Saint Patrick, Pray For Us!
“Saint Patrick~The Irish Legend” Full Movie
Image courtesy https://www.teachingcatholickids.com
Pope Saint Gregory the Great
“The Greatest of the Great”
Yesterday, March 12th, was the feast and the date of death, of Pope Saint Gregory the Great. He has been called “The Greatest of the Great,” in other words, the greatest pope who ever lived. He was the last of the most influential early doctors of the west, preceded by Saints Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine. Why is he regarded so highly by many Catholic scholars?
Saint Gregory lived from about the year 540 to 604. He was born in Rome to a noble family. The Roman Empire was now in disarray and the new capitol was Constantinople. As this pagan era was falling, Christendom began to rise, and Saint Gregory was an integral part of this. He sat on the Chair of Saint Peter for only 14 years, but this short time was extraordinarily productive, in spite of his aging and poor health.
This early medieval pope was known for his great charity…“Every day he invited 12 poor people to be guests at his table, and he was himself accustomed to pour the water with which they cleansed their hands.”
Gregorian Chant: Te Joseph Celebrent
The normative form of music for the Tridentine Mass is what we call “Gregorian Chant,” hearkening back to Saint Gregory’s papacy. There is scant information, but we know he was involved in musical education, in which chant was sung. From the book St. Gregory and the Gregorian Music, author Wyatt: “The great work of Gregory was to organize, set in order, and fix.”
The above link is an example of Gregorian chant in Latin. In this Month of Saint Joseph, this will be sung on his feast, on the 19th, at Vespers. It is also sung on the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, May 1st. It was written by Fr. Juan Escollar (d. 1700).
St. Gregory the Great and His Dove
Why is Saint Gregory often depicted with a dove? Please read the above for this amazing story and more on his bio.
For a more exhaustive look at his life, please see: Pope Saint Gregory I
Image courtesy http://communio.stblogs.org
Lesson 5-Prepper Rosary Program
This concludes the Joyful Mysteries of the Prepper Rosary Program. We will resume this program at a later date. Please get on our email list to be notified. In the meantime, finish the Worksheet and incorporate greater preparedness into your life!
”And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered.”
Luke 2:46
Know Opportunity When You See It ~ The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Next time your Protestant friend criticizes the Rosary, you can say it is in fact, a form of Bible study. The Fifth Joyful Mystery, “The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple,” is found in Luke, 2:41-52. The Holy Family, along with their “kinsfolks and acquaintance,” embarked on their yearly trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the Pasch. Upon making their journey back, Our Lord stayed behind, amazing the elders in the Temple with His divine wisdom. Mary and Joseph realized He was not with them and sadly returned to Jerusalem to seek Him. They found their precious Son in His Father’s House, where He told them, they ought to have known He would be. The learned men also found Him, as He opened their eyes to the knowledge that Someone extraordinary had entered Herod’s still-under-construction Second Temple.
When this Bar Mitzvah-aged youth tried to engage these men, they could easily have said, “Get outta here kid, we have no time for this. Aren’t your parents looking for you?” But instead, their hearts were moved to see what this young man had to say. Probably, they initially felt they would help HIm out with some questions. By the time His parents showed up, they were left in wonder, participants in a Mystery that would be told till the end of time. They saw the opportunity before them, heeded the call and were forever changed.
Knowing opportunity when you see it requires a broad view of your surroundings and thinking outside the box. It is a skill that develops over time, by training your mind to scan the environment for benefits the average person would not see. After a while, it becomes second-nature and you become an asset to yourself and those around you. However, keep in mind that not every idea is a good one. Discernment must be used, with prayer. When you pass that farm with the “For Sale” sign, remember there is a reason why “bought the farm” is an expression for death (then again, a farm might be just what you need-the idea of creating rural refuges is gaining in popularity and very much in accord with the mission of our ministry). Some ideas will be small and some will be big. On the small end…you might notice sturdy candles on sale, which would be great during a blackout, your neighbor might be selling his old generator, or you may see some good bulk deals on storable food. On the large end…well, there’s the farm…turning an abandoned lot into a community garden or establishing a prayer group at an otherwise socially-deficient church…strong communities are critical during hard times (those in power have done everything they can to destroy connectedness, because they want us to rely on big government instead of the strength of subsidiarity). We must also trust in Divine Providence, that God will give His children what they need. “Ask and you shall receive.” We just need to notice these gifts when they cross our paths.
