKLgJv-AonlP1czDyLGYLNkWQhtkRb5IxyFnDjfY7gp4SuoubAeFp6kMmFuoj92UKxUt__aspcu8rHduut6m_UFFFuOBeJn6cltV5B9X7_pJylu6Vs9i8oCscnKqtpfW/s640/Fra_Angelico_069-annunciation.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Fra Angelico's Annunciation</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdor4pNXcwL1KlIvAoZrEPkPYKo91bovsMr3g0JyYXIJP_90QH8-1WMhoxchsVfmji6CCgPMkCGYZtN-qzFdw7m84T4Sva7ZNTImsh85GCT0u4fmgMEeGUxhkrDasV6IAFAPvrvv_hW3R/s1600/Fra_Angelico_069-annunciation.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 13.5pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There is another film that gets this right, but it didn't come out
of Hollywood. Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 English made film, <i>The Lady
Vanishes,</i> presents to us an unassuming woman, overlooked and
seemingly insignificant, doing great work in secret. The film's young
leading lady embarks on a train journey where she befriends a dowdy older lady,
Mrs. Froy, a governess and music lover, who vanishes almost without a trace. The
young woman is the only one who remembers her because the older lady did her a
kindness and accompanied her. Mrs. Froy was not significant enough
in appearance for any of the other passengers to even remember (or they had
reasons not to). Perhaps the hit to the head the young lady had
suffered was causing her to hallucinate? Only the attractive leading
man came to believe her, and in the end, she was vindicated. It
turns out the older, unassuming woman was a spy! She was the target
of intrigue because she carried the coded, top secret message across enemy
lines and delivered it, once again, to the good guys, saving the day. (I
didn’t bother with a spoiler alert because this film has been around since 1938
and if you haven’t seen it by now, it’s your own fault.) </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvKbvA3umD6ELQRS85emZ5WnKgjc81C1sbwEh_z7d-goQMA05g9v0hlVi73MHJmWlXH5I53dDu0_CIEKpW43v7hO1H31cvmw7LiuMfxiqAJmHT7Qd8jd6AdUs4seOau9i4Ii7noQXiENV/s1600/0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="636" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvKbvA3umD6ELQRS85emZ5WnKgjc81C1sbwEh_z7d-goQMA05g9v0hlVi73MHJmWlXH5I53dDu0_CIEKpW43v7hO1H31cvmw7LiuMfxiqAJmHT7Qd8jd6AdUs4seOau9i4Ii7noQXiENV/s320/0345.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Froy in a scene from the 1938 <i>The Lady Vanishes</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqk4KTEyNCz12-kdsQGuFcUmzZRCxAmvelr52x11Apy93zn_KJ5Wee4SD9huXMBJyQTVUU9KhCvHG4-a5RUFFl415_6SWxCiy-BKQk7cC-FHszovbCz_HhVcCUyqw7fEHcOGfnpihjf7T/s1600/0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
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<o:p></o:p>
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<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">The unassuming job you mothers are doing in the isolation of your
home, with little adulation, apart from flowers and burnt breakfast every
Mother’s Day, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> important. The
little secrets you are protecting and caring for may be what saves the day. So, it's no wonder your apparent worth is being attacked! You
certainly have a good model in the Blessed Virgin Mary. If God has
called you to motherhood, you are not giving up everything worthwhile, you are
choosing the better portion and it will not be taken away from you.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">* </span><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/classic-hollywood-abortion" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/classic-hollywood-abortion</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span></div>
<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-22269963610297372452018-06-22T15:50:00.002-07:002018-08-27T11:28:51.771-07:00Bring Back the Family Phone<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Phones aren’t what they used to be! (Cranky old man voice) Back in <i>my</i>
day, we use to <i>talk</i> on the phone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What the heck is going on??
Why do we even call these giant dominos everyone has in their back
pockets “phones” anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When people say "phone" these days, we generally mean a
tiny, portable, internet device they use to take photographs, send text
messages, look up information, get driving directions, listen to music, watch
movies and check the time. If you think about it, the word
"phone" doesn't even make sense any more. "Phone" is
short for telephone, which means "far sound". The original
device that bore the name was made for talking to someone at a distance.
The <i>one</i> thing many smartphone users <i>don't</i> seem
to use their phone for is to <i>talk</i> to someone! (It doesn’t help that the sound is so bad for
calls).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I think a lot has been lost by this original use being
ejected. I think we ought to re-think the whole phone thing. I think that land lines should come back into
fashion for everyone who shares a home with any other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm all for the benefits of personal cell phones, such as
increased safety, time-saving efficiency, and getting to our destination by the
shortest route. But I’m not sure it’s
really always an advantage to be able to directly contact only the one
individual you want, at the moment you want to.
There are times, of course when this may save lives and avert
disaster. But, there is a lot to be said
for making a phone call, not knowing who will answer – like used to happen
before cell phones. Remember when there
were only land lines? Connected to the wall
and a hand piece attached by a tightly curled cord?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79uRjg7OXnlXr1SnNfwx2deW0Fyl1NJASIf0b2rPkdXXr-zNfCV6EiD9H3KbbLtx-pY1m6CTakh4Bl5_lL-SbNjL91wt6Gcw2FQWnfzPxRNhfAVB_NTDmlzn-5W0VG9lf_f1HEtOdKaYr/s1600/DSC_1087+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79uRjg7OXnlXr1SnNfwx2deW0Fyl1NJASIf0b2rPkdXXr-zNfCV6EiD9H3KbbLtx-pY1m6CTakh4Bl5_lL-SbNjL91wt6Gcw2FQWnfzPxRNhfAVB_NTDmlzn-5W0VG9lf_f1HEtOdKaYr/s640/DSC_1087+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually one of the phones in my house. Crazy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span id="goog_926787693"></span><span id="goog_926787694"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Recently, I phoned my distant friend, Karen, on her home phone.
I still knew her land-line number by heart, so I dialed it. The phone was
answered by her husband, Mike, also a dear friend. Karen wasn't home, but
I had a wonderful catch-up conversation with him! It is because they
still maintain their land-line that I had the pleasure of speaking with him -
because it would have been weird for me to call his cell phone just to chat as
we did. I have even had some fun
conversations with her children, whom I’ve never met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This is the brilliance of a land-line – a <b>family phone</b>. They connect <i>more</i> people, not fewer, and in a more
social way. They are inclusive and
foster communication and a greater sense of community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How can I say they foster communication <i>more</i> than a device that enables you to send an instant message
directly to the intended individual, in writing, complete with photographs and
web-links? It’s because they are <i>not</i> individual that they foster
communication. When you call a family
phone, you really don’t know who will answer.
You have to be prepared. You may
have to confirm that it’s the right person and may even have to let them know
who’s calling (if like us, you don’t even have caller ID). You feel like you’re calling that family, not
just the individual – for better or for worse! A family phone has a broader
spectrum of communication potential than a cell phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXzORrTaMB17-cyH8FE5LnaaIyjCM21ixsqntGTs1HWdFjzo56yAVlZ8bV5-qhSJR9XvPkdWAXZfI_O4W8bWhmp5vFhb-VSarkzT0SJlKCLG42oFxX9aPPMbe6L8lkazY375PBD3cGHFy/s1600/DSC_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXzORrTaMB17-cyH8FE5LnaaIyjCM21ixsqntGTs1HWdFjzo56yAVlZ8bV5-qhSJR9XvPkdWAXZfI_O4W8bWhmp5vFhb-VSarkzT0SJlKCLG42oFxX9aPPMbe6L8lkazY375PBD3cGHFy/s200/DSC_1098.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They tell me I'll only get away with this<br />
for two more years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So-called “Smart” phones divide people at least as much as they
connect them. Maybe more! My
recent experience is that calls are often replaced by text messages for smartphone users. Even the voice is removed, along with all its nuance,
familiarity – and personality. I <i>do</i> have a cell phone – and I use it –
but I avoid texting as a way of chatting.
Not because I’m morally superior, but largely because I’m still clinging
to my flip-phone. It’s really cumbersome
to text. And I like it that way, because
it forces me not to use that as my default communication. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">More and more of my friends have changed their outgoing voice mail
message to request that you not leave a voice message because they just don’t
listen to them. They see that you called
and call back – or, you can text them! I’m
not criticizing them for this. It works
for them, all those I know having a house-full of children, including
toddlers. But, it does create both an
immediate connection AND a distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One of the truths about human persons mentioned early in Holy
Scripture is that it is not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). Even earlier, we learn that man is made in
God’s image; it’s recorded as God saying “in <i>our</i> image” because, as we know, the one God is a Trinity of divine
Persons (Gen 1:26). The human person is
made to be in relationship with others, like a family.
And we see who, from the beginning, is out to wreck relationship
connections. Satan wants to isolate us –
from each other, from God, from truth.
Just look at the rest of the story in the book of Genesis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I think getting back a family phone also may be just the answer for
parents who are struggling with the decision of whether or not to get their
adolescent a smartphone. That all their
friends have one, may be <i>just</i> the
reason <i>not</i> to get them one! We’ve all seen a family group gathered around
a living room or a restaurant table, where the teens present are, shall we say,
<i>not</i> really present. They are swiping and tapping, gazing slack-jawed at their phones, maybe
texting a friend or a group of friends.
They are actually checking out of their family to foster a relationship
with preferred others not physically present.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you’re a parent seeking an answer to the kid-phone dilemma,
consider hooking up a landline for all of them (and you!) to use when at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Here are some great advantages to get a Family Phone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The
quality of the connection is radically superior to that of cell phones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You
can’t take the land line to the dinner table to text your friends below the
tablecloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Since
it is less private, it can actually be safer because it’s hard to have sneaky
conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It’s <i>only</i> a phone, so no worries about
inappropriate or unsafe internet use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Children
can begin to use the phone at a younger age.
Even a four-year-old can answer the phone and retrieve the person the
call is for. (“Hello, Pearce residence”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You
have a chance of knowing who your kid is friends with when you happen to answer
the call. It’ll be good for <i>them</i> to have a chance to talk to a
grown-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It forces you to speak in complete sentences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Obviously, this doesn’t solve all the logistical problems like communicating
with them when they’re out, but there are many other solutions for that that
are not smartphones. It really is
possible to make the family phone their primary means of communicating with friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you still have your old land line, start passing <i>that</i> phone number around to friends and
see if you don’t feel even more connected as a family. If it catches on, we’ll all be reconnecting with
the others in our friends’ households we probably haven’t spoken to in years.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegTrsfyfi0UNI73sQOf-o8o7uaE6cliJ4WfbOhXPiZkNLzJ8wqqVcQxv0MjWf-9v01nbWcCff2Fi9Qq295GjbQhZNOK9n8u0s9eoU4bFa0qt1IlYggOPc_eemG_V8AgdzZnuKkV03S7r1/s1600/DSC_1095+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="1600" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegTrsfyfi0UNI73sQOf-o8o7uaE6cliJ4WfbOhXPiZkNLzJ8wqqVcQxv0MjWf-9v01nbWcCff2Fi9Qq295GjbQhZNOK9n8u0s9eoU4bFa0qt1IlYggOPc_eemG_V8AgdzZnuKkV03S7r1/s640/DSC_1095+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One more antiquated phone in my household</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-48640906166667503932018-05-17T11:50:00.001-07:002019-01-02T07:42:29.622-08:00Unless You Become Like Little Children<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” our Lord answered, "Unless you turn and become like
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."(Matt 18:3). It’s
a clear message that aiming for greatness and prestige is not going to help us
when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">He redirected the disciples to aim low – to the level of a child.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But in exactly what way are we to become like
children?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As I want to enter the kingdom
and you probably do too, we’d better get this right! What, could He mean?</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Little children are small and cute. The theory of many a
parent is that God made them cute so we'll take care of them and help them
continue to live – especially when doing so might not otherwise seem worth it,
like when they take all your stuff and don’t let you get a good night’s sleep for three years. But, clearly, that's not what Jesus meant, because grown-ups
trying to be cute have the opposite effect. So, we'd best look for other
features and behaviors of little children that we are to emulate in order to
enter the kingdom!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYUjwT-LyAqGHp2eKRx-b2Sz-SoqkSujMOtH0F_by-pWRTe5L8xKKRv_LOBpVZ5WLrfxJgPlHXEf4FuteKD8ewlID5judv966YJrZNqHhFjIrSkv6c18WYs_TV3UUKcA43epl1bQ61cib/s1600/Cranach_the_Elder_Christ_blessing_the_children+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYUjwT-LyAqGHp2eKRx-b2Sz-SoqkSujMOtH0F_by-pWRTe5L8xKKRv_LOBpVZ5WLrfxJgPlHXEf4FuteKD8ewlID5judv966YJrZNqHhFjIrSkv6c18WYs_TV3UUKcA43epl1bQ61cib/s640/Cranach_the_Elder_Christ_blessing_the_children+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ Blessing the Children by Cranach the Elder - Detail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">What do children do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babies
spend a lot of time - all their time - eating, filling diapers, learning and
sleeping. Mostly sleeping. Nice life, but surely He didn't mean
that we should limit ourselves to those activities either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t jive with the whole rest of the
Gospel message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Perhaps you have heard someone wax lyrical about the difference
between childishness and child-likeness. G.K. Chesterton points out that children are filled with wonder
and see God's creation with a sense of magic. This is surely true in some sense, but as Chesterton did not have any actual children, it often strikes parents of these lovable tyrants as a bit of a romantic view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I only have two children, but you only need to live with <i>one</i> from
its infancy to dispel the notion that they float trough their days awed by the
wonder of creation, in a ray of golden sunlight, emitting the lilting laughter
of delight when the sun comes up on another day, or when they encounter a
beautiful flower. More likely they'll pull the flower apart and attempt
to eat it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiucYK5GVkp8hmSq4USWH0VO9mCIY3K2Lgzd9IJQbTWsmLx1qND5Isonkun4weSvB5xXr7Rfn1L1lHmalkV_K8GY9ZhqT8o8NbUy7ycCXJMxrXB4KDKz8KgRHpEiPoYPalVWBSA2bih83H/s1600/32764671_10213712065250354_4039693754393690112_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="568" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiucYK5GVkp8hmSq4USWH0VO9mCIY3K2Lgzd9IJQbTWsmLx1qND5Isonkun4weSvB5xXr7Rfn1L1lHmalkV_K8GY9ZhqT8o8NbUy7ycCXJMxrXB4KDKz8KgRHpEiPoYPalVWBSA2bih83H/s400/32764671_10213712065250354_4039693754393690112_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of an actual baby, courtesy of her mother,<br />
my friend Jenni Callahan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Let's remove the romantic, soft focus lense from this Hallmark
inspired picture and expand the reality of child-likeness. What are real
children like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><br /><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Little children are <i>demanding</i>! By which I mean
they require a <i>lot</i> of care (feeding, changing, clothing,
making sure they sleep enough, loving, and speaking to so they will learn).
A nursing mother may feel that her infant is literally draining life out of
her! She pours out from her own self and body, part of what she is, to
enable the child become who he or she is designed to be. It doesn't even
matter if she is feeding her child at her breast; she will be drained. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">They are also demanding in that they loudly demand this care if we
happen not to meet their current need immediately! They are not patient
creatures. When they do not get what they need at the moment the need
arises, they cry and scream. That feature was put there by God to ensure
their needs are met and that we parents learn to overcome our
self-centeredness. Demanding is in their job description.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Clearly, these little creatures <i>expect</i> us to do
these things. They are not customers, who will say, "Here, here, if
I don't receive better service than <i>this</i>, I shall take my business elsewhere!!" They are children, who look at their parents and simply
expect us to provide for them - because it's what we parents are supposed to do. They
can't get to the fridge on their own legs to satisfy their hunger, so they
simply expect <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our</i> legs (and hands,
and body) to be at their service. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
anyone else assumed that we existed in their life to serve them like this, it
would be outrageously rude. But when it is a child in our care, our heart
is moved by love and responsibility to get up and do the thing, whether we feel
like it or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">An expectation like this signifies boundless trust. Babies
don't use question marks. It's never, "Would you mind feeding me,
Mother?" or "Will you please change my diaper when you have a
minute?" It's always simply "I thirst!!!!!" And the
parent, who knows to whom this demand is directed, never has to ask,
"Who <i>me</i>?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Even older children demonstrate amazing faith in their parents’
love and care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it’s a tantruming
toddler or a back-talking school-age child, in the very midst of rejecting you,
they often come to you for comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
always astonishes me when my child can say, with utmost sincerity and love, at
the end of a day filled with contention, “I love you, Mama.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a love and trust that entails
forgiveness of my failings and assumes my forgiveness of hers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">This unabashed trust and confident dependence on one side and
limitless providence and love on the other defines this relationship between
parent and child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The relationship
demands it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">We all know it is a great evil when a parent betrays this
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A betrayal of a parent
toward a young child is more than simply a failure of duty, or a lack of
respect for the dignity of a person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is a lie told about God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Saint Paul tells us in Ephesians 3: 14-15 that parenthood is
derived from God’s fatherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes
it more clear what it means to turn and become like a child. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lies in our relationship with God, who is
our Father. Our Lord wants us to demand, expect and trust in Him for those
things we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He will not fail to provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says, “And I tell you, ask and it will be
given you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. . .
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What father among you, if his son asks
for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent? . . . If you then, who
are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lest you think that God is there to be our vending machine of
goodies, remember, He did not say, “What father among you, if his son asks for
a bicycle, will give him a serpent?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Babies demand what is good for them, according to their nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqVy0fgWif914u4t0jklBSvB26OegqAq0VMzpR8IUFBG4UmfLhkrIoPb_MrCsPY3bWPjsoKMfw8G5mHPzJIE8etTzigaH_4QYRM5QYMz7YUk0e4VJ-LoHlJoqbzG6JNHVEekWy9kojhG2/s1600/DSC_1010+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1046" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqVy0fgWif914u4t0jklBSvB26OegqAq0VMzpR8IUFBG4UmfLhkrIoPb_MrCsPY3bWPjsoKMfw8G5mHPzJIE8etTzigaH_4QYRM5QYMz7YUk0e4VJ-LoHlJoqbzG6JNHVEekWy9kojhG2/s320/DSC_1010+%25283%2529.JPG" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of E. Pearce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Babies know the secret to entering the kingdom of heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have the password – and they don’t
hesitate to us it loudly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was given
to them by God, as Jesus tells us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these
things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father,
for such was they gracious will.” (Matt 12:25-26) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">He teaches us to become like children in the way He taught the disciples
to pray, saying, “Our Father, who art in heaven . . . give us this day our
daily bread.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matt. 6:9-13).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Father is who He is to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, turn. Turn and become like little children, whether it's a cranky, colicky baby, a contentedly sleeping one, or Chesterton's wonder-filled tyke. Our heavenly Father is attentive to our needs
with limitless providence and love. Know that He will not abandon you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">St. Augustine said it like this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Our Father: at this name love is roused in us . . . and the confidence
of obtaining what we are about to ask . . . What would he not give to his
children who ask, since he has already granted them the gift of being his
children? (CCC 2785)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-63165553012336383532018-05-04T09:21:00.000-07:002018-05-04T09:21:00.172-07:00IS Good Enough Good Enough When It Comes To Parenting?<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Is</i> "good
enough" good enough when you're raising a Catholic family? Colleen
Duggan thinks so. And she ought to know! Colleen is a
self-professed recovering type-A perfectionist, who has struggled in her quest
to become the "perfect" Catholic mom of the "perfect" Catholic
family. And she has succeeded - <i>not</i> in achieving
perfection, but in learning that God is only asking her to live faithfully with
all her imperfections to lead her imperfect family to the perfect love only God
can offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Colleen shares the wisdom and peace she has gained through her
fifteen years of parenting a large catholic family in her book<i>, <a href="https://www.avemariapress.com/product/1-59471-731-1/Good-Enough-Is-Good-Enough/" target="_blank">Good Enough Is Good Enough:
Confessions of an Imperfect Catholic Mom</a></i><a href="https://www.avemariapress.com/product/1-59471-731-1/Good-Enough-Is-Good-Enough/" target="_blank"> (Ave Maria Press)</a>.
Colleen's story of acceptance and letting go is a welcome encouragement for
those of us who don't have it all together - so, pretty much every
mother. I love her observation that it’s so easy to compare the inside of
our family with the outside of someone else's. Colleen doesn't just stop
at the usual, "everyone has their cross" line of encouragement, but
focuses on the fact that the cross God gives you in the form of your particular
family is the one through which you, your spouse, and your children are meant
to become holy. And He will give the grace to carry it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part of the struggle is that our expectations of family life are
formed by unrealistic examples presented by the various media and even the
dishonest public image of friends who are also struggling. Most of us
have been fed the fantasy that the fairy tale of romance ends in a perpetuity
of "happily ever after." In reality, marriage and family is
something more like the Cinderella story run back to front. The royal
wedding is followed by a big ball, children enter the story and the shiny coach
you drive becomes a Cheerio and mouse filled pumpkin, your clothes go from
elegant to dowdy, the people you live with treat you like a servant, and then
your parents die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We moms need to hear others honestly sharing their difficulties,
discouragement, and discoveries of what works for them without judgement that
if we just tried hard enough, we could make this work. Colleen's book
offers us this honest encouragement and compassion. She invites us to
suffer with her through being the daughter of an alcoholic father, a surprisingly
difficult transition from career to stay-at-home motherhood, the scary medical
diagnosis of a child, many children in rapid succession, and coming to
terms with the fact that she can’t control everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is good to know we’re not in control! There is simply no way to make your family be
the way you thought it was going to be.
