September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

In this month of Our Lady of Sorrows, if you are not familiar with the “Seven Sorrows Chaplet,” here is where you can purchase one. Mine is shown above, depicting Our Lady with seven swords piercing her Immaculate Heart, the month of which we have just celebrated. It has been such a blessing to pray this chaplet over the years, as a family. In addition to the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we honor Our Blessed Mother in 4 other major feasts this month.

We celebrate 5 Doctors of the Church in September. As I stated last month, I am now indicating a major work authored by each Doctor. Please consider reading some of these wonderful works of Holy Church’s antiquity. Obtaining good quality hard-cover books is a great idea from a “prepper” point of view. How long before these classics are considered “unessential items?” We have several 20th Century saints this month and also the Ember Days in September, traditional days of penance and prayer for the coming season. Ember Days are wonderful to celebrate with children, incorporating crafts and giving them a love for the Catholic Faith and her traditions.

Let us remember the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001. Let us offer prayers for those departed, along with their loved ones…for those who continue to suffer with physical and mental disability…and for those responsible. Lord have mercy.

Here is a sampling of feasts for this month:

9/3-First Friday / Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church, author Pastoral Care / Pope St. Pius X, 20th Century Saint

9/4-First Saturday

9/5-St. Teresa of Calcutta, Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, 20th Century Saint

9/8-BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

9/12-MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY

9/13-St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, author On the Priesthood

9/14-Exaltation of the Holy Cross

9/15-OUR LADY OF SORROWS (new) / SEVEN SORROWS OF OUR LADY (trad)

9/17-St. Robert Bellarmine, Doctor of the Church, author The Controversies / St. Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church, author Scivias (Know the Ways of the Lord) / Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

9/19-OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE

9/21-St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist of Gospel, Martyr

9/22-Ember Wednesday in September (trad meat at one meal)

9/23-St. Pio of Pietralcina, 20th Century Saint

9/24-OUR LADY OF RANSOM / Ember Friday in September

9/25-Ember Saturday in September (trad meat at one meal)

9/27-St. Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Vincentians

9/29-Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael / Michaelmas Day

9/30-St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, author Latin Vulgate Bible

Please Pray...

Having written about hurricanes just yesterday, I am compelled to ask for prayers for those in the path of Hurricane Ida in the southern US. I in fact, have a family member there, so this is very personal for me. Thank you for your prayers. Lord, have mercy. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Saint John the Baptist (the feast of his passion is today), pray for us. Angels, protect us. Jesus, we trust in Thee!

UPDATE: We prayed the Rosary last night during the height of the storm as it passed over my family member’s area (this gave me incredible consolation-what a blessing the Rosary is!). He was able to communicate through cellphone and he is okay (this was very fortunate because not all cell service is working). However, there are still concerns and the people there still need prayers (also those in the path of what is now a tropical storm). Remaining issues are search and rescue, ability to deal with emergencies, flooding, massive power outages, those without provisions, and the chaos that can result post-disaster. I must say, as much as I hate the mainstream news, CNN has been doing an amazing job. Please see cnn.com for continued coverage on Hurricane Ida. It is good, from a preparedness point of view to read the articles carefully because this is a valuable real-life learning experience for us all. Let us pray for the deceased, their families, and those still suffering and in danger. Please think about praying the Rosary tonight with your family. As long as I’m asking for prayer, my father-in-law is seriously unwell, so please remember him as well. I will remember my dear readers in prayer also. Thank you.

UPDATE #2: The northeast got pounded by the remnants of Ida and sadly, there are many lives lost, mainly due to flash floods (including on Long Island). It is a weekend of mourning for these souls and prayers for their families. Some are still missing. There is no further word from my relative in New Orleans. We assume he is without power, but hopefully he is managing okay. My father-in-law has made a bit of improvement, so we are very happy about that. Thank you for your continued prayers.

UPDATE #3: My family member in New Orleans is still without power one week later, but was able to charge his phone somewhere and let us know he is managing. He seems he has been “through the wars” and we continue to pray for his well-being and safety.

