Our 8th Annual Mass at the Cemetery...

... on the feast of All Souls!

   

*All Photography © Marc Salvatore - Used with permission.

Due to the cold and rain I ended up staying home with the two youngest, while the rest of the family attended the Mass this year.  We were so happy that the rain stopped long enough for the Mass to be held at the cemetery as usual, instead of being moved to the chapel. 

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Back-to-School Daybook :: September 10, 2013

Outside my window... 
we must be having the annual "Fall Needle Drop." There are pine needles everywhere!  Sean just showed the boys how to operate his Stihl Gas Blower and it only takes them a few minutes to clear the deck and driveway.  Yay! Now that the smoke has cleared from all the wildfires we are hoping to spend lots of time reading outside on the porch this fall and enjoying our beautiful weather!

I am thinking...        
about our school plans and the best way to fit everything into our schedule, yet still leave plenty of free-time for play and exploration.  That's important too!

I am thankful... 
that our busy summer has come to an end!  It was so exhausting much fun but I am looking forward to more time at home, reading lots of great books with the children, and working on re-establishing good habits and routines.

Learning all the time... 
Have I mentioned lately how much I love IEW's Student Writing Intensive courses? They have been perfect for our children!  Last week Chiquita wrote her paper on Desert Tarantulas.  This week I think I will substitute the "Pillbug" assignment for a paragraph on Crater Lake.  I love that it can easily be modified to incorporate whatever it is we are studying.

Celebrating the liturgical year... 
We headed back to the coast for another Latin Mass the Sunday before last.   All the traveling has been difficult (especially since we still don't have a vehicle with enough seat belts for everyone - at this point I'm tempted to skip the big van and just go with a small motorhome!) but it has definitely been worth the extra effort.

From the kitchen... 
Apple Puff Pancakes, our absolute favorite breakfast this time of year!  I need to make sure and pick up some more apples the next time I am in town.



I am working on... 
responding to emails and comments.  It is going to take a long time to catch back up, since so many other obligations come before my time on the internet.  I'm doing my best.  Thank you all for your patience and understanding!

I am creating... 
back-to-school treats and a simple (much smaller) version of our usual Schultütes to give the children today, to celebrate the beginning of our new school year.  I'll try and post a few more pictures later today or tomorrow.

I am going... 
to try and post some pictures from Twinkle Toes' birthday this week.  We'll see if I can squeeze it in...

I am hoping... 
to find an alternative to Scribd for document hosting, since so many of you have been having difficulty downloading my Little Flowers Documents.

I am praying... 
for Rascal's godparents who are expecting another baby next spring, after an 11 year gap following their 5 boys.  We are all so excited for them!

I am reading... 
more about Crater Lake in B is for Beaver and M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet!  

Pondering these words...
from the second reading at Mass a couple weeks ago:

"Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons.  For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?  At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righeousness to those who are trained by it." 

I am listening...  
to The King of the Golden City with the children. Next we will move on to The Magician's Nephew. Oh, how I love good audiobooks!

Around the house... 

trying to find homes for everything that had to be taken out of the old school room to make room for the little boys... sigh... oh, how I miss that room already!

One of my favorite things...  

sweet moments with my littlest ones. 

This week's plans...

lots of studying, reading, and time spent at HOME, though I am hoping to make it to town for Mass on Friday.

A little peek at my day...

Snuggles has been starting each morning coloring pages in his Great Adventure Kids Bible Story Coloring Book, while waiting for me to work with him on Math and Language Arts.  Our older children used it as well, when we studied Ancient History years ago, and it is such a fun addition to Connecting with History for the little ones.  

Our Goddaughter's Holy Sacrament of Baptism

Our beautiful new goddaughter on her Baptismal Day - August 17, 2013

Loving God, Creator of all good things,

Thank you for the gift of life given to our goddaughter.

What a privilege it was for us to stand as witnesses for the Church

when our goddaughter was washed in baptismal waters.

Lord, help us to be faithful to you all the days of our lives.

Our older boys were honored to serve at the altar for the Baptismal Mass, which was also a 10th Anniversary/Renewal of Vows Mass for our dear friends.  We had missed their actual wedding 10 years ago since I was on bedrest with our oldest daughter. 

As our goddaughter grows in age and faith,

enable us to be a good example for her 

of how to live as a follower of Jesus.

Rose loves her godparent's new baby, her brand new godsister!  

Through our love and concern, in moments of joy and sorrow,

allow us to reveal your loving face, O God.

We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I ended up helping with all the food for the party and was so pleased that their Costco had a beautiful white cake on Saturday morning.      I had also happened to pack along a candy cross "just in case" to use as a cake topper.  Perfect! 

