A Good Shepherd

Easter Celebration

April 18, 2010 

 

Prayer for Priests
To be said by members
of the Confraternity of St. Peter

Following a decade of the Rosary:

V. Remember, O Lord, Thy congregation.
R. Which Thou hast possessed from the beginning.

Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus, born to give testimony to the Truth,
Thou who lovest unto the end those whom Thou hadst
chosen, kindly hear our prayers for our pastors.
Thou who knowest all things, knowest that they love
Thee and can do all things in Thee who strengthen
them.
Sanctify them in Truth. Pour into them, we beseech
Thee, the Spirit whom Thou didst give to Thy apostles,
who would make them, in all things, like unto Thee.
Receive the homage of love which they offer up to
Thee, who hast graciously received the threefold confession
of Peter.
And so that a pure oblation may everywhere be offered
without ceasing unto the Most Holy Trinity, graciously
enrich their number and keep them in Thy
love, who art one with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
to whom be glory and honour forever.
Amen.

Nihil obstat: Vic. Gen. FSSP, 05.II.2007
Imprimatur: Vic. Gen. Dioec. Laus. Gen. Frib., 28.II.2007

my LIST

I decided to take one last break in my pregnancy prep.  My birth plan and bags are put on hold for now.

I’m almost a month overdue with my LIST.  I was inspired to create my LIST from here. 

The idea is to list 1 item per year old you are.  So, I have listed 32 items since I recently turned 32 years old.

These items are all things that I hope to work on and/or accomplish by my 33rd birthday next year.

I’m a a visual person and enjoy lists.  I plan to print my LIST and post it in my prayer corner and maybe on the fridge.  I like the accountability that the fridge posting might offer.

My LIST was created with prayer and some insight from my husband.  It in no way covers all that has been placed on my heart.  It is merely a starting point for myself.

my LIST

32 things to do before i turn 33

Easter Celebration – Week 3

"The Heaven's Tell God's Glory"

JOY…This was a reward for Dad just as much as it was for the kids.  He managed to run an errand for me in the morning, take Sparkles to her Communion lessons, make confession, do yard work at our Church and come home to spend more time with the rest of us – all on 1.5 hours of sleep (+ a few minutes here and there).

I was beyond tired but had help, everyone chipped in.  Rose helped with the baking the day before.  Papi and Sweetie worked on the rainbows.  Sparkles was entertaining her impromptu guest and watching Papi as I continued to prepare dinner.

Dad took all the kids to the park for fresh air.  They each had a popsicle, “lightning.”

Dinner was ready when they returned.  First, we honored the Anniversary of the Coronation of Supreme Pontiff, Benedict XVI.  Then everyone was given clear instructions not to eat until each item was identified and discussed.  It was most difficult for us the parents and Rose.  Nonetheless, we followed along.

The children enjoyed the simple evening of recollection.  Sparkles friend was thrilled with the festivities.  She more than willingly took on some of the responsibility to place the stickers on the board.

I threw together what we had and the kids found the correlation between the items.  They love identifying the significance of their food and sharing their faith.  Most of the time, they find significance where I didn’t plan.  It’s awesome to see how their minds and hearts are constantly being directed to Our Heavenly Father.  I pray that they continue to be pleasing to Jesus Christ and seek His will, all the days of their lives.

⁹ That is why, ever since the day he told us, we have never failed to remember you in our prayers and ask that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding you should reach the fullest knowledge of his will ¹⁰ and so be able to lead a life worthy of the Lord, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects, bearing fruit in every kind of good work and growing in knowledge of God, ¹¹ fortified, in accordance with his glorious strength, with all power always to persevere and endure, ¹² giving thanks with joy to the Father who has made you able to share the lot of God's holy people and with them to inherit the light.  ~ Col 1:9-12

 

"The Heaven's Tell God's Glory"

15.  The Sun

Lemon Cupcakes

Slightly deviated form the recipe found here.  They are “yumm-o!”