UPDATE #4: He was without power for 10 days and is now getting more back to normal. Thank you Lord! 10 days? I gotta think a bit more about how I would make coffee without power…hmmmmmmmmm.

Hurricane Henri: Real-Life Preparedness Situation

Our Lady of the Island, Pray for Us!

Our Lady of the Island Shrine ~ Manorville, Long Island

~ ~ ~

Exactly one week ago, the news was predicting an imminent hurricane, with winds up to 110 mph, likely flooding and power outages…headed straight for my house on Long Island. What do you do when you are in this situation? You secure your home as best as possible. Then you leave. If you can. And we did.

However, I never worry too much because…A) I trust in God B) We are preppers C) We’ve already had lots of experience with crazy stuff here in New York, from 9/11 to being the Covid epicenter to all your New York lunatics running around. So, my general feeling was…here we go again. And as a prepper, I am always grateful for one more real-life learning experience. There is even some sense of excitement for weirdos like me. Looking back on all the other things, I can see how much I learned and how much stronger I feel as a result. It also gives me the life experience to help lead others through the chastisement which is now upon the world. Hence, this ministry.

We spent the whole day before the storm securing everything outside and leaving things the best we could (appliances, computers, etc, that you really care about should be unplugged due to potential power surges which can short them out…but no, we did not shut off the fridge, but we took all the food we could, due to a possible outage). We also left our phone number with the neighbors in case the house was damaged (we have a lot of trees, which we just had trimmed, along with taking down a few which were hanging over the house-this gave us much peace of mind). When we got on the road, it became clear that lots of other people had the same idea…leave. Did I mention you should have a full tank of gas? (Always keep it at least half full.) Prior to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, people ran out of gas on the road, the traffic was so bad.

Regarding another Hurricane Katrina detail, don’t go to the Superdome. If everyone is going in one direction, go the opposite direction. Don’t rely on FEMA to save you. Katrina was an utter disaster. Be self-reliant! Have a plan and a location, or even several locations (what are friends and family for, anyway?). So…we drove to our (undisclosed) bug-out place. We stayed a few days to avoid the traffic rush back, which proved to be smart because some major roads were closed due to mud accumulation. Never take anything for granted-the Covid insanity should be teaching us this as well.

We’ll get to Hurricane Henri and how it turned out, but first, let’s look at Sandy, from 2012. Sandy illustrates why you should be concerned about hurricanes, even if they are only Category 1. It’s the reason we and all those other people decided to leave…

Hurricane Sandy is now infamous in the New York area. It claimed 131 lives in the US alone. It was a Category 1 when it hit, with 80 mph winds. But don’t let a minor Category rating fool you into thinking a storm is not dangerous. According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, “The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes.” At its worst, Sandy was a Category 3 and then deceptively turned into a mere tropical storm. Soon after, it picked up speed and made landfall in New Jersey. It dumped up to 12 inches of rain in some areas, caused massive power outages (our power was shut off before it even hit) and sent 20,000 people to shelters (not where you really want to be-they ain’t no Hiltons). Tragically, most of the deaths were due to drowning, many in their own homes. Other causes of death were trauma, carbon monoxide, car accidents and electrocution (see note below). Some of the reasons reported for why people failed to evacuate were: fear of homes being looted, misjudging severity of the storm and having no access to transportation. Another possible reason is one may want to stay with his home in case it is damaged, thinking the damage could be better managed. This is not entirely without logic, though is it worth risking your life? In addition, you may not be able to obtain services for some time and do you really want to wait out a storm with a tree in your living room? But…we stayed through Sandy…and it was terrifying at the height of the storm, the wind howling and fearing a tree would careen through a window at any moment. We prayed and we were fine-not even one tree came down.

