Excellent Article regarding Holy Communion in the hand

http://www.catholic-pages.com/mass/inhand.asp

My son actually received his First Holy Communion on the tongue, by his own accord. I also receive the Eucharist in this way. I remember when it became the "norm" to receive it in the hand. It always bothered me, but my parents had told me to do it, because "that's what everyone else is doing".

Anyway, read the article. It's long, but well worth the read.

It's my birthday!

The Lord has blessed me with 46 years so far, and I pray he will bless me with many more.

Not sure what I'm going to do today, but it probably won't be much. My hubby works, and some plans we had with my children and a friend fell through for today. We may get to do those tomorrow. As for family celebrating, I think we will do that on Sunday, when my hubby is actually off for a day.

For those of you on Facebook, who have blessed me with lots of Happy Birthday wishes, thank you! :) It has truly warmed my heart to know so many are thinking of me today.

I will update later, if we end up doing anything today. If we do anything tomorrow or Sunday, I'll be sure and take, and post, pics. :)

May the Lord bless and keep each of you!

~Kathy

The Simple Woman's Daybook - July 9th

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... Night has come, and see the stars in the sky.

I am thinking...about what all we need to accomplish tomorrow around he house.

I am thankful for...my home and my family.

From the learning rooms...lots of school getting done (we school year-round, just lighter in the summer)

From the kitchen...local pork/beef sausage with sauerkraut, broccoli/cheese/rice casserole, and sliced country french bread.

I am wearing... navy blue shorts, short-sleeved purple knit shirt, barefoot.

I am creating... (trying) to create a peaceful home.

I am going... to bed soon.

I am reading... Haystack Full of Needles: A Catholic Home Educator's Guide to Socialization by Alice Gunther

I am hoping... things get better at my hubby's job.

I am hearing... the sounds of night in the forest, with tree frogs chirping, raccoons chattering, and an occasional owl hooting.

Around the house... everyone is getting ready for bed.

One of my favorite things... listening to my favorite music, while reading a good book.

A few plans for the rest of the week...take care of things around he house, having some time with the family, then going to Mass on Sunday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

And the rain, rain, rain...

came down, down, down...

I am so tired of the rain. Yes, we need it, but does it all have to come at once? It is not helping my, or my daughter's, mood. We need sunshine. All this dreary weather just wears us down. We are supposed to try to have a garage sale this weekend too, but if the weather keeps it up, we won't be able to.

I hope everyone else's days are going better this week. I hope next week is better for us here. It's my birthday next week. I'm not sure what we're going to do, as dh works all week, so we won't be able to celebrate until he is off work again.

Sorry this wasn't a more upbeat posting, but it's how things are going.

So little time...

and so much to do. I find that I have less and less time during the days, to accomplish what I would like to, and I find that so many of the message boards that I am on, even if I do not post, take up a lot of my time. So, I am whittling those down. I am going to endeavor to be more active on here, as well as my Facebook.

I hope everyone recovered well from their 4th of July weekend. We had a nice day around the house today.

My daughter and hubby, having fun in the pool yesterday, for our belated 4th of July celebrations (dh had to work on the 4th-good ol' retail).

Happy 4th!

I've been away a long time again. It just seems that there is always so much to do, that I can never get over here to blog.

I hope everyone is having a wonderfully, blessed 4th of July. It is such a great thing, our freedom, that we must never take it for granted. What a blessing it is, to live in such a free country. That freedom did not come free though, and as we celebrate today, we must also pay homage to those who have fought, and those that are fighting now, for those freedoms we enjoy.

I do pray everyone is careful this weekend, in your celebrations. I have already read some sad stories about life, and limb, being lost due to carelessness not only with fireworks, but with drinking and then driving.

For those who had to work over this holiday weekend, bless you, for doing what you must to, to support your families. My dh was out there with you, working the weekend too. It is frustrating, that we cannot always have family time when others are all enjoying it, but I am blessed to have a husband who is willing to do what it takes to provide for his family.

May you all have a wonderful end to this holiday weekend, and remember to give a prayer of thanksgiving to our Lord, for all that you have.

Hubby and son, outside at the birthday party of a friend.