I ran out of time before our trip to order a Baptismal Blanket, which ended up being just fine since another blanket (the one used for her five older siblings) was going to be used anyways.  Instead we gave our goddaughter a Sacramental Certificate and Pink Rosary Roses as a little baptismal gift. 

Deo Gratias! 

Video Highlights From Our 3rd Latin Mass

Here are some video highlights from our 3rd Quarterly Extraordinary Form Latin Mass on August 4th. 

Our 4th Mass is currently scheduled for October 6th!

Video Credit: Marc Salvatore 

Altar Boy Resources

As promised last year, my husband did write a post on Altar Boy Resources!  

You can find it over on his personal blog, Unam Ecclesiam.

You can also see all the pictures from our Second Latin Mass on Facebook.

A Few More Pictures From Our Latin Mass

Preparing to sing the Chant before Mass

Our sleepy little Rose

Handing out Missals before Mass

Having a very difficult time cutting the cake... Note to self: Next time bring my own cake knife! lol

Pictures taken by Marc Salvatore, posted with permission.  Thank you Marc! 

Our First Latin Mass :: Quinquagesima Sunday

COLLECT

WE BESEECH THEE, O Lord, mercifully hear our prayers, that being loosed from the bonds of our sins, we may be defended by Thee against all adversity.  Through our Lord.

GRADUAL

THOU ART THE GOD that alone dost wonders: Thou hast made Thy power known among the nations. With Thy arm Thou hast delivered Thy people, the children of Israel and of Joseph. 

TRACT

SING JOYFULLY TO GOD that alone dost wonders: Thou hast made Thy power known among the nations.  With Thy arm Thou hast delivered Thy people, the children of Israel and of Joseph.  

COMMUNION

THEY DID EAT, and were filled exceedingly, and the Lord gave them their desire: they were not defrauded of that which they craved.

POSTCOMMUNION

WE BESEECH THEE, almighty God, that we who have received this heavenly nourishment, may be strengthened by it against all adversities.  Through our Lord. 

Quinquagesima Sunday:  When the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar was revised in 1969, the three pre-Lenten Sundays were removed; they are now denominated simply as Sundays in Ordinary Time. Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima are all still observed in the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass.

Quinquagesima  means "fiftieth." It is 49 days before Easter, or 50 if you count Easter itself. (Similarly, Pentecost Sunday is said to be 50 days after Easter, but the number is calculated by including Easter in the count.)  Quinquagesima Sunday is the final Sunday before the start of Lent (the Sunday beforeAsh Wednesday), which makes it the seventh Sunday before Easter.

The color of the Mass is violet.   I had hoped to pre-order a custom cake with violet (and a Latin quote from the Mass) but I wasn't able to get to town to do so.   I was so excited that they had one with at least some violet!  :)



I loved having my copy of Laudamus Te (The Magazine of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Liturgy of the Roman Rite) to follow along during the Mass.  (Thank you to my dear mother-in-law for my gift subscription!)

Mass was packed, absolutely beautiful and Father's homily was incredibly inspiring as we prepare to begin Lent this coming week! Our oldest two boys were able to serve, my husband sang in the choir, and I managed to still take a few pictures to share with you all, despite the squirmy little boy in my arms.   (Our friend Marc took additional pictures which he'll be sharing soon!)

We are so very thankful for our Pastor's hard work and willingness to accommodate my husband's request for this Latin Mass and the quarterly Masses that will follow!  (Though we will continue to pray for more frequent Latin Masses. In the meantime I am very thankful that we are able to have these, since it usually requires us having a baby to have a Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form here! lol) We are so very thankful to Father Kotas for driving over 2 hours each way to offer this Mass for us!   And I am also thankful to all of my visitors here at Shower of Roses who have been praying for this intention of ours as well!  May God Reward you all!

Deo Gratias! 

Precious Moments :: On the Feast of Bl. Miguel Pro

To be Christ's page at the altar, to serve Him freely there,

Where even the angels falter, bowed low in reverent prayer.

To touch the throne most holy, to hand the gifts for the feast,

To see Him meekly, lowly, descend at the word of a priest.

To hear man's poor petition, to sound the silver bell,

When He in sweet submission, comes down with us to dwell.

No grander mission surely could saints or men enjoy;

No heart should love more purely than yours, my altar boy.

God bless you, lad, forever, and keep you in His care,
And guard you that you never belie the robes you wear.
For white bespeaks untainted a heart both tried and true;
And red tells love the sainted and holy martyrs knew.

Throughout life, then, endeavor God's graces to employ;

And be in heart forever a holy altar boy.

*This morning Snuggles served his very first Mass, alongside his older brothers!  We have been very blessed with a dear retired priest in our area who has allowed our boys to start serving Mass for him, on Friday mornings, at the age of five!