Saint Joan of Arc - May 30

St. Joan of Arc – May 30

b.1412 – d.1431

Most of us know very little about the Maid of Orleans, except that she led an army and was burnt at the stake.  Although she died nearly 600 years ago, her public life is remarkably well-documented.  You can find a very complete history with quotes, images, maps, etc.  here.  If that's too much information, there have been many films made about her life -- some good, some less so.  Although I have yet to see it, many consider La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc, a silent film from 1928, to be a masterpiece. 

She's a fascinating character -- it's almost impossible to compare her to anyone else in history.  She's been portrayed as divine, insane, a tool of war, and a simple child.  Like us, though, she was a real person with many facets.  I suspect she'd be pleased to be remembered as she was -- an obedient servant who held her faith above all else, without fear of the consequences.  

Prayer to St Joan for Faith

In the face of your enemies, in the face of harassment, ridicule and doubt, you held firm in your faith. Even in your abandonment, alone and without friends, you held firm in your faith. Even as you faced your own mortality, you held firm in your faith. I pray that I may be as bold in my beliefs as you, Saint Joan. I ask that you ride alongside me in my own battles. Help me be mindful that what is worthwhile can be won when I persist. Help me hold firm in my faith. Help me believe in my ability to act well and wisely.

Amen.

Memorial Day Prayers

Shared by Diana K.:

Almighty God, Creator of all things, we place our request for world peace into Your hands.  Continue to be our refuge and our strength as we undertake this challenge.

Bless with Your divine protection our servicemen and women.  Let their faith and trust in You never weaken.  Bring them safely home to their loved ones.  Let Your heavenly wisdom direct our world leaders to seek peace.  Through their actions, may harmony and justice be served.

We pray for people of all nations.  Fill their hearts with the desire to ensure justice and equality for all.  We ask that You watch over those exposed to the horrors of war.  Let Your compassion shine on all who dwell in these war-torn areas. 

Guide our daily path to the way of peace.  Let us all, in some way, be an instrument of Your peace.  Heavenly Father, let peace reign throughout the world.

Amen.  

...

Lord,

Grant that we may hold dear the memory of your servant, never bitter for what we have lost nor in regret of the past, but always in hope of the eternal kingdom where you will bring us together again.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.  Amen.

Remember those who have gone before you.  Consider their lives, and imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.    

A Summer Blessing

shared by Fay L:

May our loving God

watch over you

and keep alive in your heart

all that you have learned this year.

Keep your mind on God.

Remember to pray often

and to celebrate your faith,

at home with your family,

and at Mass with your faith family.

Keep your faith in God.

Let all the joyes of summer

remind you of God's goodness.

Never forget that God

is always with you, no matter what.

May the God of all creation,

who comes to us in Jesus,

and lives among us in the Holy Spirit,

keep you safe, happy, and holy

this summer and always.

Amen. 

Weekly Readings for the Whole Family

Over on the right of this page, you'll see a blue square labeled 'Sunday Connection.'  It's well worth linking to (go ahead, take a look!), & I'm happy to share it with you.  It's owned by Loyola Press, which produces some fantastic educational materials.  

This isn't just a reprinting of the weekly readings -- oh no, there's a lot more here.  Each reading has a convenient link to the New American Bible online, in case you'd like to read the selection in its context (gotta love that).  It also offers a brief background & commentary on the gospel.  But there's more (do I sound like I'm going to sell you a Ginsu knife yet?).  The gospel reading is also written up in a simple 1- or 2-sentence summary that's easy for kids to understand. (But wait! There's more!) 

The real gem of this website is the fact that the gospel reading has games, projects, discussion questions, or prayers for kids -- based on their grade level.  Isn't that great?  Print out the discussion questions / games to talk about at dinner one night during the week, and bingo-- your whole family is better-prepared for Mass that weekend, and you've shared some good family conversation that doesn't consist of "So what else did you do in school today?" 

St. Bede the Venerable - May 25

Doctor of the Church

b 672 or 3 – d 735

Born at Weadmouth-Jarrow, England (in the modern county of Northumbria), Bede was dedicated to the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul at the age of 3, and spent most of his life there as a scholar.  He was referred to as ‘the venerable’ as a nod to his wisdom and learning.  This title was actually formalized at the Council of Aachen in 853.  He read widely, compared sources before drawing his conclusions, and referenced his sources – an unknown practice at the time.  His best-known work is ‘Historia Ecclesiastica,’ a history of the English Church and people, which he completed in 731, four years before his death. It is an account of Christianity in England up to 729 and is a primary source of early English history. 

