Padre Pio's Christmas Meditation

JMJ

Thank you, Mom Spiering, for passing this along. 

Far into the night, at the coldest time of the year, in a chilly grotto, more suitable for a flock of beasts than for humans, the promised Messiah – Jesus – the savior of mankind, comes into the world in the fullness of time. There are none who clamor around him: only an ox and an ass lending their warmth to the newborn infant; with a humble woman, and a poor and tired man, in adoration beside him.
Nothing can be heard except the sobs and whimpers of the infant God. And by means of his crying and weeping he offers to the Divine justice the first ransom for our redemption.
He had been expected for forty centuries; with longing sighs the ancient Fathers had implored his arrival. The sacred scriptures clearly prophesy the time and the place of his birth, and yet the world is silent and no one seems aware of the great event. Only some shepherds, who had been busy watching over their sheep in the meadows, come to visit him. Heavenly visitors had alerted them to the wondrous event, inviting them to approach his cave.

So plentiful, O Christians, are the lessons that shine forth from the grotto of Bethlehem! Oh how our hearts should be on fire with love for the one who with such tenderness was made flesh for our sakes! Oh how we should burn with desire to lead the whole world to this lowly cave, refuge of the King of kings, greater than any worldly palace, because it is the throne and dwelling place of God! Let us ask this Divine child to clothe us with humility, because only by means of this virtue can we taste the fullness of this mystery of Divine tenderness.
Glittering were the palaces of the proud Hebrews. Yet, the light of the world did not appear in one of them. Ostentatious with worldly grandeur, swimming in gold and in delights, were the great ones of the Hebrew nation; filled with vain knowledge and pride were the priests of the sanctuary. In opposition to the true meaning of Divine revelation, they awaited an officious savoir, who would come into the world with human renown and power.
But God, always ready to confound the wisdom of the world, shatters their plans. Contrary to the expectations of those lacking in Divine wisdom, he appears among us in the greatest abjection, renouncing even birth in St. Joseph’s humble home, denying himself a modest abode among relatives and friends in a city of Palestine. Refused lodging among men, he seeks refuge and comfort among mere animals, choosing their habitation as the place of his birth, allowing their breath to give warmth to his tender body. He permits simple and rustic shepherds to be the first to pay their respects to him, after he himself informed them, by means of his angels, of the wonderful mystery.
Oh wisdom and power of God, we are constrained to exclaim – enraptured along with your Apostle – how incomprehensible are your judgments and unsearchable your ways! Poverty, humility, abjection, contempt, all surround the Word made flesh. But we, out of the darkness that envelops the incarnate Word, understand one thing, hear one voice, perceive one sublime truth: you have done everything out of love, you invite us to nothing else but love, speak of nothing except love, give us naught except proofs of love.

The heavenly babe suffers and cries in the crib so that for us suffering would be sweet, meritorious and accepted. He deprives himself of everything, in order that we may learn from him the renunciation of worldly goods and comforts. He is satisfied with humble and poor adorers, to encourage us to love poverty, and to prefer the company of the little and simple rather than the great ones of the world.
This celestial child, all meekness and sweetness, wishes to impress in our hearts by his example these sublime virtues, so that from a world that is torn and devastated an era of peace and love may spring forth. Even from the moment of his birth he reveals to us our mission, which is to scorn that which the world loves and seeks.
Oh let us prostrate ourselves before the manger, and along with the great St. Jerome, who was enflamed with the love of the infant Jesus, let us offer him all our hearts without reserve. Let us promise to follow the precepts which come to us from the grotto of Bethlehem, which teach us that everything here below is vanity of vanities, nothing but vanity.

Cecily and random thoughts of a sleep deprived mother

JMJ

I can't believe she is six weeks old already!  We are all well, but life is pretty crazy.  I hardly have time to sit down, let alone post to the website.  Wow, no one can prepare you for how hard parenthood is.  The day in and day out struggle is completely indescribable.  Thank you to anyone who is praying for us, because I know I need every bit of grace and then some.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

Life is hard but oh so good.  God is good.  Happy Gaudete Sunday. 