If yours is, you’re incredibly lucky that it worked out that way for you
– because it’s probably not simply a result of your superior parenting skills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The reality of raising a family feels something like riding a
bicycle in a tornado, a feat bound to transform any woman into a witch!
If you don't want to be crushed by your household, you're going to need a game
plan that will work now and down the road. Try to keep up an impressive
façade and you will inevitably be "found out" and want to shout,
"Pay no attention to the woman behind the green curtain!" But,
you don't need a wizard to help you get home. You need to use a little
brain, more heart and a lot of courage to hold the hand of God and realize that
you are already home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I know what you might be thinking. When my friend recommended <i><a href="https://www.colleenmurphyduggan.com/about/" target="_blank">Good Enough is Good Enough</a></i>, I figured
that the very fact that Colleen Duggan <i>wrote
a book</i> disqualifies her from understanding my own imperfect and scattered
parenting experiences. And, please don’t
be tempted to decide from the picture on her <a href="https://www.colleenmurphyduggan.com/about/" target="_blank">website (and the fact that she has a website</a>) that a woman who knows how to accessorize couldn’t possibly
understand that you are really just treading water. Trust me, she has been there and she’ll be
there with you, holding your hand (well, metaphorically).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The book itself is slim enough to slip into your diaper bag or
purse and read while you’re in the car line.
It’s not daunting. Rather than
chapter headings, Colleen has designated her five “confessions” about
motherhood that will resonate with many mothers. They include: “I Don’t Know How to Master
Motherhood,” “I Don’t Always Take Care
of Myself as I Should,” “I Don’t Know How to Keep My Kids Catholic,” “I Don’t
Like Watching My Children Suffer,” and “I Sometimes Compare Myself with Other
Parents.” And, with a foreword by Lisa
Hendy, founder of the “Catholic Mom” book series this one is part of, you’ll
find something to love – and help you on your parenting path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you know a type A mother, even if she seems to have it all together
or a mom who clearly doesn’t and frets about it, buy this book for her.
Pastors, this would be a good one to recommend or give to mothers. I would go so far as to say if you know a
couple planning their fairy tale wedding and happily-ever-after family life,
make this book your bridal shower gift.
She’s going to need it! And the
sooner, the better.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Colleen's book is available from Ave Maria Press:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> https://www.avemariapress.com/product/1-59471-731-1/Good-Enough-Is-Good-Enough/</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can visit her website at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">https://www.colleenmurphyduggan.com/about/</span></div>
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-46564696242452919032018-04-15T06:15:00.000-07:002018-11-16T11:33:20.029-08:00In Jane Austen's World, Ladies Did Not Watch TelevisionI've been reading Jane Austen's <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> to my ten-year-old daughter. I admit it was immediately motivated by my desire to watch with her the BBC mini-series, which the book was clearly written in order for them to produce one day. There's a rule here that they have to do the book before they do the movie. Well she still reads too slowly for me to wait, so I'm reading it to her. We're both loving it - I have the actors in mind as I try to emulate their voices for each part. She is enjoying it almost as much as I am.<br />
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She has a set of paper dolls of Jane Austen characters, which she has enjoyed because of the beautiful costumes and general loveliness. But paper dolls are rather two dimensional - in the most literal sense. So, we're breathing life into the characters by placing the characters in their rather more interesting literary world, by reading the novel.<br />
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I find I must explain some of the social rules to her as we go. There was serious protocol for every public interaction! But the behind-the-scenes behavior of the characters reveals to us that however dignified a time in history, a culture in the world or a rank in society appears, human character, in its strengths - and especially weaknesses - has always been a constant.<br />
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People in Austen's world (always those wealthy enough to have leisure time) dressed up to dine and then sat around together watching television. Just kidding, there wasn't television then. You could say that in Jane Austen's world, ladies did not watch television; they <i>were</i> the television! That seems almost to be the whole point of their existence (the point of men's existence is unclear). Young ladies became "most accomplished" in playing the <i>piano-forte</i> and singing, in painting and crafting pretty (and marginally useful) things for the entertainment and enjoyment of those around them - and often for their own vanity. I'm not making a judgment as to whether this is a good or a bad thing. I mean, in our world, we binge watch T.V. shows on the internet; who are we to judge?<br />
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Austen's people also played cards, took a turn about the room to show their figures to greater advantage and, very occasionally it seems, read books for entertainment. I can only assume that there were men who knew how to perform musically, but mainly, we hear about the ladies. They played well or ill - and there was nothing you could do about it. You had to sit there and listen. In addition to the value in the musical entertainment itself for a social group, a lady's talent provided material for others to discuss her worth when she was not present.<br />
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Electricity and recorded music not having been invented either, ladies also provided the music for dances. And, since social media wasn't a thing yet, dances were essential for meeting, watching and gossiping about one's neighbors, old and new. Just like us, they were not too dignified to pick apart their friends, acquaintances and strangers at the smallest provocation. The internet simply allows us to judge people even more remotely.<br />
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And then there's that business we read about in many old fashioned books of ladies having days when they went calling and days when they received visitors. They did their work in the morning (those low enough to have any work to do) and in the afternoon they changed into a nice dress and sat in the parlor waiting for other ladies to visit. This set me off thinking about what it would be like to live in such a well-regulated society. I'm sure I'm not the first person to apply my mind to how to work this system to my advantage.<br />
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Naturally, the first thing to do is to find out when everyone else is receiving and visiting. Then you make sure you will be <i>in</i> on the same days as the ladies you don't want to have to visit with. However, that means you may run into them at someone else's house on your visiting days. But the chance is slimmer.<br />
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The next thing to do is to find out who serves the best snacks, of course. This is not just for your own culinary pleasure, though. The person serving the best goodies will have a purpose behind it. She is either showing off or trying to attract people (because everyone will know whose goodies are to be sought and whose to be avoided). If she is trying to attract people, it is either because no one would visit her otherwise (caution!), because she aims to collect the news on everyone for future use (again, caution!), or because she is really fun!<br />
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If she succeeds in attracting many people to her house on her receiving days, then, chances are, you will run into everyone else there. So, you should plan accordingly and try not to display any visible flaws, physical or behavioral - because people need something to talk about. If you are more inclined to a quiet gathering, you may prefer flavorless biscuits at the home of a quieter lady. She will probably appreciate the company more than the other - unless she deliberately scheduled her receiving day at that time in order to deter visitors.<br />
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If you are one of those who longs for simpler days of highly regulated social behavior, when roles and intentions were much more clearly communicated than they are today, and therefore people were better, I advise you to pick up a Jane Austen novel to discover that behind the long gowns and country dances, real people in every age have struggled with the same weaknesses we struggle with today. People have always been pretty much the same. Ages and societies are not good or bad, virtuous or evil. The battleground is in the heart of each individual born. It is a never ending battle throughout each and every life and is true for every person from Adam to the last man standing.<br />
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Aleksander Solzhenitsyn said it like this in <i>The Gulag Archipelago</i>:<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart.</span> </span></blockquote>
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I often cringe when I hear someone explain that those people of a time long ago didn't understand this or that like we do today - as if they simply didn't think. Or when tales of times past cast the heroes and villains as all and only good or evil. Or that those living in a place more burdened with poverty or war, who perhaps lack every technological advantage we expect in our society, do not suffer just as acutely as I would at the death of their child or the bombing of their city. That just because they haven't electricity, they may not feel the fear or jealousy or joy that every human person has experienced from the beginning of humanity.<br />
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Just one of the many benefits of reading great literature (especially that <i>written</i> long ago not just set in the past) is that in it we see that people of every time have struggled to answer the same great questions, to overcome the same sins and pettiness as we do today. Well-written stories bring to life the human drama that iss played out in every age, in every heart. The same can be said of well made accurately portrayed historical films. It is good for us to see that mundane human emotions felt by us today were likewise felt by people remote from ourselves in culture and time. It reinforces in us in an experiential way the reality of the dignity of the human person. We are just like them.<br />
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Great literature has come to be known as great because it has endured - for hundreds, even thousands of years. We have it now <i>because</i> it brings to life the drama within the human heart and shows us ourselves. Through it, we are lead to more fully appreciate the dignity of our neighbors, past, present, and future. The complete list of great works of literature is too long to include here, but the upside of that is that you never need be at a loss for something to read. There's Homer, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Coleridge, Austen, Hugo, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, and so many more! As time marches on, more great works are added - though their greatness will be determined by their durability. So, if you have not done so before, pick up some <i>great</i> literature and become a student of three dimensional human character, and grow in respect of the dignity of the human person through delightful stories that reflect the virtue and ridiculousness of us all.<br />
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-17923935260798853382018-03-13T10:58:00.000-07:002019-02-19T18:11:44.619-08:00Lent: Sometimes You're Just Lying There Like a Slug In the Desert<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I don't think I'm the only one who hasn't been having a very good Lent this year. By which I mean I haven't been having a very bad Lent. I mean, it hasn't been hard; I haven't been taking full advantage of the opportunities this liturgical season offers in terms of increased prayer, fasting and alms-giving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As a matter of routine I put away the little espresso maker, which is a source of great joy in our house, omitted the sugar in my tea, nixed the sweet treats. So, Lent feels a little like going on a diet. But the more important treasures of spiritual growth are a bit lacking for me this time around. I haven't availed myself of weekday mass or Stations of the Cross at my parish. I haven't managed to add to my meager devotions nor been challenged by sacrificial giving. It's hard to feel the pinch with electronic giving. In a word, this Lent, I am pathetic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's like I'm in the desert, but I'm just lying there waiting. Waiting to be dragged out at Easter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I feel bad about this state of things. I feel bad about just lying there. When Our Lord was in the desert, He was fielding temptations from the devil himself! <i><b>He</b></i> didn't eat <i style="font-weight: bold;">anything</i>! <i>His</i> desert was an actual desert - in was hot and bleak! <i>He</i> was preparing for His mission to redeem the whole world!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But then, He is God the Son, the Christ. I am a weak sinner. A weak sinner with concupiscence. And I'm weak. (I know it sounds like a proof-reading miss, but I meant it that way.) I'm just lying here in the desert of Lent like a slug.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But, you know, maybe that's okay. Maybe that's the best I can get out of Lent this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are lessons that can be got out of every circumstance. If all I can do is lie there, then I shall have to count on efforts outside myself. That's good, too. "But he said to me, 'My power is made perfect in weakness.'" (2 Corinthians 12:9).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It is okay to ask for - and count on - the efforts of friends, as well. Remember this one from Luke's gospel?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when He saw their faith he said, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.' . . . 'I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home.' And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God." (Luke 5:18-25)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's good to have friends! Sometimes my friends and I seem </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">to take turns lying there and carrying each other a few inches, even if we can't lower each other through roofs. I was moaning about this to my good friend, </span><a href="https://slowgoinglife.blogspot.com/2016/10/everone-needs-ethel.html" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Carol</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">. She suggested, "Just put some purple place-mats on the table and you'll feel better." She understands. We pray for each other as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But, even if you haven't any good friends around to carry you to Him, all is not lost. The Church carries us. The whole cloud of witnesses, visible and invisible. In every Mass, we are all prayed for, whether we're at that Mass or not. Whew! And it's not just the prayers of those in attendance. The liturgy is the work of all God's people. The Mass is the drawing back of the veil of space and time to attend <i>both</i> the sacrifice at Calvary and the heavenly banquet attended by the angels, singing "Holy, holy, holy!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Another episode from the Gospels that may give you hope when you're lying there in the hot desert, unable to get up, is the story of the poor paralytic who was lying in the portico by the pool of Bethesda, where healing could be obtained by the first person to enter the pool when the angel stirred up the waters each day. The poor man was lying there for thirty-eight years because he had no friends to carry him. Oh, my heart goes out to him every time I hear his story! What happened next?</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?' The sick man answered him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.' Jesus said to him, 'Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.' At once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked." John 5:6-9</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Jesus did not carry him first to the pool to be healed. He gave the man the healing he desired!! Healing came <i>to</i> the man while he was lying there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Another account in the Gospel of Luke tells us of a blind man, sitting there who seized the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"As [Jesus] drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' And he cried, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He said, 'Lord, let me receive my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God." (Luke 18:35-43)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAc-QhgsKB0EaW31I6jLdWW8UUazKlTSa2mW_vkBRUdSLGbvPmEGrxTpYdg2BwuCH16P2cOF_XHYTLmnpxGnH1LMuY9J105jRNX5JFG157RdzY6PZic6wxRAob2_hYlmChFVHSAYjgCj2/s1600/JesusHealsTwo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1130" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAc-QhgsKB0EaW31I6jLdWW8UUazKlTSa2mW_vkBRUdSLGbvPmEGrxTpYdg2BwuCH16P2cOF_XHYTLmnpxGnH1LMuY9J105jRNX5JFG157RdzY6PZic6wxRAob2_hYlmChFVHSAYjgCj2/s400/JesusHealsTwo.gif" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you're having a pathetic Lent, maybe that's okay. Maybe just lie there if that's all you can do. Our Lord knows your desires and He will come to you. He may send friends to carry you to Him. He may offer you the grace you expected would come from the devotions you wish you were doing. He may pass by and hear you calling out. But He <i>will</i> hear your prayers, even if, like mine, they consist mainly of walking around muttering, "Jesus, have mercy on me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you're just lying there like a slug in the heat of the desert this Lent, be sure to offer the sort of prayer you can for all the others just lying there in the desert, because the prayers of a parched slug availeth much.</span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-87511327396908258582018-02-19T18:49:00.002-08:002018-02-19T18:49:49.366-08:00Scripture or Tradition? Which Version of The Lord's Prayer Do You Pray?<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">As a Catholic, I have wondered why non-Catholic Christians pray
the Lord's Prayer differently than we do. I mean, it's pretty straight
forward in the Bible. The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray and
He says, "Pray like this." And what follows is what we call the
Our Father - because it begins, "Our Father" (clever, eh?). And
it <i>ends</i>, "but deliver us from evil."
Amen! But, if you've ever been at an ecumenical gathering, you may have noticed
not everyone stops there. This can be somewhat awkward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">And more than a little
confusing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why are they saying, “For Yours
is the power and glory forever” and we’re not?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">When I first encountered this,
my reactions included the thoughts, "<b><i>What?!?!?!</i></b> How
can we differ in this most basic of Christian prayers, taught by Jesus himself!?!"
"Well, <i>they're</i> supposed to be more adept in the
Bible. Maybe Catholics are just stopping short."
"Hey! I recognize that extra part from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mass</i>!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, by and by I have gathered
more information about the discrepancy. I first looked to the Bible to be
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sure</i> my ignorance didn't begin with
an ignorance of Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You know
what St. Jerome says: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s something I hope to avoid!).
This passage where Jesus teaches the disciples to pray in those words occurs in
two Gospels, Matt 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Both accounts end the prayer where
Catholics do. Of course they do; mine is a Catholic Bible, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe theirs is different?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">So I asked a Baptist friend why they said the Lord's Prayer that
way and where she thought the additional words came from. It had never occurred to
her. Obviously, she had never felt the discomfort of praying in a
mixed-Faith group in which some people stopped at "deliver us from
evil. Amen" while she carried on with "For Thine is the kingdom
. . ."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> S</span>he hadn’t noticed that
the phrase wasn’t recorded as Our Lord’s words in her Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">She, too, looked up the Bible
passage on line right away. Looking in a Protestant edition Bible, she
found that the line in question was not in the text.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was, however, a footnote at the
conclusion of the text of Jesus’ prayer. Apparently, "Some later manuscripts"
contain the extra doxology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the
only explanation. Whoa!! A person could find this unsettling!