So… I couldn’t find any 8^th- century British cookbooks out there (go figure!).  The best I could determine about cuisine in Northumberland during Bede’s time is that oatmeal would have figured largely in his diet.  Also, sheep entrails.  But let’s not go there.  How about a nice rustic oatmeal bread recipe?  Play some Gregorian chant while making it, and say thank you to the Venerable Bede for helping to keep the light of Christ shining in the Dark Ages. 

FYI – Gregorian chant is based on the traditional songs sung in synagogues all over the East from before Jesus’ birth.  Many of the melodies we still hear today would have been sung by Jesus while He was on Earth.  Chant was adopted by the Christian church in the 6^th century, and named after Pope Gregory, who unified the chants into one collection.    
Listen to some Gregorian chant here

Venerable Bread

Ingredients

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, plus extra for sprinkling
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter

2 tablespoons honey
2-2.5 cups unbleached bread flour (or a mix of bread flour and oat flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1 envelope (2.5 teaspoons) quick-rise yeast
1 egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon water

Directions

Place the oats in a stand mixer fitted with dough hook.  In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the milk, 3/4 cup water, and the butter and bring to a boil.  Pour over the oats and let stand about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lukewarm.  Using dough hook, stir in the honey, 1 ½ cups of the flour, salt, and the yeast.  Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough that holds its shape.

Knead by hook, adding flour as needed, until the dough is no longer sticky and pulls away cleanly from the bowl sides, 6-7 minutes.

Form the dough into a ball and place in a clean, greased bowl, turning to coat on all sides. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 45-60 minutes.

Dust a baking sheet with flour. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and press flat. Cut in half, knead briefly, and form each half into a ball, stretching the sides down and under to form an oval. Place loaves well apart on the prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise until doubled, 20-30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425F.

Uncover the loaves, brush with the egg-yolk mixture and sprinkle with oats. Bake until golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottoms, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

The Legend of the Three Trees, by Catherine McCafferty

buy The Legend of the Three Trees at amazon.com

We bought this board book when my son was a toddler, and it never fails to make me feel incredibly small (in a good way!), and yet integral to God's 'big picture.'

Three young trees have dreams of what they will become when they are fully grown.  Their wishes are granted, but not in the way that they originally hoped.  It's a beautiful reminder of how God has a plan for each one of us, and that our wishes for ouselves are often much smaller than what He wishes for us.

This lovely story was made into a 30-minute video narrated by Hal Holbrook.  Broken up into three parts, you can see the entire story starting here:  http://youtu.be/_mHXS1XvMrM

The Weight of a Mass, by Josepine Nobisso

buy The Weight of a Mass at amazon.com

My friend Diana just shared this lovely children’s book with me.  I had seen it in the Catholic Child catalog, but was unfamiliar with the story. 

In short, a ragged old beggar woman enters a bakery, and tells the owner that she has no money, but is very hungry.  If he would give her a crust of bread, she will offer a Mass for him.  The baker scorns her offer.  To tease her, and prove how little a Mass is worth, he takes a tiny slip of paper and writes ‘a Mass’ on it. He places that worthless scrap of paper on his scale, and a miracle takes place. 

This charming story (with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Katalin Szegedi) is based on a family legend from a certain Father Stanislaus in Luxembourg.  It gently reminds us of the priceless value of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations - May 15, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI's address here

In his address to the faithful on this, the 48^th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Holy Father says, “The ability to foster vocations is a hallmark of the vitality of a local Church.”  Hm.  What are we doing in our parish, our school, and in our families to foster vocations?  Are we actually fostering and encouraging them in our children?  I have one son, and while I’d be awed and humbled if he chose to follow God’s call in the Church, I don’t know that I’m actively promoting it.  I believe that we, as his parents, are encouraging him to think about his vocation in life, but I confess that the religious life has been presented to him as one choice among many.  Why is that?  Why is it so hard to give God the most important things, and so easy to convince ourselves that giving from our surplus is good enough? 

