December Birdsong

Sometimes, when I hear a bird singing in December, I
repeat to myself this poem by Oliver Herford.

I Heard a Bird Sing

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
"We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,"
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

A Time To Remember

Just watched "A Time To Remember" on EWTN.
The movie was filmed in Deposit, New York.
My family spent several weeks there every summer
for many years; we had our own place outside of town
on Old Plank Road.
St Joseph's, the Church seen in the movie, is where I went to Mass.

Somehow, I've always missed the broadcasts of the movie from one year to the next, so I'm glad I finally got to see it. And, for the first time, my Mom watched EWTN!
Seeing the town, or, I should say, the Village of Deposit on film brought back so many memories for us.
"A Time To Remember", indeed!

Books Read in the Past Week

"Looking in Junk Shops"
by John Bedford
{started last week, finished on Thursday}
[non-fiction]

"The Chalet School and Jo"
{started last week, finished on Monday}
"The Chalet Girls in Camp"
{read on Monday }
"The Exploits of the Chalet Girls"
{started on Monday, finished on Wednesday}
"The Chalet School and the Lintons"
{started on Wednesday, finished on Thursday}
[children's fiction]
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer


"A Short History of the Honey Bee: Humans, Flowers, and Bees in the Eternal Chase for Honey"
{started on Tuesday. E-book}
by E. Readicker-Henderson (author)
and Ilona McCarty (photographer)
[non-fiction]

"Chris Turner, Magician"
by James T. Brady
{read on Thursday}
[children's fiction]

"A Christmas Carol"
by Charles Dickens
{read on Friday; my annual December 24th reading}
[fiction]

"Bequest of Wings:
A Family's Pleasures with Books"
by Annis Duff
{started on Friday}
[non-fiction]

"Little Women"
by Louisa May Alcott
{started on Saturday}
[fiction]
(I'm reading this book both off-line and
online. I have an oversized illustrated edition)

I'm reading LMA's books in order of publication,
just one a week in order to stretch them out.
Also, I am reading "Little Women" as it was
originally published, that is, as two separate
books.

Great post from Karen Edmisten

I

Communicating with a Canadian Cat

This post is taken, slightly modified, from one of my old blogs.
More than 20 years ago, my mother, stepfather, grandmother, stepniece and I spent a few days in Toronto. On the first night, we saw a cat lying in a yard relaxing, not unlike the American kitties. Being a catlover, I greeted the cat, "Kitty kitty". The cat ignored me. I used all the usual terms of endearment people address to cats; no response. Finally it occurred to me that we were in Canada, and I said, "Meowez-vous français?"
And the cat looked up and meowed!

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Semper Gaudete!: My Collections

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Week of December 12-18, 2010

Books Read in the Past Week

Week of December 12-18, 2010

"Fifth Chinese Daughter"
{started last week, finished on Sunday}
"No Chinese Stranger"
{started on Sunday, finished on Wednesday}
[non-fiction; autobiography]
by Jade Snow Wong

"Scenarios 1:Truth or Dare"
by Nicole O'Dell
{read on Thursday}
[Christian fiction, (Protestant) teenagers]
(e-book)

"Looking in Junk Shops"
by John Bedford
{started on Thursday}
[non-fiction]

"The Trouble With Terry"
by Joan Lexau
{started on Friday, finished on Saturday}
[children's fiction]
(one of my childhood favorites)

"The Chalet School and Jo"
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
{started on Saturday}
[children's fiction]

My Collections

This post originally appeared, in slightly different form, in one of my old blogs.

I've been interested in collecting things ever since I read "Herbert", by Hazel Wilson. The first chapter was called "Herbert's Can Collection". That story got me started on my first collection: the LABELS from cans. Later on, I collected soda bottle caps, and then, obsolete words, which I copied into a notebook. That one didn't last long because of my handwriting problem. Another collection I had might best be called Chocolatenia, because it was made up of ads, wrappers, boxtops, ANYTHING to do with chocolate. (And WHY did I remind myself of chocolate NOW????) [This post was originally published during Lent!]

