If I'm not off hiding somewhere with a good book, chances are I'm chasing a toddler or a Jack Russell (or sleeping, because every mom can use a nap!). I found Prince Charming and married him, and now we enjoy the idiosyncrasies of life in an old farmhouse. Oh yeah, and we root for the Buckeyes. Every time.
Catholic Carnival 132: Back to School We Go
It’s not that I don’t want to commemorate the Feast of the Assumption with this edition of the Carnival, it’s that I’m just stuck on the world around me and not on heaven. I hope you, and our Blessed Mother, can forgive me and indulge me this week as we explore, through the lens of this week’s collection of posts, just what this time of year brings our way, in addition to a fabulous opportunity to pay homage to Our Mother Mary.
Though I’m not going back to school, everyone around me is. My husband has been in classes all summer (and the pregnant wife and partner student has decided that’s for the birds!), and even so, he’s getting that look about him that means fall quarter’s coming up soon (first we have to live through finals week next week!). My nieces and nephew, who I kidnap at every given opportunity (and far less than I’d like!), are in the process of trying on clothes and gathering up all the stuff they need and working on the hangdog look I’m sure is faked after eight weeks of “boredom.” My younger sister and brother are cramming the last two weeks full of their auntly and uncley duties, and my parents have a quaint air about them. My friends are complaining about this and that, in a tone of voice I only ever hear in August and May.
And me? I’ll admit it…I’m EXCITED! Back-to-school means so many things, not the least of which is the beginning of another season here on the farm. I’ve always been excited about school and
What are we waiting for? We have a collection of 19 posts this week to enjoy together! And hey, if this gets you excited, why not consider hosting* a week (information all about the Catholic Carnival here) or submitting** (nifty form here)?
School Supplies
They taunt me from the aisles, and beckon me from their plastic wrappers and sale signs: yellow wooden pencils, sharp brand-new scissors, untouched boxes of crayons, blank lines of white notebook paper. They draw me like a magnet, and surely having a husband who’s a student justifies a few (more) purchases of pens and paper and, yes, pencils.
These posts are just like those aisles of school supplies, full of a fresh odor and just what you’d expect to find in a collection of Catholic posts. They beckon you to read them and click through and once you’re there, you’ll find yourself enjoying them just as much as a new box of Crayolas.
Don’t Let Your Children Become Addicted to Excitement at cause of our joy – Not only does Leticia talk about school quite a bit in this post, but she points out some good ole common sense things that just made me nod. What’s wrong with routine and ordinary? Well, you’ll have to click on through and find out what she has to say!
The Liturgy of the Hours at Daughter of the King – Jen’s personal account of how she found the Liturgy of the Hours, and how her devotion to it has waxed and waned, is insightful and inspirational. “I was afraid at first that I wouldn't have the "time" to "fit it in". But something funny happens when it comes to things like this. God always "helps" us to "fit in" our prayers when it's what He wants us to pray.”
Local and National Event – Stay Tuned – 90th Anniversary of Fatima at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii - October 13 is the 90th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady at
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and Martyr: Biography, Favorite Quotes, Prayers at Catholic Fire – You might think you know enough about enough saints, but lemme just stop you right now and let you know that this is a post that’s as essential as the little pink eraser your mom shoved in your book bag on your way out the door. (Yeah, I know. You’re better at math than I was, so you probably had some other essential that
A Word about Church at A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars – Just what did Pope Benedict mean when he made his statement a while back about “church and Church”? Was it to-may-to, tah-mah-to, or semantical nonsense, or something worth understanding? Thanks to Ebeth, we have a post that will be just as handy to have in the back of your mind as that college-ruled paper was in English comp.
Last Hay Cutting
Harvest isn’t quite here, though the slow decay is well underway in the fields. There’s one more hay cutting, with all the work and grit that entails, and quite a few days of the blistering hot weather left to make everyone appreciate a good dose of 65-degree A/C in the face. With the hay cutting comes the final attack of allergies for those poor afflicted souls and the last burst of hay-related sweat and grit in the hay fields and barns.
These posts are like that last hay cutting, in that they’re full of a sweet smell that’s almost a taste and, left lying around, are sure to be just as nutritional later as they are now. There’s a variety, just as there is in a hay field, from flowering alfalfa to timothy to grass.
