Feast of St. Francis De Sales

In honor of today's saint, I am making an effort once again to read An Introduction to the Devout Life, his classic work. It took me several tries to get through St. Sugustine's Confessions. I think it might just be picking up the book at the right time, so maybe now's the time... I found this quote in the USCCB People of Life 9-days of Prayer series of emails:

"All that we do must be motivated by love and not force. We must love to obey rather than fear to disobey."

Good stuff!

Erstein Birth, Marriage, and Death records

can be found here. Simply check the box for "J'accepte ces conditions", then click on "Accéder à la version graphique". Click on the letter E, scroll down to Erstein, and hunt away! M is for marraige records, PM for publication of Marriage (must be like Banns of marriage in church), N for birth (naissance) and D is for death records. What could be easier?!

We have not yet reached the Lord...

From today's Office of Readings (St Augustine's tractates on St John ):

By loving your neighbour, by having care for your neighbour, you are travelling on a journey. Where are you journeying, except to the Lord God, whom we must love with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind? We have not yet reached the Lord, but our neighbour is with us already. So support your neighbour, who is travelling with you, so that you may reach him with whom you long to dwell.

Emphasis mine.

The Landfill Harmonic

You would think that a movie about children of families who scavenge in landfills who play instruments made from trash would be depressing, but if this trailer is any indication, this won't be depressing at all!

the true comfort that remained for men

Thanks to Mr. Timothy Kieras, S.J. of the Magis Institute's Daily Ignatian Reflection for this quote:

"...the true comfort that remained for men [after the fall], and that embodied and gave reality to their conquering struggle against every despair, was surely Song."  ---Hilaire Belloc

So, Sing!

A Prayer in Time of Need, (and two helpful quotes)

I came across this prayer at Happy Catholic (of course) and I think it is worth captruing and sharing:

IN TIME OF NEED

Heavenly Father,
in my present need,
help me to believe that you are aware of my anxiety
and will do what is best for me.
Give me the strength to trust you
and put the present and future in your hands.
Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

There is also a quote, not really a prayer, that  I have on my cubby wall, from St. Augustine:

Trust the past entirely to the mercy of God,
The present to His tender love,
And the future to His providence and care over you.

These are reminders that we are not in this alone, that God is with us at all times.  And how about a closing quote from Paul Claudel:

Jesus did not come to do away with suffering or to remove it.  He came to fill it with His presence.

Peace!

Have you asked God what it is He wants?

Here’s a short little essay entitled “Have you asked God what it is He wants?” It’s a nice little meditation on Divine Providence, and quotes one of my favorites, Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de
Cassaude. I especially like the part about the Sacrament of the Present Moment!

Here's a good quote from de Caussade:

Everything has a supernatural quality, something divine about it that can lead us onward to holiness. Everything is part of that completeness which is Jesus Christ

Yes, Caroline, it is indeed a slow day here at work today!

Natural law

Here is as good a nutshell explanation of natural law as you are likely to find:

Once again, let me emphasize that the natural law is not a specifically Catholic thing. Astonishingly, each time I have mentioned the natural law, some have insisted that it is unfair to expect others to conform to Catholic doctrine! Truly, the mind boggles, for the whole point of the natural law is that it is universal and, well, natural. The critic’s very appeal to lack of fairness is in fact an appeal to the natural law. All rational moral argument appeals to the natural law, even when it erroneously uses one part of the natural law against another. Confusion, passion and self-interest may at times cause us to make mistakes in interpreting and applying the natural law, but the inescapable fact remains that the natural law is the only way we have of knowing when the positive law is immoral. Without it, there can be no concept of “right” apart from the concept of “power”.

Thanks to Dr. Jeff Mirus from CatholicCulture.org

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older

Today is the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila, the first woman named Doctor of the Church, a mystic, and one who was not afraid to speak bluntly. Once, when she had fallen off her horse on a journey, she is said to have scolded God with, “it is no wonder you have so few friends, considering how you treat the ones you have!” (I’ve always loved that quote!)

Anyway, this morning on the radio I heard this prayer attributed to her. I had seen the prayer before, but never heard that it was hers. Be that as it may, it’s a great prayer:

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all; but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet**, for a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people; and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Amen.

** in some versions, I have seen this phrase added: “I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with” . I’ve never agreed with that, because I don’t think most saints are unpleasant. Truly holy people I’ve met are gracious and charming!

Cards 2011 Game 6 video

This video still gives me chills!

From Therese of Lisieux..

...whose feast day is Monday.  This is from Kathryn Jean Lopez over at Patheos portal:

Is This Ironic or All too Appropriate for the Internets?
From St. Therese of Lisieux:

We have only short moments of this life to work for God’s glory. The devil knows this and this is why he tries to make us waste time in useless things. O, let us not waste our time! Let us save souls!

