JOYfilledfamily BLOG

Our Lady of Bethlehem Novena

May 18, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Novena, Our Lady of Bethlehem, Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem 1 Comment

We are starting a novena to Our Lady of Bethlehem in preparation for a spiritual and physical journey that we will be embarking on. The novena starts on Thursday, May 17th and ends on Friday May 25th . Please keep my family and our fellow pilgrims in your prayers.

The pilgrimage will be made for the following intentions:

To make Our Lady of Bethlehem known and Loved

In reparation for the offenses committed against the sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

For Conversion of our own hearts, our families, Town, State, Country, the World

To pray for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart

Personal reparation and private intentions of family, friends and bloggers (whom have asked for prayers)

You are invited to join the novena to Our Lady of Bethlehem.

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Prayer to Our Lady of Bethlehem

Dear Lady of Bethlehem, Virgin most pure, Mother of our Savior, may the memory of the cold on the night Thy Divine Child was born bring Thy powerful intercession to bear upon the world’s coldness towards the Babe of Bethlehem. Send down into the hearts of all people some warmth of the flames of love that Thy Immaculate Heart gives forth.

Do Thou who suffered such great loneliness when Thy Son was taken from Thee, look with pity upon the void in the hearts of those who know and love Him not. Bring Him to them and with Him His Angels and Saints that they too may be our intimate friends. Do Thou who journeyed wearily to Bethlehem look down with mercy upon humankind trudging along the way of evil, lost and confused. Do Thou guide us to the path of Thy Son and the habitation He had prepared for us.

Look down with compassion upon us, as we commend to Thy maternal care the needs of Holy Mother Church, our beloved Country, our families. We all place all at Thy blessed feet. Through Thy powerful intercession may God grant to us and to the whole frightened world the grace of mutual understanding and the sacred Peace of Bethlehem.

Do Thou also regard with favor our beloved Father Junipero Serra, who brought Thy image to this land and whose remains rest in peace in Thy sanctuary. May he who in life held Thee in such great honor and who first made Thy Son known on these shores, be found worthy to have his name entered on the list of those whom the Church calls Saints.

Our Lady of Bethlehem, pray for us now, pray for us in every need, and be Thou with us at the hour of our death. Amen.

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OUR LADY OF BETHLEHEM

This series was written by Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D… It his the author’s hope that this series of articles will encourage more Catholics to come in greater numbers to visit her and pay her homage, raising a clamor to the careless religious authorities that she should be given a place of greater prominence.

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We might journey in a spirit of penance, fasting and giving alms along the way. We might do so joyously, in thanksgiving for blessings received, or in a spirit of supplication for blessings desired. Or we might do so simply to be blessed by being in the presence of holy relics or by walking on ground hallowed by Our Lord or the Saints. Whatever our more particular purposes, leaving behind what is comfortable to us and visiting a strange place is a way to get out of a "spiritual rut" and step outside our normal routines which can sometimes keep us distracted or focused on the wrong things — or perhaps focused too much on otherwise good things. When made with the right attitude, pilgrimage is a way to "lose" our lives for His sake.

{pretty, happy, funny, real} happy edition

May 17, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: {phfr}, Picture Recap

5.9.12 – Papi has shown an interest in track and field. Dad has been training the littles in the long jump after their swim practice while they wait for Rose to finish.

5.5.12 – I snapped a pic of Fr. S walking in the Marian Procession. I hadn’t realized the significance of where the photo was captured until I uploaded it to my comp. This pic is a great juxtaposition – Priests for Life!

5.5.12 – We hopped in the van and traveled to the moon to get a glimpse of the supermoon. Dad recalled a show from the past, The Magic School Bus. Rose was the only one who knew what he was talking about. The kids had a great time chasing the moon for a closer look.

5.2.12 – Physical exercise for everyone, including Uma. This was her first swim since we’ve adopted her.

4.28 – I love that my kids enjoy playing school just as I did when I was their age.

4.23 – Dragonfly celebrated his namesake day with a healthy treat from his Godmother.

4.23 – Dragonfly was found sleeping in the hallway downstairs when he was supposed to be snuggled in bed. Good thing dad didn’t step on him too bad.

4.22 – The temp skyrocketed to high 90s and we all needed to cool off.

4.19 – Uma gives us all a reason to get to the park on a regular basis.

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{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

What’s on the menu?