Assurance of Salvation at Voice in the Wilderness – How many times have you been asked if you’re “saved”? (And how many clever replies have you collected, dear Catholic reader?) John examines just what the Catholic Church teaches about this very thing, and he explains it in a way that even a sleep-deprived sweat-filled pregnant woman can understand. (That means you’ll get it, no problem!)
NFP: the Natural Choice for Couples at Living Catholicism – Like Daniel, I’m a big fan of NFP. I’m also a big fan of how he describes the benefits in this post. He writes, “The more perfect we become in living the truth, the more harmonious we are with all of creation. The Church’s teaching on contraception is an excellent example of this. I always thought that hippie/earthy people would really appreciate it and we could use it as easy common ground for evangelization. But if anyone studies the benefits of Natural Family Planning, they’ll have a hard time arguing against this beautiful teaching.” And then, he goes on to list a couple of the top benefits (with a link so you can find more if you’re interested). Thumbs up!
Humility at SFO Mom – Stacking hay in the barn might not be the most logical time to stop to talk about Christmas…until you read what Barb has to say about humility. In a post that’s nothing short of brilliant, she ties in how we’re a Christmas people, how that comes from being an Easter people, and how it’s all about humility. Don’t miss this post that probably has St. Francis nodding from his perch in Heaven (Barb is a secular Franciscan).
28 Things I’ve Learned in 28 Years of Marriage at My Domestic Church – First, a pause for applause. 28 years is worth some clapping and cheering and whooping from all of us, don’t you think? This post is full of common sense and the sort of thing you get when you have your best friend over with a cuppa your favorite beverage. It’s also bursting with laughter and tears. It’s better than the taste in the back of your mouth right after the hay comes off (assuming you’re not so allergic that you are unable to breathe at that point). It’s the sort of post that I will print out and share with my husband, because it’s how I want to feel when we’ve been married that long!
The Hopes
Fall breeding is underway here on the farm, and we are looking ahead to the time when we’ll have those babies filling our barns and our hearts in the winter. Whether you are going back to school or not, there’s something about the back-to-school season that triggers a hope and an excitement for what’s to come.
These posts reflect the hopes we have as Catholics, the hopes we find from our faith and our families and our surroundings.
Pope Says Young People Attracted to Jesus, Gospel at The World…IMHO – What greater hope do we have for the future than our youth? Christine brings us an article that is full of hope and that reminded me that we adults aren’t too good to be like little children (because those teens are looking more and more like “little children” to me as I get older…).
Greater Good Magazine at J.Lee – I’m not sure how Catholic this is, but it sure was interesting. (For that matter, catholic means “universal,” and this would qualify that way, wouldn’t it?) Consider just how important gratitude is. “Groundbreaking research has revealed that practicing gratitude can lead to transformative life changes.” My mother and grandmother and many others I know would tell you that they performed that research in the field, but here it is, confirmed by the brains at
Parenting Principles at Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church – In her typical no-nonsense, compassionate, been-there-and-you-can-too style, Denise responds to a reader’s comments with some strategies that she’s found to be tried-and-true over her 21 years as a parent. She beings with words I might just have tattooed on my arm as a reminder: “First and foremost, remember parenting is a vocation. You are called to this vocation by God. He is there with you every step of the way. You just have to remember to ask for His help and guidance. In other words: Pray! Pray! Pray!” You do a disservice to not go and read the rest, whether or not you’re a parent (because surely you know someone who needs this!).
August on the Farm at just another day of Catholic pondering – A lot of my inspiration comes from the lambs in my life, the ones in the house and the ones in my barn. This time of year, we’re focusing on the next crop of lambs, and the breeding season brings out my thoughts on the beauty of God’s creation and God’s plan for our bodies (though that makes it sound way may theological than the post really is).
On the Dignity and Vocation of Women at Embracing Motherhood - Few things are as full of hope as the celebration of 20 years since John Paul II's apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women). It "was written by John Paul II to encourage women in their vocations, to highlight the essential feminine genius that they provide to the world, and to restore spiritual and physical motherhood to a culture that was quickly losing sight of the very meaning of nuptial love. The Catholics of North America have been asked in particular to consider the document in light of one overarching theme: The Dignity of Women in a Technological and Consumeristic Society. To that effect, a website has been created in order to provide a comprehensive resource for those looking for ways to reflect on this timely anniversary." All you fans of JP, get MOVIN! Check this OUT! (And I mean click through, don't waste a sec...the website is SAAAAWEEEEEETTTTTT...oh, and it's a good post too.)
