Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary

In its present form the Rosary (according to the accepted tradition) is due to St. Dominic, the founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, his objective being to stem the flood of the Albigensian heresy, then spreading far and wide throughout Europe. He propagated this form of prayer in obedience to a revelation received from the Blessed Virgin, to whom he had recourse for this purpose, about the year 1206, and to him we owe the spread of a devotion, which for many centuries has produced the most marvelous results in the Christian world. The decisive defeat of the Turks at the famous battle of Lepanto (A.D. 1571) and at Belgrade (A.D. 1716) gave occasion to the institution of this Feast and to its extension to the Universal Church. (From the 1962 Roman Missal)

Thee, who in joy didst bear thy Child,
Thee, pierced with grief and sorrowing,
Thee, in abiding glory placed,
Thee, Virgin Mother, do we sing.

Hail, to thy joyful mysteries,
Conception, Visitation, Birth,
The Offering, Finding of Thy Son,
O Mother, blessed in thy mirth.

Hail, bearing in thy heart with grief
Thy Son's great Agony, the blows,
the thorny Crown, the Cross itself:
Queen of all martyrs in thy woes.

Hail, in the triumphs of thy Son,
In fiery tongues of Pentecost,
In light and exaltation made
The Queen of glory, heaven's boast.

O come, ye nations, gather now
And let these mysteries roses prove;
Sweet garlands weave for Heav'n's Queen.
The glorious Mother of fair love.

O Jesus, Virgin-born, to Thee,
Eternal glory be and praise.
To Father and to Paraclete
Our songs of glory too we raise.
Amen

V. Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
cloudy skies, same old view of the top of our mountain laurel and the live oaks and cedar tree across the street. Oh, there's a couple walking. The man looks like Santa Claus on vacation, white beard, red ball cap, shorts and plaid shirt. The lady is cute with dark hair and a black t-shirt.

I am thinking...
about how to get my car into the shop when I need it every day.

I am thankful for...
the new activity director at my mom's apartment complex, Betty. She is so sweet, and seems to be a go-getter. She's getting the garden club going again.

From the kitchen...
oh dear. What am I going to have for dinner? Ron wanted 15 bean soup and I forgot to put the beans on this morning. Guess we'll have that tomorrow.

I am wearing...
Black long-sleeved tee with lace inset around the vee neck, sleeves pushed up, those ugly blue and black plaid capris, bare feet.

I am creating...
the beginnings of a book collection for Reece. I bought a bunch more books at the thrift store today (and a pair of overalls for him). I still need to find some small bookshelves for all these books!

I am going...
to Costco this afternoon to renew my membership. We buy our gas there and it really does save money.

I am reading...
nothing but magazines and cookbooks right now.

I am hoping...
that these clouds aren't teasing us. We could really use some rain.

I am hearing...
the hum of my computer and high electrical sounding noises because I have tinnitus, the TV on downstairs because Ron is home today.

Around the house...
a sink full of plants that I watered when I got home, a clean downstairs, messy upstairs.

One of my favorite things...
Spoonerisms. One of my favorite sort-of spoonerism happened years ago when my sister and her friend went to a convenience store. Her friend asked the cashier for cigarettes that were "low in nar and ticotine." He said, "What?" And she repeated, "You know, those cigarettes that are low in nar and ticotine. Oh, I mean low in nar and ticotine!" Ha! It still cracks me up. I've probably told that story 100 times, no kidding. I just love it when people get their words mixed up.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Drive DIL and babes to their doctor appointment tomorrow, help Mom plant tomatoes, spinach and lettuce in her garden plot (we planted onions and a mum in there yesterday), figure out how to get my car looked at before I drive to Dallas next week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
















The princess and the court jester? :o)

Please visit Peggy at A Simple Life to see more daybooks.

The Vigil

Ron and I went to the abortion clinic vigil again tonight. We met more friendly, sweet, pro-lifers there. Not one person driving by said or did anything negative, but many people honked their horns and waved tonight. It was extremely windy and I thought my sign was going to get blown away.

