PADDLING UPSTREAM

Ha,ha! -not.

2012-01-30T18:57:00.000Z

Saw this on Facebook. It is hilarious.(sarcasm mode) It also contains many lies in the one slogan.
Lie number one.
Condoms always work.O.K.Whatever.
Lie number two.
People with larger average families are simply not using condoms,rather than actively choosing or accepting children as they come.
Lie number three.
A minivan is undesirable.
Lie number four.
A large family will make your life a misery.

Books I am reading 2012

2012-01-27T12:59:00.002Z

Miracle In The Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado

Books I am reading 2012

2012-01-27T12:57:00.000Z

The Last Days of Maximilian Kolbe by Sergio C Lorit

Awesome story of St Maximilian's last days.

The conversion of St Paul

2012-01-25T13:42:00.000Z

My Voice Will Be Heard

2012-01-14T20:40:00.000Z

My Voice Will Be Heard

Helpful tips for writing about large families.

2012-01-09T18:58:00.000Z

Dear journalist, here are some tips for writing an article about large families.

Always mention how much the family spend on groceries per week/month. The unspoken implication being that large familes are an unceasing finanical burden.Don't mention the fact that other smaller families spend just as much, or the single person buys expensive stuff they won't eat. Remember-big familes=bad and cause of all the world's problems.
Milk. Always mention how many pints of milk the family get through in a week. The public need to know these things. Add an amusing titbit like, "That's about 27 cows worth!" If the family don't drink milk, mention this also, and imply they are weird, or a religious nutcase,or that their child's allergies happened because Daddy and Mummy have too many children.
Mention the Mother's weight. If she is a bit podgy, it is becuse she has had so many children. If she is thin,write something like, "~~Despite the fact she has loads of children~~, Mary is a size 8"
Benefits. Particularly of interest to Daily Mail journalists. Always mention that the family is on benefits, and how much they ~~scrounge off the taxpayer~~ get. If the family don't claim benefits, act surprised, something like, "Despite the fact that they ~~are clearly idiots~~, have lots of children, John and Mary don't claim benefits", the implication being that even when they are not a burden on the state, they should be.
Always ask their family planning intentions. "Susan and Tom are still planning more children." Use the word planning,even though they said, "We'll see", or "We don't know yet".
Mention their religious persusion. If they are Mormon or Catholic, that is good.They are clearly brainwashed by some bloke in a big pointy hat. No one would actually want all those ~~burdens~~ children otherwise.
Leave the combox open. If the family had any remaining dignity left, then they can wave it goodbye.

Stake Cake

2012-01-08T18:26:00.000Z

To commemerate the 600th Birthday of St Joan of Arc.6 January 2012

It collapsed shortly after this picture was taken.

We didn't forget St Nicholas..

2011-12-23T19:34:00.000Z

Although I lost the camera for a few weeks.

Got proper British coinage in chocolate form.

And strewed our St Nicholas story book.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mexican Feast.

2011-12-12T18:26:00.000Z

Don't worry. I am not one of those nauseatingly perfect Catholic homeschooling Mummy bloggers. Please note the absence of our pink advent candle due to us not having found one in IKEA (heresy!!) and thinking a purple one will do just as well, since the older children already know, and the younger ones just want to blow them out, and set alight their fingers.
Look at all that lovely food.
I expect your are quietly envious how I manage to get all this lovely cooking done. Look.Cornbread,mexican rice,chipotle meatballs,tortillas.
Some of it took a whole 4 minutes in the microwave.(more heresy!)
Happy Feast Day.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for us.

Holiness is more than being nice

2011-11-21T19:20:00.001Z

Children in Need

2011-11-15T15:19:00.000Z

Why I'm done with Mr Tesco.

2011-11-05T19:02:00.000Z

Apart from the fact they are taking over the world and they are everywhere.

But the straw that broke this camel's back is their support of London's Gay Pride event,complete with "fun children's area" See here for details

So I am closing my Tesco savings account,changing my electricity supplier,changing my mobile provider,and have cancelled my dvd rental, (all with Tesco of course).And I will be letting them know that this is not an appropriate action for a family friendly store.

I am your Father.

2011-11-04T19:00:00.000Z

This week our Priest announced that he no longer wishes to be addressed as Father. His decision is based on Matthew 23:9-"Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father,who is in heaven".
Instead he wishes to be addressed as Pastor. This decision came about after much reflection on this Bible passage.
I am much saddened by this. I believe such a decision waters down the vocation of the Priest from a spiritual father into something much less. Father identifies one instantly as a Catholic Priest, and all that implies,good or bad. Shedding the term is akin to a sort of spiritual contraception-not wanting to accept the spiritual fatherhood that is the Priesthood.

St Paul, said,"I became your Father in Christ Jesus". I don't want a Priest who is an entertainer, an administrator,or even to be popular. I want a Priest to help me get to heaven,even if it means being politically incorrect and unpopular, to guide and instruct just like our Fathers do at home. Yes Pastor, you are my Father.

Blessed are the innocent.

2011-11-02T18:39:00.000Z

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Matthew 11:24-26

My little son laughing with his older brother.Why is it this baby has it right, in a world where 90% of his brother's peers with Down's syndrome are aborted? Wish we could all be a bit more like this.

All Soul's Day

2011-11-02T18:26:00.000Z

We made a pious visit to the cemetary to pray for the dead.

Soul cakes.

Jam for martyrdom and cream for purity.(That's my excuse,and I'm sticking to it. I have got this indulgence thing sorted :)

What I am reading.

2011-10-10T17:36:00.000+01:00

When Michael and Tania Sullivan first met in high school in 1988 little did they know what the future held in store for them. Now, 23 years later, they have nine children and twins on the way! Realising there was a lot of curiosity surrounding large families, Tania started their blog www.largerfamilylife.com to give an insight into their every day lives. Three years on they decided to put the most commonly asked questions together in one place. Here they explain how their convictions regarding family planning changed to how they rode through life's rollercoaster to reach where they are today. Along with their story they share the things they have learnt along the way, from budgeting tips, to homeschooling to introducing a new baby into the family. Larger Family Life, the book, is a must read for anybody who has a large family of their own or is simply interested to know more about the logistics of having a large family.

http://www.largerfamilylife.com/

I found the chatty,down-to-earth style of this book easy to read,and a bit like chatting to a good friend over the garden fence. 50 years ago, a book on this subject would not have been necessary. Now such archaic terms as "children","budgeting" "home cooking" and "accepting children from God" need to be addressed in a book. Good to know that there are other big families who have trod the path before us that I can look to for advice/hope and support.

Introducing Maximilian Thomas

2011-09-01T19:55:00.000+01:00

Born on 09 August 2011 weighing 10lb 6oz. My biggest baby yet.He is named after Ss Maximilian Kolbe and Thomas More.

No Kidding!

2011-07-30T14:37:00.000+01:00

On IVF

2011-07-28T18:33:00.000+01:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017821/THIRTY-embryos-created-baby-born-IVF--thousands-thrown-away.html

Of Course, IVF is only ever presented like this picture.Boo hiss to the nasty Catholics who object.

They never mention the take-home baby rate is something like 15%. And we never mention the hundreds of children who die in order that one might live. A bit like me wandering into my local school, killing all the children but the cutest one, and then making sure nobody hears about it, get myself and hubby and child into some arty soft-focus shots, and ensuring that anyone who objects is painted as a religious nutcase/killjoy.IVF doesn't even cure infertility, it merely bypasses it.

H/T http://protectthepope.com/?p=3440

On Contraception.Not that there's any pressure or anything!

