Prayer to St. Gerard against the Culture of Death

O great Wonder-Worker of our day, St. Gerard, powerful protector of the mother and her unborn child, beg God, we beseech thee, to crush the mounting forces of anti-life; and to enlighten who walk in this deadly way that they may see the enormity of their sin and return to the generous observance of the divine law. Pray, too, for mothers that they may prize the great privilege of motherhood and that they may bring up their children in the holy love and fear of God; so saving their own immortal souls and furthering the honor and glory of their Maker; through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PRIEST: Pray for us, O Great St. Gerard!

PEOPLE: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!

PRIEST: Let us pray:

ALL: O Almighty and Eternal Father, Who, in Thy all-wise Providence, has deigned to raise up St. Gerard to be the glorious protector of the mother and her unborn child: grant Thee, we beseech thee, through the powerful intercession of this, Thy servant, that all the diabolical forces of anti-life may be destroyed from the face of the earth forever; that so the Christian family may once more flourish to the praise and eternal glory of Thy Holy Name. This we ask through the merits of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost -- God forever and ever. Amen.

Imprimi Potest: John N. McCormick, C.SS.R. Provincial Superior of St. Louis, June 15, 1957. Imprimatur: Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, May 21, 1957

Shared by Mary L.

A Gift Resource

Kim kindly shared this link, Saintly Sisters, with our group. If you are looking for a gift for your daughter, this website might have just what you want.

Norman Rockwell Exhibit

The Tacoma Art Museum is hosting "AMERICAN CHRONICLES: The Art of NORMAN ROCKWELL". This exhibition runs through May 30, 2011. For additional information, please visit:

http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/Page.aspx?cid=6620 

Multiplication Game

A couple of my kids have really been struggling to get their multiplication tables down. I discovered this game yesterday and it has been very helpful already. You can download the free version (which is pretty cool in itself) to see if it is a good fit for your family. The free version actually has everything you need to learn all the facts, but if you buy the upgrade it provides more entertaining "worlds" that provide a little more excitement for the kids. It does have a bit of monsters bopping the characters on the head type of violence (nothing too bad) so you may want to preview it to see if you think it is too intense for some of your younger ones. I like the fact that it makes them repeat the problems they are struggling with until they have mastered them, and reviews all problems to make sure that they have retained what they have learned. This is all done in an entertaining way that makes them want to come back again and again. I have found that the promise of 20-30 min. of  play time with this game is a great incentive for them to get their other work done (and it is downloaded on your computer so it doesn't eat up online time if that is an issue for you). The upgrade is reasonably priced, and gives you the game forever for all of your kids. So many online educational games make you pay per child, and that just doesn't work for many of us with larger families.

It looks like they have an addition, subtraction, and division version in the works as well! And no, I don't get a commission for recommending this, but if you promise to tell a friend about the program (totally honor system) you do get a discount for the upgrade....just type in "ihelped" in the appropriate field when you checkout and you get $19.99 off the deluxe package.

It has given me a ray of hope that we will finally get these times tables memorized. I hope some of you find it helpful as well! 

Here is the link:

http://www.bigbrainz.com/

God bless,

Rachel

March for Life Olympia

A Note from a Friend: 54 Day Rosary Novena

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of Our Lady, revelead to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favored her with an apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary. The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments. They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvelous. Blessed Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always obtained favors from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favor thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, “Whenever you wish to obtain graces from me, make three Novenas of Petition and at the same time recite the fifteen decades of my Rosary and then three Novenas of Thanks”.

The Novena consists of 5 decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in petition; then immediately 5 decades each day for twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted.

A laborious Novena, but a Novena of Love. You who are sincere will not find it too difficult, if you really wish to obtain your request.

Book Recommendations: Marriage

At our last beach day, I mentioned to Peggy Sue and Abby that Fr. Saguto, FSSP had recommended two books for engaged and married couples.  I thought that others might appreciate knowing about these books, too.

They are:

Covenanted Happiness by Cormac Burke

Three to Get Married by Fulton Sheen

I purchased Burke's book from Vercillos and was told that they could order Fulton Sheen's book.

FSSP Videos about Vocations

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter has produced a series of three informative videos on the topic of vocations to the priesthood. They are very well produced and feature excellent endorsements from several US bishops and His Eminence Card. William Levada. I commend these videos to you and know you will enjoy them. Most importantly, if you know of young men who may be interested, please let them know that the videos are provided on YouTube via this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omJ83APSdXA&feature=related

Through Mary and Her Immaculate Heart,

 
 
Una Voce of Western Washington

In Honor of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

DO IT ANYWAY

(This poem was written by Blessed Mother Teresa and is engraved on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta)

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

BE KIND ANYWAY.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

SUCCEED ANYWAY.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

BUILD ANYWAY.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow;

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have. It may never be enough;

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU”VE GOT ANYWAY.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and GOD;

IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

4US

4US is Saturday, September 25, at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.  Please make every effort to participate in and/or make a donation to 4US.  4US is a family-friendly event that raises money to purchase ultrasound machines for crisis pregnancy centers.  Please visit their website for more information.

Saint Coloring Pages

I uploaded the saint coloring pages that I made in 2003 for our Little Flowers group to Google Docs.  I am definitely not an artist, but my children don't seem to mind.  The pages are available via the following links:

• St. Therese
• St. Agnes
• St. Catherine of Siena
• St. Catherine Laboure
• St. Cecilia
• St. Monica

If you are looking for professional saint coloring pages, I recommend visiting Catholic Heritage Curricula and downloading their coloring pages.  Scroll down on this page for the links.  

The Little Flowers' member's guides also have some nice pictures of the saints.

