Dishin’ It Out
A pious and wise person once advised praying with your list of intentions while doing the dishes. You either have your intentions list in your head or written on a piece of paper and placed by the sink where you can see it while washing the dishes. It’s a strategy that gets the dishes done and the intentions prayed for at the same time.
I’ve always thought of that advice as one of the most practical and useful gems I’ve ever come across as a housewife and mom. Who doesn’t want a prayer corner all to herself and a non-negotiable prayer schedule? Sometimes, though, the practical aspects of living the faith do not converge in a frictionless manner, so Plans B surface. And they are not at all bad. It’s the purity of intentions that count in the end…
“A married woman must, when called upon, quit her devotions to God at the altar to find Him in her household affairs.”
What if I don’t do the dishes because I have a dishwasher (actually, I don’t)? Well, there are alternative scenarios, like folding laundered items, reshelving books, or mopping the floor. Any chore that involves repetitive action and does not require too much “technical thinking” so that I can actually dual-task it with my intentions list, will do.
The intentions list can also be the gratitude list, the praise list, or even the text for memorization for the month!
Everything that we do can actually be turned into prayer.
“Let us work. Let us work a lot and work well, without forgetting that prayer is our best weapon. That is why I will never tire of repeating that we have to be contemplative souls in the middle of the world, who try to convert work into prayer.”
And healthy and balanced doses of verbal or mental prayer and “action prayer” are always good prescriptions, right?
How do you keep up with prayer
when everyone in the family
demands your attention the minute you get up
(or even before you do)?
Marcia has five reasons to wake up in the morning — the man of her dreams and the four children that God gave them. She constantly wishes for a cleaner and more orderly home, but understands that this goal needs constant tweaking. One day, she will devote a lot of time to her sewing. She just hopes that she is not yet half-blind or arthritic then! She blogs at Imperfectly Living a Dream.
St Martha Pray for Us
There are those days…those days when prayer is your only recourse and you wish someone would do it for you. You need to be lifted up in the hopes of getting just a little bit closer to God the Father. But you’re tired and weary and worn and beaten down. So you wish someone would come along and hold you up…’cause you can’t hold your self up any longer.
Let’s be that support for each other. Let’s set aside Tuesdays to pray for each other in community. Let’s run to the feet of Saint Martha, a woman who worked and worried in our Lord’s physical presence. Let’s recommend ourselves and our sisters in Christ to her. {Tuesdays have been traditionally set aside as a devotional day to St Martha.}
Here is the novena prayer, asking the intercession of St Martha for each of us here at Suscipio. After all, our very name means to encourage, support and maintain, so let’s have a plan to do just that.
Novena to St. Martha
This Novena is prayed on nine consecutive Tuesdays and involves lighting a candle. Pray also especially beginning 9 Tuesdays before 29 July, the Feast of St. Martha.
(Light a candle)
O admirable Saint Martha, I have recourse to thee and I depend entirely on thy intercession in my trials. In thanksgiving, I promise to spread this devotion everywhere. I humbly beg thee to console me in all my difficulties. By the immense joy that filled thy soul when thou didst receive the Redeemer of the world at thy home in Bethany, be pleased to intercede for me and my family, in order that we may keep God in our hearts and therefore, deserve to obtain the remedy to our necessities, especially the present situation that overwhelms me.
(Mention your intentions here)
I implore thee, O Auxiliatrice in all needs; help us to overcome our difficulties, thou who so victoriously fought the devil. Amen.
Recite three times one Our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and the invocation “Saint Martha, pray for us.”
If you have a specific prayer intention, or just need us to ‘set the timer’ and pray for you every hour, stop by on Tuesday and leave it in the comments. {This post will re-run each Tuesday morning as a reminder.}
Why I bother cleaning
Theresa/my desert heart
…the bathroom was clean…sparkling faucet, clean sink, white tub, toilet wiped, clear mirror…
I realized, standing there at 6 pm, that I hadn’t been in the upstairs bathroom since I cleaned it at 9:30 am.
And it looked it.