The day Henri hit was both the feast of the Queenship and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Toward the eastern end of Long Island lies the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island, with its huge statue of Our Lady overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a short distance away. She seems to be protecting us upon a great stone, holding up her Divine Child. There is much devotion to her on this little island, which contains 2 of the boroughs of New York City. Henri veered to the east, weakened to a tropical storm (just under Category 1) and made its main landfall in Rhode Island. However, New York did get some of the brunt. There was record-breaking rainfall with major flooding…also power outages and fallen trees. Our area was pretty good and there was no damage to our house. Sadly, 2 deaths took place (according to my research, but full reporting may take some time) in North Carolina, due to riptides.

A week later, we are still re-assembling our yard. It was a lot of work dealing with all the things on the deck, plants, statues, solar lights and my collection of chimes (don’t want anyone killed by flying chimes) around the property. Turned out we had no damage at all! How did our preparedness help in this situation? If we had to stay, we have 2 generators with a supply of gas, along with general supplies. We have cultivated good relationships with our neighbors. And we’ve been to confession. Some things we need work on: communications, organizing of supplies and home improvement. That is why prepping is a lifestyle-there is always something to improve and to learn. The recent landscaping was extremely valuable. As for going on the road, it is good that we are used to traveling and always have supplies, including a serious survival bug-out bag, in the car. Our remote location is also stocked with supplies.

Hurricanes give you only a few days warning at best and other kinds of disasters can come on suddenly. Then there is the societal trend toward greater instability and the emerging New World Order, which is another whole level of preparedness. Please stay tuned to this blog, as we will continue these conversations in the coming days.

Important safety note if your basement is flooded…

Take great care before venturing into a flooded basement, because death by electrocution is a possibility. My own cousin knew a family who lost both a father and his son during Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island, due to this very situation. If you have any doubt, please call for help before entering your basement. Also, do not enter any dangerous or dark areas of your house without a flashlight, in the event you are caught suddenly in a power outage (this actually happened to me and it wasn’t fun).

Image courtesy https://www.ourladyoftheisland.com

Find the Spaces / Feast of Saint Clare

There is a reason the internet is called the “World Wide Web.” The truth is being told. It is one of the New World Order’s chief instruments of influence, control and surveillance. The “net” in “internet” is no accident either. Truth always must be shown in plain sight for those who have eyes to see. “Weaving Spiders Come Not Here,” from Shakespeares’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was taken by the Bohemian Club in California, as their motto. Deeply ironic, since they are the weaving spiders, or at least a faction, behind the horrifying world which is encroaching upon us. When man loses his relationship with his Heavenly Father, we will inevitably begin to see a Hell on earth. That’s everything outside your window, in a nutshell.

But the wonderful thing about webs, is they contain lots of space. Space you can escape through. As we discussed recently, nature always teaches us something. It is never hopeless. There are wonderful worlds lying just beyond the entrapment. Find the space, crawl through, and you are on the other side…free. Always believe this is possible (if you’re on this blog, you’re already doing it). Find the places where you can function comfortably. Find the like-minded people. Find the gems just a stone’s throw from the prisons…the holy places apart from the degraded culture…and if you can’t find it, CREATE IT!

Today is the traditional feast of Saint Clare of Assisi, whose actual name was Chiara, which was the name of my Sicilian-born grandmother, who I was named after. Got that? Just as my patron saint, dear Chiara did when escaping her abusive father, we must have the fortitude and self-esteem to seek out our own freedom and well-being. She started the Poor Clares and became one of best known and loved saints of antiquity. How much can we, at this critical hour, accomplish if we take her example, detach ourselves from the world and create something new and amazing?

"Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

Santa Chiara of Assisi, Pray for Us!

