Hail, Holy Queen...

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished 
children of Eve, to thee do we send
up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley of tears. 
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us; and
after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus;
O clement, O loving, 
O sweet virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ.

Funny Guy Friday... The Twelve Days of Christmas...

     When I was a kid, I used to think that it would be really cool to be Jewish. I didn't really know much about the religion, but I thought it would be nice to celebrate Hannukah. Plus, I already knew that dradle song.
     Like most kids, I was not too excited about giving up hot dogs, but I was intrigued by the thought of receiving presents for eight straight days. Those Jewish kids had it great, and as a bonus, most of them told me that they also celebrated Christmas. Heck, I would wander aimlessly in a desert for forty years if I got to celebrate both Hannukah and Christmas.
     Tonight I came home and was pleased to find out that the Twelve Days of Christmas is not just a song, but there are really twelve days of Christmas. Unfortunately, today was number twelve. Cheryl explained (and has blogged about) each day bringing a new activity. She also advised that starting next year, we are going to start new family traditions and we are going to celebrate all twelve days. I am totally back into being Catholic because twelve is better than eight and I get my dogs back!
     I knew something was different when I walked into the house and smelled the unmistakable smell of a cake baking in the oven. Wow, what is the occasion? I asked. This was Epiphany, celebrating the arrival of the three kings to see the Baby Jesus! We were going to have a feast. Great, Cheryl is into this... we are getting something good tonight.
     I like feasts, so I anxiously asked what we were having for dinner? Imagine my surprise when she replied that she got so busy making the cake... and then the kids came in... and, well, they got involved in the cake... and well, er uh, she forgot to make anything for dinner. But the cake will be delicious. Does anybody know the difference between feast and famine? The answer is simple-----FOOD!
     Fortunately, Grace managed to rustle up some chow, and put together a delicious Joe Corbi pizza. Not to be outdone, Cheryl popped open a can of apple sauce. She did offer a special gourmet touch of cinnamon on top, so there was that "feast-like" touch. Perhaps a little more Cooking Channel and a little less blogging may be in order for my wonderful wife.
     Anyway, when it came time to cut the cake, Cheryl advised that she had baked a special prize into the cake and whoever got that special prize was the winner. Grace thought that Cheryl had baked a little Baby Jesus into the cake. I have no idea why Grace would want to bake the Baby Jesus, but this is what she thought!  Again, I got very excited about the special prize and thought could it be gold, frankincense or myrrh. If not one of the actual three gifts brought by the wise men, perhaps it would be some symbolic item representing those gifts.
     The special prize turned out to be a walnut. Why a walnut, you ask? So did I, and the answer cleared everything up. She put a walnut in the cake because she could not find a bean. I did not ask for an explanation, I just figured it was our first crack at actually celebrating this day, so we have to still work the kinks out.
     Next year, I may just buy her a small, baking-safe Baby Jesus to throw in the cake. I found it fascinating that the kids were so intent on finding the the super walnut that they barely ate their cake as they stabbed it looking for the magic walnut. After all, a special prize is a special prize.
     Finally, there were presents. Who knew? Certainly not me, so I had nothing for Cheryl. Imagine my shock when we each got three gifts, including Cheryl.
     You know... for months before Christmas, I asked her what she wanted, and always got the same response, "You don't have to buy me anything. I have everything that I need." Although this is probably true, it did not give me much guidance. At 6pm on December 23rd, I told her I did not get her much, and she chose that time to rattle off fifteen things that she would like. It was too late.
     Epihany provided a second chance for her to go and buy herself three of the things that I did not get her. She is so cute, she wrapped them and acted surprised when she opened each one.
     As I sat and watched everyone open their gifts, I decided that next year, we would not actually need twelve days. The way things go around here, twelve days is asking too much anyway. I thought to myself, How can we streamline this nearly two week celebration into something a little more manageable? 
     My first thought was that we could cram twelve days into four days. We could start the first Thursday after Christmas and get two days worth of celebration in on both Thursday and Friday. Then we could come in on the weekend and finish with four days worth on Saturday and four more on Sunday. This gives us more time to Epiphany shop, decorate, and bake.  This additional time would also allow Cheryl to purchase those special Epiphany beans instead of having to fall back on super walnuts.
     On second thought, if we are going to do that, I may as well go back to my original plan and become a Jew. They seem to have it just right with eight crazy days.

