a gypsy caravan

Remaining Days of Advent/Christmas Devotions

Some of you have asked what our family does when Advent is longer than this year's.  There are more days of the Advent devotions that I had hoped to post but I think they will have to wait until next year.   Also, there are Christmas devotions for use with the Advent log for the Twelve Days of Christmas but they will have to wait as well. 

Our family's Christmas Day devotions:

Light your Christmas Candle and enjoy the beauty of its light.

Retell your favorite version of the Christmas Gospel (Luke 2:1-20).

Offer your prayers as a family.

Sing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus and enjoy His cake!

SING SING SING :) your favorite Christmas carols!

Have fun!

Advent Devotions, Week Three and Christmas Eve

These devotions are adapted from the book Celebrate While We Wait by Schroeder.

Sunday, Fifteenth Day of Advent

People Who Waited-Noah

How do you feel when it rains outside?  How would you feel if it rained and rained for more than a month?  What if you could not go outside because of the rain?  How would you know the sun was still shining above the rain clouds?

One man who knew these feelings first hand was Noah.  Read the story in Genesis 6:11-22;7:17-24; and 8:6-19.  Noah and his family understood waiting didn't they?  They were able to wait because they trusted God.  They trusted His promise to save them. They believed God was in charge and knew what He was doing.  They were sure of God's love for them.  They knew He would keep His word. 

And He did.  God is faithful to His people.  He keeps His promises.  As Noah discovered, God is certainly worth waiting for!

Prayer:  Thank you God for being faithful to Noah.  Thank You for being faithful to us.  Help us always to trust Your promises.  Give us the patience to wait for Your blessings.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Scripture Readings: Psalm 93, Psalm 98

Sing any Noah songs that your children may know.

In addition: Read Noah's Ark by Peter Spier or another favorite version.

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Monday, Sixteenth Day of Advent

People Who Waited-Moses and the Israelites

Israel's story is much longer than Noah's story.  Noah and his family had to wait through 40 days of rain. Moses and the children of Israel had to wait through 40 years in the desert before God kept a special promise He made to them.

Do you remember the story of how Moses helped the Israelites escape from Egypt where they had been slaves for 400 years? Remember how they made it to safety by crossing the Red Sea, while God held back the water? (Exodus 13:17-14:31).

God wanted to give the people a new country to live in.  But once the people were on their way to the new land, they began to complain and to doubt God and His promises.  Because they broke their promises to trust God, He delayed His promise.  He made them wait 40 years before He led them into their Promised Land.

Did God abandon His people for those 40 years?  No he did not.  God loved His people and took care of them.  When the people could not find water to drink, God gave Moses the power to work miracles and produce water.  When the people were hungry, God sent them miracle food (manna) to eat.  The Israelites were not very good at waiting but God was.

When the 40 years were done, God led the people safely into their new country, just as He promised.  They discovered that God was worth waiting for.

Prayer:  God, thank You for being faithful to Moses and the Israelites.  Thank You for being faithful to us.  Help us always to trust Your promises.  Give us the patience to wait for Your blessings.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Scripture readings: Exodus 15:1-13; Psalm 103

Practice a Christmas carol of your choosing.

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Tuesday, Seventeenth Day of Advent

People Who Waited, Mary and Joseph

Finally, it was just the right time for God to keep His promise!  After all those thousands of years of waiting, God decided it was the right time to keep His most special promise.  He sent an angel to earth to announce that the Messiah, the Promised Savior, would be born.

The angel came to a young woman named Mary. She was the one God had chosen to be the mother of Jesus.  Read what the angel said in Luke 1:26-35.  Talk about what it means to be "full of grace". 

What great news that was!  Can you imagine how Mary must have felt?  Even Mary had to wait, not 40 days like Noah, not 40 years like Moses, but 40 weeks like your own mother when she waited for you to be born. 

Mary had to wait to give birth to Jesus, but in the meantime she rushed off to visit her cousin Elizabeth.  Read Mary's happy song in Luke 1:46-55.  Notice especially, the last line. 

Mary was able to to wait because she trusted God.  She knew He would keep His word.  She was sure of His great love and mercy.  Are you?

Prayer:  God, thank You for being faithful to Mary.  Thank You for being faithful to us.  Help us always to trust Your promises.  Give us the patience to wait for Your blessings.  Help us to celebrate while we wait.  Amen. 