Garden Harvest
The vegetables are ripe for the picking, and there’s tables bursting with the bounty. You’ll find the canning supplies out and dirty, with a feeling of not-enough-time-left in the air. After filling the buckets and bags with produce, your hands will smell like tomatoes or bugs or dirt, and what a sweet smell it will be, and what a pleasant concoction under your fingernails!
These posts are a harvest of their own, full of ripe thoughts and worth-canning-and-rereading thoughts. When you’re done, see if your hands have a different feel to them…
Got God? at Nurse Ratched’s Place – A picture of Mary (which my helpful toddler got very excited about, Nurse R, good call), a prayer for nurses, and a reflection worth printing…what a post. I feel like maybe I could eat another tomato and print this off for all the nurses in my life. And I think that nurse’s prayer probably applies to just about every mother I know…(with perhaps a bit of rewording). Don’t miss this one!
Donis Nobis Pacem at Extraordinary Time – In a post positing that Latin is better than the vernacular for active participation at Mass, Leo presents an interesting viewpoint. It’s not a long read (and is, in fact, full of questions and open for discussion), and it’s got me thinking (always dangerous). Go see if you find a tomato or cucumber over there…
Can’t Say We Weren’t Told at HMS Blog – Following God isn’t easy, and it doesn’t always make sense. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son after being assured he’d have offspring to rival the stars in the sky. “We are promised a Kingdom, yet told to give our belongings and ourselves in service to one another - not the sort of behavior that one is perhaps accustomed to associating with royalty, and, in any case, a challenge for us.” In this post, Kevin once again does a beautiful job of reflecting on the Mass readings and highlighting the things I’ll be thinking more about.
Football!
Pull out the jerseys, tune up the Tivos, brush off the vocal cords, because football is going to start in fine fashion! Whether it’s a college team or a high school team, or perhaps something from the NFL, you know the current in the air and the smile in your skin.
These posts inspired the same sort of excitement in me that the impending college football season does, and I group them here and wait excitedly to see if you cheer as loudly as I did when you’re finished reading them.
Wifely Submission at Play the Dad? Be the Dad – Just what does “wifely submission” mean? Everything I think about Ephesians 5, and more, is here, conveniently summarized and explained in a blog post. My favorite quotable: “My thought on my household and running it is my responsibility, God has charged me with the responsibility. My wife is my help-mate, she is my partner, the one who works beside me and helps me as we battle the battles that we face in life. She is not to fall at my whims and be responsible for whatever I command her to do, but she is here to do things with me to help me accomplish my mission. This does give me authority over her but as a husband I must order it to the end that was given to me. I must give of myself completely to her. Now I must say that this is only possible through Christ, as I am an imperfect fallen being.” WOW! TOUCHDOWN!
Do or Do Not – There Is No Try at Within the Garden – I’m not a particular fan of Star Wars (though I enjoyed them enough), but I might have to reexamine them after this post. But whatever your thoughts on Star Wars, don’t miss this discussion about the “sacrament of the present moment” and examination of just what the Mass is all about. It’s the kind of post that will have you laughing and then realizing he tricked you into thinking. Kind of like taking the option. (Or whatever that’s called.)
Arrogant Humility and Other Pseudo-Virtues at Postscripts from the Catholic Spitfire Grill – Perhaps you have experienced Arrogant Humility, or its counterparts, Malicious Obedience and Vicious Charity. No? Well, then, you don’t live in my world. Red Neck Woman could be a neighbor of mine (though I suspect, like so many of the bloggers I love, she lives in Texas or somewhere else far, far away), and the way she describes these pseudo-virtues is worthy of an extra point AND another beer. (Oh wait, did I say that? I meant it’s a great post. I’m not drinking beer. Nope, not while I’m doing the Carnival (and pregnant). Nope, not even if I am sweating between my toes.)
The Disclaimer Section
* Some might say I have too much free time. You don’t have to go this overboard with your hosting. You can just paste in what people send you, hyperlink, and put it up. You can leave it without graphics and keep it simple. I was raised by people, in fact, who tattooed “KISS” on my forehead. The problem is, when I look in the mirror, I can never remember what it stands for…
** Submissions are read by the hosts and they have the discretion to opt out of including your post if they feel it’s inappropriate (or at least NOT anti-Catholic – but then, that little statement shouldn’t surprise you if you scrolled down, huh?).
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