Call Me Amused!

Ok I need some humor. I was doing my nightly blog-surfing and found myself amused watching this horribly Anti-Catholic video at You Tube because Carolina Cannonball, authoress of the blog The Crescat, posted it. Apparently her home altar was the first image featured in the video, as it talks about how Catholics worship idols. I don't have a home altar, but I do have various retablos of the Saints scattered around my house, a couple of them have been blessed. Anyway, as I'm passively watching, I spot this image in the video. It's an old Spanish Crucifix that is in the chapel of La Conquistadora in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe.

Growing up in Santa Fe, I never really experienced or witnessed anything that I would call Anti-Catholic. This is a historically Catholic city, but now as an adult, I've encountered it, but not on the grand scale as in other communities in the country.

I think the first time I ever saw a Chick Tract was a couple of years ago and that was online. I had never heard of Jack Chick before in my life. Hard to believe he's been in the anti-Catholic business all these years and I'd never heard of him.

I think I'll go back and finish my reflections on the recent Novena to Our Lady and post more pictures of a statue all dressed up pretty now.

You Learn Something New Everyday.

So this photo got me wondering about these religious. I'd been seeing the brothers (well, friars) around at various events in the archdiocese as of late. It turns out they are Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and there is a friary in Albuquerque. I remember reading a news story about them in the Albuquerque Journal around Easter, but it didn't dawn on me who they were that day at the procession. The women were their counterparts, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. The sisters threw me off as I didn't think we had many religious in town, except for the Carmelites and they are cloistered. But they are here in New Mexico for the bible study that the Friars do every summer. There is mention of it on their history page.

And so now, I am no longer stumped. Perhaps I'll send pictures to both the communities.

I've added their website to the sidebar and I think I'll expand sites that I add in days to come. I really like their mission and think it would be a community worthy of giving my support.

In Honor of La Conquistadora

Finally getting to my Novena posts from this year. This will serve as an Index to all my thoughts and reflections from this year's Novena. I have pictures up and will post reflections from the various days, if there was something profound to say.

Essentially, this Novena to the Blessed Mother is held every year, as a promise kept to Don Diego De Vargas who lead the reconquest of New Mexico in 1692 after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The statue of Mary that was brought here in 1625 is believed to be the oldest image of Our Lady in the US and she is thought to be over 600 years old. She was made in Spain of Willow wood and she truly is gorgeous. She's had various incarnations. First she was Our Lady of the Rosary but became La Conquistadora after the reconquest. In the early 90's I believe, "Our Lady of Peace" was added to her title and that is what my parish is named after. Holy Mary of Peace.

The statue is kept, now behind locked security gates, at the Cathedral Basilica, but for eight days she leaves her place in her chapel, (which is the only original part of the church left, it dates back to the early 1600's. The parish is roughly 400 years old, while the Cathedral is about 125 years old) and she is carried in procession from the Cathedral to the Rosario Chapel, which is in the where Catholic cemetery is as well. This was the place where the Spanish made their camp in the days they made their return. Don Diego prayed and asked for Our Lady's intercession to make it a peaceful reconquest and should it be successful, he would honor her every year with a novena.

This novena has been going on for nearly 300 years. Everyday a different parish sponsors a Mass, her clothing is changed. She has hundreds of outfits. The music is always traditional, Spanish hymns, we sing Mary's Magnificat in Latin, and recite a prayer in Spanish that was written for this novena. The Masses are beautiful. I can only imagine back in my mom's day, when they were probably High Latin Sung Masses. I'll write up more if anyone really wants to know about the history. There are plenty of links in the sidebar of this blog if you're curious to learn more on your own.

Because of Easter being late, the Novena this year started on Father's Day. Friday and Saturday before I attended a great Evangelization Conference for the archdiocese. I haven't posted about it but may still. I learned a lot, but it was nice to be among so many Catholics. We are a pretty cool group of people en masse. So, I had two days of spiritual recharging before the Novena actually started. The Novena comes at a time when I think I most need it. Christmas and Easter season are wonderfully fulfilling, but there is a definitely lull right after the end of Easter and as we transition into Ordinary Time.

