May is the Month of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary

May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but begins with a feast of her earthly spouse, Saint Joseph the Worker.  This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955 and remains the same in the post-Conciliar calendar.  Here is some of the original text:

“Wisdom rendered to the just the wages of their labours and conducted them in a wonderful way; and she was to them for a covert by day and for the light of stars by night; alleluia, alleluia.  Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”

“O God, Creator of all things, who didst lay on the human race the law of labour:  graciously grant; that by following the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage, we may carry out the work Thou dost command, and obtain the reward Thou dost promise.”

“Obtain for us, Joseph, grace to lead an innocent life; and may it ever be shielded by thy patronage.”

“From the work of our hands we offer sacrifice to Thee, O Lord; through the mediation of Saint Joseph may it be a pledge for us of union and peace.”

“Grant, O Lord, that what we have received may, by the intercession of blessed Joseph, crown our work and confirm our reward.”

The 11th is World Day of Prayer for Vocations, much needed.  The 15th is Saint Isidore the Farmer, invoked by gardeners and homesteaders…a great one for the topics we concern ourselves with here.  He is not to be confused with Saint Isidore, Archbishop of Seville and Doctor of the Church.  However, Isidore the Farmer was named after him, also being from Spain. 

The ASCENSION OF OUR LORD, on Thursday the 29th, is a Holyday of Obligation in the following provinces:  Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, and Philadelphia.  All other US provinces transfer the feast to Sunday, June 1st.  Ascension Thursday also possesses a vigil.

Remember the Major Rogation Day last month?  This month, the 26th, 27th and 28th are the Minor or Lesser Rogation Days.  They are traditional celebrations, similar to the Ember Days, in performing prayer and penance related to the season and the harvest.  I found a fabulous article at Catholic Culture connecting Saint Isidore the Farmer to the Rogation Days.  Here you will find references to the life of Saint Isidore and his wife Saint Maria de la Cabeza, the sanctity of the agrarian life, the liturgy of Saint Isidore, the Catholic Rural Life ministry, liturgical aspects of the Rogation Days and a number of links to prayers, more info on Rogation Days and Catholicism/Agrarianism…highly recommended reading…

SAINT ISIDORE THE FARMER & ROGATION DAYS

And now for OUR LADY…We have 3 Marian feasts:  Fatima on the 13th  (which celebrates the first of the 6 visions), and the Visitation & the Queenship of Our Lady on the 31st.  The 3rd is the First Saturday of the Immaculate Heart.  The First 5 Saturdays Communion of Reparation is one of Mary’s Fatima requests.  So in this month of Our Lady and the Fatima feast, isn’t it a great time to begin this devotion?  Check if your local parish performs this-if not, maybe you could start it!  See “Fatima Family Holy Hour” topic to the right>>> for a Fatima program we posted several years ago…to be done on the 13th of each month from May to October, including PDF’s.

Other notable feasts of May, in the trad and “new” calendars:

3rd-Saints Philip & James, Apostles

11th-Saints Philip & James, Apostles (trad)

14th-Saint Matthias, Apostle who replaced Judas

HOMESCHOOL ACTIVITIES FOR MAY

1)       Draw a picture of Our Lord’s Ascension.

2)      What were Our Lady of Fatima’s 4 main requests?

3)      Write an essay on the story of the 6 Fatima apparitions.  Follow this composition format:  Intro paragraph, 1 paragraph per apparition, concluding paragraph.

2 Important Upcoming Conferences: New York & New Hampshire

From Catholic Land Movement:

“The 3rd Annual Catholic Land Movement Mid-Atlantic Conference will once again be held at the beautiful Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, NY. Once a 17th century Mohawk village, it is now a Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to the first North American martyrs and to St. Kateri Tekakwitha…The conference will begin early on Friday 6/28 [to Sunday 6/30] for anyone interested in hog and sheep butchering [I’m going to pass on this, I saw a rabbit get the treatment at Peak Prosperity’s conference last year, that was enough for me]…We have a packed weekend with events including Mass, confessions, Divine Office, Rosary, workshops and discussions. Camping is available free of charge at the Shrine. Nearby hotel accommodations can be found in Amsterdam, NY. In order to keep costs low, food will not be included with your conference ticket, but will be made available for purchase…If you're interested in volunteering or hosting a workshop or a discussion group, please get in touch.”

The price for the 3 days is $50 per person, free for those 14 and under. Some of the topics to be covered: Various aspects of homesteading, gardening/farming, canning, traditional Catholicism, dairy, carpentry, wild edibles, masonry, water supply. Definitely all the things supported by Nomen Christi Apostolate-reserve soon!

From Chris Martenson’s Peak Prosperity:

“Transitioning from the beloved Honey Badger Gathering to the Peak Prosperity Summit, [Friday 9/13 to Sunday 9/15] we not only change our venue but also deepen our commitment to resilience, sustainability, and community…Nestled in the breathtaking surroundings of Lake Winnipesaukee [New Hampshire]…The Lodge at Camp Robindel…Economic Resilience: Cultivating a robust financial foundation to withstand and adapt to the unpredictabilities of the global economy, ensuring stability and self-sufficiency when traditional systems falter. True Sustainability: Embracing a lifestyle and practices that enable us to not only survive but thrive independently when external supply chains and conventional resources are compromised, ensuring our ability to live off the grid if necessary. Personal and Community Empowerment: Fostering a culture of health, wellness, and mutual support that prepares us to face adversities together, strengthening our individual and collective capacity to navigate through tough times…Foundations of Preparedness…Advanced Resilience Techniques…sessions will cover everything from homesteading to advanced medical training, alongside hands-on demonstrations and keynotes focused on practical, life-enhancing skills.”

Included in the reasonable ticket price: Workshops and Educational Tracks, Accommodations, Food, Interactive Exhibits and Vendors, Recreational Activities, Networking and Socializing, All Necessary Amenities. Reserve soon for early-bird price! Please note, on-site accommodations may not be private, preferences may be indicated when ordering, verify details to make sure you will be comfortable, as this is a camp site with both men and women.

Random Stuff...About Preparedness

I have been corresponding with a gentleman who is Catholic and also runs a preparedness forum.  He is known on the forum as “Watchman.”  I like the simple, uncomplicated presentation and it has a wealth of information… 

The Preparedness-Survival Forum

Preparing for the Inevitable

What you can find here:  news, prepper library, homesteading, technical aspects of preparedness and survival, family issues, financial info (I like that they get their stats from kitco.com), health and stewardship of the Earth.  Join the forum and speak with like-minded, knowledgeable people!

After designing a completely new landscape, my husband and I have gotten a new shed (see previous post) and are now starting a raised bed.  It is late in the New York season to begin planting, but there are plenty of crops which can still start from seed.  Below is a pic of what we’ve got so far…grass (LOL).  I will keep you posted on the progress.  This is a kit we purchased at a local garden center.  There are many different kits out there, which make the process easy.  Ours comes with a greenhouse top for one side (not sure if we will use that right now).  “The Authentic Life” is exciting and makes you want to fly out of bed in the morning!  Here’s also a pic of the shelves my hubby built in the shed…they are about a foot apart and there is space beneath them to store larger items…we still need to install various hooks and clamps for rakes, shovels, etc…

 “This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.”

Psalms 117:24

We do not prepare simply for a possible disaster or emergency.  As the site above states, we are preparing for the inevitable.  A time of great newness is upon us.  It is the Greater Reset or the Newer World Order.  The way we cope with the death of life as we knew it, is to keep our focus on the next big thing…The Authentic Life:  A life close to God and nature.  Focus on beauty, the beauty you are creating.  The beauty WE are creating together as the people of God!