jim henson

I wanted to catch you all up on some additions to the blog.

On the sidebar under the Catholic New Media Advent calendar, there is a St. Andrews novena prayer, said between now and Christmas.  Under that, click on the Advent Wreath picture for a daily meditation on Scripture.

Our December Devotion is focused on Advent and the coming of Christ.  Click on the Our Lady of Advent icon for a peek at an Episcopalian blog, The Advent Door done by artist Jan Richardson.

Underneath that, our virtue for December is Union with God.  Click on the beautiful Saint Gemma holy card to go to http://www.stgemmagalgani.com and read about how she achieved this union. There is so much valuable information there about this wonderful saint!

YIM Catholic is a wonderful new site that posts about positive things happening in the Church around the world.

Take time from your busy Christmas preparations to check out some of these sites.

The Catholic Company is having a contest and is asking us to take part.

They are giving away a Serenity Prayer cross which is a 10" resin cross with the 12 step Serenity Prayer printed on it.

To enter, simply post a comment here about what The Serenity Prayer means to you. On Friday, December 10, I will draw a name from all those who comment and announce it on the blog. I may also post one or more of the comments separately if appropriate.

The winner will then send me his or her address and which I will send to The Catholic Company who will then mail you your prize.

This is a perfect time of year for remembering the importance of serenity!

The Journey Home by Daniel Gerhartz depicts a young man riding home behind 2 plow horses in the snow at sunset.  It made me think of our Advent journey--quiet, contemplative, sometimes in near darkness and bitter cold. But no matter how beautiful the light behind us, the Light is always with us to guide us.

Artistically, I think, even without the snow, there is something about that sky that would still evoke winter.  The way he depicts light--with an almost frozen aura around it--really shows not so much what cold looks like, as what it feels like. The very paint itself seems icy cold and unable to flow too freely.

The church in the background makes me think the driver is returning home from a Christmas service, to the warmth of a cup of hot chocolate by a roaring fire.

I hope he has found what he searches for.

I wanted to share an excellent article called Unlocking the Silent Prison about alternate methods of communicating with dementia patients.

Ohio State University's Michelle Bourgeois suggests that, in addition to communicating verbally, we try writing down important messages so the confused dementia patient can read them (instead of the caregiver having to repeat things over and over.)

She also suggests making a photo album of important family members ("then and now") and labeling them.  This helps the dementia patient understand that the "stranger" they see really is their little baby girl.

I think I'm going to try this with my mom, as she is having a difficult time understanding why she needs to be repeatedly cleaned up by her caregivers.

Alternate ways of communicating with challenging family members, for example, teaching pre-verbal children sign language, can be a breakthrough and a great help to caregivers.

This bean curry really is addictive, and not too hot.  Here is the original recipe.

    1 tablespoon oil
    1 teaspoon mustard seeds
    1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    1 large onion, chopped
    1 tablespoon grated/chopped gingerroot
    2 cloves garlic, chopped
    1 large (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
    2 cans (19 oz each) kidney beans (or mixed beans or other beans)
    1 teaspoon (or more!) curry paste
    salt to taste

Here's what I did.

Prepare kidney beans by the 90 Minute no-soak bean method.  After they are finished baking in the oven (there was still  liquid in my cast iron pan) I added the can of diced tomatoes with garlic, a generous squirt of brown mustard in place of the mustard seeds, lots of garlic and onion powder (I didn't have an onion on hand), ginger powder, a small amount of the curry paste (you can obviously add more if you like), some mild curry powder, and salt.  I omitted the oil.

I put it back in the oven for about 20-30 more minutes (again, making sure I had lots of liquid in the pan).

It would be great alone, over rice, noodles or steamed broccoli, or with pita bread.

Great if you are going meatless for the Nativity Fast.

I like to sing this song during Advent, because it often feels like "the bleak midwinter" both literally and spiritually, until our Savior comes.

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week's Music Monday featured one of my favorite hymns, It is Well With My Soul.  The video tells the moving story of how this hymn came to be written in the midst of tragedy.   Continuing with that theme, is Duffy Sheridan's painting entitled Trust.

Poetry Wednesday featured Omar Khayyam's poem about what is important in life and Scripture Saturday talked about the Nativity Fast. This Advent I will be posting an Advent Calendar each weekend.  There is also a link to access it on the sidebar.

We also asked Our Lady of Korea to pray for peace in that area of the world.