Now, get back to work!

A meditation on youth

... and Strat-O-Matic baseball.  Here's an excerpt:

And somewhere along the line, what seems to slip away is time—the time to have time for losing yourself in such things as baseball seasons played out with dice rolls. The world intrudes, the boy grows, and the games prove less enthralling. Still, the lessons of Strat-O-Matic were real and vital, in their day. A realization of the interplay of order and randomness, for instance. A grasp of the sheer reality of the past, the truth that others lived before us. The civilizing of boys by appealing to their impulses to forget themselves in the mathematics of the world and the inner secrets of a game like baseball.

Read it all if you know anyone who was once an adolescent boy.  Even if he didn't get his Strat-O-Matic game until 1985.

The Wisdom of Nero Wolfe

I actually found someone else who remembers this:

One of my favourite quotes is from the fictional detective Nero Wolfe: “To me the relationship between the host and guest is sacred. The guest is a jewel resting on a cushion of hospitality”. I think that’s the golden rule of entertaining. Whether you style is barbecue or dinner at eight, you’ll never go wrong if you keep it in mind.

A consolation

The Anchoress posts a quote used by Julie Davis (Happy Catholic) at last weeks' Catholic New Media Conference in Dallas:

“Sometimes it may seem to us that there is no purpose in our lives, that going day after day for years to this office or that school or factory is nothing else but waste and weariness. But it may be that God has sent us there because but for us Christ would not be there. If our being there means that Christ is there, that alone makes it worthwhile.”


— Caryll Houselander, Reed of God, Page 60

For those of us with jobs as opposed to "careers", this is a consoling thought.

How's this for an intense prayer?

From the days when people really knew how to pray!

The holy Body of Christ Jesu be my salvation of body and soul. Amen. The Glorious blood of Christ Jesu bring my soul and body into the everlasting bliss. Amen. I cry God mercy; I cry God mercy; I cry God mercy; welcome my maker; welcome my redeemer; welcome my Saviour; I cry thee mercy with heart contrite of my great unkindness that I have had unto thee.

"This is an extract from the first work of Catholic spirituality printed in the English language,..." Read more here.
I am busy coveting the book he reviews, but right now it is $65.00 on Amazon.  But it is going on my wish list!

On a long hot summer day!

More Friday Fun: Bouncing Ball

Play Bouncing Ball.  See if you can beat my high score of 40,000 points!

Friday Fun: Piano Playing Dogs!

So long, Tom and Ray!

This is almost like losing a member of the family.  Tom and Ray Magliozzi have been entertaining me for so long that I've just taken them for granted.  To be honest, the thought had never occurred to me that the show would end some day.  Saturday's on NPR just won't be the same without them.

Jeffrey Overstreet at Looking Closer has a list of 7 reasons they are a joy to listen to.  I concur on all seven. At the end he has three short observations about their infectious joy, the last of which is: 

What can I do so that... my presence brings more of this kind of thing into the world?

Which got me thinking...when I was about 25 years old, I was busy taking myself super-seriously.  I'd left Kenrick Seminary a year or so earlier, and was struglling with what I should do with my life.  Having been so recently in school, most of my thoughts were on things like philosophy, theology, psychology--some kind of academic pursuit--as being the really important work in the world.  What would I do with my life.  What wonderful work would I accomplish for God?  (I wonder if God realized back then houw much He needed my help?)

Somewhere along the way God tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Look at your Uncle Louie."  One of my mom's many older brothers, he had worked as a custodian at St. Cecelia's church.  After retiring, he spent his days helping his neighbors, giving the older ladies rides to the store or the doctor, helping in any way he could.  He was the farthest thing from a martyr.  He always had a smile on his face, and somehow he made me feel like I was doing him a favor just by being me.  He brightenend any room, shoot, he brightened the world.  If I could bring that kind of happiness and peace to the world, I'd be doing the Lord's work just fine.

Some lessons take a lifetime to learn.  I have a thick head, a bit of a melancholy streak, and I still take myself too seriously.  I get gloomy thinking about all the Great and Important Things I could  have accomplished in my life and didn't.  When I am at my gloomiest, God will once again tap me on the shoulder and say, "Remember Uncle Louie!  Go and do likewise."  His memory, and his example, still brighten any room.

A different take on those payouts in Milwaukee

This from Kathryn Lopez at National Review.

Don't believe everything you hear fron the N Y Times and SNAP!

Like Judas or like John?

"For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John"
C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.

TV's 25 best catch phrases

Courtesy of Jonah Goldberg

My favorite:  Yabba Dabba Do!

What's yours?

