his “sight vocabulary” includes the abbreviation “St.” but to him it only has one meaning: “Saint.”
Author: franciscanmom
Barb Szyszkiewicz is a wife, mom, Secular Franciscan and freelance writer and serves as Editor for CatholicMom.com. Mom to three young adults, she enjoys writing, cooking, and reading. Barb is a music minister at her parish. She is also an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan. Barb blogs at FranciscanMom.com and shares her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information for diabetics at www.Cook and Count.wordpress.com.
Confession
I don’t get to Confession very often. Partly that is because Saturday afternoons are the absolute worst time for me to go anywhere. That’s with or without a Notre Dame football game, which has pretty much turned into a Near Occasion of Sin these days. I’m as die-hard a fan as they come without purchasing those blue-and-gold plaid pants, but it’s really getting tough to watch a game without resorting to the kind of language that gets a movie a PG-13 rating.
So yesterday I walked away from the television and took myself to Confession. It was way past time to do that. But I left there feeling kind of “disappointed.” My former confessor has moved away (a year ago) and this priest…well, Confession is not his strong suit, I guess. I had come to expect to be challenged a little, at the sacrament. Instead, I felt like I was just “assembly-lined” through. But I don’t want to let my disappointment eat away at me. I am trying to remember that Father is a very good priest, and pastor, in many other ways. He can’t be good at everything.
So, a confession about Confession: I was so busy focusing on “what I get out of it” that I missed what I really do get out of it: grace. I didn’t meet St. John Vianney in the Reconciliation Room yesterday. But I did confess my sins; I made a good Act of Contrition; and I was absolved in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I realize now that instead of whipping through the small penance I was given, I should have taken the time to do a little work on my soul.
Next time I won’t wait so long, and I won’t let my expectations get in the way of the sacrament.
New Altar-Server Function
Middle Sister is getting ready for church. She can’t find the “just-right” hair elastic to hold her ponytail. She’s an altar server, and she likes to have her hair up when she’s serving.
“Here’s one,” she said. “But it’s really tight. And this kind really hurts when you fling them at people…..so if anyone misbehaves in church….”
Question of the Day
“How long would it take,” wondered Little Brother, “to cook a can of root beer in the microwave?”
(I am so glad that my microwave is above the stove, and he’d have a really hard time reaching it without being detected.)
Great Links!
Lisa at Catholic Mom Moments tipped me to “Ten Simple Ways to Make Your Home Prayer Friendly.” My home could stand to be more friendly, for sure.
With Advent coming along faster than I’m ready to think about it, O Night Divine is a wonderful resource. I found this one partway through Advent last year, and too late to do some of the activities. Maybe this year I’ll get to make the super-cool Advent wreath. Complete with photo instructions, this is a lovely project. Middle Sister could probably do most of this on her own.
I ordered my new planner for 2008. I am SO impressed with these planners. I’ve been using them since June and this is the longest I’ve actually hung in there with the same planner, much less ordered one for the next year. The pages are super-heavy duty, so if you like to use gel-ink pens like I do, you won’t have any ink leaking through. Plus the planner fits in my purse (even my small purse!) And a percentage of all profits through the end of the year go to Lily of the Valley Orphanages.
The other night we watched Evan Almighty. I was reluctant, having seen–and hated–Bruce Almighty. The good news is, this movie was much better, and way more family-friendly. I particularly liked the scene where “God” appeared to “Evan’s wife” in a restaurant and helped her understand why her husband was doing what he was doing–sacrificing his ambitions and reputation in order to follow God and change the world. Ultimately, the movie had a positive message.
Gone to Confession lately? TwoEdgeTalk’s podcast this week is on the topic of Confession.
Did You Ever Think…
you’d see me admitting that video games might be the way to go this Christmas?
Obviously, toys are out of the question. They contain lead, or little magnets, or the date-rape drug! (I had been thinking of picking up one or 2 of those kits, for certain cousins on my list. Not anymore!)
I can buy books for the children on my list–but not The Golden Compass series. I won’t put money in that author’s pocket.
Maybe it’s time to go back to the “Little House on the Prairie” tradition of oranges and walnuts in the stockings.
I’m just thankful that I only have one child in the “toy-wanting” age group, though there are plenty of cousins that young as well.
Thanks to Milehimama for the links.
Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever–but Save Her an Apple Puff!
Middle Sister is home sick from school today, with the Virus The Pediatrician Has Seen All Day Long–though he said she appeared sickest of all the kids he’d seen today. She’s got a fever, sore throat, cough, headache, and no appetite.
She’s eaten almost nothing all day, though she’s been drinking water and iced tea to stay hydrated. But a few minutes ago, when she came into the kitchen to dose up on acetaminophen, she saw the box of Apple Puffs on the table. These treats come 6 to a box–and there was only one left.
Grabbing her favorite purple Sharpie, she wrote all over the box: “Middle Sister’s Puff. Do not eat, or else! DEAL!”
I’m sure some smart-aleck in the house will eat it anyway, but those things get stale fast. When she gets better, I’ll be very happy to go to the supermarket for another box. (Even if they’re no longer on sale.)
Meanwhile, this might be motivation to her to get better faster, before someone beats her to her apple treat.
Admiriation Does Not Equal Aspiration
Little Brother and I were in the car today, and he was telling me in great detail about the “safeties” who help out on the school playground and the bus. Apparently they have all kinds of bus privileges like picking the best seat and making sure the little kids get off at the right stops.
His tone was admiring, so I asked him if he was going to be a “safety” when he gets big.
“No! I’m going to be a football player.”
Feast of All Souls of the Seraphic Order
Lisa, sfo reminds us that yesterday was the feast of All Souls of the Seraphic Order. She has posted the Litany to the Saints of the Seraphic Order, that we may pray it on behalf of the souls of our fellow Franciscans.
Brother Pio reminds us that the Rosary would also be an appropriate prayer in this instance, as St. Francis recommended in the earlier rule of Leo XIII and Nicholas IV.
I’m sure that being a day late in beginning these prayers will not matter…better late than never, especially where prayer is concerned!
Just Me and My Buddy
Sounds like the title of a “Little Critter” book, doesn’t it? Well, that’s fine. I’ve always been a sucker for Little Critter. He’s so cute! And so real!
This morning I’ll be going grocery shopping with my own Little Critter (Little Brother, that is.) His school is closed today, Middle Sister’s at a friend’s house and Big Brother is in school. That’s amazing in itself, since his school closes at the drop of a hat.
I enjoy grocery shopping and I particularly like it when I get to do that job solo. I enjoy making my list, checking it twice, finding the right coupons to match with the sales and making sure everyone will have some favorite thing to enjoy when I get home.
But today when I told Little Brother that we had to do some grocery shopping, he was happy. “Can I get a donut?” he asked.
And that’s when I realized that I really do miss his company in the store. Sometimes it’s nice to have a Little Critter along, especially when he has chocolate-donut icing on his nose and chin, and he’s singing the alphabet song all the way down the canned-goods aisle. Maybe our favorite cashier will be working–the one whose grandson shares his name with Little Brother. If she is, we’ll definitely get into her line.
Maybe I’ll get a donut for myself, too.