Corn & Broccoli Cheese Soup

¹ [For the choirmaster Psalm Of David] The heavens declare the glory of God, the vault of heaven proclaims his handiwork, ² day discourses of it to day, night to night hands on the knowledge.  ³ No utterance at all, no speech, not a sound to be heard, ⁴ but from the entire earth the design stands out, this message reaches the whole world. High above, he pitched a tent for the sun, ⁵ who comes forth from his pavilion like a bridegroom, delights like a champion in the course to be run.  ⁶ Rising on the one horizon he runs his circuit to the other, and nothing can escape his heat.  ~ Psalm 19:1-6

 

16.  The Cloud

Baked Italian Chicken

Cheese Stuffed Manicotti

Whipped Cream Topping for the Lemon Cupcakes

² All the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, at the time of the feast (that is, the seventh month).  ³ When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark ⁴ and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred utensils which were in the Tent.  ⁵ King Solomon and all Israel, present with him before the ark, sacrificed countless, innumerable sheep and oxen.  ⁶ The priests brought the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is, in the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the winged creatures ⁷ for the winged creatures spread their wings over the place where the ark stood, forming a canopy over the ark and its shafts.  ⁸ These were so long, however, that the ends of the shafts could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the Debir, though they could not be seen from outside. They are still there today.  ⁹ There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed in it at Horeb, the tablets of the covenant which Yahweh made with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.  ¹⁰ Now when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the Temple of Yahweh,  ¹¹ and because of the cloud the priests could not stay and perform their duties. For the glory of Yahweh filled the Temple of Yahweh.  ~ 1 Kings 8:2-11

17.  The Rain

Water 

I warned you that I was low on energy and threw this celebration together with what I had on hand.

⁴³ 'You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy.  ⁴⁴ But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you;  ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike.  ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much?  ⁴⁷ And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional?  ⁴⁸ Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.'  ~ Matthew 5:43-48

18.  The Lightning

Popsicles 

²⁰ But where does Wisdom come from? Where is Intelligence to be found?  ²¹ She cannot be seen by any living creature, she is hidden from the birds of the sky.  ²² Perdition and Death both say, 'We have heard only rumours of her.'  ²³ God alone understands her path and knows where she is to be found.  ²⁴ (For he sees to the remotest parts of the earth, and observes all that lies under heaven.)  ²⁵ When he willed to give weight to the wind and measured out the waters with a gauge,  ²⁶ when he imposed a law on the rain and mapped a route for thunderclaps to follow,  ~ Job 28:20-26

19.  The Hail

Sonic Cubed Ice

²⁸ Has the rain a father? Who begets the dewdrops?  ²⁹ What womb brings forth the ice, who gives birth to the frost of heaven,  ³⁰ when the waters grow hard as stone and the surface of the deep congeals?  ~ Job 38:28-30

 

20.  The Wind

Whipped Cream in the can

⁷ I prophesied as I had been ordered. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a clattering sound; it was the bones coming together.  ⁸ And as I looked, they were covered with sinews; flesh was growing on them and skin was covering them, yet there was no breath in them.  ⁹ He said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man. Say to the breath, "The Lord Yahweh says this: Come from the four winds, breath; breathe on these dead, so that they come to life!" '  ¹⁰ I prophesied as he had ordered me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet, a great, an immense army.   ~ Ezekiel 37:7-10

 

21.  The Rainbow

Rainbow Sugar Cookies

Store bought sugar cookie dough, divided and dyed with gel food coloring.

¹² 'And this', God said, 'is the sign of the covenant which I now make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come:  ¹³ I now set my bow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  ¹⁴ When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds,  ¹⁵ I shall recall the covenant between myself and you and every living creature, in a word all living things, and never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all living things.  ~ Genesis 9:12-15

Catholic Cuisine - Week 3

Current State…..JOY…JOY…JOY

I’m definitely slowing down!!!  We have been busy busy the past couple of days and I feel like I’m barely holding on.

Rose and I attended a Confirmation on Friday, April 23.  She was scheduled to sing with the Choristers and I was a Sponsor.  There were approximately 70 Confirmandi.  It was a blessed evening.

  Enjoy!  This will probably be the only pict. that I’ll ever post of myself beyond 5 months preg.

The littles stood home with my parents.  They had a blast.  Dad had a clinical and did not get home until after dinner and the partying.  He scurried to get the littles to bed (especially Sparkles) between his clinical and night shift.  Lord, please continue to shower your graces on my dear husband as he follows Your call for his second vocation.