Good stuff I found yesterday:

The Best Walking Playlists

Wallking for weight loss playlist

and one more goodie:

Homeschooling families should love this article:

Here’s a sample:

I wish that as I was growing up, the role of wife and mother had been more fully present as a respectable and important option that also needs time and training, not just an afterthought that automatically tacks on to a career. Much of the skill set I acquired in university is not very useful in the home. Although I know how to write legal briefs, I wish I knew how to sew, play family songs on the piano and cook without a cookbook, and even that I was more familiar with caring for little ones and for a busy household. All the chores I was protected from in order to enable me to study as I was growing up – maybe I should have done them after all,
including some babysitting. I want to give these experiences to my daughter, so that she will be better equipped not just for a career, but also for motherhood.

Aren’t you glad we didn’t shield you from all those chores?

Here are some Father's Day ideas for your favorite Dad:

• Gillian Welch's cd Revival
• St. Philip Neri - A Portrait
• Mystic Monk Iced Coffee Blend

That's all for now.  Candy, Ding Dongs, and golf balls are alwys welcome as well!

Wonder

“Ideas lead to idols; only wondering leads to knowing.” --St. Gregory of Nyssa

I just saw this on my facebook page:

Faith in God includes faith in his timing

                              ~~~Neal A. Maxwell

Thanks to Dana Kopff.

I found this at Egregious Twaddle, via Happy Catholic, who sent me there:

Praying

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

Joanne at Egregious twaddle tells us that this poem is "from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver. This is from her 2006 collection, Thirst, and a big H/T to Julie at Happy Catholic, who posted it some time ago."

Today's Quote

Courtesy of Happy Catholic:

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

Henry Van Dyke

From Archbishop Charles Chaput

This is good stuff:

The great Green Bay Packer theologian, Vince Lombardi, liked to say that real glory consists in getting knocked flat on the ground, again and again and again, and getting back up – just one more time than the other guy. That’s real glory. And there’s no better metaphor for the Christian life. Don’t give up. Your prolife witness gives glory to God. Be the best Catholics you can be. Pour your love for Jesus Christ into building and struggling for a culture of life. By your words and by your actions, be an apostle to your friends and colleagues. Speak up for what you believe. Love the Church. Defend her teaching. Trust in God. Believe in the Gospel. And don’t be afraid. Fear is beneath your dignity as sons and daughters of the God of life.

You can read his whole talk at the link above.

Lenten reading suggestion

The Imitation of Christ

I was reading along in The Imitation of Christ, thinking, “Boy, this is just not speaking to me.  It seems like so much pious prattle.”  The very next thing I read was this:

“At times you will be forsaken by God, at times troubled by those about you and, what is worse, you will often grow weary of yourself. You cannot escape, you cannot be relieved by any remedy or comfort but must bear with it as long as God wills. For He wishes you to learn to bear trial without consolation, to submit yourself wholly to Him that you may become more humble through suffering. No one understands the passion of Christ so thoroughly or heartily as the man whose lot it is to suffer the like himself.”  (Book 2 Chapter 12, THE ROYAL ROAD OF THE HOLY CROSS)

Further on in the same chapter he says, “The cross, therefore, is always ready; it awaits you everywhere. No matter where you may go, you cannot escape it, for wherever you go you take yourself with you and shall always find yourself. Turn where you will -- above, below, without, or within -- you will find a cross in everything, and everywhere you must have patience if you would have peace within and merit an eternal crown.”

How does he do this?  How does he know me so well?    A few days earlier, I was reading along, my mind wandering, when this jumped out at me:

“The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore, you must never cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and on the left are enemies who never rest.”   ((Book 2 Chapter 9, WANTING NO SHARE IN COMFORT).

If you are looking for some Lenten reading, try a chapter a day.  Sometimes the chapter seem like a collection of brief sayings, sometimes they are extended reflections on a theme.  Most are short, a page or two, and they are aimed at common folk like us.  You don’t need to be a monk or a scholar to profit from this.  There is a reason this is the second best-selling book of all time, after the Bible!  You can find an online version here.

Tough way to get a beer

Birthday Greetings!

Happy 18th birthday, Caroline!

Declare

I finished reading Declare by Tim Powers a couple of days ago.  It is a meaty novel, long, a slow read for me, but one I could not walk away from.  At first it seems to be simply a novel of intrigue, and this it is, quite well.  But it adds an element of the supernatural, and does it so well that it does not feel like a fantasy novel, or anything of the sort.  It becomes believable.  I found myself thinking, Maybe that could really be what happened.  It could even be considered a Catholic novel.  I recommend it  highly.

Just do it...

Writing is not a performance, but a generosity.
                                        ---Brenda Uehland, If You Want to Write

Bearing with the faults of others...