2011-07-25T19:15:00.000+01:00

So I am full term pregnant today. For the second or is it third time my midwife has joked,"So are you shutting up shop now?" Needless to say, she thinks she is being funny, after all this is my sixth child, including one with high special needs, obviously I want to stop,right?
This habit of asking pregnant and newly delivered women what contraception they are going to use is no accident. What mother of a newborn is anxious to go through all that again? Pregnancy,childbirth,post natal exhaustion/craziness the whole shebang?
But here's the thing. I believe that if something is wrong, it is wrong. Upending grandma's wheelchair into the river is wrong (with Grandma in it) even if she is the smelliest,nastiest old crone that ever lived. It might be understandable,but we don't do it, because a person's value is not dependant on how annoying they are-otherwise, I would have been swimming with the fishes long ago.
My little boy with Down's syndrome is quite frankly a pain in the butt most of the time-exhausting,destructive,violent-he can be happy-but we are far away from the, "Aren't they lovely?" you always get.I guess you are "allowed" to live if you are lovely-but not if you are cranky,impolite,ugly or a miscevious little sod. Well I'm stuffed then.
If I contracepted for "good reasons"-like I'm too tired,too overwhelmed,too poor,unmarried, avoiding grave abnormality, etc, then none of my children would exist. That would be a great loss.
If an artist who painted magnificent artworks was told,"Gee, you've painted enough there son,why don't we cut off your hands?" We'd think that person was crazy. Or tell a leading heart surgeon, "Gosh you've done so many procedures, and you're so good at it, and you look tired, why don't we give you these pills to shrivel up your fingers, so you don't have to do this anymore"
Imagine if your GP came to your house, and you said, "Dr,my right arm works really well, I keep doing wonderful things with it, can you cut it off please?" Wouldn't they think you were mad?
And yet when it comes to contraception and sterilisation, it is like our brains fall out. Whatever happened to if it aint broke,don't fix it?

So Who is Responsible, Then?

2011-06-17T10:17:00.000+01:00

What the Anglicans have got,that we haven't.

2011-06-02T19:11:00.000+01:00

Aside from nicer church buildings,that is, (although many were originally Catholic churches anyway)

We visted Llandaf Cathedral today,mostly because it is quite nice to look at,and we had almost one hour to kill,while my dd was at the BBC up the road. It actually had a great many features that many of our Catholic churches have sadly dispensed with-like statues-including Our Lady, and a beautiful Tryptych. What struck me most was that each of the altars had altar rails. I saw nobody outside protesting against such an archaic idea,or complaining that such things were divisive. Nobody complained how they got in the way either,in fact they sort of made you want to stop and kneel awhile. And yet these guys don't actually have Christ present Body,Blood,Soul and Divinity like we do, Holy Communion is merely a symbol, a "sharing", a communal celebration.

The first time I set eyes on communion rails was in my Husband's Anglican parish. Yes,another anglican parish with communion rails. My local Anglican parish also has them-go figure!

I have rarely seen Altar rails in the many catholic Churches I have attended,unless it is a Latin Mass.

Perhaps in our efforts to be mose ecumenical,we should think about restoring Altar rails,after all,we don't want to be divisive,do we?

The Power of Homosexual TV

2011-06-02T11:21:00.000+01:00

Four things on which the liberal dissenters and I agree.

2011-05-31T11:02:00.000+01:00

"The church must realise that 90% of Catholics ignore the teachings on Birth Control"

I agree. The vast majority of these Catholics have never heard what the church teaches-not from the pulpit,not in catechesis,not in RCIA, and not in Marriage preparation. How can you follow a path you do not know exists? You can only go along with the world. That is the only voice you are hearing.
Where the dissenters and I part ways,is that I believe the truth needs to be heard,rather than swept under the carpet, or dispensed with altogether.

"Young people don't want to go to Mass anymore,they find the Mass boring"

Amen. But since we have changed the Mass from a re-presentation of the sacrifice of Christ, to a "special meal", a sharing,caring,hug-fest. And no amount of extra-loud strumming can drown out the inane "I love you,you love me,we're all one big family" excuse for a hymn. Young people are not foolish. They might go looking for God and for truth, but they will get Doris and Maria trying to hold their hands. Might as well go to McDonald's with your mates for your "special Meal" and your fellowship.

"There's no demand for the Latin Mass"

Well yes. If you only make Latin Mass available 300 miles away at 8pm on the third Thursday of the month, and frequently cancel it at the last minute, so the justice and peace ladies can drink tea, there is going to be no demand for it.Particularly among families with young children who need sleep and routine.

"Catholic schools are excellent,and do a lot of good in society"

Firstly,define excellent. Excellent, as in offer no resistance to the world? Excellent is in good GCSE results? (how are 5 a*s going to win you a place in heaven?) Excellent as in very popular with MP's children, particularly those MPs who think exterminating unborn babies is a jolly good show.And if good means never rocking the boat and going along with whatever worldly ideology the wind blows in,then, in the main,Catholic schools are.

Salve Regina.

2011-05-27T22:15:00.000+01:00

I first heard this sung only last month,after we said the Rosary at the Latin Mass Society Family Retreat. Only last month. It took my breath away. So I am making a point to learn it.
I can't for the life of me understand how all this tradition and awesome music was kept from my generation. Who decided "Follow me" or "Colours of day" or that innane "clappy Gloria" was a better choice? What were they smoking? Why consign this to the bin?
The trouble with trendy,is that within a generation,it becomes tacky and cringeworthy. The Salve Regina, though,is like a pure glass of spring water,after only ever drinking fizzy pop. Lovely.

Truth Divides

2011-05-27T09:50:00.000+01:00

No Smoking! No Trans-Fat!

2011-05-25T11:08:00.000+01:00

Funny.

Latin Mass

2011-05-25T10:49:00.000+01:00

Amen. My nearest Latin Mass on a Sunday is an hour and half drive each way,and is too late in the day to make it feasible for my whole family to go. Perhaps this is why some Bishops believe there is "little call for the Latin Mass".

False Ecumenism 06-30

2011-05-25T10:43:00.000+01:00

The Social Justice Scam

2011-05-23T18:33:00.000+01:00

Why I should call this child Humanae Vitae. (Or perhaps not)

2011-05-21T15:28:00.000+01:00

This is my second Humanae Vitae baby, in that both this baby and the last were due on 25 July, which is the date in 1968, that Humanae Vitae was published. For those of you not familiar, HV, was the Papal Encyclical, which seems to have been produced largely to line many a hamster cage across the Western World.i.e. this propetic document has been largly ignored.

Why call my child Humanae Vitae?

Father will have to mention Humanae Vitae several times during the Mass when said baby is Baptised. That will be a first.
People will talk about Humanae Vitae over tea and biscuits in the hall afterwards, which will make a pleasant change from their tales of sterilisation.
Some people might decide they quite like Humanae Vitae after all.

Almost worth doing, except the reality would sadly go more like this:

Most Catholics would be heard to say, "That's an unusual name, I've never heard it before"
90% of Catholics would ignore Humanae Vitae
A few aging liberals will write to the Bishop objecting to Humanae Vitae, making wild accusations about him/her even though they have never actually met.
The child will have to be referred to under a pseudonym like "Bob" or "Sally" in case their real name offends anyone.
Humanae Vitae would end up being locked in some dark cupboard for over 40 years, in the hope that they will be forgotten about.

Weapons of Mass destruction part2

2011-05-17T15:31:00.000+01:00

This is a brilliant video about the changes to the Mass brought in by Bugnini. I will always remember attending my husband's old Anglican parish, and being amazed at how similar their service was to our Catholic Mass- almost identical. My thoughts back then of course, was how there is probably not much difference between the two anyway. It made getting married there an easier decision-after all they had a better choir!
Of course,part of Bugnini's plan was to destroy the "catholicism" of the Mass, and make it more popular with Anglicans.
Since the Liturgy makes an invisible God visible, the destruction of the Liturgy leads to destruction of faith.
I was always slightly galled about "those darn Anglicans copying our Mass" .How wrong I was.

