St Bruno

By your work you show what you love and what you know. When you observe true obedience with prudence and enthusiasm, it is clear that you wisely pick the most delightful and nourishing fruit of divine Scripture.
(A letter by Saint Bruno to the Carthusians)

And perhaps some pretzels to accompany your toast of the patron saint of brewers...

Image source: Vision of St Bruno, Ribera

St Francis of Assisi

Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society. 

(Saint Francis of Assisi)

Image source: El Greco, Francis Meditating

St Theodore Guerin

With great trust in Divine Providence, Mother Théodore overcame many challenges and persevered in the work that the Lord had called her to do. By the time of her death in 1856, the Sisters were running schools and orphanages throughout the State of Indiana. Mother Théodore Guérin is a beautiful spiritual figure and a model of the Christian life. She was always open for the missions the Church entrusted to her, and she found the strength and the boldness to put them [the missions] into practice in the Eucharist, in prayer and in an infinite trust in Divine Providence. Her inner strength moved her to address particular attention to the poor, and above all to children. (Pope Benedict XVI, canonization homily of Saint Theodore)

Image source

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
The Lord replied,
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
(Lk 17, 5-6)

Sunday Supper: Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Mustard and Sage

St Therese of Lisieux

Jesus set the book of nature before me and I saw that all the flowers he has created are lovely. The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. I realized that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wildflowers to make the meadows gay. It is just the same in the world of souls – which is the garden of Jesus. He has created the great saints who are like the lilies and the roses, but he has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice his eyes whenever he glances down. Perfection consists in doing his will, in being that which he wants us to be. Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be – and becoming that person.
(St Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul)
Image source

ISO your favorite movie recommendations

One of my family's favorite rituals is Friday Night Pizza and a Movie. I love having my family together, the cares of the week behind us, the curtains drawn, and plenty of warm pizza and maybe a glass of wine rounding out the evening. Thanks to my favorite library book, Truly Madly Pizza (pictured: fig with cheddar and roasted red pepper; salmon and broccoli; white pizza with kalamata olives and broccoli; egg and cherry tomato), we have no trouble being inventive with the former, but a couple years in, and we are on the lookout for new movies (suitable for a five year old and a two year old, but not so dull as to alienate the adults). We started with the Disney animated films, then their live action movies like Swiss Family Robinson and Herbie, and classics like The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. We enjoyed the Kenneth Branagh Cinderella and are eagerly awaiting the live action Beauty and the Beast, but are looking for recommendations. What have you enjoyed?

St Jerome

Jerome is with the Saints, and I am sure that,

by God's will,
though the hat and the Bible were left behind,
the lion is with him still.
(Rumer Godden)

Mr Popper's Penguins

At ten o'clock, Mrs. Popper yawned and laid down her mending. "Well, you can go on reading about those heathen birds, but I am going to bed. Tomorrow is Thursday, September thirtieth, and I have to go to the first meeting of the Ladies' Aid Missionary Society."

"September thirtieth!" said Mr. Popper in an excited tone. "You don't mean today is Wednesday, September twenty-ninth?...Why, this is the night the Drake Antarctic Expedition is going to start broadcasting."
(Mr. Popper's Penguins, Richard and Florence Atwater)

Before I had children, I most looked forward to reading chapter books aloud to them. My older son is now five plus, and we have started reading books I really enjoy aloud (no slight intended to all the beautiful picture books in the world, but after years of the same stories, it was nice to have a change). Winnie the Pooh was our proto-chapter book, and then we made our way through the first few Little House books over the course of the summer. But On the Banks of Plum Creek dragged out, and I wanted a break before we continued the series. Enter Charlotte's Web, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Stuart Little, and Mary Poppins. My mother believed it was immodest for a girl to read books written from a boy's perspective, so I have enjoyed discovering Farmer Boy, The Door in the Wall, The Sign of the Beaver, and Adam of the Road as an adult.

But in the midst of all this delight, I am a little wistful, because I picked up most of these books as library discards. I can't but help sympathize with Tuppence:

"Well, that's very kind of you, I'm sure, Mrs. Beresford. Of course, we do have some [special editions for children nowadays] given to us, you know... One does feel it's a pity that they should have to read all those old-fashioned books."

"Oh, do you think so," said Tuppence. "I loved the books I had as as child. Some of them...had been my grandmother's when she was a child. I believe I liked those best of all."
(Postern of Fate, Agatha Christie)

Good King Wenceslaus

Although people associate St Wenceslaus in connection with the Christmas carol (indeed, your Church Ladies invoked his patronage during many a wintry Rosary around the lakes at Our Lady's University), his feast day is celebrated today, the 28th of September.

Madeleines for St Mary Magdalene's day

 

A batch of madeleines, studded with summer blueberries, in honor of today's saint, Mary Magdalene (whose memorial was elevated to a feast by Pope Francis this year.)