Scripture readings:  Isaiah 7:13-14, I Chronicles 16:8-34

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Wednesday, Eighteenth Day of Advent

Jesus Comes to Us by His Spirit

When Mary's 40 weeks of waiting were finished, Jesus was born, just as God had promised.  Jesus lived His life on earth, died for our sin, rose again in victory and returned to His father in heaven.  That all happened hundreds of years ago.

So Jesus has already come and gone.  And yet. during all these days of Advent, we have been praying "Come Lord Jesus, Come. " Do you know why that is? 

We know that Jesus won't be born again as a baby on Christmas Day.  We know Christmas is the celebration of His long-ago birthday.  But there are other ways Jesus will come again on Christmas. 

One of the ways that Jesus come to us now is by His Spirit.  Before He died, He promised His disciples that He would send His Spirit to comfort them and help them remember and understand His teachings, to keep them in faith and to give them power for sharing the Good News of the forgiveness of sins. 

After Jesus rose from the dead and went to heave, disciples waited and worried.  Then, sure enough, Jesus did send His Spirit to the disciples, just as He had promised.

That same Holy Spirit is with us now.  It is the Holy Spirit who works faith in us, who teaches us the meaning of God's love and forgiveness. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps Jesus' promise "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Prayer: Come Lord Jesus, Come.  Come by Your Spirit to live in us all.  Fill our lives with Your love.  Give us the power to share your Good News. Amen.

Songs:  O Holy Spirit Enter In

Scripture Readings: John 14:15-27, 25-27; Acts 2:1-39

Review symbols for the Holy Spirit, wind and fire (Acts 2:1-4) and dove (John 1:29-34).  Discuss how these symbols will be evident at Christmas time (wintry winds, candles, fireplace, tree ornaments, Christmas cards, etc.) Discuss how these symbols can help remind you that Jesus comes to us today by His Spirit.

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Thursday, Nineteenth Day of Advent

Jesus Comes to Us in His Word

Jesus said, "Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Mark 13:31)

"The next sabbath, almost the whole city gathered together to hear the Word of God...and the Word of the Lord spread throughout all the region." (Acts 13:23-49)

Jesus comes to us today, on Christmas and forever through His Word.  Whenever we read and study the Bible, hear God's Word taught at Mass, speak it to one another and share the Good New (like right now) Jesus is right here with us.

Before He died, Jesus told His disciples, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23).  That is a wonderful promise isn't it?

And we know God keeps His promises.  God keeps His Word.

Prayer:  Come Lord Jesus, Come.  Come to us through Your Word and make Your home with us.  Help us to treasure Your Word and share the Good News of our salvation.  Amen.

Scripture readings: John 15:3-11; Psalm 130, Revelation 22:6-9

Songs: Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet

Jesus Loves Me this I Know

include this verse:

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled.

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

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Friday, Twentieth Day of Advent

Jesus Comes to Us in the Sacraments

Here we are still waiting for Christmas, waiting to celebrate Jesus' coming long ago and waiting for Jesus to come today.

Review the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.  Talk about how what we see (water) (bread and wine)is not necessarily what is there(brand new white soul washed clean) (Body and Blood of Jesus).  Do you wonder how we know that the action we don't see is really happening?   How do we know that by His Spirit, Jesus is really coming to us in the sacraments? 

We simply have to take His Word for it.  We simply go on trusting that God always will be as He always has been, the God who keeps His promises and blesses His people with His love. 

Prayer: Come Lord Jesus, come.  Come to us through Your Sacraments.  Give us the faith to believe Your words of promise and trust in Your forgiveness.  Thank you for claiming us and keeping us in Your family. Amen.

Scripture readings: Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Practice a Christmas Carol of your choosing

Talk about the history and celebrations of baptisms in your family.  Has everyone been baptized?  When?  Do you celebrate the baptism birthdays?  How?  If not, might you do so in the future?  How might you do it? (special baptism candle, crown to wear, scallop shelled cookies to eat, small gift, special family devotions, etc.)

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Saturday, Twenty-First Day of Advent

Jesus Comes to Us in People

Do you know of one more way that Jesus comes to us today, on Christmas, and every day?  Do you know what it is?

You are it! And so am I.  Jesus comes to us through people.  People read and study and teach His Holy Word.  It is people who are baptized and share in His Eucharist.  It is people through whom Jesus comes to us today.

'Where two or more of you are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

"I tell you this, anything you did for the least of my brothers, you do for me." (Matthew 25:40)

That's one reason we send Christmas cards and give each other gifts.  When we do that for someone, it is like sending a card or gift to Jesus living in them. 