Is it or isn't it part the inspired, inerrant Word of God? The footnote suggest that they're not sure. Where do those
words come from and why the discrepancy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I mean, we want to pray as Jesus taught us to, so we ought to know
with certainty the prayer He taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either
it is an extra-biblical tradition, or it is what our Lord taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is part of the Word of God, then why
isn’t it in Bibles?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Apparently I'm not the first
person to be interested in or concerned about this discrepancy. I typed
the question into the magic 8 ball we call the internet. Who knew there
are forums populated with pastors and Bible scholars devoted to discussing the
various possibilities to determine whether or not this sentence is, in fact, part
of the inspired Word of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if it’s
not, what to do about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They discussed
probable dates of its inclusion in certain manuscripts (hand copied Bibles) and
archeological discoveries that might help tease out whether it can be truly
considered Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">To quote George Baily, “this is a very interesting situation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one’s faith – in creed and practice - is
determined solely by what is contained between the covers of one’s Bible, then
one will want to be <i>sure</i> of what is and is not in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For Thine is the power and glory, forever.” is
said to be found in some old manuscripts of the New Testament – but not others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did it get into some and not others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who gets to decide <i>which</i> versions are really
Scripture and which are not? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It either <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is not</i> part of the inspired Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you
can not tell for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> passage, then
you can not know the inerrancy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i>
passage of Scripture!</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I know that Catholics use the phrase in our liturgy (the Mass), and that we know it is not part of Scripture.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Naturally, I did more
research to find out when that phrase first appeared on the Christian scene. That is to say I asked my theology nerd friends. I am
blessed to have several. They are friends from the graduate theology
program I was in, who have continued studying and working in the field since
that time, more than a decade ago. It's like having a research department
at my disposal!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">They directed me to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Didache</i>
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Teaching of the Lord for the Nations
through the Twelve Apostles</i>), a short document generally believed to be
written between 50 and 150AD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
contains teachings regarding morality, liturgical practices, Church structure
and eschatology (the last things) for Christian communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scholars of all stripes accept that “the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Didache</i> was known and used in the
ancient church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first three
centuries, some authors cited or referred to it as if it were part of the Scriptural canon.” </span><span style="color: black;">(<a href="https://store.chnetwork.org/product/clement-of-rome-the-didache/" target="_blank">Clement of Rome & theDidache: A New Translation and Theological Community by Kenneth J. Howell, p.58</a>)</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the earliest known mention of the
doxology in conjunction with the Lord’s Prayer, and this appears in what is
likely to be a liturgical setting (that is, the Mass).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Of course this makes sense to me, as I grew up saying this doxology
following the Our Father during Mass!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
wonderful document, the <i>Didache</i>, highlights the incredible continuity of our liturgical
celebrations from very early in the life of the Christian Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, why didn’t I ever read it before
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have suggested that perhaps
during the arduous task of hand copying the Bible, a tired monk slipped it in
after Our Lord’s Prayer from long familiarity with it in daily Mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can’t be sure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Obviously, the practice of praying the Lord's Prayer and including the doxology, "For Thine is the power and the glory," came into the practice of Protestant Christians through its use in the Mass, not from the possibility of it being part of Sacred Scripture. When their predecessors departed from the Catholic Church, they took much of the liturgical tradition with them and it has only gradually and partially fallen out of use. Some parts have remained (like the doxology following the prayers of the priest after the Our Father at Mass), but the knowledge of its origin has been lost to them. What they're left with is a discussion of whether or not these words are part of Scripture - because they are erroneously contained in some manuscripts.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">But, the question remains for our Christian brethren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we know what is and is not contained
in the Bible and how did what’s in there get there in the first place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i>
letter and not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> letter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why this book and not that book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who decided this a way back when?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books in the New Testament were separate,
written accounts, letters and instruction circulated and read within the
liturgical celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some point,
our early Christian predecessors had to assemble them in an approved collection of
those considered to be Scripture, leaving out some letters and accounts that
had been read and valued by Christian communities as if they were Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these other instructions, like the <i>Didache,</i> continued to be valued as teaching sources, but were not treated as the inerrant Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who were these people and how is it that we
trust their decisions today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we even
know this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Oh, if only Jesus had left us an authoritative body that would
remain with the Christian community to speak on His behalf, to guide them in these
difficult matters, to teach them, to “guard the deposit” (<i>cf</i> 2 Timothy 1:14), so
we wouldn’t have to wade through archaeological evidence (once it is eventually discovered).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, but He did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left people, not a book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left his Apostles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they left apostles behind them by the laying on of their hands (see Acts 1:15-26 & 13:3), and so on
right down to today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i> be sure of what is the inspired,
inerrant Word of God, because of the authority Jesus gave to them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJouEb6yYSVxBWVVbnu5ur3Fjz9ZVwzpzcr_kqNNmgaBEz1yqSlJePjQO96OQiUQ2OLM9WXo9YCZuriVOm5ADFp2ZSy_1kA30fp-LSgTFrCIBrcb7SnUq6cKhbbuqnyXM-QOwWfiRcglC4/s1600/thumbnail_DSC_0300+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="1001" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJouEb6yYSVxBWVVbnu5ur3Fjz9ZVwzpzcr_kqNNmgaBEz1yqSlJePjQO96OQiUQ2OLM9WXo9YCZuriVOm5ADFp2ZSy_1kA30fp-LSgTFrCIBrcb7SnUq6cKhbbuqnyXM-QOwWfiRcglC4/s640/thumbnail_DSC_0300+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This amazing picture was taken by my friend, Mike Denz, who leads pilgrimages to Italy. <a href="http://www.takeapilgrimage.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.TakeaPilgrimage.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is a great unifying principle that Our Lord left us, without
which, His Church splinters as individuals decipher different meanings from
Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without which they do not
even know what is the inspired, inerrant Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of
Christ, indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“I do not pray for these only, but also
for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even
as though, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The glory which thou hast given me I have
given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in
me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou
hast sent me and has loved them even as thou hast loved me.”</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">John 17:20-23</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPUD8OGs4kVmGyMrqL2P9AG7ATVs51OQYS9pwaqedKqSdhJ24G0vYdIAkIjr77X7elzgDYPPOvoNaflVc48_rWF7gPyhXQIoUtvhcGSAqyRN-v8NkoTZFDGzUAPml8dZ_mgBDqp3pC99K/s1600/thumbnail_597+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1266" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPUD8OGs4kVmGyMrqL2P9AG7ATVs51OQYS9pwaqedKqSdhJ24G0vYdIAkIjr77X7elzgDYPPOvoNaflVc48_rWF7gPyhXQIoUtvhcGSAqyRN-v8NkoTZFDGzUAPml8dZ_mgBDqp3pC99K/s400/thumbnail_597+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Mike Denze, pilgrimage leader. See below for contact info below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Further reading about the
origin of the Bible and the Church that will rock your world:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why Are
Catholic Bibles Bigger</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Case
for the Deuterocanon: Evidence and Arguments </i>by Gary Michuta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://catholicproductions.com/collections/books/gary-michuta">https://catholicproductions.com/collections/books/gary-michuta</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Where We Got the Bible: Our Debt to the
Catholic Church</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> by Henry
G. Graham <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://shop.catholic.com/where-we-got-the-bible-our-debt-to-the-catholic-church/">https://shop.catholic.com/where-we-got-the-bible-our-debt-to-the-catholic-church/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Clement of Rome & the Didache: A New
Translation and Theological Commentary</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> by Kenneth J. Howell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://chnetwork.org/2013/01/14/clementofrome/">https://chnetwork.org/2013/01/14/clementofrome/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Many, many
more at <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 18px;">https://stpaulcenter.com/</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">For more information on a pilgrimage to Rome with my fun friend, Mike and his lovely (and also fun) wife, Sue, visit </span><a href="http://www.takeapilgrimage.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">www.TakeaPilgrimage.com</a>. You can be edified and engaged about Catholic teaching at his blog: <a href="http://www.sacredheartshrine.org/sacred-thinking" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">www.sacredheartshrine.org/sacred-thinking</a> </div>
<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-9134321454927494832018-02-02T07:26:00.000-08:002018-02-02T07:26:18.870-08:00Do You Hate Small Talk? Maybe You're Doing It Wrong<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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I've heard many people claim they hate small talk like it's a mark of
distinction. I'm not sure that's something worth boasting of,
though. Small talk gets a bad rap, but making it is a skill well worth
having. It's a skill that smooths the way for friendships and relieves
uncomfortable social situations by getting conversation moving. It's like
the Ex-Lax of the conversational world! If you've ever attended a bridal
shower or youth group function you have played games and
"ice-breakers" designed to make small talk happen. The whole
point of these is to ensure that everyone is comfortable enough with each other
to enjoy a pleasant time even if they entered as strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VY5EJrGShbejNODFziZ0peMdhPxTNEfHGVEn9trxCI6ZECeKLaKsjTHjxRIsZPLo6RcxYV36HuK_LuT6354Gbmcg3_69cJmBNmeSHSXdO-qINKh-R25De-jeg4vx6Szgl5RL0EFAKxsc/s1600/DSC_0536+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VY5EJrGShbejNODFziZ0peMdhPxTNEfHGVEn9trxCI6ZECeKLaKsjTHjxRIsZPLo6RcxYV36HuK_LuT6354Gbmcg3_69cJmBNmeSHSXdO-qINKh-R25De-jeg4vx6Szgl5RL0EFAKxsc/s640/DSC_0536+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">While silence is
necessary for a healthy life, interaction with others is too. Conversation
is the thing that helps strangers become acquaintances and even friends.
Small talk is merely introductory conversation.
It functions like a search engine for commonalities with a potential
friend. Of course, if the talk remains small, the relationship will
too. But that's part of the beauty of it. Sometimes you want to
make a strange situation more cozy with chit chat, even if you don't intend to
take these new folks home with you. Maybe you're standing in a long line,
sitting on a plane, or at a table full of strangers at a wedding. The
person who can begin an engaging conversation with a diverse group is generally
admired for their social ease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Small talk can also be
employed to keep an acquaintance an acquaintance. Perhaps the person you
just met is angling to get to know you more deeply than you desire.
Restricting the conversation to small talk gets this message across without
directly rejecting their efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The purpose of it lies
in the conversation itself, not in the topic, so, what makes it
"small" is that it is introductory. If you don't know someone
well, it would be odd to dive into intimate topics before surfing the areas you
have in common. Who doesn't wish they could surf? I think most
people already knows this intuitively, but I'm here to offer a defense of the
often maligned small talk. The very name "small" may suggest
superficiality of though in contrast to having the command of grand and important ideas - and folks don't wish
to seem small of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Oftentimes, it is
introverts who claim a dislike of small talk - at least I've seen articles
outlining the tendencies of introverts making this claim. Perhaps what
they really mean is that they are uncomfortable in situations where they are
surrounded with strangers - the very people we use small talk to transform into
acquaintances. Well, <i>that's</i> the discomfort that well
crafted small talk is supposed to relieve!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Perhaps when people say
they hate small talk, they have in mind the chatter of people who do it
poorly. Someone endlessly talking, especially about himself, is as
intolerable as the one word answerer. But, neither of these is proper
small talk - just poor social skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbISCwNOyJCmhiey1ujzP9oLAFtE0HIciNa72ehXEHacjiSVL7OWnuTN0QB7NP2h5HHM__9niaA4pQ8103x6Y7CtDzTCt-zX4KFzsFz2lyeGOEr7NVo1LZeqcLjHgTg_uiBASJj95JTTar/s1600/p276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbISCwNOyJCmhiey1ujzP9oLAFtE0HIciNa72ehXEHacjiSVL7OWnuTN0QB7NP2h5HHM__9niaA4pQ8103x6Y7CtDzTCt-zX4KFzsFz2lyeGOEr7NVo1LZeqcLjHgTg_uiBASJj95JTTar/s320/p276.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Twain's illustration </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In <u>A Tramp
Abroad</u>, Mark Twain humorously describes a chattering American youth
traveling in Europe whose main occupation is making acquaintance with all the
Americans he lays his eyes on and interrogating them in the most superficial
manner and without even taking in their answers. "That's the way I
always do -- I just go 'round, 'round, 'round and talk, talk, talk -- I never
get bored." He asks the same loop of inconsequential questions -
what hotel they're stopping at, what boat they came over on, and so on - until
they can escape or are driven to distraction. Twain catches on and
answers the questions differently each time they come around, unnoticed by the
lad, because the purpose of his talk is mainly to please himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Twain's comments upon
the young man's departure echo the popular inclination to hate small talk, a
proper response to its unskilled application: "And away he went. He
went uninjured, too -- I had the murderous impulse to harpoon him in the back
with my alpenstock, but as I raised the weapon the disposition left me; I found
I hadn't the heart to kill him, he was such a joyous, innocent, good-natured
numbskull."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">On the contrary, a person<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> skilled in</span> the art of small talk is a
sort of hero. A magician. An engineer. An artist! They
can facilitate introductions, entertain a group of reluctant talkers, draw out
quiet but fascinating people. They know how to make other people socially
comfortable. One who is very skilled can seamlessly referee a group
discussion, temper the attention hog or even orchestrate a bit of match
making. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are a few things
we can all do to improve in this underappreciated skill. I fall a bit
more on the introvert side and am sometimes apprehensive about entering a group
or meeting new people. When my husband and I will be dining with
colleagues of his, I pick his brain to learn what I can about them that will
help me prepare to make conversation. It's good to have a place to start
and questions to ask certain people about themselves to pave the way for further
discussion. People like talking about themselves and things that interest
them - and it shows that your interest in them preceded your meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It also helps to have
some current event or topic of recent interest up your sleeve to pull out at
the right opportunity. Reading books and articles on various subjects can
aid you in this. I know that other
people may be uncomfortable too, and it’s inevitable they will ask questions
about me, so it’s a good idea to think of how I can answer those in a way that might lead to further conversation,
rather than falling flat. Bring in other
information to expand the possibilities. Rather than answering, “I’m just a homemaker” when asked about
myself, I can mention my kids, hobbies, interests and bring up a whole new line of conversation. It’s like playing scrabble. For a more interesting game, you need to open
up the board for the other players.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When you keep your focus
on the other person’s comfort, small talk becomes an act of
charity. The aim of it is to forget yourself and your own
awkwardness in an effort to help the other person feel welcome. Even if you claim to hate small talk, you probably need to engage in it on a regular basis. You're probably better at it than you think. With a little more intentional effort, you can be a small conversation master in no time!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
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Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-72127982336346068112017-11-15T16:28:00.003-08:002017-11-15T19:04:23.802-08:00Nothing Says Fall Like . . . <div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nothing says Fall like pumpkins!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So orange and round; so full of
possibilities! They are the official mascot for Fall's first really
Autumny holiday, Halloween. Just cut holes in it and let it sit on your
porch till it collapses of mold! If you're too lazy (or smart?) for that,
you can simply strew them on your front steps and leave them through the whole
long season as decorations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk0kPEzuwCLeyco-bp0CznbTPbQRoxwmPTMghrLsukBflNTaZ08DnI9Etka7Ep_rURJD_72wfyj2NXGZIAhkB8wAbKqkLqmHG-CH6aw3fbPrCb-xLajOiwnDJEo9BEIBMFKDr_SqRKL69/s1600/IMG_6764+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1600" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk0kPEzuwCLeyco-bp0CznbTPbQRoxwmPTMghrLsukBflNTaZ08DnI9Etka7Ep_rURJD_72wfyj2NXGZIAhkB8wAbKqkLqmHG-CH6aw3fbPrCb-xLajOiwnDJEo9BEIBMFKDr_SqRKL69/s640/IMG_6764+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These pumpkins were grown in my best ever garden. The vine sprouted in our compost area and they just <i>grew</i> with no work on my part whatsoever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And not just decorations - you
can <i>eat</i> them!! Roasted pumpkin, toasted pumpkin seeds,
pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie! Let's not forget the ubiquitous pumpkin spice
latte - which is really just a hot coffee and pumpkin pie smoothie. If
you like that sort of thing. And many do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Pumpkin pie works right through
Thanksgiving and even into Christmas ("There's a happy feeling nothing in
the world can buy, as we pass around the coffee and the PUMPkin
pie.") (Perhaps that's where the idea of the pumpkin spice latte
originated)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Yup. Nothing says Fall
quite like pumpkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Except maybe <i>falling
leaves</i>. When they're falling from all the trees after turning the bright
hues of the sunset of the year. Because, you know, isn't that where the
season got that name?</span><span style="font-size: 18px;"> They say Fall, by actual example.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> How lovely! I like how the
tippety-tappety-tip of the leaves sounds like rain. Forget all
that stuff about pumpkins saying Fall. Nothing really says Fall like
leaves falling. (What was I thinking?!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7HG6PFAJWKfB7FLMKG18qtPQNfN9Oc1HamTZvPSZuXF7Cw6Yp6LQnZ8g0oxrRgncyEr3pDAPK4xS_CgfAzqV_MeAvnoNQA2PrCInuwW2ENRro2bzGE5XOmxOP3B5x6QzDYKct2wkLlw/s1600/DSC_0130+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1600" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7HG6PFAJWKfB7FLMKG18qtPQNfN9Oc1HamTZvPSZuXF7Cw6Yp6LQnZ8g0oxrRgncyEr3pDAPK4xS_CgfAzqV_MeAvnoNQA2PrCInuwW2ENRro2bzGE5XOmxOP3B5x6QzDYKct2wkLlw/s400/DSC_0130+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Lots of people start speaking
of Fall when school starts up again. Not me! It's still summer till
that long day, right around September 22nd, when the day and night tip from
lengthening to shortening. That's what the calendar says. And the
earth gets to that point in its journey around the sun. But, I am not an
astronaut; I must trust the calendar. And calendars do not rule my
life. Fall is when those leaves change color and fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Don't those falling, burnished
leaves make you think of warm sweaters? For a moment the world looks like
Mother Nature crocheted an afghan of warm colors to lay over for the woods in
preparation for the chill air.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zs5VraVV_S-24OW9U36eVIYbrjOVhMZumzYrsuIJ0qsu4hJhkKsb6d_qUgKFHk2IJA2YpsLakpP1PZJz7du4DdJ97QwcEl-iH9XeRaLtjFLQ_CDF20IKEstmjLbr489kFWy5eeJdyYQA/s1600/DSC_0174+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zs5VraVV_S-24OW9U36eVIYbrjOVhMZumzYrsuIJ0qsu4hJhkKsb6d_qUgKFHk2IJA2YpsLakpP1PZJz7du4DdJ97QwcEl-iH9XeRaLtjFLQ_CDF20IKEstmjLbr489kFWy5eeJdyYQA/s400/DSC_0174+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It's true. Nothing says
Fall quite like the falling of leaves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But you can't eat leaves
falling from trees, however bright they are. If something says Fall, I
want it to be edible. Apples! Apples are both edible <i>and</i> fall
from trees in the autumn! Nothing says Fall like apples! I didn't
know what I was talking about before. Cross out all that drivel about
leaves. <s>Leaves.</s> Apples are what really does it.
They just shout Fall! They have everything going for them! They're
pretty Fall colors, you can eat them, they fall from trees. Perfect.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgt3EbQ1a_ltbkIm_UtHgnxQ5nCqVNhnS2W4B-cTVbjGhpegC-eY7s3wB-rkkoC1BrWvH_XYaYKOskmLFnbGbFZ5glQBo8eNJGgTkKo8t6q130XK7QjI_mP9PFH725P1CixtZcvemXZx4/s1600/apple+basket+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgt3EbQ1a_ltbkIm_UtHgnxQ5nCqVNhnS2W4B-cTVbjGhpegC-eY7s3wB-rkkoC1BrWvH_XYaYKOskmLFnbGbFZ5glQBo8eNJGgTkKo8t6q130XK7QjI_mP9PFH725P1CixtZcvemXZx4/s320/apple+basket+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And no one associates them with
having to go back to school. You <i>can</i> give one to your
teacher, which seems to be a tradition for some reason. But you can give one to anybody to sweeten them up. And, it's a
scientific fact that eating one a day keeps the doctor away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The eating of them spans the effort spectrum from more complex,
like apple strudel (Look, I have no idea what apple strudel is, which is the
only reason I chose it as my example), to no effort whatsoever – just take
a bite of the apple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">People start posting pictures on social media of their families
going apple picking and I know Autumn has arrived! They tell you how many gallons of apple sauce
they made that day. They show you their latest
apple pie creation. So, that’s my cue to
go to the store and buy a few Honey Crisps (who doesn’t want crisp honey?!),
Fujis (which will bring you all the joy of a tropical island) or Galas (a party
in every bite!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Sometimes my family cooperates and they eat them, sometimes they
just grow lonely and shrivel up. My
personal favorite fall apple treat is warm, tasty and easy as pie. Actually, it’s <i>way</i> easier than pie and that’s why it’s my favorite. I like baked apples. Here’s the recipe: you basically turn on the oven and put them
in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Okay, it’s a <i>little</i> more
involved than that, but that’s the gist of it.
You just bake them! And then you
put your mouth around theur warm sweetness, they bespeaks the best of the season of Fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nothing says Fall like baked apples!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O87rYlwLs01ejlTSwkvOeJu-LlLFHzefyFN8wAwofvrFGTZ4hTCWXSDUzsnSQMsaABdgdBTJ4OniSAi4HxcrsH8ZKb-vSo9pk12fNlLHlMliOWlrWesJKaN7KJPZSVZJRq6b-tiiFqg3/s1600/Apple+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O87rYlwLs01ejlTSwkvOeJu-LlLFHzefyFN8wAwofvrFGTZ4hTCWXSDUzsnSQMsaABdgdBTJ4OniSAi4HxcrsH8ZKb-vSo9pk12fNlLHlMliOWlrWesJKaN7KJPZSVZJRq6b-tiiFqg3/s400/Apple+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a comfort food, and not very attractive, even in a pretty bowl. But what comfort food is?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">My Baked Apple Recipe<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
The first thing to keep in mind is that you can get baked apples by shoving a stick into a whole apple and holding it over a fire. With that in mind, follow as much or as little of these suggestions as appeal to you.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Core the number of apples that
will fit into your oven safe dish with a lid.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Set them into the dish (I know, but if I didn’t say it . . .)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Put some raisins into the bottom of the hole in each apple.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Then fill the apples with the following in no particular order,
but I tend to do it in this order.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Put a little <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008D6WBA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0008D6WBA&linkId=535a05a28463ad5491ab5e00ad9fbbe4" target="_blank">granulated gelatin</a> into each apple. (This step is totally both optional and optimal. It makes a sort of syrup at the bottom of the
pan and adds a little nutrition. Yum!)(It will still get syrupy without it)</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I've included a link to my Amazon thing just so you can see what I'm talking about it and, if you ordered it from there, I might benefit financially, but I doubt it!)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Stuff a bunch of butter into each apple. (Don’t skimp.
It’s going to run out the bottom and add to the deliciousness of that
syrup.)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Sprinkle (or just pour) spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg,
cloves, allspice in the proportions you like.
(Think apple pie or pumpkin spice)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Add a little water to the pan.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Maybe sprinkle with chopped nuts.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- A little alcohol might be nice, too. You decide.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Really, you get the idea. You’re
baking apples filled with pie flavors that will melt down into the moisture at
the bottom and can be spooned back over the baked apples.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- This is not rocket science.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Bake in the oven at a temperature determined by your level of patience
(350 is they standard go-to temperature for baking, but you’ll get to eat them
sooner if you set it at 400)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Bake them till they’re as soft as you think you’ll like them. Personally, I like the skins to burst and the
insides to be almost mushy. Occasionally,
I have forgotten them until they resemble applesauce in deflated apple skins. Others say they like a little firmness.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">They will be quite hot when you take them out, so for heaven sake,
don’t burn your tongue!! Consider
serving with vanilla ice cream or a little heavy cream or half and half poured
over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNqS3uzhSKGPOXdJObsPinWhDzlHNNRRGv0JktW5zH0sf3XW2RtWpvq-BUBLb5d39wxGIy7-phcfV2SUSlIE2Om0ihHmtPWW5R9WU7t3RL63f8jMW1tKvDv7HHWk-qmt7IEvLv4kXlgFD/s1600/apples+2+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNqS3uzhSKGPOXdJObsPinWhDzlHNNRRGv0JktW5zH0sf3XW2RtWpvq-BUBLb5d39wxGIy7-phcfV2SUSlIE2Om0ihHmtPWW5R9WU7t3RL63f8jMW1tKvDv7HHWk-qmt7IEvLv4kXlgFD/s640/apples+2+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-14487175671901246772017-11-11T19:06:00.001-08:002019-01-02T08:09:03.706-08:00The Homeschool Teaching Crisis<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are many kinds of homeschooling parents. There are
those who incline toward structure and order, whose days appear to run
seamlessly. They make it look so easy. I'm not one of those.