This program is from RealCatholicTV.com

Renewing what exactly?

2011-05-11T11:38:00.000+01:00

As a recovering Charismatic Catholic, I feel the need to ask the question what exactly does Charismatic Renewal hope to renew?
I loved Charismatic things a few years ago.The first time I went to New Dawn, for example,I loved it-Loud music,hands in the air blahblahblah. I felt that this was the missing link in the Catholic church, a change from the dreary old Sunday Mass.
When you effectively abandon 2000 years of tradition, traditonal devotions,piety, concern for one's own soul etc,etc, and replace it with reordered churches, group hugs, and chit chat non-catecesis, you need something to get the blood pumping a bit,to wake poorly catechised teens out of their semi-comas.

It reminds me of the story in Nazi Germany, when every Sunday morning, a train would rattle past a church. The train was crammed with Jews,Gypsys and Poles and was on its way to the concentration camps. The congregation in the church knew exactly where these trains were going, and were aware of the certain death of its occupants.
Every week,the congregation would sing louder,as the train went by, in an attempt to drown out the noise of the train. I'm sure they felt powerless,I'm sure their singing helped drown out the noise of their consciences too.

Maybe if we sing loud enough,we can pretend that everything is alright. We can forget that we fail to catechise or evangelise.
We can drink our birth-control smoothies for 40 years, and then hope by waving our arms in the air, we can magic Vocations out of the ether.
We can put our fingers in our ears and sing "La la la,we're not listening!" and continue to support, fund, and send our children to schools that have long ago ceased to have the right to call themselves Catholic, and will almost guarantee your child will not practice the faith ever again.
We can enthuse excitedly about the latest book of a tired old heretic, wave our jolly flags about until our arms drop off, but we can never speak the truth, unless it is politically correct,or socially acceptable.
I'm all for renewal, the real kind, not the rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic kind.

Did I actually go to Mass?

2011-05-01T15:01:00.000+01:00

I have had the experience of being stranded in the diocese of Menevia this weekend,and last,due to a "holiday emergency". Instead of my usual Tridentine Mass on a Sunday (and the occasional N.O.when I can't make the long drive). I had the odd sensation of wondering whether the consecration was valid at all. How much can a priest ad-lib before the consecration becomes invalid? Is it EVER invalid?
I have a friend who will never attend the N.O. Mass, as she believes the whole thing is invalid. How does one fulfill one's Sunday obligation if one happens to be nowhere near a Latin Mass, and in Menevia you can forget it?
Can one even ask a priest what the right thing to do is,particularly Fr Dontworryaboutit, who is probably guilty of ad-libbing when it takes his fancy.
When I walk into my local community centre,I am not scandalised. When I walk into a Novus Ordo Church that LOOKS to all intents like a community centre, and spend too much time in confusion,
looking for the Tabernacle, wondering where the kneelers are, trying to be charitable while Mary and Jean have a loud conversation right behind me, I am scandalised. Maybe because this is not a community centre. Even if the Liturgical banners bear a striking resemblance to the pilates posters on the wall of the community centre. Even if the gathering of children for Children's Liturgy resembles prize-giving night at the Tae-kwon-do group, and the homily, like the toastmaster's speech exhorts us all to join in for tea and coffee in the hall afterwards.
Mass confusion.

That good ship Katholik must sail.

2011-04-13T10:56:00.000+01:00

A parish in my Diocese hosting a Muslim speaker ,in Mass,no less, does not come as too much of a surprise.
I've heard it all now.
Unfortunately.
That I'm sure he was a nice chap, who spoke well, makes it worse.
My parish also hosts visiting speakers-before Mass, but in church, from various Protestant denominations, and unqualified Catholic lay people.
All nice people, with interesting things to say, of course.
The catholic teacher,who said,"Gosh,we didn't teach about Reconcilliation until A level" . Guess that explains a few things then. Like why you can almost guarantee a young person leaving school will not practice their faith (Mainly because you can't practice what you don't know).

I missed the memo,Thank God, where the Katholik church removed all reference to sin,except murder,(not of the unborn of course), and replaced it with the one commandment to NOT OFFEND AND GENERALLY BE NICE TO OUR NEIGHBOUR,AND ALL RELGIONS ARE EQUAL AND JESUS DOESN'T MIND AT ALL REALLY.
Love one another, reduced to the level of "I love this cake!" "I love Justin Beiber!" "I love teddy bears, they are so squishy and cuddly,aren't they,aren't they?"
Newsflash! Jesus is not some stoned hippy. He is not some fuzzy do-gooder tree-hugging bloke in an organic cotton mumu.
He is our Saviour. He saved us from eternal death by dying in our place. That's not the gesture of a wimp,that's someone who really LOVES us.
Proper love, that is, love that is self-sacrificial, not self-serving.
I have no doubt that He can "Stand up for himself" when his precious blood is decanted into a stoneware beaker, or an IKEA vase even.
Perhaps he "doesn't really mind" being relegated to a side room, or passed around like cookies.
He is God after all. But it is all so frankly insulting. Like inviting the queen around and serving fish paste sandwiches on three day-old Value sliced white bread. She might well eat it out of politeness of course.
"Cheers J.C..Thanks for dying and all, don't mind if I put your image on this poster we've made for Catholics for recycling,group hugs and lukewarm tea and general pleasant chit chat about unimportant things."
Have some respect people. Have some care for your immortal souls. Have some respect for HIM.

Phillip Pullman.Coming to a Catholic bookshop near you.

2011-03-19T19:41:00.000Z

I was slightly surprised to see this book in our local CTS bookshop. I say slightly, since some of what the shop already sells is dissenting and heretical.

Not all. Some.

There is of course some very good trustworthy stuff.

How are you supposed to tell the difference?

Fr Bob's book is excellent and orthodox, while next to it Fr Chuck's book is full of heresy, while next to that Fr John's book is full of sentimental fluff, and no substance.

How does average Joe Catholic, fresh out of his woeful tea and biscuits RCIA know what to pick? Short answer. He doesn't. He has to trust that a Catholic book shop sells Catholic books.

Bear in mind Phillip Pullman is a hardened athiest, who wanted to have the Pope arrested (presumably because he disagrees with him), and not a fan of the Catholic Church it has to be said.

But is he really any different to so many of our dissenting Catholic writers, liberal priests, and dissident aging nuns who also disagree with the Pope, and sow confusion among the faithful?

At least Phillip Pullman is honest about what he believes(or doesn't believe) ,and doesn't run a Catholic school, or give lectures in the pastoral centre, or speak candyfloss sermonettes from the pulpit.

Even if the Catholic bookshop does stock his books.

What is the religious climate in your country?

2011-02-08T16:11:00.000Z

Responding to JENNIFER FULWILER at.

http://www.conversiondiary.com/

Where do you live? South Wales,UK.

What is church attendance like in your area? Not bad. Several Christian Churches in my town, One Catholic, one Mormon, Methodist,Baptist, Evangelical, High Anglican, Welsh language chapel, non-denominational chapels,Pentecostal. We do get together for many events. Churches together started a homeless shelter, which was later taken over by the council. Fair trade events. Lenten lunches and our town's Good Friday walk of witness, where we many of the denominations meet for prayers, and the procession through our town centre, carrying a cross.

At a typical social event, how appropriate would it be if a person were to explicitly acknowledge in casual conversation that he or she is a believing Christian? Not that uncommon.