From Book One of the Imitation of Christ, the 16th Chapter, Bearing with the Faults of Others:

Until God ordains otherwise, a man ought to bear patiently whatever he cannot correct in himself and others. Consider it better thus—perhaps to try your patience and to test you, for without such patience and trial your merits are of little account. Nevertheless, under such difficulties you should pray that God will consent to help you bear them calmly. …


If all were perfect, what should we have to suffer from others for God’s sake? But God has so ordained, that we may learn to bear with one another’s burdens, for there is no man without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor wise enough. Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man’s virtue is best revealed in time of adversity—adversity does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.

I was touched by how compassionate this advice is, and by the admonition to be patient with yourself as well as others.

Words of Wisdom

From Riparians at the Gate (courtesy of Happy Catholic, of course!)

Girls, even if you aren’t super gorgeous, guys are THAT interested in you, just because you are a girl. You! Yes, you! You don’t need to “sell” yourself. You don’t need to put your every asset on display. Be a kind, friendly person who cares about others. That’s what real men are looking for in a wife.

As a former single guy, I can vouch for this

And, just so you know:
ri·par·i·an   /rɪˈpɛəriən, raɪ-/ Show Spelled[ri-pair-ee-uhn, rahy-]
adjective

1. of, pertaining to, or situated or dwelling on the bank of a river or other body of water: riparian villas.

Warfare to the last breath...

"The brethren also asked [Abba Agathon], 'Amongst all good works, which is the virtue that requires the greatest effort?' He answered, 'Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than that of prayer to God. For every time a [person] wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a [person] undertakes, if [she] perseveres in it, [she] will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath.'" The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Cistercian Publications, 1975), pp. 21-22.

True dat!

Today's Comic

The Imitation of Christ

I have a new resolution:  I am going to read The Imitation of Christ, a chapter a day.  Ihave made several attempts to read this classic but have never succeeded in getting very far.  I am too, impatient, I think.  It isn't meant to be read like C. S. Lewis or Frank Sheed, chapters at a time.  I believe it is meant to be read slowly, a little at a time, to give our souls time to marinate in its wisdom.  Or so I hope!  Here are two quotes I like from Chapter One, "Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth":

I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God?

It is vanity to wish for long-life and care little for a well-spent life.

Happy Monday, y'all!

Another good quote from Happy Catholic

Well Said: Do you worry or do you watch for God?


From my quote journal.

When you find yourself facing an issue in your life, the purpose or reason or good thing that might come out of it being completely hidden from you -- what do you do? Do you worry and fret, become preoccupied with the problem? Do you ignore it or avoid it? Do you complain about it, do you want to run away from it? Or do you see it as a situation in which you might be able to experience the power and grace of God at work? Do you watch for the work of God that is to be done in this situation?                                                          ...Father John Yates

Jule at Happy Catholic has a real knack for finding great quotes, and luckily for us she shares them.  This one struck me because I've often thought that our job, so to speak, no matter what situation we are in, is to be an instance of God's love, compassion, caring, and mercy.  So if we are in a place of suffering, show compassion to those around us.  If we are in a place of joy, enjoy and give thanks.  If we are in a place of struggle, pray for guidance and the grace to endure faithfully.  And if we are in a place of tedium, especially, remember to do our duty as if we are doing it for the Lord.  Because we are.

Faithfully

For all you Journey fans out there!

Lyrics

Journey lyrics - Faithfully lyrics

"The Lord is my strength and my shield"

Julie over at Happy Catholic posted one of my favorite quotes last Saturday. I had it on my cubby wall for years until the recent move:

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations,

That's where the card I had on my wall ended.  Julie's version is better.  It continues:

and say continually; "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him."

St. Francis de Sales

Comel Thou Font of Every Blessing

This gets better every time I watch it.

Another quote (I hope you don't mind)

For some reason, this quote speaks to my better self:

Be pleas­ing to Him for Whom you are sol­diers, Him from Whom you will receive your reward. None of you must be a deserter.

Let your bap­tism serve as a shield, faith as a hel­met, love as a spear, endurance as full armor. Your works are your deposits so that you may receive the full sum due you.

–- St. Igna­tius of Antioch

I found this at a blog by an Orthodox woman entitled This Side of Glory. You can also check out her The good Orthodox girl’s guide to getting rid of ants.

Enjoy!

Today's quote:

"If you are what you ought to be,
you will set the whole world on fire."

--St. Catherine of Siena

The Inner Life of my Daughters

I have found it quite enlightening to discover that two of my daughters are putting their thoughts on blogs these days. As my daughters have gotten older, it seems like I know less and less what goes on in their hearts. I think this is natural, but still unfortunate. I miss the days when they were like open books. So I am happy to have a chance to read Amanda's and Emily's blogs. Good stuff! Keep up the good work, girls! I hope you don't mind my reading over your shoulders...