Here are so pictures for those of you who are starved for news from the Spiering home front.  Again, I am sorry I haven't posted more often since Cecily's birth. 

A few more from her first day.





Anastasia is such an attentive big sister.  They are going to be best friends!



All the kids really love her and are so sweet to her . . .



. . . even if not always gentle.



And here are the three oldest dressed up for Halloween.  They didn't actually go Trick or Treating until two days later, but they didn't really know the difference and we have very obliging neighbors who didn't mind off-loading some of their leftover candy.  Joseph is a knight, Aine is a princess, and Henry is a frog . . . prince.  Hence the belt to hold up his sword.  Joseph didn't want to look too friendly because he is a tough knight.  Craig made his shield out of a left over party platter and Joseph made his sword out of his construction set.   



Will post again someday . . . can't promise when.  God bless!  Veni Emmanuel!

Cecily Rose Spiering

JMJ

On the Feast of All Saints, we were blessed by the birth our lovely daughter, Cecily Rose Spiering.  She was born at 7:41 pm, weighing 9 lb. 14 oz., 23 inches long.  We named her Cecily after St. Cecilia, whose feast day is the 22 of this month.  Rose is for our Lady; we thought she would be born in October, which is the month of the Holy Rosary.  St. Therese's Feast day is at the beginning of October; one of her best known quotes is, "I will spend my time in Heaven doing good on earth. . . . I will send down a shower of roses."  Cecily missed October by one day, but she got something even better: the Feast of All Saints and Angels.  Rose is also after Craig's dear Grandmother Rosie.  She is the sweetest most unassuming woman.  We pray that our little Cecily Rose is blessed with her sweet temperament. 

Thanks to my mother for coming and helping with the other children.  I don't know how we would be getting by without her help.  Also, a huge thanks to Tierney and Lori, the midwives of Marshall Midwifery for assisting at her birth.  They had confidence in me to deliver this baby naturally and at home, even if she was "over due".  The birth was fast and uneventful--meaning nothing went wrong.  "Nothing went wrong" actually means that it went wonderfully!  She was big, but not too big for little me to have naturally.  In fact, she was born with only two pushes and not a tear or stretch!  I give thanks to God for a quickly, healthy delivery and a beautiful, healthy baby girl.

Craig and I were pretty set on this name for a baby girl, but we couldn't decide on a boys name.  As the due date approached, and passed, and the days, then weeks began to pass, each male saint got his chance to have the baby named after him: Sts. Mark, James, Simon, Jude, Crispin, and Blessed Charles of Austria were all saints names we were inclined toward, but none of them answered our prays for the birth of this child.  Now, we see that they knew she was a girl and we didn't; I have to admit that I was a little miffed with those guys :) but now I see that my plans are not God's.

Joseph's Drawing

JMJ

I took all the kids to see a new doctor a few weeks ago; I just wanted to get a primary care provider established. They evaluated Joseph for all sorts of things, including his ability to draw. He hadn't been willing to even try drawing until he started going to class and saw other kids his age drawing. So, about a week before his appointment, he actually did begin to draw a few things on his own.

At the office, the nurse asked him to draw a circle, a square, and then a stick-figure. She amended the last request, "Can you draw a picture of your mom?" He wrinkled his brow, and drew a sort-of smiley face. "Oh. It's not very good." He said quite pensively. The nurse asked him to draw arms, a body and legs. he did something of the sort and then said with a frown, "It looks like Humpty Dumpty." I just replied with a smile, "Well, Mama looks like Humpty Dumpty right now, too." The nurse and I laughed. I don't think Joseph really got it.

The Feast of St. Isaac Jogues

JMJ

Today is not only my birthday, but two of my friends have little ones with birthdays today.  And two years ago today Zelie Martin was beatified--she is the mother of St. Therese. 