 I also enjoy reading about other people's collections,especially the more unusual ones. I'd sort of like an unusual collection of my own, but I'm not sure that I want to start yet another collection just for the sake of having an unusual collection.

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Semper Gaudete!: Feast of St. Nicholas

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Week of December 5-11, 2010

Books Read in the Past Week

"You English Words"
by John Moore
[non-fiction]
{started last week,finished on Saturday}


"The Summer of the Great-Grandmother"
by Madeleine L'Engle
[non-fiction, autobiography]
{started last week, finished on Sunday}


"Winding Valley Farm:
 Annie's Story"
[children's fiction]
(based on her mother's childhood)
{read on Sunday}
"Stairstep Farm:
Anna Rose's Story
[children's fiction]
(based on her own childhood)
{started on Sunday, finished on Monday}
"Willow Wind Farm:
   Betsy's Story "
{read on Monday}
"Betsy's Up-and-Down Year"
{read on Monday}
(two books about the author's niece)
by Anne Pellowski


"What Happened to Heather Hopkowitz?"
[Jewish fiction, teenagers]
by Charlotte Herman
{started on Monday, finished on Wednesday}


"Fifth Chinese Daughter"
[non-fiction; autobiography]
by Jade Snow Wong
{started on Wednesday}

Feast of St. Nicholas

I find it wonderfully appropriate that we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, known and loved by so many children as "Santa Claus", during Advent. It is as if the saint were telling us, "Remember why I come with presents on Christmas. It is to celebrate the birth of Our Lord."

Aurora Borealis

Aurora over Norway
This is incredibly beautiful, and I love the music.

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Here are some, but not all, of my posts from the past week.

Semper Gaudete!: Expanding this Blog

Semper Gaudete!: Chanukah

Semper Gaudete!: Amusement Park

Semper Gaudete!: Through The Year With Mary

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Week of November 28th- December 4th

Through The Year With Mary

 I've just ordered this book by Karen Edmisten.   This will be my Daily Devotional book
for 2011.
Incidentally, I love Karen's book on the Rosary, and I love her blog!

Books Read in the Week of November 28th- December 4th

" "Black" Becomes a Rainbow: 
The Mother of a Baal Teshuvah Tells Her Story"
by Agi L. Bauer
[Jewish non-fiction]
{started last week, finished on Sunday}

"No Coins, Please"
by Gordon Korman
[children's fiction, humorous]
{started on Sunday, finished on Monday}

"You English Words"
by John Moore
[non-fiction]
{started on Monday, still reading}

"The Enchanted Circle"
by Libby Lazewnik
[Jewish fiction, teenagers]
{started on Monday, finished on Tuesday}

"The Summer of the Great-Grandmother"
by Madeleine L'Engle
[non-fiction, autobiography]
{started on Wednesday, still reading as of Saturday night}

Chanukah

Chanakuh. A time of great memories for me.
I remember arranging and re-arranging the candles
in the Menorah, and trying for a different color pattern
every day.
Now, Mom and I (remember, I still live with her; I blogged
about that a few weeks ago) simply light electric Menorahs,
one for the front window, one for the back window.
I remember Baba grating potatoes for latkes; now Mom
and I get our latkes from a store. I don't think we even
HAVE a potato grater.
Oh, for one of Baba's latkes!
Did I say "one"?
Honestly, could I eat just ONE?

I'm not entirely sure what this means, but it made me chuckle

I'm not entirely sure what this means, but it made me chuckle

This, I just HAD to share!