Favorite Quote Friday

I have some quotes for you today:

Jesus did not come to do away with suffering or to remove it. He came to fill it with His presence

- Paul Claudel

Man has places in his heart which do ot yet exist, and into them enters suffering, in order that ehy may have existence

- Leon Bloy

Trust the past entirely to the mercy of God,
the present to His tender love,
and the future to His providence and care over you.

- St. Augustine

My Blog

Hi, all!!

I just wanted to let you all know that I now have a blog of my own.  Here's the link:

amkopff.blogspot.com

If I had all day

I could spend it just following a daisy-chain of links. I end up places and it becomes a real challenge to figure out how I got there. Here, for example, is an interesting blog called, simply, Betty Duffy. I think I got here from Happy Catholic, but I'm not positive. Well, best get back to work even though it is Friday...

Change is...

Change is that mysterious wedding between my willingness and God's grace.
I really believe that even my willingness is a grace, too.

From the blog A Song not Scored for Breathing

Lines and Colors

This looks like a website Caroline would like. It describes itself as "a blog about drawing, sketching, painting, comics, cartoons, webcomics, illustration, digital art, concept art, gallery art, artist tools and techniques, motion graphics, animation, sci-fi and fantasy illustration, paleo art, storyboards, matte painting, 3d graphics and anything else I find visually interesting. "

Seven Favorite Christmas Carols

Seven of my favorite carols, chosen at random:
1. Hey for Christmas Baltimore Consort, Bright Day Star Custer LaRue: What a name. what a voice!
2. While Shepherds watched Sherburne If you've never heard this shapenote version—do yourself a favor--marvelous!
3. Silent night , Johnny Cash -- just listen
4. Il est ne , The Bells of Dublin, The Chieftains. I used to imagine my daughters doing a circle dance to this, as they sweetly sang! never happened...I love this album because it sounds like a bunch of friends getting together and making music and having fun!
5. Daquin’s Noel (for organ) I would love to hear this before Midnight Mass some year.
6. Lo how a Rose e'er blooming
7. Christmas is Coming A Christmas Together, John Denver and the Muppets. This whole album is fun---this song gives you a taste.

The peaceable kingdom!

I’ve been thinking about this prayer because the opening line was quoted several times during the Pope’s recent visit to Great Britain. Fr. Larry had it printed up on his ordination cards, and I’ve always liked it, but had forgotten about it:

The Mission of My Life
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.

As one who often feels perplexed, I especially like the reference to how my perplexity may serve Him.

This and more of Newman’s prayers can be found here.

"Is Kristin a Brat?"

I was reading this post about Kristin Lavransdatter, (one of my all-time favorite books, highly recommended), which I got to from here (another post about KL) when I read this quote from KL's author Sigrid Undset:

Is there something we ought to have known but weren’t told, and is that why we do such terribly stupid things with our lives?

Boy, can I relate to that! It so often seems like I'm wandering around in the dark...

Be Bold!!!

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"To write is to think, and to write well is to think well," David McCullough once said in conversation. - - read this morning in an article by Peggy Noonan

Words to live by...

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
.....Howard Thurman

Thanks to Happy Catholic!

just for fun...

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    alt="Wordle: Untitled"
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Words to ponder...

Dame Gertrude More, Spiritual Exercises

O lett me sitt alone, silent to all the world and it to me, that I may learn the song of Love.

Dame Gertrude More was the great-great-granddaughter of St. Thomas More.

Thought for the Day

Feeling is the tentacle we stretch out to the world of things

---Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism, ch. 3

Words to Ponder

I heard this today on EWTN:

Jump and the Lord will catch you.

This was Dr. Douglas Grandon talking about his journey from Anglicanism to Catholicism. You can listen to the interview on "The Journey Home" . I don't think this means we act irresponsibly, but rather that if we are seeking to follow the Lord, don't let our fear stop us.

I ran across this at The Anchoress. It's long, but worth reading:


I love this simple definition of grace from Dom Augustin Guillerand, O. Cart, a French Carthusian.

This is the secret of peace, after committing a fault. What is past is past. And if we accept the consequences, while bracing our will, we can be sure that God will know how to draw glory even from our faults. Not to be downcast after committing a fault is one of the marks of true sanctity, for the saint knows how to find God in everything, in spite of human appearances. Once your will is sincerely “good,” then don’t worry…
In all that we do, and at every moment, God has ordained an exact balance between what we have to do and the necessary strength to do it; and this we call grace. Our part is to bring ourselves into line with grace.
God uses all the horrors of this world for an infinitely perfect end, and always with an infinite calm. It is part of his plan that we should feel the blows and experience the wounds of life: but more than anything else he wants us to dominate them by virtues of faith, hope and charity, and so live on his level. It is these latter which will raise us up to him, and then we shall share in his calm, and in the highest part of our being.

