JOYfilledfamily BLOG

A Nation Under God

November 16, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Archbishop Vigano, Libertas Leave a Comment

“…The people have spoken out in favor of traditional values, in defense of life, in defense of the family, and in defense of national sovereignty. Values that have made America great and which form the basis of your country’s freedom and peace, harmony and prosperity.

When the people do not obey media indoctrination, democracy no longer matters to the so-called Democrats: they have to resort to fraud, deception, and the manipulation of votes and consensus.

But something has gone wrong: “The snare has been broken, and we have escaped” (Ps 123:7).

As Christians and honest citizens of this great and beloved Nation — which is proud to proclaim to be under God — we have a duty to trust that justice and truth will triumph, also on this occasion.

And they will triumph not only through the honesty and fairness of so many people, but also and above all through our prayer.

As lawyers and magistrates investigate the abuses and crimes committed, let us turn to the Lord, the Supreme Judge, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, our powerful Advocate. This is the “Supreme Court” to which we can and must appeal, that the Will of God may be fulfilled, and Truth may triumph over falsehood.

🙏🏼

O Lord Almighty God, Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, who in Thy love hast deigned to redeem sinful man through the Incarnation and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: prostrate before Thee we invoke Thy powerful protection in this hour of great turmoil, when darkness seems to be spreading over our beloved Nation.

O Lord God of Hosts, drive back into hell the Enemy of mankind, who by Thy eternal decree is crushed by the foot of Our Mother and Queen, Mary Most Holy. Make vain the assaults of those who, blinded by vice and hatred of Thee, wish to subject our Nation and the whole world to the tyranny of sin and rebellion against Thy Most Holy Law. Grant wisdom and courage to those who are called to direct the fortunes of the United States of America, and to those who serve their country with fidelity and honor.

Lord, bless our President, our public officials, and our pastors. For those who exercise the power entrusted to them from above, obtain the graces necessary…” #archbishopvigano

Read the complete address, here.

Just wear the….

November 15, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I was recently sent a private message questioning a stance that I shared in my IG stories.

I presumed the messenger was sincere in asking her question and I desired to offer her a response. Although, I generally do not feel that I owe anyone an explanation, online or in person, regarding my decisions.

But I took it to my husband for further discernment since I’m well aware that such online convos may open my family up to spiritual attacks.

With his approval and the encouragement of a dear friend in a short text chat on Sat., I’ve opted to share my response publicly.

My husband and I fully acknowledge that things will be escalating as the election continues to be drawn out and regardless of who will officially be selected as POTUS.

IT IS NOT A TIME FOR US TO BE SILENT!

Below is my fairly short response that may disappoint some. I will not do the homework for strangers that inquire and I am not compelled to offer them a thorough explanation. I respond with charity and firmness. I’m sure some take offense by my approach but I’m more concerned with offending God than being liked by others.

Here is my response:

You can refer to my other shares from Archbishop Vigano & Bishop Schneider — or go look up their recent writings that sum up the crux of the issue as far as I’m concerned.

It’s not about safety or health. It is NOT a pro-life matter.

Being pro-life doesn’t involve imagining that one can eliminate every risk!

Furthermore, we are not required to follow any of the current suggestions/mandates (or laws even if one existed) that prohibit our God given freedoms or diminish our dignity as a person, made in the image and likeness of God.

This does not mean that I’m not respectful of someone’s needs or health.

I’m a healthy child of God who takes my health very seriously and I do my part to support the health of my family and others — including not going out places if I’m under the weather.

But I will not wear a face covering (when I’m completely healthy) which conceals my identity and impedes my oxygen intake. The UNIMPEDED flow of oxygen is essential to my health and immune system.

Taking a vaccine is also not required to be pro-life. I’m sure that’s going to be the next line that’s thrown out there by some.

If you or anyone else has discerned otherwise for yourself, I respect your decision. I trust that you are a responsible individual who can make up your own mind about how best to keep yourself and your family safe, healthy, and happy.

CHRIST IS KING!

Below is a the dialogue of fellow California Patriots regarding masks for shopping.

11.16.20

Just got Mask Nazied at BofA. .

Me: “Well, I have a condition, I can’t wear a mask, but thank you.” The “security” clerk at the door was sweet and patient but kept repeating, “I’m sorry ma’am, I’m just enforcing policy.”

I asked, “So, BofA discriminates? Because, as you probably know, if the bank still serves the public, they must make accommodations for everyone.” She said,,”Well, we do have accommodations, I can’t let you inside, but you can use the ATM.”

ME: [emphasis only, the words are important] **So, IS EVERYONE LIMITED TO THE ATM OR JUST SOME?” She said, “EVERYONE WITH A MASK IS ALLOWED INSIDE.” I said, “I see…by what authority?” She replied, “…the bank.”

