The Chartres Pilgrimage

If ever there was a pilgrimage that I (and my husband) would like to go on, it would be the Pilgrimage of Tradition to Chartres, France. This is a 3-day, 70-mile walking pilgrimage across France, on which this year there will be 15,000 pilgrims from all over the world, 70 of whom are Americans. They begin at Notre Dame in Paris and walk the 70 miles to the great Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres.

According to The Remnant: "This Pilgrimage dates back to the middle ages. It has been made by kings (such as King Louis XIV), Queens (such as Mary Queen of Scots), and Saints (such as Joan of Arc). The famous, the lowly, the noble and the commoner" have made the difficult walk. The website goes on to detail how the annual pilgrimage was eventually discontinued, but how that in the 1980s "several tradition-minded French Catholic laymen began again to organize the Pilgrimage. The Pilgrimage was held in honor of Mary, the Mother of God, for the purpose of the restoration of the traditional Mass and Sacraments of the Catholic Church."

In 1990, under the organization of several columnists from The Remnant, Americans began participating in the pilgrimage, and have every year since.

As much as my husband and I would like to go, it would be impossible for us considering the strenuous nature of this pilgrimage. So, what's the next best thing? Send our prayer requests with a pilgrim! One dear young lady from St. Francis deSales Oratory is taking with her on her flight to France this afternoon, the prayer requests of many of the moms from our homeschool co-op! And so I ask you, dear readers, to pray especially for this young lady, her companions, and all of the 15,000 pilgrims as they are on the road to Chartres on this Pentecost weekend. For surely they all have our best in mind and heart:

(From The Remnant): "We will also do our best to represent all Catholic Americans on the road to Chartres. America is in such desperate straights, as we all know; so we will remember our country in a special way this year, asking God to save America and give His children the grace to survive whatever persecution of all things Christian may be on the horizon."

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas, pray for us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Birthdays at Our House

My husband brought a very nice tradition into our marriage and family life: that of celebrating birthdays, in a big way. Or in a bigger way than I knew growing up anyway. When he was a kid, his family always made signs for all the birthdays. Nothing elaborate, just simple signs drawn on plain paper with crayons, hung about the house to wish happy birthday to the one whose day it was.

We've continued the tradition in our family, adding to the homemade signs streamers in the dining room, a much-used "Happy Birthday" banner hung on the dining room wall, balloons, and a special dinner plate (with chosen birthday dinner) for the honoree. From the moment the birthday boy (or girl, only one out of the four we celebrate each year) awakes in the morning, it is obvious that this is indeed their special day.

The boys love it. They make their signs with sweet sentiments, illustrated with whatever they are currently interested in. If I kept the signs each year (and many of them I have) they would be a pictorial journal of the boys growing up.

Today it is my turn to be on the receiving end of signs, balloons, 'happy birthdays' with kisses and hugs given early and often. I love it too. One of the signs, made by my more artistic son, shows a space shuttle blasting off to 'Planet Mom', while my numbers-loving kid made a sign with a long math problem which ultimately adds up to my age. And of course my husband's beautiful card and flowers greeted me as well. We have cake and ice cream to look forward to. It is a happy day in our house, and I am thankful for these little traditions we've carried on.

And if anyone is mildly curious as to my age, just complete my son's math problem below.

10+36+42-42-10+10-41+41+54-54=

Indigo Bunting

We have a bird feeder at which we regularly see chickadees, doves, crows, house finches, and to our especial delight, bright red cardinals. But this morning we saw a first: a male Indigo Bunting! My younger son came running into the room where I was, yelling, "MOM!! There's an Indigo Bunting outside!!!" I went to the window, and sure enough, a bright blue bird fitting his description (and as described and pictured in his bird book) was feeding along with the other birds!

If you're unfamiliar with this bird, click here for pictures of the Indigo Bunting. It was really a beautiful bird, and it was a thrill for my bird-watcher 7 year old!

Regina Coeli

Happy Easter to all!

Each day in school the boys and I break for lunch at noon and together say the Angelus. But with Eastertide upon us, we substitute the Regina Coeli. This is a prayer that I've not before memorized, but as we recite it for the whole of the Easter season, I'm sure I won't need a cheat sheet by the season's close.

Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia: For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray: O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Good Friday.... and....

I'll get to the 'and' in a minute. First things first.

Today is Good Friday, the day in which each year we remember Our Lord's Passion. He has already been betrayed by Judas and taken to prison. Today He will be scourged, crowned with thorns, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. He will carry His cross to Calvary, where on that cross the spotless Lamb of God will shed His blood and die for the sins of the world.

In remembrance of this, we fast, we abstain from eating meat; we mortify our own flesh, offering our own sufferings back to Him in thanksgiving for His sacrifice which was all for you and me.

It can be interesting trying to impart these ideas and practices to the kids. Of course they are not at the age where they must fast as adults do. But I do let them know we will not have treats today, nor excess of the things we like. This morning my oldest got on a stool and, before I realized it, was helping himself to a chunk or two of brown sugar out of the brown sugar cannister. When I looked up and saw him I quickly told him, "Nooo, J, remember it's Good Friday!" He immediately pulled his hand out, indeed remembering, and knowing we shouldn't indulge on this day (not, mind you, that ANY day is OK to raid the brown sugar!!)

This afternoon our family will go to Church for the Liturgy and Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. And we will all the more look forward to His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Oh.... and....

Today my husband and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary! In 1999, April 10 was on Easter Saturday, and thus the church on that day was decked out with Easter Lilies and other beautiful flowers. It was a lovely day, forever etched in my memory, the day we wed. But today, 10 years later, it falls on Good Friday. And so, but for the beautiful dozen red roses my husband brought home last night, and cards exchanged between us, we will postpone celebrating with dinner out to Eastertide.

Blessed Good Friday to all.
Happy Anniversay, honey. And thank you for ten wonderful years.

Silk-Tie Easter Eggs

Martha Stewart has a really fun and easy looking way to dye Easter eggs using old silk ties. And they turn out beautiful! Check out this clip for Silk-Tie Easter Eggs before you go and buy an egg dyeing kit!

So, go raid your hubby's outdated ties--or head off to Goodwill--and start dying eggs!

(Thanks for the tip, Mom!)

Good Poetry

Readers know my love of good children's literature, and how we in our house enjoy nightly read-alouds. Now and then we'll have a poetry night where I read our best-loved poems by various poets, our favorites being those of Robert Louis Stevenson or the delightful gems of A.A. Milne (no library in a household with children is complete without The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne, imho.)

Some are laugh-out-loud funny, and each of us waits for our particular favorite to be read again. Some tell an interesting story, while others teach a valuable lesson to young and old alike. Such is the familiar poem by Mary Howitt, The Spider and the Fly. The boys memorized it a couple of years ago; we read again recently, among others, and I thought I'd share it here.

The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt

Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."


"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"


Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"


"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."


The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!


And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.