St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Today is the day the Church remembers St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a saint who has been near and dear to my heart since I took her name at my Confirmation in 1995.

The recent words of Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on St. Elizabeth of Hungary can be read here, and her biography can be read here.

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Dear Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
Pray for Us!

America's Catholic History

One of the many things I love about homeschooling is how much I learn as I prepare and teach the various subjects to the boys. I find it amazing that I graduated from high school with a high grade point average, but came away knowing so little in the subject of history. Now, I'm not placing any blame on the public school system; I think I just didn't apply myself to the courses. I memorized what information would be on the tests, usually scored well, then let the information flow right back out the other ear. History at that time didn't mean very much to me, unfortunately. Now, more than a couple of decades later, I'm teaching history to my boys and I'm finding myself curious and interested, perhaps for the first time in my life. I now have the interest that makes all the facts and information found on those dreaded Trivial Pursuit history questions, stick!

In the boys' studies we've covered various eras from the nomads in Mesopotamia to the Greeks, Roman History, Bible History, and now we've jumped forward to the early explorers, leading into our main focus this year in early American History. Our main text is From Sea to Shining Sea . It is an interesting read-aloud, and it is an excellent springboard from which to jump to more in-depth study, if desired, of the major historical figures as we encounter them. Another thing I like about this text is that it emphasizes the Catholic roots of our nation and, therefore, details the lives of people who in many cases I have never heard of, given my secular history education.

One such man we've studied in recent weeks is Father Juan de Padilla. Fr. Padilla accompanied Spanish Conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado as he explored much of what is now the southwest United States in 1541-42. Fr. Padilla's love for the Indian tribes he encountered and evangelized caused him to stay behind when Coronado returned to Mexico. He journeyed into what is now Kansas, offered the first documented Mass within US boundaries near Ft. Dodge, KS, in 1541, and it was in Kansas that he was martyred, becoming the United States' Protomartyr.

Last night at dinner our boys were talking about what they had learned lately in history. They were able to tell their dad about Fr. Padilla's life, and that he was the first martyr in what is now the US. My husband had not heard of him either, but wondered about his martyrdom in Kansas. Is there a shrine somewhere to this Franciscan priest? We didn't know, and that was as far as the discussion went, until in today's mail we received the answer!

We are on the mailing list of a Catholic newsletter, Regina Coeli Report. As I opened the latest issue today, how very surprised was I to read the following title of one of the articles: Trek to the Padilla Cross: The Santa Fe Pilgrimage. The article was about a group of 53 Catholic men and boys who this past summer had gone on an annual pilgrimage to the Padilla Cross, just west of Lyons, KS. How convenient to have our questions about this holy priest and the shrine dedicated to him answered so quickly!

The history of our nation is rich, indeed, and it is sprinkled with the blood of many Catholic priests and religious as they gave their lives to convert the native Indian tribes that occupied this land 500 years ago. For my own information (not as part of my boys' studies) I am reading another book on this subject: Discovering A Lost Heritage: The Catholic Origins of America by Adam S. Miller. Mr. Miller provides an in-depth look at America's Catholic heritage and how, unfortunately, it has been left out of the history texts in our schools today. What an interesting read.

And so, having studied the Spanish Franciscan priests, we will be moving north and to the French explorers and the Jesuits and their efforts to spread the gospel in America. I am blessed, indeed, that through homeschooling I have a second opportunity to learn the history of our nation and world, with the appreciation and desire that I didn't have during my own school years. And it is my hope that I will be able to impart to my boys a hunger to know their roots in a way that will stick with them beyond their schoolroom days.

Trivial Pursuit anyone??

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God bless you!

Pizza Hut

Our family likes pizza. We have it 1-2 times per month I guess, and while St. Louis does boast some pretty good local pizza joints, one of our favorite pizzas is still the national chain, Pizza Hut.

This time of year, besides our preference for their pizza, we have another incentive to head there once a month: the boys are participating in the Pizza Hut Book-It program for homeschoolers. It's a simple program wherein the kids are motivated to read a specified number of pages or books in order to earn a certificate for a Personal Pan Pizza with the topping of their choice. One certificate can be earned per month from October '10 through March '11. The boys being pretty willing readers anyway, I'd bet we'll be heading out for pizza each month.

And since that is so, I just have to say the Pizza Hut in south county is one my husband and I particularly enjoy and even recommend. But you ask, isn't a Pizza Hut a Pizza Hut?? Yes and no. The food? Yes. This particular location? No. Here's what we like a lot about it:

No crayons for the kids. No coloring books. No video games. No music. No televisions. You read that right! There are no distractions whatever to a family coming in, sitting down and having pizza and talking together about their day. We did this tonight. We listened to our kids tell us about their day at homeschool co-op including the musical they're in ('Annie Jr.'). We talked of other things, including some of the pictures on the restaurant walls of St. Louis sports figures and venues of decades past. It was a very pleasant and relaxing time out, and the pizza was good, as it always is.

I don't know about you, but my idea of a nice family dinner out is decidely NOT in playing tic-tac-toe or box-in-my-initials (or whatever the silly game is called) with my son while we wait for our food. It is also not in adding a chunk o' change to the bill by allowing the boys to spend a few minutes in the video den. I don't care to have to scream at my husband across the table in order for him to hear me over the music (even if they're playing stuff we like), and I can't stand how my kids are positively glued to the nearest TV set as they eat, no matter the program content.

