Tara - look, it's your Lady!

I love Tara's statue of Our Lady of Sorrows so much that I saved the image of it to my computer, printed it out and framed it. Fittingly, the frame once belonged to my earthly mother and it has red roses on it. I only found this frame buried in the back of the closet two days ago.

I put the picture up on my bookshelf in my computer room. Interestingly, when I took a photo of it to post here I noticed a reflection in the glass. The reflection is a print of my in-laws' parish (wait for it....) Our Lady of Lourdes.

I think Mama Mary is holding me very close right now. I am profoundly grateful.

When I first came back to the Church over seven years ago I was very close to her. Then one day I realized that I didn't think of her very often and that I rarely asked for her intecession anymore. That was because I had become very close to her Son. She really did lead me to Him.

Thank you, Mama.

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Rouge Bouquet by J. Kilmer - first heard this yesterday

Rouge Bouquet

Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918)


IN a wood they call the Rouge Bouquet

There is a new-made grave to-day,

Built by never a spade nor pick

Yet covered with earth ten metres thick.

There lie many fighting men,

Dead in their youthful prime,

Never to laugh nor love again

Nor taste the Summertime.

For Death came flying through the air

And stopped his flight at the dugout stair,

Touched his prey and left them there,

Clay to clay.

He hid their bodies stealthily

In the soil of the land they fought to free

And fled away.

Now over the grave abrupt and clear

Three volleys ring;

And perhaps their brave young spirits hear

The bugle sing:

“Go to sleep!

Go to sleep!

Slumber well where the shell screamed and fell.

Let your rifles rest on the muddy floor,

You will not need them any more.

Danger’s past;

Now at last,

Go to sleep!”


There is on earth no worthier grave

To hold the bodies of the brave

Than this place of pain and pride

Where they nobly fought and nobly died.

Never fear but in the skies

Saints and angels stand

Smiling with their holy eyes

On this new-come band.

St. Michael’s sword darts through the air

And touches the aureole on his hair

As he sees them stand saluting there,

His stalwart sons;

And Patrick, Brigid, Columkill

Rejoice that in veins of warriors still

The Gael’s blood runs.

And up to Heaven’s doorway floats,

From the wood called Rouge Bouquet,

A delicate cloud of buglenotes

That softly say:

“Farewell!

Farewell!

Comrades true, born anew, peace to you!

Your souls shall be where the heroes are

And your memory shine like the morning-star.

Brave and dear,

Shield us here.

Farewell!”

Memorial Day

We don't celebrate Memorial Day in Canada (we honour those who have fallen in war at Remembrance Day services every Nov. 11 instead) but I wanted to post about Michael Monsoor.


He sacrificed his life for his comrades. Read more about him here and here.

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O Mary of Graces

Thank you Mama.

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Ethnic parishes

From a website for a Catholic Native American parish:

We are a unique community where we pray using symbols, music and rituals which are meaningful to our People and to our culture. The interior of our Church is designed to illustrate our journey in faith using our Native and Metis culture.

We use sweetgrass, sage, cedar, tobacco and fungus as well as drums in our liturgy and we sing songs that speak deeply to us. We extend the hand of friendship to all our brothers and sisters worldwide, to share in the hopes and faith of the People of the First Nations and Metis Nation by listening to God’s Word and by breaking bread with us.

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In 1990, the Missionary Oblates officially staffed the Parish with Oblate priests to work with the Native people. In 1993, Archbishop M**** designated ******** Parish “The official Parish for the Catholic First Nations Peoples of ******* and surrounding communities”. Since that time we have a place to call our spiritual home and where we can share our gifts with one another.

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Many nationalities have their own parishes - St. Maria Goretti would be Italian, St. Therese de Lisieux would be French, the Poles might have "Our Lady of Czestochowa". Now this group has their own ethnic parish which is great - but using fungus and tobacco in liturgy? It doesn't sound right to me.

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LOL cat of the day

Today's LOL

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Luke and Our Lady

I had quite a chat with Luke tonight. He told me about the day he was injured. I don't know all the details except that he was knocked out and when he came to he went into a "situation" and rescued one of the other soldiers. He was awarded a medal for that.

I asked him what day the attack happened and he told me the morning of Jan. 5, 2010. Out of curiosity I looked at what I had posted that day on the blog.



My mouth hung open when I saw an entry commenting on a statue that Tara had received from her friend. It was Our Lady of Sorrows.

Before I knew of the "incident" with the IED I had placed a statue of Our Lady next to Luke's official military photo and consecrated him to her loving care. Looks like my timing was good. I am too stunned to say anymore.

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Red roses for Pentecost

Bouquet I had made for the altar

in thanksgiving for Luke's safe return this

Pentecost weekend.

Even St. Therese couldn't have showered more roses on me!

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Pentecost

Come, Holy Spirit!

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Tick tock.....

....as I write this it's about 15 hours until Luke arrives at the base.