Another kind of opportunity is the simple, personal kind, that we often miss. It could be a bored child asking for attention, a beautiful spring day you could enjoy with your family, or a cousin who calls out of the blue when you’re busy. Sometimes we need to take a step back and embrace what the moment is asking of us. What does this have to do with preparedness? Strong relationships are the essence of life…the essence of an authentic life. Such a life, close to God, each other and nature, is the ultimate preparedness. This is exactly what our modern culture has been attacking for decades. We must turn the dial in the other direction if there is to be any hope for the future.
Just as Mary and Joseph finally looked for their Child in the Temple and the Jewish doctors humbly recognized His wisdom, we must also use our minds and hearts to navigate an increasingly hostile world. Surely, God’s Judgement is upon us and there are those who need us. We must do our best for them and for Holy Church, to re-establish His reign on earth…
From Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm, give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry:
Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation. To It be glory and honor forever! Amen.
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Pray 1 Decade of the Rosary, meditating on the Mystery of The Finding of Jesus in the Temple, for the intention of enlightenment on the issues discussed above…
Our Father + 10 Hail Marys + Glory Be
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Please fill out #5
“15 Points Preparedness Worksheet”
Thank you for participating ~ spread the word!
Image courtesy sensusfidelium.us
March: Month of Saint Joseph
Within this “Year of Saint Joseph,” we now celebrate the “Month of Saint Joseph,” which also includes his feast on the 19th. We remain in Lent throughout the month. Perhaps some of our Lenten exercises can include devotions to the Foster-Father of Our Lord. We will be posting some prayers to Saint Joseph on his feastday.
March also includes 2 Marian feasts, the Annunciation and the lesser feast of the Seven Sorrows (one week before Good Friday). Interestingly, Saint Gabriel is celebrated the day before the feast of the Annunciation. We also honor 4 Doctors of the Church, including Pope St. Gregory the Great, who is considered by some “The Greatest of the Great” (in other words, the greatest Pope who ever lived, having a reign of only 14 years). This got me very curious about him, so look for a post on his feast, which will try to understand his charism. Saint Isidore the Farmer’s feast is on the 22nd, which brings to mind the mission of Nomen Christi Apostolate: the pursuit of a life closer to nature and more self-reliant. In the USA, I don’t think we are in danger of forgetting the feast of St. Patrick, much beloved by the many Irish whose ancestors settled here (myself included).
The month ends in Holy Week, our final Lenten penitential efforts, to prepare for the glorious feast of the Resurrection, the greatest of all solemnities. May we continue through the month of March to give the Most Holy Trinity our very best, to secure mercy for ourselves, our loved ones, Holy Church and the whole world at this hour. Here are some notable feasts coming up….
3/3-St. Katharine Drexel, 20th Century Saint
3/5-First Friday
3/6-First Saturday / Sts. Felicity & Perpetua, invoked in Canon of Mass (trad)
3/7-Sts. Felicity & Perpetua (new) / Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor, “The Angelic Doctor,” “The Common Doctor”
3/12-Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor, “The Greatest of the Great”
3/17-St. Patrick, Patron of Ireland
3/18-St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor, “Doctor of Catechesis”
3/19-St. Joseph (solemnity, no Friday penance)
3/21-Passion Sunday (trad) / St. Benedict
3/22-St. Isidore the Farmer
3/24-St. Gabriel the Archangel, Angel of the Annunciation
3/25-THE ANNUNCIATION
3/26-SEVEN SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
3/27-St. John Damascene, Doctor, “Doctor of Christian Art,” “Doctor of the Assumption”
3/28-PALM SUNDAY
3/31-Spy Wednesday
Image courtesy http://sacredheart-op.org
Rosary Meditations
We are getting many hits on the meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary, particularly the Sorrowful Mysteries, so we now have a “ROSARY MEDITATIONS” button to the right>>>>> Check it out!
How are these meditations to be used? They can be read with the recitation of the Rosary, either privately or in a group. They can also be read on their own, as a supplement to the Rosary. You can use them in prayer meetings as well. Please feel free to print or share in any way you wish. What we simply ask, which is stated in the footer of each page here, is that you mention this website as your source. Please also feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us through the “Contact” button above. Comments may be shared. (Let us know if you would like a PDF version made.)
These meditations are probably the most difficult writing I have ever done and they have been well-received. I am still working on completing the full Rosary. I hope one day this will become a book:)
Never mind Covid, the sex scenes must go on!