Amusement Park

I grew up within walking distance of Coney Island, but even closer to my apartment building, just down the block and across the street, was a small, but to a child, wonderful, amusement park.
I can't count the times my grandpa and I would walk down
there.
The place was understaffed, with the workers going from ride
to ride. I can't remember a time when all of the rides were
running at once.  I remember waiting by, for example, the tilt-a-whirl (my all-time
favorite ride)... and waiting and waiting and waiting
There was one particular ride which I'd never been on, and really
wanted to try . It's funny, considering how I longed to ride that
ride, that I have forgotten which one it was.
I was sooooo disappointed when the operator told me that I was too young.
"You have to be in school to go on this ride."
I answered that I was in school, and the man scolded me for lying.
"But I am in school! I'm in NURSERY school!"
Grandpa told him off for calling me a liar, and then we walked  over to another ride.
As much as I loved going with my Grandpa, however, I longed for the time when
I would be old enough to go by myself. Like so many other little girls,
I wanted, oh HOW I wanted, to be thought of as a BIG girl.
But by the time I was old enough, the rides were gone.
"They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot."

Brooklyn Bees Producing Bright Red Honey - PSFK

Brooklyn Bees Producing Bright Red Honey - PSFK

Now, if those bees start singing "Sweet Cherry Wine", I
hope somebody records it!

Expanding this Blog

I've expanded this blog to include My First Word Was "READ!".
I'll be posting, every Saturday night or Sunday morning, a list of the books I've read
in the previous week, not counting the devotionals I read every day.

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Semper Gaudete!: A Day Dedicated To.....



Semper Gaudete!: Prayer Veil




Semper Gaudete!: Advent

Advent

I've just prayed Evening Prayer 1 for the First Sunday in Advent.
And so begins another liturgical year, another cycle.
I love Advent. It's such a thoughtful, joyful time of preparation. I love that we
have different seasons, and ordinary time, too.

I'm including links to a couple of Advent calendars.

EWTN Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar from The Mary Page

Prayer Veil

Adapted, renamed, and greatly expanded from a short post in one of my old blogs.

I have a prayer veil, which I purchased from EWTN's online religious store.
I wear it at these times:
1: When I am able to get to Mass.
2: When I watch the live Mass on EWTN.
3: When I watch Benediction and Devotions, Sunday evenings on EWTN.
4: When I pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

I know that it isn't strictly necessary for me to wear this prayer veil, but I think it is a beautiful custom; it enhances the mitzvah.
(I love that Jewish word, mitzvah, and praying is definitely a mitzvah!)

A Day Dedicated To.....

This morning I heard someone on the radio say that this is a day dedicated to eating.
Now, I have nothing against special foods on special days; I think they enhance the celebration,
but it's not the food, or even the gathering around the table, that matters most. What matters, what we should focus on, is the reason for the meal. And the reason for the meal is right there in the name of the holiday.
Thanksgiving.

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Semper Gaudete!: Barking Up The Wrong Tree



Semper Gaudete!: Coffee

Coffee

Yesterday morning, I knocked over a canister of coffee... a full canister! About half of it wound up in the kitchen sink. Aaarrrggghhhh!!!
Well, I had a choice. I could cry over spilt coffee, or I find something to be thankful for.
I found two, actually.
1: Thank God it went into the sink and not on the floor, because it
was easier to clean the sink.
2: Thank God only HALF of it got spilled.
But the coffee adventures weren't quite over.
I made a cup of coffee, poured it, let it cool a bit, and then took that first
sip. You may have seen some mushrooms described as edible, but not palatable. Change "edible" to
"drinkable", and you'll get a pretty good idea of how my coffee tasted. Pretty bad!
Time to clean the coffee maker! I like to use apple cider vinegar. (Thank God for that aroma of apples!)
Later, I dumped the vinegar, saying to myself, "Don't forget to run fresh water
through the coffee maker."
But, guess what! I forgot until this morning! Thank God I remembered before making my morning coffee.
So, I ran 3 cups of fresh water through the coffee maker. Then, I smelled the basket... and
ran 3 more cups through!
Then, I made my coffee (at last!)
One word...
Delicious!

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Guess what I received in today's snail mail?
An invitation to join the most hypocritically named organization in the world...
Planned Parenthood!!
I responded, using their own business reply envelope, that I am 100% per cent
opposed to everything they stand for, and I told them not to ever contact me
again. Usually, if I don't wish any further mailings from anyone, I say,
"Please remove me from your mailing list. Thank you."
This time, I didn't bother with "please" and "thank you".
Oh, and I didn't put a stamp on the envelope. Let them lose a little
money, even if it's only a few cents.
I've decided that if they do contact me again, I will mark the envelope "Return
to Sender. I am 100% PRO=LIFE!"