I have champagne chilling in the fridge though I might be drinking it in my morning orange juice. Then I am going outside to untie the yellow ribbon around my maple tree. Hopefully I won't be 3 sheets to the wind and end up making a fool of myself! Can you see me now in my rubber boots and bath robe, passed out at the foot of the maple tree? Maybe I'll wait until lunch time...!

Photos and video of the arrival have been arranged through army buddies who are meeting Luke in the morning.

I just checked flight prices - I could leave tonight and return home Sunday for about $700 but really I should have planned this earlier. It wouldn't have been much cheaper but hubby might have been a little more open to the plan!

*sigh*

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"we should be looking at each other during mass and praying for each other."

I'm still alive. I'm just pondering what I need to do to get my health back on track. Someone took a photo of me about two weeks ago. Normally in photos I stand behind someone or something or I grab a kid to sit in my lap to disguise my belly. This time I wasn't so lucky. My belly is the most despised part of my body. Even when I weighed 130 lbs I hated it.

I put my my full length mirror away some time ago so I truly had no idea just how bad things have become. And this is not a post fishing for comments like "you have great smile" or "you're such a nice person." Yeah, I am an obese woman with a nice personality and smile. Whatever! Tell that to my future cardiologist as he cracks open my ribs to do surgery.

At least I didn't gain any weight while Luke was deployed. I fluctuated a tiny bit but now I am exactly where I was when he left. I suppose that's good. But now the weather is nice and it's time to get serious. I will not be turning my blog into a weight loss blog though.

I am also in a bit of a rut. I am on parish council and we are trying to do some renovations on our round, kneelerless, 1970's church. It's been frustrating, especially dealing with 10 certain people, a number of whom were responsible for the grotesque design of the place. I am getting to the point where I don't even want to go to Mass. My husband even said, "you're not yourself about church right now." Just to test me he suggested we go to the Pentecostal church next week. I gave him a withering glance. He smiled. His Catholic wife is still in there...somewhere.

I still believe all Catholic teaching, I love the Pope, and Holy Communion is still the summit of my life. I guess I am just tired of fighting the hippies that say things like, "we should be looking at each other during mass and praying for each other."

WHERE does it say we should be looking at each other in the documents of Vatican II, the Catechsim or the bible and where might this even be implied in Church teaching?! I want to SHAKE people that say ignorant things like that! I suppose that's why God steered this person to someone kinder than I am.

*sigh*
Going to bed now.

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LUKE UPDATE!!!!

I'm just popping in for a moment but I had to share this with you!

I tidied up my computer room today. I threw out Luke's deployment address and deployment support group address. I went to Catholic Online and adjusted my signature, taking out my yellow ribbon avatar and replacing it with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And I just tidied up the blog deleting the yellow ribbon and my "Af'stanitime" ticker. And I don't want to say the word "Afghanistan" ANY MORE!!!

Luke has left the 'Stan!!!!!!!

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Alleluia and thanks be to GOD!

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Taking a break....

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Not really with it these days.

I haven't written a "Catholic" post in a long time. I will. I am just consumed with next week's big event! I know you understand. Please keep praying for our soldiers.

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Mama's house

Look what I found! A photo from google maps of the home my mama grew up in! My grandparents rented this apartment from 1938 to 1976. They lived on the second floor. The balcony belonged to their unit but we were never allowed on it because it was already about 65 years old when I came along and it wasn't deemed safe anymore. We were allowed on the back porch though which was so small it basically fit 4 children on it. Ah - Amsterdam! - you are like a tiny jewel box!

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Damn.

A Canadian soldier who was scheduled to return home in two days from Afghanistan has been killed by an improvised explosive device.

Pte. Kevin McKay, who was based in Edmonton with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, died in the attack in the town of Nakhonay in Kandahar.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

RIP Pte. McKay

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Baby Drew is FINALLY here!

For those of you that know Ma and Pa Beck - their son Drew was born this evening and he is looking pretty darn handsome!

Congratulations Ma and Pa!

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The newly crowned King of Canada!

Jaroslav Halak, Czech immigrant, Habs goaltender, King of Canada!

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Good news!

Luke should be arriving

back in Canada

in the wee hours of May 22!!!!!!!

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The Canucks are out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Self Portrait in Black

by Angela

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What would you say....?

Our parish is planning to renovate the church proper. Presently we sit in a semi-circle around the altar and there are 3 aisles. The two main entrance doors open onto either side of the sanctuary so basically the church is backwards. When you are sitting in the church facing the altar you can see everyone that goes in and out. The distractions of seeing everyone around you and everyone going in and out are enormous. The theory behind this configuration was that it would more adequately demonstrate that the parish is "gathering around the table of the Lord."

Sorry, but I come to Mass to worship God and receive Jesus, not eyeball my neighbour and I don't give two figs about any tables - give me the altar!