One last thought--do you ever have to wait for someone in your family?  If you remember that Jesus is coming to you through people, would it make waiting easier?  Would that person be worth waiting for?

Prayer:  Come, Lord Jesus, Come.  Come to us in people.  Teach us to recognize You in people.  Help us love each other as we would love You.  Help us receive each other's love as a gift from You.  Amen.

Scripture reading: Matt.  25:31-46

Practice a Christmas Carol of your choosing

Make some people ornaments if you did not do so on the second day of Advent.

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Christmas Eve, Twenty Second Day of Advent
Jesus Promises to Return

Hurray! Tomorrow is the day!  After all this waiting, Christmas is almost here.  Soon we'll be giving and opening gifts, singing those favorite carols and enjoying special treats.  Our waiting is almost over!

Or is it?  When Christmas is said and done, will there be anything else to wait for?

The answer of course is yes!  We have another special promise from God for which we wait.  It is a promise Jesus made before He returned to His Father in heaven. 

Jesus promised, "I go to prepare a place for you...I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:2-3).

That's quite a promise. A promise of eternal life.  It's a promise of glory and joy far beyond anything we can imagine.  St. John wrote a whole book just trying to describe a vision he had seen of what the return of Jesus would be like.

Jesus Himself also talked about returning to Earth with power and glory.  And then He explained, " The King will say, 'Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'" (Matthew 25:34).

Imagine that!  We think we've been waiting a long time--God's been waiting for us since the beginning of the world!  And one of these days He'll come back--the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Ruler of heaven and earth, in great beauty, splendor and power--and simply say, "Come home."

Now that's worth waiting for, isn't it?

Prayer:Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Scripture Readings: Matthew 25:31, John 14

Songs: The King of Glory

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Silent Night

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Merry Christmas! :)

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tea

The ever-creative Alice at Cottage Blessings has put together a lovely tea for Our Lady of Guadalupe's feast day.  Do stop and take a look at her delicious ideas!

Advent Copywork and Coloring Pages

Katherine from A Living Education has posted some wonderful Advent coloring and copywork.  Thank you for this great resource!

Magnolia Cul-de-Sac

Have you stopped by Tracy's blog?  She has some lovely Advent traditions including her family's rendition of the Advent log.  I really like the forest green candles and the pine boughs. It is so exciting for me to see how everyone makes them unique and special for their own families!

Just a Reminder…

For those of you who will be following the Advent devotions for Week Two starting tomorrow, you will want to make your symbol cookies today or tomorrow before tomorrow's devotion time (we do ours in the evening).  You can use any recipe for roll out dough, even store-bought sugar cookie dough if you are in a pinch. 

Here is the recipe and patterns that we use.   I also want to mention that Rycraft has cookie presses of the lamb, star of David and sun that could be used year after year. 

Recent Advent Log Photo

I had promised to post a more recent photo of our Advent Log once I had our set up again for this season.  Here is a more recent shot prior to lighting the first candle on Sunday. 

As you can see, the log does not really show beneath the evergreen roping so it feasibly could be made out of whatever you'd like so long as it has twenty nine holes for the longest possible Advent.

Advent Log, Part 2

Many of you asked for more information about the Advent log.  Since I was able to retrieve my log  from our crawl space in the eaves this morning, I was able to take a closer photo of the holes, for any of you who are planning to make one for your family in the upcoming weeks.  Mine has been used for many years and is covered with wax drippings, which does not matter as the log is surrounded by evergreens anyhow.  Speaking of the wax drippings, it is a good idea to place the log on a sheet of waxed paper when setting it up for use in your home.  You will not be able to see the paper (evergreens again) but it will keep your mantel or surface from being marred with wax drippings. 

The log is drilled at even intervals with a large drill bit on a drill press.  I do not think a hand drill would work on this job.  I have a total of 29 holes in my log and it is approximately four feet long.  The holes are about 1 1/2 inches deep.  The holes must be large enough to fit the base of a standard taper candle without being too large.  (This is essential.  It is better to have a hole that is slightly too small and have to shave off a tiny bit of the bottom of the candle than to have a hole that is too large, thus making the candle wobbly and unstable.)   Before drilling, you must choose a log that will not roll when on a flat surface.  Keep in mind that it will be setting on your mantel or piano or wherever else you choose to place it.  It will have tall candles placed in it so it is VERY important that the log be stable and secure when laying on its base. 

