The witness of a Northern Saint

(St. Margaret of York)
1556-1586

Imagine you are a convert from Protestantism, happily married with three children and you help your husband run his business. You are practising your faith, praying every day for more than an hour, fasting four times a week and going to Mass and confession regularly – and all this under the Catholic suppression of Queen Elizabeth 1

You risk your life helping and concealing priests, the penalty for which is death. You send your son to Douai, France for Catholic schooling. For this, and because a secret hiding place was found, you are arrested and, because you refuse to plead, you are pressed to death, sandwiched between a rock and a wooden slab while weights are dropped upon you.

Such was the example of the life of St Margaret Clitherow – faithful Catholic mother, wife and martyr.

Saint Margaret of York.

Pray for us.

St Joseph's Joys and Sorrows

Today being the Solemnity of St Joseph, my mind wandered to Spain and to the beautiful setting of the Shrine at Torreciudad. There, running up the rise towards the Basilica, you will find the Way of the Joys and Sorrows of St Joseph. Until walking this several years ago I had never really meditated on the person of St Joseph and his role in the Holy Family. The Joys and Sorrows are:

     The Doubt of St Joseph (Matt 1:19)       1   The Message of the Angel (Matt 1:20)

     The Poverty of Jesus Birth (Luke 2:7)   2     The Birth of the Saviour (Luke 2:10-11)

     The Circumcision (Luke 2:21)               3    The Holy Name of Jesus (Matt 1:25)

     The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34)    4    The effects of the Redemption (Luke 2:38)

     The Flight into Egypt (Matt 2:14)          5   The overthrow of the idols of Egypt (Is 19:1)

     The Return from Egypt (Matt 2:22)       6      Life at Nazareth (Luke 2:39)

     The loss of the Child Jesus (Luke 2:45) 7     The finding in the Temple (Luke 2:46)

 What an example for fathers! A man who trusted God in all the sad, worrying, bewildering, frightening and frantic moments that all families experience and how, through it all, he was able to be a faithful guardian, a loving husband, a courageous protector, dependable and ever obedient. 

  Let us pray today for all fathers and for all Josephs especially The Holy Father

Akita

In view of recent events in Japan I decided to reread my book about the 1973 Apparitions of Our Lady  in Akita to Sr. Agnes Sasagawa. They began with rays of light emanating from the tabernacle so that Sr Agnes fell prostrate before it. Then came the stigmata and finally the spoken messages of Our Lady and the weeping statue. All of these signs and spiritual happenings are a timely reminder for us to pray our Rosary daily. We should pray for peace and  for the conversion of sinners. Also offer sacrifices and do penance in  reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world. What better time than Lent to renew our efforts in this?

Dinkies or Family Life?

Just been away on an art course this past weekend. Very enjoyable and part of my CPD (continued professional development). On the course was a married couple, two 'dinkies'. I think they are the first I have ever met though I believe they are a common breed. This couple had retired early, very early, and could do so (they were happy to relay to the small group) because they had made a conscious decision not to have any children. So as Double Income No Kids (dinkies) they were now living their dream, playing art and presumably had plenty of money to do that. Momentarily I felt a little envious - they looked young and very relaxed and were doing what they wanted themselves. But it was only a moment's thought. Even in secular terms what does this teach about hope, lineage, the meaning of life? It is to focus in on the here and now. There is a sadness here and I felt sad for them.It is not a look forward to eternity.  Yes, God sometimes wills a couple to remain childless, but to choose it as a married couple is to live selfishly. Marriage is about family. The husband,the wife, the child; love = new life - this  mirrors  the Trinity. The family = the image and likeness of God.

Natural Family Planning and other expertise.

Tonight my husband and I taught part one of an NFP course at home. It is a while since we've had any customers! Once we had discovered, early in our marriage, the wonderful benefits of NFP, physically, spiritually and emotionally, we were determined to out this secret and we are still busy with that work! This information should be a marriage requirement for Catholic engaged couples. It is, in a handful of American dioceses but not in the UK. Once couples have come to an awareness of their gift of fertility and are confidently using the Sympto Thermal Method (the only one incidentally which teaches all symptoms) their next question is always 'why did we not hear about this in our Catholic school/marriage preparation class?' Isn't this criminal? - why are our bishops not guiding their flocks in this important area,the best way  to strengthen marriages?

