Viva Viva La Befana

La Befana:

According to Italian legend, La Befana was a witch living at the time of the birth of Jesus. The three wise men (also known as the three kings) were on their way to Bethlehem, when they invited La Befana to come along. She was busy with her housework and declined. Later, once she had finished her cleaning, she set off on her broomstick with toys for the Gesú Bambino (Baby Jesus). However, she could not find the Three Kings and soon lost her way. Italian children believe that La Befana is still looking for Baby Jesus, and on the eve of the Epiphany, she flies down the chimney (or, if a chimney is not available, the keyhole) of each house, and leaves gifts in the children’s shoes, which are left by the fireplace (or by the door if; there is no fireplace,) just in case Baby Jesus is there.

Read more at Suite101: Christmas in Italy: Italian Holiday Traditions

It should be noted that Children leave her a glass of wine and a plate of food. Also, being such a conscientious housekeeper, she will also sweep your floors, so that your house is clean on Epiphany morning.

Happy Epiphany to each and all.

Puff and Bear and the younguns wish you a Merry Christmas!

May the Joy of the Christmas fill your homes and hearts

And by way of apology for the "O Holy Night" post below, I would like to post this one:

Many people believe that Luciano Pavarotti was the best tenor ever. Il Pavarotti believed this guy was.

Happy New Year

What the title says.

Happy Thanksgiving - Canadian Style.

Consider this a two question meme, and feel free to answer in the combox. No one to tag.

For what are you thankful?

How will you observed Thanksgiving this Monday?

What're you doing?

It's the triduum. Why are you here? Get off the internet and pray!

Hope you all have a holy triduum.

Candlemas and Groundhog Day

"If Candlemas Day is bright and clear/ There'll be two winters in the year."

Well looking out my window, it's grey and cloudy so that means only one winter this year.

from Wiarton:

"Dignitaries, me lads and ladies," the town crier Bruce Kruger proclaimed while ringing his bell, "get your shorts and T-shirts too, Wiarton Willie's annual task is through. Now the town crier proudly rings: Willie predicts it's an early spring."

Younger 's Birthday today

Happy Birthday my precious little younger one. May God bless and keep you in the palm of His hands all your days.

I've been blessed

by Michael over at "Archangel's Pulpit" "and 'as with any blessing its effectiveness is directly proportional to how well it is passed on.'

It's simple in format: the recipient simply copies and pastes the following indented section when they become the recipient of a bloggin blessing themselves, as follows…

The idea… it’s a game of tag with a difference, rather than looking inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for one blog friend. By participating in this endeavour we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to. If you recieve a bloggin’ blessin’ please leave a comment on this thread here so that we can rejoice in just how many blessings have been sent around the world!

I bless.... Dim Bulb because of his tireless work he does on his 'blog wherein he brings to all readers, most especially dull swords like me, deeper understanding of the texts on which he exigises, so that with the word of God explained, His will may be clearer. But because DimBulb does NOT "do Memes" I will bless another as well.

I bless .... Rae at Quo Vadis because I understand what it's like to be an academic and a Catholic. It is difficult to be true to God and the Church, when around you are alot of "smart" people " [Who] can't understand how a bright intelligent, university educated woman, like yourself, could possibly believe that crap."

I bless.... Sheepcat because he is trying to live according to God's will for him, as we all should.

I bless.... BroAJK because he is a religious who fulfulls God's will by teaching our young.

A Prayer for DimBulb, Rae, Sheepcat and BroAJK…may the blessing of Almighty God, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

+++

Now the rules: You can just cut and paste these too:

So, all Rae, Sheepcat, and Broajk now have to do is to;
a) bless 3 blog buddies each.
b) Include the ‘God Bless you’ image in their post.
c) Explain briefly why they are blessing the people they are blessing.
d) pray/include in the post the prayer for the recipients of the blessing.
e)The recipient/sender of a blessing should type in the com box of Deb's original post that a blessing has been sent to them so we can keep track of how many blessings are being given. For easy reference a link to her post will make it into Deb's sidebar. Sounds a bit confusing, I know. But it could be fun, we’ll soon see!

Thanks for playing along!

[As Michael points out. The carmelite way of thanking someone is "God reward you, as only He can" and so the above note of gratitude I would change to:

God reward you, as only He can, for playing and praying along.

God Bless you!

A larger ‘God Bless you’ image can also be sent as an E-Card from Credo Christian E-Cards website.

Happy Birthday, Puff.

What the title says.

Auguri di Santa Lucia

Best Wishes on this Feast of Saint Lucy.



Buon Onomastico a tutte le donne e ragazze chiamate Lucia.

Happy Name's Day to all women and girls named Lucy.

Here is and English version of a song to Saint Lucy

click to enlarge


Tips on how to celebrate Saint Lucy's Day.

and more from Wikipedia on her Day

Interesting note: in some cultures daughters cook breakfast and serve mom in bed wearing a Saint Lucy crown.