Sparkles had her First Penance on Saturday, April 24.  Dad took her but forgot the camera.  He was bummed.  He has gotten the hang of this blogging thing and really enjoys documenting our family’s journey.

We decided to have our Celebration for the Third Week of Easter on Saturday as a dinner party…..read more about it here. 

St. George, Martyr

April 23

Optional Memorial of St. George, martyr and St. Adalbert, bishop and martyr

Old Calendar: St. George, martyr

 Greek - Icon
16th Century from personal collection

Coloring Page & Activities:

Paper Dragon
St. George Coloring Page From  CHC
St. George Coloring Page From the UK
Catholic Icing

Story:

The Golden Legend: The Life of St. George
St. George - Catholic Culture
Saint George, A Patron of Chivalry – WF-F
St. George, Martyr - EWTN

Audio:

St. George Audio

Sparkles’ JOY

Saturday was a blessed day for Sparkles.  She passed her First Communion Examination!  Praise be to God.

 

She came home more than delighted.  She was glowing.

She and the other GFG were treated to ice cream.

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Sparkles decided to keep the JOY going when she returned home.  She requested to have her training wheels taken off her bike.  Dad accommodated her and she was off!

View Full Album

Celebrating Easter – Week 2

We celebrated the second week of Easter in a big way on Friday. Sparkles whose feast day was on Friday, April 16 requested a Tea Party. We went ahead and turned the Garden of the Good Shepherd celebration into a tea party. We honored St. Bernadette’s Feast Day and Pope Benedict XVI 83rd Birthday.

It was a glorious occasion!

Welcome to the Lord’s Table!

We started the celebration by decorating the school room for tea time.

 8. The Table

Netting

²⁶ When Joseph arrived at the house they offered him the gift they had with them, bowing low before him.   ²⁷ He greeted them pleasantly, asking, 'Is your father well, the old man you told me of ? Is he still alive?'  ²⁸ 'Your servant our father is well,' they replied, 'he is still alive,' and they bowed respectfully.   ²⁹ Looking about, he saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son. 'Is this your youngest brother', he asked, 'of whom you told me?' And he added, 'God be good to you, my son.'   ³⁰ Joseph hurried out; so strong was the affection he felt for his brother that he wanted to cry. He went into his room and there he wept.   ³¹ After washing his face he returned and, controlling himself, gave the order: 'Serve the meal.'  ³² He was served separately; so were they, and so were the Egyptians who ate in his household, for the Egyptians could not take food with Hebrews; Egyptians have a horror of doing so.  ³³ They were placed facing him in order of seniority, from the eldest to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in amazement.  ³⁴ He had portions carried to them from his own dish, the portion for Benjamin being five times larger than any of the others. And they feasted with him and drank freely.  ~ Genesis 43: 26-34

9.  The Chairs

Hats and Fabric

¹ Yahweh appeared to him at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day.  ² He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them, and bowed to the ground.   ³ 'My lord,' he said, 'if I find favour with you, please do not pass your servant by.  ⁴ Let me have a little water brought, and you can wash your feet and have a rest under the tree.  ⁵ Let me fetch a little bread and you can refresh yourselves before going further, now that you have come in your servant's direction.' They replied, 'Do as you say.' ⁶ Abraham hurried to the tent and said to Sarah, 'Quick, knead three measures of best flour and make loaves.'  ⁷ Then, running to the herd, Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it.  ⁸ Then taking curds, milk and the calf which had been prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.   ~ Genesis 18: 1-8

Our menu was simple and deviated slightly from Jessica's & Charlotte’s Week 2 suggestions.