ME: “Well, if you allow some people in, then you must allow all people in or is isn’t equal, it’s discrimination, isn’t it?”

SHE: “Ma’am, I’m just enforcing the rules.

ME, “I know you are…and what is your name, please?” With a very subtle sign of exasperation, she groaned, “Kelleeeeeey,” and I followed up, “…and your last name…”

Kelly “Smith”.”

“Okay, Kelly “Smith,” employed by the bank, my name is Katherine “Doe,” bank customer for 40 years. Please advise management that I am invoking ALL LAWS and statutes that guarantee protection of my rights and supersede discriminatory policies.”

She said, “If you can wait right here for ‘social distancing,’ I can let you in.”

“Okay, Kelly, I’ll wait.” And I did. For about 6 seconds and then she let me in. I went inside to withdraw the cash I could have much easier saved the hassle and gotten at the one ATM they haven’t disabled, but it’s important to assert rights, or why have them, right? As I punched in my pin the teller asked, “Was the ATM down?” I said, “No, not at all, I just wanted to see your happy face, be near people, have some human interaction, y’know.”

Teller: “Uh…hmmm…oh.”

Yes, strangely, she was annoyed. On the way out I smiled and said, “Thank you very much, Kelly Smith.”

She said, “I’m sorry, I’m just doing my job.”

ME: “Miss Kelly, my new friend, I’m going to refer you to the website so that you understand what “I’m just doing my job” actually means. I want you to be prepared because it isn’t the bank, the bank president or manager who must be held accountable first under Title 18 United States Code 241 Conspiracy Against Rights, and 18 USC 242 Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, and CA Civil Rights Code 51b and 52, it’s going to be you, personally, and the bank, bank president and manager will not able to protect you.

I know it’s harsh, Kelly, but I’m defending your rights, too. Just as I am, all Americans are DUTY-BOUND to hold the “enforcers” at the door accountable, because if we don’t *defend* our rights, then we don’t have any, isn’t that right? And I’m going to be very blunt… the Nazis were just doing their jobs, “just following orders,” and that was no defense for them at trial.

There is no law that compels anyone to wear masks or for businesses to impose them on customers, but please do read the laws they’re paying you to violate. The truth is, if “we the people” of America were morally enlightened and had the knowledge to even define a right, there wouldn’t be such a job because no one would ever do it.”

www.constitutionallawgroup.us

The Faith of a Mustard Seed

November 15, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

Our faith should be like the minuscule mustard seed that blossoms into a large fruitful tree.

Today’s Mass propers are taken from the 6th Sun. after the Epiphany.

Below is an explanation on the Gospel (Matt. 13:31-35) from Dom Prosper Guéranger.

“Our Lord here teaches us, under the symbolism of two parables, what we are to believe concerning his Church, which is his Kingdom, – a Kingdom that rises indeed here on the earth, but is to be perfected in Heaven.

What is this grain of mustard-seed, which is hid under ground, is unseen by man’s eye, then appears as the least of herbs, but, finally, becomes a tree?

It is the Word of God, at first hidden in Judea, trampled on by man’s malice even so as to be buried in a tomb, but, at length, rising triumphantly and reaching rapidly to every part of the world. Scarcely had a hundred years elapsed since Jesus was put to death, and his Church was vigorous even far beyond the limits of the Roman Empire.

During the past nineteen centuries, every possible effort has been made to up-root the Tree of God; persecution, diplomacy, human wisdom, – all have tried, and all have but wasted their time.

True, – they succeeded, from time to time, in severing a branch; but another grew in its place, for the sap of the Tree is vigorous beyond measure. The birds that come and dwell upon it, are, as the Holy Fathers interpret it, the souls of men aspiring to the eternal goods of the better world.

If we are worthy of our name of “Christians,” we shall love this Tree, and find our rest and safety no where but beneath its shade.

The Woman, of whom the second parable speaks, is the Church, our Mother. It was she that, from the commencement of Christianity, took the teaching of her Divine Master, and hid it in the very heart of men, making it the leaven of their salvation.

The three measures of meal which she leavened into bread, are the three great families of mankind, the three that came from the children of Noah, who are the three fathers of the whole human race.

Let us love this Mother of ours; and let us bless that heavenly leaven, which made us become children of God, by making us children of the Church.”

Wisdom & Encouragement for Our Current Times

November 13, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Dr. Alice von Hildebrand Leave a Comment

“We must love the Church more than ever.”