At some point, I want to compile the hundreds of pictures I took and put them into a slide show, but for now, I'll share with you all a picture from each day, with thoughts, reflections and feelings about that day's Mass.


Mass One.
Mass Two.
Mass Three.
Mass Four.
Mass Five.
Mass Six.
Mass Seven
Return Procession.
Mass Nine.




As always, with any photos I post but most especially my own photographs, feel free to download and save the image, but if you re-post, please credit me and include a link back to my blog.

Barkley...

In this blog I didn't talk much about my four-legged children. I had a beautiful dog named Barkley, named after Sir Charles, the basketball player. Yes, I admit it. Tonight I had to put him down. It hurt. It killed me and broke my heart into a thousand pieces. You see, Barkley was the first dog that was completely, wholly and unconditionally mine.

He was the greatest dog I ever had, not to say his sister, Estrella isn't. She's also incredibly wonderful. They're both very different and we're both sitting here kind of in shock. He was 15. I got him when he was about 6 weeks old. He was so little. He was Shepherd and Chow, and I think a bit coyote. He was a little red fluffball those first few months. The puppy pictures are in an album and not scanned in, but he was adorable, trust me.



He never had many health troubles. Three years ago, he had a knee injury and while it always bothered him, he bounced back. He was stubborn. He was always ready to go. About two years ago, he lost his ability to jump up onto the bed or into the back of the 4Runner but I'd happily help him up. He was a great dog at sensing my moods, always comforting me when i was sad or upset. Last fall, I noticed he was starting to get hungry, I mean ravenous and this spring, it seemed to get worse, to the point where he'd try to steal food off the table. When I took him in April, the blood work and tests came back abnormal. I was supposed to take him back for a Cushings Disease test and screening. I kinda figured that I'd do that today, as I was taking him in for a weird eye thing.

Last night we walked. Sometimes, I'd leave him at home when I'd want to take a long walk for exercise, but we went, Barkley, Estrella and me. I always walked him off leash so he could walk at his own pace. We walked several times this week and he was happy. I noticed yesterday or so he didn't want cookies, so something was coming. We ran into one of my good friends and her dog Amber. They were great dog friends. He gave her dog kisses, talked to Barbara and was just so happy last night. Two weeks ago he scared off a coyote. I honestly didn't think it would be our last night.

I had a funeral to go to this morning. Everything seemed ok this morning, but when I got home I noticed his eye was red, swollen and full of puss. I wondered if we should go to the vet today or wait till tomorrow. I called to make sure they were open tomorrow then decided to run an errand and probably take him tomorrow, but I just knew I couldn't treat the eye, so I called my mom and asked her to go with me. We picked up the dog and then went in.

The vet was very nice, compassionate. When she determined there wasn't anything under his third eyelid-- I though he might have got something in his eye last night-- she said it could be an abscess or a tumor. She wanted to draw some blood before she gave him anesthesia. She was worried that he might not be able to handle the anesthesia and I worried a bit too. He lost 5 more pounds since April. He'd always been about 57-60 pounds and was down to 47 in April. She told me what it would probably cost, which freaked me a bit but if it could be treated, of course I'd do it. Then I thought what if he dies during the procedure? What if it's untreatable? I didn't want him to die and me not be there. God... could I really put him down right then and there? I decided that I didn't want the call, that it wouldn't be fair to put him through all those tests to determine he was really sick. She also worried that he might be diabetic. The first test in April showed no signs of diabetes, but that would have explained the rapid weight loss I think. Anyway, I decided that it was time to let him go. It killed me to sign the papers but it wasn't fair to make him suffer.

They were compassionate and kind. I was with him before and during. He slipped away so fast. He got up and wanted me to pick him up and bring him home I guess. I nearly lost it and almost changed my mind. I loved him, held him, caressed him and stayed with him. I didn't remove his collar till after he was gone. He never liked to be without it.

I got home later and had to tell Estrella. Not sure how you can tell another dog her sibling wasn't coming home. When I showed her his collar she dashed out looking for him. She climbed inot the dog house, which was his but he never used and stayed there. I sat on the lawn trying to coax her out but she didn't come out till my parents arrived with something to eat. She was with him all day and she's been so senstive to him lately, that I think she knew. I never took him anywhere without her.

