Because Creativity and Time Evade Me…

I haven’t been blogging (my new rule, after this post, is not to blog about not blogging).

Anyway, I wanted to share this perspective from Fr. Dwight Longenecker about virtue. Good explanation and profound insights.

The Christian religion teaches something far more radical. It does not teach that virtue is a system of obeying the rules in order to win the game or that virtue is the price one pays for pie in the sky. Instead virtue is seen as the result of an inner transformation in the individual.

Check it out!

Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala

Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala smell like incense and corozo, a large native seed pod with a very distinctive odor. It sounds like drums, trumpets, and bird whistles. Devotional activities last from early morning until way after sunset. Here are a few of the things I saw in 2002, when I spent Holy Week and Easter in Antigua.

Early in the morning on Good Friday, tourists and pilgrims are in the street, ready to see the pageantry. In the background you see the Volcan de Agua, which still steams from time to time.

All during Lent and Holy Week, there are processions in Antigua. A few are unique:

These boys are carrying a huge anda, a type of float with a statue of Jesus or a Saint on it. This particular anda shows Jesus carrying the cross:

This procession is unique because it is one of the only ones in the world where the anda is carried by only women. It is interesting to note that (although I didn’t attend Mass as often as I should have) this event was the only time I ever saw city women wearing head coverings, although in my village it was quite common to wear a scarf or cloth on the head whether or not one was at Mass.

On the anda is a statue of Mary.

In addition to the processions, I saw alfombras, “carpets” made from colored sawdust, grasses and flowers.

 This alfombra, on the Calle del Arco, is the longest one I ever saw, and it wasn’t even finished when I shot this photo.

When the artists make these alfombras, they use planks to keep from spoiling the design.

When the procession comes through a street where there is an alfombra, the hours of work are completely destroyed as the people walk over the beautiful carpet. But nothing is too much for Our Lord, and everything is temporary in this world.

Solemnity of St. Joseph

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. A solemnity is a solemn feast day, in this case in honor and thanksgiving for St. Joseph. St. Joseph is one of my particular favorite saints, so I am delighted to celebrate his feast today. This feast (I think) always occurs during Lent.  This means a one-day reprieve from the fasting of Lent, all the more reason to be happy for the feast.

When I think of St. Joseph, I always think of a painting that we had in our house when I was a child. It received pride of place during Advent and Christmas, but I think it was usually hanging in a not-so-prominent spot the rest of the year. It was a simple painting of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, in acrylic on velveteen or ultrasuede, with no background or fancy flourishes. I think my mother painted it. In the painting, you can see the tenderness between Jesus and Mary, and Joseph stands in the position of protector – an important role of his. He has a look on his face that some might say appears to be worried, but I always thought it looked like he was listening for God’s instructions.

And what instructions he received and heeded – to raise Our Lord and to protect Our Lady.

St. Joseph is the patron of families, of children, of fathers, of carpenters and all workers, of house hunters, of infertile women and of the universal Church. He is such an important saint that he has two feast days, the other being St. Joseph the Worker on May 1.

If I have $2 in my wallet, when I’m in my parish church, I light a candle before St. Joseph’s statue, and I ask St. Joseph to pray for my father, my father-in-law and all fathers, for my husband and my brother and all men who wish to be fathers, for the safety of our home, and for the blessing of children in it. Then I ask him to kiss Jesus for me. I am confident that Jesus will heed the intercession of the man who was his foster-father on earth.

My husband has some profound thoughts about St. Joseph and Our Lord here.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Seven Quick Takes

This week, just to clarify:

— 1 —

Formerly: It used to be. For example, I was formerly called Jeanne T. before I got married and became Jeanne G.

Formally: In a formal manner, in the official way. NYC is formally called New York City.

— 2 —

St. Patty: Short for St. Patricia. Patty is a woman’s name. St. Patty of Naples’ day is August 25. St. Patty of Nicomedia’s day is March 13.

St. Paddy: Short for St. Patrick. Paddy is a man’s name. St. Paddy’s day is March 17.

— 3 —

Allot: To give a certain amount. I allot carrots to my bunnies.

A lot: A large amount. My bunnies like a lot of carrots.

— 4 —

Heard: Past tense of hear. I heard my cat meowing.

Herd: A large group of animals or the action of getting them into a group. I am glad I don’t have to try to herd cats.

— 5 —

Eucharistic Minister: A priest.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion: A layperson deputized by a priest to assist in distributing Holy Communion.

— 6 —

Tick: A nasty little arachnid that burrows under the skin.

Tic: An involuntary movement. I develop one when I read some of these errors.

— 7 —

Frances: Usually a woman’s name.

This is St. Frances of Rome (with an angel)

This is St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Francis: Usually a man’s name.

This is St. Francis of Assisi

This is St. Francis de Sales

This is St. Francis Xavier

This is Pope Francis

Viva il Papa!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Seven Quick Takes Friday

— 1 —

I watched To Sir, with Love last night. What a movie! I expected it to be some corny flick from the sixties, but it turns out the characters seem like real people and the story is uplifting. I guess there are corny parts, but some of the corny things help speed the story along. I really enjoyed this film.