What belief system do the politicians in your area claim to practice? They don't usually claim to practice any belief.

How many families do you know who have more than two children? Many, But I move in homeschooling/Catholic circles. Most people seem to have two, but 3 or 4 is not uncommon. Larger families of 5 or 6 are usually "blended" families.
If a family with four children moved to your area, would their family size seem unusual? What about a family with six children? Four would not be too odd. Six would be more unusual.

6.What seems to be the dominant belief system of the people in your area? Secularism mixed with general Christian secularism.Living in the Welsh Valleys people are more traditionally Christian than in other areas of the UK

7.Do you notice any trends? People seem very accepting of popular culture and it seems to inform their thoughts. IVF and contraception are seen as good things, and a perfectly normal choice for Christians.

Puppet Mass

2011-01-21T14:49:00.000Z

I am sure many of you have seen videos like this before of Liturgical abuses.

If you wanted to count them, then good luck to you, as this video contains so many of them.

Masses like this are not unfamiliar to me-they are very much like my school Masses we went to . They were all I knew when I was growing up.

Sadly,recently, I discovered a Mass sheet for a leaver's Mass we had in school. A leaver's Mass was a bitter irony,given that most (read all) of the young Catholics who attended have now lapsed.

Given Masses like this,who is surprised?

I find watching this video like being pierced with a knife. God have Mercy on us!

The Piper of modernism (and how he led my generation)

2011-01-10T18:43:00.000Z

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little girl. She lived near a beautiful castle and would visit often along with the courtiers, the gentlefolk and the King’s beloved servant. One day a piper came to the castle. He charmed the King’s servant, the courtiers and the gentlefolk. He delighted the children with his bright garments. He spoke of freedom from regulations some people were troubled, but the piper dazzled the people, and their laughter drowned out their complaints. The people delighted in the promises of the piper, and thought it was good.

And the little girl grew.

One day the castle held a great feast. The little girl went with her friends to prepare. The piper delighted them with his juggling, and told them about a wonderful feast which had been prepared for them. The children brushed their hair, and wore their finest clothes. The little girl wore a beautiful dress of the finest silk. The piper smiled and told them to enjoy their party. And the people thought it was good.

Later that day the children dined at the King’s table, they laughed and showed off their fine dresses.

No one noticed the King’s son who was the honoured guest. He greeted all of the children, his arms laden with gifts for them, but they did not seem to notice him. They brushed past him, and carried on with the celebrations. The king saw all this, and pitied the children, because the piper had failed to tell them about the Prince. The people saw the celebrations, and thought it was good.

Over the years, the piper grew in strength and cunning. Because he appeared so wise and handsome, the people trusted him with their children. The little girl watched the piper take her friends by the hand, and one by one lead them away from the Castle, and the king, and the Prince they never knew, and the people danced and clapped and thought it was good. We are free! They shouted.

Even the King’s favorite servant joined in the celebrations.

One day, it was the little girl’s turn to be taken away. Enchanted by the piper, she followed him down the path, skipping happily. Just as the path became dark and overgrown with briars, a beautiful lady, radient in a dress of blue beckoned to her, the beautiful lady captivated the young girl, so she held out her hand, and the lady led her away.

“I am Mother!” said the lady, whose eyes sparkled with tenderness, whose hand was warm in the little girls.

And the little girl grew until one day she was all grown up and had little girls of her own.

One day, “Mother” took the little girl to see a Handsome Prince. He was gentle and kind, and as he stretched out his arms, the little girl cried because she remembered now this was the man at the great feast, and how everyone had ignored him. The little girl got angry when she realised how the piper had deceived the people. “If only we had known it was you, we would have got our hearts ready for you, and now it is too late!”, and she stamped her feet. But the handsome prince held her hands tightly in his, and looked at her with such warmth and kindness, that she was sorry. “I told them about the piper, but they wouldn’t listen, said the prince, “And when I sent my mother, the piper turned the children’s heads away, so they couldn’t see her”. The little girls heart was heavy with sadness. She never forgot her friends who now wandered far from the Prince. She often spoke to the King, and asked him to be kind to them, and to welcome them if they remembered his goodness.

The little girl, who was by now not so little any more, went to the castle see the courtiers, and the King’s new faithful servant, in whom she had great hopes, to tell them about the piper, but she could see some of them were still cast under his spell, and so the girl fled in floods of tears.

Everyday the little girl spoke to the Prince, and to his dear Mother, and she could see their hearts were sad, and how much they grieved for the lost children, as did she, and from that day, she vowed always to tell people of what the piper had done.

Epiphany celebrations.

2011-01-06T18:21:00.000Z

This is the first year we have done anything more than take down our Christmas decorations. This year we made an Epiphany cake, and hid 3 coins inside-one gold, one silver, and one bronze-trying to represent the 3 gifts rather than Olympic medals. We also did the house blessing-we got our chalk blessed by our parish priest.

The chalk inscription consists of the year-20 (11 at the end). M+C+B+ can either stand for Melchior,Caspar and Balthazar or Christus mansionem benedicat -May Christ bless this house.

The blessing that we used we got from the book-" Advent,Christmas and Epiphany in the domestic church", by Catherine and Peter Fournier.

"O Lord, grant that the names of Thy saints Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar may, through their merits and petitions, bless our home and bring physical health and spiritual protection for all who enter here.Amen"

My son Jac.

2010-12-29T19:28:00.001Z

As you can see from his picture clearly has a horrible life and deserves to die. Well, no I don't actually think this, and the thought should horrify any reasonable person, yet a massive 90% of his peers were murdered. If you don't remember the news reports it is because of course there were none. Down's babies are routinely detected and aborted in the womb.

I remember when they noticed Jac's "anomaly" on his ten-week scan. The frantic measuring of his limbs, the alarmed tones, and so many specialists huddled around the ultrasound monitor. They were not trying to save him, they were not frantically administering pre-natal CPR, they were in no way helping me. They were measuring his arms and legs, they were checking to see how abnormal he was, they were not trying to help him. They measured the nuchal fold at the back of his neck, and they saw it had increased fluid. This is one of the indicators of Down's syndrome. They were, in effect measuring him for his coffin. (Not that aborted babies get even the dignity of a coffin)

It was assumed I would abort. I must admit a "woman's choice" becomes laughable when the language is all, "I'm so sorry", and "as you can see, things are not right" and the looks you get are all of worry and pity and sorrow, like the child has already died.You don't get,"Look at the heart beating!", or "there you can see baby's hands", and yet he had a heart beat, and he had lovely hands (and still does).

The specialists ran away,quite literally ran when they heard I didn't want to kill my child. And yet, only a moment before had promised that they would be there for me. After they had asked me, "are you sure?"(please don't sue), "are you sure you are sure?", I never saw them again. Ever.

The rest of the pregnancy was one of worry of what this child would look like, would he have heart problems?, would he die shortly after birth ?etc. Somehow I lost the right to feel like this-The attitude was.You CHOSE to have him, therefore you must be overjoyed, and not have these feelings.

http://fatherdesouza.ca/?p=469#more-469

Fr De Souza has written an excellent article on the contradiction between how we treat the disabled before they were born, and how we treat them afterwards.

If I killed my son today, I would go to jail, and be treated with contempt.Seven years ago I could have had him legally murdered, and been respected for it.

This irony struck home when at six days old, I took him to our main teaching hospital for a check up.He was all tucked up in his car seat. Yet only a week earlier, I could have come to the same hospital and had him killed. Legally. (Abortion is legal up to birth in the UK for grave abnormalities). I had this strange fear that someone would snatch him from his seat, and dash him to pieces. A mere seven days earlier, and they could have.