Image courtesy drugdiscoverytrends.com

August is Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

~~~ immaculate heart of mary, pray for us! ~~~

Whatever our difficulties and sorrows may be, we have been given, by Our Lord Himself from the Cross, the most wonderful of Mothers! Let us this month, flee to her in all our need and honor her Most Immaculate Heart, so desiring of reparation. This is a fabulous time to start the “Communion of Reparation 5 First Saturdays,” instituted by Our Lady of Fatima. The feast of the Immaculate Heart is celebrated on the 22nd, along with the Queenship of Our Lady-what a beautiful double Marian feast! Of course, we also have the Assumption, a holy day of obligation, on the 15th, along with several other feasts of Our Lady this month. August gives us 3 saints with particular love for Mary: Saints Alphonsus, Dominic and Maximilian Kolbe. In addition, we celebrate the father of the Blessed Virgin, the day after the Assumption. Let us not forget the Transfiguration of Our Lord, the 4th Luminous Mystery, on the 6th.

We honor both Saint Teresa Benedicta and Saint Maximilian Kolbe, who met their deaths at Aushwitz, Kolbe one year earlier. We also have Saint Rose of Lima and Saint Fiacre, both patrons of gardeners on the 30th!

We have spent the past year giving the titles (names attributed to them) of all 35 Doctors of the Church. We will now begin to provide one of their best-known works with each noted feastday. This month, we honor 3 of the most superlative Doctors! Saint Alphonsus has been noted as the most popular writer of all time (including Shakespeare)…Saint Bernard is quite possibly the most prolific miracle-worker of all time…and Saint Augustine has been called the “Doctor of Doctors,” his Confessions being the most widely read spiritual book for 1,000 years.*

Here are some notable feasts this month from both the old and new calendars:

8/1-St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church, Founder of the Redemptorists, author The Glories of Mary

8/2-St. Alphonsus Liguori (trad)

8/4-St. John Vianney / St. Dominic, Seer of the Holy Rosary

8/5-OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS

8/6-First Friday / TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

8/7-First Saturday

8/8-St. John Vianney (trad) / St. Dominic (new)

8/9-St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Jewish convert, killed at Aushwitz

8/11-St. Clare (Chiara) of Assisi

8/12-St. Clare (Chiara) of Assisi (trad)

8/14-St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyred at Aushwitz / VIGIL OF THE ASSUMPTION

8/15-THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Holy Day of Obligation)

8/16-St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin

8/17-OUR LADY OF KNOCK

8/20-St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church, author Canticle of Canticles

8/21-St. Pius X, Pope of the Eucharist

8/22-QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY / IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

8/23-St. Rose of Lima, Patroness of Gardeners

8/24-St. Bartholomew, Apostle

8/27-St. Monica, Mother of St. Augustine / SEVEN JOYS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (non-standard)

8/28-St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church, author Confessions

8/29-Passion of St. John the Baptist

8/30-St. Rose of Lima (trad) / St. Fiacre of Brie, Patron of Gardeners (non-standard)

* Source: The 35 Doctors of the Church Buy it!

Image courtesy acatholiclife.blogspot.com

Some Brief Comments: Traditionis Custodes

If you haven’t read my personal Tridentine Mass testimony, please read “About CF Mathews,” button to the right>>> I cannot tell my life story without mentioning this, because this Mass changed the course of my life and my entire way of thinking. You would not be reading this blog right now, if my husband-to-be had not brought me to this glorious Holy Mass in that summer of 1988. Also, 20 years ago, when my husband and I were deciding where to move to on Long Island, the presence of a traditional Catholic community was a large factor. This “Mass of the Ages” remains at the center of our lives and hopefully will continue to until we go home to Our Lord.

I am illustrating here, the brutality of Traditionis Custodes. I know we are not the only family to have constructed our lives around this Mass with the hopes of establishing new friends and a place to raise our children, apart from the corrupt influences of the world. As I am writing these words, many families have already had the rug pulled out from under them, after perhaps, giving everything to possess this Mass. A down-payment on a house, a job close to the Mass, a school, relationships and years of their lives invested. This situation reminds us that nothing is ever certain in this life, which from a prepper point of view, is a good lesson. Actually, many “Latin Massers” have become used to a somewhat nomadic life. Even here on Long Island, we have done some bouncing from church to church. It seems this is the attitude we must have, going forward…we will follow the Tridentine Mass to the ends of the earth!