Finally, a large collection of coloring pages of various saints can be found at Waltzing Matilda.

St. Valentine's Day Word Search

I posted a St. Valentine's Day Word Search that I made for my children, several years ago, on Google Docs.  It can be accessed here.

My Pony

by Bernadette

Little Flowers Final Badge Ceremony

It's hard to believe, but today we had our last Little Flowers' meeting.  Unfortunately, most of the girls could not make it, due to illnesses,etc. It was great to see those who could.

Badge Ceremony

Badge Ceremony

Badge Ceremony



Badge Ceremony

 

Little Flower Sisters

 

Little Flowers Group Photo

 

Little Flowers Group Photo

Future Little Flower

Little Flowers Sharing Photos

Sharing More Photos

Little Flowers Visiting

Little Flower Mother and Tea Hostess

St. Therese, pray for us!

May God bless all of the Little Flowers!

The First Christmas

by Catherine B.

There was a little donkey,

He carried Mary far,

He kept right on walking,

Following a star,

The man's name was Joseph,

His wife was named Mary,

They came to a stable,

Then came a baby.

Christmas Books

The Birds' Christmas Carol, by Kate Douglas Wiggin Born on Christmas Day, Carol is the Bird family's special Christmas baby.  As she approaches her tenth birthday, her health grows worse.  However, Carol has only one wish, to plan an unforgettable Christmas for the poor Ruggles children who live next door.


 

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomeyby Susan Wojciechowski

I have yet to read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey without crying.  It is a touching story about a sad carver whose life changes thanks to a widow, her seven-year-old son and the crèche they ask Mr. Toomey to carve for them.  The illustrations are beautiful and truly capture the expressions of the characters. (Christine B. 11/05)

The Christmas Story Book, Neumann Press

My children enjoy all the stories in this book. (Barbara S. 12/02)

The Donkey's Dreamby Barbara Helen Berger, Philomel Books (also available as a Puffin Book).
Vibrant, detailed pictures add to the beauty of this story about Christ’s birth. (Mary L. 12/01)

The Fussy Angelby Mary Arnold, Bethlehem Books, Lamb Time Book, 1995

Christ's guardian angel, "the smallest angel in Heaven", tries to make everything perfect for Him on the night of His birth. The angel tries to remove the "smelly beasts", he reprimands the shepherds, he questions the wise men's gifts, he tries to shut out all the light, etc. The angel cannot understand why God would send Jesus into such a mess. Finally, the smallest angel realizes that everything is perfect because it is human. It is the "divine mess" God wants.

My children start enjoying this book around age two. (Christine B. 12/7/05)

The Lady of Guadalupe, by Tomie dePaola, Holiday House.
This  book tells the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe in easy to understand language. (Rebecca C.)






 The Little Drummer BoyIllustrated by Kristina Rodanas, Clarion Books.
Kristina Rodanas brings this song to life with her beautiful illustrations.  My almost two-year-old asks Mommy and Daddy read (we actually sing) this book over and over again.  He also enjoys sitting and looking at the beautiful illustrations. (Christine B.)

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
by Tomie de Paola, Harcourt Brace Jovanavich, 1986
The story takes place in Italy around Christmastime.  It is near Christmas and Strega Nona is getting ready for Christmas without using magic.  When things started to go wrong, Big Anthony made up for what he did.  Big Anthony decides to help Strega Nona by planning a surprise Christmas party for her with the help of the whole town. (Bernadette, age 6)

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas (Golden Key Books) by Gloria Whelan, Bethlehem Books

A young Russian boy tries to make his dream of having the village church reopened become a reality. (Christine B. 12/02)

An Orange for Frankie, by Patricia Polacco, Philomel Books, 2004

Last night, we read An Orange for Frankie. Patricia Polacco travels back in time to the Christmas when her grandmother's youngest brother, Frankie, was ten years old. It is the eve prior to Christmas Eve and the Stowell family is anxiously waiting for their Pa to return home with the nine Christmas oranges (one for each of the children). Despite their worries about Pa not being home, the Stowells prepare for Christmas as only a warm and loving family can. By the time I finished the book, tears were rolling down my face and Frankie, my children and I had learned a valuable lesson. (Christine B. 11/30/05)

The Story of Holly & Ivy, by Rumer Godden, Viking, 2006
An orphan, a doll, and a police officer's wife experience a little "Christmas magic" which changes their lives forever.

Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book, by Tasha Tudor, Philomel
This out of print book contains a wonderful selection of traditional Christmas stories, poems, carols, lore and legends, and the author’s Christmas traditions. Some of the included stories are: The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen, The Caravan by Ruth Sawyer, and The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. Tasha Tudor’s illustrations add to the beauty of this book. (Christine B. 12/03)

The Trees Kneel at Christmas, by Maud Hart Lovelace, Abdo & Daughters Publishing, 1994

The Trees Kneel at Christmas is a poignant chapter book about a Catholic Lebanese family, living in Brooklyn. On the eve prior to Christmas Eve, Grandmother tells two of her grandchildren how the trees in Lebanon kneel at Christmas. Her story inspires her grandchildren to see if the trees kneel at midnight on Christmas Eve in Brooklyn, too. The children secretly set out to see three trees in Prospect Park. The tale the children tell, upon their return home, affects all of their family members.

My children, ages 5 and up, enjoyed listening to this book. My 6 and 8 year olds are now reading it on their own. (Christine B. 11/29/05)

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston, illustrated by Barbara Cooney, Dial Books.

Papa has gone away to war, leaving Ruthie and her Mama to get the perfect Christmas tree to their Appalachian town church. (Christine B. 12/01)