St Lucy,virgin and Martyr

2010-12-13T18:37:00.000Z

Made some lovely cinnamon rolls, and enjoyed putting a lighted candle in each one. I am enjoying cooking again, as my morning (all day) sickness seems to be waning.

St Elizabeth of Hungary.17 November

2010-11-18T11:23:00.000Z

Hungarian Goulash.Yummy.

St Margaret of Scotland

2010-11-16T18:36:00.000Z

The is a lovely St Margaret's chapel right at the top of Edinburgh castle which we had the pleasure of visiting a few years ago.

I had already decided to make Scotch eggs for tea today, when a friend pointed out this feast day. So Scotch eggs for the feast of St Margaret of Scotland.

St Francis of Assisi.Tonsure cake.

2010-10-04T17:57:00.000+01:00

To celebrate this Saint, today we made a cake to look like a tonsure. Not for the faint-hearted, this baby contains 5 eggs, 250g of butter, and is drizzled with melted chocolate. Quite un-Francis like really.

Our Lady's Birthday.

2010-09-08T18:40:00.000+01:00

Cakes are iced in blue, with silver balls representing the 12 stars around her head.

Mass, Birthday Cards, gardens and Cakes.

Liturgical abuses.Do we even notice?

2010-09-05T20:12:00.001+01:00

Putting the Lord's precious body in one of these, is rather like inviting an important guest to your home, not bothering to change the sheets, and telling them to make their own tea of cheese and toast. They might be one of those easy going people who really don't mind being treated so badly, but that doesn't really excuse the behaviour does it?
In fact, "Sacred vessels for containing the body and blood of the Lord must be made in strict conformity with the norms of tradition and of the liturgical books......Reprobated, therefore, is any practice of using for the celebration of the Mass common vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or that are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily." (117 Redemptionis Sacramentum)
Complete text is available here www.catholic.com/library/redemptionis_sacramentum.asp#ChapterV

That's it.Keep flogging that dead horse.

2010-08-25T12:30:00.000+01:00

The latest news today,again, is that STIs are on the increase.again. The solution, again, is more education on safer sex, again, and better access to condoms.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11072853#
A lie, when repeated often enough becomes the truth.

I prefer to put my trust in Jesus Christ, and in the truth of His Church.
I prefer to raise my daughters to hold a high regard for chastity and purity, values which instill in them self-worth and their dignity as daughters of the King, and not follow the folly believing, that whatever is popular, also must be right.

Hold on to your kids, it's getting hot out here.

2010-06-29T19:37:00.000+01:00

My daughter had the misfortune to be given these books by a well-meaning relative, who "liked the pictures".
Before you rush out to get your copy, you might be interested to know that these books are the vilest form of propaganda that I have seen in a while, and I've seen some bad stuff.
In a way, I am thankful. Many of my parents generation are blissfully unaware that such books exist, raised on Bambi and Blyton, remembering when children's books were about adventures on a lake, and gamboling through country lanes, with nothing more sinister than an old man with a dog, hidden treasure, and lashings of ginger beer.
Now however, the book shop has a new owner, and his name is Satan. Not content with finishing our children off before they are even born, he moves on to poisoning their innocent minds.
Yes, King and King is what you are thinking of. Boy meets boy.Boy marries boy (not even a civil partnership!) and off they go on their honeymoon.
King and king and family is the sequel. While on their honeymoon,King and king see all the happy animal families, and decide they want in on the family thing. They adopt a little girl, and not to be politically incorrect, she is of an ethnic minority. Then they all sign the adoption papers and live happily ever after.
The end.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

2010-06-15T20:15:00.001+01:00

We made some Sacred Hearts or "secret hearts" according to dd.

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The children added a little prayer to the bottom, so they can pray it.

Dove-shaped cookies for Pentecost.

2010-05-23T18:22:00.000+01:00

I made a large batch of these to share out with everyone during tea and coffee after Mass. I followed a generic cookie recipe, and bought a dove-shaped cutter off E-bay.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit card game.

2010-05-17T20:57:00.000+01:00

I made these with black card (because that is what we had) and paint, (because we were using paint already). I was originally going to make cookies with the gifts iced on, but have done baked products ad nauseum. We have played them like "snap" or as a memory game.

Our Lady of Fatima.Lots of tiny cupcakes.

2010-05-12T18:23:00.000+01:00

I don't know what the Church's official position is on making a gigantic rosary out of tiny cupcakes, or even if such a feat has ever been attempted before. I do know that Our Lady of Fatima urged us to pray the Rosary for peace. I want my children to be familiar with the Rosary and for it to be an important part of their lives. In our house we will mark this day by praying the rosary as a family, as usual, but with a tasty treat to follow.

Feast of St Catherine of Sienna

2010-04-29T13:17:00.000+01:00

My patron saint. Went to Mass. Cakes compulsory.

Cookies for St George's day.

2010-04-23T19:27:00.000+01:00

First Holy Communion project/binder/scrapbook

2010-04-14T09:59:00.000+01:00

We decided to make a First Communion binder for a number of reasons.

1. To consolidate what we have been learning.

2. Somewhere to keep all those First Communion cards.

3. As a souvenir.

4. It was just fun to work on with my daughter.

The joy of answered Prayer.

2010-04-05T19:34:00.000+01:00

I've never been good at prayer. Maybe because I am a 21st century gal, used to instant gratifcation, broadband, bank machines,microwaves, and I expect instant gratification in my prayer life too. "Lord give it to me, and make it snappy". Not good. But then, did I really know who I was addressing?
Ok this was me, and sometimes still is, I'm afraid.
But here's what falling in love does. Just like sitting next to my husband on the sofa, with a cup of tea. There's no need for champagne and roses (although hubby, if you are reading this, yes, there is!) Just to be is enough.
Same with God. What a good and patient Father we have.
Have you ever experienced the joy of having a prayer answered after years and years and years? I did just recently. Its more than joy. Its that moment of feeling, of knowing that God has heard you. I mean, think about that. How much love is that, that an Almighty Eternal God, turns his gaze to you, and says, "I heard you." "I love you".
And with what confidence I turn to God with a renewed faith and trust that He hears me.
"I wait patiently for God to save me;
I depend on Him alone.
He alone protects and saves me;
He is my defender,
and I shall never be defeated"
Psalm 62 1-3
So all these years I thought my prayers were for someone else (and they were), when all this time, all these years my prayers were for me too, to know this. Such love O Jesus, such love.

A hands-on Stations of the cross

2010-04-03T15:00:00.000+01:00

Jesus dies. We remove the SIN card from the gates of Heaven, since Jesus' death allowed us access to Heaven.

They cast lots for His clothes.

The empty tomb with folded grave-clothes.

Nails. Jesus is nailed to the cross.

Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Jesus falls the third time (a whip).

Jesus rises from the dead.Bay leaves and spicy soaps. The children got to take them home.

Tears of the women of Jerusalem.

Jesus falls the second time. (A bandage)

Jesus meets His Mother (miraculous medals)

Jesus falls the first time (a plaster)

Jesus takes up his cross. Palm cross.

Jesus is condemned to die. Pushed cocktail stick "thorns" into a salt-dough crown.

Lovely stained-glass pictures for the Annunciation

2010-03-25T20:13:00.000Z

We got the pattern from Lent and Easter in the domestic church, (as mentioned previously)
They took a while to make as cutting out the black template, was quite intricate and fiddly, but we are very pleased with the results. The design is of a lily, a symbol of purity.

Feast of St Joseph 19 March.

2010-03-18T20:13:00.001Z

The children made wooden furniture with their Daddy, to celebrate St Joseph's feast day.

St Patrick's Day.