While we were there, my favorite priest showed up! It was such a blessing. He met and talked with everyone there, then walked back and forth praying the Rosary for awhile. Then he came and talked with me and Ron. It was so nice to get to know him better. I practically poured out my whole life history--I hope I wasn't too obnoxious.

Tonight the sign I held said "Hurting From Abortion?" and gave a number to call. I prayed for the healing of women who might be hurting from an abortion. Then tonight when I got home, I went to the 40 Days For Life website, and the devotion for today is about healing for women who have had abortions.

Here is the prayer for October 5.
Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that separates us from your perfect will would be pruned from our hearts and souls. In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus, "Let it be done to me, according to your Word."

Kevin Burke
Executive Director, Rachels Vineyard Ministries

You can read the day's intention, scripture verse and reflection here.

A Grandfather's Story

I want to share this story about what happened at the abortion clinic this morning. I wasn't there, but the local director of the coalition for life emailed those of us who are involved to tell us what happened.

...This morning a man came out of the donut shop across the street and when he drove his car out of the parking lot he came over to our side of the road and said "I just want you to know that you are making a difference." Apparently last year his granddaughter came to this clinic for an abortion and, seeing the prayer warriors on the sidewalk, changed her mind about having an abortion. He thanked us for his grandson Adrian. This is the second story we have heard in the recent months of a new grandfather thanking us for his grandchild. You see, abortion doesn't just effect the mother, father and child. It effects the grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles...and on and on. When your prayers go up to save a child from abortion you are also working to save an entire family from the tragedy of abortion.

To God be all the glory and praise! Keep praying!

St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor

The Seraphic Patriarch of Assisi was a man especially raised up by God in the Middle Ages with the mission to reconvert the world to Christ.

Francis was born in a stable, and heralded into the world by angelic song; he commenced his work with twelve followers, whom he sent two by two to preach the Gospel. He espoused most high Poverty, and received in his own body the marks of the Sacred Passion on Mount Alvernia.

Francis' message of charity, peace and justice was heard by men and women of every grade of society, and thousands in consequence desired to leave all and follow Francis in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Therefore he founded the order of Friars Minor, the Second order or the Poor Clares, and the Tertiaries or Third Order, which bears his name.

St. Francis died about sunset on Saturday, 3rd October 1226.

(From the 1962 Roman Missal)

Read about the very interesting life of St. Francis of Assisi here.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Saint Therese Of The Child Jesus

The Feast Day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and The Holy Face is today, October 3, according to my 1962 Roman Missal. The date was changed to October 1 in 1969, but being a Roman-ish kind of gal, I'm celebrating it today. :o)

Not long after our conversion to Catholicism, I read Saint Therese's autobiography, The Story Of A Soul. What a beautiful young woman, and what an amazing love she had for Jesus. Her "little way" showed me that my life didn't have to be extraordinary, that just by living my simple life I could love God with all my heart. Saint Therese used every instance and circumstance of her life to love God, everything from household chores to a walk in the garden to caring for an elderly nun--everything brought her closer to Him. Even the illness she suffered for nine years was offered as a sacrifice to Him.

When she was asked what she meant by her "Little Way," she said, "It is the way of spiritual childhood, the way of trust and complete self-surrender. I want to teach others the means I have always found so completely successful, to let them know that the only thing to do on earth is to offer Our Lord the flowers of little sacrifices and win Him by our proofs of love. It is the way I have won Him and why I shall find such a welcome."

A little over two years before her death, Therese predicted that she would die, even though at the time she was in good health. She told one of the nuns, "I do not say it will a matter of months, but at most within two or three years."

Two months before her death, knowing that death was coming, Therese said, "I feel that my mission is soon to begin, to make others love God as I do, to teach others my 'little way.' I will spend my Heaven in doing good upon earth." She died on September 30, 1897 and was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI who approved Therese's "Little Way" as a way for all of us to attain holiness.

Therese died at the young age of 24. The other nuns in the cloistered Carmelite convent had no idea that she was anything more than a sweet young woman. They had no idea how extraordinary she was until they read her autobiography after her death.