The beauty of the log is not so very important because you can cover it with evergreens, either real or artificial.  Do not worry if the log you choose has funny knotholes or irregular patterns in the bark.  You can choose a type of wood you like from a tree that has fallen or one that you fell yourself.  I happened to choose the white birch because I love its peeling bark and pretty color. I suppose that a commerical piece of lumber drilled with the appropriate number of holes would work as well, especially if it is stained and varnished attractively. 

I will be posting our family's Advent devotions, one week at a time in the upcoming days.  These are large posts, with devotional material, daily bible readings, songs, prayers, recipes and a few activity suggestions.  Please bear with me while I compile them into a readable format, rather than scattered throughout several different books and photocopies that my family uses each Advent season.   This is a large undertaking but it will help me to have everything in one place, as well as allow me to share it with you.  Anyhow, I hope to have Week One posted on Monday. 

St. Martin's Feast/Martinmas

St. Martin of Tours (397), was born in Pannonia (modern Hungary) of pagan parents around the year 316.  Having become a soldier at age fifteen, he later gave up military life and was baptized.  Sooon after he founded a monastery at Liguge in France, where he led a monastic life under the direction of St. Hilary.  He was ordained a priest and chosen bishop of Tours.   He provided an example of the ideal good pastor, founding other monasteries, educating the clergy, and preaching the Gospel to the poor.  He is the patron of soldiers and the uncle of Ireland's St. Patrick. 

In Poland, rich cookies are shaped like horseshoes to remember St. Martin's snow-white horse, on which he "comes riding through the snow" when one least expects him. 

From The Catholic Parent Book of Feasts by Michaelann Martin

St.  Martin horseshoe cookie recipe can be found at Heart of the Kitchen.

The Advent Log

The tradition of the Advent log is similar to that of the Advent wreath.  It is a means of counting the days until Christmas in anticipation of the birth of our Savior.  Ours is a birch log, approximately 4 feet in length.  It contains a candle hole for each day of Advent, plus one for the Christmas holy day itself.  Some years, when the Advent season is long (like last year), each candle hole is used.  This year, because Advent begins on Dec. 3, many of the holes will remain unused.

The log was lovingly drilled by my father (may he rest in peace) who helped fell the tree from which it came.  I wanted a white birch because its bark is so beautiful against the greens of the season.  My father's friend just happened to have a birch tree in his yard that was dying and was happy to have it removed. 

Traditionally, families use purple and pink candles for the Advent log, similar to the candle coloring of Advent wreaths.   Our family uses all burgandy colored candles with one white candle for Christmas day, for no other reason except that we like those colors.  We use 12 inch taper candles which are just the right length for about a 15 minutes nightly devotion for each night of Advent.  If you are nervous that you might run out of candle (by burning too quickly) by Christmas day, you can purchase 15 inch candles from various Catholic supply stores.  I decorate the area around the log with greens and red wooden cranberry beads. 

The candles are lit every evening.  On the first night of Advent, we light the far left candle.  It is by far my favorite night of the season!  We turn off all the lights in the house and light that single candle.  We read about Christ being the Light of the World and sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel".  That tiny flame gives such a bright light in the darkness. 

As Advent progresses and Christmas draws near, the light becomes brighter in the room with each candle that is lit.  We light the candles in an alternating pattern, switching sides of the log each evening.  This pattern ensures that the candles will have a cascading effect with the tallest candle being the center one on Christmas day.

The Christmas candle is very special.  It is pure white, symbolizing God's holiness.  Each year's new Christmas candle is lit by the youngest in the house (with Dad's help) using the Christmas candle from the previous year. 

On Christmas Day, we leave the candles burning for a long time while we sing, open presents and celebrate.  The Advent log is used for the twelve days after Christmas as well, ending on Epiphany when it is taken down for the season.

During each evening of Advent, we read from the Scripture, have a devotion together, pray and sing some carols in preparation for Christmas.  I will post more about the devotions and practices that go along with the Advent log another time. 

The photo that I have posted of our log is of very poor quality.  It was taken in our apartment, early in our marriage when we kept the log on our mantel.  In this home, we display it on top of our piano.  You can see by the number of candles lit in the photo that it was taken on Christmas Eve, as the only candle unlit is the white Christmas candle.  I have a more recent photograph that I cannot locate.  I will try to update the picture when I can. 