AND today is the feast day of an amazing American Saint, St. Isaac Jogues.  I didn't know anything about him until this day back in 2002, in San Marco in Florance, where Fr. Mastroeni gave a heart wrenching homily about this unbelievable saint.  I wish I could give you his sermon, but I don't have his words with which to move you.  I do have an article from New Advent which is very informative.  I am so blessed to share a birthday with two beautiful children, a Saint, and a Blessed. 

St. Isaac Jogues,  Pray for us! 

Blessed Zelie Martin,  Pray for us!

St. Isaac Jogues

French missionary, born at Orléans, France, 10 January, 1607; martyred at Ossernenon, in the present State of New York, 18 October, 1646. He was the first Catholic priest who ever came to Manhattan Island (New York). He entered the Society of Jesus in 1624 and, after having been professor of literature at Rouen, was sent as a missionary to Canada in 1636. He came out with Montmagny, the immediate successor of Champlain. From Quebec he went to the regions around the great lakes where the illustrious Father de Brébeuf and others were labouring. There he spent six years in constant danger. Though a daring missionary, his character was of the most practical nature, his purpose always being to fix his people in permanent habitations. He was with Garnier among the Petuns, and he and Raymbault penetrated as far as Sault Ste Marie, and "were the first missionaries", says Bancroft (VII, 790, London, 1853), "to preach the gospel a thousand miles in the interior, five years before John Eliot addressed the Indians six miles from Boston Harbour". There is little doubt that they were not only the first apostles but also the first white men to reach this outlet of Lake Superior. No documentary proof is adduced by the best-known historians that Nicholet, the discoverer of Lake Michigan, ever visited the Sault. Jogues proposed not only to convert the Indians of Lake Superior, but the Sioux who lived at the head waters of the Mississippi.

His plan was thwarted by his capture near Three Rivers returning from Quebec. He was taken prisoner on 3 August, 1642, and after being cruelly tortured was carried to the Indian village of Ossernenon, now Auriesville, on the Mohawk, about forty miles above the present city of Albany. There he remained for thirteen months in slavery, suffering apparently beyond the power of natural endurance. The Dutch Calvinists at Fort Orange (Albany) made constant efforts to free him, and at last, when he was about to be burnt to death, induced him to take refuge in a sailing vessel which carried him to New Amsterdam (New York). His description of the colony as it was at that time has since been incorporated in the Documentary History of the State. From New York he was sent; in mid-winter, across the ocean on a lugger of only fifty tons burden and after a voyage of two months, landed Christmas morning, 1643, on the coast of Brittany, in a state of absolute destitution. Thence he found his way to the nearest college of the Society. He was received with great honour at the court of the Queen Regent, the mother of Louis XIV, and was allowed by Pope Urban VII the very exceptional privilege of celebrating Mass, which the mutilated condition of his hands had made canonically impossible; several of his fingers having been eaten or burned off. He was called a martyr of Christ by the pontiff. No similar concession, up to that, is known to have been granted.

In early spring of 1644 he returned to Canada, and in 1646 was sent to negotiate peace with the Iroquois. He followed the same route over which he had been carried as a captive. It was on this occasion that he gave the name of Lake of the Blessed Sacrament to the body of water called by the Indians Horicon, now known as Lake George. He reached Ossernenon on 5 June, after a three weeks' journey from the St. Lawrence. He was well received by his former captors and the treaty of peace was made. He started for Quebec on 16 June and arrived there 3 July. He immediately asked to be sent back to the Iroquois as a missionary, but only after much hesitation his superiors acceded to his request. On 27 September he began his third and last journey to the Mohawk. In the interim sickness had broken out in the tribe and a blight had fallen on the crops. This double calamity was ascribed to Jogues whom the Indians always regarded as a sorcerer. They were determined to wreak vengence on him for the spell he had cast on the place, and warriors were sent out to capture him. The news of this change of sentiment spread rapidly, and though fully aware of the danger Jogues continued on his way to Ossernenon, though all the Hurons and others who were with him fled except Lalande. The Iroquois met him near Lake George, stripped him naked, slashed him with their knives, beat him and then led him to the village. On 18 October, 1646, when entering a cabin he was struck with a tomahawk and afterwards decapitated. The head was fixed on the Palisades and the body thrown into the Mohawk.