In light of the above, it goes without saying that I am shocked and deeply saddened by this most current Motu Proprio. However, I do believe God would not allow it, unless it was for His greater glory and the ultimate good of souls. So even now, we must remain joyful and trusting! As I continue to absorb the implications of this document, I may continue to give commentary on it in the coming days, as it strikes me. Things remain undisturbed on Long Island, under Bishop John Barres. Please feel free to contact us with any of your stories or prayer requests at this time.

Note: You may feel the above concerns have been overstated. As I said, many of us are used to moving around with the old Mass. Some local shifting is not a huge concern. However, there are parishes which are fully traditional, which have been there for years, where people truly build their lives and did not foresee this coming. From Traditionis Custodes, Article 3, Point 5: “The bishop of the diocese” is “to proceed suitably to verify that the parishes canonically erected for the benefit of these faithful are effective for their spiritual growth, and to determine whether or not to retain them.”

Blessed Lord have mercy upon Thy Holy Church at this hour!

Our Lady, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

And in this Year of Saint Joseph…

Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, pray for us!

Flower #2...

Lillies

Lillies are ubiquitous, but how much do you know about them? They certainly are beautiful, most are fragrant, they support pollinators and are easy perennials, grown from bulbs. Some grow as tall as 6 to 8 feet and are called “tree lillies.” The Daylily is of a different plant family, yet the flowers are similar. They are called “daylillies” because they blossom for only one day.

Common lillies are: Oriental (among tallest), Asiatic, Martagon (if you want numerous blossoms), Trumpet/Aurelian, Tiger (grows wild all over the New York area, where I live) and Rubrum. The white “Easter Lily” we are so familiar with is a variety of the fragrant Trumpet Lily. Here are some little-known facts about the Easter Lily which adorns our altars every year as we celebrate Our Lord’s Resurrection…

1) There are no known hazards. 2) Can often be found on the coastline. 3) According to Plants For A Future, the bulb is edible and “can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes.” 4) Also according to PFAF, the bulb has been used to treat coughs, insomnia and other ailments. 5) A fragrant essential oil can be extracted from the flowers.

"A Man for All Seasons" ~ Song by Al Stewart

My humble interpretations are in parentheses, in the section we are focusing on…

A Man For All Seasons

What if you reached the age of reason only to find there was no reprieve, Would you still be a man for all seasons or would you just have to leave

We measure our days out in steps of uncertainty, Not turning to see how we've come, And peer down the highway

From here to eternity and reach out for love on the run, While the man for all seasons is lost behind the sun

Henry Plantagenet* still looks for someone to bring good news in his hour of doubt, While Thomas More waits in the Tower of London watching the sands running out

And measures the hours out from here to oblivion, In actions that can't be undone, A sailor through the darkness

He scans the meridian and caught by the first rays of dawn, The man for all seasons is lost beneath the storm

And I should know by now, I should know by now, I hear them call it out all around, Oh they go

There's nothing to believe in, Hear them, Just daydreams deceiving, They'll just let you down

So what if you reached the age of reason only to find there was no reprieve, Would you still be a man for all seasons or would you just disbelieve

We measure our gains out in luck and coincidence, Lanterns to turn back in the night, And put our defeats down to chance or experience and try once again for the light

Some wait for the waters of fortune to cover them

(“Nothing is changed in Austria” people. Pollyannas who see nothing wrong and cling to their dreams.)

Some just see the tides of ill chance rushing over them

(Despair. No hope or trust in God.)

Some call on Jehovah, some cry out to Allah

(Realizing the jig is up and seeking mercy.)

Some wait for the boats that still row to Valhalla

(Surrender to conditioned helplessness. Dependence on the State.)

Well you try to accept what the fates are unfolding

(You either accept the official narrative or the truth. Either way, it’s not fun.)

While some say they're sure where the shame should be falling

(Everyone has an opinion. Sound familiar?)

You look round for maybe a chance of forestalling

(Constructively helping yourself and others. That’s what we’re doing here!)

But too soon it's over and done, And the man for all seasons is lost behind the sun

