Lucinda Therese Andrea

JMJ
Blessed Advent!

We are please to announce the birth of our daughter Lucinda Therese Andrea Spiering.

Born Nov. 30th, 2014 at 6:10 pm.  

7 lb. 14 oz.

21 in. long

perfect

We anxiously await the arrival of all babies, but Lucinda's birth was particularly longed for because her due date was too early.  It seemed that she came weeks late, but when she finally did arrive, she proved to be right on time.  The midwife thinks she was born at just days over 40 weeks gestation.

All our babies have come after their due dates.  Twice in the past the midwife has worked with us to to have the babies on a certain day, because it seemed that the babies would just stay put until we did something!  :)  Cecily in particular seemed to need a push to join us here in the sun--she was 20 days late.  When I was pregnant with Charles, we decided to "try" to have the him closer to the due date.  He was actually born only three DAYS after his due date--not three weeks.  

This time, we knew what we were doing.  We had done it twice before and it had worked.  We set a date, a while after the due date and did what we had done before. . . . no labor.  Not even a few contractions.  We tweaked our approach.  Maybe we didn't have just the right combination of herbs, moods, settling, etc.  Still, no labor.  We waiting a few days and tried yet again.  And again, no labor.  Not even the signs of it starting.  We were all tired and discouraged.  What do we do?  Why hadn't it "worked"?  We just let it go over Thanksgiving.  I enjoyed the holiday with family and friends.  The midwife and I touched base again after a respite.  We both wanted to just let God take control.  We didn't know why our attempts had not worked thus far, but we also knew that the baby was healthy and I was healthy.  Why rush things?  Just because, it seemed that I was past my due date, there didn't seem to be any reason for alarm or drastic measures.  We both felt renewed confidence in Our Lord's Providence.  And do you know what?  Lucinda was born the next day.  What a lesson in patience, trust and humility it was for me.  

Her name is a story in itself.  Craig has wanted a Lucy for years.  I have always NOT wanted a Lucy because I felt it was too popular.  I love St. Lucy, but it always did remind me a little of the Peanuts character.  When we had our first girl, we thought we would try to name all our girls after the female saints in the Roman Canon.  We have Anastasia and Cecilia, so it made sense to have a Lucy.  I still wasn't convinced, but then Craig read an adventure from Don Quiote with a beautiful, virtuous character named Lucinda.  Some translations she is Lucia, but Lucinda was less common and still a variation on Lucy.

She is our first to have two middle names.  St. Therese has been my advocate in Heaven since before I knew her.  She had worked so much good in my life, that I couldn't have another child and not dedicate her to this powerful saint.  I've been reading Maurice and Therese by Patrick Ahern.

http://www.amazon.com/Maurice-Therese-The-Story-Love/dp/0385497407

If you have read Story of a Soul and want more insight, READ THIS BOOK.  Reading her letters to this young seminarian whom God had brought to her as a spiritual brother is inspiring.  But reading them as labor grew closer and closer gave me great courage.  Her explanation of suffering is truly an insight into sanctity.  She is writing to him in her last few months before death and she explains that she longs to go to Heaven, not to escape the suffering, but because she knows she will be free to do all the good she longs to do once she is no long bound to this world.  She even says she will gladly live longer--and not be fully united to her Dear Love, Jesus--if she can suffer more and save souls.  Saving souls is her mission, because it is Christ's mission.  I am no saint, but St. Therese was there helping me through the birth of Lucinda.  I know she will help Lucinda throughout her life.  

Lucinda was born on the feast of St. Andrew.  As the month of November came and went, we watched each saint's day come and go.  We do try to name each child after saint that has a feast day near his or her birthday.  We prayed to each saint on their day.  We told each saint that we wold name the child after him if only he would intercede for us that the child be born on his feast day.  Finally, on St. Andrew's feast, the day we begin the Christmas Novena, our baby girl is born.  So, she has three given names: Lucinda Therese Andrea.  

Her siblings dote on her, obviously.  Even this little guy loves kissing on her and showing her where her eyes, ears, and nose are--even though we could not catch him doing it in a photo.  

Enough of me talking and on to what you all really want to see: pictures of our dear little Lucinda.

God has given our family a great blessing.  For each member of our family and all the good He has granted us,

DEO GRATIAS!

St. Lucy,   Pray for us!

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,  Pray for us!

St. Andrew,  Pray for us!

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.

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

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.