In view of his possible canonization a preliminary court was established in Quebec by the ecclesiastical authorities to receive testimony as to his sanctity and the cause of his death.

[Note: Isaac Jogues was canonized by Pope Pius XI on June 29, 1930, with seven other North American martyrs. Their collective feast day is October 19.]
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08420b.htm

A child's representation of reality

JMJ

Joseph likes to pretend that he is ordering food at a restaurant.  As much as we try to cut fast food or processed food out of our diet, he has definitely figured out how much fun it is to go "out" to eat.  Joseph to Aine while playing in the little kitchen:  "You have to stand behind the counter."  the counter is an up-side-down laundry basket.
Joseph: "What do you want?"
Aine: "Um, Milt (milk)."
Joseph: "Coffee?"
Aine: "Yeah."
Joseph: "sugar?"
Aine: "Yeah."
Joseph: "Okay, (mixing and banging sounds) here you go." a few seconds pass.  "Now it's your turn; you stand here.  Behind the counter.  BeHIND the counter!  NO!  BEHIND THE COUNTER! . . . There.  Now you say, 'what would you like."
Aine: "Um, coppee (coffee)."
Joseph:  "No, I want you to say, 'what would you like?"
Aine: "I did!"
Joseph: "No!  *UGG* Now it's my turn."  shuffling and pushing as Aine whines. "What would you like?" 
Aine: silence.  I can't see her, but I am sure she is sucking her thumb at this point.
Joseph: "Would you like coffee, with sugar, and a spoon and cream, in a cup?"
Aine: "yeah."
Joseph: "Okay!" Very cheerfully.

I think it is best to just let them work it out, as long as they aren't hurting each other. . . too badly.  ;)  How can you control a child when he is being controlling?  I think I just have to let them figure it out amongst themselves most of the time.  It is so hard not to intervene, but I think that just models the same behavior that I am trying stop in Joseph.  Hearing him repeat, more loudly and emphatically each time, "Behind the counter!" sounds just like ME when I am getting frustrated with him.  Sigh.  They are playing nicely again.  Now Joseph is serving her ice cream.  How sweet.  Henry doesn't really get it yet.  I hear Joseph saying, "Henry SIT!  Henry, you have to sit down!  Then we will have a nice treat of ice cream."  How many times a day do the kids here THAT?! 

"Henry SIT down!"
Henry!  Get down!"
No, Henry!  Sit down!"

When it comes to parenting, I think I am my own worst enemy.

The Waiting "Game"

JMJ

I am very sorry to anyone who was hoping to say the St. Therese Novena along with me--I failed to post the rest of the Novena!  I had it, but I haven't had much time to be on the computer, so I didn't get anything posted.  I hope, at least, if you wanted to Novena, you followed the link to Jessica's blog, where I was getting the Novena, anyway. 

I also hate posting when there are no pictures to post because I know I like to see pictures when I am reading something online.  I have some, but they are very random. 

My due date is tomorrow.  I thought it was the 16th, but it actually tomorrow.  Either way, it doesn't mean much other than with the new due date of the 12th, we are more likely to have the baby this month, instead of next.  I have been over due with all three, so I don't expect this one to be any different.  But, no matter how much I prepare myself for being "late" the waiting game has begun! In fact, it began about two weeks ago, because, technically, we could have had a healthy, full-term baby at 38 weeks.  So, even though I KNOW we will be over due, I can't help but be ready to have a baby.  So, instead of waiting for the end for around two weeks, we could be waiting for 5 weeks (3 more weeks).  That is a REALLY LONG TIME to be waiting.  I am consoling myself with the realization that I have had big, healthy babies who all sleep and eat relatively well.  I haven't had a baby with colic or severe reflux.  My babies are all pretty easy, and I think part of that is due (excuse the pun, please) to the fact that my babies develop more before they make their grand entrance into the world.  I know that it is actually due to the mercy of God!!!  I have been very blessed thus far with beautiful, healthy children, so I should not be complaining that I have to wait a little bit longer to hold them in my arms. 