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Semper Gaudete!: She Does NOT Deserve to Be Honored



Semper Gaudete!: Relic

Relic

This is the perfect day to reprint this post from one of my old blogs.

I came across this story a few years ago. I'm not sure if it is true.
An elderly woman approached her priest and asked, "Father, is it true that anything touched by a Saint is considered a relic?" "Yes," said the priest, "anything definitely known to have been touched by a Saint would be considered a Third Class relic." And the old lady said, "Well! I was once spanked by Mother Cabrini!"
That's one relic I would not care to kiss!

She Does NOT Deserve to Be Honored

The Smithsonian just went waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down in my estimation!

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As you can see, I have only one post this week.

Semper Gaudete!: The Donut Man

The Donut Man

Okay, I admit it...wait a minute! Why am I saying "I admit it?"You "admit it" when
you've done something wrong, or when you feel sort of embarrassed to say something publicly.
Okay, so this isn't an admission. It's a statement, an announcement.
I love watching "The Donut Man" on EWTN. I was watching this morning, and when he did "Cast Your Burden (Hiya, Hiya) with the Donut Repair Club, well, I was on my feet making all the motions with them, maybe not perfectly, but I was having a great time!
Rob Evans (The Donut Man) is a former non-denominational layminister who joined the Catholic Church several years ago. He shared the story of his conversion several years ago on
The Journey Home
Thank God for archived shows!
And ya gotta love Duncan!

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Semper Gaudete!: Homily 10-26-2010 - Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM - Feria




Semper Gaudete!: When Things Go Wrong on the Computer

When Things Go Wrong on the Computer

Some, but not all, of the following "computer oys" have happened to me.
Have you ever sent an e-mail, or posted something on a message board, in the heat of anger, and then, when it was too late, said to yourself, "What was I
thinking?"
When that happens, it is time for (cringe cringe cringe) Operation Apology. And crow is NOT the
most savory dish in the world.
Have you ever sent or posted something that was taken the wrong way because you didn't include a
smiley?
Have you ever corrected somebody's spelling on a message board, only to find that your own post contanes more than one glaring eror in speling?
Have you ever been in the middle of writing something absolutely brilliant, sparkling, your best work ever.... and the computer crashed?
Have you ever sent something meant for just one
person to everyone on your group's e-mail list? Nine out of ten times, it will be something extremely personal, something you did NOT want to share with
the whole group.
Sometimes, however, this can turn out to be a good thing, because it is then that you find out who your real on-line friends are.
Has your cat ever walked across the keyboard while you were looking at your shopping cart, thereby placing an order for you?
For multibloggers: Have you ever posted something to the wrong blog?
If you can answer "Yes" to any of these questions,
then all I can say is "Welcome to the club!"
Of course, the up side of these computer mishaps is....
they make great blog material!

Homily 10-26-2010 - Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM - Feria

I always watch Mass with the captions on, because of the
traffic on my block. It can get LOUD, and that is an understatement.
Today, though, there was no noisy traffic, no trucks, no horns honking, so I HEARD
Fr. Wade's homily, and it was well worth hearing! Fr. Wade spoke several times of Jesus
as "the One sent." The caption, however, read "1¢"!
Now that I think of it, there is some material for meditation here!
"1¢". Little things. The widow's mite. Faith the size of a mustard seed.
We can never measure how much God can do with our small, seemingly insignificant actions.
I touched on this several weeks ago.
Semper Gaudete!: Little Things

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Semper Gaudete!: This Might Surprise You

Semper Gaudete!: Family News.... WOO HOO!!!!

Family News.... WOO HOO!!!!

My niece, Kristy Verdi, was pregnant; due to give birth any day.