2010-03-17T11:08:00.000Z

We made some cards, a shamrock to represent the Trinity, and read about this great saint.
Later we made some fruity Irish soda bread.I got the recipe from "Lent and Easter in the domestic Church" by Catherine and Peter Fournier.

3 cups flour

2 tsp basking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter

2 cups raisins

1 egg

1/2 cup of honey

1 cup buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice added)

Sift the flour,baking powder, soda and salt into a bowl. Add the butter and make "breadcrumbs". Add raisins and stir.

Beat the eggs, then add honey and buttermilk.

Gradually add until mixture is evenly moistened but not smooth. It should be rough and lumpy.

Bake for an hour until middle is set.

St David's Day and signs of spring.

2010-03-01T17:08:00.000Z

Today is the feast of St David, patron of Wales. It is a big thing in Wales, with children in Welsh costumes, Wales rugby shirts, and clutching daffodils.

It is more a celebration of Welshness, than a reflection on the life of this amazing Saint.

Who was St David?

He was actually a pretty cool guy.

He performed his first miracle while he was still in the womb. It is also suggested that he was conceived as a result of rape, (so it is good that St Non, his mother did not attend her local catholic school, and go to their confidential sexual health clinic. )

It is said, that when he preached at Llandewi Brefi, the ground raised up beneath him, so the crowd could see him. He healed the sick, and raised the dead.

St David lived very simply, eating fruit and vegtables and drinking only water, so he wouldn't have eaten the Welshcakes we made to celebrate.

Welsh cake recipe.

8oz flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder,

4oz butter,

3oz sugar,

1 large egg and a little milk, good pinch mixed spice or just nutmeg.

Method-Rub the fat into the spiced flour, add sugar and currants, bind with beaten egg and a little milk if needed to a stiffish paste. Roll out on floured board to 1/4 inch thick, with a round cutter, and bake on a bakestone or heavy bottomed pan 3-5 mins each side until mottled golden brown. Sprinkle with sugar.

Lenten Scripturama

2010-02-21T16:07:00.000Z

Like an Advent calendar, this year we bought a scripturama -like a Lenten Calendar, which we use during our family prayers. It is set on a map of the Holy Land. It gives us a focus during Lent, and like an Advent calendar, we get to open a new door everyday, and get a new reading from the Bible, finishing in Holy Week with the Passion.

A salt-dough crown of thorns for Lent.

2010-02-18T13:29:00.000Z

We made this rather scary-looking crown of thorns. During lent, everytime we sacrifice, or do something good or helpful, we get to take a thorn out of the crown.

Hopefully by Easter, it will be devoid of thorns, then we will paint it in bright colours and use it as a table centre piece, replacing the thorns with candles. Exchanging a crown of suffering for a crown of glory.

Making cards for St Valentine's day.

2010-02-11T14:13:00.000Z

The pink one has been made by dd,age 7, and the red ones by me. I love craft, I find it very relaxing. Having my children home with me gives me the opportunity to do these simple things, that I would otherwise not get to do. Probably, I would never get the chance if I had some high-powered career.
And they are personal, no off the shelf-generic cards here. And given that most cards these days are positively bawdy, that's no bad thing either.

St Blaise,bishop and martyr

2010-02-03T17:40:00.000Z

To celebrate we made chocolate and chilli cookies. (You see chillis are "blazing" hot!)
St Blaise is the patron of throat ailments, and given my generous use of chilli powder (extra hot), we may yet need his intercession.

The Presentation of Our Lord

2010-02-02T15:08:00.000Z

The great Blessing of Motherhood.

2010-01-27T19:32:00.000Z

So a friend from school is pregnant, having her first child.

Somehow this blows my mind.

I have been pregnant 5 times myself, but in the thick of nausea/worry/tireness/worrying what people will think/wondering where baby will sleep etc. I forgot something.

I forgot that children are always an amazing blessing.

An absolute miracle.

Awesome.

Unique.

I forgot sometimes in my self-centeredness that I am participating in God's plan.

Just thinking about my friend's tiny, precious baby bought tears to my eyes. I mean WOW! This small person, already known to God. A little boy or girl, looking just like themselves. A human soul. Tiny, precious-a one off utterly new and unique.

I had the odd desire to wrap my friend in cotton wool. A former professional athlete, turned fitness instructor, I wanted to ask her should she be excercising at all-to make her sit down in a chair and hand feed her whatever she wanted.

Most of all, I had the oddest desire to bow down to her, in sheer awe of the miracle taking place inside her - a co creator with God. I mean how cool is that?, and how Blessed are us women that He allows many of us to share in His Divine plan.

If I am ever Blessed with a pregnancy again, I will let myself be fussed over, and worried about, because in spite of my neo-feminist "I can do it all myself"mindset, there is something precious and delicate about the pregnant woman. It's called a baby.

The Conversion of St Paul

2010-01-25T11:22:00.001Z

I only learnt this week that St Paul has two feast days. Today we commemorate the Conversion of St Paul .We read the story from Acts, we looked at some artwork on the theme, including Caravaggio's famous picture, and then we did some art work of our own.

Making a volcano.

2010-01-15T10:38:00.000Z

The old vinegar and baking soda volcano. Got this one in a kit, complete with warning leaflets and safety goggles, should things go awry. They didn't.

On Boxing day..

2009-12-26T18:45:00.000Z

I cut up all the packaging from our presents and now have lots of lovely bits for scrapbooks, card making and collages, and cut down on the recycling too.

HO HO HO! Why I'm not laughing at these Santa movies.

2009-12-26T15:10:00.000Z

DH and I thought we would watch a silly santa movie on Christmas eve.
I don't mind my children watching Santa movies, it is usually only light-hearted entertainment after all.
The movie ends in the usual feel good way, when the hero of the movie "moves in with" the girl.
We used to have a word for this. We called it fornication.
You'll probably enjoy this film-I did-and perhaps you'll say to yourself,"Well, the rest of it is good, so we'll forget about this bit."
With all the music, and the romantic "feeling" we get from this film, we can almost excuse it-after all-if it feels good-then its ok-right?
I think this is how we become desensitised to these things. We can excuse fornication, "because they love each other", and films like this help us to think like this.
Speaking of course, as a former fornicator, while it "felt" good and exciting, it was also kind of,well, empty, and I lost something I won't ever get back.
Ok, I know this is fiction, but this film is obviously specifically aimed at children. You have a willing captive audience for this propagana. And what sort of parent doesn't let their children see a Santa movie, for goodness sake!
Fred Claus was rated a PG, so we thought we'd pre-watch it, just in case there was anything unsuitable.
We nearly always do this now, very often for the most innocuous film. I recall another Santa movie which came into our posession, a while ago.
Now bear in mind this other film,(whose name escapes me), was rated U -which means there is supposed to be nothing unsuitable for children, and is very much aimed at children. There was an elaborate scene where the children's Mother's boyfriend, was attempting to sneak out of the house, after spending the night in her bed.
Ok. Now I get that these films are aimed at all children, including those with unconventional families, but this scene was so contrived as to be laughable. It added nothing to the plot at all. Think:start the film. stop. insert propaganda. stop. continue film.
There was no reson why this scene had to be included at all. None at all. Except to normalise these things.
If Satan stood up in your town centre, and tried to lure your children to hell, you'd avoid him, He likes to muddy the waters just enough-a little bit here, a little bit there-before you know it your worldview has changed, and you didn't even notice.
Fr Corapi says that the Devil's favorite colour is grey. And Santa is an angram of Satan-just sayin'.

Hand-made decorations.

2009-12-22T15:16:00.000Z

I think in the hustle and bustle of a materialistic identikit Christmas, it is quite lovely to gather some fresh greenery, and make your own decorations.