~ ~ ~

Scottish-born Al Stewart is best known for his 70’s hits “Time Passages” and “Year of the Cat.” The above song is from the album “Time Passages,” from 1978. I acquired the CD not long ago and found this song about a Catholic saint, surprising and refreshing! Stewart’s lyrics are brilliant and speak to the universal human condition, including the times upon us. Last month, we celebrated Saint Thomas More’s main feast and this month, we have celebrated a minor feast, so let’s take a look at this song which honors him…

The title did not originate with the play that spawned the famous 1966 movie. It originated from the pen of Robert Whittington, who knew More personally. Whittington was a well-known English grammarian and expert in Latin, who described him as such: “More is a man of an angel's wit and singular learning…a man of marvelous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad gravity. A man for all seasons." At the time of this published compliment, More had risen to Parliament and the companionship of King Henry VIII. The playwright Robert Bolt used the title to illustrate More’s steadfast nature, even when facing a time of persecution. The title is poetic. Bolt’s use of it was not the original intent. It is evocative and interpretive. Al Stewart would likely agree.

Stewart assumes the role of observer, struggling with cynicism and asking the question, “What would you do?” He claims our saint is lost “behind the sun” and “beneath the storm.” But we know he has not been lost at all, for he is now in the glory of Heaven! It is the human condition that we often must choose between Heaven and Earth and our times are no different. Stewart goes on to comprehensively illustrate ways people behave when within the pressure cooker. The question here for us is, “Which ones resemble me?”

The life and death of Saint Thomas More is an inspiring example for our own times. Songwriter Al Stewart has beautifully shown this in word and melody. It’s time for us all to face the music, unto the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

* Henry VIII was a Tudor, not a Plantagenet. I can only assume Stewart did this for rhythmical reasons. PS This was a departure from what I normally do-I have a background in songwriting, so this was lots of fun. I saw Al Stewart several years ago, as an opening act for another band-it was great seeing the guy I’ve always admired and he is still at it-you can check the link above for upcoming shows. BTW, I think the best line in the song is, “Some wait for the boats that still row to Valhalla.” Genius! That line led to some research into Norse mythology which I nuked from the post. We could have done a Wagner tangent too…Wagner…hmmmmmmmm.

Vatican Persecution of the Tridentine Mass

New Advent Ongoing Coverage

I will let Our Blessed Lord give His commentary. It’s much better than anything I could come up with:

"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."

Matthew 16:18

On this feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, let us flee to our Heavenly Mother for consolation…

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Saint Simon Stock, Seer of the Brown Scapular, pray for us!

Pray the Rosary!

“In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

Our Lady of Fatima

Flower #1 / Plants For A Future

Please see the previous post for recent pictures of some of my flowers. I asked our readers to guess what they are (some are quite easy) and now I will be giving some answers with some info, mostly taken from “Plants For A Future.” The purpose here is not necessarily to get you interested in these particular flowers, but to pique your interest in flowers (one of the many things that show the nature of God Himself and His love for us)…and to show how all plants have some prepper/sustainable/ecological use and many are even medicinal. Here is one…

MOUNTAIN LAUREL

This unique shrub is also known as Calico Bush or Spoonwood. The photo above shows its wonderful potential as an ornamental and privacy bush. It is native to the Eastern United States. I am fortunate enough to have several of these-they produce the most exquisite flowers. They are so delicately designed, it looks as if our Heavenly Father hand-painted each one. They have no fragrance. Mine are white, but they also come in pink and red tones. The plant is highly poisonous. It is however, considered somewhat medicinal, but the poisonous properties mean it should only be used by an herbal medicine professional. I am delighted to have them though, the flowers are so beautiful. Some useful things about Mountain Laurel: attracts birds (I do have a variety of birds), the leaves may be used to create a yellow/tan dye, the roots have traditionally been used to make spoons, due to the durability of the wood (hence the name Spoonwood). We know it is toxic to humans and animals. It may be possible, in a rustic setting, to use it for euthanizing animals, if it works quickly and does not produce undue pain. I don’t know-this would have to be researched (but this is the way we need to start thinking, if the goal for us is to leave this corrupt and dangerous society).