 10.  The Bread

Croissants

⁸ Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 'Go back, each of you to your mother's house.  ⁹ May Yahweh show you faithful love, as you have done to those who have died and to me. Yahweh grant that you may each find happiness with a husband!' She then kissed them, but they began weeping loudly, ¹⁰ and said, 'No, we shall go back with you to your people.'  ¹¹ 'Go home, daughters,' Naomi replied. 'Why come with me? Have I any more sons in my womb to make husbands for you?  ¹² Go home, daughters, go, for I am now too old to marry again. Even if I said, "I still have a hope: I shall take a husband this very night and shall bear more sons,"  ¹³ would you be prepared to wait for them until they were grown up? Would you refuse to marry for their sake? No, daughters, I am bitterly sorry for your sakes that the hand of Yahweh should have been raised against me.'  ¹⁴ They started weeping loudly all over again; Orpah then kissed her mother-in-law and went back to her people. But Ruth stayed with her.    ~Ruth 2:8-14

 11.  The Wine

Sparkling White Grape

¹ Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without money, free!  ² Why spend money on what cannot nourish and your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy.  ~Isaiah 55:1-2

11.  The Milk

Milk for Tea

⁸ and Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with mighty hand and outstretched arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders.  ⁹ He brought us here and has given us this country, a country flowing with milk and honey.  ¹⁰ Hence, I now bring the first-fruits of the soil that you, Yahweh, have given me." 'You will then lay them before Yahweh your God, and prostrate yourself in the presence of Yahweh your God.  ~ Deuteronomy 26:8-10

12.  The Pot of Honey

Honey Butter

⁴ John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  ⁵ All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.  ⁶ John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey.  ~ Mark 1:4-6

 13.  The Fruit

Berries

¹⁶ BELOVED: Awake, north wind, come, wind of the south! Breathe over my garden, to spread its sweet smell around. Let my love come into his garden, let him taste its most exquisite fruits.  ~ Song of Songs (Solomon) 4:16

We reviewed the Garden of the Good Shepherd’s sticker board.  Each GFG took turns explaining the significance of the food items.

We prayed for Pope Benedict and sought the intercession of St. Bernadette.

Our GFG worked on their Pope Benedict XVI Activities.

DEO GRATIAS!

Good Shepherd's Garden Party - Week 2

Happy Feast Day!

- turn off the music at the bottom of the page before playing -

At age 14, the poverty-stricken, asthmatic Bernadette Soubirous saw a vision of a beautiful Lady in a grotto on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes, France. Though Bernadette was despised, disbelieved, and harrassed by local French authorities, crowds began to gather when news spread and when she wouldn't recant the story of her vision.

On 25 February, Bernadette was told to dig in the earth, which she did to much mockery, but there, the healing waters of the now-famous Lourdes shrine were discovered where the Lady had appeared, and on 25 March, the Lady of the vision announced that she was the Immaculate Conception and that a church should be built at the site. Bernadette became a nun at Nevers, France and, suffering much from physical ailments, died young. Her body remains incorrupt at her convent to this day. ~ Fish Eaters

Sparkles was our first child that was consecrated to Our Blessed Mother while in the womb. Needless to say, she has an enduring devotion to Our Blessed Mother. I believe it is that devotion that led Sparkles to St. Bernadette.


April 16 is the feast day (in the new calendar) of Sparkles’ self proclaimed patron saint, St. Bernadette.* When she was three or four (I can’t remember much at this time with my placenta brain) she started a prayer, “novena” (we didn’t know it was that at the time) of 3 Hail Mary’s. She was persistent that they be said every night in addition to our family and nightly prayers. She would often be found praying them on her own throughout the day. Our spiritual director informed us that this in fact this was a pious devotion but we never knew where it originated from. Nonetheless, we continued at the request of Sparkles.


About a year later she began to evoke the intercession of St. Bernadette; “ St. Bernadette, Ora Pro Nobis.”


She has continued over the years to grow in her devotion to St. Bernadette.

*We usually try to celebrate the feast days in the old Calendar if the Saint is recognized by both. This year we didn’t get a chance to celebrate St. Bernadette Soubirous feast day, February 18 in the Old Calendar because we were immersed in the Lenten Season.

Novena to St. Bernadette

This novena prayer, although short is sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time permits, three Hail Marys or say five times the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father, or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers from other sources. Remember that prayers must be said with the lips in order to gain the indulgences. This novena begins on April 6 and ends on April 16.