May 16, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: Dinner, Salad 2 Comments

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Rogation Day

May 15, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 05 May, Rogation Day

Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION

The death and resurrection of Jesus have opened heaven and won the grace to avoid sin and to gain eternal happiness. But many of the consequences of sin still remain; and every person has his guilt to confess and atone for. Besides, there are the countless needs of soul and body that put all men on their knees before God. Earthquakes and other calamities afflicted Europe in the fifth century and St. Mamertus, instituted a penitential procession with public supplications in his Diocese. Hence, the special days of petition, called Rogation Days, marked by a special Mass, the Litany of the Saints, and, where possible, a procession during which the Litany is sung. It is well to join penance and fasting to all prayer. In 816 A.D., Pope Leo III introduced this Mass in Rome, and soon after it became a general observance throughout the Church.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who in our affliction put our trust in Thy mercy, may ever be defended by the protection against all adversity. Through our Lord . . .

May these oblations, O Lord, we beseech Thee, loosen the bonds of our wickedness, and obtain for us the gifts of Thy mercy. Through our Lord . . .

Favorably receive our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee; may we in our distress be consoled by Thy gifts and grow in love accordingly. Through our Lord . . .

We beg Thee, God to bless the fields with Thy fatherly hand, to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, and as Thou fill the animals with blessings, and give them food at the proper time, so may Thee give to us also our necessary food.

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Resources:

Litany of Saints Download ~ Sanctus Simplicitus
Instruction Concerning the Procession of Rogation Days ~ Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s The Church’s Year
Rogation Days – Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) ~ St. John Cantius Parish
The Greater and Lesser Rogation Days ~ St. John Cantius Parish
The Liturgical Year – Paschal Time Vol. III ~ By: Dom Gueranger Imprimatur 1927 via Sanctus Simplicitus
Rogation Day – 2011 ~ JOYfilledfamily
Rogation Day – 2010 ~ JOYfilledfamily

Paleo Treats

May 15, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: Dessert, Fruit 1 Comment

My sis made up some healthy treats for Easter – dark chocolate dipped fruit and Tropical Macaroons.

Homeschool Encouragement

May 8, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschool Conference, Homeschooling

I attended a homeschool conference in April, Northern California Catholic Homeschooling Conference. It was somewhat of a last minute decision to attend since I had attended another conference in July. Praise God, I was given the grace to take my own advice.

I’m not willing to pass up spiritual opportunities that are offered in my backyard. My spiritual bank is full, thanks be to God, but I know how suddenly it can be emptied. I trust that this conference will yield a nice reserve in my spiritual bank. All food for the soul is welcome!

My bank is full! DEO GRATIAS!!!

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Below is my outline from Laura Berquist’s talk from 2012 Northern California Catholic Homeschooling Conference, Encouraging Cooperation. You can also view/print/upload my detailed notes from here.

Encouraging Cooperation

Outline created by LF-JOYfilledfamily, based on Laura Berquist’s talk from 2012 Northern California Catholic Homeschooling Conference

1. Right approach

2. Clear direction

3. Observing limits

4. Keeping notes

5. Formation vs. Information

6. Keeping individuality of the child in mind

7. Training of virtues

8. Talk to children

9. Respect

10. Encouragement

Marian Procession ‘12

May 7, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 05 May, Marian, Pilgrimage, Procession

As are all flowers, the month of May is dedicated to the Mary, whom we celebrate as Queen of Heaven on the last day of this month. Early in May, a statue of the Virgin at church is crowned with a wreath of roses, and the same are laid at her feet. Little girls and boys dress up in their best, often in blue; one child carries the crown on a cushion to the statue and another child is chosen to crown the statue. ~ Fisheaters

May 5, 2012 was the Fourth Annual Marian Procession – a 3-mile pilgrimage through the city in honor of Our Blessed Mother, an opportunity to give public witness to our Lord, our Faith, and Our Lady.

Eighteen Little Flowers led the procession. Each girl wore a blue hat in honor of Mary and held a handmade fabric basket filled with flower petals. They tossed the flower petals for Our Lady.

Dad walked with the boys and Rose had to leave early to meet the Choristers in preparation for Mass.

The three mile procession led us to the Cathedral. A Solemn High Mass was held. It was followed by the May Crowning. A Little Flower (who will be receiving First Communion on 5.12) was selected to crown Mary.

We had planned to attend Mass but my allergies were at an all-time high – I was miserable and could barely breathe and see. Dad and I took the littles home and met up with Rose after the Solemn High Mass.

AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.