Busy!

Life just seems to get busier and busier, and my poor blog suffers. But, I know I am spending my time as I should be, concentrating on my family. I am truly going to endeavor to get by here at least once a week though, as I also miss visiting all of my favorite blogs.

I do hope, and pray, everyone had a most blessed Easter. Ours was a bit un-orthodox, as my husband had to work practically the whole day. The children and I attended our parish's latest Mass on Easter Sunday, 1pm, and my husband took a little bit longer lunch from work and slipped into the pew just as Mass began. We were happy to be able to have him with us! We enjoyed a wonderful Easter meal, just as a very late supper, instead of our traditional noon meal.

My children, as we were about to leave for Mass on Easter. The day started out dreary and drizzling, but during Mass the sun came out and shone beautifully through the windows and stained glass.

Feast of Saint Joseph

St. Joseph! Mirror of patience, pray for us. Lover of poverty, pray for us. Model of artisans, pray for us. Glory of home life, pray for us. Guardian of virgins, pray for us. Pillar of families, pray for us.

O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Feast of Saint Patrick

Feast of Saint Patrick

Ancient Saint Patrick's Day Prayer

O God,
by whose providence the blessed Patrick
was chosen to be the apostle of the Irish;
that thus the people of Hibernia,
who had gone astray in darkness
and in the errors of the Gentiles,
might be made children of the Most High
by the laver of regeneration:
Grant, we beseech thee,
that by his intercession,
we may hasten without delay
to the paths of justice.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Breviary of Armagh, cited in The Liturgical Year: Vol. 5

Breastplate of Saint Patrick

I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord, And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Translation: Cecil Frances Alexander

Saint Patrick's Day Collect

Almighty God,
who in your providence chose your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people,
to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error
to the true light and knowledge of you:
Grant us so to walk in that light,
that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and ever.

Feast of Saint Patrick Liturgy of the Hours Prayer

God our Father
You sent Saint Patrick
to preach your glory to the people of Ireland.
By the help of his prayers,
may all Christians proclaim your love to all men.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours

A Prayer to Saint Patrick

Apostle sent by God to Ireland,
in your humility you called yourself a sinner,
but you became a most successful missionary
and prompted countless pagans
to follow the Savior.
Many of their descendants in turn
spread the Good News in numerous foreign lands.
Through your powerful intercession with God,
obtain the missionaries we need to continue the word you began.

New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

Ancient Antiphon to Saint Patrick

All the children of Ireland
cry out to thee:
Come, O Holy Patrick, and save us!

From the words the angel spoke to Patrick, cited in The Liturgical Year: Volume 5


All of the above obtained from:

Saint Patrick's Day Prayers
Prayers and Collects for the Feast of Saint Patrick

Spring Daybook Week - March 16th Edition

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybook entries!

FOR TODAY – March 16th, 2010

Outside my Window….dreary and grey today, birds are singing and flowers blooming though.

Thinking…about how much we need to get done around the house this week.

Thankful for…children who are so willing to pitch in and work to get things done around the house.

From the kitchen…buffalo sirloin steak, broccoli/cauliflower mix, pasta w/butter

Faith and learning…no CCE classes last Sunday, or next, due to Spring Break. We've pretty much taken this week off too, to catch-up on chores around the house.

Creating…nature scene to be put in the school room.

Planning…what we will be doing next week, in preparation for the Paschal Triduum.

Wearing…denim capri pants, short-sleeved floral knit shirt, and barefoot.

Reading…The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions for Holidays, Feast Days, and Every Day by Meredith Gould

Praying…for all those who are sick, for those who have lost loved ones, for those who have lost their jobs, and for anyone just having difficulty with everyday life (stress seems to abound right now).

Hearing…my daughter in the kitchen, cleaning-up after lunch, and my son working on a project in the school room.

Around the house…busy at work, trying to get it ready for Easter and beyond. So much work, so little time.

One of my favorite things…is hearing the birds all starting to sing outside, announcing that Spring is here at last, and seeing all the flowers and trees starting to flower.

Here’s a picture thought I am sharing with you…

My two children and friend, having a great time at the park, on a beautiful spring day.