Have a blessed first week of Advent!

This Advent Calendar will be available 24/7 via the link on the sidebar throughout Advent and once a week as a new post. Click on the applicable day and see what Catholic Round Up has in store for us on that particular day.  NOTE:  If you have trouble accessing this through Google Chrome, try Firefox or Internet Explorer.

Let's ask Our Lady for peace in the troubled country of Korea.

Our Lady of Korea, bring them peace!


Hat tip to Vivificat.

This shall be a sign unto you.  You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a feeding trough.  ~Luke 2:12

The sign of Christ's coming was our Savior lying in a feeding trough.  He is our food.  We are to hunger and thirst after righteousness, Jesus tells us in the Beatitudes.  We are to hunger and thirst after HIM.

In the East, the feast of Christmas is preceded by the Nativity Fast.  Abstinence from meat,  dairy and eggs occurs from November 15th (in some churches December 10) until December 24th. Fish is allowed.  From the 13th until the 24th, fish, olive oil and wine are added to the list of foods that are fasted from.

The idea in the East is not to worry overmuch about incurring a penalty of sin, but to encourage us to use Christ's three-fold method of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help us draw closer to the Lord and to anticipate and be able to fully rejoice in His coming.

The time of conspicuous consumption which arrives for believers and non-believers alike, and all but replaces the Holy Season now begins at the same time we are being asked to remember the Holy Souls in early November.  When the Church is calling us to more fervent prayer and a awareness of our own mortality, the world temps us from all sides to mortgage both our finances and our souls in a futile attempt to drown out the poverty in our own innermost selves.

Fasting from spending, fasting from overindulgence in food, and fasting from meaningless pursuits as a way to focus our hearts on the eternal is more important now than ever in the 2000 year history of Christianity.  Our Lord in his infinite wisdom, has given us ample spiritual food for these challenging times.

The sign is our Savior waiting for us in a feeding trough.

Therefore, let us keep the feast. 
~1 Corrinthians 5:8

Here
with a Loaf of Bread
beneath the Bough,
a Flask of Wine,
a Book of Verse--
and Thou
beside me
singing in the Wilderness
and Wilderness
is Paradise
~by Omar Khayyam

(translation by Edward FitzGerald)

Written in the 11th century Persian language, this poem beautifully illustrates what is important on this day before Thanksgiving in the Unites States.  All that is needed is "a book of verse, a jug of wine, and thou."

"Give us this day, our daily bread."

We do not need a feast,
for life is feast enough.

Trust by Duffy Sheridan is an abundant feast for the senses.

The subject stands quietly and gazes confidently at us with open and generous hands.

Her beauty is not the modern American standard (although, thankfully, this is slowly changing), but rests in her quiet confident abundance.

She invites us to trust in the bounty of Providence and to rest in that strength.

This is a special Music Monday because today is the feast day of St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

This song, It is Well With my Soul, is a beautiful inspiration in times of trouble, even before you hear the background story, and this video does a great job of explaining how this song came to be written.  The accompanying pictures bring the history to the fore and let us know that the almost unbelievable story of this hymn is indeed true.

My son's high school marching band did a beautiful arrangement of this piece years ago and, ever since then, my husband sings and plays this occasionally at Mass.

Let the message of this hymn soak into your being and let God's eternal love shine in you always.

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.This week's Music Monday was a beautiful piano, recorder and string piece from Gris "La Dryad".  Art and Beauty Tuesday featured John Grimshaw's November Moonlight. Poetry Wednesday was a poem called Fall Song by Mary Oliver and Scripture Saturday talked about Psalm 131.  This week I also had a post with some photos of this year's Remembrance Day parade.

Thanks to RAnn for hosting the Catholic Carnival!

 Today, dh and I attended the Remembrance Day parade here in Gettysburg.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the rows and rows of Civil War reenactors in this parade.  It is amazing how many people dedicate their lives to remembering those who fought and died here over 100 years ago.

By far the most unusual thing for me was the Civil War era hearse, drawn by 2 horses and driven by a man in a stove-pipe hat.
I wanted to make sure to get a picture of a Civil War band (one with brass instruments) and decided to make this shot sepia toned to add to the semi-authenticity of the moment.

Oh Lord,
my heart is not proud
nor haughty my eyes
I have not gone after
things too great
nor marvels beyond me.