Our families in the Holy Family Guild share their expertise. Our members comprise lawyers, breastfeeding counsellors, financial advisors, theologians, academics, bankers, home schoolers as well as NFP teachers and much more!

The Bronte Family

Having just posted about the suffering in families we found ourselves at the Parsonage Museum, Haworth contemplating information about the Bronte family.
In 1812 Patrick Bronte, married Maria Branwell. They had 6 children and in 1820 he was given the the curacy of Haworth Parish Church. A year later Maria died from uterine cancer, aged 38. Her sister came to live at the Parsonage to care for the children.
In May 1825 Maria, their eldest child, died of tuberculosis, aged 12 and in the following month Elizabeth died aged 11.
Branwell Bronte, the only son died in 1848, aged 31. He had lived with an alcohol and opium addiction.'I do not weep from a sense of bereavement,' Charlotte wrote about him, 'but for the wreck of talent, the ruin of promise, the untimely dreary extinction of what might have been a burning and a shining light.'
Three months later, Emily died, aged 30. The following year Anne died, aged 29
Charlotte married in 1854 and died in March 1855, aged 38, pregnant with her first child.
Patrick died in 1861, aged 84. He had outlived his wife and all of his children - a lifetime of personal tragedy. 
Charlotte, Emily and Anne have all written literary maserpieces although they published under pseudonyms. Branwell had once been a promising artist. So much sadness to bear and yet by the standards of the day they they lived longer than many others and their names live on because of what they managed to do and how they lived as a family, even for the short time they had each other. In the words of Charlotte, "But life is a battle: may we all be enabled to fight it well!"

Families suffer

By virtue of being a family we are opened up and exposed  to all manner of pain, grief, and fear. In a different way to those who are single, married people with children generally fear for others. God tests us as we become involved with one another, share responsibilities with one another and on many occasions feel helpless for one another. Watching children make choices can  be difficult. Even with faith, watching one's children or one's spouse suffer or die must be traumatic.  Having a family is leaving oneself open to suffering and as Catholic families our refuge must be the Lord.
Let us pray for all our families experiencing the loss of a loved one, serious illness among its members, difficulties with children, loss of work or financial worries.
As a guild we pray for one another and help one another practically and emotionally. Boy, do we sometimes need it!

Pause for Death

I haven't posted for 3 weeks due to the death of my mother. A pause for death so to speak. And after all that's what death is, not an end or a beginning but a pause, a transition from one state to another. Our lives are gifted by God, we make of them what we can and then we return to God. And, as my mother discovered, the timing is willed by Him. For a few years of very poor health and any obvious quality of life she often wondered why 'God did not want her yet.' To those who knew her she certainly seemed to be living her purgatory before our eyes. Her husband of 67 years constantly cared for her. As a non Catholic he had accompanied her faithfully to Church every Sunday and holy day since their marriage and my guess is that my mother's prolongued illness and the sacrifice it required from my father will in some mysterious way help him when he faces his Maker. God bless him and may my mother rest in peace. Let us pray for the sick and dying and those who care for them.

Young People are our Future

Still sharing information about what we do as a guild.
Holy Family Guild families support one another in the preparation of their children for the  sacraments

Holy Family Guild runs youth retreats for 10-13’s and 14-18’s.

Holy Family Guild young people travel to Youth Pilgrimages including WYD to witness to their faith together and show solidarity with the Holy Father and the teachings of Christ

Back to the Holy Family Guild and what we do

We offer family support

Just as the members of the first guilds were associated with almsgiving, care of the sick, burial of the dead and in providing Masses for the souls of deceased members, so our members assist one another both in spiritual and temporal necessities

We are families on pilgrimage

Mindful of our lifelong pilgrimage on the road to heaven, families have regular pilgrimages to Holy Island, Jesmond and Chartres as well as to other places of pilgrimage throughout the year

We are families having fun

Our families share picnics, celebrations, BBQ’s, Carol Singing and much more together. Faith shared is fun for everyone and especially children.