I am inclined toward crises of purpose and procedure. Structure is not my
best friend, though I long for it. I have waves of wailing and gnashing
my teeth about this impossible task I have brought upon myself - but have no
plan to escape. I suppose you could call my educational style "The Hopeful Masochist Homeschooler".</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3ydC2n135Cx1XdBL_kxHpo5pkcKWnDBaCURqBAgDA_mfFhtHRIc8DGd98hz2P97SvNzsWKS_uqUddBrtcX479LcufqsEVx81e73ZVVHAUjUB818iQGrtxh7UjzHt3hmCBDx7rVoOxCgL/s1600/IMG_3280+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3ydC2n135Cx1XdBL_kxHpo5pkcKWnDBaCURqBAgDA_mfFhtHRIc8DGd98hz2P97SvNzsWKS_uqUddBrtcX479LcufqsEVx81e73ZVVHAUjUB818iQGrtxh7UjzHt3hmCBDx7rVoOxCgL/s400/IMG_3280+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A totally staged picture of me pretending to get a headache teaching my daughter something and her pretending to learn it. She didn't want to <i>actually</i> write one of those cursive letters for the picture because it's Saturday.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">I'll have to write this quickly while I'm still on an upswing from
my most recent existential crisis of homeschooling despair. I want to share
some of my more helpful thoughts to sort of send down a rope to those of you
who are currently wallowing in the pit of self-doubt. Please do not use
it to hang yourself, but rather, to try to climb out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">(If you’re someone who has it all figured out and makes it look
easy, you probably won't want to waste your time reading further, so you might
as well go back and help your second grader construct the life size replica of
the Globe Theatre, in which your family of eight geniuses will perform the
Shakespeare works they have memorized.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">What <i>is</i> this thing we're
doing? Educating our children. And what does that actually
mean? What is our goal? For some it's getting them into
college. For some it's launching them into a lucrative job or career path.
For some it's keeping up with the state’s educational requirements. For
some it's making sure they're ahead of the standard. For some it's
providing a liberal or classical education to free their minds. For some
it's being faithful to homeschooling at any cost. For some it's keeping
them safe from the world. And, I confess, some find one of the extremely
attractive goal to be avoiding having to get them up and dressed before the sun
comes up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">In pursuing these goals and meeting these standards, often set by
someone else, we go through our days with our children pushing and fretting,
yelling and regretting. Someone else’s
standards. But these are <i>my</i> children to raise. <i>I</i>
am their parent and no one cares more about them and their future than I
do. When I stand back and look at the
big picture, what difference does it really make if they go to college as long
as they find a path they love, by which they can make a living? Who cares if they’re geniuses or three grades
ahead? Not everyone can be a prodigy or
it would lose its meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwviRUWas_qEDP7gCPX95ORC_9SpUD30LHCnsmp-1PZDf5gO-od3etUcMgYhJPC0RUaoDh37VbSaPWIX9lHFg5k2jPFfOcKTqO7EZaHF0VZtICzaGBiYSte75frQTIvTarjaDg_YV6XWE/s1600/Mozart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="325" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwviRUWas_qEDP7gCPX95ORC_9SpUD30LHCnsmp-1PZDf5gO-od3etUcMgYhJPC0RUaoDh37VbSaPWIX9lHFg5k2jPFfOcKTqO7EZaHF0VZtICzaGBiYSte75frQTIvTarjaDg_YV6XWE/s320/Mozart.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, how do I know what curriculum to use, what philosophy to
follow, when to worry about their progress?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm currently looking
into the method of "not worrying too much about it" for continuing our homeschooling. I have already overachieved my quota for
worrying and <i>that’s</i> not paying off with peace. There is so much time -
even though it seems so short. I'm wondering why we think our kids need
(as kids) the absolute “best” education out there. And, I doubt very much that there is
one. And the other question that must be
asked is, “Best education <i>for what</i>?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">I think it depends on
the kid. And the parents. And the timing. And the
weather. I'm pretty sure if they learn to read and you have a happy,
loving relationship with them and do interesting things now and then, they'll turn out fine. You’ll be amazed.
There simply <i>can’t</i> be only one recipe
for well educated people. What is this
education <i>for</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I guess that's the
question I should be asking when I fret about finding the right, best or
perfect curriculum or materials to use. What difference will it make (now
or later) if we do this or that thing? What's at stake? Is it the
kind of living my kid will be able to make?
The snob factor of the college she attends? (Who cares?) Will it be the
difference between getting A's or B's or C's in a college class? (Big
deal). Will she have even better conversations with even “better” people? Will
her mind be bigger - and what <i>for</i>?</span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I’m on board with the idea of a
liberal arts education, which provides</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> “a means of teaching the
student to be happy by learning to love what is good, true, and beautiful. God
is the Origin of all goodness, truth, and beauty—and that means loving Him and
ordering one’s life accordingly</span>.”* (See Karen Landry’s whole article <a href="articlehttps://journal.newmansociety.org/2017/10/not-aim-happiness-thats-goal/" target="_blank">here</a>, for
more on the purpose of education) <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But, even pursuing this ought not be at the cost of stressed
out relationships that turn them into liberally-educated neurotics. It’s not like there is just one package that
will deliver this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">If I look at my own life
so far and ask what I wish had been different, so little of it involves what I
learned at what age. I think it would have been helpful if history had
been presented more as a framework in which everything happened in an
inter-related way, rather than as a subject. But I doubt very much
my life would have been drastically different even if that had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">I think I'm doing pretty
well myself, in terms of can-hold-a-conversation-without-sounding-<i>too</i>-stupid and I had virtually <i>no</i> real,
methodical education to boast of. We
moved a lot and changed schools a lot, so it was all hit or miss. I
wasn't even really into reading. Even through grad school writing papers
made me feel like dying. I doubt I could actually diagram a sentence even
now. Nevertheless, here I am loving to
learn and pass on interesting things. I
love to live in this fascinating world with so many mysteries to solve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">I'm really trying to de-stress the whole deal. And to thereby actually love the processes of teaching and learning. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm now trying to shake off all the extraneous expectations of other people's
standards, so we can get down to enjoying learning and developing better
relationships and a happy homeschool.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: #c27ba0;">Here are some basic tips I offer for those in
the homeschooling pit of despair:</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Seek like-minded friends. My friends are a wealth of ideas,
encouragement and discussion about education. If you lack a social group, find one on Facebook devoted to homeschooling in several styles you like. They abound!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Avoid
those people who believe there is only one way (generally, it’s <i>their</i> way).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Be
open to completely different things than you’ve been trying – even enrolling in
a school. No option must be a permanent commitment. I have a friend who homeschools when it works
for them and just as easily enrolls her kids in school when that works better,
even for only part of a year. She is my
inspiration of non-commitment!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ask
grown-ups you admire about their education.
You may be surprised how varied their experiences were. I know a brilliant man, who heads an
educational organization, has a degree in architecture and designed his own
stunning house, travels the world helping families with children with
disabilities, whom, I discovered, could not read until he was in fourth grade. How’s that for giving you hope?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Look at your actual child. Are you proud of that child out there in public? Other people can tell you how you are doing. Believe them!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">§<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Remember
they are just kids. They’re not
finished. They’re supposed to act like
that at that age. Remember what you were
like then. You may not see the output
yet, but all the stuff you’re putting in <i>will</i>
eventually be manifest.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">There is more than one path to excellence – and there
are even more paths to goodness. If educating
your children is stressing you out and you find yourself feeling like a slave
to other people’s standards, step back and remind yourself what this education
thing really is and what it’s <i>for</i>. Take a deep breath. These are your children to love, raise and
educate. Your peace and enjoyment will
pass along to them, just like your weird habits and family quirks. They’ll be fine. You’re probably doing a better job than you
realize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin305QlDwxfYrqPGVbL3uMTx18XzQ3sNYDB7e9htKz6E8iaIieuvNgMrSctYD8Y88oE1otJYxfPhss1xbm7ojL3SRE9UBrwec_xOtsuwsuipdmxcw0_6ul-yZFAjDyhFkU3CHxCQS-wUGR/s1600/IMG_3275+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin305QlDwxfYrqPGVbL3uMTx18XzQ3sNYDB7e9htKz6E8iaIieuvNgMrSctYD8Y88oE1otJYxfPhss1xbm7ojL3SRE9UBrwec_xOtsuwsuipdmxcw0_6ul-yZFAjDyhFkU3CHxCQS-wUGR/s400/IMG_3275+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Follow this link to read the article by Karen
Landry in the Cardinal Newman Society Journal, from which this quote was taken: articlehttps://journal.newmansociety.org/2017/10/not-aim-happiness-thats-goal/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-22653502125450238292017-10-09T21:59:00.000-07:002017-10-09T22:08:39.804-07:00Soul's Hearth<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As I walked into the church for Mass last Sunday, I noticed right
away the candles had been trimmed too long. They looked like a half dozen
lit bottle rockets lined up on the reredos, in anticipation of the dazzling
finale in a Fourth of July pyrotechnic display. My mind filled with
strains of Tchaikovsky's <i>1812 Overture</i>.
Smoke was billowing upward from each candle, competing with the incense in
sending super-spiritual smoke signals to heaven. I became curious about
how and who would have to clean the layer of soot that was accumulating on the
overhanging decorative cornice of white marble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFxzj77ouLD8KKC0QuD3ioTE3kODneAgOr7SgoJ4e1KhQFnhzPt8wWAhsILelcUIIZB7fevLTQVK_QW2HfojASy2frf7m3auAbmhopWUe89rjEFd9PLFHhnHNX0NE1qWn-HIz7um_qcaa/s1600/IMG_4332+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFxzj77ouLD8KKC0QuD3ioTE3kODneAgOr7SgoJ4e1KhQFnhzPt8wWAhsILelcUIIZB7fevLTQVK_QW2HfojASy2frf7m3auAbmhopWUe89rjEFd9PLFHhnHNX0NE1qWn-HIz7um_qcaa/s400/IMG_4332+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a picture of the sanctuary of our church. The picture was not taken on the Sunday in question, but on the Easter Sunday when the quantity of incense used set off the fire alarms, resulting in the response of the local fire department.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Obviously, I had not yet
succeeded in reaching the appropriate level of recollection for the great
miracle of Mass that would be commencing imminently. I was, instead,
trying to suppress thoughts of the <i>creme
brulee</i> that could be finished by the power of those blow torches adorning
the tabernacle! What a display! Almost as powerfully flaming were
the six candles upon the altar - but they lacked the benefit of the glossy
white marble background with stripes of gold mosaic tiles inlaid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It happened that the weather
enhanced the spectacle, by providing an overcast dim to the Fall
sunlight. In fact, as the Mass progressed, the clouds gathered and the
rain burst down in what seemed to my imagination Biblical proportions (Old
Testament, naturally). It turns out this storm even produced tornadoes in
neighboring regions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Around the time of the consecration the darkness and noise outside
was surely noticed even by the most attentive and holy in the
congregation. Our church has very large sections of clear, floor to
ceiling windows at the back of the transept arms where our family sits -
not <i>for</i> the view, I might add, but the view of the sky is
rather unavoidable when sitting there.
This made for a dramatic moment, the darkened world illuminated by the glow
within the sanctuary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I know it sounds like I was
missing the point of the Sunday obligation, but I promise these thoughts took
mere minutes, interspersed through the liturgy. My kids were far more
distracting than the candles, as my worshiping neighbors can attest.
(Sorry folks!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nevertheless, some meandering
thoughts during Mass can be tamed enough to help raise one's mind and heart to
God in earnest and these were no exception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59gCnbQYEuP1-JFTys4Xy14Im1nsTg2krM8RrHRUZJvXjcKSmV1QWwiyJPHr0PcP0ryjWMadIdl7Mjcp1lvZbYJUn-JK85Hsl1Oio0GSKQEPiqANlS-czbVs4UyFzSJ2-nnN32jziH7FS/s1600/Morgan+Weistling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="648" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59gCnbQYEuP1-JFTys4Xy14Im1nsTg2krM8RrHRUZJvXjcKSmV1QWwiyJPHr0PcP0ryjWMadIdl7Mjcp1lvZbYJUn-JK85Hsl1Oio0GSKQEPiqANlS-czbVs4UyFzSJ2-nnN32jziH7FS/s200/Morgan+Weistling.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Morgan Weistling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">While the wind roared outside
and the rain whipped the windows, the warming glow of the blazing candles
within the sanctuary brought to my mind the coziness of a fire in a hearth,
good for light, heat and transformation of simple ingredients into nourishing
and sustaining food. I thought of generations of people gathered around a
tended fire, for life, for companionship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I thought of He who is the
Light of the world, the life giver, who by His burning love transforms himself
into nourishing and soul sustaining food. He who transforms us, the
tongues of fire descending upon us, at our invitation, that we may go out and
warm the world by His flame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Lord, trim my wick long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-86788530161146576152017-09-23T21:19:00.000-07:002017-09-23T21:19:49.692-07:00Excuse Me, God, Is There a Family Discount?<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It's not easy to become a saint while raising a family. Especially
for some of us. Me, for instance. And I could use a little help. I heard
a priest recommend that we read about and seek the intercession of saints who
shared the same vocation as us. Priests should get to know the lives of
holy priests, religious sisters should study saints who were religious sisters
and parents should seek the intercession of saints who lived their vocation as
parents, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Quick! Think of saints
who were parents! Now, eliminate those who were martyred with their young
children, because that's not the same as becoming a saint while parenting those same
children through the years. You can also eliminate those who were royalty
or otherwise had someone on staff helping keep house and raise the children. There goes St. Margaret of Scotland, patron
of mothers. She was a queen. Also, there goes St. Gianna Berreta
Mola, darn it! She <i>is</i> a prime example of a modern woman
who was very holy and a mother. But, she's doesn't exactly
represent <i>me</i>, because, though she had decided to stop her full-time
work after the birth of her fourth child, she died heroically from
complications of her fourth pregnancy.
She did not spend all her days at home attempting to educate her kids
(though I suspect she would have been great at it if she had!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Likewise, Zelie Martin, the
mother of St. Therese (and four other daughters who became nuns) died young.
I'm not young anymore and I need a patron for this job! I know <i>all</i> the saints give an example of
holiness that can apply to us all. I am a great appreciator of the
saints, many of whom I consider dear friends.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5IDc72uCKSRqyjRLmJxlipLGY1haJrO8fnOq3cI6afVuddamGem6b9QB417GAVzBzc8rbCjRFJ0C0-e746XFoUsNXjGZAtrAEMDXBlMGVNX8s0mFSmLNjk9qZkvM8JQd4eSOJr03WfH6/s1600/Old+Woman+in+Shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="194" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5IDc72uCKSRqyjRLmJxlipLGY1haJrO8fnOq3cI6afVuddamGem6b9QB417GAVzBzc8rbCjRFJ0C0-e746XFoUsNXjGZAtrAEMDXBlMGVNX8s0mFSmLNjk9qZkvM8JQd4eSOJr03WfH6/s320/Old+Woman+in+Shoe.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> So, what’s so different about being a mom than other vocations
that makes it so hard to grow in holiness?
Well, first of all, you’re never really alone in a quiet, prayerful
setting. Even church isn’t a quiet,
prayerful setting when I go with my kids.
Why do you think there’s so much discussion about whether young children
should be taken into the church or stuffed into the cry room? They call it the “cry room” for a
reason. One might argue it could just as
well have been called the “whine room.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you don’t spend quality time speaking and listening to God, how
can you cultivate a relationship with him?
Right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And, let’s face it, St. Paul was right.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 18px;">“An unmarried woman . . . is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband." </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">(1 Corinthians 7:34)</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As much as I argued with
him that, surely after gaining attending a graduate program in theology from an
institution faithful to the Church, surrounded by others who want to be saints,
<i>I</i> would be able to balance spiritual life
and family life! Why would I suddenly be
more concerned with things of the world just because I got married? What did <i>he
</i>know?</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Well, these “things of the world” keep my children fed, which, if
I didn’t concern myself with, they would perish.
I guess he knew something after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But still, I’m going to argue that while each vocation and
individual life is fraught with its own difficulties and distractions, having
children living about you daily, <i>per se</i>,
makes it a bit harder to practice those virtues you need to become a
saint. Oh, sure, there are many more
opportunities to <i>practice</i> these
virtues (patience, prudence, fortitude, justice, charity, etc.), for me, this
somehow always seems to translate into more occasions when I actually <i>fail</i> at these virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I wonder, then, if God gives parents sort of a family discount for
holiness. Sort of like a golf handicap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Let’s see, you entered the cloister early and died young? You need to gain 5000 virtue points to be a
saint. You can earn those by praying for families. Your family was wealthy, your
every need was met and you lived through an era of peace? That’ll take 7300 points, but you can get a
discount for giving away half your fortune without a tax deduction. You’re a pastor who maintained a prayer life,
exemplified virtue, said the Mass reverently, settled quarrels and evangelized
your flock? Congratulations! Here’s your “Get Out of Purgatory Free” card! Your people should bring forward your cause
for canonization!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You’re a homeschooling mom?
You get a coupon book containing 40,000 coupons redeemable for
unfinished Rosaries, weekday Mass you wanted to go to, but someone threw up,
taking your kids to the grocery store without using bad language in public and
many more! We don’t expect much from
you, under the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Getting to heaven is a lot of work!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now before you get all panicky that I think we need to work our
way into heaven, of course I don’t. It’s
enough to “accept Jesus Christ into our heart as our Lord and Savior” to gain
eternal life. (And, if you want to get
all technical, be baptized. Matt
28:19). But, my <i>love</i> for Him is what He wants and what I want to give Him. Love is shown by going the extra mile, by
putting our words into action. To just
believe and call it “done” seems a little like saying, “That’s enough for
Him! The rest is all for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">While it is <i>enough</i>, Our Lord wants for us ever so much more.
He wants to dwell in us, so we may have and become all He gives us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Think of the rich, young man in Matthew’s Gospel. He asked Jesus what he ought to do to gain
eternal life. Jesus answered simply “If
you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” That was <i>enough</i>. But the young man pushed his question to
another level. “All of these I have
observed. What do I still lack?” To which Jesus, seeing he wanted more than to
just slip in to the kingdom, gave him the course to the next level of love, “If
you wish to be perfect; go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me.” (<i>cf</i> Matthew 19:16-21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A few chapters earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, we hear Jesus sum up
his sermon on the mount with the words, “So, be perfect just as your Father in
heaven is perfect.” (Matt 5:48). Jesus
invites us to be perfect; He <i>wants</i> us
to be perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">He wants us to aspire to the higher level, to holiness! He gives us the grace to do so. But, He also knows we are weak and we each live in
different circumstances and so, there is a level of commitment that is “enough,”
but not “perfect.” He knows the lights
we each have been given and the weight of the burdens we carry. Only He knows these.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And yet, He calls us each to a higher level of love than we can
know we are capable of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is in this that His “discount” lies. His Love is our discount. We must avail ourselves of it, whatever our
circumstances, whatever our vocation. And, those peaceful prayers of those cloistered nuns? Many of them are for those of us living in the world and in families. And they carry us along more than we will know in this life. They help convey His love to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So, I guess that means that I’ve got to step it up not only in my
parenting, but in all my relationships, if I want to love God perfectly – to become a
saint. I don’t get to figure in my own
handicap. I’ve got to take up my cross
and follow Him each day, not concerning myself with my abilities. He calls me to do the best I can, not
worrying about how poor that is, because He Himself, will apply the discount of
His mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-26237886044936466142017-09-06T09:37:00.002-07:002017-09-06T14:40:26.602-07:00A "Strong Catholic" Adrift<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One of the things I most enjoy during visits with my family in
Southern California, is visiting the little beach town nearby. Main
Street lies between Pacific Coast Highway and the pier and is lined with
restaurants, cafes, pubs, boutiques, ice cream parlors and art galleries.
The shops are all individually owned and have a low profile, preserving
the small town community feel of the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR-JMB47wjjK3oWvosJuAF8Z73DoOgxDok5P_58kyrxJpMkgsRI7aKNjjOQyBs5WJQJyIQZ1rV_pZZ79_7n-53qdKON8Hpk-_i_OawdzbkksITADO-7a_sWEEpbc8rZTM5o7zAE0nSf7P/s1600/IMG_5904+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR-JMB47wjjK3oWvosJuAF8Z73DoOgxDok5P_58kyrxJpMkgsRI7aKNjjOQyBs5WJQJyIQZ1rV_pZZ79_7n-53qdKON8Hpk-_i_OawdzbkksITADO-7a_sWEEpbc8rZTM5o7zAE0nSf7P/s320/IMG_5904+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favorite cafes on Main Street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">On a recent visit, my little
girl and I turned in to a shop that sold art and nick knacks all about angels.
I noticed a good many statues and pictures of St. Francis and the Blessed
Mother as well, and wondered if the owner might be Catholic. I asked the lady
behind the counter. She was the owner and said, "Yes, I'm a strong
Catholic!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"Perfect!” I thought.
I asked if she happened to know if there was a Saturday evening Mass at
the church, which is just one street over (we had only been there for Sunday
morning Masses in the past). She said she did not know the schedule, as
it was not her parish; she went to the church a few towns down the coast,
though her mother is a parishioner at this one. Well, as I love her
church as well, I asked if hers has a Saturday evening Mass. She did not
know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You see, she only went to Mass
on Christmas. I don't remember exactly how the conversation went from
there, but it must have involved my mouth hanging open or something, because
she assured me several times that she is "a <i>strong</i> Catholic."