Truly I have set my soul
in silence
and peace.
As a child rests
in its mother's arms
even so
my soul.


~Psalm 131

The scripture  from psalm 131 is from today's office of readings.  It tells us the biblical secret to inner peace.  It is best to be able to look realistically at life and the world and rest in God's arms as in a loving mother's.  As my dear husband reminds me, "grow into your limitations."  Sometimes we can not do it all alone.  That's ok.  Rest in God and let Him take control.

This poem by Mary Oliver beautifully captures the poignant longing of Autumn. 

November Moonlight by John Atkinson Grimshaw is an intriguingly subtle oil on canvas that depicts a hushed hopefulness that pervades this chilly, damp night.

The diffused light leaves us quietly expectant, yet unsure of its source.  The moist fog obscures the horse-drawn cart that moves away slowly from us down the wet street.  The weak moonlight filters through the bare trees and shines on the wall to our right.  The lights shine encouragingly from the windows beyond.

In spite of its austerity, this painting holds a silent promise of better times to come.

This hauntingly beautiful piano is from Gris "La Dryade".

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week started off with Roger Williams' Autumn Leaves followed by our Saint for the Year 2011.

I reviewed a book about Gerald Ford, and featured a gorgeous painting by K. Madison Moore for Art and Beauty Tuesday and Wednesday featured one of my own poems.

Thursday featured a Molly Update and a post about Veteran's Day and yesterday's Scripture Saturday was about the fire imagery in today's first reading from the book of Malachi.

Sunday's first reading is taken from the book of Malachi.

Its haunting fire image is juxtaposed by the specific affects it will have on both the just and the unjust. 

Lo, the day is coming,
blazing like an oven,
when all the proud
and all evildoers
will be stubble,
and the day that is coming will set them
on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.


But for you who fear my name,
there will arise
the sun of justice
with its healing rays.

The idea that a kind of fire can have a destroying and healing affect on two different groups of people is seen in the Eastern Christian theology concerning the afterlife.  The idea is that both the just and the unjust will be in the Presence of God after they die.  The difference is that God's burning Love will be torture to those who do not love Him, and healing to those who do.

Today the United States and Canada remembers all its veterans, especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Veterans Day was started to remember the official end to World War I on November 11, 1918 at 11:00am. (The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.)

This picture is of my grandfather, who earned a Purple Heart in that war and lost sight in one eye.

The doctors have discovered that Molly has Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia otherwise known as Osler-Weber Rendu Syndrome. With Molly, this manifests itself in Pulmonary Hypertension which is very rare.

Her family is devastated at this new news, although this doesn't change much immediately for Molly.

She did a CPAP trial and handled it well. She will get a Trach and G Tube in on Monday and they are talking about moving her, eventually, to rehab to help her regain skills lost by the brain damage she's suffered.

Please continue to pray for Molly and her family as they endure this suffering.

This is one of my haiku and continues this week's theme of my husband's birthday.

This exquisite piano is a detail of Monet's Tranquility by K. Madison Moore (see painting below). Part of the Art within Art series, you see Monet's Japanese Footbridge painting behind the piano, which, as Moore says, is "painted just for Monet".

The normally staid couches are colored bright purple and green, with a celebratory bottle of wine awaiting on  the table.  The walls are decorated with paintings of flowers (and perhaps a pond in the upper left corner of the painting.)

The piano itself is indescribably luscious and speaks of the joy that music, art and nature can bring.


The entire room is a colorful celebration of Monet and of art.

Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford by Thomas M. Defrank

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Write It When I'm Gone is a glimpse into the character of Gerald R. Ford by Thomas M. Defrank, who was first assigned to Ford when Defrank was a new twenty-something reporter and Ford was Nixon's Vice President. The relationship they maintained lasted until the end of Ford's long life. 

This story didn't contain any "smoking guns" or sensationalist revelations, especially compared to the instant news, conspiracy theorist mecca that is the internet these days. Instead, Defrank shows us, through his decades-long interaction with Jerry Ford the person that Ford's integrity was real.

Defrank says that Ford represents the end of an era in politics and while I'm sure that is true, I do think that Ford may have been exceptional even then, particularly given his immediate predecessor, Richard Nixon.

Gerald Ford has been a favorite of mine ever since he took office and I was happy and privileged to have found this book waiting for me (sadly) in the Dollar Store. 