My Mountain Laurels are growing on the side of a wooded hill in a shady area with rich, moist soil. I feel that one was probably planted long ago and self-seeded to create a few more. I love them mostly for their ornamental nature, though it is fun to think about making dye. I would eat with my hands before I would cut them down to make spoons! And if you consider the name, one could fashion a crown with the leaves, as the ancient Greeks did to honor winners of the Pythian games. I am cherishing them and if they start to die, I will take measures to cultivate more of them.

Many spiritual people have observed how nature often seems a metaphor for the higher reality…”As Above, So Below.” God gives us lessons when we observe His creation, if we have eyes to see them. What does Mountain Laurel teach us? I think the most obvious answer lies in the fact that it is so seemingly innocent and lovely, yet the leaves are so deadly, the American indigenous people used them to commit suicide. Beware of the outward appearance of things. As we are told in every traditional Holy Mass, from Psalms 25:10: “In whose hands are iniquities, their right hand is filled with gifts.” How do we apply that to what is going on right now? Don’t think I need to spell that out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Plants For A Future

Plants For A Future is a non-profit that operates on a high level of ecological philosophy and systems, to help the architects of these systems choose appropriate plants. Their philosophy is much like Nomen Christi Apostolate’s, in that it is concerned with respecting the natural order and economizing time, effort and energy. These are important aspects of the “Authentic Life” and survivability outside the industrial/tech world. These ideas are not only essential for those considering the establishment of off-grid communities, but for anyone who wants to live a more prepared, self-reliant life. From their “About” page:

“It is our belief that plants can provide people with the majority of their needs, in a way that cares for the planet's health. A wide range of plants can be grown to produce all our food needs and many other commodities, whilst also providing a diversity of habitats for our native flora and fauna. There are over 20,000 species of edible plants in the world yet fewer than 20 species now provide 90% of our food. Large areas of land devoted to single crops increase dependence upon intervention of chemicals and intensive control methods with the added threat of chemical resistant insects and new diseases…Our emphasis is on growing perennial plants with some self-seeding annuals, a large part of the reason for this is the difference in the amount of time and energy it takes to cultivate and harvest crops. Annuals means the cultivation of the ground every year, sowing the seeds, controlling the weeds, adding fertilizers and attempting to control pests and diseases. It all seems so much extra work compared to planting a perennial and waiting to harvest its yield. Especially when you consider that even with all the effort put into growing carrots their yield for the same area of ground will be less than that of a fruit tree and will only last the one season…We aim to recover lost knowledge and learn more about the hundreds of medicinal plants that we can grow, in a race to find safe natural alternatives to drugs used today. Plants can also provide us with fibers for clothes, rope and paper, oils for lubricants, fuels, water proofing and wood preservatives, dyes, construction materials and more.”

Plants For A Future is known for their database of over 7,000 plants, explaining all basic info about them. You can use it to get ideas for new plants or to investigate those you already have. It can be used more technically, or less. For instance, if you’re looking for specifics such as growth rate, soil pH, pollution tolerance, livestock feed or types of pollinators, you can do that. If you just want hardiness zones and sun needs, you can do that too.

For a newish gardener, when looking for new plants, please see Before You Start, which will show you the issues you need to be looking at. From that page: “Choosing unsuitable plants creates more work and often dead plants.” How true. There is so much else on this website, if you peruse it long enough, it is like a course in gardening or landscaping. All the various aspects of gardening can be overwhelming for the newbie, but please take care not to get discouraged. If it were that difficult, the human race would have gone extinct long ago. From my own past experience, I can say, if you have no idea what you are doing and in fact, do everything wrong, you will still have some success. So, be optimistic, leave all in God’s hands and enjoy the journey of greater independence and oneness with nature.

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