MY NEW YEARS HONOURS LIST

My awards go to:-

The Evangelium Course from the CTS for its faithfulness

The Christian Martyrs murdered while at Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation for their witness

The Romeike Family who are homeschooling in the U.S because their own German government wouldn’t allow them to do so in their homeland

The film ‘Of Gods and Men’

A speech by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in which he urged Russians to have more children to avoid a demographic crisis

Aid to the Church in Need, a charity you can always trust.

Two young women beginning their vocations, Amy in the USA and Clara in the UK

My parents, married for 67 years

The spiritual guide, ‘Magnificat’ and those responsible for its publication.

Father Kevin Gallagher, a faithful priest of the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese who died in May

On the eve of a New Year

January saw a record number of people at the March for life in Washington DC. In February the Bishops of England and Wales had their ad limina visit in Rome and we can only imagine what the Holy Father discussed with them. In March A new children's book was published under Pope Benedict XVI's name."Gli Amici di Gesu" (The Friends of Jesus) In April more than 2 million people visited the shroud in Turin. In May the Pope travelled to  Fatima, in his own words, to tell Our Blessed Lady that he loved her.

In June the Holy Father spoke movingly to priests and seminarians gathered at the close of year for priests. Thank you for our priests.

In July the 400^th anniversary of Caravaggio was celebrated - such wonderful art work of moments in the life of Christ.

In August Youth 2000 gathered  at Walsingham for 'Sanctuary' - adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and great catechesis  from fr Stan Fortuna. In September the wonderful and memorable visit of the Pope to the UK. In October the Chilean Miners were rescued, visibly thanking God as they emerged. In November Gaudi was beatified and his Sagrada Familia Church consecrated and in December we watch as the ordinariate unfolds before our eyes. Life as a Catholic family is never mundane. Let us continue to spread His good news in 2011

Happy New Year !

Light the Christmas candle, The Holy One is Born

Church doors are currently  opening for their Christmas Eve Vigils. Here in the NorthEast of England they begin to do this from 6.00 onwards - far too early in my opinion. Few churches now have Mass at midnight such as the one we attend in the Extrardinary Form. The emphasis of this Mass is on the eternal or Divine birth, whereas it is on the birth as man at the dawn Mass  and at the third Mass of Christmas,  His reappearance  as Judge at the end of time.
"O admirabel Commercium! O Wondrous Exchange! the Creator of the human race, taking to Himself a body and soul, deigned to be born of a Virgin and, appearing as Man but without human lineage, bestowed on us His Divinity" (Roman Breviary)
May the blessings of the Christ Child from his manger bed reach you and those you love and bring peace to your homes and families throughout the season and the coming year.

Today all four candles of the Advent wreath are lit

Today we light the fourth candle on our Advent wreath. The waiting is almost over. Little time left to prepare. Before the next Sunday Christmas is here. The Christ child in our midst. So few people today are aware of His coming. It is up to us to make Him known. Yesterday the Holy Family Guild spent some time singing carols in the Washington area of Newcastle. It was a perfect cold and frosty evening. Our small group of all ages wrapped up warm and carrying lanterns walked from house to house collecting for a local hospice. People listened, welcomed and thanked us. For many it might be their only experience of what Christmas truly means. So our thanks to the singers and our hosts who opened the doors to their lovely home and chapel to end our gathering with mulled wine, a bite to eat and afterwards evening prayers. St Nicholas couldn't attend this year but I'm sure we'll see him back again next year!

It's still Advent!

