Simplify

I do not recall a day since December 8 where one of us was not sick. We have cancelled and missed all sorts of Advent and Christmas celebrations. Everyone has been sick but me, some of us twice. Or was I sick and just didn't notice? Moms are not allowed to be sick, right?

Anyway, I pray you are having a blessed preparation time these last few days before Christ's Birthday! We are blessedly focusing on the bare minimum. Mary and Joseph began their journey across our living room yesterday. Here is a Christmas card from my family to yours.



May Jesus simply be all you desire and all you seek.
Merry Christmas As You Celebrate His Birth



One Week Left - Thoughts from Katie

One of my IRL friends (before we were both bloggers) "mentioned" me in a post this week that was an excellent reminder in this busy season (I'm "A friend"). Her quick reminder can help us be sure to stay on track or get back on track, keeping Christ as the center of Christmas!!! I have mentioned before this priest's advice. My moment of fame:

A friend was told by a priest once that she needed not an hour of adoration, but an hour and fifteen minutes of adoration every week. Why? This is the most interesting answer I’ve ever heard, and I think of it often when I am sitting in the Presence of our Lord, distracted as all get out.

It takes an hour to get the octopus of the world off your back.

Then you can have focused prayer for the next 15 minutes.

The octopus of the world.

Do you know it?

Read the rest.

She also posted this gem today that is perfect inspiration as we approach the last week of Advent. Thank goodness that I read it today! Since we have been sick for the past week and are still recovering, I am having to rewrite all of my "to-do" lists to be more realistic about what I can fit in before Christmas Day. She begins:

What are you doing next week to make Christmas holy? I always find a need to refocus on the point of the celebration, don’t you?

I want you to make a new list today.

I know, I know. You’re drowning in lists.

I promise, just one more.

Make a list titled “How to Have a Holy Christmas.”

Read the rest

Christmas Gift for Inactive Catholics

What a wonderful letter from Bishop Tobin of Rhode Island to "inactive Catholics!" This is probably one of the best ways to start a conversation with a friend or family member who has drifted as an extra special Christmas gift. I have two family members in mind and am going to start praying for the courage to hand them a copy of this now!

UPDATE: I have received permission from the Diocese of Providence newspaper editor to post on Scribd an easy-to-print copy of this letter for you! It is nothing fancy, but it will print on one page front-back if you want to slip it into a Christmas card or gift! Download here.

Here is how the letter begins...


An Open Letter to Inactive Catholics


BY BISHOP THOMAS J. TOBIN

12/9/10


My dear Brother or Sister: In the spirit of the Advent and Christmas Season, and as the Diocese of Providence nears the end of its “Year of Evangelization,” I’m writing this letter to inactive Catholics of our Diocese – perhaps you’re in that category – to let you know that we miss you, we love you and we want you to come home to the Church.

The first dilemma I faced in writing this letter was how to describe you – an “inactive Catholic,” a “fallen-away Catholic” or a “former-Catholic.” I chose the first option.

I decided against “fallen-away Catholic” for it suggests someone falling off a fence or out of a tree. The image isn’t helpful.

And there’s really no such thing as a “former Catholic.” If you were baptized a Catholic, you’re a Catholic for life – even if you haven’t been to Mass for years, even if you’ve renounced the title and joined another Church. Your baptism infused your soul with Catholic DNA – it defines who and what you are.

Thus, I’ve chosen the title, “inactive Catholic,” because even though you haven’t been “active” in the Catholic community for awhile, especially by attending Sunday Mass, receiving the sacraments and otherwise participating in the life of the Church, you’re still a Catholic. Sorry . . . you’re stuck with us!

read more here


HT to Marcel (I am a proud Aggie Catholic!)

Twelfth Night

It is the Twelfth Day of Christmas! I pray your holidays have been full of great joy and many graces (and not too many drummers drumming). Reality and routine are so hard for me (especially after a break), and I have been tempted to pull out my Shakespeare and read Twelfth Night all day! Shakespeare scrumptiously entertains me with this one!

(If you want to join me in reading some of the play, you can download an eBook version for free here in English, Finnish, or Catalan! You could read the children's version to your littles, which is available here. Or, you can download the complete audio play to your computer or mp3 for free here. Maybe I'll have to add the movie to my Netflix cue, too!)

Sorry for the Shakespearean divergence. Where was I? Without telling you, I took a blogging break for these twelve days, but I am itching to write again. So, I thought I would tell you what is coming up here in the next few weeks at Heart of a Mother. Here are the posts I am drafting...

