"When It Rains, It Pours...."

...OR...When It Snows...It Snows A Lot!

In the past 24 hours, Long Island (where I live) has been blanketed in several feet of snow, high winds have come roaring through, temperatures have plummeted, thousands have lost power, driving has been banned, trains have come to a standstill, a full moon has caused worse than usual flooding and sadly, a number of deaths have been reported. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!

As for my personal situation, I can't even open my back door right now because it is blocked with so much snow. Not the safest situation, but my husband did shovel the front entrance. On the bright side, it is a beautiful, sparkling winter wonderland. It just makes you want to cozy up, start a fire and make some hot chocolate! Sometimes I envy those who live in areas of perennial paradise, where there is no winter...but, there is something wonderful about the changing seasons, each one possessing unique beauty. If I moved elsewhere, I think I would miss that. When the spring comes and everything returns to life, there is a greater appreciation for it. I think the cold winters and hot summers are part of what makes New Yorkers the tough people that we are. It is a place of extremes and we just take that in stride.

Okay, my friends, I haven't finished (I promise I'm not making this up!)...wouldn't you know, our snow-blower broke....and completely unrelated to the storm, our hot water heater and our oven/stove broke. All on the same day as this whopper of a storm hit. So, completely snowed in, no hot water and we had to move the dinner cooking on the stove to a crock pot. Thankfully, we have not lost power.

Sometimes I think God is trying to prepare me for something! Sometimes I think I hear Him saying, "So, Chiara, you want to prepare for the Apocalypse? You want to be a leader, helping My Church through the coming days? Okay have a go at THIS!" At times, I can't help but laugh at what life throws me. And we should always be lighthearted and never get too down (have you read my last post?). The path we tread leads straight to Heaven and life is just too short to let anything disturb us. Just love and trust-that's it. Be a source of joy to those around you, even in the worst circumstances. And always count your blessings...for instance, I may not have hot water, but at least I have water. I can't take a shower, but I stockpile baby wipes for sponge-bathing and hand-washing (they also have many other uses, even if they dry out). I may not have a big oven or a stove, but I have a toaster oven, a crockpot, a microwave, 2 grills and a fireplace (REDUNDANCY!). I have heat. I have tons of food. The day that concerns me is the day when survival becomes truly compromised, truly in the balance. And I believe that day is coming...for all of us.

This is just one more experience to learn from, in terms of short-term emergency preparedness. As a prepper, I find there is no replacement for actual, real-life experiences. The trick is...make the effort to learn from them. Identify your preparedness weaknesses and make a plan to systematically fix them. Reflect on how you and your family handled it. What was good? What could have been done differently? Taking notes and discussing it with your family is a good idea. These situations are invaluable opportunities which should not be squandered. In a few years, you'll hardly remember the details, so make an immediate effort to examine the experience. Perhaps it was sent to you for a reason.

BTW, today is the beginning of Septuagesima (wow, that came fast!) and the feast of Saint Francis de Sales, patron of writers. Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us!

The Sorrowful Mysteries in a New Light....

I would like to share my time with Jesus and Mary last night....

I curled up on the couch and told the Blessed Mother I was about to pray the rosary for pro-life intentions. A minute later, I was hanging my head, half asleep. I said to her, "I'm too tired!" I received the inspiration to simply meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries as I rested. So I started thinking about the Agony in the Garden. Immediately I felt, "I'm not in the mood for this-I want to think about happy things." Then I got the ispiration to find something positive in each Sorrowful Mystery. I was confused at first, but I tried. What could be good about Our Lord's Agony? I thought of the times in my life when I have suffered with anxiety, sadness and other unpleasant emotions. As I imagined Our Lord kneeling in His bloody sweat, I realized that indeed, He walks before me always. He does not expect anything from us that He was not willing to suffer Himself. And I felt great comfort.

As I contemplated the cruel scourging of Our Lord, I thought of my own physical suffering with chronic pain. All my pain has been nothing compared to His in those awful moments. And the Crowning with Thorns...what could that mean? I thought...humiliation, mocking, persecution. Yes, I've suffered that too...in my pro-life work and also for simply being a faithful Catholic. But to place a crown of thorns upon the sacred head of the King of Kings....and for Him to bear it humbly....for me, for my sins....in this as well, He walks before me.

What of the Carrying of the Cross? This is the one thing we truly cannot bear-the weight of sin. We are forced in the Sacrament of Penance to give it over to Him, to place the weight of our guilt into His hands. So I thought of my sins, the very worst ones....and great comfort came over me, knowing that this too, He has taken upon Himself, leaving me free once again to run and leap through the fields of life. And the Crucifixion. Death itself. Even this, we are not to fear because He takes this upon Himself as well.