We have a daughter, too.  At the moment, her temperament is more suited to a career as a professional rugby player than a nun (we're keeping our fingers crossed that she'll soften up a bit).  If she doesn't have a vocation to the religious life, then I can at least foster a respect for vocations in her.  When she’s a teenager, if a boy in her class admits to a religious vocation, will she roll her eyes and say, “You’re a freak,” or will she say, “That’s so cool; tell me about it!” ?   When a child's peers consider a vocation a to be good (read: socially acceptable) thing, then it naturally becomes a more popular thing.  We all know that the opposite is also true. 

Now, instilling the desired mindset in our children is largely up to us as parents.  What an overwhelming responsibility! ...and yet, what an amazing, profound honor.        

Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood

Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd of souls, who called the apostles to be fishers of men, raise up new apostles in your holy Church. Teach them that to serve you is to reign: to possess you is to possess all things. Kindle in the hearts of our people the fire of zeal for souls. Make them eager to spread your Kingdom upon earth. Grant them courage to follow you, who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

From CatholiCity.com

Our Lady of Fatima

Dancing Sun Cupcakes
(from  http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2009/05/dancing-sun-cupcakes.html)

These are too cute! 

On his visit to Fatima on this date in 2010, the Pope observed that the Church did not create the faith that draws people to the Marian shrine. Rather, he said, the Church responds to the phenomenon that occurred "when heaven itself was opened over Portugal, like a window of hope that God opens when man closes the door."

Thomas Merton's Prayer

I recently heard this for the first time, and think that it's wonderful.  To me, it's one of those, "Now, how did he read my mind?" prayers. I love its simplicity and honesty.  Although I think it applies to all of us, right now I'm thinking about all those graduating in the days ahead.  None of us is ever really 100% certain of where we're going, and we're often uncomfortable with admitting that to others.  I believe that God wants us to ask for help, though. He is our loving father, and leads us to what's best if we simply allow Him to show us the way.  I hope and pray that our young people remain comfortable in asking for His guidance and direction in their lives.   

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"



Bedtime Prayers

shared by Kathleen M.:

A tradition for our family is saying a prayer at night with the kids before they go to bed.  Maybe one night it's The Our Father, maybe the next, The Prayer of Sorrow.  Then we go around to each person and say what we are thankful for that day.  If we find ourselves struggling in our relationships with each other, we may also say what we are committed to doing different tomorrow (including the parents!).  Often I say out loud that we should be thankful for our struggles...they help us grow more in understanding The Trinity, and living in the likeness of Christ. 

Prayer of Sorrow

God of all consolation,
in your unending love and mercy for us,
you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.
Show compassion to your people in sorrow.
Be our refuge and our strength to lift us
from the darkness of this grief
to peace and joy in your presence.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Serenity Prayer

shared by Andrea M.:

SERENITY PRAYER

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Employment Prayer

shared by Andrea M.:

EMPLOYMENT – ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

Pray one decade of the rosary and the following prayer:

Glorious Saint Joseph, you are the pattern of all who work. Obtain for me, please, the grace to work conscientiously and to put devotion to duty before my selfish inclinations. Help me to labor in thankfulness and joy, for it is an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from almighty God. Grant that I may work in orderliness, peace, moderation and patience without shrinking from weariness and difficulties. I shall work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from self. For Jesus through Mary, all in imitation of you, good Saint Joseph. This shall be my motto in life and in death.  Amen.

Good Finances Prayer

shared by Andrea M.:

GOOD FINANCES – INFANT OF PRAGUE

Pray one decade of the rosary and the following prayer:

Precious Infant Jesus, help me to straighten out my financial problems. Release your wisdom so that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me. If my problems seem beyond repair, help me find a way, Your way, to meet my obligations. I place this need before you, knowing that You will guide me to find a good solution. Please grant me the patience, tolerance and spirit and to have courage as I go forth to make my way in life and support my loved ones. Amen.

Prayer in Time of Need

shared by Andrea M.:

PRAYER IN TIME OF NEED

O Lord, in my present need, help me to believe that You are aware of my trouble and will do what is best for me. Give me the strength to trust You and put the present and future in Your merciful hands.