When I got the the park near some woodland, I discovered that the ivy had already been cut down, and left there.

My brother reminded me of St Isidore, who would have his field plowed by angels so he could get to daily Mass.

How cool is that?

Plus the decorations are very festive too.

www.ncrlc.com/story-large-card.html Follow this link to find out more about Sts Isidore and Maria.

Our lovely crib.

2009-12-22T15:12:00.000Z

I had to buy this last year. The children all love playing with it, even the youngest. It has got big chunky wooden pieces. It is also pretty robust, which is kind of necessary in this house.

Celebrating St Lucy's day 13 December

2009-12-13T10:53:00.000Z

We made a St Lucy cake, a plaited sweet loaf with cinnamon,raisins and an orange-icing drizzle.

St Lucy's day is a tradition we have now introduced into our Advent preparations.

The eldest daughter wakes the family up and serves the family coffee and cakes. St Lucy would sneak into the catacombs to feed the Christians.

St Lucy is often depicted with her eyes on a plate, as it is thought her eyes were put out as a punishment. Other versions of the story suggest she put her own eyes out, and sent them to a suitor who admired her eyes.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

2009-12-11T14:55:00.001Z

Today we talked about our lady of Guadalupe,whose feast day falls tomorrow, 12 December.

We made brown paper tilmas, remembering the miraculous image imprinted on the tilma of Juan Diego.

No feast day is complete without good food, and today we munched on guacamole and tortilla chips, in order to feel suitably Mexican.

Joke time.Did you know Juan Diego had a twin brother called Two Diego?!

2009-12-04T15:50:00.000Z

Our family altar all laid out for Advent. Baby Jesus will arrive later of course.

St Nicholas crafts

2009-12-04T15:43:00.000Z

Ready for 6th December we made some St Nicholas crafts.

We made a treat cup in the shape of a mitre,to put in our shared-out sweets, and to remind us to share the good things we put into it.

We also turned chocolate santas into a chocolate St Nicholas,to remind us that of course St Nicholas is the real Santa Claus.

Fuzzy felt Jesse tree.

2009-11-23T14:36:00.000Z

This year,we decided to make a flat Jesse tree, as opposed to the small Christmas tree we used last year, which kept getting knocked over. We will be able to attach this tree to the wall, and hopefully get to the end of Advent with out it getting destroyed by small children.

I bought a large piece of green baize from Ebay, like the stuff that one would use to cover a pool table or a card table. Dh has already got his eye on the leftovers as an excellent surface for card games.

We glued the baize onto some foam board, and then cut out our tree shape.

We discovered quite by accident that the felt adheres to itself (Duh!Fuzzy felt), I was going to use velcro dots, so this was a happy accident.

The finished result is nice and bright, and would be great for a nursery/classroom.

Obviously we are going to remove all our decorations, and add them one by one, as we recreate the waiting in the Old Testament.

Making a pious visit to a graveyard

2009-11-05T11:34:00.000Z

Fun saint fact box

2009-10-14T18:15:00.000+01:00

I put together a Saint fact box. We will use it a focal point during our Saints and Sausages/Night of Light on 31 October.
I decided on St Pio, but there are many other saints that this would work well for.

Each item has a label on it explaining what it is, and how it relates to the Saint. You can see in the first picture, we have an Italian Flag, St Pio being born in Italy.

The picture of a candle has a label attached telling us that St Pio started prayer groups all around the world.

Picture two is of a Rosary- the label explains Padre Pio had a great love of Our Lady.

This picture is of St Francis, and explains that Pio was a Franciscan Friar.

We have also put in a glove, much like Padre Pio used to cover his stigmata.

This strange looking thing is my home-made confessional box.When you open the door, you read that St Pio spent 12-16 hours a day hearing confessions.

2009-10-02T18:54:00.000+01:00

A child's picture of purgatory.

Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no.

Our Lady's Birthday Today!

2009-09-08T20:24:00.000+01:00

Today is Our Lady's Birthday,according to the Church. I'd like to say I spent the day hand-baking and decorating a cake at home with my children. Truth is, like most things I almost forgot. Thankfully, a Somerfield finest chocolate cake made a great last minute stand-in. And let's face it, I need no excuse to eat cake. We shared it out after our Rosary this evening, and after singing Happy Birthday to Our Lady.
With hindsight, I wish I had bought another and dropped it off at our local homeless hostel.
Thank you Blessed Mother for your YES, and thank you for letting us share your cake!

A masterpiece destroyed. A tale of catholic schooling.

2009-08-13T18:33:00.000+01:00

I want you to imagine a magnificent painting. The artist is gifted beyond words, the brush strokes detailed. Let's imagine that the Catholic Church is a painting. The colours are rich and deep. The subject poignant, yet joyful. The characters -Our lady in a prominent position -radiating love-her beautiful gown. He gaze is turned upon Jesus -his eyes painted in such a way that they draw you towards him. So much love and peace and suffering and freedom contained in those eyes. You cannot help but stop and look. In the background-saints and martyrs to inspire us by their example. Other things too-unique to Catholic life. An intricate monstance containing the Blessed Sacrament. Precious metal chalices filled with the precious Blood. Kneeling children in Adoration.

What then if you took this picture and destroyed it-stamped it underfoot,tore it up, made a mockery of it. You'd hope that people would protest. You'd hope that Catholics would protest.

Imagine then that this destruction was more subtle. Imagine that the image was adjusted a bit here, altered a bit there. Imagine some well meaning soul wanted to make the image more child-friendly. Imagine some catholics went along with this. They took the image of Christ and diminished him-cartoonised him. People looked at this new Jesus and were not bothered. He was child friendly after all.

Over the years Our Lady's image was removed altogether. Some people thought she was old-fashioned. Her image become grey with dust. No one thought to clean her.

The saints and martyrs were painted over with rainbows and fluffy bunnies. No one thought children should see such disturbing things. And so old fashioned too, with their dark clothes-their robes and their habits-who wears such things anyway?

The Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance-someone painted over this with a loaf of bread. Children can't be expected to understand such things. This was helping children to understand wasn't it? And the chalices? Replaced with a glass of Merlot, because children don't get this old-fashioned stuff do they? And it helps them to understand.

Later still the kneeling children were replaced. Some lounged against pillars, some were on beanbags, some children were performing a dance for the audience, or the congregation as it used to be called. You can worship in any way you please, they said, no longer bound by the rigours and constraints of the past. This was welcomed. It wasn't fair they said to make children kneel. There's no need for it these days.

Let's go back and look at this new picture. Do you like it? My whole peer group looked at this picture. They didn't like it, they thought it was stupid. They had never been told about the Masterpiece. They rejected such a muddle. No one wanted to hang this on their wall.

"Do you know about the picture?", people would say to them. "Yes", they replied, "but we didn't like it, not on our walls will this picture hang."

For a tiny few of us, we took this picture home, because that is what we were given. Some of us had parents who told us where the Masterpiece was. And so we set to work. We labourously scrape away the old layers of paint. We have to be careful-so entertwined are the layers, we don't scrape off the original. Occasionally, we unearth some long-forgotten remnant-a rosary, a monstrance, a long forgotton lady, beautiful, and we cry, "Why did no one tell us about this!?"

We work at it. We ask a half-remembered God to aid us. We ask a lady, beautiful as the sun to hold our hand as we scrape, and scrape away the desecration of our heritage.

Liturgical colours swatches for children.

2009-05-10T14:50:00.000+01:00

This is my prototype liturgical colours swatch, designed to teach children the different colours used throughout the liturgical year,each with a brief explanation. The children enjoy flicking through them, to find the right colour for the season. The green and white swatches are fabric, while the other colours are of card.
My twelve and nine-year olds pronounced them "cool", which is youth speak for something good and interesting. My six year old daughter immediately turned to the white swatch, for the Easter season, and laid it on the pew in front of her. I intend to add these to the Mass bags in the future.