It's the third week of Advent so NOT Christmas yet. The Rose candle was lit on Gaudete Sunday and starting tonight we can praise the names of Jesus in the O Antiphons leading to the vigil of the Nativity: Wisdom, Ruler of the House of Israel, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Rising Dawn, King of the Gentiles and Emmanuel. It's a great time to go carolling and keep the story of Christmas alive in our ever increasingly secular surroundings. This year here in the northeast of England it looks as though we may well have snow for our carolling event tomorrow.  Lovely! Wrap up warm, carry lanterns, song sheets if needed and at least a couple of strong voices. Collect for charity. Back indoors for mulled wine and mince pies. You can begin to feel a bit Christmassy! Take time to prepare your soul this week for the coming of the Christ child - Sacrament of Confession, spiritual reading , quiet prayer.

A week of feasts but it's still Advent!

The second week of Advent is ending. Its NOT Christmas yet! The Feast of the Immaculate Conception mid week is a lovely reminder of the Feast of the Nativity to come. How wonderful to have been kept pure from all eternity in order to carry, bear and mother God's son.

This week we also remember St Juan Diego and his encounter with Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the unborn. Sweet smelling roses never before seen in the  New World, gathered up out of season and  falling from the tilma at the bishop's feet to reveal Mary's image.

Let us always pray for Mary's intercession on behalf of  mothers carrying their unborn children, nurturing them in their early days and continuing to make sacrifices.

Pro-life charities are surely worthy candidates of any Advent Alms efforts by families

Happy Feast of St Nicholas!

On this day in 343 AD Bishop Nicholas died in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. He is the patron saint of children, the unmarried and sailors among others, due to many stories about his life. He was remodelled in Reformation times and somehow became a fat whiskered old man dressed in red called Santa Claus. Happily his tradition survives in many Eurpoean countries and Catholic families should begin to reclaim him as a figure who embodies the true spirit of the Christmas season - helping the needy, doing good to ones neighbour, sharing what we have with others. The tradition of children finding sweets or chocolate in their shoe (wrapped of course) on this day is one everyone will love.

The website www.stnicholascenter.org has everything about him with stories and pictures, ideas for celebrating the feast and a shop where you can buy a kit for making a crosier!

The Jesse Tree

So now you  hopefully have your Advent wreath in use at family prayers. It tells us when Jesus is coming. It doesn't tell us why he is coming. The Jesse Tree is a way to help children and adults get a better understanding of why. Jesse was the father of King David. The idea of the Jesse Tree comes from Isaiah 11:1-9, where God promises a discouraged nation that the glory they remember from David’s time will come again. They will have another king from Jesse’s family, in whose reign the whole earth will know God. The promise is fulfilled in Jesus.  The Jesse Tree is decorated with symbols reminding us  how God prepared the world for that kingdom. It celebrates the lineage of Jesus. It could be a real branch or a painted tree. Each day of Advent after reading  a Bible passage, a symbol made of cardboard or plasticene is placed on the tree to represent a person or event e.g.a rainbow for the Flood, a beautiful coloured coat for Joseph, a whale for Jonah or a lily for Mary. It is a teaching and learning tool and grows into an  Advent calendar. If you want more details regarding specific readings and symbols do please contact me by e mail. Happy Advent!

A Family Advent

"The Christian family ...........should be called 'the domestic Church'"
(Familiaris Consortio, John Paul II, 1981)
The season of Advent has begun. It is NOT Christmas yet! It is time to prepare for the Coming of Christ at Christmas. There are many ways that families can do this during the season of Advent and at the same time build up their own Catholic family traditions and become the Church in miniature. Advent wreaths should be ready now and already in use at family prayers as well as at family meal times. One candle is already lit. As the season progresses and the rest of the candles are lit we see Jesus, the light of the world coming closer, as the light gets brighter. Families can write their own advent prayers and children can take turns to light the candle(s). The Advent wreath reminds us that this is a time to prepare spiritually for Christmas.

When Rome had snow in August

Todays November snow here in NE England reminded me of the story that Our Blessed Lady, herself, indicated in a dream to Pope Liberius where her great church (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome was to be built. She confirmed this by having snow fall on the site even though it was 5th August!
Each year at Mass on that day white rose petals fall from the ceileing to carpet the floor of the church. I have never been in Rome at that time of year but it must be a beautiful sight and one not to be missed. If families are in Rome at that time of year do let your children experience this - just one of those memories that provides a great teaching tool on miracles.