30th Sunday OTC

28 October is also the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles. Since this year it lands on a Sunday, the Feast should be moved to tomorrow.

Some information on the Saints

The name of Saint Simon usually appears 11th in the list of the apostles. Nothing is known except that he was born at Cana and is surnamed "The Zealot."

Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, was the apostle who asked the lord at the Last Supper why he had manifested himself only to his disciples and not to the whole world. (John 14:22)

Concluding Prayer from the Office
Father,
you revealed yourself to us
through the preaching of your apostles Simon and Jude.
By their prayers,
give your church continued growth
and increase thenumber of those who beleive in you.

Grant this through Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever amen.

Happy Names Day to all named Simon, Thaddeus, or Jude.

Second Monday of October

...is the Canadian Thanksgiving. So, to all who visit this weekend, Happy Thanksgiving.

In case you are wondering why we have it so much earlier than our American cousins, it is simply because, being farther north, our harvest occurs earlier, so we thank God sooner.

While we are enjoying our three day weekend, read our posts below. Prayers for our Catholic School Board would be greatly appreciated.

Muzack in Church

Toronto Catholic District Schoolboard abandons Catholicism

Pope Underlines Importance of Natural Moral Law

Bear's Sister's Birthday

I would like to extend to Bear's Sister, my sister-in-law, "Harry Mc Goo," a very Happy Birthday, and many returns of the day. You've completed 44 years on this planet. Since man lives to 3 score and 10, you are well over the mid point. But, SIL, you wouldn't know it to look at you.

Enjoy the day.

Spend Canada Day in Song

For Canada Day I am blogging some Canadian Patriotic Songs below:

Canada's National Hymns

National Anthem

[English]

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada!
Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread
And lordly rivers flow,
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope, for all who toil!
Thou True North strong and free!
God keep our land Glorious and free!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee!

O Canada!
Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons
And gentle maidens rise,
o keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North strong and free!
God keep our land,
Glorious and free!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee!

Ruler Supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion in Thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in Thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day
We ever stand on guard.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee!

[French Version]

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.


Sous l'oeil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,
Le Canadien grandit en espérant.
Il est né d'une race fièrce,
Beni fut son berceau.
Le ciel a marqué sa carrière
Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par sa lumière,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drappeau,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.

De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,
Il porte au front l'auréole de feu.
Ennemi de la tyrannie
Main plein de loyauté,
Il veut garder dans l'harmonie
Sa fière liberté;
Et par l'effort de son genie,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité.

Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel,
Remplis nos coeurs de ton souffle immortel!
Parmi les races étrangères,
Notre guide est la loi:
Sachons être un peuple de frères,
Sous le joug de la foi.
Et répétons, comme nos pères,
La cri vainqueur: "Pour le Christ et le roi,"
La cri vainqueur: "Pour le Christ et le roi,"


Royal Anthem of Canada

God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen!

O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.

Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world over

From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!

Maple Leaf Forever
[Original Lyrics -very unPOLITICALLY CORRECT, but very HISTORICALLY CORRECT]

In Days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine,
The Maple Leaf forever.

Chorus: The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!

(Chorus)

Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er Freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!

(Chorus)

On merry England's far-famed land
May kind Heaven sweetly smile;
God bless Old Scotland evermore,
And Ireland's Emerald Isle!
Then swell the song, both loud and long,
Till rocks and forest quiver,
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!

(Chorus)

Now they've gone and Politcally Corrected this hymn to this

O, land of blue unending skies,
Mountains strong and sparkling snow,
A scent of freedom in the wind,
O'er the emerald fields below.
To thee we brought our hopes, our dreams,
For thee we stand together,
Our land of peace, where proudly flies,
The Maple Leaf forever.

Chorus:Long may it wave, and grace our own,
Blue skies and stormy weather,
Within my heart, above my home,
The Maple Leaf forever!

From East and West, our heroes came,
Throught icy fields and frozen bays,
Who conquered fear, and cold, and hate,
And their ancient wisdom says:
Protect the weak, defend your rights,
And build this land together,
Above which shine the Northern Lights,
And the Maple Leaf forever!

(Chorus)

I don't know, but something got lost in the "Correcting" of this hymn.

Proud to be a mama's boy

Today is my mother's birthday. I was going to write a long post, but I had to help elder study for a test, and dinner needed to be done, and the day got away from me, and I'm tired, so I will instead be brief.

And so, what to say of my mother? It was she who brought me into the world, nursed me, steadied my steps, dried my tears, taught me my first words and gave to me my faith. Whatever good I bear within me, or have done, or hope to achieve, I owe to her. Thanks, Mom.

And Happy Birthday.

A Blessing for you on Saint Patrick's Day

May God give you....

for every storm, a rainbow,

for every tear, a smile,

for every care, a promise,

and a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

a faithful friend to share,

for every sigh, a sweet song,

and an answer

for each prayer.