If anyone in my family reads this, a copy of Dom Guillerand's book (link above) would be wonderful Father's Day or birthday present!

What's your score?

You are 100% educated in Catholic truths!

 

Wow! You are totally educated in the Catholic faith. A real genius! Have you thought of teaching the faith to others? Be sure to share your wealth of knowledge with those who need it.

Catholic Truths
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Miracles

Miracles are nothing other than God's ordinary truth seen with surprised eyes.
---Gerald G. May, M.D. Addiction and Grace

Some sobering thoughts for us procrastinators...

I just found this quote at a website called The Seanachai:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” — Goethe

So stop worrying about all those reasons it won't work or you can't do it---get started!!!

Check out The Seanachai while you are at it. His most recent podcast is a short reflection on the benefits of writing longhand.

A prayer for family

PRAYER FOR HOME AND FAMILY - Robert Louis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank Thee for this place in which we dwell; for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us this day; for the hope with which we expect the morrow; for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth.

Let peace abound in our small company. Purge out of every heart the lurking grudge. Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Offenders, give us the grace to accept and to forgive offenders. Forgetful ourselves, help us to bear cheerfully the forgetfulness of others.

Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavors. If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come, that we may be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune, and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving to one another.

As the clay to the potter, as the windmill to the wind, as children of their sire, we beseech of Thee this help and mercy for Christ's sake.

I just did!

I could survive for 1 minute, 47 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds.net

Can you beat this?

I could survive for 1 minute, 6 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds.net

Another Quiz!

You Are 36% Nerdy

You're a little nerdy, but no one would ever call you a nerd. You sometimes get into nerdy things, but only after they've become a part of mainstream culture.

How Nerdy Are You?

What condiment are you?

Here's mine:

You Are Ketchup

You are easy going and very measured in your approach to life. Popular and well liked, you get along with everyone. Seriously, everyone loves you! Your taste tends to be pretty mainstream American. You go for the classic favorites: burgers, fries, and apple pie. You get along best with mustard and mayonnaise personalities.

What Condiment Are You?

Click here to take the quiz!

What color should your eyes be?

Your Eyes Should Be Brown

Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

I'm a cashew

You Are a Cashew

You are laid back, friendly, and easy going. Compared to most people, you have a very mild temperament. You blend in well. You're often the last person to get noticed. But whenever you're gone, people seem to notice right away!

What Nut Are You?

The meaning of life...

I found a couple of nice quotes at The Quote Garden :

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. ~Friedrich Nietzsche


Life has meaning only if one barters it day by day for something other than itself. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

What children need...

I ran across this on Barbara Nicolosi’s blog, Church of the Masses, and I pass it along because I think it is absolutely true:

As an old nun told me once, "There are certain things that little kids need from Mommy and Daddy. When they don't get them, they spend the rest of their lives searching for them. "

Discuss among yourselves

Be a Hand-Bell Hero!

How's your co-ordination? Try your hand at hand-bell ringing here

I hope you can do better than I did.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

Here are the O Antiphons for the rest of Advent:

December 21st:
O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 22nd:
O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.

December 23rd:
O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.

For more information on the O Antiphons, go here.

What kind of candy are you?

***Butterfinger***


They call you sticky fingers for a reason!


What Kind of Candy Are You?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofcandyareyouquiz/

How do you view Heaven?

I found this quote from Chesterton over at the Blue Boar web site:

"G.K. Chesterton occasionally depicted Heaven as an inn, the Inn at the End of the World, as it were. As he wrote in the last paragraph in his biography of Charles Dickens:

The hour of absinthe is over. We shall not be much further troubled with the little artists who found Dickens too sane for their sorrows and too clean for their delights. But we have a long way to travel before we get back to what Dickens meant: and the passage is along a rambling English road, a twisting road such as Mr. Pickwick travelled. But this at least is part of what he meant; that comradeship and serious joy are not interludes in our travel; but that rather our travels are interludes in comradeship and joy, which through God shall endure for ever. The inn does not point to the road; the road points to the inn. And all roads point at last to an ultimate inn, where we shall meet Dickens and all his characters: and when we drink again it shall be from the great flagons in the tavern at the end of the world. "

My First Post

Hey all! Amanda finally got on the blog! Yeah! Anyway, things are really busy with school right now. Not much to say, things are going well. I'm really starting to feel like a teacher, and I haven't had a class of my own yet! Until next time.....Amanda

School Buzz

Hello, Kopffs! It's Caroline very first post! exciting, no? (well, maybe not to you, but I think its cool) It's the very first day of school for me, and I'm excited. I FINALLY got my desk put into my room (MINE AT LAST!) and I couldn't be happier! I just came back from a great long weekend with Laura, which you can see the pictures from (I think dad posted them...). anyway, i'm just killing time, so I think I should just get back to work. Toodles! ^_~

Caroline, Emily, and I had a great time in Madison over the weekend. The campus is beautiful, and Madison is quite the large city. State Street has enough stores and restaurants to keep you busy exploring for a long time. Laura's apartment is really nice, and it looks like she is all ready to go!