We had a display set up after Mass so people could voice their concerns/comments to us about the impending changes which will move the sanctuary so that only the priest can see those coming in and out. The only people who are upset about this change are the 60+ crowd. They are so hung up on the "JIP" factor (Jesus In the People.)

I realize many of them were impressionable 20 - 35 year olds caught up in the social upheaval of the 60's when our present church building was designed. They were open to silly novelties in an attempt to escape the superstitions and oppressiveness that at times characterized the pre-Vatican II church. They wanted more "luv" and less guilt. I get that. However, they seem to be missing the boat.

One lady opined that the "roundness" brings unity. Obviously she hasn't attended a parish council meeting in the last year! Apparently she doesn't see that our parish is split into three factions - the rad trads, the happy-clappy hippies and the apathetic pew warmers. The trads want the change, the hippies don't and the pew warmers could care less either way.

Our unity must come from our focus and understanding of the Eucharist. I've been in the traditional "one central aisle/kneelers intact" kind of churches and they were less reverent than we are in my "round" church. However - a round church does up the "JIP" factor.

So, aside from telling this lady that her theology sucks - what can I say to help her realize that our focus should be the tabernacle, the crucifix and the altar? In her eyes these things are more visible to all in the current setting especially since the set up means there are no more than 10 rows of pews per section. We'll easily double that after the renovation. She thinks that the current seating also helps kids pay attention during Mass. Honestly, with three weekend Masses we are lucky if 40 kids show up and most of them are in the cry room.

Help me to help her understand that a Christocentric focus is more important than looking at each other over the "dinner table."

PS...there is no option for me to leave my parish - I live in a very small town and I'd have to travel 40 miles to the next town to find another Catholic church.

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OH HAPPY DAY!

Nikki told me that Luke is coming home a week earlier than expected! He is at Kandahar Airfield right now waiting to be processed for the trip home!

He is still having bad, bad headaches from the blast wave that he experienced two months ago and is taking meds for that but his latest facebook update has him thumbing his nose at Osama bin Laden - so his spirits are high!

He also told me that he visited the chapel on his arrival back at KAF to thank God for sparing his life and to pray for those that had fallen in the line of duty. I think that was the greatest gift I have ever received for Mother's Day - that he acknowledged God!

As this chapter of my life winds down I am eternally thankful for all the well wishes, prayers and support from my blogger buddies. I really don't think I could have made it through this without you. Some of you checked up on me via private emails, others posted yellow ribbons and photos of Luke on their blogs, many offered prayers. You will never understand how much this meant to me! May God bless you all and know that I will pray for you as hard as you've prayed for me.

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V-E Day Anniversary Photos

From the Dutch community - my own parents and grandparents

were liberated by Canadian soldiers.

Young vet from my son's regiment - he got home 6 days ago from the 'Stan.

Vets of WWII.

Thank you.

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I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

My computer is fixed and I am back!

During my "exile" I read Fr. Donald Calloway's book "No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy." The first half of the book chronicles his extensive drug use, etc. and it got a bit tiresome. By the time you get to his conversion you are as excited as he is that the drug use is a thing of the past! All in all - a good, quick read. If God can bring back someone like Fr. Calloway - He can pretty much bring anybody back from the brink!

I also attended a funeral at our local "Church of God." That name always make me laugh - aren't all churches churches of God?!? I thought there might be some anti-Catholic remarks during the sermon but the funeral consisted mainly of singing (gospel/blue grass/country) and a eulogy. A little bit of scripture was read during the service but the pastor didn't really explain why he chose those passages except to say they reminded him of the deceased. Of course there was the requisite "Jesus died for your sins to save you" mantra but there was really nothing said that would have offended a Catholic who knew their faith. In fact the sermon was kind of bland. I had hoped for some fire and brimstone (maybe even some snake handling!)

I did a thorough visual inspection of the place as I sat waiting for the service to begin. The pews were previously owned. I highly suspect they had been removed from a Catholic church - the rear legs had holes drilled through them as if kneelers had once been attached there. I wondered if they came out of our old Catholic church back in 1972 when the prevailing "wisdom" of the time ditched the "clutter" of the kneelers. (That phrase actually appears in our 1972 parish council minutes!)

The funniest moment of the funeral came when the pastor kept teasing the lady running the overhead projector. She goes to my parish! He kept saying she was his newest convert. Everyone laughed. I went up to her afterwards and said, "Maybe you can start praying the Rosary here on Tuesday nights!" She laughed and laughed - because she leads the Rosary after Mass at our parish every Tuesday LOL!

There was a reception after the funeral and the food was typical "church fare" - macaroni salad, potato salad, white bread sandwiches. About 125 people attended the funeral - at least 20 of them Catholic. It wasn't the worst funeral I've been to but it sure made me appreciate my own parish and the beauty of our Catholic liturgy.

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Virus!

I have a very bad virus - if you receive an email from me - it's NOT me! Don't open it!

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