My Word for 2010

(jumping on that blogging bandwagon)

Sunday Gospel Reflections

(will be back weekly)

My Journey in 2009

(including a little announcement)

Little Flowers Joy

(from our December meeting)

Prayer Pages

(inspired by a friend)

Encouragement for Grey Days

(specifically for homeschooling moms)

Young Girls' Book List

(for those advanced but innocent readers)

How to Take a Snow Day for Homeschoolers

(even if you don't get snow)

What else do you need to hear in the next few weeks or months? I know you read me (because I have one of those nifty blog counter services), but I rarely hear from any of you. I am not interested in making this blog a chatty place (more on why later), but I am always hoping to hear what you like and don't like about what you read!

May this blog be a space of comfort and inspiration to all of us on our spiritual journeys this year!

O God

Who on this day

through the guidance of a star

didst manifest

Thine Only-Begotten Son to the Gentiles;

mercifully grant

that we who know Thee now by faith,

may one day be brought

to the contemplation of the beauty of Thy majesty.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Benedictine Monastic Diurnal

December 25 --- Merry Christmas!

Hope joyfully...

http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac1103.asp

December 24 --- Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath done great things to me,

and holy is His Name.

And His Mercy is from generation unto generations

upon them that fear Him.

He hath shewed might in His arm,

He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat,

and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy.

As He spoke to our Fathers, Abraham and His seed forever.

Find your role...

http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac1103.asp

Litany to the Infant Jesus

Keeping our focus on the Infant Jesus as we near the grand celebration of His birth, here is another prayer I love to say this time of year! My children enjoy litanies, because they can join in, repeating the simple responses.

Litany to the Infant Jesus
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/Litanies/infantJesus.htm

Mysteries of the Holy Childhood

With the Birth of Jesus rapidly approaching, I enjoy meditating this week on how Christ came as a little baby, not an older boy or man. It is all too common for me to imagine Jesus during His teaching years, but I find it beautifully intimate to cultivate my relationship with the Christ Child, especially this time of year.

Years ago, I found these prayers, also called the Devout Exercise to the Infant Jesus and found them a tremendous way to reflect on and connect with the Christ Child. I am excited to be able to share these prayers with my children for the first time, because I know their relationship with the Child Jesus can be even more meaningful than mine!



24. Mysteries of the Holy Childhood
(scroll down to find #24 and then keep scrolling for the English translation)
http://www.franciscan-sfo.org/ap/rac/child.htm#24

Also, there is an indulgence tied to meditating on these prayers on the 25th of each month!

The Friendly Beasts illustrated by Tomie dePaola

This week was Tomie de Paola week in our homeschool. His books are absolute favorites, and his illustrations are simply gorgeous! He has delightful Christmas and Advent stories. My favorite is The Clown of God, probably because I've had it since a child and it's autographed by him!

While this particular title is new to us (found at the library), I was so excited to find the song on YouTube with de Paola's illustrations, so we could learn how to sing a new Christmas song! Enjoy!

The Friendly Beasts: An Old Christmas Carol

Stations of Christmas

One of the most unique ways I have found to meditate on this season of Advent is the following Stations of Christmas. In the original article, each station is accompanied by a reflection and prayer that helps to draw one into the emotional journey of the Holy Family similar to the Stations of the Cross in Lent.

If you are looking for a special way to help your family focus on the reason for the season, this might be a meaningful addition to your Advent prayers and a great way to remind children of the entire Christmas story. The meditative nature of the stations might also be appropriate for group settings at prayer groups or parishes. Find the full text here at Disciples Now.

1. The Annunciation.

2. The Visitation.

3. Joseph's Vision

4. The Journey

5. Arrival in Bethlehem

6. The Manger

7. The Nativity

8. The Heavenly Choir

9. The Shepherds' Visit

10. The Star

11. The Epiphany

http://disciplesnow.faithstreams.com/Home/Catholic/TopicView/tabid/20513/type/view/content/8815e5ce-0ede-407e-a464-8fc2cc647079/Default.aspx

© Liguori Publications

Excerpt from Advent: A Quality Storecupboard. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.

An Old Favorite & a New Favorite!

We read these books this morning. Such fun Christmas stories! See if your library has them.

13 Days and Counting!

Advent really is that close? Are you ready to prepare your family prayerfully for the coming of Christ? I am not even close to being ready! Panic time!


First step, compile all of my wonderful resources from websites and blogs online, so I can reap the wisdom of other fabulous moms and liturgical gurus! I figure I will share this with you, just in case you have any gaps, although I am sure everyone (but me) is totally set with their plans, right?!