You can see some pictures of our trip here .

Good advice from Auntie Lillie

"My Auntie Lillie had a few words of advice for me, growing up. One was to tilt a glass 90 degrees before pouring the lager, and to let a Guinness “build” before drinking, another was to talk to St. Michael the Archangel when dodging nightmares, and the third was to “pay attention to anything that keeps being put before yer eyes; it’s the Holy Spirit calling you to prayer or action. Pray to know which.” - - The Anchoress

I would suggest, though, that you tilt the glass 45 degrees. It seems to me if you tilt it 90 degrees, all the beer will spill out--

The power of commitment

I saw this quote last week--and then re-found it in Wikipedia, under the entry for W. H. Murray .


but when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money— booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!




I heard Mother Angelica say in an interview, when asked about starting EWTN, that once you take the first step God supplies the grace needed to keep going. There is also a similar quote from Dorothea Brande, "Act boldly, and unseen forces will come to your aid." Those of us who tend to be timid should take this seriously.

A Memorable Birthday

Caroline's thirteenth birthday was one I don't think she'll easily forget. Ice and snow had been forecast for St. Louis on Thursday and Friday. Driving home on Thursday evening, the highway was slushy, and we fully expected to wake with to a blanket of snow on the ground. We already knew that Rosati and Fontbonne were closed on Friday, and I wasn't expecting to go in to work. I thought maybe I could get a little work done at home.

When I woke up about 6 am on Friday morning, our power was out. I checked our thermostat, which we have set at 63 degrees overnight (I know, the kids complain that it is like a meat locker in our house--we think that keeping the house cool is why they are all so healthy!). The thermostat showed a temperature of 62 degrees, so I figure the power had gone out shortly before I woke up. Since all of our electric clocks have digital displays, we couldn't tell exactly when the power went out. I turned on the portable radio so Caroline could hear her birthday greeting on KMOX (they were in a hurry--they called her Carol Kopff!)

I got my car de-iced and went to McDonald's so we could all have a hot breakfast--and I really needed some coffee! Breakfast was a big hit with all concerned. Then we turned our thoughts to how to cope with having no electricity. All I could think of was the aftermath of the storms last July. Some people were without power for 5 days or more. KMOX radio was telling us that some 500,000 people were without power, so there was no way to know when we'd get power back. We called several hotels near us, but they were all booked up already. I finally found us a room at the Drury Plaza Hotel downtown at 4th and Market. The hotel has a pool and hot tubs, free drinks and snacks in the evening and a free breakfast buffet in the morning. The kids were ready to go right away, but check-in wasn't until 3 pm!

We spent the day cleaning off the cars, shoveling the driveway, and getting our affairs in order--letting Cal and Rita, our neighbors, know where we'd be, getting our overnight bags packed, filling a bag with sodas and snacks. (Gotta have those snacks!) We gave Caroline her birthday presents early, cleaned up the kitchen, and finally, it was 2:30 and time to go.

We got to the hotel and checked in--I parked the van in the basement of the garage, and went to the room. Caroline, Emily, and Deb were already off exploring. Amanda was catching up on her TV watching. (It's kind of sad how dependent we are on the TV and the computer to fill our days.)

Well, the hotel was wonderful. We had dinner at Max and Erma's, then Emily and Caroline went to the exercise room, and Amanda went back to watch more TV. Deb and I visited the lounge in the lobby and got some of our free drinks (three free drinks per adult guest during happy hour--what a deal!). Then Deb headed up to the room for a nice hot shower, while Emily and Caroline and I went for a swim and a visit to the hot tub. The hotel was filled with other families and travelers taking refuge from the storm, so it was almost a festival atmosphere. The breakfast buffet offered pancakes, sausage patties, eggs, biscuits and gravy, as well as cereal, bagels, and danish. Quite a deal for free--we all ate our fill.

When it came time to check out, I was happy to be heading home (our neighbors had called the previous evening to say our power was restored) but a little sad to be ending our mini-vacation. Let's just hope the powere stays on!

My Holy Week Retreat

If you want to see pictures of my Holy Week retreat at the White House Jesuit Retreat House, click here. The retreat was great, very full of graces, even if the weather was gloomy for all three days!

cool!