So... that's the story of Barkley and his last day. It's probably not the most articulate post I could have ever made but, it's hard to let a beloved animal go. Hell, I get so mad when people use Euphemisms for death and here I am doing it in this post. ;)

It's not fair that their lives are so short. They bring such joy and pleasure into our lives that it's hard when it's time to say goodbye. I'll miss him so much. So, now it's just us girls at the Casa De Maria.

Sigh.

Harder and Harder to Breathe

It's been a sad few days here in Santa Fe. When bad things happen, I realize that I still live in a small town. Granted the population is on the rise and once the city annexes all the areas it plans to in the next few years, we'll be pushing a population of nearly 90,000, but as I said it's a small town. On Sunday morning, four teens were killed in a horrible accident by an alleged drunk driver. The toxicology reports aren't back but it seems highly likely he was drunk. I'm sad for the teens, their parents and friends. A friend of mine knew one of the girls. She was close to her family and her daughter. It's been really sad here.

I'm pretty ambivalent and am not really grief stricken as I don't have a personal connection to these kids, but the fact that four teens died when they shouldn't have is tragic. Of course, I'm sad, how can anyone not be sad? I'm also outraged. New Mexico may have tough DWI laws on the books, but it seems like that's where they are. They don't seem to be in use. We have one of the worst rates of drunk driving in the nation. I think I saw on the news we're #9 in the country. It's shameful to read the local news. Today a police officer for the city made news when was arrested for DWI over the weekend, there was a nother piece about a young man with 23 DWI arrests and nothing was done about it. I just don't get it.

I hate stupid people. I am really intolerant to people who drink and then drive. Of course, I have issues regarding drinking as it is but that's another story and too personal to share in this blog. That's probably all I will post about this but I wanted to rant a little bit.

Watch This Space

It's been quiet here. I know that. I will post something soon. Of course, it will all be blathering about the novena that I just finished, with pictures and reflections. Nothing anyone will want to read about, ;).

Hail Holy Queen

My Spirit Rejoices In God My Savior

Abandon Oneself to God

Gifts From God

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Luke 1:46-55

A Little Bit More

It's day six of the Novena. I am writing my reflections down each day and trying to think about what I'm going to blog. I've been taking photographs, but I'm probably not going to post many.

It has been a glorious week that in addition to the Novena, I've been able to accomplish a few personal things. I've been going to the gym and getting in some good, healthy walking. I think I'll be back to my fast walking pace in another week or two. I'm enjoying the exercise and in just the two weeks I've been back at it, I feel a lot better and think I look a tad bit better. That's more wishful thinking than anything, but the energy level is back up, which is a good thing. I have put off the heavy yard work, as between the Novena, what work I've had and the exercise, I'm too tired to play in the garden.

I've also picked up my prayer life again. I've been praying the Office a bit more regularly and it really does enhance my mornings and evenings when I pray Lauds and Vespers. Granted, I'm always praying them later than I should, but I can't start and end my day without them.

I also finally got around to exchanging a birthday present. I was given Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life-- he is so not my favorite religious figure out there-- and I was stumped as to why I was given that book. It seemed odd to me. So, I ended up with a Sunday Missal and I bought a book about New Mexico Santos. I feel so much better now.

I have family coming in later today and the rest of my extended family is getting together for a steak fry up in the mountains. I am looking forward to it but am dreading it as well because I'm so tired. I got up late this morning 5 am, but was on time to the chapel for Mass. It was nice, however my favorite day is always Friday, not because it's my parish's day, it may be part of it, but it's always just the best Mass. The music is always traditional and well done, it's uplifting and just fills the chapel with joyful noise, Father's homily is always top notch and he sings most of the Mass. Both our deacons serve and it just feels really special. Sunday morning is probably a close second, though on Tuesday there is also always a great homily and a lovely choir.