Let’s make it clear and simple: We are living in apocalyptic times. And our duty is pray, pray, pray, make sacrifices. And those of us who have a mission to speak should speak clearly and courageously even though that person can be destroyed. And most of us are called upon to pray. And what is also important is all those that are traditionalists should join together. They should not be isolated; they should join together. God will not abandon us, but we are living in apocalyptic times—this is a reality we must face. “God, do not allow us to betray you! Do not allow us to listen to evil voices that keep coming!
…Yes, that’s it. But this situation is very, very grave. I mean this is what my husband was saying in the last months of his life—he sobbed more times than the whole time I knew him. Because he said to me—and he was right over there in that living room: “The forces of Hell have pervaded the Church. They are in the Church.”
You see, if you attack the Church from the outside and it becomes stronger and stronger, but if you infiltrate it… This is a fact that cannot be denied. But it’s no reason for us to lose faith because the Holy Virgin will triumph again. More and more prayers, more and more acts of faith!
Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, Sept., 3. 2018 Interview

Prayers to Fight Back

November 12, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Auxilium Christianorum, Libertas Leave a Comment

Jesus and Mary, I ask that if it be Your Holy Will, that any curses or evil sent against the President or the election process be sent back from whence they came.

Fr. Ripperger offered the following suggestions (on a recent USA Grace Force Podcast – 11.11) for the laity to do in efforts to “fight back” until the election is called: 🇺🇸 🙏🏼➕

Be Strong in God’s Grace!
Frequent Confession
Frequent Communions
Daily Rosary
Much Mortification & Fasting
Much Trust in God’s Providence and the Power of Our Lady’s Intercession
Daily Pray the Following Two Prayers (complete prayers are provided in my stories)

🙏🏼Consecration of One’s Exterior Goods to the Blessed Virgin Mary

(This prayer is particularly useful for breaking various forms of oppression. By relinquishing what belongs to us into the hands of the Blessed Virgin, Satan cannot touch them. This is a strong prayer of protection on you and yours.)

🙏🏼Sending Evil Back

(Fr. Chad Ripperger states that this prayer is meant to expose evil, to teach that evil does not win, and emphasizes that choosing evil will eventually lead to bad repercussions.)

🙏🏼Prayer Against Retaliation

(This is a prayer that should be offered by those praying the two previous prayers and any other deliverance prayers approved for the laity — that God may protect you against any diabolical retaliation.)

St. Martin of Tours

November 11, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November Saints, St. Martin of Tours Leave a Comment

St. Martin of Tours — “The Glory of Gaul” — was born around A.D. 316 in Szombathely, Hungary (known then as Sabaria, Pannonia) and grew up the son of a Roman military officer in Pavia, Italy. He joined the Roman army and was sent to Amiens, where, on horseback, he met a starving man begging alms at the city gates. Moved by deep compassion, he tore his red, woolen his cloak in two with his sword and gave half to the beggar. The next night, he had a dream in which he saw Jesus wearing the half of the cloak he’d given away, surrounded by angels. In the dream, Our Lord asked him to look at it and to see if he recognized it. He did, of course, and realized that he must convert and devote his life to Christ. (St. Martin’s remaining piece of cloak became a very revered relic. In fact, the building where his cloak — “cappa” in Latin — was preserved was known as the “cappella,” the root of our words “chapel” and “chaplain.”)

Let us ask St. Martin to give us his zeal for the House of God, the Holy Catholic Church, and his efficiency in destroying idols. May he help us apply his spirit in fighting the idol of sentimental religiosity in our souls, so that we might truly understand the lives of the saints, follow their example, and become saints ourselves.

“O holy Martin, have compassion on our depth of misery! A winter more severe than that which caused thee to divide thy cloak now rages over the world; many perish in the icy night brought on by the extinction of faith and the cooling of charity.

Come to the aid of those unfortunates, whose torpor prevents them from asking assistance. Wait not for them to pray; but forestall them for the love of Christ in whose name the poor man of Amiens implored thee, whereas they scarcely know how to utter it. And yet their nakedness is worse than the beggar’s, stripped as they are of the garment of grace, which their fathers received from thee and handed down to posterity.

Has that history of the brightest days of the Church, of the reign of Christ as King, come to an end, O Martin? Let the enemy imagine he has already sealed our tomb. But the story of thy miracles tells us that thou canst raise up even the dead.

Was not the catechumen of Ligugé snatched from the land of the living, when thou didst call him back to life and Baptism? Supposing that, like him, we were already among those whom the Lord remembereth no more, the man or the country that has Martin for protector and father need never yield to despair.

