Saturday, June 30, 2012

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

I'd like to invite you to join me and a growing group of Catholic bloggers
at Sunday Snippets.  I've discovered some wonderful blogs here.  Thanks
to RAnn for hosting!


Semper Gaudete!: They Should Start Arriving Soon!

Semper Gaudete!: Homily 2012-06-25 - Fr Joseph Mary MFVA - Weekday

Semper Gaudete!: Welcome To Hobby Talk Tuesday

Semper Gaudete!: Horrific News Article

Semper Gaudete!: The End of America? The HHS Mandate's Threat to Freedom

Semper Gaudete!: NunEssential: Discounted Abortions on Sunday...

Semper Gaudete!: EWTN.com - Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law, Individual Mandate

Semper Gaudete!: Seeking, and Finding, Magnets

Semper Gaudete!: My Review of "St. Who? ~ 39 Holy Unknowns~" by Brian O'Neel

Semper Gaudete!: VENERABLE Fulton J. Sheen

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read In The Past Week

Books Read In The Past Week

    Books read for the first time are marked with a #


 "An Old-Fashioned Girl"
      by Louisa May Alcott
    [fiction]
   {carried over from last week}
"Night Flight" #
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
[fiction]
"B is For Betsy"
"Betsy and Billy"
by Carolyn Haywood
[children's fiction]
"Little Men"
by Louisa May Alcott
[fiction]
{carrying over into next week}

VENERABLE Fulton J. Sheen

http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/US.php?id=5725

This is wonderful news!   
(And that is a understatement!)

My Review of "St. Who? ~ 39 Holy Unknowns~" by Brian O'Neel

I found this book to be absolutely delightful.  While most collective biographies of the saints concentrate on those who are well-known, this one refreshingly focuses on some who are, as
the title says, "Holy Unknowns."
Two of my favorite chapters are "St. Gangolf : The Cuckold " and "Bl. Jacoba De 'Settesoli:  St. Francis' Other "Beloved Lady" .
As you can tell by the subtitle of the first-named chapter, St. Gangolf's  wife, Ganea, was unfaithful.   St. Gangolf, however, forgave her infidelity, and she repaid him by having her lover murder him. (Now that's gratitude for you!)
Soon after St. Gangolf's death, many miracles occurred at his tomb.  On  hearing of these 
miracles, Ganea sneered that Gangolf worked miracles as well as her rear end sang songs.
What happened next was nothing short of poetic justice.
   I must say, though, that I enjoyed the chapter about Bl. Jacoba De 'Settesoli much more.
  Bl. Jacoba did much to help the Franciscans in the early days of the Order.   She also looked after St. Francis like a mother.   She made a pastry called mustaccioli, which St. Francis loved.
(I was charmed to learn this little tidbit about St. Francis.)
If this book gets the readership it deserves, the "Holy Unknowns" should soon become
very well-known.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Saint Who?. This is also a great Catholic gift store for all your seasonal shopping needs, such as Christian wedding gifts and Catholic Garden Gifts.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Seeking, and Finding, Magnets

  Ever since I began collecting decorative magnets, there have been
quite a few I've wanted, but wasn't able to find.   Well, today I found
several of the magnets I've been looking for, and at a bargain price.
I've selected, and ordered, two of those magnets. 
But there are STILL plenty of magnets I want, and have not yet
been able to find.
But that is part of the fun of collecting!


    

Thursday, June 28, 2012

EWTN.com - Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law, Individual Mandate

EWTN.com - Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law, Individual Mandate

I am getting sadder and sadder, and angrier and angrier over what is happening to America.
But this is not the time for sadness or anger.  This is the time for action.
I, personally, cannot do much, but I can:
1:  Pray
2: Support financially EWTN and Priests for Life in 
their fight against this unjust mandate.
3: Pray
4:  Write blog posts on this issue
5: Pray
6:  Share other people's posts on this issue.
7: Pray
8: Pray
9: Pray
10: Pray

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

NunEssential: Discounted Abortions on Sunday...

I had to share the following post from Sr. Miriam James' blog.

NunEssential: Discounted Abortions on Sunday...
'Getting an abortion means getting a second chance' an ad on the site reads. A second "chance"? Hmm....no second chances for the child who...

No matter how much of a discount they offer for an abortion,
the cost is still much too high:
At least ONE human life; possibly more.


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The End of America? The HHS Mandate's Threat to Freedom





Patrick Madrid shared this on Facebook.
I in turn am sharing it on this blog.
Please share this wherever possible.

Horrific News Article


It is with great sadness, anger, but also with the deepest
admiration for this woman's courage in speaking out that
I share this article
And there is a question I must ask myself in these times:
Could such a thing happen here?