Grant this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Family Prayer

shared by Andrea M. :

Growing up, our family regularly gathered to say the rosary in the evening and we always recited the “Family Prayer” afterwards. Our “family” then consisted of my parents, myself and eight siblings, and sometimes friends, neighbors or cousins who were “adopted” into our family. My siblings and I are now all married, with a total of thirty-two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and three more on the way. Although our father passed away in Oct 2009, the faith that he and our mother instilled in us continues to strengthen our bonds. As a family, we chose to have this prayer printed on the back of his Memorium Card. Our ever-expanding family continues the tradition of reciting this prayer when we gather around our father’s gravesite on special occasions.  

FAMILY PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You for Your love and for the many good things You have given to our family. Help us to show our gratitude by loving each other as You love us. Give us patience and understanding to bear with one another, generosity to share our joys and sorrows, honesty to admit our faults and correct them. We entrust our family to Your Fatherly care and protection. We ask that we grow daily in wisdom and grace, that some of us be granted the privilege of following Your Divine Son in the priesthood or religious life, and that all of us may one day share with You the joys of Heaven. Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help us to be a holy family.

Mysteries of the Rosary

Since we're praying the rosary daily in the month of May, I thought I'd share a link to some beautiful reflections on the mysteries of the rosary, written in the 'voice' of Mary.  These are so much deeper and more meaningful than the typical 2-3 sentences found in most "How to Pray the Rosary" pamphlets that we're all familiar with.

Here's the text for the first joyful mystery --

The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
1st Joyful Mystery

I was in prayer: it was evening. I was praying towards Jerusalem because my people prayed three times a day, morning, noon, and evening facing Jerusalem. I was praying for the Liberation of my people. I was praying that soon the Messiah would come to take away all hatred: to take away all sins from my people. As I was praying, there suddenly appeared an angel. At first I was afraid because it was the first time an angel had ever come to me. When I heard him say "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" I was very confused at this greeting and yet I was very humbled that an angel would call me full of grace: that I had gained favor from God: that I was called to bear His Son. I asked the angel how this could happen? I am a virgin: I had intended to be a virgin the rest of my life even though I agreed to live with Joseph. The angel assured me, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you: the shadow of the Most High will enwrap you and the child to be born of you will be called Son of God." At that instance, I remembered the prophesy of Isaiah. The prophesy of the Messiah. The prophesy that He would be a suffering servant. A servant rejected by His own people and yet raised by God. Knowing that, I said, "Behold the handmaid, the servant of the Lord: be it done to me according to Your word."

My children, be always open to seek the will of God in your life no matter what it is. Never be afraid of God's will. God's will always does contain suffering but God's will also brings peace. God's will contains Joy. Pray to the Heavenly Father: pray that He will give you the grace through my prayers to accept His will in all things. Place yourself at God's disposal and He will do great things for you and with you.

Read the complete rosary reflections here:

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/mystery.php

May Altar

My husband was very surprised to learn that I was completely unfamiliar with the tradition of making a May Altar in your home. He attended a Catholic school up until the 4th grade, while I was in for the long haul (through high school).  Apparently, he had a much more traditional school than I did.  ("No, we had plenty of felt banners and guitars, too.") 

Anyway, we've made a May Altar in a corner of our living room for a few years now, and it just wouldn't feel like Spring without it to me now.  Our family says prayers together every evening before bedtime, at our little 'prayer altar' (also known as a small bookshelf).  What a beautiful time of year to shift focus to Mary, and a more formalized altar.  This year, we're opting to say the Rosary every evening, but it was great to simply say an extra Hail Mary when the kids were younger.  We honor her as the mother of God, and the mother of us all.

For some nice ideas on making your own May Altar, take a look here:  http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/2010/04/may-altar-for-mary.html

Divine Mercy Sunday

From:  thedivinemercy.org:

The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us — all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.


The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:


A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.

B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.

C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.


This message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received about God's mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread.


The message and devotional practices proposed in the Diary of Saint Faustina and set forth in this web site and other publications of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception are completely in accordance with the teachings of Church and are firmly rooted in the Gospel message of our Merciful Savior. Properly understood and implemented, they will help us grow as genuine followers of Christ.


Spend time to learn more about the mercy of God, learn to trust in Jesus, and live your life as merciful to others, as Christ is merciful to you.


How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet:

http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm