God's Sense of Humor

There is a bird in this picture.  It is because of a story of what a bird did, that I almost went off the road, laughing.  I was driving home and listening to the radio.  Mother Angelica was talking about her receiving an honorary doctor's degree.  The ceremony was inside a stadium of 2000 plus people.  Everyone was congratulating her.

She felt like she was constantly bowing her head and saying "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou,..."  The sister walking beside Mother Angelica kept touching Mother's arm or elbow.  "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou."  "What does sister want?", Mother thought.  "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou ,thankyou."  The sister kept pulling at Mother's elbow.

"What!"

"Mother, some bird did something on you veil!"

That's where I almost lost it.

So the two nuns went into a bathroom and tried to wash off the bird poop.  And it wasn't easy.

Ten minutes later, Mother is back working her way through the crowd (albeit soaking wet veil), "Congratulations."  "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou..."

What are the odds:  two thousand plus people, one bird?

Certainly God was teaching us through Mother Angelica, a lesson on humility.

Parenting by Polls

As I was driving home today, I was listening on the radio to Dr. Ray Guarendi.  He's a psychologist who gives advice on the radio.  A lady asked him about a videogame that her son was bothering her about having.  She felt it was too violent and said no.  But she asked around.  All the other kids were playing it.  All their parents thought it was OK.  The mother even asked their pediatrician and he thought the hand and eye coordination was good for children; he had no problem with it.

When I used the word ALL, I meant that literary.  She took a poll.

Dr. Ray disagreed.  He more or less said that she is the Mommy and that's it.  She said "No;" it's "No."  End of discussion.  He also made fun of this mother taking a poll.

I disagree with Dr. Ray because I have a good memory.  I remember what it felt like to have weird parents who were always out of step with my friends' parents.  I remember what it felt like to have my friends (and their parents and my teachers) feel sorry for me.  I remember promising myself that when I was a parent, I'd take my children's requests seriously.  My children would not become social misfits who couldn't participate in daily conversation about the TV shows everyone but me watched.  My children would not sit sadly on the sidelines and watch their classmates pass them by.

Of course, I knew even then, that limits would be set, but I would really take it seriously when my children said "Everyone else is."  I would prove to my children, that everyone isn't, if that were true.

And I did.  Usually, I didn't have to take too much of a poll.  I knew who to call and ask if their children were doing such and such.

Only once was I proven wrong.

My daughter was in the sixth grade and wanted to wear make up.  I said "no."  She said, "Everyone else is."
I called a few of her friends and was surprised that my daughter was correct.  I still didn't want to accept it.  So I called a friend of mine, whom I respect very much.  She is older than me.  Her daughter is older too, but that meant she had already been through my dilemma.

Much to my surprise she said that she taught her daughter how to wear makeup in the sixth grade.  It brought them closer.  They went shopping for makeup and had the sales lady make up her daughter.  The saleslady made excellent suggestions for a sixth grade girl, and she listened to her.  Every since then, they help each other with makeup suggestions.

What do you know!  I turned around 360 degrees.  My daughter was 100% correct and I was wrong.  I took my friend's advice and used the makeup issue to bring us closer.

Sunday Snippets -- A Catholic Carnival

R'Ann asks about priests who have influenced my life.  I have two.  The first is Fr. Aniello.  Father has the gift of healing.  Back in the day, I didn't know what that meant.  A friend and co-worker asked me to take her to a healing service, since Father Aniello was celebrating Mass and a healing service, in my parish.  I did.  No, I didn't experience a Saul to Paul knock off my ass.  But I felt something.  Better, I have had an insatiable desire to learn all I can about our Triune God, ever since.

The other priest, conversely, affected me.  He was my very first spiritual director.  Fr. John was kinda flaky.  "Kinda" is being kinda.  I went to him about four times.  Since he was my first SD, I was very sincere, devoted, and conscientious.  I remember him telling me it was most important to have a regular prayer life.  I should go to morning Mass, if possible.  I should learn the Divine Office.  Pray a daily Rosary.  Also, I should set aside time to do Lectio Divina.  Finally, Confession should be once a month.

This is what I remember and still try to do.  Outside of that, Father John kept forgetting to come to our sessions.  He wouldn't return my phone calls and I hated to be a pest, and keep calling and calling. I eventually stopped calling, and he never noticed. When I see him today, he said he doesn't remember this at all.

Probably repressed the memory!

However, as terrible as he was at being a SD, our first encounter, and his instructions to me, are what have influenced me for the rest of my life.

R'Ann also asks that I and other bloggers join together on her site, This And That And The Other Thing, and share with each other what happened to us, during the past week.  I was very busy and sick on the Fourth of July--lasting throughout July 5.  It was some kind of intestinal bug.  I feel better, today.

Sunday -- Obsessing about statue's toes.

Monday -- Finally finished after 37 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday -- Beautifully poetic day.

Wednesday -- My Iraqui family needs help desperately.

Thursday -- The diocese of Springfield Mass has a new bishop.

Friday -- Hurricane Arthur

Be in touch next week.

Hurricanes Blowing down the Fourth of July

Hurricane Arthur is messing up my weekend.  Company planning to visit have cancelled out.  We bought a lot of food that I worry about spoilage if the electricity goes out.  Last night Boston Pop's on the Esplanade rescheduled their concert to last night, and started the fireworks before the rain came and then told the crowd to "get home!"  The town of Falmouth, where my family and I always go to see the fireworks have rescheduled to Sunday.

There's someone who every morning visits my blog from New Orleans, LA.  She/he prays the prayer to Our Lady of Prompt Succour.  And this morning I read about another intercessor for protection against hurricanes, "The Hurricane Lady."  This a statue the community has had for centuries and believe is the reason why they are protected from hurricanes.

I calling on the two of them to keep this hurricane away from Cape Cod.  Push it out to sea.

Welcome to Edgar Moreira da Cunha, D.S.V

At this morning's Mass, the feast of St. Thomas, Father Steve announced the Diocese of Springfield's new bishop, Edgar Moreira da Cunha, D.S.V.   Bishop George Coleman has announced his retirement.  Bishop elect Cunha is an auxiliary bishop in the diocese of Newark, NJ.  All we know of him was that he was born in Brazil.  Hopefully, he speaks Portuguese, which the parishioners, being of Cape Verdean ancestry, will appreciate.

Many blessings prayed for Bishop Coleman.  May he enjoy his retirement.

 Isn't it appropriate that on the feast of one of the first bishops, one of his successors was announced?

Dire Prayer Request

As a Lay Dominican, I am one of the Worldwide Dominican Family.

From Iraqi OP Prioress - with Dominicains Strasbourg, Dominican Net

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,

Thank you for your emails, calls and for keeping us and all the Iraqis in your prayers. You have been probably hearing different things about the situation in Iraq. It is a huge chaos and there is a lot of violence almost all over the country.

Few days ago, the ISIL occupy the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Chaldean Catholics in Mosul, which is on the left side of the city. They threw away in the garbage outside the archbishopric all the portraits of Jesus and Saints, Crosses, and all consecrated items of the church. The Mullah of Ahmed Ismail mosque near the archbishopric went there to stop them and he asked a gunman to leave the place and not destroy its contents because of the places’ sanctity, but they answered him that there will be no churches nor archbishopric in an Islamic state and they put the Islamic state flag on the archbishopric.

The ISIL have been also occupying the homes that are empty in Mosul. Many people left their homes when the violence started in Mosul last month and not everyone was able to return. Our sisters who were living in Mosul have been unable to return in the recent weeks to our convent in Mosul because of safety issues.

There are no news about the Chaldean sisters and the three orphanages (two girls and one a boy) who were kidnapped four days ago. The day after they were kidnapped there were some communication. But since yesterday, July 1st, there has been nothing and people who were communicating with us from ISIL have closed their phones.
The situation in Iraq is very worrisome. We don’t know what to expect and people are afraid and very worried of this present situation. It is really hard to imagine how sad and angry people are in this place. In Karakush- Bakhdida, the ordeal has not completely passed yet. There are rebels on one side of the town beyond the borders and the Kurdish army on the opposite side. The rebels are using some people’s farms and barns that belong to Christian families from Karakush as a base for them.

Also, the electricity and water supplies are still very limited, which makes life so difficult in this weather. Therefore, many people are planning to leave the country which is sad.
Thanks again for your prayers and please continue praying for us that peace may prevail in this land and please pray in special way for the increase of faith in these days of troubles.

Maria Hanna OP
And Dominican Sisters of saint Catherine of Siena –Iraq
July 2, 2014

Snail, Snail

Today was one of those beautiful July summer days.  Every breath of air was praise to God.  The trees are so luscious green and all the flower blossoms are huge.  Nature reminded me of the nursery rhyme, Snail, Snail.

SNAIL, SNAIL

Snail, Snail,
Put out your horns,
Be glad! Be glad!
Don't be forlorn.
The trees clap hands,
The hills, they sing!
Don't you hear
The bluebells ring?
Come and join them!
Ring-a-ling!
God cares for us!
Come! Sing! Sing! Sing!