So where does this all leave us? There is nothing in life or death to fear if we walk with Christ because...He walks before us always! Our Blessed Lord's Passion encompasses and embraces every suffering we will ever have. Our pain is small within the vast expanse of His Heart. My half-asleep meditation on the Sorrowful Mysteries was one of the best ever....a source of great peace and even joy. When we take the time to put God first and exercise the spiritual life, we are never disappointed. He always gives in abundance and so much more than we even imagined. This must be a foretaste of Heaven:

"...eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him." ~1 Corinthians 2:9

Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Decision

Mary, Mother of God, Patroness of the United States of America, pray for the unborn

Saint Joseph, Foster-Father of Christ, pray for the unborn

Saint Vincent of Saragossa, Martyr, pray for the unborn

Saint Anastasius, Martyr, pray for the unborn

May we keep the unborn children in our prayers today, along with all elderly and handicapped who may be in danger of euthanasia, or like dear Terri Shiavo, outright murder. Lord have mercy. Also, those men and women who have experienced abortion, that they may be reconciled and healed. May we pray for all attending the March for Life in Washington DC, that they may stay safe and give a courageous witness of truth to our nation and the world.

Here are a few verses from the Douay-Rheims Bible, which speak to the pro-life cause:

"Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee: and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee." ~Jeremias 1:5

"And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy." ~Luke 1:41

"...no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself." ~1 John 3:15

Every individual is called at this time to stand up for life, to do something for the cause, even if it is simply to pray. Perhaps when God's wrath comes upon the world, places where the fight for the innocent has been staunchly waged, will be given some measure of mercy. "What goes around comes around."

Where are we now in the Liturgical Year?

First, let's answer a question that some of you may have about this blog..."Why do you post both old and new calendars?" For the uninitiated, the new calendar, along with its feasts, is the one that has been in effect for about the last 50 years...and the old is the one before that, going WAY back.

I post both because both are valid and respectable in the Roman Catholic Church. I believe the gap between the old and new is becoming more and more unacceptable, difficult, sad, awkward and untenable. We need to start bridging the gap. Instead of existing in one camp or another, we need people who can occupy both sides and work toward unity. I consider myself one on those people....on the cutting edge!

However, you will see an emphasis here on the traditional (if you're not sure what I'm talking about, its probably the trad). This all began when I attended my first Tridentine Mass at the age of 21, when it became more widely celebrated due to the papal pronouncement (1988). I cried. I cried because I saw for the first time all that I had been deprived of for 21 years. I felt the presence of countless angels at that glorious Holy Mass at Saint Agnes Church in New York City, as I knelt and wept. This was Archbishop Fulton Sheen's church at one time-a church attended by my own mother and grandmother as well. If you don't know what I mean, go to a Tridentine Mass (preferably a "high" Mass, for full effect). If you still don't see it, I don't know how to help you.

So, while I respect the new, I simply prefer the old. And I think the old ways can be of great spiritual benefit for every Catholic. "Mainstream" Catholics would do well to attend an old Mass once in a while and trad Catholics would do well to exercise some humility, stop judging and reach out to the "Novus Ordo" Catholics, many of whom are simply confused about the Faith. The moral seismic quake which tore apart western civilization in the mid 20th century, somehow seems to have done the same to the Church. The new need the old and the old need the new because they complete us somehow...they are our brothers and sisters.

And now, to the topic at hand...

In the new...we are in "Ordinary Time" as of the Feast of Our Lord's Baptism, this past Sunday-this extends until Lent.

In the old...we are in "Time After Epiphany" as of the Feast of the Holy Family, also this past Sunday-this extends until Septuagesima Sunday, 2 1/2 weeks before Lent.

Father Alfred Delp told us about Advent....a time of waiting and preparing ourselves, making ourselves worthy to enter into the joyful Season of Christmastide. But what are we to contemplate now? Preparation for Lent? That is what the Season of Septuagesima is for. Perhaps it is something of a respite. This liturgical time gives us a bit of rest from the rigors of "The Mystery of the Incarnation," preparing us for the new rigors of "The Mystery of the Redemption."

As for the Sunday Gospels of this time, the Church teaches us of Christ's Ministry in Galilee-in both the old and new. So now is an ideal time to brush up on the Gospels, our primary "Instruction Manual of Life."

Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord

Today is the traditional celebration of Our Lord's Holy Baptism. Let us not forget the great saint who performed this singular Baptism, Saint John the Baptist. From his litany:

Saint John the Baptist, Precursor of Christ, pray for us!

Saint John the Baptist, Glorious Forerunnner of the Sun of Justice, pray for us!

Saint John the Baptist, Minister of Baptism to Jesus, pray for us!

Saint John the Baptist, Special Friend and Favorite of Christ, pray for us!

Saint John the Baptist, Gloriously Fulfilling Your Mission, pray for us!

O Christ, by Thine Holy Baptism, give us unfailing humility and love for God's Holy Law! Amen.

Don't Eat Oreos When You're Hungry

Just a little tip I recently learned that I wanted to share:)

Month of the Holy Name of Jesus!

January is the month of the Holy Name of Jesus....NOMEN CHRISTI! See our Home Page for a special prayer. Here are some upcoming feasts this month that you may want to keep in mind....

