Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

San Lorenzo

August 11, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 08 August, 08 August Saints, St. Lawrence

August 10

Father,you called Saint Lawrence to serve you by love

and crowned his life with glorious martyrdom.

Help us to be like him

in loving you and doing your work.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today was a double feast in our home. We celebrated the Feast Day of St. Lawrence and the Namedays for Mr. and Baby G. St. Lawrence is also the patron saint of librarians, at which I have been working as for the past 2.5 school years. I guess that makes it a triple feast day.

We grilled! It’s what Mr. enjoys and since it was his nameday, why not. He grilled tri-tip and corn. I made his favorite salad, apple-feta salad.

Rose and I made cupcakes for desert. They were cinnabon cupcakes with buttercream frosting. We got our decorating inspiration from here.

Baby G is 86 days old today – almost 3 months..

I’m embarrassed to share this picture due to Mr.’s shirt. However, Sparkles reminded me that it’s dad’s “holy” shirt. Rose chimed in, “it’s his gridiron shirt.” Mr. has had this shirt since we’ve been together, over seventeen years. I’m not sure but it may be a world’s record.

We will go out late tomorrow night to view the Tears of St. Lawrence* and celebrate St. Clare’s feast (Sweetie’s nameday) on the traditional feast day – Aug 12.

*Tonight, or especially tomorrow night and up to the dawn of 12 August, ¹ if you look up at a clear sky in the Northern hemisphere, you may be blessed to see the Perseid meteor shower, ² debris of the comet Swift-Tuttle whose “radiant” (point of apparent origin) is in the constellation of Perseus. This meteor shower is known as “the tears of St. Lawrence” because it is most visible at this time of year, though these streaks of light can sometimes be seen as early as 17 July and as late as 24 August.

Resources

NOVENA TO SAINT LAURENCE

O glorious St. Laurence, blessed deacon of the church, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under you special protection… (mention here). Vouchsafe to recommend it to our Lord who gave you the grace to withstand great torture before being burned to death in His name. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Laurence, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, forever and ever. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory Be…

High School Space

August 10, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschooling, Schoolroom

Rose had her school room revamped last school year. It is a bedroom downstairs turned school room, office and craft space. We’ve been organizing it bit by bit.

She doesn’t mind that it is a work in progress, she is just happy to have a private school room away from the little ones.

Here’s how it looked a couple of weeks ago. Thank goodness it’s summer!

We did a clean sweep today. We even got some crafting/decorating in. We turned a $5 canvas we recently bought at a garage sale into map art. We also adhered our Dollar Store find, chalk board decals. Lastly, we hung 2 shelves that were on clearance at Target.

Rose was thrilled to have her $6 Costco map up on the wall.

Rose wanted one of the chalk board decals on the door. She plans on using it as a “do not disturb” sign. We’ll see how it goes. The little ones have not figured out that it is a chalk board. The second decal was placed on the green wall under the map. It will be used for the saint of the day, date and other reminders for Rose.The black frame holds a fabric covered bulletin board. Rose prefers to store her books in the IKEA magazine holders. (Sparkles and Sweetie use the inexpensive version of IKEA mag files.) She takes each file out as she works on the particular subject.

This little area on the green wall will be Rose’s gallery wall. She selected Sparkle’s Marian Grotto and Sacred Heart of Jesus Tile. I surprised her with a picture from her pre-homeschool days when she started preschool in 1997. The picture is a family portrait that she created when she was 5 years old, the end of her Kindergarten school year. Rose’s mouse pad adorned with a favorite saint, St Thérèse of Lisieux.

The closet is still a catch-all. It houses the go to supplies, Little Flower supplies, file cabinet (given away for free on Craigslist), wrapping supplies, sewing machine, and other misc. items.

Check out Heart of the Matter for more homeschool rooms. Edie created my favorite school room of all time. I can’t wait to see her new homeschool space at her lake home.

UPDATE:

8.10.10 – I hope to add my k-3 school room this week, God willing. I also wanted to share another favorite “learning space” that I’m sure is loved by all. Nicole has created an awesome schoolroom. I think I’ll be adding the rain gutters (to a room in my house, any room) this year.

Inviting Christ

August 5, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Community

“May He strengthen you inwardly through the working of His Spirit. May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, and may charity be the root and foundation of your life" (Eph 3:14-17).

We organized our 5th National Night Out NNO (3rd in this neighborhood). It almost didn’t happen. I had attempted to find another event organizer earlier in the year since I new baby G was due in May, Mr. would be swamped in clinicals and long work hours, school prep would be taking place…..the list goes on. I waited but there were no willing parties. I thought that we would just forgo this year’s event. However, Our Lord had other plans.

I believe that that Our Heavenly Father is prompting my family to form community. We are still discerning this call and pray to obediently follow. Currently, we attempt to witness to those physical neighbors that have been put before us. We do this in several ways, NNO being one of them.

Just as I was ready to be at peace with not coordinating the event and being able to help the community come together, a gentle reminder was placed. This reminder came in the way of Catholic radio. More specifically, Teresa Tomeo. Teresa Tomeo mentioned National Night Out in her morning news segment on Monday, August 2.

I took the prompting and began to send emails and print fliers for distribution – all for an event that was to take place the following day. There’s nothing like last minute! (it’s all in God’s timing, right.)