I don't think it would be as hard to wait, either, if strangers were not so tactless.  I don't mind people making a statement about me being pregnant.  I love it when I see people light up with they see my big tummy and little caravan of children.  But it is the comments like,"When is your due date?  Yesterday?"  Especially when I get that comment three weeks before the due date and it is followed by, "Your about to pop!"  Thank you, stranger, for stating the obvious.  How would they like it if I said something about like, "Oh, goodness!  When are you going to go shopping?  That shirt doesn't fit you at all!"  I would NEVER say something like that, no matter how annoyed or over due I am.  What is it about pregnancy that seems to give permission for anyone to say exactly what they think of you?  Comments like that about any other condition or appearance would be called harassment, I think.  The other part of it is that it's not just one or two comments.  It's like 15 everywhere I go.  I get really tired of explaining myself to strangers.  I should just not be so open, but I can't go away from from someone knowing I made them feel bad.  I know it is a weakness and sometimes disingenuous, but I can't help it.  I would rather be really annoyed than shut someone down and have them walk away from me saying to themselves, or worse, to someone else, "What a typical hormonal pregnant lady!"  Also, because I usually have the other kids with me, I really have an  obligation to present family life as the blessing it is.  If I am short with someone, they could think it is because I have too many kids.  Not that I don't get frustrated and tired because of the children, but I don't want to confirm bad stereo-types many people of mothers. 

Sorry to gripe so much!  Actually, all is very well here.  The kitchen has really come together.  We are waiting to do the trim until we put the new floor down.  And we are waiting to replace the knobs on the cabinets, so it isn't exactly how we want it yet, but it is fully functional and WONDERFUL!  We have gotten the dining room back in order after it being the storage space for all the extra kitchen stuff.  Oh!  We put two extra top cabinets in the mud room, so the cabinets all match.  It made everything flow very well and there is much more storage space, so nothing looks cluttered or makeshift anymore.  I vacuumed and cleaned the bathroom, too. The birthing supplies are all gathered and our room is (mostly) organized which hasn't been true since, well, um, maybe Henry's birth.  So, most things are falling into place. 

Okay, well I said I had a picture.  Here is a picture of Aine running around at the wedding reception we went to last weekend.  Craig doesn't have the photos from the wedding posted yet, but if you want to keep up with his work, check out http://spieringphotography.blogspot.com/.



So, we are waiting for the next Spiering to arrive.  Please pray that he or she comes safely, quietly, healthy, and soon. 
 

St. Therese Novena--Day 3

JMJ

~ Day Three ~

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Third Day

Dear Little Flower, make all things lead me to heaven and God, Whether I look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vast expanse in which they float, or whether I look at the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, the beauties of the earth so full of color and so glorious, may they speak to me of the love and power of God; may they all sing His praises in my ear. Like you may I daily love Him more and more in return for His gifts. Teach me often to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer to Jesus many little sacrifices. Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Use of God’s Gifts. How much benefit have I received from the beauties of nature, bestowed in such abundance. How they raise me to Him who placed such wonders in this land of exile which is only to last a day. O sparkling nature, if I did not see God in you, you would be naught but a great tomb. With your little hand which caresses Mary, You sustain the universe and bestow life; and You think of me, O Jesus my little King. I do not wish creatures to have one atom of my love. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:
O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

St. Therese Novena--Day 2

~ Day Two ~

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Second Day

O dear little Saint, now that you see the crucified Jesus in heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, you know still more clearly than you did upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. Use your great power with our divine Lord and pray for me.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Sin. The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend Thee. By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least fault. Yes, even if I have on my conscience every possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow, I should go and throw myself into the arms of my Savior. The remembrance of my faults humbles me and makes me afraid to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:
O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, pray for us.