I mean, she must be, right, because she has a shop just for things about
angels?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Everyone’s favorite line from the movie, <i>The Princess Bride</i>, passed through my mind: “You keep using that
word. I do not think it means what you
think it means.” But I refrained from
letting it pass by my lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm sure I urged her to
consider more frequently availing herself of the source and summit of her Faith
- because that's the kind of person I am (i.e. one who spurts out things on any occasion). But, she has to keep her shop
running and that takes most of her time. She must be very busy, because
she admitted she doesn't even always have time for yoga!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We walked out and uttered a
prayer that this lady would grow in her faith and feel a longing to return to
the Sacraments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm sure we all know or come
across people who grew up Catholic and still identify with the Church, but
don't seem to know or <i>do</i> a thing
about it. They haven't <i>left</i> the Church, but they're
not <i>in</i> it. It's like they have fallen overboard from a
ship and are floating along in a life preserver. The name of the ship is
printed on the life preserver, so they still feel connected. And they
have no idea what they are missing or at what peril they are drifting out to
sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It was so astonishing to me and I still think about her (and pray
for her). How can someone be so sure and
proud of her affiliation with the Catholic Faith, but simply refuse to respond
to the invitation Jesus issues to live it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Somewhere something went wrong
with the catechesis people like her received. Probably, they were never evangelized. I’m
not the first person to consider the cause.
Who knows? But what can we do for
them <i>now</i>? There may be many answers to this (start
discussions about the Faith, give a good example, challenge them) and they
differ for each person. But the one
thing we can do for every person we meet in this situation is to pray for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And yet, though this is a sad state of things, it is also a sign
of great hope. The angel lady has <i>not</i> left the Church. She still sees herself as connected in a “strong”
way. She feels she has a relationship
with God through His Church. And she
does. She has surely neglected it and is
missing out on the riches He offers. But
hope knows that there is a rope connecting her life preserver to the ship, the
bark of Peter. And she will be drawn in,
unless she herself cuts this line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This is illustrated through Evelyn Waugh’s novel, <i>Brideshead Revisited</i>. As her father lies on his deathbed, resisting
reconciliation with God, Julia explains to Charles how G.K. Chesterton shows
this theme in his Father Brown mystery (I know, I’m trying to explain someone
in a novel explaining a novel to illustrate my point!):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 18px;">“Father Brown said something like ‘I caught him’ [the thief] with an unseen hook and an invisible line which is long enough to let him wander to the ends of the world and still bring him back with a twitch upon the thread.”</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In <i>Brideshead</i>, her father did, ultimately
reconcile (sorry for the spoiler, but it’s still well worth reading). This is not merely fiction. It happens in real life again and again. We can count on it when we pray and trust in
God’s mercy. Our heavenly Father, more
than anyone else, desires that these stray sheep return to His fold. In the context of the Bread of Life discourse
in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, Our Lord says, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I
should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on]
the last day.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(Jn.
6;39)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You
see, we were made for union with God and are attracted to Him. Why do you think the angel lady’s shop is
devoted to angels and contains statues of the Mother of Our Lord? Her heart is yearning for God, but she has
been distracted by other things at present. A twitch upon the thread will bring her back.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is as St. Augustine famously said, “Thou
hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds rest
in Thee.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The entirety of the quotation from Augustine’s <i>Confessions</i> is too beautiful not to put
down here. And as you read it, I ask
that you make it a prayer, a twitch upon the thread, for all those who are drifting about in the lukewarm sea
in life preservers with the name of the Church indelibly stamped on them. That they may not be lost, but shall rise
again on the last day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Great are you, O Lord, and exceedingly worthy of praise; your power is immense, and your wisdom beyond reckoning. And so we men, who are a due part of your creation, long to praise you – we also carry our mortality about with us, carry the evidence of our sin and with it the proof that you thwart the proud. You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you.”</span></blockquote>
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Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-54409174323847956312017-08-13T07:04:00.000-07:002017-08-13T07:04:34.559-07:00When Someone Falls From Grace, Help Them Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I once
heard someone say, “When a person has fallen from grace, don’t kick him
down. Help him up!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It sounds so
obvious, but we really do need to be reminded.
We see it all around us. “Did you
hear what she <i>did</i>???” Shock and outrage are often our response to
accounts we see on the internet, hear on the news, discus with gossips. It’s all gossip, really. And how do we respond? “I’m <i>shocked!”</i> “How terrible!” “He should be locked up!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even when
it is someone in our own circles or family, we want to believe <i>we</i> would never do likewise. We’re better than <i>that</i>! And it’s easier to
continue believing so when the gap between us and them remains large. So, we kick them down. “You see, he’ll never learn.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t we
like to see prisoners treated harshly?
Don’t we root for the bully to get some of his own back? Don’t we love it when the movie bad guy not
only gets caught, but is annihilated by the hero?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is
the <i>matter</i> with us?!?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I
think most of us also love – and I mean <b><i>really</i></b> love - when the hero shows
mercy beyond the desserts of the villain.
It makes the <i>hero</i> better. Occasionally it even makes the villain better
as well. Isn’t that part of what makes us love <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, the recently released <i>Wonder Woman</i> film,
dare I mention the Gospels?? Talk about
stooping down to lift others up! And Our Lord uttered <i>from the cross</i>, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cringe
whenever I see the meme that says, “Everything happens for a reason . . .
sometimes the reason is that you’re stupid and make bad decisions.” Okay, I cringe after I laugh, but I
cringe. It might be true, but it hardly
gives us superiority! If we’re smarter
and able to make better decisions than another person, that actually puts us in
a position to <i>help</i> them. What does it say about a person who
criticizes someone for not doing what they aren’t able to do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suggest
we challenge ourselves to rise above the petty feeling of superiority we get
standing atop a heap of failures, by reaching down to give them a hand up. Are we afraid they will fail again? They will – just like we do, too. Seven times seventy! Are we afraid they will succeed – and then we’ll
look worse than we did in comparison to them?
Well, that’s just silly! Would we
think a teacher is smarter if all his students failed? On the contrary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you
imagine a father bringing his four-year-old son out to play basketball and
sneering at the little fellow because he couldn’t get the ball into the
basket? Most of us would not think him a
very good father. We wouldn’t make fun
of the little fellow as a failure for being unable to reach the hoop as well as
his tall father. Rather, we would admire
the sort of father who lifts his little boy up to the hoop so he can learn to
play basketball and have fun with his daddy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isn’t it
the same when we hear of a heroic person who lowers herself to help even
strangers? Mother Teresa (St. Teresa of
Calcutta) is still one of the most universally recognized and admired figures
for giving her whole life to just that work: serving the poorest of the
poor. And her religious order still
attracts many young women to this life of dramatic mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may
not be called to such a community, but there are many opportunities all around
us to extend mercy to those who have fallen from grace. Often, that means giving tangible help, a
kind word, good advice. Always it means
praying for them. But first, it means
seeing who we are to them – and who we are to those who have shown us
mercy. Foremost among these is God, of
course. If we have received God’s mercy,
it will be harder on us if we fail to extend mercy to our neighbor. Remember the parable Jesus told about the servant
whose debt was forgiven, who then had his own debtor thrown into prison until
he paid the debt (I always wonder just how they’re supposed to do it from there
anyway). When the master learned of that
servant’s harsh treatment of the other, he again held him accountable for the
original debt, withdrawing his mercy. We
invite this response when we pray the Our Father: “forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In her short
story “The Sculptor’s Funeral,” Willa Cather poignantly illustrates the life
crushing pettiness of those who revel in the failure of others. The nothing men of a nothing town gathered at
a funeral to malign and criticize the every failure of the young man brought
back in his coffin – as they did everyone who left the town to better
himself. The crushing speech bringing to
light their snivelly evil was given by a man they had previously brought down
to their level and was now a drunk, corrupt lawyer who did their dirty legal
wangling. He knew from experience and
observation that it was they themselves who planted the seeds of failure in the
young men they enjoyed criticizing when the failure bloomed. The story leaves the reader with a creepy
feeling of disgust toward those men who kicked down those who had not only
fallen from grace, but their falls were the result of being tripped by those
very men.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a
good exercise to think a moment before uttering our shock, our distain, our
judgement on those who are pathetic, who are sinful, who have fallen from
grace. Hold back our accusation, our
ridicule, our kick. Won’t it make us all
not only feel better, but to <i>be</i>
better to lift them up instead? If we
need inspiration to do so, we need only to look up and see the hand of divine
grace reaching into the depths to raise us up again. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-10437053306654334552017-08-07T14:45:00.004-07:002017-08-10T07:31:46.352-07:00Eight Ways to Be a Better Godparent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0Ak0uotBHirujURkmbfUlbK_Xp6tzzBXrmL04hPcdyCcteyWGlit8jW8hW2wZFd8QiYETkXMLBKjB62ec44BH5A604G2peTn8qddV2PspcgIxZ0_nJxnA-XVYZoXR8iLX6NGoMyiTag9/s1600/baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="960" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0Ak0uotBHirujURkmbfUlbK_Xp6tzzBXrmL04hPcdyCcteyWGlit8jW8hW2wZFd8QiYETkXMLBKjB62ec44BH5A604G2peTn8qddV2PspcgIxZ0_nJxnA-XVYZoXR8iLX6NGoMyiTag9/s640/baptism.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is an honor to be asked to be a godparent. But choosing a
godparent is not merely a way to honor a friend or relative after the birth of
a child; it is an invitation to take on a big responsibility in the child’s
life. No, you are not expected to raise the child in the event of the
parents' early demise. That is taken care of by their will. The
role of the godparents is more on the spiritual side. As my nine-year-old
daughter put it, "The parents help the whole child grow up and the godparents
help the child's soul grow up."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The Catechism of the Catholic
Church reminds us that “Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of
believers. It is only within the faith
of the Church that each of the faithful can believe.” (CCC 1253) The godmother and godfather will ideally be
fixed points in the spiritual life of the child. They are a small, chosen church community for
that particular child, regardless of changes of parish and location. They hold the great responsibility of assisting
the parents to help the child to grow spiritually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So, if you have been honored by an invitation to be a godparent, you’ll
want to take your responsibility seriously and be faithful to the promises you
made when that baby was baptized. Here
are a few practical ways you can ensure you assist in the spiritual growth of
that child and represent the Church community to him or her, whether you live
close by or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Actually
pray daily for your godchild</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you aren't already in the
practice of daily prayer, this would be a good time to start! A routine
time will make it easier to remember and be consistent. Perhaps first
thing in the morning (by which I mean, after you've had your coffee!) or before
dinner at the end of your grace before meals.
When you are at Mass, be sure to remember your godchild when you receive
communion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Remember
your godchild's baptismal day</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This is a date you really ought
to know. Chances are, you were there and dressed up for it. If you
don't recall the date, ask the child's parents. They may have to look it
up or call the parish where the child was baptized, but this is a date you
should celebrate with your godchild. For the godparent, the anniversary
of the child's baptism is an even more important date to commemorate than their
birthday. Celebrate both, by all means, but if you're going to forget
one, let it be the birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Some simple things you can do
to observe the day would be to have a Mass said for the child's intentions and
send a Mass card. A nice letter reminding them of the momentous event
that happened that day and encouraging them in living the Faith will go a long
way toward building your relationship. At the very least, a phone call
can be made. If the child is still too young to care about any of this,
his parents will appreciate it. If you're close enough to visit, you
could have a little party. Cake and even a gift related to the Faith are
a wonderful way to celebrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If your godchild is no longer a
baby, it’s not too late to begin a tradition of remembering them on this
special day. They might love to get to know you or it could be a way to
help them back to living their baptismal promises if they have strayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Teach
them to renew their baptismal vows</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Their baptismal anniversary
would be a good time for you to teach your godchild to renew their baptismal
vows. Just as we do at Mass on Easter, everyone present renews their
baptismal promises at the same time.
Here are the questions for you to print out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 13pt;">V. Do you reject
Satan? <br />
R. I do. <br />
V. And all his works? <br />
R. I do. <br />
V. And all his empty promises? <br />
R. I do. <br />
V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5593"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">heaven</span></a> and earth? <br />
R. I do. <br />
V. Do you believe in <a href="http://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Jesus</span></a> Christ, his only Son,
our Lord, who was born of the Virgin <a href="http://www.catholic.org/bookstore/?category=19"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mary</span></a> was crucified, died, and was buried, rose
from the dead, and is now seated at the <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10046"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">right</span></a> hand of the Father? <br />
R. I do. <br />
V. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2678"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Catholic</span></a> Church, the
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">life</span></a> everlasting? <br />
R. I do. <br />
V. God, the all-powerful Father of our <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5217"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Lord</span></a> <a href="http://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Jesus</span></a> <a href="http://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Christ</span></a> has given us a new
birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May he also keep
us faithful to our <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5217"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Lord</span></a> <a href="http://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Jesus</span></a> <a href="http://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Christ</span></a> for ever and ever. <br />
R. Amen. <br />
(This is a <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4568"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">family</span></a> service that is
directed by one of the parents. The <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4568"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">family</span></a> members renew their <a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1465"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">baptismal vows</span></a> and sprinkle
themselves with holy water,)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Light
their baptismal candle </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr9mEcUNzDz-a5zSqyYl9iiWPTlfr0IBq301gM7qADcw7Kej3kEh7XKzbrznAMHJx3YwvCE6Ae6XGzYaeCgSNHihWLtRuUxIF8y78XhPk_roGBM5rm7h2Nd0erDv2NWZR3mP1mXp2Wk8K/s1600/candle+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr9mEcUNzDz-a5zSqyYl9iiWPTlfr0IBq301gM7qADcw7Kej3kEh7XKzbrznAMHJx3YwvCE6Ae6XGzYaeCgSNHihWLtRuUxIF8y78XhPk_roGBM5rm7h2Nd0erDv2NWZR3mP1mXp2Wk8K/s1600/candle+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If it hasn't been long since
the baptism, the parents may still know where the baptismal candle is.
Their baptismal birthday celebration is the time to bring out the candle
and light it, ideally when the baptismal vows are being renewed. If you
no longer know where the candle is, just order a new one to use for their
anniversary celebration. Order one for yourself, while you're at it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Remember
your godchild's Name Day</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Get to know your child's
patron saint and help celebrate their name day! You can ask the parents
if they were named for a particular saint. A quick Google search will
turn up that saint's feast day. That is the “Name Day” of all those named
for that saint. It's possible that the parents their baby a traditional
name, but didn't have a particular saint in mind. Encourage them to choose one that they think
will be a good example for their child. If the name is one that is made up
or doesn't have a saint associated with it at all, just choose a patron saint
who seems appropriate for some reason. Celebrate that saint’s feast as
the child's Name Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Again, having a Mass said for
the child is the greatest of gifts. It may seem boring to a child <i>now</i>, but its value is immeasurable!
Go ahead and get them a treat or a gift! Have a little celebration
for their Name Day. Catholics have so
much to celebrate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Faith
related gifts</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now that you know their patron
saint, you may find books, statues or holy cards about that saint. Why
not surprise your godchild with them sometime? It is another way to stay
in touch and build a relationship with them, as well as bolster their faith.
If the child is small, here there are some really cute toys and books
that will help instill a love for holy things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Refer
to yourself as their Godparent</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Be sure your godchild
actually knows who you are as they grow up! It is not unusual for
parents to choose a godparent for their child who they are close with at one
time in their life, but who then become separated by distance. Do stay in
touch as you can. Try to cultivate a relationship with the child that
outlives the one you have with their parents. Point out the reason for
your special relationship with them when you are together or through letters.
If you're a close relative, you may always be remembered as Aunt Carol
and the godparent/godchild relationship may go by the wayside. Be sure to
set yourself apart as a sure companion along their spiritual journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Attend
their reception of first Sacraments</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">First reception of the
Eucharist is a very special day for most Catholics. Be sure to be there
for your godchild to show that you are with them along this journey. But
also find out how you might help prepare them for important sacramental firsts.
Ask their parents when they will be preparing for their first confession
(also an important event, but seldom celebrated with panache), first Holy
Communion, and Confirmation and ask how you might aid them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXjEicUKFJfsVxMWL-6a0p4L58Z4EwOA8b4THmmV1B2KFQ73PyvSNW9Ir66NFVBkTPkk-v77gZwFdxRtXmxC6FBUw7lPLDipMHWLqjKU9S0HCMHg_uEuehzYNtS0Vs170N8EXaNtIK35M/s1600/10985888_10206685943688944_2195186771756397579_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="897" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXjEicUKFJfsVxMWL-6a0p4L58Z4EwOA8b4THmmV1B2KFQ73PyvSNW9Ir66NFVBkTPkk-v77gZwFdxRtXmxC6FBUw7lPLDipMHWLqjKU9S0HCMHg_uEuehzYNtS0Vs170N8EXaNtIK35M/s400/10985888_10206685943688944_2195186771756397579_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Pick the suggestions that will work for you and your impact as a
godparent will be multiplied! If you
pick all of them, then your godchild may well become the envy of all his
siblings. But, more likely, his parents
will adopt some of these beautiful practices into their family observance of
their Faith. And all will be richer for
it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">[Disclaimer: These are simply suggestions. Even I don't do <i>all</i> these things and I only have one godchild!! Please add them to your life as your personality and level of overwhelm allow.]</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-87901773611415611722017-08-01T22:05:00.005-07:002017-08-02T15:08:35.101-07:00Beyond St. Francis: More Saints for Animal Lovers<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Did someone accidentally eat your pet? There's a saint for that!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">When we think of a patron
saint for animals and animal lovers, St. Francis usually comes immediately to
mind. He's probably pretty busy. There are several other saints who will pop up when you do a search
for patrons for animals and animal keepers, too.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">I discovered that some of these have their patronage
due to events in their lives that simply </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">involved</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">
animals (like St. Anthony of Padua preaching to fish).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Even more remotely, a
saint’s symbolism might include animals for other reasons and they then they
became patron of that animal. St.
Ambrose of Milan, for instance, was known as “the honey tongued doctor” because
of his eloquent preaching, which led to the beehive appearing in his iconography,
which led to him being known as a patron of bees, beekeepers, and candle
makers. That seems like a stretch to me.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I have put together this
list of saints who actually liked, loved and even kept animals as pets. Some are even known for their kindness to
wild animals. Many have healed and even
restored life to animals that had died!
When your pet needs healing or a behavior adjustment – or if you need
help convincing someone to let you <i>get</i>
a pet, these are saints who will understand when you ask their intercession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDAWM4IuM9fjxdb-Tjysq1C0c6FmWfJMIiTdTjAGGR5Uqj-WZKJiCPIM4k5CGNk4DPUSz33vmlo5cbTKhshCygUeM81hnM619sNpT0WImEtq0z5El8aA2F-m-z12Y9_C_n18tGrsD0yj9/s1600/St.+Anthony+Abbot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDAWM4IuM9fjxdb-Tjysq1C0c6FmWfJMIiTdTjAGGR5Uqj-WZKJiCPIM4k5CGNk4DPUSz33vmlo5cbTKhshCygUeM81hnM619sNpT0WImEtq0z5El8aA2F-m-z12Y9_C_n18tGrsD0yj9/s400/St.+Anthony+Abbot.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">st. Anthon Abbot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">St. Anthony Abbot </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><br />
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Pigs, Domesticated
Animals</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(4<sup>th</sup> century,
Egypt, Feast day: January 17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Officially a patron saint
of domesticated animals, Saint Anthony is often depicted standing next to a
pig. The story goes that he cured a pig,
which thereafter followed him everywhere.
His feast day is often celebrated with a festival and blessing of
animals to ensure the good health and fertility of the animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5WCPkiyGuMzGu1GW1miimzb_FURVuNdauAxyx7WA4WDa3s3htQ_m81Kx6UwT7VeP-X7Bt5uhPQ0qQokV_P-DUCyp08GFv7WQTE3Jw7rGAaMzdVHNKKsJdY-Z7IIkWtOZ1UguQdRbPnYT/s1600/St.+Blaise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="339" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5WCPkiyGuMzGu1GW1miimzb_FURVuNdauAxyx7WA4WDa3s3htQ_m81Kx6UwT7VeP-X7Bt5uhPQ0qQokV_P-DUCyp08GFv7WQTE3Jw7rGAaMzdVHNKKsJdY-Z7IIkWtOZ1UguQdRbPnYT/s400/St.+Blaise.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Blaise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Blaise<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Wild
Animals</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Second
century, Armenia, Feast day: February 3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">St.