A few minutes ago Mom and I were looking at some old photographs Mom had

recently found, and... this is so cool... just when I came across a picture of Kristy

{we called her Kristy Lynn back then} as a little girl.... the phone rang.

It's a girl, 6 pounds, 8 ounces.

I'm typing with a BIG smile on my face!

What wonderful news to end this week's blog posts with!

This Might Surprise You

This is adapted from at least one of my older blogs.
Time to reveal a bit more about myself. 
I am a middle-aged {I've never really liked that expression, because to me middle-aged is half as old as one is GOING to be} single woman. I still live with my mother due to a physical disability. We have separate apartments; mine is downstairs, and Mom's is upstairs. The computer is upstairs.
I have poor eye-hand-foot co-ordination, and a perceptual-motor problem, and am a non-dyslexic dysgraphic. I was reading at an early age, but I still can't write legibly. How many times was I scolded by my teachers who thought that since I read so well, my sloppy penmanship was due to carelessness and laziness? "She's just not trying!" {In fairness to them, I should point out that in those days, most people were unaware that my particular disability even existed.}
What does poor co-ordination mean? The best way I can explain it is this: (And remember, my medical training is non-existent!) My eyes work fine,  my hands work fine, and my feet work fine.
Now, imagine that my eyes, hands, and feet are students in a classroom. Individually, they are
excellent students (I suppose that, in the case of my eyes, I should say excellent pupils.) However,
put them together in a committee, and they do not work well together. 
My poor co-ordination also gives me a problem with my balance. I can walk quite well in my own home and my own yard, where I don't have to worry about people in a hurry pushing into me. So I only go out and about if I have someone to hold on to. I do use a walker from time to time, but I have to stay on my own block even then; the traffic is too dangerous. For one thing, some drivers go
BACKWARDS on our one-way street!
Another aspect of my perceptual problem is that I cannot see where things are in relationship to where I am. I can see WHAT it is, but I won't be able to point to it accurately, nor can I tell what other people are pointing to.
I remember being very confused, very puzzled many, many times because I saw the teacher pointing to me when, in reality, she was pointing to one of my classmates, and vice-versa. I can't remember how many times I was scolded for calling out, or for not paying attention.
Once I was diagnosed, however, I explained my problem, and requested that my teachers call on me by name.
I was also one of the kids some, though not all, of the other kids picked on and called "REE-tard!" Of course, I very well might have acted the same way, had our situations been reversed.
After I had become a Catholic, someone told me that Purgatory would be much worse than anything that happened to me in school.
I responded, "No, I think it will be better, because it will be FAIR. I won't suffer anything I don't DESERVE in Purgartory, and I won't be confused as to why I am there."
And as I type this, it occurs to me that Purgatory won't only be FAIR; it will be MERCIFUL, because God is merciful. I'll suffer in Purgatory much LESS than I deserve.

Muslim blasphemer dances on the high altar at the Florence Cathedral

Muslim blasphemer dances on the high altar at the Florence Cathedral

This calls for prayers of reparation.

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Semper Gaudete!: Well, Someone Was Paying Attention<

Semper Gaudete!: Thunderstorm



Semper Gaudete!: The 2nd Luminous Mystery

The 2nd Luminous Mystery

I have seen it suggested that, when we meditate on this Mystery, we think of a Jewish wedding, with the music, and the dancing. Well, that makes my meditation on that Mystery a bit anachronistic. When I think of a Jewish wedding, the music, the dancing, I think "Hava Nagila"!

Well, Someone Was Paying Attention

{This post has appeared, in slightly different form, in at least two of my older, more or less defunct, blogs.}


This happened thirty-odd years ago in my parish Church, Guardian Angel, in Brooklyn, New York.
Back then I usually went to evening, rather than morning,  Mass,  (except on Sunday) so I didn't actually witness this.  I  did, however, hear about it from more than one person who was there.
 Fr. Kelly, who was the pastor at that time, had a beautiful black cat named Midnight, who frequently attended Mass. One morning when Midnight was there, Fr. Kelly said, "Bring a friend to Church."
 The next day, several members of the congregation almost fell over when Midnight walked in with another cat!