High School Reflections

Hey, everyone, Amanda here!!!!! This school year has been very busy. It has been a year full of new experiences and memories. It's hard to believe that graduation is just a few short months away. High school has really gone by quickly, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Christmas Greetings!

Merry Christmas from the Kopff family. We had our family gathering yesterday--The oldest present was Fr. Herb, the youngest was Josie Kopff--we had 18 or so of us--Nancy is in from DC, Joe and Lois from Phoenix--it was great fun. Eating, drinking, and telling family stories--and counting our blessings.

You should read Amy Welborn today--she has a couple of Christma poems up--one by Thomas Merton, another by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Our choir at St. Mark's has sung for the last 3 days--it just won't seem right not to be singing at Mass tomorrow!

I wish you all a blessed Christmas Season. May Christ's peace reign in your hearts.

Day 4---On the Road

This morning is beautiful, again. The afternoons are hot, but the nights turn pleasantly cool. This morning, I checked our FWS system for the four offices I cover, and there is no work in the pipeline for me through Thursday. Jesse was in the office when I arrived, and said he had two tickets (?) here and a couple to work with the guys in Hebbronville--he wonders if they might not get called to Laredo to help out.
Last night, I was extremely tired when I got back to the hotel (what a dump!). It surprised me, considering mostly what I did was sit all day. I did make the 80-mile round trip to Hebbronville to pick up my cell phone, but that was about the extent of my travels.

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. I will be going to 11:00 Mass--the church is only about 4 blocks away--and then get some lunch.

All these small towns have their own Catholic church. Even Bruni, the town where the landmark for the CO is the pay phone, has one. (I looked all these towns up on masstimes.org.)

So far my impressions of this area are:

• Sparsely populated


• Very flat


• Scrub brush--Jesse's motel is the 'Brush Country Inn'


• Lots of Spanish on the radio--heard the rosary and the Hail, Holy Queen this morning


• Wide open spaces!!!!!!!!

Everyone has been very friendly. There are reports of vandalism and sabatoge in California, and some unpleasantness with picketers, but nothing here.

I feel better having a cell phone now. I was wondering what I would do if the car broke down half-way to Hebbronville--walk 20 miles? I guess I'd flag down a car.

Oh well. I hope we get to come home soon. I miss Deb's home cooking, my girls, the Cards on the radio, tall trees, and on and on.

Say a prayer for a peaceful and swift resolution to this contract negotiation!
See you all soon, I hope!

Tom

Hi! I'm still here--if SBC has a work stoppage, I'll be sent to Freer, Texas, a VERY small town between Corpus Christi and Laredo, as a frame attendant. Say a prayer that there is no strike!

I've changed some settings, and added a link to a page of links I'm working on. Let me know if you have any suggestins for favorite links!

And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled.
This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.
And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them:
Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:
Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.

Thought for the day:
"I will sing forever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts forever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens."...Psalm 89

Here's a picture of Josephine from the website at St. John's.

Happy Mother's Day to Katie! Welcome, Josephine Catherine, to the Kopff family! It's a wonderful world! We all can't wait to meet you.

Also, a little update on the college front: Laura will be going to Truman State U. next fall. When Laura started high school, I was warned tht the four years would fly by. Believe it or not, they really did. Cor Jesu Graduation is next Sunday, May 18th.

"sometimes the way things play out, all you're left with are questions."

"i guess this time that has to be enough."

Good news!! Debbie went to the doctor yesterday, and everything is fine! She goes back in five weeks so they can begin checking her thyroid levels to see if any medication is needed.

I want to thank everyone for their prayers. We have been so blessed!

Debbie's home!!!! Praise the Lord!!!
Laura went to pick her up. (I'm really going to miss our extra driver next year when Laura is off at college.) We were visiting her, (Emily, Caroline, and I) and left just before the doctor came in and told her to go home! I hadn't taken the cell phone along, so she had no way to reach me--I was probably still on the parking lot!
The hard part will be getting Debbie to slow down long enough to recover.
Thank you all for your prayers!

Well, Deb's surgery went well. They took her back to surgery about 2:30 (we thought her surgery was scheduled for 1:00 pm, and they had her listed at 1:50, so it was a little late.) About 6:30, Dr. Boyle came out and talked to me. He said she had a really big goiter on the one side, and the other side was more what he was expecting. In his experience, he said, the goiter looked benign, but they won't know for sure for a couple of days until the tests are done. He said Debbie would come home either on Tuesday or Wednesday. I got to see Deb for a while about 7:45, when she got to her room (Room 564, bed 2). She was sleeping most of the time, but was aware that Laura and I were there. We left around 8:30 pm. I'll be going up today to check on her and see when she is going to come home.
Thank you all for your prayers, and we'll see most of you on Saturday!