Blaise was known to have cured diseased wild animals that came to him of their
own accord for healing, but never disturbed him in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_h2G2WBcKW7QFLKiFO_4PSILbrtHxlrjkqxOIDEtvXpBrc7RCpzu8EqS8cpjbs_-LIO738yRVZmMrMpdqp4uT4aOCrgKaDE5AWjSjOfhvIKEtEd2lC7ftvz0_zKBooxsMjq4Ek7rJN4HB/s1600/St.+Brigid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_h2G2WBcKW7QFLKiFO_4PSILbrtHxlrjkqxOIDEtvXpBrc7RCpzu8EqS8cpjbs_-LIO738yRVZmMrMpdqp4uT4aOCrgKaDE5AWjSjOfhvIKEtEd2lC7ftvz0_zKBooxsMjq4Ek7rJN4HB/s400/St.+Brigid.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Brigid<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cattle, Chickens, Boar, Fox,
Cow All Animals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 523, Ireland, Feast
day: February 1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Loved animals, gave
sanctuary to a wild boar, turned a fox into a loving pet for the king, was kind
to dogs, was followed by a cow. Under
her care, her master’s dairy prospered, even though she constantly gave away
his produce. She is a patron of cattle
and poultry farmers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVzs1oiYPb-FtCbVn-kDcCNIB_j1ZY2rxjHVvYN_cx1XnwwyaL9LEp0hBHq3orSpJ97avI-6SrhS9xZsypOm_JPyV1PLAgaqk-nNjmMPFzG6U_vHti-wS9dwI18VLKLhWlmSpXDnNKsIu/s1600/St.+Colette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVzs1oiYPb-FtCbVn-kDcCNIB_j1ZY2rxjHVvYN_cx1XnwwyaL9LEp0hBHq3orSpJ97avI-6SrhS9xZsypOm_JPyV1PLAgaqk-nNjmMPFzG6U_vHti-wS9dwI18VLKLhWlmSpXDnNKsIu/s400/St.+Colette.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Colette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Colette</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">All Animals, Lamb, Birds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1447, France, Feast
day: February 7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Colette loved and
cared for all animals. And they loved
her, too. She had a pet lamb that followed
her everywhere, including to church.
Birds flew about her and she is said to have understood their communication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYaBVHE6_AAdbii1bTlhBWoUk3FKHiBJ4DoD2mpv-Lcu90GF6E-MwJ601ihq4T9qJeC_br8_95FGoc0FDb5aLbPvaJoZyBEkgFxx8XNhV_bxtDyj0QYopUAKSqpWQQCCPkqYdhtBSppeJ/s1600/St.+Francis+de+Paola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="180" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYaBVHE6_AAdbii1bTlhBWoUk3FKHiBJ4DoD2mpv-Lcu90GF6E-MwJ601ihq4T9qJeC_br8_95FGoc0FDb5aLbPvaJoZyBEkgFxx8XNhV_bxtDyj0QYopUAKSqpWQQCCPkqYdhtBSppeJ/s400/St.+Francis+de+Paola.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Francis of Paola</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Francis of Paola<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Fish,
Lamb, All Creatures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Early
16<sup>th</sup> century, Calabria, Italy, Feast day: April 2)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, you’ve got to love
St. Francis of Paola! He so loved
animals that he was known to resurrect at least three. This story is amazing. He had a pet trout, called Antonella, that
swam in a pool. It seems that a visiting
priest, unaware that the fish was a pet, caught it and took it home to
eat. He had begun frying poor
Antonella! Fortunately, St. Francis
noticed Antonella’s absence and sent a brother to get it back. Alas, Antonella was about to be eaten and the
unawares priest, annoyed that his lunch was being reclaimed, threw the cooked
fish to the ground, whereupon it broke to pieces. Upon receiving the cooked and broken pieces
of his pet, St. Francis put them in the pool and prayed, “Antonella, in the
Name of Charity, return to life!” – and it did!
The fish began to swim happily about again. This miracle was witnessed by several people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Oddly enough, this was
not the only time an animal St. Francis Paola loved was rescued from mistaken
diners. He had a pet lamb, Matrinello, that
was not only cooked, but consumed by nearby workmen. Upon discovering the tragedy, St. Francis
raised up his lamb from the bones and fleece, which had been flung into an
oven.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
if someone cooks your canary, St. Francis Paola is who you should call on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DEPxlDh6__f16NJkTumP9CD-zt0ma0MFBypPlDNMcTUGXqZRr8dc-tRRDXWx8Jtj9F4VOU9T84WNuh4CkTy15XQAuqJEqaJZEZSne0sU6bDfew1fjJcW7QtxKK9cUKefEEmiw5tewhZQ/s1600/St.+Isidore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DEPxlDh6__f16NJkTumP9CD-zt0ma0MFBypPlDNMcTUGXqZRr8dc-tRRDXWx8Jtj9F4VOU9T84WNuh4CkTy15XQAuqJEqaJZEZSne0sU6bDfew1fjJcW7QtxKK9cUKefEEmiw5tewhZQ/s400/St.+Isidore.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Isidore the Farmer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Isidore the Farmer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Birds,
Animals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died
1130, Spain, Feast day: May 15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">St.
Isadore was often moved by pity for the suffering of others and his generosity
rewarded with miraculous multiplications of food. His care extended even to the birds of the
air. On a cold winter day, he came upon a
flock of starving wood pigeons on his way to the mill with his master’s grain. He emptied half the sack of grain for the
birds, but when he arrived at the mill, the sack was again full and was ground
into a double portion of flour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zti5wlo7baikqODpvojXP_Czlh5i6USx5sa8yS9m7EWH3K-lhI8xADAmI6cZbDwvXkkDnG_tYVGEY_RSFwC24-iy6L3bPxOlQoLfY797Q3Gva7amygqNgo5Ag4kgVrzTz-ESdMpNV_rt/s1600/St.+John+Mecias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="392" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zti5wlo7baikqODpvojXP_Czlh5i6USx5sa8yS9m7EWH3K-lhI8xADAmI6cZbDwvXkkDnG_tYVGEY_RSFwC24-iy6L3bPxOlQoLfY797Q3Gva7amygqNgo5Ag4kgVrzTz-ESdMpNV_rt/s400/St.+John+Mecias.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John Mecias</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. John Macias</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Also
spelled Masias)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">All Animals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1645, Peru, Feast
day: September 18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It was reading Mary
Fabyan Windeatt’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EESMCIW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00EESMCIW&linkId=6229a8ccdeb3ccaa947ff0bae96ff2d7" target="_blank">book about St. John Masias</a> that I learned of his compassion
and tenderness toward animals, including healing their injuries and
disease. Since then, he has become my
go-to saint for intercession regarding animals.
Here is another story about his care for creatures. While John was filling a trough with water he
had drawn from a deep well, the sheep he was caring for fell into the
well! He could not reach the animal to
help, so he prayed the Rosary that God might provide a miracle to save it. The water began to rise until John could lift
the sheep out and then again receded.
Again John knelt in a prayer of thanksgiving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsYVY2pIq_i3jyt5hrgXD8dT-OUC2Of3oaPOI1OSYSDEXNP5Yx46-lYPTTg4felpYo-UIJlNwdk80CGQsqoZLEKS9htXo3NNjr-6IX2PBg7ZhhuwzZM44gVT5UCGu2xcHhOQu_hBFlbmC/s1600/St.+Kevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="312" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsYVY2pIq_i3jyt5hrgXD8dT-OUC2Of3oaPOI1OSYSDEXNP5Yx46-lYPTTg4felpYo-UIJlNwdk80CGQsqoZLEKS9htXo3NNjr-6IX2PBg7ZhhuwzZM44gVT5UCGu2xcHhOQu_hBFlbmC/s400/St.+Kevin.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Kevin of Glendalough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St.
Kevin of Glendalough</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Blackbirds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died C. 618, Ireland,
Feast day: June 3<sup>rd</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">There is a story of a
blackbird building a nest in St. Kevin’s hand.
The kind saint held his hand out until the eggs hatched and the
fledglings left the nest. As they say, a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT86VepyfOB7mAsYaoVdwXf7osD4hC-hcqhJ7eSiO0CBBp69Nlyg4j5Z_t5u0_Gi3uInvP_5A7W8-YVvVq9rDsq6y3ApJgyrcz5p6vCyuc-mHUBhy6kVPxWcd-zSuVNgt0zhHAdEBD8aL/s1600/St.+Martin+de+Porres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT86VepyfOB7mAsYaoVdwXf7osD4hC-hcqhJ7eSiO0CBBp69Nlyg4j5Z_t5u0_Gi3uInvP_5A7W8-YVvVq9rDsq6y3ApJgyrcz5p6vCyuc-mHUBhy6kVPxWcd-zSuVNgt0zhHAdEBD8aL/s400/St.+Martin+de+Porres.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Martin de Porres</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Martin de
Porres <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">All animals, Cats, Dogs,
even Vermin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died: 1639, Peru, Feast
day: November 3<sup>rd</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Martin’s compassion
toward the poor extended to all animals.
He was known to find homes for stray animals, healed ill ones and even
preferred to make a deal with the vermin that were gnawing the altar cloths. He asked them to stay out of the sacristy and
kitchen and live across the garden where he would feed them daily. Both parties kept their end of the deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r79LDzFTAql4T1GVPkyTtd1CR-qro7isHrqUYU-njznPQhGsbcvAbqCaWej4pkYBBDcePMQDvKK1ZdwdnVkOAxlWZlRIOQCsZBfjzd0lzC4_opoc1CuO9bSgTSz9jdHSsbtE3DP_i1na/s1600/Bl.+maria-bartholomea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="389" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r79LDzFTAql4T1GVPkyTtd1CR-qro7isHrqUYU-njznPQhGsbcvAbqCaWej4pkYBBDcePMQDvKK1ZdwdnVkOAxlWZlRIOQCsZBfjzd0lzC4_opoc1CuO9bSgTSz9jdHSsbtE3DP_i1na/s400/Bl.+maria-bartholomea.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Bl. Mary Bartholomea de
Bagnesi</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cats, Song birds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1577, Italy, Feast
day: May 28)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed Mary Bartholomea
de Bagnesi could be called an early cat lady.
She loved cats and they loved her back.
In addition to the people who sought out the Dominican tertiary for her
room, cats also visited this holy, bedridden woman. They even guarded her pet songbirds and were
known to bring her cheese when she was hungry!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRMIGKuOkNwcOJfS5TBd_fO5JJH-z-_l8RX3GtZ0IWv58H-AFw7pQx0hBN-W6rNw8lpWbT0O2fjkS-DhQFqto8UIrO4yeP6p6Wi7pY6vdgRvV5i6MEZ1Ae86uheRKemE2bIZnzlSwQfn0/s1600/St.+Philip+Neri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="194" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRMIGKuOkNwcOJfS5TBd_fO5JJH-z-_l8RX3GtZ0IWv58H-AFw7pQx0hBN-W6rNw8lpWbT0O2fjkS-DhQFqto8UIrO4yeP6p6Wi7pY6vdgRvV5i6MEZ1Ae86uheRKemE2bIZnzlSwQfn0/s400/St.+Philip+Neri.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Philip Neri</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Philip Neri</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1595, Italy, Feast
day: May 26)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Philip is said to
have had an affection for all creatures and kept a pet cat, Jeoffery, which he
carried around Rome with him. When he
sent word from out of town, he would ask after his pet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAHCr0eyK_bC6xUz_SAcUOQ-qoRF2J7yZ1MCZjXI0PTPX5XZnYVjdZMkUqw2v1Fyirl0bhmcahJctjGg3TXPdjmosYL3QP71RcAm02YJMuhw4UAQ4_Tf1K6gyF6rksZBwRFfqNV_eaIDY/s1600/St.+Roch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAHCr0eyK_bC6xUz_SAcUOQ-qoRF2J7yZ1MCZjXI0PTPX5XZnYVjdZMkUqw2v1Fyirl0bhmcahJctjGg3TXPdjmosYL3QP71RcAm02YJMuhw4UAQ4_Tf1K6gyF6rksZBwRFfqNV_eaIDY/s400/St.+Roch.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Roch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Roch (Also known as
Rocca)</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dogs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1327, France,
August 16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Again we see that the
saints’ love for God is manifest in their compassion toward people, made in God’s
image, as well as toward animals, God’s creations. As a pilgrim, St. Roch came across and cared
for victims of the plague. He himself
contracted the disease and took to a forest to die, but was cared for by a dog
that brought him food. He eventually
recovered and is now the patron saint for dogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKB6SGBBUWC19U9ghgq-zp4tsb3qEk6qovE2JJl5twiNyu5ouR2HVzUPhELvsd0HzmPb_uV97rToYlLmKTVswgwkBCYSSiT1Kns2vdvujGL55kE0rs6QIz9BC7HQ7JCnarPM4sE0vTqDc/s1600/St.+Pope+Sylvester.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKB6SGBBUWC19U9ghgq-zp4tsb3qEk6qovE2JJl5twiNyu5ouR2HVzUPhELvsd0HzmPb_uV97rToYlLmKTVswgwkBCYSSiT1Kns2vdvujGL55kE0rs6QIz9BC7HQ7JCnarPM4sE0vTqDc/s400/St.+Pope+Sylvester.GIF" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope St. Sylvester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Pope St. Sylvester <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Domestic Animals, Bulls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Fourth century, Rome,
Feast day: December 31)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">As icons of this early
pope show, he is known to have resurrected a bull and is a patron of domestic
animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2cobBrg4FFE2e9H_iAgaxw0wpZk3WP_TqMoYuCzPPXoDUhQ3RURS_GmYI0ER0dWIVm8KUh2AGVfOf9hMR6PcohrstXTnQjimjNPyzETtcjZhEZMCcGt5ufkEc0k-lm8n6n0TtwuNwLMi/s1600/St.+Veridiana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2cobBrg4FFE2e9H_iAgaxw0wpZk3WP_TqMoYuCzPPXoDUhQ3RURS_GmYI0ER0dWIVm8KUh2AGVfOf9hMR6PcohrstXTnQjimjNPyzETtcjZhEZMCcGt5ufkEc0k-lm8n6n0TtwuNwLMi/s400/St.+Veridiana.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Veridiana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Veridiana</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Snakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1242, Italy, Feast
day: February 1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Veridiana shared her
hermitage cell with two snakes, which she fed from her own meager rations. I'm sure this will endear her so <i>someone</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_gFiT163wurlQQJfnwAXb8X-rGv5I2sBzU9520SQuk1cjUtXdVqGTMKiSbBztWkqNbhTkSYF5A1qh00T5GqrZc-tl1vJ5V9Vvw1pxGRpCi_bFuv04ZTKslDe6tVZlKbdvdiv3e_DrcVY/s1600/St.+Vitus+Guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="283" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_gFiT163wurlQQJfnwAXb8X-rGv5I2sBzU9520SQuk1cjUtXdVqGTMKiSbBztWkqNbhTkSYF5A1qh00T5GqrZc-tl1vJ5V9Vvw1pxGRpCi_bFuv04ZTKslDe6tVZlKbdvdiv3e_DrcVY/s400/St.+Vitus+Guy.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Vitus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Vitus (Also known as St.
Guy)</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Horses, Horned animals, Dogs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Died 1012, Belgium,
Feast day: June 18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Because the site of his
forgotten grave was revealed by a horse, St. Vitus is invoked for protection of
horses, stables, horned animals. On his
feast day, a festival and procession was held at which horses were blessed. He
also happens to be patron of oversleeping, so if you have an animal that gets
up late, St. Vitus may be able to help!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-20123698873619414422017-07-17T22:15:00.001-07:002018-10-02T07:53:25.466-07:00Sometimes It Really Is Better To Be A Quitter<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t be a quitter!”
It’s a phrase frequently used to encourage – or belittle. It goes along with that silly challenge to “Go
outside your comfort zone.” But I have
been a longtime believer in quitting – when it’s appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We all like to be comfortable and avoid difficulties. I’m not advocating following a plan of
seeking an ever more comfortable life and eschewing challenges of all
kinds. I am, rather, suggesting that
this (and all) advice should be evaluated with prudence, self-knowledge, and a
grain of salt. That which is the right
course of action for someone else, may not be the right course for you. It is valuable to learn to make wise
decisions regardless of the opinion and choices that others sanction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Neither am I suggesting that you be contrary and “Go against
the flow” as a matter of course. That
might also lead to bad results, depending on the particular flow you happen to
be in. I am suggesting you practice the
virtue of Prudence. Prudence is one of
the <i>cardinal </i>– or, pivotal – virtues. It is “the virtue that disposes practical
reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right
means of achieving it,” (CCC 1806). Obviously,
prudence is a <i>really</i> important virtue
to develop in order to guide your growth in all the other virtues. In fact, it is known as “the charioteer of
the virtues” (CCC 1806).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOGK7zLyiGWgi5_OSU_4hBHLe6pn9mETuQQwYPwrZ0TqpsbeT2zhSvOfrx8jnlxk-h4YMxo0IQxOBzRmqY2U5SuyU7Lqsb6PmyFcMOMnN8scL1mOpum_s_UYpkHWd3AP4kOqYBOsTTpQb/s1600/images+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOGK7zLyiGWgi5_OSU_4hBHLe6pn9mETuQQwYPwrZ0TqpsbeT2zhSvOfrx8jnlxk-h4YMxo0IQxOBzRmqY2U5SuyU7Lqsb6PmyFcMOMnN8scL1mOpum_s_UYpkHWd3AP4kOqYBOsTTpQb/s400/images+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was hoping to give a gamut of examples of times I had quit
and been happy, times I had quit and regretted it, and times I had persevered
and had become a better person through doing so. But, honestly, though I know my life is replete
with examples of all those, the only ones that come to mind are the times I
have quit with great results! I know following
through on a commitment is to be done whenever morally possible. I’m sure I have grown in that other cardinal
virtue of fortitude by practicing stick-to-it-iveness in many, many
situations. I have surely learned my
lesson from staying a stupid course just in order to not quit. But none of these stand out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What <i>does</i> stand
out is one of my favorite and often thought of memories of the freedom of being
allowed to quit. It happened the summer
I turned nine. I attended a summer camp
with my sister and two cousins. This was
not the summer “camps” of today, which are essentially week long classes to
keep kids out of their parents’ hair for a while. This was <i>real</i>
camp. This was cabins, sleeping bags, and
a mess hall, a lake, arts and crafts with pine cones, camp counselors, woods,
campfires, the works! I remember
gathering in the mess hall to sing “camp songs” like “The Cat Came Back.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The only real and distinct memory I have from this week or
two away from home is the first day my group went to the pool. I was not a strong swimmer and was anxious in
pools. <i>Really</i> anxious. But, I was
also a rule-following goody-goody. We
were told to get into line to go up the ladder of the high dive and jump in. Frankly, this terrified me. Here we were, supposedly having fun at camp
and I just wanted to go home <i>now!</i> But, afraid to talk to anyone (I was a very
timid and anxious child), I dutifully lined up, climbed the ladder in turn, and
plunged to my probable death by drowning.
I had <i>no choice</i>. It was what was required of us. To my surprise and disappointment, I did <i>not </i>drown and sputtered my way to the
side of the pool to climb out and get in line again. They had told us to get in line to jump off
the board, after all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As I stood there
dripping wet and crying in line, a nice counselor came to me and asked why I
was crying. I admitted that I did not
want to jump off the high dive. Her
answer was the voice of angels singing.
She gave me a happiness unanticipated.
Freedom from a life sentence! “Well,
honey, you don’t <i>have</i> to!” What could be better than this
revelation?! I’ll tell you what could be
better. Not only was I released from the
sentence of jumping off the high dive, I was actually offered a choice of what
I would do instead! Not just a choice
between the expected options of swimming or sitting it out. She asked me what I would <i>like</i> to do instead. Without hesitation, I asked if I could go to
arts and crafts. She escorted me over to
that building herself! I was engulfed by
a relief and gratitude that I feel to this day!
(Thank you, kind counselor!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GVIPgkZuyqY1uhbCTOmCYN_JRQgaEe0t9aW8mSZ49U4CugiHADdhpodXmZiJuEgWmr_wVaUeLneLgxmUd9c3-wmCnC8Fci2WN3cOXw4HufeM27VfcQrXrTAMNtl0YLHzBgaCZN221zhr/s1600/download+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GVIPgkZuyqY1uhbCTOmCYN_JRQgaEe0t9aW8mSZ49U4CugiHADdhpodXmZiJuEgWmr_wVaUeLneLgxmUd9c3-wmCnC8Fci2WN3cOXw4HufeM27VfcQrXrTAMNtl0YLHzBgaCZN221zhr/s640/download+%25282%2529.jpg" width="491" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts go back to that day whenever I am faced with a
situation that I dread, that fills me with anxiety – and then I realize, there
is no moral reason why I must remain on this course. I don’t <i>have</i>
to! This provides a freedom not only to
quit, but, sometimes to stay and keep at it.
Sometimes, the best inducement to carry on in a challenging task, is the
knowledge that you are free to choose to quit at any time. But, sometimes, it really is more prudent to
actually quit, when noting but “not quitting” is to be gained by persevering in
the project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is vastly more important to know yourself than to live
under the tyranny of a popular catch phrase.