Christmastide meditations and activities...

     Life moves so fast for me, and sometimes it is only after the fact that I become aware of the rich treasures just waiting for my discovery. So I will tuck this link away for next year... and I will make the very most of Christmastide from now on.

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 6th). On the updated calendar — since Ephiphany is celebrated on a Sunday — these days may be more or less. We have 16 days on the tree this year because the Christmas season extends until the feast of the Baptism of Christ and we have decided to include them all.      The origin of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures. In the Western church, Epiphany is traditionally celebrated as the time the three Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus. In some cultures Epiphany is observed as Three Kings Day, or simply the Day of the Kings. Even though December 25th is celebrated as Christmas in these cultures, Epiphany is often the day for giving gifts. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas.   Catholic Culture invites you try out some of our suggested activities as you gather around the Christmas tree. We hope you will find some ideas that will enhance your family's celebration of this holy season. Christ Candle Christmas Field Trip Nativity Play A Christmas Quiz Symbolic Lights and Fires of Christmas Posters for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Christmas Ideas for Young Children Story of St. Wenceslaus New Year's Eve Activities New Year's Eve Party The Wise Men, An Epiphany Legend Kings' Party or Twelfth Night Party Twelfth Night Cake and Kings

Saint Bridget's vision of the Nativity...

     As we wrap up these 12 days of Christmas, I have taken some time to reflect upon that first day of Christmas, and the birth of Jesus.
     I just found a site called The Clay Rosary Girl (thanks Amy), and there I found a post called Vision of the Nativity. I had chills.
     According to Clay Rosary Girl, the background story is that Saint Bridget of Sweden made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. When she reached the birthplace of Jesus, she knelt down to kiss the very spot where Jesus was born. This was when the room disappeared and she had this vision...
     "When all things were now ready, the Maiden knelt down with great awe and began to pray.  She turned Her back to the manger, but lifted Her face towards Heaven and looked to the East.  And with hands uplifted and Her eyes towards Heaven she knelt without moving, wrapped in divine sweetness.
     "While She was thus absorbed in prayer, I saw That which was in Her womb move, and in a moment She gave birth to Her Son.

     On other accounts of her vision, it has been written that Saint Bridget saw a light pass through Mary's womb at the moment Jesus was born. He lay on the ground pure and clean, free of any soil. 
     Saint Bridget's vision continues...
     "And so much light went from Him that the taper in the stone wall no longer gave any light...
     "But when the Maiden felt that She delivered, She bent Her head and folded Her hands, and with great awe She adored the Child and said to Him: 'Welcome, my God, my Lord, and my Son!"
     "Then the Boy wept and trembled with cold on the hard floor, and stretched out His little hands to His Mother, and She took Him up and laid His cheek against Hers, and Him to her breast with joy and great compassion.
     "And She sat down on the floor and laid Him on Her knees and began to swathe Him first with the linen cloths and then with the woolen pieces, and at last, wound the whole about His little body, legs and arms in one swaddling cloth, and swathed His head in the two woolen pieces that She had brought with Her.
     "St. Joseph threw himself upon his knees, adoring the Child and weeping for joy.  And in the Virgin there was no weakness as in other women when they are delivered.  She stood up with the Child in Her arms, and She and Joseph laid Him in the manger and adored Him with great joy.  And then I heard wonderful sweet singing of many Angels.

     May your Christmas joy and adoration last the whole year through.

Herod never found the baby Jesus...

    "There was a reason Herod never found the baby Jesus. He never went looking for Him. You can't find Jesus sitting on your couch." ~ Father Dan
     I started thinking about Herod. Why did he not go find the Child himself? Too busy? Lazy? Accustomed to others doing his leg work? Maybe he wouldn't have wanted to be so near the Christ. After all, Herod knew Who this Child was... and Who He was to be. 
     The "King Herod" from the time of Jesus's birth was Herod the Great. He was a ruthless, barbarian tyrant, who killed anyone who threatened his position as king. He was responsible for the slaughter of the holy innocents, among many other people, including family members... even his own sons.
     The "Herod" from the story of John the Baptist was Herod the Great's son, Herod Antipas. He loved to listen to John the Baptist, but he refused to obey his message. The Baptist had warned that it was wrong for Herod to take his own brother's wife, Herodius, as his lover, so he had John imprisoned. Herod had John executed to please Herodias's dancing daughter, with whom Herod was so delighted.
     He also cooperated with Pilate in the execution of Jesus.
     Both Herods were wildly consumed with the seven deadly sins... pride, jealousy, avarice, lust, gluttony, anger, and sloth.
     Jesus is the antithesis of these men.
     No wonder they wanted nothing to do with Him, but to destroy Him.
     Yesterday's Gospel told the story about the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus had just been rejected in his own hometown, by those who should have known Him the best. The feeding of the five thousand immediately follows the recount of the execution of John the Baptist.
     So, Jesus left his hometown, and taught and ministered to other towns nearby. When He and his friends left, word got out where they had gone, and the people, in their spiritual hunger, went to find Him. And they were part of one of the most famous miracles in history.
     Spiritually hungry? You won't find Jesus sitting on your couch.