1/6-Epiphany of Our Lord/Saints Caspar, Balthasar & Melchior

1/10-Baptism of Our Lord (New)/Feast of the Holy Family

1/13-Baptism of Our Lord (Trad)

1/22-Day of Prayer for Unborn Children (Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Decision)

1/24-Septuagesima Sunday

1/25-Conversion of Saint Paul

1/31-Sexagesima Sunday

(this blog provides both old and new feasts)

Holy Name of Jesus / Epiphany (New)

Today is the traditional feast of the Holy Name of Jesus...."Nomen Christi!" From The New Marian Missal, Veritas Press:

"This Feast is kept on the First Sunday of the year; but [exceptions]...Its origin is traced to the XVIth century, when it was celebrated by the Franciscan Order. In 1721 Pope Innocent XIII made the keeping of this solemnity universal. The Name Jesus...the Savior of the world, was brought by the Angel Gabriel from God, for He shall save His people 'from their sins'...To the faithful who shall utter the Name of Jesus, with devotion, is granted: Indulgence of 300 days...Plenary, under the usual conditions, if this Name is recited daily during a month [there are further indulgences associated with this feast]."

Excerpts from this Holy Mass:

In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father...O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!

O God, Who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Savior of mankind, and didst bid Him to be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate His holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven.

...be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel: that by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by Him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner: neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:8)

Save us, O lord our God, and gather us from among the nations: that we may give thanks to Thy holy Name, and may glory in Thy praise...Thou, O Lord, our Father and our Redeemer: from everlasting is Thy Name.

Alleluia, alleluia. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name.

I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy Name for ever...

May Thy blessing, O most merciful God, by which every creature lives, sanctify, we beseech Thee, this our Sacrifice, which we offer unto Thee to the glory of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that it may be well-pleasing to Thy Majesty for Thy praise, and profit us unto salvation...

All the nations Thou hast made shall come and adore before Thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify Thy Name: for Thou art great, and dost wonderful things: Thou art God alone. Alleluia.

O almighty and everlasting God, who didst create and redeem us, look graciously upon our prayer, and with a favorable and benign countenance deign to accept the Sacrifice of the saving Victim, which we have offered to Thy Majesty in honor of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: that through the infusion of Thy grace we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven, under the glorious Name of Jesus, the pledge of eternal predestination.

We are now in the joyful season of Christmastide, the waiting is over-the birth of Christ is such a great joy, Holy Church celebrates for a full 12 days!

Traditionally, the 12 Days of Christmas ended with Epiphany on January 6th, which is also a trad feast of the Three Wise Men. There is a beautiful blessing of the home which is performed on this day, which you can find elsewhere on the internet. We do this every year as a family (fortunately, our son will still be home from college on Wednesday)-it is one of those old Catholic customs which helps give children a love of the Faith. Actually, I originally learned of this, not from a trad church but from a mainstream church which had copies of the blessing. And as a Catholic prepper, anything that might help save my home from a demise, is more than welcome. During Hurricane Sandy, we were huddled away from the windows because we feared one of our many trees might come flying in. In spite of dozens of trees, not one came down!

Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us!

A happy & holy feast of Mary Mother of God to all and Happy New Year as well! I am traveling today, but will post as soon as I can. I do not feel I have exhausted the "Fr. Delp" topic and wish to continue with that in the coming days.

Mary, Mother of God, we place this New Year, 2016, in your most loving hands. Lord have mercy upon our world in this New Year!

"Light the Candles Wherever You Can, You Who Have Them"

On the previous post, First Sunday of Advent, we read a few of Fr. Delp's quotes from his writings of that day-here are a few more from his First Sunday homilies and prison writings that speak so much to our present times, on the precipice of chaos (this is why there is now such a person as the "Catholic Prepper"):

"Perhaps what we modern people need most is to be genuinely shaken, so that where life is grounded, we would feel its stability; and where life is unstable and uncertain, immoral and unprincipled, we would know that, also, and endure it. Perhaps that is the ultimate answer to the question of why God has sent us into this time...It is because we have stood here on the earth with a totally false and inauthentic sense of security...

...[Delp moves into the past tense here, as he contemplates the crumbling world around him] man stood on this earth in a false pathos and a false security, under a deep delusion in which he really believed he could single-handedly fetch stars from heaven; could enkindle eternal lights in the world and avert all danger from himself; that he could banish the night, and intercept and interrupt the internal quaking of the cosmos, and maneuver and manipulate the whole thing into the conditions standing before us now. That is the first Advent message: before the end, the world will be set quaking...

...now it is time for each individual to use every opportunity to guide life into this order now-and to do it with the same 'unshakeability' with which the Lord will come...

...the basic condition of life always has an Advent dimension: boundaries, and hunger, and thirst, and lack of fulfillment, and promise, and movement toward one another. That means, however, that we basically remain without shelter, under way, and open until the final encounter, with all the humble blessedness and painful pleasure of this openness...

Hunger and thirst, and desert journeying, and the survival teamwork of mountaineers on a rope-these are the truth of our human condition...

In the same way that lies have gone out from people's hearts, penetrating throughout the world and destroying it, so should-and so will-the truth begin its healing service within our hearts. Light the candles wherever you can, you who have them."

As much as I see the internet as part of the artificial, inauthentic life modern man has created, it IS, nevertheless, a light. We each must find the light God has given us to save souls at this very late hour.