Rather than “Don’t be a quitter” exercise the prudence to know when it
will make you happier to quit and when it is a better course to push through to
the end. Instead of stepping “outside
your comfort zone” because you were told it’s what you ought to do, be aware of
your level of comfort – and your level of anxiety. Your gut reaction often gives good
advice. Do accept challenges to grow,
but learn to discern which challenges will help you grow - and which will just help you become neurotic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes it really is okay to make silly crafts out of pine
comes instead of jumping off the high dive.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-33784238580393762702017-07-03T20:48:00.000-07:002017-08-07T17:43:43.680-07:00Humility: The Unachievable Virtue<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“<i>Everyone that exalteth himself shall be
humbled; <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Luke 14:11<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Humility is a rather slippery virtue. It's one of the most
important to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>have</i>, but
it's impossible to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>achieve</i>.
Once you set out to become proficient in humility, it has dissolved!
If you strive to grow in it by your actions, the moment you check to see
how you're doing, you prove your lack of it! So, how <i>does</i> one get around this annoying catch 22 to become humble?
Good question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Part of me wants to shrug and
assure you <i>I</i> am<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>not</i> your best consultant
on the matter. On the other hand, I'm probably as good companion as many
along this invisible path to a destination that can only be seen using our
peripheral vision - if at all. You know, the blind leading the blind or
misery loves company or some such cliche.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Humility is difficult to try to become, but it is not difficult to
see what it’s like. There are ample
great works of spirituality and theology describing humility in detail, as well
as the oh, so familiar signs of its absence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily2drNW3JtRUOKLRnRTIL8Jkd7grhkAeSQ_0xpneewCWKwcy7DZPMROU1xWCdYX6nWhCFpdA3B9d3iqiagVNAxFpD463ZU4FJEXW3pgEHlhkBNgmi1yhUvg8LhWApd0E3H3KT7P1u1lOl/s1600/41wEDtnKxUL._SX373_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="375" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily2drNW3JtRUOKLRnRTIL8Jkd7grhkAeSQ_0xpneewCWKwcy7DZPMROU1xWCdYX6nWhCFpdA3B9d3iqiagVNAxFpD463ZU4FJEXW3pgEHlhkBNgmi1yhUvg8LhWApd0E3H3KT7P1u1lOl/s200/41wEDtnKxUL._SX373_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One I recently enjoyed is a
tiny little book called <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/091847759X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=091847759X&linkId=64b92b0d513401e70524e8ef63be449e" target="_blank">Humility: Wellspring of Virtue</a></u> by Dietrich
von Hildebrand. It is actually an
excerpt from this great man’s much larger (and therefor, less likely to be read
by me), <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898708699/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0898708699&linkId=b245cdb666d45c1601c55033c8339c3d" target="_blank">Transformation in Christ</a></u>.
Besides the ease of size, it’s a fun book to read as von Hildebrand
excruciatingly etches out the hair-splittingly fine distinctions between the
manifold offenses against the virtue of humility. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How is this fun? Well, I like
that sort of thing (hair splitting), but it’s also kind of fun to think of
people I know of who may exemplify these various breaches in virtue. Satanic pride: “Ooo, Lucifer! I know that one!” Literary and historic examples abound, too. It’s fun, that is, until you smack right up against
a description that implicates yourself.
Ouch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In this book, Von Hildebrand provides a “survey of the types of
pride from the worst and most characteristic” to less harmful forms as an aid
to better understand humility. As he
puts it:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“There exist formally and materially distinct forms of pride. As humility represents an antithesis to every
form of pride, a consideration of the various forms and degrees of pride will
help us become aware of the various aspects of humility, each of which
expresses a negation of pride in one or another of its manifestations.” (p. 8)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I found this passage describing two forms of self-complacency
particularly helpful and amusing:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> “Similarly, the less we may claim a value as
representing a merit on our part – in other words, the less we, as free beings,
are responsible for its possession – the more stupid it will be on our part to
exhibit conceit on its score; and the more harmless from a moral point of view
will be the pride of a value which (as is true of moral values) requires out active
participation and effort to be realized, the more reprehensible our pride will
be.” (p. 65). </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So, if you can choose
between being proud of your intellect or your red hair, it is more stupid, but
less dangerous to your soul to be proud of your red hair. This is handy information!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In fact, like perusing St. Teresa of Avila’s mansions, as I read
along, wondering if I’m in the second or third room, it slowly dawns on me that
I’m pretty much on the door mat, scratching to get in. These and other works might really help us to
realize how lacking we are in humility, but we won’t <i>become</i> humble by reading them.
It is not a situation where we can “fake it till we make it”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Here's the problem as I see it. We can practice avoiding
pride in its many manifestations and will become better for it. We can practice those things that a humble
person would do and become better for it. But reducing pride and doing
humble things in their place alone does not make one humble, because humility
is not simply the absence of pride. Humility<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is a
thing itself. It is a thing that only
exists <i>in the absence of pride</i> in all
its forms. But it is <i>more than </i>the absence of pride and the
presence of certain actions and behaviors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It’s a good start, and by all means start doing the things a humble
person would do, but it's not going to become actual humility until you don't
even know you're doing it. You could say that about many virtues - you
practice until they become a strong habit of doing good without thinking about
doing them. With humility, though, it's more than just a habit, like
riding a bike or brushing your teeth. Humility requires
self-forgetfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So, how does one forget
oneself??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Sometimes you might be so
engrossed in a project that you forget you have an appointment or even to do
basic things like eating or going to bed.
Has that happened to you? Well,
that’s <i>not</i> the kind of self-forgetfulness
that leads to humility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Von Hildebrand says,</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> “true humility has its origin in our <i>right response to God</i>, which implies not
only our awareness of the glory and omnipotence of God, and of our own
creaturely finiteness, but a total emancipation from our spasm of self-centeredness
in the presence of Christ.” (p. 87 - 88)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The self-forgetfulness that signifies humility can only be brought
about by an ongoing, personal encounter with the infinitely good God and bears
the fruit of trustful love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A realization of our creatureliness in the face of His
omnipotence, but lacking trust, might result in fanaticism (picture here a young
Elvis Presley fan, being touched by the superstar and swooning) or in
scrupulous fear of receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist. While trust in God without acknowledging our
nothingness in juxtaposition to our Creator, could lead to thinking of Him as a
dispenser of goodies to us, His deserving children and a complacent reception
of the Most Blessed Sacrament as our right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Avoiding either skewed perception – or some other one, is not
going to happen just by learning about humility. This right relation to God (and,
consequently, ourselves and others) can only be cultivated through a
relationship with God. And, a relationship
with God requires spending time with Him, opening your heart to receive as well
as offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Rather than reading about humility to become humble, try reading
about Our Lord Jesus, spending time in His presence, speaking and listening to
Him, meditating on His passion. Let yourself fall in love. Ask Him
for those things that will result in the self-forgetfulness that comes from
being in Love with the One Whose Love has brought you into being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I know I can’t achieve humility as a trophy to admire in my trophy case of virtues. But I can ask God for humility and hope He
will take me as an oblivious trophy in His trophy case of saints. Because, He’s God and can do things as
miraculous as that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D59UxNCDd_IhWLxDMD61AzDNonjedivnZ7G-tvS6HgbG6x6O6e-BmsLIwAkXJn4WSthsMw36yqu2m35BtAKpe7Woi8F73ryP75gbmY1oLRoIdcxOIxakmIYJ1No6PIM6xwouNkEES2hC/s1600/640px-Beato_angelico%252C_predella_della_pala_di_fiesole_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D59UxNCDd_IhWLxDMD61AzDNonjedivnZ7G-tvS6HgbG6x6O6e-BmsLIwAkXJn4WSthsMw36yqu2m35BtAKpe7Woi8F73ryP75gbmY1oLRoIdcxOIxakmIYJ1No6PIM6xwouNkEES2hC/s640/640px-Beato_angelico%252C_predella_della_pala_di_fiesole_02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-61850320295327420552017-06-20T19:03:00.001-07:002017-08-07T17:45:09.286-07:00Four Simple Tools to Help Navigate Your Way From Sin to Sanctity<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So, you’ve got a sin problem too?
It’s not uncommon. In fact, it
has plagued every living human since the first living humans. It’s called Original Sin. It is part of the human condition. Darn it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">At first we just had to live with it, while God prepare us for the
solution. Even His favorite humans, the
Hebrews, were not very well behaved.
That’s what this Original Sin problem looks like. Just as two-year-olds given rules push their
limits, the Hebrew people did things like make a big golden calf to worship just after the babysitter (Moses) told them God said to worship only Him. Then when Moses came back and found them
worshipping it, and asked, “What are you <b><i>doing</i></b>?!??! I just left the room for <i>5 seconds</i>?!?!?! Your Dad <b><i>just</i></b>
told you <b><i>not</i></b><i> to worship anything
but <b>HIM</b>!!!</i>” they shrugged, looking
as surprised as Moses, and said “We just threw some gold into the fire and this
calf <i>came out</i>!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97Lm9lAFNabwsBs0PV7AQXuRbG-DWBUjM_3ZOzGayuMvfnXkeR_T-sr4Q1uFg_ukUKSbKW4dkSYoB9SkX56uu27zjYo5bQ5cGYHulEX3u9Eh-MHmyT6k0dME51jhbiH6EwD80uqc-2Oos/s1600/images+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="260" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97Lm9lAFNabwsBs0PV7AQXuRbG-DWBUjM_3ZOzGayuMvfnXkeR_T-sr4Q1uFg_ukUKSbKW4dkSYoB9SkX56uu27zjYo5bQ5cGYHulEX3u9Eh-MHmyT6k0dME51jhbiH6EwD80uqc-2Oos/s640/images+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Does this sound familiar, parents and babysitters of naughty
children? Well, it should be familiar to
all of us because, unless you’re well on your way to sanctity (and if you’re
spending your time reading this, <i>that’s</i>
unlikely), it’s probably how your soul, like mine, behaves in the face of God’s
loving will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Even after Christ’s Redemptive work opened the gates of heaven and
turned on the tap of grace from which we can drink in God’s refreshing Life, it
is <i>still</i> hard to stay the course
sometimes. At least we’re in good
company, though. Most saints have
suffered difficulties and temptations <i>en
route</i> to heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY7ibdopz3C0NeYqu9TIzgaAgbjhbGrqswswrKL0CJUn0YcW5W50TFsLhE6QBIfwJRhLzWEu2nX-eEtZvBEPcEQwkCh2_BHL4wagMEOanitFpKwIuHA_EC15BrCoZf8z-VlSElRTlYQ7p/s1600/images+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="213" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY7ibdopz3C0NeYqu9TIzgaAgbjhbGrqswswrKL0CJUn0YcW5W50TFsLhE6QBIfwJRhLzWEu2nX-eEtZvBEPcEQwkCh2_BHL4wagMEOanitFpKwIuHA_EC15BrCoZf8z-VlSElRTlYQ7p/s200/images+%25285%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Even when we <i>want</i> to do
what God wants, it’s hard to do! Not
because he asks hard things of us – all He asks us is to love Him – but because we’re
just so scatter-hearted. Like a slightly
disoriented navigator, we only need veer from our charted course by one degree
to completely miss our target destination!
Between our condition of concupiscence and Satan constantly thrusting
alluring distractions and temptations into our path, we’re going to need a safe strategy to
prevent our souls from becoming utterly shipwrecked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But, our loving Father knows this and has given us sure help. Not only help, but He has given us many
navigational tools that can actually turn our failings to good! Here are four simple strategies we can use to help steer you back to His course for your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Pray a Morning Offering</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Set your course by starting your day offering everything in it to God for His
purposes. Super easy. God so wants to help us do The Good, even
our intention made at the start of the day covers us if we forget, in the moment, to offer our prayers, works, joys and sufferings, big and small, to His Redemptive work. We don’t do this because His work needs a
boost from <i>us</i>, but because,
parent-like, He wants <i>us</i> to learn to
become <i>like Him</i> (“Be perfect as your
heavenly Father is perfect” Mt 5:48). So all those little difficult moments - suddenly they're a benefit to the Kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuwDIEe3f1Q4n-It76zPIVeHPD89FFkPvKTmofKv977LliN_fZNkJvKPGdnKVNlRIgzsi6V7TlW7dB8w91VuPoA2WvHvP8Qy4IBEs_6oXfe_HQBy4VG3Xw9yZLb89wokz8yFkO0iZ_1gH/s1600/Map_of_the_coast_of_Attica%252C_charting_Athens%252C_Piraeus_and_the_islands_of_the_Argo-Saronic_gulf_-_Coronelli_Vincenzo_-_1687+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="584" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuwDIEe3f1Q4n-It76zPIVeHPD89FFkPvKTmofKv977LliN_fZNkJvKPGdnKVNlRIgzsi6V7TlW7dB8w91VuPoA2WvHvP8Qy4IBEs_6oXfe_HQBy4VG3Xw9yZLb89wokz8yFkO0iZ_1gH/s400/Map_of_the_coast_of_Attica%252C_charting_Athens%252C_Piraeus_and_the_islands_of_the_Argo-Saronic_gulf_-_Coronelli_Vincenzo_-_1687+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Put God on His Throne of
Mercy<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwYztJz3gMYqKyMPjUn8siC1f3yUGc7phyphenhyphenuEkAI9YuZsNycCcHY0CE7w19_hECtP1Sh9IJInZ3MOrO_pWulvvc954CMTxHipY1PfgUOrNKFMGrwuteU8wRD5x1i9Mp3I3tKk-kt-aJVNO/s1600/Jan_Polack_001+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwYztJz3gMYqKyMPjUn8siC1f3yUGc7phyphenhyphenuEkAI9YuZsNycCcHY0CE7w19_hECtP1Sh9IJInZ3MOrO_pWulvvc954CMTxHipY1PfgUOrNKFMGrwuteU8wRD5x1i9Mp3I3tKk-kt-aJVNO/s320/Jan_Polack_001+%25282%2529.jpg" width="232" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When you get lost, find your bearings and recalibrate your course. St. Francis de Sales wrote to one of his spiritual directees, that
God’s favorite throne is His throne of Mercy (according to a little book called, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594170134/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594170134&linkId=504c5ccd6594097a94d532a5608426e5" target="_blank">How to Profit From One’s Faults</a></u> by Tissot, which I can’t find now to quote directly. I love this book, but I thought it was going to help me become rich!). The only time He gets to sit on it is when we
approach him seeking forgiveness and mercy.
If we reflect often on how tenderly He receives us when we seek His mercy,
we should not hesitate through shame or embarrassment, but we should run to Him
with our sins.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Far from encouraging us
to sin more, in order to let Him sit there more often, the thought of His
loving forgiveness will help us to love more, sin less. Because as reassuring and refreshing as
received forgiveness is, the prospect of deliberately withholding our love from
one Whose being <i>is</i> the source of all
love is absurd. The sins we will no
doubt fall into will provide more than ample occasions for God to sit upon His
favorite throne. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Use your habitual sins to
become a saint<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuzjtF51q3vAZ9NXll7nX-oMv3nGe-nidYhjZrxgIUe-61V-TbKIUSeoGMbdGFAThSXcUN2A_r0YUnxrKpFrZXYmhZanrIXesRYxhlXSW4lBzsurH0S20ydA6520x8XMvu-D85orcJQhj/s1600/zeilend-opleidingsschip-zr-ms-urania-vooraanzicht+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="564" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuzjtF51q3vAZ9NXll7nX-oMv3nGe-nidYhjZrxgIUe-61V-TbKIUSeoGMbdGFAThSXcUN2A_r0YUnxrKpFrZXYmhZanrIXesRYxhlXSW4lBzsurH0S20ydA6520x8XMvu-D85orcJQhj/s200/zeilend-opleidingsschip-zr-ms-urania-vooraanzicht+%25282%2529.jpg" width="109" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Surely I’m not alone in repeating the same sins time
after time in confession. There is
probably a reason for this, besides that I’m a weak schmuck. The reason may be that God has given us character
strengths and talents that will help us fulfill His mission for us in our
lives. These are like the sails of our vessel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">As we know, in order to hit our destination, our
trajectory has to be right on the mark.
Satan knows this too. So, rather
than expending a lot of energy tempting us to turn 180 degrees to commit sins
that are completely out of character, he only needs to use our natural
strengths and momentum, while distracting us from our course by a degree or
two. If he can get us to set our sails wrong, they will carry us forward, but not to our intended destination. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The way I figure it, if we look
closely at those habitual sins that divert us from our target of sanctity, we
can figure out what strength or talent is being distorted. Then, find a fitting use for your gift that
will build up the kingdom of God and put it to work there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">What could be more satisfying than turning Satan’s own
devious stumbling blocks into stepping stones to get to heaven?! And, if we get good at this, maybe he’ll
leave us alone for fear of filling heaven through his efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Take that, father of lies (and bad directions)!! Ha <b><i>ha</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Keep your Eye on the
Star</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgNFSAsqCmDxI9TGMb5hDxGnwoKckamUBm-uvXyLTOvUzdXx4LGca40-CHL3E9_BsYG0m7KlqOhDms_WmdyY1qVRl4tmTaHkJ6HFvthu-SytkLXxNEQa0RMYHcEgwmkJgsdPZvtODvoPV/s1600/Front_Entrance%252C_Mary_Star_of_the_Sea%252C_San_Pedro+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgNFSAsqCmDxI9TGMb5hDxGnwoKckamUBm-uvXyLTOvUzdXx4LGca40-CHL3E9_BsYG0m7KlqOhDms_WmdyY1qVRl4tmTaHkJ6HFvthu-SytkLXxNEQa0RMYHcEgwmkJgsdPZvtODvoPV/s200/Front_Entrance%252C_Mary_Star_of_the_Sea%252C_San_Pedro+%25282%2529.JPG" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lastly, every navigator
knows to look to the stars to get their bearing and know the direction to go.
We too can look to the star, Stella Maris - Mary Star of the Sea.
Look to Mary, she exists to point the way to Jesus, our Savior.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prayer
to Mary, Star of the Sea<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hail, O Star of the ocean, God's own Mother
blest, ever sinless Virgin, gate of heav'nly rest. Taking that sweet Ave, which from Gabriel
came, peace confirm within us, changing Eve's name.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Break the sinners' fetters, make our blindness
day, chase all evils from us, for all blessings pray. Show thyself a
Mother, may the Word divine born for us thine Infant hear our </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.catholic.org/prayers"><span style="background: white; color: #fd1b14;">prayers</span></a></span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> through thine. Virgin all excelling, mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us meek and undefiled.
Keep our </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101"><span style="background: white; color: #fd1b14;">life</span></a></span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> all spotless, make our way secure till we find in
Jesus, joy for evermore. Praise to </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5217"><span style="background: white; color: #fd1b14;">God</span></a></span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> the Father, honor to the Son, in the Holy Spirit, be
the </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5201"><span style="background: white; color: #fd1b14;">glory</span></a></span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> one. Amen.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These four simple
navigational tools can make the difference between shipwreck and smooth sailing
in our daily spiritual journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2214135184031105394.post-19866207687036149442017-06-16T20:14:00.000-07:002017-08-07T17:39:33.657-07:00A (Baker's) Dozen Book Series To Read to Kids (or Yourself!)<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Who doesn't love a list of books? I know I do, so I decided
to make my own list. For you! This list is mostly of books that you’ll
enjoy reading to children. Children may even enjoy hearing them read,
too!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In fact, they might enjoy reading
them themselves. It is far from exhaustive, as it only contains those
that we have actually read to (or listened to with) our kid between the ages of
three and nine. I haven't included some that are on everybody's list -
because they're already on everyone's list.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I had never even </span><i style="font-size: 13.5pt;">heard</i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> of some
of these until I had kids and sought out good books. It is my goal to
prevent this in the lives of other book lovers!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx8fz6ezpFNm-brgbVJAWxEvRt48N9LgdBFlJ51v9gfJxZvdqVN3DjchIWoC90JMOXSpFet6E-j2Wp_NBwc4FQgSt8q-lv13Se_YQo0laTNSaRvPxmE3lxIy7y7iOgA6mlK_B96-KyEad/s1600/DSC_0300+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx8fz6ezpFNm-brgbVJAWxEvRt48N9LgdBFlJ51v9gfJxZvdqVN3DjchIWoC90JMOXSpFet6E-j2Wp_NBwc4FQgSt8q-lv13Se_YQo0laTNSaRvPxmE3lxIy7y7iOgA6mlK_B96-KyEad/s640/DSC_0300+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As I was compiling my list, I realized it was getting <i>way</i> too long! So, this installment (there will be another!) only contains books that
come in a <i>series</i>. The list is numbered only to thirteen, but
gives you over 120 titles! The great
thing about a series is that you don’t have to say goodbye to the characters
you have come to know and love when the first book ends. Another benefit is that you can also
appreciate the writers’ skill developing through the subsequent stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A few are, sadly, out of print. But that’s what the library
is for, right? This ought to keep you
reading for a good long time!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA1yGkyIYIwXKl8V-pQYTIWxpCKA_JQpyxov0X-i4mQVnEap31_vliy3guOGB_iVCEtPJmxwxZdoWFrFP3fBxClxJjyf0b1QOx4UNTUvFj3kCsqc6TuR2nh5ZiGqh6He2x8xRg1Z_Djvj/s1600/41HlR6dLpjL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="250" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA1yGkyIYIwXKl8V-pQYTIWxpCKA_JQpyxov0X-i4mQVnEap31_vliy3guOGB_iVCEtPJmxwxZdoWFrFP3fBxClxJjyf0b1QOx4UNTUvFj3kCsqc6TuR2nh5ZiGqh6He2x8xRg1Z_Djvj/s200/41HlR6dLpjL._SL250_.jpg" width="200" /></a><u><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">1.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0064400409/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0064400409&linkId=f98d8ba8dbf95477272828315f06a133" target="_blank"><u>Little House</u> Series</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> by Laura Ingalls Wilder<span id="goog_3959782"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_3959783"></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1932 – 1943<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 8 books</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Believe it or not, I was a grown up before I knew<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Little House on the Prairie</i> was
a book before it was a TV show! That's the kind of childhood I had.