St. Therese Novena--Day 1

JMJ

Well, I almost missed the boat, again! I can never remember to start novenas in time to say them in anticipation of a feast. If it were not for Jessica, an old friend of Craig's, I would have missed this one, too! Actually, I am so late it getting this said myself, that I am not even going to try to pretend that I had this ready to post. I am snatching this, almost in its entirety, from Jessica's blog, Shower of Roses. Please, visit her blog! She is an amazing home-schooling mother who blesses us with her insights into great activities for homeschooling and developing a great spiritual family life that is centered around the Liturgical year.

Twenty-four 'Glory Be's’ Novena to St. Therese.

Here is the little story that is attached to this novena:

"Father Putigan, a Jesuit priest, began the Novena to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus on December 3, 1925, asking the glorious Saint for one great favour. For nine days, he recited the “Glory Be” 24 times thanking the Holy Trinity for the favours and Graces showered on Saint Therese during the 24 years that she lived on this earth. The good father asked Saint Therese that as a sign that his novena was being heard, he would receive from someone a freshly plucked rose. On the third day of the novena, an unknown person sought out Father Putigan and presented him with a beautiful rose. Father Putigan began the second novena on December 24 of the same year, and as a sign, asked for a white rose. On the fourth day of this novena, one of the Sister-nurses brought him a white rose, saying, “Saint Therese sent you this.” Amazed the priest asked “where did you get this?” “I was in the chapel,” said the Sister, “and as I was leaving, I passed the alter above which hangs the beautiful picture of Saint Therese. This rose fell at my feet. I wanted to put it back in the bouquet, but a thought came to me that you should have it."

Here is how the Twenty-four 'Glory Be's Novena to St. Therese is prayed:

The Glory Be is said 24 times each day for nine days, in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favors given to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus during the 24 years of her life. Start the novena each day with this prayer:

“Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, I thank You for all the blessings and favors You have showered upon the soul of Your servant Therese of the Child Jesus, during the 24 years she spent here on earth, and in consideration of the merits of this, Your most beloved Saint, I beseech You to grant me this favor, if it is in accordance with Your most Holy Will and is not an obstacle to my salvation.”

After this prayer, follow with the 24 Glory Be’s, between each of which should be included this short prayer”

“Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.”

The Little Flower Novena

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith.
All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them.
I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

First Day

St. Thérèse, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach you with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before you my desires, and beg that through your intercession they may be realized. Did you not promise to spend your heaven doing good upon earth? Grant me according to this promise the favors I am asking from you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but specially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Confidence in God. We can never have too much confidence in the good God who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for. If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him.

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:
O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, pray for us.

First Day of Atrium

JMJ

Joseph and Aine started their Atrium class last week. Joseph is excited about class. He loves going to Atrium, as showcased in this picture:



But he wasn't really running like that because he was that wound-up about class. For Joseph, this is old-hat, but for Aine, this day was the paramount of all days. She FINALLY gets to go to school with Joseph. She wanted to go in with Joseph every class last year and now she is FINALLY able to go. But did that quicken her pace at breakfast?



No. I am doing her hair at the table because everyone else is ready to go and she is STILL chewing her oatmeal. At least she looked a bit more excited for this one:



We tried to get them to stand next to each other so we could get a photo, but they won't stay close enough to get them both in a shot. And this is what it looked like when we told them to hold hands.



they finally did smile.



But they weren't really standing close enough to get a good picture of them both. So I told them to hug each other.



I couldn't believe they went for it! It was one of the cutest things I've seen in a long time. One of those little moments that makes a mother's heart swell with appreciated for her children. I thought, "they really LIKE each other!" Usually one of them is being ornery and just won't cooperate--which I don't blame they for. There were certainly days when I didn't want to hug my siblings, but that didn't mean I loved them less. Kids will be kids and you can't MAKE them act in a certain way. I didn't expect them want to hug each other and pose for a picture when they were all excited for their first day of school. But today, they just hugged each other and said, "Cheeeeeeeeeeese!" Or "Teeeeeeease!" in Aine's case.