The kids canvassed the neighborhood, posting signs on Monday afternoon and early Tuesday Morning.

The turnout was perfect. The event was simplified from the years past but probably the most joyous of all. I was able to relax and connect with neighbors. Mr. was also able to join us for the last 30 min. Papi kept his pants on the entire evening (that’s a story for another time). It was a success ~ praise be to God!

Simplify is another prompting from the Holy Ghost that has been placed on our hearts. We are a work in progress but definitely feel the call to SIMPLIFY in ALL areas of our lives – words, material possessions, food, extracurricular activities, spiritual practices……to better follow Him.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalms 34:19

Simplify; repair; love

Please keep the following neighbors in prayer:

Addie, mom and family. Addie was born via c-section on Monday, August 2

Two moms who are expecting. One in September, the other in December.

Those in law enforcement who are facing cuts in pay due to the State budget.

The young (and not so young) who are finishing school.

A young couple that is separated, possibly seeking a divorce.

O my God, come to me…

August 4, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney Prayer ~ “O my God, come to me, so that You may dwell in me and I may dwell in You.”

Feast Day – August 7

In life, St. John Vianney was a revered 19th-century French clergyman who was said to be blessed with the ability to read the hearts of worshippers. In death, his own heart has become an object of worship. St. Vianney’s body is incorrupt (never decayed), and his heart and body each have been encased in separate glass reliquaries in France since his death 150 years ago.

The relic of the heart of St. John Vianney was brought to the U.S. for the first time since 2006.

My family is on pilgrimage (an item on my List), a Relic Pilgrimage. We are visiting relics throughout California. Our finances are tight, our time is stretched, and our little ones are a priority – that leads us to find all spiritual opportunities in our “back yard.”

Our first official stop on our pilgrimage was on July 15, a visit to venerate the heart of St. John Mary Vianney .

My blessed Mr. took time off from his clinical and prepared to lead the way on our pilgrimage. Mr. had no sleep. He came straight from his night shift. Sparkles and Sweetie were filled with excitement as they anticipated this glorious opportunity to grow closer to Our Heavenly Father, through their veneration of the relic of St. John Vianney. Rose remained prayerful and was deeply touched by her visit.

Upon our return home, the little girls have continued their devotion to St. John Vianney. They have even created a special shrine in their bedroom for their newly beloved Saint. In fact, they have taken it upon themselves to adorn all bedrooms with St. John Mary Vianney’s holy card.

St. Jean Marie Vianney ~ Ora pro nobis

St. John Mary Vianney Quotes

“All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.”

“I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world and its pleasures.”

“Prayer is to our soul what rain is to the soil. Fertilize the soil ever so richly, it will remain barren unless fed by frequent rains.”

“Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.”

“Man is a beggar who needs to ask God for everything.”

“When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.”

“All our religion is but a false religion, and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God, if we have not that universal charity for everyone – for the good, and for the bad, for the poor and for the rich, and for all those who do us harm as much as those who do us good. “

“Upon receiving Holy Communion, the Adorable Blood of Jesus Christ really flows in our veins and His Flesh is really blended with ours.”

“We should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives.”

“If we could comprehend all the good things contained in Holy Communion, nothing more would be wanting to content the heart of man. The miser would run no more after his treasures, or the ambitious after glory; each would shake off the dust of the earth, leave the world, and fly away towards heaven.”

“When we go before the Blessed Sacrament, let us open our heart; our good God will open His. We shall go to Him; He will come to us; the one to ask, the other to receive. It will be like a breath from one to the other.”

“Christian wife! Follow in the footsteps of the ideal of all womanhood, the Blessed Mother of God; in joy and in sorrow, she will be your advocate at the throne of her Son.”

Litany in Honor of St. John Vianney

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Saint John-Mary Vianney, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, endowed with grace from thine infancy, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, model of filial piety, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, devoted servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, spotless lily of purity, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, faithful imitator of the sufferings of Christ, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, abyss of humility, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, seraph of prayer, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, faithful adorer of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, ardent lover of holy poverty, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, true son of St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, exemplary Franciscan tertiary, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, tender friend of the poor, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, penetrated with the fear of God’s judgment, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, fortified by divine visions, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who was tormented by the evil spirit, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, perfect model of sacerdotal virtue, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, firm and prudent pastor, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, inflamed with zeal, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, faithful attendant on the sick, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, indefatigable catechist, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who didst preach in words of fire, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, wise director of souls, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, specially gifted with the spirit of counsel, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, enlightened by light from Heaven, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, formidable to Satan, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, compassionate with every misery, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, providence of the orphans, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, favored with the gift of miracles, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who didst reconcile so many sinners to God, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who didst confirm so many of the just in the way of virtue, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who didst taste the sweetness of death, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who dost now rejoice in the glory of Heaven, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, who givest joy to those who invoke thee, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, heavenly patron of parish priests, pray for us.

St. John Vianney, model and patron of directors of souls, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Pray for us, blessed Jean-Marie Vianney, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

Almighty and merciful God, Who didst bestow upon blessed John Mary Vianney wonderful pastoral zeal and a great fervor for prayer and penance, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his example and intercession we may be able to gain the souls of our brethren for Christ, and with them attain to everlasting glory, through the same Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

Amen