Monday, June 25, 2012

Homily 2012-06-25 - Fr Joseph Mary MFVA - Weekday







Good homily from Fr. Joseph on the Fortnight for Freedom.

Welcome To Hobby Talk Tuesday







Saturday, June 23, 2012

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #


"Good Wives (Little Women Part 2)"
by Louisa May Alcott
[fiction]
{carried over from last week}


"Ella Clinton," or "By their fruits ye shall know them" #
by Martha Finley
[children's fiction, Protestant (Presbyterian) } ]
(free Google e-book)
{this book was published 11 years before the 
author's more well-known Elsie Dinsmore.}


"The Mother's Book"
by Lydia Maria Child
[non-fiction]
{I'm reading a facsimile edition, bought several years ago.}


"Astrid Lindgren: Storyteller to the World"
by Johanna Hurwitz
[children's nonfiction, biography]


"An Old-Fashioned Girl"
by Louisa May Alcott
[fiction]
{carrying over into next week}




Reviving My Meme

Quite some time ago, I had a meme on this blog.  Unfortunately, I've
neglected it for awhile.
Well, starting this Monday evening, I am pleased to announce
(drumroll, please)
THE RETURN OF HOBBY-TALK TUESDAY!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Reading Alcott Again

Once again, I am reading Louisa May Alcott's books, and once again I am reading them
in chronological order.   However, instead of reading one a week, as I did last year,  I'm
reading  one of LMA's books, then three books by other writers, and then an LMA
book again.
Also,  I am reading the physical copies, rather than the online versions.  Some books
seem best read in their original form.
I'd like to someday have all of Louisa May Alcott's books in the Orchard House Editions.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Fortnight For Freedom

If anyone had ever told me that someday American citizens would be in
danger of losing the right to freedom of religion, I probably would have
laughed in his or her face.  I never would have believed that we would
need a Fortnight For Freedom.  Not here.  Not in America.
Remember our pilgrim fathers and mothers?   They came here
in order that they could worship God according to their own
consciences.  Well, if I believed that the dead actually did,
when perturbed, turn over in their graves, then I would have
to believe that right now, those pilgrims are spinning like
tops!


Monday, June 18, 2012

New Painting in Rosary Art Collection

I've just added another painting to my Rosary Art Collection.
I love the way Mary and Elizabeth are clasping one another's hands.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Books Read in The Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #


"Little Women" or "Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy"
by Louisa May Alcott
[fiction]
{carried over from last week}
(I switched back to my physical copy)

"Mary Ellen" # 
by  May Justus
[children's fiction]
(read online; Open Library loan)


"David and Susan at the Little Green House"
by Mary Landis
[children's fiction, Mennonite]


"Farmer Boy"
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
[children's fiction, historical, biographical]


"Good Wives (Little Women Part 2)"
by Louisa May Alcott
[fiction]
{carrying over into next week}

New Items in my Decorative Magnet Collection

I've just added these two magnets to my Decorative Magnet Collection.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Item added to Two of my Collections

I've added this early Tootsie Roll advertisement to both my Chocolate Collection and my Vintage Media Collection.
Incidentally, I hope to have a Tootsie Roll magnet someday!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

New Item in Vintage Media Collection

I've just added this advertisement to my Vintage Media Collection.
Orange Whistle is mentioned in The Middle Moffat by Eleanor Estes.
(I'm about due for a re-reading of the Moffat books!)

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Appropriate Start!

This morning when I got up, I couldn't find my Scapular.
So what did I do?   I prayed to St. Anthony, of course!
And yes, I found my Scapular almost immediately afterwards!
I had to laugh!  It was SUCH an appropriate way to start
this day!

Homily 2012-06-13 - Rev Br John Paul Mary - St Anthony of Padua - Priest - Doctor of the Church




Of course, Deacon John Paul preaches about, and quotes, St. Anthony!

My Friend Tony (Yearly Repost)

And yep, I mean St. Anthony of Padua, whose Feast is today!
How many times have people prayed some version of the prayer:
"Tony, Tony, come around.
Something's lost and must be found"?
I know St. Anthony is ALWAYS helping me find stuff.
Years ago, when I had just recently converted to Catholicism, I called
Mom at work (It was her usual break time.)
Mom said, "I can't talk right now. We're missing an important file and
we've looked all over for it."
"Okay," I said, "call me back when it turns up."
Well, within five minutes she called me. The file had been found.
"Aren't you going to thank me?" I asked.
"Thank you? What for? You're not even here."
"I know," I said, "but who do you think prayed to St. Anthony?"
More recently, I was chatting with a couple of my online friends, and
one of them was going slightly nuts because she had misplaced something, and couldn't find it anywhere. I said a prayer to St. Anthony, and then typed,
"Try looking again."
She didn't want to, but I persuaded her. And then she typed, in caps
"I FOUND IT!!!!!!"
I wasn't a bit surprised!
Does St. Anthony ALWAYS get lost articles back for me? Well, almost! One morning I couldn't find my Rosary. I looked. I prayed. To my surprise, I still did
not find it. But later that morning, I received a brand-new, beautiful Rosary from a Catholic organization. I'm almost SURE I heard St. Anthony chuckling.
BTW, the lost Rosary did turn up eventually.
Of course, there's much more to St. Anthony than just running the Lost and Found! :)