I think Aine was a little overwhelmed by Joseph, but he was pretty gentle and they seemed to have a great time getting their picture taken.



If you ask them, as I did, "How was class? What did you do?" The answer is almost always the same. "I did some works." And that is about all I can get out of them. They love the class and DO a lot, but when you try to get them to talk about it, you just get, "I did some works." I think it is a good thing for them to have their class, that is all their own. If they don't feel the need to explain their morning to me, that is just fine. I can tell they worked hard and loved it. There is a peace about them after Atrium.

A family Portait

JMJ



Well, here we all are.  This is the best one of about 20 shots.  My friend Jill, who is a photographer herself, took this photo (and the 19 others) of us after Craig took pictures of her little Sam's baptism.  It was a really nice day and there was a little playground there, so by the time we both got our kids gathered for a photo, they all looked a little worse for the wear.  Oh well, at least no one is crying! 

St. Padre Pio

JMJ

Today is St. Padre Pio's Feast day. What an amazing saint! How inspiring that he is a modern saint; someone from our own time and culture (I know, he was Italian, but he lived in THIS modern era). If you don't know anything about him and don't have time to read anything, there is a beautiful movie called The Miracle Man that I HIGHLY recommend.

My Mother-in-Law sent out this prayer by Padre Pio today that I have never seen before, but I love it already. Thanks for sending it, Mom Spiering! This prayer is exactly what I have been needing. With the start of classes for the kids, the kitchen remodeling, the house getting messier and messier and I work harder and harder to get organized before the baby arrives . . . life is getting pretty overwhelming. Oh, and Joseph is going through a nasty phase of disobedience. It is almost guaranteed that if he is not in our sight, he is doing something he KNOWS he is not supposed to do, like jumping on the furniture. I don't mean just jumping on the bed or couch, but jumping from the couch to the end table to the top of the woodstove and all around the room. Then when we try to punish him, he cries and yells and runs in the other direction, or sits in a different chair than we told him to go to. . . He does everything he can to disobey. And while I am dealing with him, Henry is often climbing on things that he shouldn't, or in the toilet because I accidentally left the bathroom door open, or putting permanent markers in his mouth. I know, I KNOW there shouldn't be any markers in his reach, but I just can't keep up. And Aine won't feed herself so I (or Craig) end up staying at the table with her an extra 20 min. at least, just to feed her every bite and make sure she eats. While with Aine at the table, Joseph and Henry are all too often into mischief. I know, especially with Henry, he isn't deliberately trying to drive his mother batty, but intentional or not, it is having the same effect.

Anyway, sorry about the grumbling session! My whole point in saying all this is I need to pray more! This prayer is the answer to this mother's prayers. I know it is a prayer for after communion, and I never make it daily mass, but it works to remind me to make a spiritual communion every day that I don't physically receive Our Lord. I know the more I pray, the more strength I will have and the more likely I will be to actually make the effort (extraordinary effort!) to go to daily mass. Sometimes, all we need to do is pray, even just one prayer, and God showers all the graces we need to persevere in prayer--and THAT brings us closer to Him, enabling us to do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

Padre Pio, Pray for us! Please intercede on our behalf, that we may become like Christ in all things.

A PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

by Saint Padre Pio, OFM Cap.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes, death, judgement, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but, the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for. Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.

Amen

Pirates!

A few weeks ago the kids all wanted to get dressed up in capes and pirates costumes.  Craig not only helped them put on their attire, but he joined in the fun. 



Joseph made everyone swords out of his "construction set".
 














They all marched over to the Dragon (an over-sized pillow in the living room) and . . .
 


slew it with mighty thrusts of their swords.





Henry is such a Ham!  He is at the age where he lights up for the camera. 



The triumphant victory march:





And back to slay another dragon:





Aine running to catch up, so as not to miss the battle . . . note the boys reclining on the couch; I think she already missed it!



Even with impaired vision, she goes head-on into the lair:



So, Grandma and Grandpa Spiering, if you are ever wondering if your pirate costume gift gets used, the answer is YES!



A natural Dragon slayer!