Saint Therese said that after her death she would "...let fall a shower of roses." Many people who ask for her prayers have received "a shower of roses," a sign that she has heard their prayers and intercedes for their intentions.

In the Adoration chapel in the church where I was confirmed there was a statue of St. Therese. At the time I didn't know who the beautiful young woman was, but I soon learned. Every Monday morning from midnight to 1 AM, Therese and I would adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, she would pray with me for those on my prayer list and I would ask for her intercession for the loved ones in my life. I love her very much.

A priest at our church once said that we should get to know the Saints, talk to them, ask for their aid, so that when we get to Heaven they will know us well. I pray that I will meet my dear Saint Therese there one day.

Sarah Wins!

She did great! I was going to post a list of Senator Biden's "mistakes," but I kinda feel sorry for the guy. Michelle Malkin doesn't though. :o) There is a list of at least 14 and counting.

I think this lady is the real deal.

Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels

O God, who in Thine ineffable Providence hast deigned to send Thy holy Angels to keep watch over us; grant to us Thy suppliant people, that we may always be defended by their protection, and may rejoice in their fellowship forever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen
(The Collect for today, October 2, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, from the 1962 Roman Missal).

I never see this picture without feeling comforted. It hung in our bedroom throughout our childhood, and I've always known my guardian angel is near. We may never know until we die how many times our angels have protected and guided us. I'm so grateful for God's gift of Angels.

Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide.
Amen
PS: And thank you!

A Day In The Life

My day today:
6:40 AM, Reece and I were rudely awakened by someone-who-shall-be-left-un-named.
6:45 AM, Reece refused to go back to sleep, so we got up.
Ate oatmeal cookies.
Watched kid's shows on PBS.
Played with blocks.
Read a Mickey Mouse book.
Got Reece dressed and his stuff gathered up.
Dropped Reece off at home on the way to Mom's.
Called Mom on the way to remind her that she would get her flu shot today, at the apartment complex.
10:00 AM, arrived at Mom's. She's not dressed.
I give her her morning pills and a cup of coffee.
Tell her the flu shot clinic at her apartment complex ends at 10:30.
I take Chuy out while she gets dressed.
I come back in to find her dressed in "dressy clothes," even though we're only going to the great room at the complex, but I tell her she looks pretty and we're out the door.
10:25 AM, we fill out a form, give the lady Mom's medicare card and ID to copy.
We wait and the lady finally comes back.
Mom gets her flu shot and they take her BP (it's great, better than mine).
Mom refuses OJ and doughnuts (gasp!) and we go back to her apartment.
Chuy is spinning around in circles on his butt, trying to get to a spot somewhere near his rear.
We take coffee (Mom) and iced tea (me) out on the patio because it is such a gorgeous day.
Chuy continues his spinning antics until Mom notices that he has worn a bloody spot on his "elbow," so we go back inside and clean him up.
I apply antibiotic ointment to his boo-boo,
make coffee for tomorrow and set the timer,
go to the car to get the cookies I brought for her but left in the car,
go back to the car to get dog food,
leave Mom's night pills and Chuy's night food,
switch out her phones so that one is in the charger,
load her dishwasher and wipe down the counter,
fill out her whiteboard with new day, date and reminders.
11:15, I leave Mom's, headed for the credit union to pay the truck payment.
11:30, arrive at credit union, pay bill.
Head for real estate agency to pay Josh's rent.
11:45, rent gets paid with a wad of cash from Josh, which seems to confuse the receptionist. It takes her 4 times count the money.
12:00ish, I head for Josh's so that they can use the car today.
12:30ish, I'm dropped off at home.
Typical crazy morning. But quiet, peaceful afternoon. :o)

Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Wow, you are Four Years Old today!

I hope you have a great time at the Japanese steak house. Watch out for flying knives!

I think of you every time I find a Lego gun or robot around the house or in the yard. :o)

I love you, and hope to see you soon!

Hugs and Kisses, Gramma