Hint of the Day: Kitchen Funnel in a Pinch

If you need to pour salt, pepper, or spices into their shakers, just grab any small piece of clean paper: your shopping list, a coupon, or a post-it note all work well. Roll it into a funnel, and tape or pinch in place.

My salt and pepper shakers have very small necks, so any kitchen funnel I could buy would be too small, anyway. This homemade funnel, however, can be rolled to just the right size, and I can easily slide the opening wider to clear up jams as I pour.

Following up

on "Helping Them work on It" with this volume of the series First Books for Little Catholics by Sister Mary St Paul of Maryknoll, circa 1959, accumulated in The Great Haul of 2005, when the local Catholic elementary school closed.

Sample text selection:
Babies cannot sit still very long. They are always looking this way and that. But you are not a baby. You will not look this way and that in church. You will look straight ahead and keep your eyes on your King.

Practice the right way of acting in God's House. Teach others to act in the right way. Then God will know you are His friend.

Helping them work on it

See Jennifer's 'blog, Conversion Diary for a really outstanding discussion on how to get children to behave at Mass.

This truth finally crystallized for me the other day when I was asking my good friend Elizabeth Esther for advice. I was expecting a laundry list of tips about what toys to bring or what order to have everyone sit in the pew, and she caught me off guard with a simple question:

"What are you doing during the week to help them work on it?" she asked.

Uhh...what? She went on to explain that the way she grew up, Sunday service was the very center of life. Because it was seen as the most important activity and the focal point of every family's week, mothers would practice with their children at home to help them be better prepared to make it through the services on Sunday. Elizabeth, who has five young children (including one-year-old twins!) told me about the improvements she'd seen with her own kids after having them practice quiet time on mats at home on weekdays.

Our conversation made me realize that the problem was not that I hadn't found the right book to bring or discovered some magical church-only discipline technique; the problem was rooted in the fact that I didn't see the Mass as the center of my week. If I were to have the privilege of a recurring appointment with the Queen of England and had issues with the kids' behavior during those meetings, you'd better believe that I'd be working at home to help them learn age-appropriate self control for next time. So why am I not as motivated to deal with the problems that occur at Mass, a weekly appointment far more important than with any earthly royalty? Why am I not willing to devote any more effort into it than the hour or so spent actually sitting in the pews? That, I realized, is the question I need to be asking.

Image: Christ Blessing the Children by Lucas Cranach, the Younger

The Official Cocktail of Meatless Fridays

Adieu, little Swedish fishie, adieu. What a way to go, though, drowning in a sea of gin, lemon juice, and champagne. Pern’s Farewell is bright and clean, with all of that sparkle keeping a Swedish fish buoyant as the gummy candy garnish bobs and weaves in your glass. A little bit of kitsch and a whole lot of botanicals and citrus make this cocktail one that’s not to be missed. [text & image source: Stuff @ Night]

Should you starch an alb?

The church ladies at Fr. Z's Altar Guild offer advice. o{]:¬)

What Every Woman Needs

Attending a professional conference this weekend, I was reminded of every woman's need: a good dark suit.

A good dark suit will see you through many situations in life, such as job interviews, more formal meetings, and funerals. Depending on the formality of your field, the jacket and bottom don't necessarily have to be from a matching set, but they should be of coordinating materials. A solid color is often more flexible than a print. And regardless of the fabric or which piece is worn more, the jacket and bottom should be cleaned together so they don't fade disparately. A dressy cardigan will also allow you to get more wear out of the bottom at less formal events.

Opt for a timeless look in the best quality multi-seasonal fabric you can find, and you'll have an outfit that will last a lifetime. Lining is a must, and will give a smoother look. Skirts tend to be more formal, flattering and less dated, as well as more easily altered for any figure fluctuations. The EGs have some more advice on what to look for and where to find it.

You'll also need a few more things to complete your suit- a blouse or cami for underneath the jacket and a pair of good shoes, as well as stockings. It can be hard to acquire the former two on a moment's notice, so look for them at the same time as the suit. A good pair of shoes can be resoled many times. And it can never hurt to have an extra pair of stockings around.

[image source: Vogue]

From the Mailbag

Reader Micki wrote to inform us of her own way of organizing her holy card collection: namely, a blog with pictures of the cards (over 750, she says, to date!), along with various prayers and quotes. A personal favorite: the "Ave Crux, Spes Unica" card from last week. (Given your Blog Hostesses' great fondness for Our Lady's University, are you really Surprised?)

Reader Teresa in Germany (I presume from her address) writes about embroidery, and shares an image of her own handiwork:

I made a pall for a newly ordained priest, as a gift at his "Primiz"-greeting (after his first Holy Mass) and the sample was from this blog too. I'm looking forward to create a maniturgia. There are also groups on yahoo (sew4church and catholiccyberneedles), where people can compare notes about this matter.