Why is Hollywood exempt from the mask? I understand they must undergo some kind of protocol, which probably involves frequent testing, but it is not unreasonable to ask this question. I have gone out a few times without it or simply have not covered my nose (because I would like to breathe normally, which I wildly assume is a basic human right-who knew wanting to breathe would one day be radically counter-cultural?) and have been physically intimidated, sneered at, verbally harassed, yelled at, chased, dramatically pulled away from, looked at with fear, thrown out of stores, turned in to “authorities” and singled out for “special” treatment. I have even had these problems in church. One usher tried to prevent me from receiving Holy Communion. Another tried to physically block me from returning to my pew after continued harassment and trying to throw me out. (I have only had these problems in certain “types” of churches, if you catch my drift.)
Meanwhile, in Hollywood….
Though I am detaching more and more from the world, I occasionally have to encounter it in my research. I also still try to find something decent to watch on TV occasionally (it’s easier to get peanut butter to slide off a piece of bread…sorry, that’s the only thing I could come up with…maybe I should have said, in keeping with the peanut butter theme…it’s easier to get my husband to stop eating peanut butter, even in Lent…OK!…my brain is a bit fried after this past year, whatduhyuhwant?). I recently watched a trailer for a new movie, which showed a scene of a couple kissing intimately. I also attempted to watch a new TV show and the first thought which came to my mind was, “Why is no one wearing a mask? Why is no one distancing? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?” I was so angry, I had to shut it off. We are now in an age when what is on TV is more normal than what is outside. We are getting further sucked into the virtual world and away from the real one. Could this be by design?
There are many inconsistencies going on with the Covid measures. One store I was thrown out of, for not having the mask over my nose, was right down the road from a KFC, where everyone was chowin down with no masks. Just one of countless examples. No matter what you think of all these restrictions, you must admit there is something very wrong with this picture. If we don’t ask these questions now, what kind of a future are we looking at? What kind of a world will our children be living in?
+++ Ash Wednesday +++
Ash Wednesday begins with the following words (old rite) from the “Blessing of Ashes:”
“Hear us O Lord, for Thy mercy is kind: look upon us, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Save me, O God, for the waters have come in even unto my soul.”
This is a very interesting text, “the waters have come in…” Something to meditate upon today. Does this express an interior distress or the corruption of the soul…or both? Certainly this year, our collective distress remains as we look outside our windows. And certainly, in such times, our spiritual condition must be brought forward as never before…and dealt with to the highest degree, lest we perish with the rest, and to obtain mercy for the world. Let us give the Most Holy Trinity our very best this Lent, make ourselves deserving of the great celebration of His Resurrection and leap forward in our quest for the Kingdom of Heaven!
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Beet seeds are starting to do something! :):):) (I soaked them for a whole day and that seems to have helped.)
This was posted one day before Ash Wednesday.
Grow Your Own Sprouts & More / Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Webinar & Planner
From Seed to Soup!
The Kitchen Crop 4-Tray Sprouter is a convenient way to eat fresh, free sprouts any time. I recently found the product online and am now enjoying my homegrown sprouts! According to “Healthline:”
“Sprouts are very nutritious. They may also offer a variety of health benefits, including easier digestion, improved blood sugar levels and a lower risk of heart disease. However, keep in mind that they are also associated with a risk of food poisoning. That said, for the majority of healthy people, the benefits of eating raw or lightly cooked sprouts likely outweigh the risks.”
I am not an expert, but if you handle the sprouts properly and keep the trays clean (they are fine in the dishwasher-wash them once per week, even if that requires temporarily removing the sprouts), I don’t think bacteria or mold should be an issue. Read instructions and keep out of direct sunlight.
This product is also great fun for kids and a sustainability learning experience…
I used only two trays to grow alfalfa (the kit came with those seeds) and beet sprouts. In one week, the beet seeds did not do much, but the alfalfa seeds grew to perfection…
When the sprouts are mature, rinse them in water and the hulls mostly sink to the bottom. Unused sprouts may be refrigerated.
Sprouts are great for salads, sandwiches, soups and as an elegant garnish. I added mine to a simple chicken soup. The aroma and flavor was wonderful and gave it an exotic flair-it’s an easy way to impress your friends!
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VKP Brands
This sprouter is made by “VKP Brands,” which produces many food and preparedness/sustainability products. Here is a video on this product. They also sell a “Deluxe Sprouter,” which doesn’t seem much different. You can also turn wide-mouth mason jars into sprouters with the Sprouting Jar Lid. Common sprouting seeds such as sunflower, radish, beans, broccoli and alfalfa are also available.
“VKP Brands” can help you do almost anything to food that you want…
canning, dehydrating, milling or juicing!
They also have various kitchen supplies, travel slow cookers and water distillers.
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Check out the Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening 101 webinar next week*…I also recommend their Garden Planner, which is a year-long subscription that allows you to design your own garden and receive all kinds of incredible help and resources…well worth the money if you really will use it-both of these things will well-prepare you to grow an amazing garden this year…Spring is around the corner…get started now!
* Why bother paying $39.99 for this when I could just watch a few YouTube videos? Yes, you could watch videos and there’s a lot of great content out there, but you always have to evaluate the source. The Almanac is a trusted source and you’ll get a good overview here of the basic concepts of gardening. They also give an opportunity to ask questions.
Covid Culture and the Age of Separation
[Edited since posting.]
There are numerous theories as to why they want us in our homes so badly. I have not heard anyone else point out that we are simultaneously being concentrated and separated. It is true, venturing out is no longer for the faint-hearted. But I am beginning to see the whole thing as a game. This perspective changes everything and is very therapeutic. Games are frustrating and fun. With the right attitude, maybe we can actually cope with this emerging chaotic world and preserve our sanity…
“With God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26
I needed to shop for several things and my favorite department store was having a big sale this weekend. I spent 2 days shopping and was rather exhausted after the experience…
The fitting rooms were closed, so they expected you to buy clothes simply to take them home and try them on…then come back and hold up the 6-foot distanced line with all your returns and exchanges. How much more sanitary is it for people to take the clothes home and throw them all over their beds? What a great new system! At one point, I started to overheat in my winter coat (menopause) and wondered where I could stash it while I shopped. I thought, “The closed fitting room!” I explained to a female employee I was not feeling well and asked if I could do that. She said “No” and walked away. I wanted to yell, “I see you’ve never had a hot flash!” I then asked a cashier if I could stick my coat by the register and she was very accommodating. She was young and I could have been her mother. I learned something: always ask a young person. Okay, I’m starting to get the rules of this game! Another great thing I found out was that the handicapped stall in the women’s room was taped up to prevent people from trying on clothes in there. So if you’re in a wheelchair or have a baby in a stroller, you’ll need to go down one level on the elevator (which is nowhere near the restroom), out of the store and all the way to the mall restrooms, which are down a long hallway. Wow, this mall’s got it goin on!
Out in the mall, all the chairs have been removed. They were vinyl, which would have been easy to wipe down. There is no place to rest or sit and have a snack. Starbucks won’t let you sit either, so you can get your Egg Bites and eat them standing up at one of the charging stations. Okay, let’s play the game! Figure out where you can sit. Some restrooms still have chairs and there are always SHOE DEPARTMENTS! K-Ching! 50 points! It is very sad, the mall used to be populated with many lonely people, some elderly, who would sit in the chairs and just hang out. I guess they’re all at home now, living like recluses and getting depressed, which is probably great for their health. So much for “safe and healthy.” The connection between the mind and body, which has been well established, has been completely dismissed. We are now just bodies with no connection to anything higher, with no other needs.
I have been wearing a clear mask, which allows me to breathe better and smile at people. I was behind a father and his 2 children on line. I smiled at the kids and said, “I can smile!” I could see big smiles on their faces, even through the masks. The father turned around, looked at me coldly and looked away. Just trying to give your children a sense of hope and normalcy. Sorry! (Okay, I admit it was weird.) One older man commented on the clear mask and said he liked it. We got into a great conversation. He said he finds the mask uncomfortable, dehumanizing and wonders about ill effects. So wonderful when you meet another true human being who can still think and feel!
The fear of “covid” has permeated every aspect of our culture and everyday lives. My husband tried to food shop yesterday, but turned around as soon as he saw the lines outside…the Super Bowl plus an impending snowstorm…forget about it.
A culture designed around a disease will itself be diseased.
When we speak of this “Age of Separation,” it means many things. It seems a great chasm between good and evil is forming, a polarization as never before. The forced physical separation between individuals results in psychological separation as well (there’s a reason why hugs are so powerful). Homicide rates this past year have skyrocketed. That is no surprise, when you’ve created fear between people and the inability to connect…and when you’ve stressed them to the breaking point. “Safe and healthy” is classic Orwellian doublespeak. All the humanity, compassion and understanding is leaving our society. What will replace it?
Welcome to the New World Order!
Easy Edible Sprouts in Your Kitchen!
Find out how these alfalfa seeds got from this ^ to this…
Stay tuned!