This post was taken from one of my old blogs.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Cataloging My Collection

I've started a catalog  for my Decorative Magnet Collection.   This catalog is on the computer, because with my dysgraphia, a handwritten catalog would not be practical.
Here are some sample entries:
             Name :
             Bunch of 3 Bananas magnet
             Date Acquired:
             April 2nd, 2012
             Place Acquired:
            downstairs hall radiator
            Cost:
            None

             Name:
             Embellish Your Story Apple Magnet Set
              Date Acquired:
              April 6th, 2012
               Place Acquired:
               amazon.com  
                Cost:
                $11.69

             Name:
             Mouse in Dress Magnet
             {exact name unkown}
             Date Acquired:
             April 11th, 2012
             Place Acquired:
            Upstairs refrigerator
            Cost:
            None
           {Traded one Red Daisy Magnet
              to Mom } 


      Cataloging seems like such a collectorly  [collectorish?] thing to do!
  



Monday, June 11, 2012

The Purple Jar

This short story  by Maria Edgeworth was first published in 1796, and
was quite popular for many years.
Rose, in  Louisa May Alcott's Eight Cousins,  says in reference to this story:
"I always thought it very unfair in her mother not to warn the poor thing a little bit; and she was regularly mean when Rosamond asked for a bowl to put the purple stuff in, and she said, in such a provoking way, 'I did not agree to lend you a bowl, but I will, my dear.' Ugh! I always want to shake that hateful woman, though she was a moral mamma."
I agree with Rose!  How could Rosamond make a really prudent decision without
knowing what really made the jar "purple"?
Of course, if Rosamond had known, then we may not have had the element of surprise in the story!
As for the mother, was she really, as Rose called her, "a moral mamma"?  Is it moral to allow a seven-year-old to decide whether to get a pair of shoes, which she badly needs, or a pretty purple jar, which she does not need?
If this happened in real life, especially nowadays, can you imagine what people would say about Rosamond's mother?
However, in spite of these objections, I must say that I enjoy this story, as well as others about Rosamond.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sunday Snippets-- A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets .  Thanks to
RAnn for hosting.  I've discovered some wonderful blogs here.

Semper Gaudete!: Image & Likeness: Christ In Our Midst

Semper Gaudete!: Homily 2012-06-04 - Fr Joseph Mary MFVA - Weekday

Semper Gaudete!: Homily 2012-06-02 - Fr Mark Mary MFVA - Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary




Computer Kitty

Before uploading the video of Fr. Mark's homily, (see earlier post) I watched
it again (I had, of course, already seen and heard it during the Mass!).
 I sat on the bed away from the computer in order to get a better view,
and Winky, who was in the room, went up to the computer!  He didn't
meow, but he did sniff around!  It was so funny!
Incidentally, I'm going to make sure Winky does NOT see  this video .
He might think Philip Rivers is throwing the football AT Fr. Mark!

Books Read In The Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a  #


"Andy"
{carried over from last week}
"Polly"
 by Mary Christner Borntrager
[fiction, Amish] 

"Mine For Keeps"
"Spring Begins in March"
by Jean Little
[children's fiction, Canadian]


Hurrah for Jerry Jake" #
by May Justus
[children's fiction]
{read online; Open Library Loan}
(newly discovered author.   I plan to read
more of her books.)


"Rainbow Valley"
by L. M. Montgomery
[fiction]
{it recently occurred to me that this is the 
only book in the Anne of Green Gables series
without the word "of" in the title!}


"Little Women"
by Louisa May Alcott
[fiction]
(I'm reading this edition in my new Amazon Cloud Reader )
{carrying over into next week}

New Painting in My Rosary Art Collection

I've just added this painting to my Rosary Art Collection.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Homily 2012-06-08 - Fr Anthony Mary - Weekday



Once again, a wonderful homily from Fr. Anthony. Great humor, and
a beautiful meditation by a Carthusian monk.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Ray Bradbury Tribute Shared on Karen Edmisten's Blog

Karen Edmisten: Beautiful tribute to Ray Bradbury found here: at Jimmy Akin's: Something Wondrous This Way Comes .