— 2 —

Do you ever watch movies, sports, or TV shows and think “I should be doing that?” I can remember when I was a kid, even until my mid-20’s, after watching gymnastics or figure skating, I would prance and bounce around the house for days. I’m no athlete, believe me, but for some reason I felt like I should be a gymnast or a figure skater. Sometimes when I watch medical dramas, I think “I am smart enough to be a doctor. Why didn’t I do that?” After watching To Sir, with Love I’m thinking about teaching again. I have a degree in elementary education but I’m not certified. I’d probably have to go back to school (more loans!?) in order to get certified. Besides, I don’t want to be a self-contained classroom teacher. I have often entertained the idea of becoming a Spanish teacher. Or maybe I’m just bored. Sometimes the thought of standing up in front of a classroom full of children or teens scares me ****less.

— 3 —

All that talk about athletics in my previous take makes me want to go swimming. That was the one sport I stuck to as a kid. I was never very fast, but usually my form was good, and I know it was good for my health.

— 4 —

The gluten-free/dairy-free diet continues. Despite monthly birthday cake celebrations in my office. Despite the delicious smell of bread baking in my home. Despite my desire for good hot cocoa. Despite my craving cheese and crackers. I want good health and fertility more than I want fleeting tasty food.

— 5 —

Lent is taking me through the wringer this year. I often feel like I get attacked spiritually during Lent. This year is no different. I am getting through it by turning on the prayer even more than usual and sometimes by whining. I need to cut out the whining too.

— 6 —

I had decided to wear only black and gray clothing during Lent this year. I gave that discipline up this week when I discovered that my favorite sweatshirt had a tiny wear-hole in the elbow. I thought it prudent not to abuse my few pieces of clothing that fit my discipline anymore. I can’t afford to replace them!

— 7 —

Does anyone have prayer requests? Leave them in the comment box or email me at p i n e c o n e j g (at) g m a i l (dot) c o m.

God bless you and give you a good weekend.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

St. Francis of Assisi on Death

Praised are you, my Lord, for our sister bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe on those who will die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they who will be found
in your most holy will,
for the second death will not harm them.

St. Francis of Assisi, from Canticle of the Creatures

I am dismayed when I see St. Francis of Assisi co-opted as some kind of warm and fuzzy, new-age saint. My experience of new-age ideas is that the people who subscribe to them don’t think that a person is capable of sin, and since we can’t sin and God is love, he would never send us to Hell. If we are not capable of sin, we could never die in mortal sin. But what happens to those who die in mortal sin? Since they have told God “I don’t want your rules,” God says, “Since in life, you didn’t want me, I will give you what you want, separation from me, forever.” And this eternal separation from God has another name:  Hell. St. Francis may have been cheerful or stern – thanking God for all His gifts in creation didn’t make him new-age or warm and fuzzy. But there is good news even here. If we accept God, and accept his rules, when we die, we can go to live with Him. Knowing that Heaven awaits those who die in God’s will, it’s no wonder St. Francis praised Him for bodily Death.

Seven Quick Takes Friday

— 1 —

This is just for Laura. Last week she showed a photo of her amazing dust bunnies and I told her that her dust bunnies have nothing on the dust bunnies in a house with real bunnies. I don’t really like to admit that I’m not a good housekeeper, but I found this dust bunny last Friday evening near my TV stand.

I sometimes think I will find another bunny in one of these.

— 2 —

I missed watching the Pope fly to Castel Gandolfo, but I was able to see them closing the doors of the Castel. Although it was a bit anti-climactic, tears came to my eyes anyway. I am just praying that the Cardinals follow the true promptings of the Holy Spirit and elect a good pope to lead the Church.

We’ll miss you!

— 3 —

I’m praying for some more interesting things to do at work. I ask for work and usually they give me something that takes an hour or so. I want a meaty project.

— 4 —

How’s Lent going for everyone? It is trying me. I think that the little mortifications that I apply to myself are really helping me see what needs to change. I don’t want to change! I also feel a little spiritually attacked. This happens to me every Lent and I think it’s a result of trying to get closer to God. I must resist the temptation to say it’s too hard.

— 5 —

I’m proud of myself because I have planned out the dinner menu for the entire month of March. I’ll probably look back at it later and find it lacking, but for now I’m glad it’s finished.

— 6 —

I had to get gas in my car on the way to work this morning and it cost $60.02! I never paid $60 for a tank of gas before! I’m glad I’m able to afford this, but I wish I didn’t have to. I can think of a lot of things I’d rather spend money on.

— 7 —

I got an e-mail this morning from Matthew Warner about “Read the Catechism in a Year,” saying that for copyright reasons, they can no longer send out daily Catechism lessons to all their followers, and so they have received permission to do what they were doing, only using YOUCAT. I am sure YOUCAT is fine, but I wanted the meat of the Catechism. I felt a bit hoodwinked. They should have gotten permission before they started, and if they couldn’t get permission, they shouldn’t have offered to send out daily Catechism e-mails. I am a little consoled since I read the whole message and they said that they will have links to the Catechism lessons, but it means a little more work on my part. Oh well, it’s probably better so I don’t get lazy.

Have a great weekend!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!