If thou deign to bear us in mind, the Angels will come and say again to the supreme Judge: “This is the man, this is the nation for whom Martin prays;” and they will be commanded to draw us out of the dark regions where dwell the people without glory, and to restore us to Martin, and to our noble destinies.” – Dom Prosper Gueranger

Veteran’s Day

November 11, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November, Fr. Emil Kapaun, Veteran’s Day Leave a Comment

We give thanks & pray for our beloved family members and all others who have served the USA.

Another Veteran that we pray for & give thanks for us Fr. Emil Kapaun.

After his ordination in 1940, Fr. Kapaun’s first assignment was as the assistant parish priest at St. John Nepomucene in his own town of Pilsen. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fr. Kapaun felt called enter the Chaplain Corps. Finally, his bishop gave permission and Fr. Kapaun joined the Army in August 1944.

Assigned to the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the famous 1st Cavalry Division, Fr. Kapaun shipped out in 1950 to Japan and then on to Korea where war against the Communists was raging. On the field, he was fearless in serving his men: he commonly braved machine gun fire to rescue the wounded and to move from foxhole to foxhole, providing comfort to hungry and cold soldiers. He continuously provided the sacraments in all conditions, becoming famous for constantly risking his life to save others.

The demands and privations of military life appealed to this son of a Kansas farmer; he loved caring for the spiritual and, at times, physical needs of “his boys,” as he called the men. He served in India and the Burma Theater and was promoted to the rank of Captain before being discharged in 1946. After earning his Masters in Education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Father was permitted to rejoin the Army in 1948.

After repeatedly rejecting appeals to flee, he was captured along with the survivors of his unit by Chinese Communists on All Souls Day, 1950 near Unsan, North Korea. His ministry continued in a prisoner of war camp farther north.

In addition to doing all he could to help the men physically, his most important impact was supernatural: resisting the atheistic communist indoctrination, providing what sacraments he could, and openly defying his captors by holding a sunrise service on Easter Sunday, 1951.

Finally crushed by blood clots, dysentery, and pneumonia, Fr. Kapaun died on May 23, 1951 and was buried in a mass grave.

He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device in September 1950 and the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously in August 1951. After 60 years of petitions from those who served with him, on April 11, 2013, Fr. Kapaun was awarded the nation’s highest decoration: the Medal of Honor. – Andrew Clarendon

St. Apollonia, ora pro nobis

November 10, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Boys Leave a Comment

Last night we had an unexpected urgent need with his older brother. 🏥 Everything worked out and the ER doc was able to care for him with an uneventful visit. Praise God!

Now our focus returns to this Lil’ Man. His much needed dental work was scheduled for three different appointments. 🦷

His first treatment was rough and he loss consciousness for what seemed like eternity.

Yesterday, was his second appointment for treatment but he was uncooperative. He was sent home with a partially numbed mouth and required consolation the remainder of the day.

We’re hoping that he will have an easier time today and allow the necessary work to be done.

In your charity, please offer a prayer for him and his dentist. 🙏🏼

Sts. Apollonia, Michael, and Andrew Avellino — orate pro nobis. ➕

**UPDATE — we will have to consider other options for him since he was unable to have treatment, again.

Homeschool Daily Checklist

October 9, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschooling, Organization, Prints Leave a Comment

freedom from vice and freedom for virtue

We are list people. I love them and my children love them. We have used various systems over the 20+ years of homeschooling and lists are always at the center.

I use lists with the goal of having my children become independent managers of their time and school work by the time they’re 13 years old.

These last two years of homeschooling have been different for us as we have made some shifts in homeschooling that we never anticipated. We continue to do more as the Good Lord prompts us.

There have been good fruits but the changes have also stretched us all in many ways. Recently, I was sharing my woes with a dear friend, Jessica who is also a veteran homeschooling mom of many. She offered encouragement and reshared the checklist that she uses for her children.

I decided to bring back the checklist for one of my children as it was clear the increased workload was too much for this child to organize on their own with a standard planner. I was also having challenges keeping up with what was due as the assignments are shared weekly vs. what we’ve been used to.

The new checklist that we’re incorporating provides a streamlined way for us to record what is due, breakdown workload, and help keep on task. It can be used for a traditional homeschooler or child in a classroom to everything in between.

You may use the checklist for your own use.

*This checklist is based on what Shower of Roses shared.*
I use abbreviations for all books. My children know how to read the checklist and fill it in on their own. We review throughout the day and update it as assignments are given & completed.

Homeschool Daily Checklist

To use this checklist:

click link/open file
save a copy of the file to your Google Drive
personalize for your child (copy and paste checkboxes if needed)
print as needed
make additional copies for each child and repeat the above steps

I’d love to hear how you help your children manage their lessons and become independent planners.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, ora pro nobis

IT IS NOT A TIME FOR US TO BE SILENT!

CHRIST IS KING!

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