New Media and the Holy Sacraments Just Don

New Media and the Holy Sacraments Just Don

Thunderstorm

There was an absolutely gorgeous, spectacular thunderstorm just now. Thunderclaps, flashes of lightning... it's as if God gave a fireworks display... only much, much more majestic.
{But I have to admit I was thankful to be safe indoors}

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

I've selected just two posts from this week's (not very large) output.

On this Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, I'd like to say a few things about this beautiful prayer.

There are some people who say that praying the Rosary is old-fashioned.
Well, so is eating!
There are, and have always been, some people who say that praying the Rosary
is only for the unlearned.  One way to respond is with this
story , which I've loved this story for years.
(I've posted this link before, in at least one of my other blogs.)


For years after my conversion to Catholicism (I am a Jewish convert) I felt that there
was too great a gap between the Fifth Joyful Mystery and the First Sorrowful Mystery.
I was therefore delighted, absolutely delighted, when Pope John Paul the Great added
the Luminous Mysterious.


I have time enough every day to pray the Rosary five times.  First, I pray the Mysteries
recommended for that day,  for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Later, I pray the Joyful Mysteries, for the protection of the unborn.   The next set,
the Luminous Mysteries, I offer for priests, living and deceased.
You may think that I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries for the Souls in Purgatory, but, no.
These Mysteries are for those who are suffering and struggling here on Earth.  It's a
long list, and I always add, "and those most in need." That way, nobody is left out.
And what about the Souls in Purgatory?  For them, I offer the Glorious Mysteries,
"that they may soon be among the Saints in glory."


There are so many ways to pray the Rosary.  
1: With a book or website of Rosary meditations.
2: With a Scriptural Rosary book or website, one verse for each bead.
3: By adding one or more words to the Hail Mary. For example,
"And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, born in poverty."
4: While watching one of the televised Rosary programs on EWTN.
(My personal favorite is The Holy Land Rosary with Fr. Mitch Pacwa. )
5: Before the Blessed Sacrament.
6: While doing the housework, thus uniting my housework to Our Lady's.
Believe me, she did housework, and she didn't have the modern appliances
we have nowadays.


Reasons for praying the Rosary:
It honors Mary, and Jesus is always pleased when we honor His Mother.
It helps us to focus on the lives of Jesus and Mary.
It helps us to increase in grace.
And don't forget, it drives Satan up the wall!













Every Catholic blogger should see this episode of "Life on the Rock".

Catholic bloggers, share your blog posts at

http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/Sunday Snippets-- A Catholic Carnival. I'm SO thankful I found this site!

Great News from Chile

Rescue workers have reached the chamber where 33 Chilean miners have been trapped since the 5th of August. It could take a few days, however, before the rescue workers will be able to free them. Precautions need to be taken.
And then, thank God, the miners will be home with their families.

Life on the Rock - American Papist - Fr. Mark and Doug with Thomas Peter...

Every Catholic blogger should see this episode of "Life on the Rock".

A Few Thoughts About The Rosary

On this Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, I'd like to say a few things about this beautiful prayer.

There are some people who say that praying the Rosary is old-fashioned.
Well, so is eating!
There are, and have always been, some people who say that praying the Rosary
is only for the unlearned.  One way to respond is with this
story , which I've loved this story for years.
(I've posted this link before, in at least one of my other blogs.)


For years after my conversion to Catholicism (I am a Jewish convert) I felt that there
was too great a gap between the Fifth Joyful Mystery and the First Sorrowful Mystery.
I was therefore delighted, absolutely delighted, when Pope John Paul the Great added
the Luminous Mysterious.