All Saints Day Party

Each year our local homeschooling group has its annual All Saints Day party at a roller rink, which we rent for the afternoon.  (For those of you who can imagine many, many children dressed in costumes, you can imagine what the addition of wheels does to the mix.)  This year, we had 75 children in attendance!  The kids arrive in costume, skate for some time and then take a break for a sharing time where each child tells about his/her Saint.  The audience guesses the Saint by the clues given.   Then, there is time for more skating and each child receives a bag of candy upon leaving. 

Annie as a Guardian Angel

Mary Kathryn as Our Heavenly Mother with the baby Jesus (aka Baby Emmie in disguise)

Christopher as St. Martin of Tours

The funny thing about Chris is that each day he dresses in this knightly get-up anyhow.  :) Really.  If you stopped by any given day, this is probably what you would find him in!

Benjamin (right) and his good friend St. Hubert the Hunter (aka Nick) in a poorly focused photo taken while the boys were "listening intently" to the Saint clues, (lest you think my oldest looks bored)  In his defense, the saint "narrations" lasted over an hour but it was so sweet to see the little ones go up in their costumes. 

We had a wonderful afternoon hanging out with old friends and enjoying the children.  This was such a fun time for the kids and it gave the moms and dads a chance to put on skates again!  (Just like old times~~junior high Friday night skating, under the disco ball, wearing leg warmers,  and Shaun Cassidy t-shirts...Come on!  You know you did!  :) )

Have a wonderful Halloween and All Saints Day!

The Christ Child and the Manger

In the upcoming weeks, I'd like to share some of our family's Advent and Christmas traditions.  One of my favorites centers around the Christ Child and His manger.

On the first day of Advent, an empty manger is set out in a prominent place in our living room.  Nearby is a basket containing soft bedding of hay, straw or paper Easter grass (in a natural color).  Throughout the Advent season, the children can place a piece of hay in the manger when they have done an act of kindness, made a sacrifice for others or said a prayer for someone in need. 

As the Advent season progresses, it is fun to see the children reminding one another to do kind things so they can make a soft bed for the Christ child's arrival.  The spirit is jovial and encouraging as they spur one another to be good. 

On Christmas Eve, the bed is made, filled with all their love and prayers for others in the form of hay.  They go to bed, awaiting His arrival (and OK, the presents too!).  On Christmas morning,  He has come!  We place his manger on our dining room table in the center of the feast.  Our statue of the Baby Jesus is almost life sized.  The little ones really take to Him, since He is the size of a real baby, kissing His little fingers and touching His head.   

This tradition is special to our family because it is a tangible way during Advent to show our love for others and, therefore, for Him.  The manger and Baby are on display until Epiphany, the day that we celebrate the Adoration of the Magi.  The statue remains, during the Christmas season, as a reminder of the real Christ child, born some 2000 years ago, who still fills our hearts and families with His love. 

A Book of Feasts and Seasons

One of the first books I was given when I reverted to Catholicism nine years ago was Joanna Bogle's A Book of Feasts and Seasons.   I devoured its contents with much enthusiasm.  My childhood had failed to teach me the beauty of the Catholic faith, my catechism had been weak and watered down at best.  I had no idea what a traditional Catholic home could hold within its walls, what kinds of celebrations could be had because I grew up in an era and a home that did not embrace the rhythm and seasons of the Church. 

When I reverted, I committed myself to bringing the Faith alive for my children, to instill in them memories and traditions that they would not want to forsake, as I had done,  for another faith.  We jumped into celebrating the Liturgical Year in our home, starting with Advent.  As the Church year progressed,  I spent much time with Bogle's book (as well as Mary Reed Newland's The Year and Our Children, which is now sadly out of print).   Feasts and Seasons is chock full of recipes, craft ideas, interesting bits of history, saint biographies and much more.   It painted a picture for me of how a home could be: putting on plays of the lives of the Saints, making pancakes together for Shrove Tuesday, searching the fields on Michaelmas for purple asters, having a party on Twelth Night.  I pictured it all in my mind's eye, the way a Catholic home might be, thanks to Joanna's vivid descriptions.   

I return to this book again and again to glean ideas, try out yet another recipe or just find support for the faith-filled lifestyle that I want to pass on to my children. 

Joanna Bogle has started a blog called Auntie Joanna Writes.  While I have only read a couple of her posts, I am sure she will be a wealth of information for those of us who long to bring the Feasts and Seasons into our homes. 

St. Michael Chaplets

While we were making the chaplets on Michalemas, Mary began to feel sick and eventually I had to stop the craftmaking and take her to bed.   So, the chaplets remain unfinished.  We will work some more on them early this week and post the photos when soon as they are complete. 