Last but not least, a reader wrote to enquire about a source for "Pray for Priests" magnets in bulk. If anyone has such information, please do leave a comment.

Building a pro-life parish

As Catholics and people of goodwill, we have a duty to promote a culture of life, beginning in our own homes and parishes, and then spreading to the larger community. Here are some concrete suggestions for putting this into place

1. Make parents of small children feel welcome at Mass. Trust that they are doing their best to form their children, even if that means there's some additional accompaniment to the liturgy. It is in everyone's best interest for children to learn that screaming will not get them what they want. It was a great surprise for me to learn from Catholic periodicals of the time that 60 years ago, parents didn't have to bring their children to church until their First Communion. The presence of babies and children at Mass is a testament to a culture of life and a means for our own sanctification.

2. The same is equally true for the elderly and people with special needs. Is there a neighbor who could use a little extra help getting to Mass? Someone who needs some assistance up the steps? Follow the airplane rules, and be patient with anyone who needs a little extra time. The difference a simple gesture can make is often astounding. In addition, it can be doubly beneficial for children to learn the value of helping others.

3. These options for growth don't end with Mass. Keep your eyes open at coffee hour- is there anyone who would appreciate being brought a beverage or snack? This is especially important for breastfeeding mothers, who can become easily dehydrated. (This hint was taught to me by a local La Leche League member.)

4. Make your parish events more family friendly. For example, a local parish holds the coffee hour in the gym, giving kids plenty of space to run around and shoot baskets while their parents can socialize yet supervise. Make families feel welcome at spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts by holding them at convenient times. Involve the children so they enjoy being there.

5. Encourage parents of small children to participate in parish activities by offering nursery services (an excellent service opportunity for the confirmandees). Be especially sensitive to the isolation that stay at home mothers may be prone to by offering a weekday program (CLOCHE tip to Margaret Mary).

6. Draw on the richness of our faith, such as the Churching of Women, the Anointing of the Sick, and Mass for the deceased: babies and children, including those lost through miscarriage and abortion as well as others of our beloved dead.

7. Don't underestimate the importance of pregnancy outreach. Make sure there is plenty of crisis pregnancy and post abortion resources and literature available. You never know when it might be needed.

8. Consider starting a charity craft group to make hats and blankets for those in need.

9. Ask around to see if the elderly or those in ill health could use extra assistance around the home. This is another opportunity for your confirmandees or youth group.

10. Consider extended outreach to those with chronic health conditions or the bereaved. Let them know they are not forgotten.

Do you have any ideas to share?

[image source]

True Girls, True God ~Truly Gorgeous!

I was recently introduced to a fun resource for teen girls, TG! Magazine. From their site:

We are glad you are here. TG! magazine is a Catholic magazine for teen girls. Our target audience includes girls aged 12-18; but we have been known to have subscribers between 10 and 20 years of age.

On our cover, you will see the phrase True Girls, True God ~ Truly Gorgeous. Each issue will contain features with each of these three elements. We believe that with God all girls can be truly gorgeous. Click here to subscribe.

Look for articles on the beliefs of the Catholic church, profiles of positive role models, reviews of current & classic books, movies and music, advice, fashion, makeup and more. We will take a look at what we print through the lens of the Catholic faith.

Our models are not professionally trained; their photographs are not airbrushed. Our advertisers agree to adhere to modesty standards and they support Christian values. We strive to achieve a fun and wholesome publication that "trains them up in the way they should go" (adapted from Proverbs 22) and gives glory to God, our Father.

The issue I have features articles on a trip to Australia for World Youth Day along with contests, Saint stories, a Rosary reflection, and a regular feature called Ask Father Leo. It's a full color, glossy, bi-monthly publication that will likely appeal to the up-and-coming church ladies in your life. Consider supporting them by subscribing or advertising.

Reclaiming Sunday

"It is right, therefore, to claim, in the words of a fourth century homily, that "the Lord's Day" is "the lord of days". Those who have received the grace of faith in the Risen Lord cannot fail to grasp the significance of this day of the week with the same deep emotion which led Saint Jerome to say: "Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, it is the day of Christians, it is our day". For Christians, Sunday is "the fundamental feastday", established not only to mark the succession of time but to reveal time's deeper meaning." [John Paul II, Dies Domini]

My family emphasizes the importance of Sunday by following the European tradition of placing an image of the Trinity and a vigil candle on the table since Sunday is the feast of the triune God. We also pray an abbreviated Psalm 90 as our grace on Sunday nights, and try to use the nice china and silverware.

LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as thou hast afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let thy work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
[Psalm 90, RSV]