 Karen Edmisten shared this indeed beautiful tribute on her blog,
and now I am sharing it on my own blog.
I didn't know until now that Dandelion Wine was Ray Bradbury's
favorite of his own books, but now that I do know, I'm rather
glad that it was.  Dandelion Wine is also my favorite Ray
Bradbury book, but next time I read it, it will be with a
tinge of sadness.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Image & Likeness: Christ In Our Midst

Image & Likeness: Christ In Our Midst: Bishop Baker with Bishop Foley, Abbot Cletus & (now) Fr. Patrick & Fr. Leonard at the OLAM Jubilee Mass   So it begins! A new life,...

 Yesterday, as the time for the Mass of Ordination approached, I found
myself getting more and more excited.   My heart pounded.  I said to
myself, "You'd think these Ordinations were taking place in your own family."
And then I realized that yes, those Ordinations were indeed taking place in
my own family!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks so much to RAnn for
hosting. I've discovered some wonderful blogs here.

Semper Gaudete!: New Item in Vintage Media Collection

Semper Gaudete!: I Didn't Make The Connection at First

Semper Gaudete!: "Most Excuses for Not Having Homework" Award Angers Student's Mother

Semper Gaudete!: Homily 2012-05-26 - Fr. Anthony Mary MFVA - St. Philip Neri, Priest (Memorial)

Semper Gaudete!: I Do NOT Want the Abortion Clinics to Close

Semper Gaudete!: Adding to my Offline Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Product Mentioned in "Anne of Ingleside"

Semper Gaudete!: My Review of "Cherished by the Lord: 100 Meditations"

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week


Books read for the first time are marked with a #
 

"Hannah and the Daring Escape"
{carried over from last week}
"Hannah and the Snowy Hideaway"
"Chelsea and the Alien Invasion"
"Roxie's Mall Madness"
by Hilda Stahl
[children's fiction, Christian {Protestant, denomination(s) not specified}, series]


"The Lark In The Morn" #
by Elfrida Vipont
[fiction]


"Well Done, The Naughtiest Girl!"
"The Naughtiest Girl Wants to Win"
"The Naughtiest Girl Marches On"
 by Anne Digby
[children's fiction, school stories, English, Enid Blyton's Naughtiest Girl Series]
{continuations, commissioned by The Enid Blyton Company}

"Daniel"
"Rueben" 
"Andy"
{carrying over into next week}
 by Mary Christner Borntrager
[fiction, Amish]
 

My Review of "Cherished by the Lord: 100 Meditations"

I received   "Cherished by the Lord: 100 Meditations," by Sister Kathryn James Hermes in today's mail. This book is beautiful, absolutely beautiful, both in its design,and in its contents. 
The cover alone would attract me to this book if I saw it in a bookstore.
As for the interior: The pages are light purple, a quiet, relaxing color. There is a lovely nature scene at the bottom of each two-page spread.
And now, the contents. I've been paging through this book, pausing to read here and there.
Each chapter has a Biblical passage before the meditation. The meditations  are concise, and clearly written.  In some of them, Sister Kathryn James shares own experiences. I  love that personal  touch!

I've already found some chapters which I'll be reading again and again. Two of my favorites,  so far, are Chapter 84, "Someone Is Waiting For Your Story," with its very contemporary references to Twitter, YouTube,and Facebook, and Chapter 91, "Sabbath Space."  Here is  a brief quote from that chapter. "For some of us, the harried pace of life has blurred Sunday into any other day of the week, except that people go to church.Why not establish some other Sunday ritual that expresses the joy of your relationship with God?"
Another thing I really appreciate is the fact that this book has a Liturgical Index, a Topical Index, and a Scriptural Index.  This way, I can choose either a meditation appropriate for the season or feast, or one that fits my feelings at the moment, or one based on a particular passage in the Bible.
 I plan to keep this book close at hand in order to dip into it, read it slowly, savor it.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Cherished by the Lord: 100 Meditations. This is also a great online Catholic store for all your religious shopping needs, such as gifts for Confirmation and gifts for a baby baptism.



Friday, June 1, 2012

Product Mentioned in "Anne of Ingleside"


 I googled "Epps Cocoa" because it is mentioned in "Anne of Ingleside" by L. M. Montgomery.
I selected this advertisement, printed in 1904, for my Vintage Media Collection and my Chocolate Collection.









Encouraging news about EWTN's Fr. Anthony

Fr. Anthony hopes to be back on the air in the near future.  Oh, HOW I'm praying for that to happen! https://franciscanmissionaries.c...