O dear little St. Bernadette, humble little shepherdess, who wonderingly beheld the Lovely Lady of the Grotto, pray for us to our Lady of Lourdes that she may heal us of our ills. St. Bernadette, pray for the sick and the afflicted.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

300 days. S. Pen., Nov. 15, 1927.
Prayer Source: All Day With God by Blanche Jennings Thompson

Three Hail Marys

"The devotion of the Three Hail Marys is bound up with the value and the cult of the Hail Mary itself. It traces back to St. Matilda, who received it from Our Lady. The Saint had been worrying about her eternal salvation and had requested the most holy Virgin to assist her in her hour of death. Our Lady reassured her, and said, “I will grant your request. But I want you, on your part, to pray to me three Hail Marys every day. With the first of them call to mind the strength I received from the Eternal Father; with the second, the wisdom I received from the Son; with the third, the love with which the Holy Spirit filled me.” 

~Father Stefano Manelli, Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate: 2000), 148.

Novena of the Three Hail Marys
The Three Hail Marys 


Additional Links:
Coloring page of St. Bernadette at Lourdes
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
My Name is Bernadette - EWTN Bio
The Stupid One - A Biography of St. Bernadette
"The Many Faces of Mary, a Love Story"
In the Footsteps of St. Bernadette
Placing your Petition at the Grotto of Lourdes
TV Lourdes
Apparitions of St. Bernadette
Our Lady of Lourdes Post

Prayers & Activities for Pope Benedict XVI

April 16th, marks the 83rd birthday of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

Below are some prayers, info and activities that we will be doing in honor of Our Holy Father's Birthday.

PRAYERS FOR BENEDICT XVI:

V. Let us pray for Benedict, our Pope.


R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]


Our Father, Hail Mary.


O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


— Excerpted from the Roman Missal. A partial indulgence is attached to the versicle and response.
~ Catholic Culture

~~~~~~~~

Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Benedict XVI

~~~~~~~~

Novena for Pope Benedict XVI 


 

TELEVISION PROGRAM:

PAPACY OF REASON:
INSIDE THE MIND OF POPE BENEDICT XVI ( 1 hr)
Pope Benedict XVI is leading the Church of the 21st Century in a clear and unmistakable direction; this insightful overview of the principal themes of his Pontificate reveals the unique approach he uses to guide the Church in truth and love, and includes key interviews with Church leaders, Vatican experts, and prominent Catholic journalists.
Fri 4/16/10 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
We watch EWTN TV online.

INFO:
State of Vatican City: Flag, Coat of Arms and Seal
Pope Benedict XVI Coat of Arms
Holy Father Biography

ACTIVITIES:

God Bless Pope Benedict XVI Coloring Page
Paus Benedictus XVI Coloring Page
More Pope Benedict XVI: Activities for Kids
Prayer Cards for Pope Benedict XVI

Crafting for FREE!

I did a quick craft today while the kids were upstairs doing this…..

I purged during my Lenten cleaning but there were some items I held onto in the case of “what-if.” This was one of those items, a spinning spice rack.

I purchased this about 4 years ago from Costco and barley used it. I tried to give it away to two homes. I didn’t have any takers.


It sat at my kitchen island for about 2 weeks. Finally, I had an epiphany as I was going through my glass tile stuff .

this is how my craft storage usually looks

I decided to keep the spice rack and turn it into a craft caddy for my glass tile necklace supplies.

I dumped the old spices and soaked the containers for days. I began to use the caddy for my tile storage but did not complete the decoration process.

I thought I would wait until I took a trip to a craft store for cute paper. Needless to say, I never made it and am no longer enthused about spending money for stuff thanks to one of my Lenten sacrifices.


I found left over paper from this project and decided to get her done. Thanks, Amy for your promptings.

Supplies: decorative paper, Mod Podge, scissors, foam brush, nail file

this is a bonus....a little helper!

1. Trace lid onto decorative paper

2. Fold and cut traced area for the number of cutouts needed

3. Brush a light coat of Mod Podge on the top of the lid


4. Adhere the decorative cut out

5. File the edges around the lid for a clean look (This is my favorite step. It gives the project a custom look.)

6. Brush a light coat of Mod Podge over the decorative paper

You can repeat step six as many times as you like.

Here’s the finished project.

Metamorphosis Monday