Since we do eat out occasionally, we will undoubtedly encounter and endure some or all of the above again; it just seems like it goes with restaurant territory anymore. I just don't happen to think kids need to be entertained while they sit with Mom and Dad and wait for their food, eat their food, or patiently wait for the bill to be taken care of. But then, I don't like Happy Meals either. As I tell my boys, "You oughta be happy you're getting a meal", and that's how I feel at sit-down restaurants too.

Suffice it to say, though, the south county Pizza Hut does things right, in our estimation, and I thought some of you out there might like to be let in on the secret. And hey, they've included homeschoolers in their reading-incentive program and I think that's pretty awesome!

All Saints/All Souls Masses

And now, from the department of *better late than never*...

Fr. Gregory Lockwood will offer
the Traditional Latin Mass
at 12:00 noon on

November 1 for All Saints Day
and
November 2 for All Souls Day

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church
1420 South Sappington
Crestwood, MO

All you Holy Angels and Saints, pray for us!

The School Bell Rings Again!

We started school this week here at St. Michael the Archangel Homeschool. All is going quite well with our new 4^th and 5^th grade boys; in fact, they have both shown a little more enthusiasm and willingness in their studies than their last couple of weeks of summer break might have predicted! We’re off to a good start!

I am one of those homeschooling moms that, at least thus far, can never find the ‘perfect’ packaged curriculum. So, I pick this subject from one provider, that course from another, always comparing what I pull together for my boys with several respected Catholic curricula providers.

One tool we use across many subjects in our school is that of Copybook. Copybook is just what it sounds like, a book in which the student copies any given material that they may read and find interesting, or that I may dictate to them for any of a number of purposes, whether to help commit a passage to memory, to practice their best handwriting, or simply to practice the skill of listening and precisely doing. At the end of the year the result is a very nice book of quotes, passages, poems, journal entries, all of which together tell the story of some of what they studied throughout that year. Our boys especially enjoy adding an illustration here and there.

So, today we prepared our Copybooks for this school year, complete with title page, name and date begun. We also added a quote at the bottom of the title page, one which I think is truly inspirational and which succinctly states the purpose for the simple practice of Copybook:

Sir, if you will be so good as to favor me with a blank book, I will transcribe the most remarkable occurrences I meet with in my reading, which will serve to fix them upon my mind.

~John Quincy Adams, age 10, taken from a letter to his father.

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A blessed new school year to you all!

Summer Days

It's a 90+ degree summer day. The clouds roll in and it appears that the cell over the house will burst any moment. And it does, with a vengeance.

You're an 8-10 year old boy. Is there any place you'd rather be than inside a pup-tent with your brother, your dog and your survival kit (snacks, various books, a favorite toy or two, some paper and pencils to draw with when you get bored, and a blanket in case of a sudden and unexpected drop in temperature) in the backyard?

Sounds like summer fun to me. It sure is a lot of fun to watch from the dining room window, anyway.

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I've been scarce in these parts since school ended the last part of May. One would think I'd have more time to blog during the summer months than while teaching school, but it has not been so. Between taking an online class of my own (and its homework!) in preparation to teach a course called Classical Writing--Homer to my boys, planning the other subjects for next school year, and just trying to enjoy time off with the kids, I've found little time to attend to My Morning Cup.

And it's not likely to get better, as my mom is coming in for a visit tomorrow! She'll be with us for a few weeks, which will fill our days up with chatting, baking, chatting, playing with the boys, chatting, going on little outings, chatting, canning/freezing garden veggies, chatting... well, you get the idea. We are all very excited to welcome her here again!

So, dear readers, I will pick this up again as time allows. In the meantime, I hope you are all having and enjoying a blessed summer break from the usual school routine, with some precious moments to observe your own kids doing what they do best: being kids.

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Now the rain has stopped and the sun is shining again; think I'll go help the boys set up that lemonade stand....

God bless you!

Prayer Against Storms

'Tis the season, here in the midwest, for nasty storms which may include heavy rain, hail, high winds, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes. They can be pretty unnerving to watch and listen to. This year, more than in years past, our boys get particularly worried when the skies darken and the storm moves in. A trip to the basement, 'just in case', signals a level of danger that they dread.

The other day, in the wake of losing power for 24 hours after a severe storm, I was talking to a very good friend of mine about this. She suggested the following prayer, noting that she and her family pray it faithfully as storms approach. We have since used it and, besides that storm turning out not nearly as severe as anticipated, it gave us all the confidence that comes in knowing God is in control of these tempests. The boys are greatly comforted in praying this prayer.

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The Prayer or Blessing Against Storms
(found on page 28 Pieta Prayer Book)

At each '†', make the Sign of The Cross

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace.† God became man,† and the Word was made flesh.† Christ was born of a Virgin.† Christ suffered.† Christ was crucified.† Christ died.† Christ rose from the dead.† Christ ascended into Heaven.† Christ conquers.† Christ reigns.† Christ orders.† May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning† Christ went through their midst in Peace,† and the word was made flesh.† Christ is with us with Mary.† Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Juda, the Root David, has won.† Holy God!† Holy Powerful God!† Holy Immortal God!† Have mercy on us. Amen!

God bless you and keep you safe!