(I was not a voracious reader.) I began reading these to my
three-year-old daughter and we both loved them! We have since dated
historical figures and events by Laura's life (e.g. "That happened when
Laura was ten."). We raced through the books, becoming friends with
the Ingalls family and learning so much about the building of our country and
it’s westward development. I was so enraptured by the author and the
character of her childhood self that I have since read everything I have found
written by her! My favorite of these is the collection of her columns for
the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Missouri Ruralist</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>between 1911 and 1924, titled,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826217710/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0826217710&linkId=0523d21c5759fcb50fb419a14ee1cd1a" target="_blank">Laura Ingalls Wilder: FarmJournalist</a></i>. I mention it for your enjoyment, though it is not officially
on my list.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">2. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937051/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1883937051&linkId=ac6ca0591786aca90a09cbb524f7beb6" target="_blank">Five for Victory</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">by Hilda Van Stockum <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1945<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 3 books (<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937140/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1883937140&linkId=87a16e5a69311d6f7b9c06d2c5c67db3" target="_blank">CanadianSummer</a></u> ‘48, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937191/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1883937191&linkId=632791ae43ebe8da7d6b0feeb15cf380" target="_blank">Friendly Gables</a></u> ’58)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmdB-sqLzu0MVfyzNnGkmjgRQClqdW9w4ngnbrqPPosGf6hke5JuBImuljk3kHIA5jOFFITHFKWFalBJgIfwjZHm7FlKFwWC3XEUju1NNZbunwOP8on-rLxQGmhXeAkhwEjy55ACF6WoL/s1600/51PzBjPTFLL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="153" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmdB-sqLzu0MVfyzNnGkmjgRQClqdW9w4ngnbrqPPosGf6hke5JuBImuljk3kHIA5jOFFITHFKWFalBJgIfwjZHm7FlKFwWC3XEUju1NNZbunwOP8on-rLxQGmhXeAkhwEjy55ACF6WoL/s200/51PzBjPTFLL._SL250_.jpg" width="122" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We first meet with the Mitchell family while their father is away,
fighting in the war. It mostly deals with the children's doings, while
the thread running subtly through the story involves the inadvertent acquisition
of various pets, contrary to Father's explicit prohibition of their getting a
pet while he's away. There is a tenderness shown toward the inner
feelings of the various children that truly brings them to life. I was
not surprised to learn that the author based these stories on her own children.
It is a pleasure to follow them as they move to Canada in the next two
volumes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">3. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/188393706X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=188393706X&linkId=b7bf9e2ffb9134141f39f5e20d84af6e" target="_blank">The Cottage at Bantry Bay</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXlwi-aL13e-tQ870Tp3LOcHmx9cYigutf7WDuomLId8a_EC10DN_cU_g00DiY2cljFrNlFNinVuCzytvpYbHpVWVsv7VOSfCaLuUjYTy3Fb6ixX_3qMggKUafP5Y8mOtAar6OKbss00X/s1600/51knyx7IapL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="151" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXlwi-aL13e-tQ870Tp3LOcHmx9cYigutf7WDuomLId8a_EC10DN_cU_g00DiY2cljFrNlFNinVuCzytvpYbHpVWVsv7VOSfCaLuUjYTy3Fb6ixX_3qMggKUafP5Y8mOtAar6OKbss00X/s200/51knyx7IapL._SL250_.jpg" width="120" /></a></span></div>
<u><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">also by Hilda Van Stockum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1938<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 3 books (<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937132/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1883937132&linkId=dbbbdcd11be31e515fd2c425c3759138" target="_blank">Francie On the Run</a></u> ‘39, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937205/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1883937205&linkId=5a547b15be2dfaecaf564b6994573e30" target="_blank">Pegeen</a></u> ’41)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Three more books by the same author are set in Ireland.
Reading aloud gives you a chance to exercise your best Irish accent!
I was so impressed by the author's ability to draw out the depths of
personality of the characters and their history of place. Her stories are
engaging for children, while not just entertaining for adults, but full of
texture and depth. She has written other books as well, but those are
still on my "to be read" list.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">4. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0440400597/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0440400597&linkId=f9baae715f3c1591cf998202580fd048" target="_blank">All of a Kind Family</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYUVcZaxeVNlr2cq76FVWxH4KO30-cD0mWIEchFClaCS7bRjGa3hdxyfujYGSSL6lAgcwaowI1Askpt5DiBImlSsmoL0X-TvxCHhOfBtaIij2GOXyRkAghP-1h-XPRbO4ZfJGbyiUKGuq/s1600/51l3uoxlQvL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="163" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYUVcZaxeVNlr2cq76FVWxH4KO30-cD0mWIEchFClaCS7bRjGa3hdxyfujYGSSL6lAgcwaowI1Askpt5DiBImlSsmoL0X-TvxCHhOfBtaIij2GOXyRkAghP-1h-XPRbO4ZfJGbyiUKGuq/s200/51l3uoxlQvL._SL250_.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">by Sydney Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1951<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 5 books (<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNQ2QVA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00CNQ2QVA&linkId=31b4187639ce9f42b43089c00b3657c9" target="_blank">More of a Kind Family</a></u> ‘54, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939601177/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1939601177&linkId=21079b9b757f295f51b72472d7652692" target="_blank">All of a Kind Family Uptown</a></u> '58, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939601258/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1939601258&linkId=e1494c94a4bb611ae21054607617cd18" target="_blank">All of a Kind Family Downtown</a> '72, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939601266/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1939601266&linkId=e2495dee851dd479c6c54ba2f1a22a8a" target="_blank">Ella of All of a Kind Family</a></u> '78)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I came to love this sweet family of
five daughters. The story is told through their little daily moments, big
illness, holidays, lived in pre-World War I New York City. We have only
read the first two of the series, so we still have some to look forward to! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0152025413/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0152025413&linkId=016d527fa621923d787838a31198bdec" target="_blank">The Moffats</a> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp0d52B9eApOLHCR-8775aOj7BIwMX6ozuiQOn_EAhRxajCca-5t7HeTeeOa3IC88d5l_Vqep7YZfIRIjlxM0pLUBAvXnmQGVop0mvG7CrEq1OfX2dmti6oPH0I6Hj7JQrdjIOcOvLKFC/s1600/51we7EutWtL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="165" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp0d52B9eApOLHCR-8775aOj7BIwMX6ozuiQOn_EAhRxajCca-5t7HeTeeOa3IC88d5l_Vqep7YZfIRIjlxM0pLUBAvXnmQGVop0mvG7CrEq1OfX2dmti6oPH0I6Hj7JQrdjIOcOvLKFC/s200/51we7EutWtL._SL250_.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">by Eleanor Estes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1941<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 4 books (<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0152025294/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0152025294&linkId=a998495de82dfba65c52d460752161df" target="_blank">The Middle Moffat</a></u> ’42, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0152025774/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0152025774&linkId=c84daf67a50613f450e73f1eaf17caf9" target="_blank">Rufas M</a>.</u> ’43, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0152025537/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0152025537&linkId=f71a0b1ec2dd3ae471b8688d169c70bc" target="_blank">The Moffat Museum</a></u> ’83)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You'll love this family and enjoy seeing the author's writing
about them (based on her family) develop to a beautifully sensitive level. They are adorable, quirky and pull together
to help their widowed mother keep the family going. Despite their difficult circumstances, there
are more moments of happiness than anguish.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">6. <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544927818/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0544927818&linkId=1cc77c8b0ea8c37859737fd1b030674a" target="_blank">Ginger Pie</a></u>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J6Z7W6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000J6Z7W6&linkId=42c1cf866c33800552b316ea8c59aa54" target="_blank">Pinky Pie</a></u> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuXjc7IvLhmhMosjTb9K3TdkYSgv8GcCE65xQPW6onUnlhXe8OTYiWLL1SWkwoFb2MpajOVM2YcBQW5GwRYQdxG_rBZAdVyk-b2JD8q3Fjp0beWJ_pPRdUkJFcXKYZ4XbILxPYv_R31FD/s1600/512VsrHvqjL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="168" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuXjc7IvLhmhMosjTb9K3TdkYSgv8GcCE65xQPW6onUnlhXe8OTYiWLL1SWkwoFb2MpajOVM2YcBQW5GwRYQdxG_rBZAdVyk-b2JD8q3Fjp0beWJ_pPRdUkJFcXKYZ4XbILxPYv_R31FD/s200/512VsrHvqjL._SL250_.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">also by Eleanor Estes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1951 and 1958) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 2 books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Two more stories by Eleanor Estes, these stories take place in the
same town where the Moffats live, but feature a different family. The Moffats make an appearance, but the books
have a very different feel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">7. <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062095870/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0062095870&linkId=43d2d8e03099697644c996b5b4d4941c" target="_blank">Betsy Tacy</a></u><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">by Maud Hart Lovelace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published
1940 – 1955<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
10 books <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sMIGoSAQNRmMDZSWIkpSj5787gyT9GZbxxOdP-csj25_7mXGmfqArow_2N-vEBp7NQw0XkLiHf7UWxU1KPmYWOOtAQvp1I3og6WjxULZE9vbApNwV9tt4qBjQDdH-WH-MsgPCEdIUfp0/s1600/51GaxYd%252B3vL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="166" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sMIGoSAQNRmMDZSWIkpSj5787gyT9GZbxxOdP-csj25_7mXGmfqArow_2N-vEBp7NQw0XkLiHf7UWxU1KPmYWOOtAQvp1I3og6WjxULZE9vbApNwV9tt4qBjQDdH-WH-MsgPCEdIUfp0/s200/51GaxYd%252B3vL._SL250_.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Again, I can not believe I had never heard
of these marvelous books! They are set in the early twentieth century.
The first four feature two and then three very little girls and the later
ones begin when the girls are in high school.
They really bring to life a time not really that distant, when the town marveled
at the first “horseless carriage” to enter the scene. The author has other books too, so you don’t
have to be sad when you finish these lovelies!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 6.5in;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8x5IIi5szvj0I8MZ1wRTyCSIxJWUhrtOn7QMfwlRrdENPzX5O7b-iEs4dNiI0xaO1X_JxOhNd27wUsPZZ_b5BM1QkFtx9il-naSLtalvscZY1GByglQ3pwd9m4Zaoxn1lWUxWls0Slyt/s1600/518chUWq-cL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="169" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8x5IIi5szvj0I8MZ1wRTyCSIxJWUhrtOn7QMfwlRrdENPzX5O7b-iEs4dNiI0xaO1X_JxOhNd27wUsPZZ_b5BM1QkFtx9il-naSLtalvscZY1GByglQ3pwd9m4Zaoxn1lWUxWls0Slyt/s200/518chUWq-cL._SL250_.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;">8. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312375980/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0312375980&linkId=230954fa16aa10fa8b037baba48bf9ea" target="_blank">The Saturdays</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> by Elizabeth Enright<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1941<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 4 books (<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312375999/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0312375999&linkId=bb3e0bbac510aa0a410073db4b73d5f5" target="_blank">The Four Story Mistake</a></u> ‘42,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312376006/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0312376006&linkId=01e6a1b941432b03ddc2cac83ab254eb" target="_blank">And Then There Were Five</a></u> '44,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312376014/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0312376014&linkId=8542a4dc20f35b654c1b7117a09dac5e" target="_blank">Spider Web For Two</a></u> ’51)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">These peculiar books follow another peculiar family. The first book, The Saturdays, details the
interesting ways the four children of the Melendy family each spends a Saturday
in New York City, when they decide to pool their allowance money each week for
the use of just one sibling. Clever and
insightful!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">9. <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590207416/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1590207416&linkId=dfcad208f67d934b2221ac4367861d2d" target="_blank">Freddy the Pig</a></u> Series <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> by
Walter R. Brooks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1927 -1958<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 26 books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iwcxdbjnupeE3FbiAaUBUE7_8o3toD3tE2WS7ThMixleK363XK4A3nXsEItrfv3_gmrYcAuexvBV5v9qxLAaiPJDo5d_rr7XgK_ZGah9DAOSEqTqmPpAWfLun6g5aM4qU6C7X3FQNlC2/s1600/61B9H622gFL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="160" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iwcxdbjnupeE3FbiAaUBUE7_8o3toD3tE2WS7ThMixleK363XK4A3nXsEItrfv3_gmrYcAuexvBV5v9qxLAaiPJDo5d_rr7XgK_ZGah9DAOSEqTqmPpAWfLun6g5aM4qU6C7X3FQNlC2/s200/61B9H622gFL._SL250_.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How is it possible I have never heard anyone mention these books<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>ever</i> before I found one on
the shelf in audio book section of the public library?? Why are these not
as ubiquitous on reading lists as the Little House books and the Chronicles of
Narnia? These are some of the funniest, cleverest, vocabulary enriching,
snappy dialoguing stories I have encountered.
Brooks is like an American P.G. Wodehouse. The stories concern the
Bean Farm's animals who are able to talk (to the great discomfort of Farmer
Bean). They are not your typical personified animal stories, as they are
talking animals functioning within the real world, where they gain some notoriety
for this ability. The very first story relates the adventures that hilariously
ensue when some of the animals, let by Freddy the Pig, decide to migrate to
Florida. I'm not even sure Mr. Brooks
intended them for children, but as there is nothing untoward in them and plenty
of good writing and humor, I highly endorse them! My nine-year-old may be
truly addicted to them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">10. <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1444931016/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1444931016&linkId=80728e2a1fd3f445ffb902c49dd5131d" target="_blank">The Famous Five</a></u> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF-RGnnGXmmIP80wxM-Zko9wOXK4iTxLXKllRRaO4_ujBAHwNRWVCa0KgrTlP6_al-xaq1hadmzuG5Wpk81GLDmqjG0gtQ76usd4fKMflkwVD_ebt42zTypNK0HWc7O2-Ec_HFy62_eB9/s1600/51jHOhuvRlL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="219" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF-RGnnGXmmIP80wxM-Zko9wOXK4iTxLXKllRRaO4_ujBAHwNRWVCa0KgrTlP6_al-xaq1hadmzuG5Wpk81GLDmqjG0gtQ76usd4fKMflkwVD_ebt42zTypNK0HWc7O2-Ec_HFy62_eB9/s200/51jHOhuvRlL._SL250_.jpg" width="174" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> By Enid Blyton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1942 - 1963<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 21 books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I was assured that this series was a must read as they have been
popular children’s books in the UK since their publication. We have been greatly disappointed by the
Famous Five, but I include them nevertheless, because they have their good
points and – there are 21 of them! The
stories are based on four cousins who manage to get into serious adventures
every time they get together on their holidays from boarding school. Who is the
fifth member of the famous <i>five</i>? The dog, of course. They are quite formulaic, the children are unbearable
snobs and as soon as they return from boarding school, the parents go off
without them! So, why would I continue
reading these miserable books to my nine-year-old? Because we have come to enjoy laughing at
them. I had no idea there were so very
many secret passageways under England!!
It’s good fun to see how arrogant and bad tempered these kids can be and
still be portrayed as the heroes of the stories. It is a great lesson in the class system and
what’s wrong with it. They’re like the
boxcar children, but rude. We’re only on
the eighth book (we got tired of them and have taken a break), but it should be
interesting to see how the author managed to keep English kids hungering for
more for over twenty years! (However tempting the low cost edition published by Birch Tree Publishing is, avoid it. It is the worst example of publishing I have ever encountered!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">11. <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1567924204/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1567924204&linkId=8ea2cc28aa949932a173bad41ae1c1a6" target="_blank">Swallows and Amazons</a></u> Series <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> By Arthur Ransome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1930 – 1947<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 12 books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOuzHLeTIYS3tZnXU8Meqlyp4_v-RbniiKTLLZWQ11extIakizf2aXBDiBo5K_eDjFgbp_8BwcIvrL4cKt4sPiGut1nS7g02oHmisvj3CDX2kyYAj8AYiDX09XlXO36Q2lZNAHp2wrfdi/s1600/51JDZ01rLVL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="169" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOuzHLeTIYS3tZnXU8Meqlyp4_v-RbniiKTLLZWQ11extIakizf2aXBDiBo5K_eDjFgbp_8BwcIvrL4cKt4sPiGut1nS7g02oHmisvj3CDX2kyYAj8AYiDX09XlXO36Q2lZNAHp2wrfdi/s200/51JDZ01rLVL._SL250_.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Following the adventures of two families of children, the Swallows
and Amazons series is everything that The Famous Five are not! Beautifully written, adventures that could
actually take place in the real world England, nice - but natural - children
whose parents make a showing and an interest in them. The twelve books are quite long, but
enjoyable from beginning to end. They
usually involve boating adventures, as that is what brought these children
together on their school holidays in the Lake District.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">12. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0064401480/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0064401480&linkId=314294b5c9674cb3172b075f865b70f2" target="_blank">Mrs. Piggle Wiggle</a> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAEkoJOd8dMoK1gK2aTCLveu-1257ktM4u_wn3KwjiJ74imRZcGaz-225WieaX9Y9hdArGKwnK13VXMxDimBtx4nVJBglkz2TyVS8g_dff0896n0xZLDsMVkE5FIExv96TeGA6B_oyjup/s1600/51AeR1aPiSL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="165" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAEkoJOd8dMoK1gK2aTCLveu-1257ktM4u_wn3KwjiJ74imRZcGaz-225WieaX9Y9hdArGKwnK13VXMxDimBtx4nVJBglkz2TyVS8g_dff0896n0xZLDsMVkE5FIExv96TeGA6B_oyjup/s200/51AeR1aPiSL._SL250_.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> By Betty MacDonald<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1947,
1949, 1954, 1957, 2007<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 5 books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We happened upon the audio book in the library and it quickly
became one of my daughter’s favorites! And
it’s handy, too. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is a
lovable lady to whom all the children flock.
Their parents seek her out to help find “cures” for typical childhood behavioral
difficulties. Children <i>love</i> this silliness of these families! In addition to being
wholesomely entertaining, it gives you, the parent, an arsenal of humorous examples
to toss out to your kid, to mortify them out of a bad attitude! I have been known to mention to my daughter
on an occasion of disrespect, “You’re being a bit like Mary O’Toole!!!” Point made, behavior improved!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2cQ_qZbpzPWoi3pNC1TedjtiC0nELuKi5tROFKyxNovjlFrWnjjUcDk4Pct2QEBNAaUg5i_uKDA26LTEBLsBaa_e8u0Is9V3BVyu6PFob9HplH7An7fnMkOFtAE1nRmt-ifbhwndZJBF/s1600/51UGQ9RBJiL._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="164" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2cQ_qZbpzPWoi3pNC1TedjtiC0nELuKi5tROFKyxNovjlFrWnjjUcDk4Pct2QEBNAaUg5i_uKDA26LTEBLsBaa_e8u0Is9V3BVyu6PFob9HplH7An7fnMkOFtAE1nRmt-ifbhwndZJBF/s200/51UGQ9RBJiL._SL250_.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;">13. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142302376/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slogoi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0142302376&linkId=3101b56dba631a4656411a3d90eeb8ee" target="_blank">Redwall</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> By Brian Jacques <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Published 1986 –
2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> 21 books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The Redwall series is a little more mature. Redwall is a peaceful abbey. Peaceful until the happy mice are intruded upon by the evil rat and his thugs. Adventure, prophecy, mystery, battles, virtue, heroes - Redwall is filled with action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You don’t really need kids to enjoy any of these books. If you missed any in your childhood, get
yourself to the library and get reading!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
(If you
would rather buy them to keep in your home library and do so through my Amazon
Affiliate links, I might gain some financial benefit – though it has yet to be
seen)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10720733603141189288noreply@blogger.com0