Children's Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

2009-05-08T18:28:00.000+01:00

This is Prayer Bear. For about a year now, we have offered children's adoration in our parish, on Fridays.

Children's adoration is a designated slot-in our case between 4 and 6pm which takes place during our Friday 9 am to 9pm adoration.

During this time, parents are especially welcome to bring their children, from babes in arms to teens. It is an opportunity to pray with them, perhaps quietly answer their questions, or even for parents just to spend some time out with Jesus, whilst jiggling a fractious baby or toddler.

The idea is that even if a parent and child spends only a few minutes with Jesus, they can get some spiritual refreshment, and obtain the Grace they need to be a better parent.

The pledged adorers for these hours are aware that small children may be dropping in and out, and importantly, the Blessed Sacrament is always being watched, so parents needn't worry if they can't stay long, or need to pop out to attend to a child's needs.

Children are welcome to borrow prayer bear and choose from brightly coloured rosaries, children's prayer books to help them pray.

2009-05-03T13:10:00.000+01:00

Two altar servers, fresh from altar-serving duties.

Our Family altar

2009-05-03T13:04:00.000+01:00

Positioned six feet up the wall, to protected it from the destructive talents of a six-year old son with Down's Syndrome.

Keep the weekday missal on it for the same reason.

All dressed for the Easter season.

I would love to strew Saint's books, as and when they have their feasts, but that would be impractical with the height.

Still, it is a strong visual reminder to family members who pass by.

Happy feast day to me.(for 29 April)(Well, St Catherine of Sienna)

2009-05-02T10:50:00.000+01:00

Mum always used to tell me that St Catherine "told the Pope off".
I think she is a good patron for me-someone who doesn't take no for an answer. Don't know if I could live for years on herbs though, as Catherine is reported to have.

Managed to get to Mass, spent most of it as usual in the lady chapel, jiggling a noisy toddler. Did get to do the readings though. Plus Father announced, "Happy feast day", after Mass.
I remember now though why I don't go to weekday Mass with 3 small children. AKA The Pouter, The Wriggler, and The Explorer.

Then I met hubby for our usual Wednesday sandwich lunch, ate sitting in the car in a garden centre car park. Sounds very dull, but it is nice for me to see him in the middle of the day, and he gets to go out for his lunch break.

Mass bags for children.

2009-05-01T22:22:00.000+01:00

Picture 1 giving an example of contents: Toy lamb (Lamb of God),chewable rosaries,holographic picture cards,chunky holding cross, cards with medals. These are not all from one bag, but meant to illustrate contents.
Picture 2 shows different Mass books suitable for different ages.
Picture 3, showing the bags themselves.

This is a
lovely
idea I had to help children in their participation and understanding of the Mass, by providing appropriate items in a colourful bag, for children to play with during Mass.
Unlike conventional toys, these items are designed to focus the child's attention on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, rather than distract them from it.
Our parish now has 21 of these bags, officially blessed during both Masses, for children to use.
Contents are arranged by age, with a different colour for each age group, so children can pick one best suited for them. Baby bags include a soft toy lamb (Jesus being the Lamb of God, of course), colourful rosaries, and board books, also a smooth wooden holding cross-although in practice, these turn out to produce a noisy clatter when inevitably hurled during Mass.
I am investigating getting crosses knitted for the future.
All bags regardless of age range, contain always a rosary, an age-appropriate Mass book and a crucifix.
Most of them have holy pictures of Our Lady and the saints. The holographic cards are particularly popular.
The bags, in my opinion have had the right effect. "Do we all have an angel watching us then", said one child, after looking at the guardian angel card in her bag.
Some children lay their cards out in a row on the pew:"Hey, I've got a picture of that lady!", they exclaim, after excitedly noticing the Our Lady statue matches one of their cards.
Another child counted how many crosses were in church, after looking at the one in the bag."That one's got Jesus on it, though"
The bags are drawstring ones from Ikea. It's a shame they didn't have purple and white ones, as they would have matched the liturgical seasons!
The bags themselves have play value. They are in a soft velvet, with a satin trim, and generally good for discovering items hidden in their depths.

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

2008-03-30T19:53:00.000+01:00

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.

I was so blessed that our parish offered confession after Mass today.

What a lovely gift to us all is Divine Mercy Sunday.

Stations of the cross we did for the children in our parish.

2008-03-30T17:58:00.000+01:00

What a lovely little book this is. We used this as the basis for our Good Friday Stations of the Cross. Sometimes the simplest really is the best when it comes to passing on the faith to our children.

Stations of the Cross by Fr Lovasik S.V.D.

We took a walk around the stations. Under each station was an intriguing box or basket, that the children took great delight in opening, to discover what was inside.

First station. Jesus is condemned to die.

For this station we

placed a bowl of water on the floor beneath the station. We invited the children to dip their hands into the bowl as we read from the above book, and explained Pilate's actions. (In 2009, we had a salt-dough crown -the children all took some thorns and pushed them in to make a crown of thorns for Jesus. Showing how our sins hurt Jesus.)

Second station. Jesus takes up his cross.

Here the children selected a palm cross each to carry around with them.

The third station. Jesus falls the first time.

On the ground, the children came across a small box. Inside was a plaster (band aid) in its paper packaging. One of the small children enjoyed tearing off the wrapper to see what was inside. We explained that Jesus would not have been given a plaster for his injuries.

Jesus meets his mother

Here the children came across a small basket. When they opened it they found assorted colours of rosary (Fr blessed these before we began). They all got to keep a rosary in the colour of their choice. We explained that we can use the prayers of the rosary to meditate on the life of Jesus and "meet" Him that way.

Simon helps Jesus carry His cross.

At this point, the children saw a large but lightweight cross of plywood. After we had meditated on this station, children took it in turns to carry this cross around the rest of the stations. They swapped after each following station, so everyone who wished could have a turn at carrying it.

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Here there was a simple cloth. We explained to the children how Jesus's blood,sweat and tears would have been rubbed off.

Jesus falls for the second time.

At this point the box was opened to reveal a bandage. This was visually linking to Jesus's injuries getting worse.

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

This was very moving-even for the adults in attendance. Inside this box was a pipette for ear drops, and a small container of water. While the children were trying to figure out the significance of this, I sucked up some water and placed a few drops into their outstretched hands. These were the tears of the women.

Jesus falls the third time.

Here there was a rope. In the book we used, Jesus is pictured with a rope around his neck that the Roman soldiers are using to drag him upright.

The soldiers tear off Jesus's clothes.

At this station there was a large die, which we used to demonstrate how the soldiers would have cast lots for His clothing.

Jesus is nailed to the cross.

We got hold of 3 huge,nasty looking nails.There was a stunned silence at this point.

Jesus dies on the cross.

Here we quietly laid down our palm crosses, and paused in silence.

Jesus is taken from the cross.

Inspired by the book, which writes,"Thirty-three years before,she gave you to us, a sweet child of Bethlehem. Now we give you back to her torn, bleeding, and dead." We used a baby doll to link to this, and also to remind the children that this is the same Jesus, whose birth we joyfully celebrated earlier in the year.

Jesus is laid in the tomb.

For 2009, we got hold of a spicy-scented soap box. Inside this were some bandages which we used to wrap up the doll in "grave clothes"-a link also to the swaddled babe at Bethlehem. All the children sniffed the spicy scent. This was Myrrh-used to embalm the dead-and of course, one of the three gifts Jesus received at his birth.

We did go on to the resurrection at the end.