Monday the 9th: Saints of the Week

My favorite story about St. Scholastica, co-patron of Benedictines with her brother, St. Benedict, comes from St. Gregory the Great: 

Scholastica, the sister of Saint Benedict, had been consecrated to God from her earliest years. She was accustomed to visiting her brother once a year. He would come down to meet her at a place on the monastery property, not far outside the gate.

One day she came as usual and her saintly brother went with some of his disciples; they spent the whole day praising God and talking of sacred things. As night fell they had supper together.

Their spiritual conversation went on and the hour grew late. The holy nun said to her brother, "Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual life."

"Sister," he replied, "What are you saying? I simply cannot stay outside my cell."

When she heard her brother refuse her request, the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray. As she raised her head from the table, there were such brilliant flashes of lightning, such great peals of thunder and such a heavy downpour of rain that neither Benedict nor his brethren could stir across the threshold of the place where they had been seated. Sadly, he began to complain.

"May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?"

"Well, she answered, "I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery."

So it came about that they stayed awake the whole night, engrossed in their conversation about the spiritual life.

Three days later, Benedict was in his cell. Looking up to the sky, he saw his sister's soul leave her body in the form of a dove, and fly up to the secret places of heaven. Rejoicing in her great glory, he thanked almighty God with hymns and words of praise. He then sent his brethren to bring her body to the monastery and lay it in the tomb he had prepared for himself.--from Dialogues by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

 

 (Picture on Pinterest from http://www.clydemonastery.org/StoneStories/?p=1273)

 

Friday the 6th: Valentine Vomit

 We went out to eat the evening of January 31 in the South Plaza and got to witness this explosion of decoration. It's not my thing but I also appreciate those who really like to decorate. It was amazing.

 

 

Thursday the 5th: Food of the Week

 *Friday I'm making cheese ravioli (from the freezer) with kale and sunflower seed pesto. Kale is much cheaper than basil right now.

*Tonight is fast food after we all work at the regionals Scholars Bowl tournament. This weekend we'll celebrate the Husband's birthday with a chocolate and peanut butter cake. I just finished making the cake rounds; I'll freeze them and make the frosting tomorrow, then refrigerate it again and put the drizzle on on Saturday. 

*Last night I made broccoli and cheddar flan and it was delicious! The hardest part is finding the chopped broccoli in the freezer section and then cleaning the pan after.

*Tuesday the son made Crunchy Pea Salad and picked up chicken strips for us. We ate while watching the middle third of Rogue One.

*Monday we had another breakfast dish, a breakfast hash with potatoes, onion, bell peppers, seasoning, and then I added eggs and cheese. We ate up every bite.

*Sunday we enjoyed a slow cooker bolognese that I cooked all day on Saturday.  The house smelled amazing and finishing the meal on Sunday (in between 3 Masses and with help from the boys) was easy.

 

 

Wednesday the 4th: Music of the Week

 *I just finished making copies for our solos for regionals and (hopefully) state. We have two copies of each book, but for ease of transport we make copies for me and for the soloist.

*I think (?) we have all songs selected for small and large group state. 

*I only have one Mass this weekend at one parish and my music is pretty much ready to go. 

Tuesday the 3rd: Piano and stuff

 Trying to show my sister how I organize my books and piano stuff. I know it doesn't look organized! But all my piano books are mostly on the lower two shelves to the left; the books I play every day are on top; my church binders are to the right.

 

 

Monday the 2nd: Saint of the Week

 *Luke 2:22-24 tells us about the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the feast for today. This was traditionally Candlemas, a day to bless the candles to be used for sacred purposes for the rest of the year, and a traditional day to enter the Church. Here we see Mary and Anna blessing the child and the couple, recognizing Jesus the Light coming back to the Temple.

(picture:  http://www.balamand.edu.lb/theology/iconentrance.jpg) 

 

 

Friday the 30th: More Food

 *For Christmas my Husband bought chocolate from 3 fancy places so we could compare.

*Before the snow day I made a lemon sweet potato chicken soup that we ate on for days. It had such a nice broth and was filling but delightful.