Feasts Days During Lent

Whew! What a week! What a weekend! We had two High Masses, one on Friday to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation and one for Laetare Sunday--because we're more than halfway through Lent. And last week was also the choir's turn to provide soup and sandwiches for after Stations of the Cross so there's been a LOT of socializing. But it's been lovely. And I could not believe it's the 10th anniversary of my total consecration of Jesus through Mary. JOY! 

I was also finishing up a writing project (secret for now) so it was a great relief to have the writing finished on Thursday before choir practice! Our choir director brought in an original vellum of the chant we'd be singing, penned in the late 15th century. It's only slightly different from what we sang. It's quite large and in medieval times the monks would gather around to sing.  

There was also consecration of Russia and Ukraine. I can't help but think of the Fatima seer, Sister Lucia, who said that Mary told her that by the time the consecration happens, it'll be too late. Pope St. John Paul II had made a consecration that was accepted in heaven but Russia had already spread her errors. And we're already in a war. So I don't know what the most recent consecration will mean. Then there's the little matter of Biden and Obama establishing bioweapons labs in the Ukraine and the never-ending covid crap that continues to be used to usher in a new era of health dictatorship even as the authorities backtrack and say they made mistakes. What a bunch of liars. Everything was done with malice. And this is why I pray because what can a person like me can do? I have no power except in Christ Jesus. 

I had an interesting conversation with Dagny, who's taking a class in Mariology, and who said that until the fifth dogma is proclaimed--that she's the Mediatrix of all graces--we'll never have peace. It's such a strange thing that our Lord will not do anything without our cooperation. The Virgin Mary had to give her fiat for the Incarnation to happen. Jesus comes to us through Mary and He wills that all graces pass through her hands. This comes up over and over IN SINU JESU. I tell you, this book is a love letter! We simply cannot comprehend a love so great. But BELIEVE!!!

I close with a picture of the girls at Ave Maria celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation!  

Antidote to Chaos

Does anybody think that the same people who advanced Covid theater are now promoting war? Have we learned nothing from the bloodiest century? I'm retreating more into prayer. Beauty will indeed save the world. On Valentine's Day, this copper spire went up on St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church on Daniel Island. Watch: 

Spire Lift Video - YouTube

The church will be finished next year and I have a feeling there will be many conversions because it's so beautiful to worship in a space set apart for worship. It's one of the things I love about the traditional Latin Mass. It's set apart from the ordinary. It has a way instantly orienting my thoughts to the Almighty. The antidote to chaos. Yesterday at choir practice, the pastor was meeting with cadets from the Citadel who are in RCIA and I was flooded with memories of our time in RCIA. I still can't believe it sometimes, how I've grown in love. But when you're drinking from the very Source of all Love, how can it not? I pray this Lent will be the best ever, bearing much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

When we first moved here and I saw the lacrosse field across Bishop England High School, I knew it'd be the perfect place to have a church. And it is. Deo gratias!

 

Spring

Spring is here. Our bees are out and about doing bee things and the weather is turning warm again after several cold fronts that blew through. Our kids were home for a longish weekend with some of their friends and the timing couldn't have been more perfect because it was a birthday weekend for Max. Here he is, enjoying raw oysters with his dad. We had such a good time cooking, eating, making music, praying, reading and relaxing and having lovely conversations. It truly is wonderful to see the children growing up with good friends and in the Lord. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we've been more mindful to support our local farmers and businesses and given our interest in permaculture and fermentation, it was great to visit Chucktown Acres from where we buy most of our meats. Farmer Alex sends out the most educational newsletters and they've expanded their business with Salty Oak Farms for events, such as weddings, retreats, etc. We got a great tour of the farm and it was so fun to see all the baby animals, esp. Loved feeding the chickens and wished we could have some of our own. And of course, I couldn't help petting the barn cat.

But as our pastor reminded us, even as we see new life, Holy Mother Church asks us to remember that we are dust, that we'll return to dust. Memento mori. And so we begin the penitential season of Lent, wherein we're reminded to return to the Lord with our whole hearts (Joel 2:12) and engage in spiritual warfare through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I love that we are fighting from a position of victory that Christ has already won for us from the Cross. Given the terrible state of the world and the threat of WWIII (after a pandemic, no less) it is all really that's in our power to do. I leave you with a beautiful hymn Lord Jesus, think on me.