By the way, thank you all for your prayers.  She is feeling a bit better, still a little queasy without much appetite, but well enough to attend her pal Dominic's birthday party this evening! :)

Michaelmas Blackberry pie

Blackberry Pie is traditionally eaten on this day because the legend says that the devil spits on the blackberries after Michaelmas. 

The crust for a double crust pie:

2 cups all purpose-flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening or lard

6 to 7 tablespoons cold water

Stir together flour and salt.  Cut in shortening until pieces are the size of small peas.  Add water and mix with hands.  Divide in half and toll out in a circle on a lightly floured surface.  Wrap pastry around rolling pin and unroll onto a 9" pie pan.

Filling:

4 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen, slightly thawed)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

Coat berries with flour and sugar in a mixing bowl.  Transfer filling to waiting pie crust.  After filling, top with second pie crust.  Pinch edges of pie together, cut slits for steam.  Cover edges of crust with foil.  Bake for 50 minutes at 375 degrees.  Remove foil, bake for another 20 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Michaelmas

Wishing all of you a very happy Michaelmas! 

Michaelmas is one of our family's favorite days of the liturgical year.  I have gleaned much great information about the various feasts and their celebrations from A Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle and The Year and Our Children by Mary Reed Newland.  Making a blackberry pie and picking the purple St. Michaelmas asters are two of the traditional things we do each year. 

However, for a little variety, I have incorporated some of the fun ideas from this thread into today's celebration.   For dinner tonight we are making wings, raw veggies with dip and angel hair pasta.  I thought the menu suggestions were such a great idea, I could not resist borrowing the ideas!  Dessert will be the traditional blackberry pie as well as Elizabeth's suggestion of devil's food cake.  I bought the little spears for poking the cupcakes at our local party store. 

I have purchased the medals and pony beads for some St. Michael chaplets to be made this evening.  The kids will be coloring and printing out the prayer of St. Michael for their liturgical year notebook.   I will be reading the Catholic Children's Treasure Box book about St. Michael to the little ones and The Angel's: God's Messengers and Our Helpers to my older son. 

St. Michael's purple asters do not grow anywhere near my home so each year on this day, I drive down some country roads or highways to locate a bunch.  They grow in the wild along the side of the road, usually in some remote area waist high with thistle and milkweed, humming with grasshoppers.  Sure enough, we found some this morning and set them on the dining room table with St. Michael's picture. 

I hope to post some a photo of the chaplets and cakes tomorrow.  In the meantime, please have a blessed Michaelmas!

Buona Festa! Happy Feast!

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a day for celebrating and honoring our Mother.

For many years, we have travelled into the heart of Cleveland's "Little Italy" to honor our Mother and share in the festivities.  Signs of the feast's arrival are everywhere.

The day begins at 11:30 when the bells of Holy Rosary Church begin to toll.  The procession draws thousands of people from  the Catholic community. 

Marching in the procession are various organizations that honor Our Lady...

The Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Priests for Life...

Our Bishop and various clergy...

There are children dressed as saints...

and a marching band!

as well as many women wearing the scarf depicting Our Lady...

(These lovely scarves are sold at the festival.  I plan to wear mine for all the Marian Feasts.)

The highlight of the procession is the Madonna who is followed by hundreds of people praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns.

People make donations as the Madonna statue passes, which are collected and given to Catholic Charities. 

Following the procession, Mass is said in Holy Rosary Church, a beautiful church built in 1908.  The windows and paintings in the church are breathtaking.  I thought you might like to see one.

The Feast is reverent and honoring to Our Lady but it is also a whole lot of fun!  This three day event also has carnival rides, games to play and, of course, great Italian food!  We stopped by Corbo's bakery, our favorite place for cannoli and lemon ice.

Here is Mary Kathryn enjoying a lemon Italian ice. 

It was a fun, full Feast day for us all ! If you are ever in Cleveland, or for those of you who are, come along with us next year!

Buona Festa!

Our May Baskets

I did promise to post our May Baskets before my "Spring Blog Break" so here they are!

The kids and I had a great time making and delivering the baskets.  Fortunately for our family, my mother lives about 1/8 mile from us.  We delivered the baskets to all the ladies in her building.  The kids enjoyed hanging them on the apartment doorknobs and running away.  They really wanted it to be anonymous and, thankfully, no one caught us!  Many thanks to Alice who gave us the Plastic Cup Challenge!  Now, back to my regularly scheduled cleaning....