Mass Readings Sunday, October 4, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009
St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Religious, Founder of the Three Order (Solemnity)


First Reading: Sirach 50:1, 3-4, 6-7
Psalm: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11
Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

Mary "remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin"

-- St. Augustine, Sermon 186

Sadie

Oct 4th is the feast of St. Francis and we want to share a story. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, knowing this Rose used to ask him for prayers for a dog. Often she she would pray while holding a little toy dog. The toy was nothing special just something that came in a Happy Meal. Rose would always ask God for a dog just like the toy.
Right before we moved to MD a friend told us about an ad in the base paper for a Miniature Schnauzer. We decided to take a look because this breed is good for people with allergies (like Inch). It was only after we brought the dog home that Inch pointed out that our new dog , Sadie, looked just like Rose's toy!

G-MAC holding Rose's toy

The real Sadie when we first met her

Rose and the two Sadies

Rose, Sadie and Dad when we first got her

St. Therese of Lisieux

Today is the feast of St Therese of Lisieux. She is one of my favorite saints. My mom used to tell us many stories about her when we were little, and I used to want to be just like her. You can read more about her on the link above. What a great hero to look up to. She is one on Mystical Roses' favorite also.

What I found in the Living Room

While I was creating the last post about our Ravens game I asked Inch to take care of G-MAC. Mallu Mom was at a confirmation parent meeting with "U". Rose called me into the living room and this is what I saw.


All of the kids do such a great job taking care of G-MAC

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!

Our church has a pretty great High School Youth program. Prayer, Worship,the Sacraments and Service are all emphasized to the teens. Our teens help feed the homeless in Baltimore, and we have annual missions trips to Mexico and Mississippi.
This past Sunday our Church was recognized for our service by the M&T Bank Honor Rows Program
We were able to go see the Ravens play against the Browns. Inch and I went with about 80 others. Before the game they allowed us to get on the field (well only the sidelines) and watch the players warm up. During the third quarter they put us up on the Jumbo tron . The seats were not the best ones but it was still really great.

- Crucian Dad

#5 Joe Flacco warming up

Inch and the rest "giving advice" to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron

I told you the seats were not the best
I had to remember not to jump up too high or I might've hit the blimp

Humility

At Mass this morning the priest shared something he was meditating on from FURROW by Josemaria Escriva.
I was asking him about the book and he said I can borrow it since he has an extra copy. It was a wonderful lesson in humility, so I thought of sharing.


"Allow me to remind you that among other evident signs of a lack of humility are:

—Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say;

—Always wanting to get your own way;

—Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners;

—Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so;

—Despising the point of view of others;

—Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan;

—Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own;

—Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation;

—Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you;

—Making excuses when rebuked;

—Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you;

—Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you;

—Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you;

—Refusing to carry out menial tasks;

—Seeking or wanting to be singled out;

—Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige...;

—Being ashamed of not having certain possessions..."


I think I will print this out and put it on my fridge as a reminder.... it's so easy forget. It's so difficult to live it out.
--Mallu Mom

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:Numbers 11:25-29

Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14

Second Reading: James 5:1-6

Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48


How many sins have entered into the soul through the eye as Holy Scripture indicates? [1 Jn. 2:16]. That is why they must fast by keeping them lowered and not permitting them to look upon frivolous and unlawful objects; the ears, by depriving them of listening to vain talk which serves only to fill the mind with worldly images; the tongue, in not speaking idle words and those which savor of the world or the things of the world. We ought also to cut off useless thoughts, as well as vain memories and superfluous appetites and desires of our will. In short, we ought to hold in check all those things which keep us from loving or tending to the Sovereign Good.

-- St. Francis de Sales

* from www.ewtn.com
--U

Field Trip to the Science Center

Make a Smilebox slideshow

September 23rd, 2002

Rose, just weeks before diagnosis.
We used to play with her tummy and say you are finally gaining weight! little did we know.....

Seven years ago yesterday, we heard the words that no parent wants to hear " Your daughter has a tumor." Rose was under two years old and was diagnosed with cancer in both her kidneys. We had just moved state side from Turkey a month prior to that. We had tried hard to get orders to Italy but those fell through. As disappointed as we were that we didn't get to stay oversees, God had a better place in mind for us. He send us back to the states where there was a top notch children's hospital, He always knows best! After 2 surgeries and 5 months of chemo,we are blessed to say she is in good health. Although I wouldn't wish to go through this again, I am grateful because we grew closer to Our Lord as an outcome. We offered up so much of her suffering for conversion of souls. We are very grateful that God send many people our way to help us in our time of need.

On another note, September 23, 2002 was Padre Pio's first feast day! When we lived in Turkey we meet a priest who witnessed Padre Pio bilocate! It was through him we heard of Padre Pio, so I did ask the good Padre for prayers for Rose. I didn't realize the significance of this date until a couple of years later.
--Mallu Mom

Adventurers we are!

We have a huge amount of trees in our backyard.

That's only part of the forest

I would call it a forest. We were bored Sunday so we called over some of my friends to explore it with us.

Adventurers we are!

There were several rivers, ("U" tried to vault across one. Emphasis on tried)
We also came upon a strange fence in the middle. We found a hole in the fence and got to an abandoned construction lot...it was cool.

"U" using his superpowers to make a hole in the fence

Also I learned an important lesson...

Never let your brother know you are going to take a picture of him, he will hog the camera.

-Inch