Where is God in suffering?

     In my last post, I talked about what Father Dan told us about change beginning with me, but another thing he said is that we should always ask, in every situation, "Where is God in this?" He will be there if we let Him in.
     I know that God works all things for good for those who love Him. I believe that because He said it is so. I have what some call blind faith. So that is enough for me.
     But I asked a friend how you can explain it to those who suffer, when you can't always see it. She forwarded this article that explains it beautifully. The author refers to his struggle with cancer, but it could apply to any suffering.
     Thanks Joanne.

Changing myself requires a commitment...

     Last night, I had the privilege of attending an evening of reflection, where the guest speaker was a priest named Father Dan. A good friend of mine who knows him characterized him as a "go-getter of souls." He is that. Unhesitatingly.
     Father Dan said many thought-provoking things that I am sure touched everyone in attendance, but this post is about one in particular.
     He told us that a great philosopher was once asked, "What is wrong with the world?"
     The philosopher replied, "I am."
     It is I who needs to change.
     Father Dan went on to tell us that if we ask God to help us with the area we most struggle with... if we sincerely commit to cutting out, with the help of God's grace, the one area that is the cancer in our lives... by the end of the year, it will be gone.
     But we have to mean it. And commit to ridding our lives of whatever vice afflicts us by praying for the opposite virtue. At the end of the year, where the cancer once was, there, the Lord will be.
     Father Dan went on to assure us that God will speak to us about the very thing we are struggling with, through conversations, homilies, chance encounters... God will use everything... if we only will listen... and see.
     I heard Glenn Beck on the radio this morning, and he told this story:
     "There was a man who decided to change the world. He was unsuccessful. So he decided to change his country. But again, he was unsuccessful. So he decided to change his city. But he was unsuccessful. So he decided to change his community. But he failed. So he decided to change his neighborhood. But he did not. So he decided to change his street. Again, he did not. So he decided to change his family. But he could not. So he decided to change himself.
     "At this, he succeeded. And by changing himself, his family changed, too. And when his family changed, so did his street. And then his neighborhood. And then his community. And then his city. And then his country. And soon, he had changed the world."
     It's the same story.
     What's the problem with the world? I am. The change will begin with me.
     God is speaking to me already.
     This year I will commit to changing myself. I will change my life. To be what God intended me to be.
     Father Dan said if you put a hot coal into a pile of cold coals, no matter what the other coals think, or what their attitudes are, they can not help but be ignited too.
     Change yourself, and see what happens. Commit to it.

The Road Less Traveled...

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I...

I took the one less traveled by...

and that has made all the difference."

~ Robert Frost ~

My family. Together along life's path. 

On the road less traveled.

Photographs by Erin Granzow.

The Prayer...

The Prayer

Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion

I pray you'll be our eyes, 
and watch us where we go, 
and help us to be wise 
in times when we don't know. 

Let this be our prayer 
when we lose our way: 
Lead us to a place, 
Guide us with Your grace 
To a place where we’ll be safe. 

La luce che Tu dai (The light that You give us) 
I pray we’ll find Your light 
Nel cuore resterà (will stay in our hearts) 
And hold it in our hearts 
A ricordarci che (reminding us that…) 
When stars go out each night 
L’eterna stella sei (You are the everlasting star). 

Nella mia preghiera (In my prayer). 
Let this be our prayer 
Quanta fede c’è (there's so much faith) 
When shadows fill our day: 
Lead us to a place, 
Guide us with Your grace, 
Give us faith so we’ll be safe. 

Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza 
(We dream (of) a world without more violence) 
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza 
(A world of justice and of hope). 
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino 
(Everyone give your hand to your neighbor), 
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità 
(Symbol of peace and brotherhood) 

La forza che ci dai (The strength You give us) 
We ask that life be kind 
È il desiderio che (is the wish that) 
And watch us from above. 
Ognuno trovi amore (everyone may find love) 
We hope each soul will find 
Intorno e dentro sè (around and within himself) 
Another soul to love. 

Let this be our prayer 
(Let this be our prayer) 
Just like every child 
(Just like every child) 
Needs to find a place: 
Guide us with your grace 
Give us faith so we’ll be safe. 

E la fede che (And the faith that) 
Hai acceso in noi (You have lit inside us) 
Sento che ci salverà (I believe will save us).

Funny Guy Friday... Relaxing Ski Getaway...

     We just got back from a "relaxing" ski vacation. Three days at Wisp Resort, at my sister's place near Deep Creek Lake. About five years ago, we decided that skiing was going to be our family thing. Cheryl and I both had skied a few times but not in about twenty years. We figured that this would be an activity that we could all learn and do together. Since then we have been to Mt. Batchelor in Oregon, Sugarbush in Vermont, and Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos. But, for the most part, we spend our time skiing at Wisp in western Maryland. Did I mention that my sister has a place at Wisp?
     Although we go to different places, the story is always the same---our relaxing vacation is anything but relaxing for me.
     First of all, after we bought her her own skis and boots, Grace decided that it is not going to be our family thing because she hates the cold, the falling, the lifts, the discomfort of the boots, etc. If we can figure out how to ski in June, July and August, she is in. Until then she wants out. Despite her hatred for skiing, we have, in the past, forced her to go along because this is what families do. She would humor us with a run or two, but then she would hit the lodge with a laptop and some hot cocoa.
     This Christmas, Grace finally got a cell phone, and two seasons of the show Psych. She assured us that she would be very happy to stay back at the place and text and watch the same show for 48 hours. We reluctantly agreed. So, it was off to the mountain with Cheryl and the boys.
     If you have never skied before, it is a great workout. Not the skiing... that is easy. No. The workout occurs before we ever make it out of the parking lot. Each skier, and by each skier, I mean me, needs to get his/her heat packs for their feet and hands. Each skier, and by each skier, I mean me, needs to make sure they have their gloves, ski masks, helmets and goggles.
     After each is fully clothed, the boot experience begins. Ski boots are not comfortable and the bindings need to be tight. Very rarely does a skier, and by skier, I mean me, get the bindings right on the first try. They are always too tight, too loose, too uncomfortable. After several tries, we, and by we, I mean me, get them comfortable enough to start the trip from the parking lot to the mountain. We, and by we, I mean me, carries the skis and the poles to the mountain. By the time we get started, I am usually so hot that I want to ski naked. My family convinces me that this is not a good idea.
     Once on the mountain, we need to get everyone where they need to be. This time, Noah took a two hour lesson so we had to find his instructor. We did, and off they went. After two hours, this genius of a ski instructor advised us of two important facts. First, Noah likes cookies, and two, he does not know how how to turn very well so we should avoid runs that have other people. Maybe we could go back in June, July and August when we can be sure that nobody else besides Grace will be skiing on the mountain. Thanks, Mr. Instructor but we already know both of those little nuggets of information. Perhaps fewer cookies and more turning practice would have been a better allocation of time.  
     Matthew and Cheryl are a perfect pair as they are comparable in skill. Of course, Matthew is more of a daredevil and will always win the race. His goal is to get to the bottom while  Cheryl likes to weave back and forth while taking in all the sights and sounds. They both make it to the same place, but in a different fashion. I think that this is a microcosm of their lives, as Matthew will say what he needs to say in as few words as possible, and Cheryl... well let's just say that her stories tend to ramble back and forth telling you all the sights and sounds.
     Actually, as it turned out, Noah did great as he weaved in and out of trouble. He even sang and danced his way down the mountain, at one point declaring that he was skiing with his eyes closed.
     At the end of the day, the process reverses itself and we, and by we, I mean me, lug all of the stuff back to the car. As I marched back to the car, exhausted, I thought to myself that a Psych marathon may not be such a bad idea next time we head back to Wisp for a relaxing vacation.