I have time enough every day to pray the Rosary five times.  First, I pray the Mysteries
recommended for that day,  for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Later, I pray the Joyful Mysteries, for the protection of the unborn.   The next set,
the Luminous Mysteries, I offer for priests, living and deceased.
You may think that I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries for the Souls in Purgatory, but, no.
These Mysteries are for those who are suffering and struggling here on Earth.  It's a
long list, and I always add, "and those most in need." That way, nobody is left out.
And what about the Souls in Purgatory?  For them, I offer the Glorious Mysteries,
"that they may soon be among the Saints in glory."


There are so many ways to pray the Rosary.  
1: With a book or website of Rosary meditations.
2: With a Scriptural Rosary book or website, one verse for each bead.
3: By adding one or more words to the Hail Mary. For example,
"And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, born in poverty."
4: While watching one of the televised Rosary programs on EWTN.
(My personal favorite is The Holy Land Rosary with Fr. Mitch Pacwa. )
5: Before the Blessed Sacrament.
6: While doing the housework, thus uniting my housework to Our Lady's.
Believe me, she did housework, and she didn't have the modern appliances
we have nowadays.


Reasons for praying the Rosary:
It honors Mary, and Jesus is always pleased when we honor His Mother.
It helps us to focus on the lives of Jesus and Mary.
It helps us to increase in grace.
And don't forget, it drives Satan up the wall!

Another Version of Pollyanna

I have two more things to be thankful for today.
I love to read plays, and I've discovered that there is a dramatized version of Pollyanna.
So that's the first thing I'm thankful for.
A little more research, and I found that this play is available online.
And that's the second thing I'm thankful for.
Click here
It will be fun to see how much of the original story the playwright, Catherine Chisholm Cushing, retains, and how much she changes.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

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Sunday Snippets-- A Catholic Carnival

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2010
Little Things
I love this quote from my Patron Saint, Therese of Lisieux, whose feast we celebrate today:
"Pick up a pin for the love of God, and you may save a soul."
How right, how wise! We may not be called to do great things,but we can do the little, everyday tasks for the love of God, and then how great, how valuable those little tasks become.
No work is menial if it is done for the love of God.
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Jolly Book
In Pollyanna Grows Up, by Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna goes to Boston and meets a boy named Jamie. Jamie is in a wheelchair, and has a book he calls his "Jolly Book".
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"But you haven't told me yet about-the Jolly Book," prompted Pollyanna, after a minute.
The boy stirred and laughed shamefacedly.
" Well, you see, it ain't much, after all, except to me. You wouldn't see much in it. I started it a year ago. I was feelin' 'specially bad that day. Nothin' was right. For a while I grumped it out, just thinkin'; and then I picked tip one of father's books and tried to read. And the first thing I see was this: I learned it afterwards, so I can say it now.

'Pleasures lie thickest where no pleasures seem;

There's not a leaf that falls upon the ground

But holds some joy, of silence or of sound."

"Well, I was mad. I wished I could put the guy that wrote that in my place, and see what kind of joy
he'd find in my 'leaves.' I was so mad I made up my mind I'd prove he didn't know what he was talkin' about, so I begun to hunt for 'em-the joys in my 'leaves,' you know. I took a little old empty notebook that Jerry had given me, and I said to myself that I'd write 'em down. Everythin' that had anythin' about it that I liked I'd put down in the book. Then I'd just show how many ' joys' I had."
" Yes, yes! " cried Pollyanna, absorbedly, as the boy paused for breath.
" Well, I didn't expect to get many, but-do you know?-I got a lot. There was somethin' about 'most everythin' that I liked a little, so in it had to go. The very first one was the book itself-that I'd got it, you know, to write in. Then somebody give me a flower in a pot, and Jerry found a dandy book in the subway. After that it was really fun to hunt 'em out-I'd find 'em in such queer places, sometimes. Then one day Jerry got hold of the little notebook, and found out what 'twas. Then he give it its name-the Jolly Book. And-and that's all."
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Pollyanna, of course, is delighted.
I've been thinking about getting a blank journal and keeping a book like that; writing
down all the good things that happen, all the little and not-so-little blessings, and
then sharing at least some of them in this blog.
One more thing: Thank God for books in the public domain that I can quote from at length
without having to be concerned about copyright infringements!