View all my reviews

Michele of Simply Michele has generously offered to give everyone a saint for the year 2011.  If you'd like to participate, leave her a comment at her blog.  

This song, and this very version, was the number one hit when my dear husband was born, 55 years ago today.  Each day we have been together has been a beautiful blessing, unique and beautiful as the Autumn leaves.

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week I had a post about our parish's All Saint's Day celebration, Rutter's Requiem, a painting by Carl Wilhelm Hubner called Mourning Their Loss, a haiku by Issa, a Scripture Saturday on this Sunday's readings, an update on Molly, and a reminder to turn your clocks back.

When I realized this Sunday's readings talk about resurrection I wondered why. It isn't' Easter.  It's not even Christmas.  But on thinking a bit, I realized that the days are getting shorter, darker and colder.  Many struggle with depression around this time.  Cold and flu season is upon us. We worry about our health.  We are about to enter what is in the West, months-long season of gluttony and overspending (in the name of Christ?) We need encouragement.  We need to be reminded that there is a higher purpose.

In the first reading from the Book of Maccabees the 7 brothers are tortured and killed for their Jewish faith.  The last brother to die tells his captors,

It is my choice to die at the hands of men
with the hope God gives of being raised up by him;
but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.
~1 Maccabees

Resurrection and oneness with God cannot occur if our focus is on snuffing out faith.  For, all are God's children and true peace cannot occur if we are looking not at God and His Love, but at hatred and the prince of darkness.

The psalm reminds us that all we need do is cry out to God and he will guard us as something vulnerable and irreplaceable.  The Kingdom of God is *now*, if we walk in God's justice and enable others to do the same.  We will not be in the darkness, but in the protective Presence of God.

Keep me as the apple of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking I shall be content in your presence.
~Psalm 17

These are challenging times.  This is a challenging time of year.  Our being often cries out, from an ancient place, that we are lost and the times around us are perilous. Saint Paul reminds us to pray

that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people,
for not all have faith.
But the Lord is faithful;
he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
~2 Thessalonians

The reminder of death and evil this time of year is not by accident.  It is something we feel in our very bones.  Nature itself reminds us that, as the days grow shorter and seem to end, ours will as well.

Jesus assures us that those who place their faith in Him and live His Kingdom among their fellow men

can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
~Luke

Molly has Vaculitis which is an autoimmune issue. She's going to be put on a drug they use for chemo.  She also has inflammation and her blood sugar levels are high.  They are going to paralyze and sedate her again so the machine can do her breathing for her.

Please storm heaven!

Edited to add:  They are doing a tracheotomy and putting in a G-tube for feeding.  Also, the family has had a discussion with the doctors about "when enough is enough."

Please keep them in your prayers.

Issa was a 19th century Japanese haiku poet who wrote over 20,000 poems. This one was written with the note "Old Grandma's 33rd death anniversary."

Our illustration is Autumn by the 20th century Czek artist, Tavik Frantisek Šimon.

For a searchable Issa archive visit the Haiku Guy.

Mourning their Loss by Carl Wilhelm Hubner, is a heart wrenching, poignant painting of an elderly couple sitting by the grave site of, perhaps, their child.  The wife leans on the husband who somehow manages to support her through his own grief.  He leans on a cane, with his Bible nearby.

In the lower right corner, Queen Anne's lace blooms next to an old stone cross, reminding us that this scene has been repeated day after day, all around the world since the beginning of time.  Juxtaposed with the timeless picture of the old grave marker is the light that comes from the upper left part of the painting, sending hope that reflects off the water--both a symbol of rebirth.

Perhaps it is God waiting for the day, sometime in the near future, when the old couple will join their child in the next life.

For today's Music Monday, all Saints Day, here is is John Rutter's Requiem Aeternam sung by the Penn Yan Community chorus and accompanied by beautifully appropriate Fall pictures.  Hat tip to KKollwitz.

The lyrics are below in Latin and in English.


Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine:
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
and may light eternal shine upon them.


Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion,
It is fitting that a hymn should be raised unto Thee in Sion
et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem:
and a vow paid to Thee in Jerusalem:
exaudi orationem meam,
give ear to my prayer, O Lord,
ad te omnis caro veniet.
unto Thee all flesh shall come at last.

Kyrie, eleison!
Lord, have mercy!
Christe, eleison!
Christ, have mercy!
Kyrie, eleison!
Lord, have mercy!