Also, I shouldn't probably pick a favorite day and post it, should someone local ever discover this blog, it will appear that I am biased and I don't want that. Honestly, each day is special in its own way and I'm sure the members of the particular parishes feel just as strongly about their parish's day as I feel about mine. Odd thing is there is one parish in town in the years that I've been attending the Novena that doesn't sponsor a day and I wonder why.

Well that sums up why I'm not really blogging much this week, but I will be back later when I have something really interesting to share. Off to get ready for the picnic. Grr. What happened to the monsoon rains? And I actually helped plan this family event, so I have to go!

She Is Our Biggest Advocate

Oddly enough, today's Mass while lovely, didn't really inspire me to write anything. The sponsoring parish was St. Anne's and the theme of Father's homily was that the Blessed Mother is everywhere, that she is our advocate to God and that we should always strive to better ourselves, avoid sin but know that we can seek God's forgiveness and mercy.

This was a day when I almost decided to stay home and sleep in. It took all the energy I had to roll out of bed and make it to the chapel on time for Mass.

Father also told a great story about the Three Archangels and how Michael reported back to God that the Blessed Mother was everywhere doing His will and that people knew her, especially the people of Santa Fe, who were doing a Novena in her honor.

Stunned to Silence

Today was the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. The sponsoring Parish was Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is the city's second oldest parish.

Zachariah was stunned and speechless when he learned he was going to be a father. This wasn't all that unusual as we are all often stunned silent in our lives. We are so overjoyed with excitement we often cannot find the words to express how we feel. This was how it was for Zachariah.

When God fills us with good things, often we find ourselves surprised, content and feeling speechless. Sometimes we don't even find ourselves worthy of God's gifts and graces.

We should rejoice in God-- remember that he is always there to lift us up when we feel lowly or helpless. We could give up, as we often do-- as Zachariah and Elizabeth did-- they had come to accept the fate that they would never have a child. We learn to accept similar realities in our lives, only to be stunned silent by the generosity of our gracious God.

God can and will heal our spirit and he will never leave us, despite the fact we leave Him. Remember we are the ones who leave God, we get angry with him, lose patience and abandon HIm. He, however, waits patiently for us and he loves us fully and unconditionally. God's love never fails us and perhaps that is why we sometimes find ourselves speechless as we marvel at the wonder and awesome nature that is Our God.

The canticle of Zacarhiah should remind us how wonderful God is and we should always honor our God.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

– freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

who live in the shadow of death;

to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Luke 1: 68-79



____________________________________

As always, with any photos I post but most especially my own photographs, feel free to download and save the image, but if you re-post, please credit me and include a link back to my blog.

Say Yes To God

These are thoughts I wrote down in my journal after today's Mass. Most of my ideas come from the morning's homily, so I'm probably doing nothing but paraphrasing what the priest said, but in any event, this is what I came away with today.

Be like Mary and let your spirit magnify and rejoice in the Lord. When we are weak, we are strong. Be poor in spirit and God will be there and fill our lives with all that we need. Riches on Earth are not gifts from God and they don't guarntee that we are a assured a place in Heaven. God fills and lifts up the lowly, just like he did with Mary-- she understood this and proclaimed in her beautiful "Magnifcat" that:

"He has looked with favor on his lowly servant."

Mary was the first disciple of Christ and she let God fill her heart. Though, she felt unworthy, she said yes to God. We need to be like Mary and say yes to God. If we trust in God, we will be strong. Our riches are in the Lord-- in Jesus our Savior. Trust in Him to be redeemed and saved.

God casts down the proud, the wicked, but raises the humble, gives good things to the poor. We should love God with our soul, we should proclaim his greatness and rejoice in Him, just as our Blessed Mother did.




_________________________
As always, with any photos I post, but most especially my own photographs, feel free to download and save the image, but if you re-post, please credit me and include a link back to my blog.

Santa Maria, Madre Mia

This article at America Magazine from 2005 sums up the Historical Mary and I think is the perfect reflection for this post, as this is the first day of the Novena to Our Lady and I really didn't feeling overly inspired after the first Mass.

h/t to Crystal at Perspective for the head's up.



As always, with any photos I post, but most especially my own photographs, feel free to download and save the image, but if you re-post, please credit me and include a link back to my blog.