• Advent & Christmas Clicking – links to relevant posts, including books, lesson plans, cooking, crafts, inspiration, liturgical ideas, etc…
• Advent Basket – outline of plans for an Advent inspired by Serendipity’s Literature for Young Ladies curriculum
• Advent Faith Folder – lapbook for purchase as downloadable PDFs, wonderful products!
• Catholic Mosaic and/or Christmas Mosaic – complete literature-based lesson plans applicable to the liturgical year, or just print the booklist and enjoy reading the titles!
• CatholicMom.com Celebrating Advent – links to resources, articles, and more
• Celebrating Advent & Christmas: A Family Sourcebook – much of the content of this booklet available free online here
• Christmas Preschool Printables – free printable coloring pages, crafts, games, file folder games, mini-books and more, some suitable for older children, too!
• Christmas Symbols Lapbook – free printable lapbook for the slightly older children
• Christmas Tot Book – free printable lapbook for the youngest members of your family
• Christmas Unit Studies & Booklist – free units, some with free lapbooks, including Christmas Around the World and Twelve Days of Christmas lapbooks
• Domestic-Church.com Advent Fridge Art – my favorite place for crafty inspiration
• Holy Heroes Advent Adventure – free, daily emails with fun and educational activities for your family
• Literature for Young Ladies Advent Plans – another version of the Advent Basket above
• Mondays with Mary - to use the complete lessons for Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Nativity of Jesus, and Mary, Mother of God!
• Printable Liturgical Calendar – exactly what it says, awesome!
• St. Nicholas Center – wonderful stories, activities, and lessons on this saint
• The No-Panic Advent Series – read/scan the posts in reverse order for some fabulous ideas
• USCCB Advent Ideas – some simple and easy plans for daily preparations
• Women for Faith & Family Advent Season Calendar – excellent list of feasts, ideas, and articles

And, of course, we have a great number of favorite books we read this time of year not listed above, and I have not even mentioned searching 4 Real Forums, which I usually do once I have a better outline of my plans (as if what is above is not overwhelming enough!). I will probably make one last order from Oriental Trading Company for some simple fun crafts, and we always have our Jesse Tree and Advent Calendar (with chocolates) for daily inspiration.


When I get my final plans put together, I will try to post them. As always, they will be too ambitious, especially for me this year, but I am hoping preparing my children for Christ’s coming will motivate me to put a little more effort into my internal preparation!

December 25 ~ The Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)

Note: These Sunday & Holy Day Gospel Reflections are written so that mothers may prepare for Holy Mass in advance either as a small group or individually (especially since we are so often necessarily distracted during Mass itself).

Luke 2: 1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Reflection

There is one message for me this Christmas ~ Humility. Simplicity. Surrender.

When the decree went out for all to be counted, St. Joseph packed up Mary and went on his way. He obeyed the law whether it was convenient or not. He wasn't even married to Mary, but he took her with him, to fulfill what was prophesied. To me, this shows a tremendous respect for authority, a hint of the respect St. Joseph had for the authority of God, and reminds me to surrender myself to His will as humbly as St. Joseph whether it is convenient or not.

When they finally did get to Bethlehem, there is no room at the inn. Was Joseph upset? Did he complain that they had traveled SO far and demand a bed for his betrothed? I don't think so. He humbly accepted what was given to him, a dirty, smelly, damp cave where the Savior of the World was born. We have all imagined that night, giving birth in the hay, nursing among the animals. It is far from what we would expect, but it is exactly the way God planned it to be.

The shepherds in the fields hear an unbelievable story. Angels appear and explain that the Savior has been born, but the sign will be that he is wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in manger. Can you imagine the confused looks on the shepherds' faces? It's like saying, God has been made man, and He is in rags in a feeding trough. But, those shepherds believed. Perhaps in blind faith, they went to worship Him in all of His Poverty and Simplicity.

Christmas should bring us great joy, as the angels declare. We should deck the halls and feast and be merry! Just don't forget that Jesus Christ came to save you and me as a helpless newborn baby in a barn in the middle of the night.

A Child Is to Be Born!

For most of my life, my relationship with God has centered on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and personal experiences of the Holy Spirit. Lately, I have been led to a greater understanding of God the Father and now, as we approach Christmas, of the Christ Child.

My son gave me a hug this morning and nearly knocked me down with affection. Did Jesus hug Mary this way? I think, he did.

Both of my children know the best way to get my attention when I am busy is to say, "Mom," wait until I look at them and say, "I love you." How often did Jesus say this to Mary and did her heart melt as mine does each time? I think, very often and yes.

My daughter, after eating two portions of dinner last night, being told there was no dessert that day, and being asked if she had room for any more food, said, "I think there is room for, not a chocolate coin, but something the size of a chocolate coin." Was the child Jesus's sense of humor that adorable? I think, absolutely.

Today, when you look at your children, picture the Christ Child. The Master of All Creation came to redeem us as a tiny baby, a small child, a growing boy, and a young man before He spent three short years as a man teaching and preaching. In this simplicity and humility, He showed us His love.

Prepare your hearts. Make room. A Child is to be born!