Did I clean the bathroom today or was that yesterday? I look at the children’s books on the floor along with pieces of toilet paper, an empty toilet paper roll, smudges on mirror, toothpaste in sink, linen closet left open as well as the shower curtain thrown carelessly aside…and oh yeah…hair in the drain. What’s the point? I ask myself…why do I bother? *sigh*
I have been tempted to think that as I walk out of confession, after confessing the same fault for the umpteenth time. What’s the point Lord? I am just going to do it again. It’s just going to get dirty again.
Good thing I don’t give into that thinking with my bathroom…or my soul. Imagine the filth!
Regardless of the fact that my soul may be smudged again within a few hours of confession, there has to be a determination to begin again…even if it means a weekly cleansing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There has to be hope and perseverence that we will do our best with God’s grace not to commit the same sin again.
We must repeatedly say Nunc coepi…Now I begin.
Some day, my soul won’t get quite as dirty as quickly as it does now. I have hope.
Working for God Means Doing His Will
by Connie
When I was in grade school, I used to daydream during Mass about being a foreign missionary. I would go to Africa, live in a shack, and serve the poor in a remote desert area. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go serve the Lord overseas. A little bit of maturing helped me postpone this adventure until I had graduated from college. Then I was off—not to Africa, as it turned out, but to Japan.
After two years of teaching English conversation, I returned to the United States. While I hadn’t been the kind of missionary I once dreamed of being, I had helped support evangelization efforts. But I realized that two years wasn’t enough for me. I still wanted to serve God with my time. I did not feel called to religious life. But neither did the thought of a regular 9-to-5 job satisfy me. Eventually, I wrote and published a newsletter of Catholic apologetics as a side business. That too lasted a few years, until I was just too overwhelmed to continue.
I got married rather late—at age 33. If I would have married somewhat earlier, I may not have sought to serve God outside the family. I don’t know. As it turned out, my husband became editor of a diocesan newspaper about two years into our marriage. He soon invited me to write a bi-monthly spirituality column. This time, I discontinued the column through feelings of unworthiness. After having three kids and facing all the challenges that entails, I felt like a spiritual mess. Who was I to be telling other people how they should live, when I spent so much time yelling at my boys?
I finally had to face the fact that my vocation as wife and mother was the primary way God willed for me to serve Him. I might not have the opportunity to be involved in an outside apostolate again for years, if ever. That didn’t mean I wasn’t furthering God’s kingdom. Three—and later four—little souls were depending on me for the teaching and discipline they needed to grow into men of God.
But it’s one thing to acknowledge this intellectually. It’s another to embrace it. That was more difficult. Being a wife and mother is at once so common and so disparaged by our society. The world teaches that a woman must be something more in order to be fulfilled. As Catholic women, Mary is our model. She is primarily a mother. And her motherhood will last forever, even when the details of daily life on earth are long gone.
As for me, I sometimes felt like Richard Rich in this scene from A Man for all Seasons. Thomas More has offered Rich, a recent graduate of the university, a teaching position. Rich is loathe to take it:
”Sir Thomas More: Why not be a teacher? You’d be a fine teacher; perhaps a great one.
“Richard Rich: If I was, who would know it?
“Sir Thomas More: You; your pupils; your friends; God. Not a bad public, that.”
Thomas More used his talents for God’s glory, not his own. He became chancellor of England and a saint. Richard Rich put the world’s acclaim first. He declined More’s offer to be a teacher. He too was chancellor of England—after helping send Thomas More to his martyrdom.
Mothering is mostly done in secret. The world can’t see all the work we put into it. Other people can only observe how our kids turn out. They will more often criticize us for our children’s shortcomings than credit us for their virtues. If we are mainly concerned about praise and fame, we won’t be satisfied with motherhood’s obscurity. And this is a constant struggle for me. I want to be remembered on this earth. I want my name in the history books. I want a packed Church at my funeral. Motherhood in and of itself probably won’t get me any of these.
Ironically, if we put aside our desire to be remembered, and live our vocation quietly out of love for God, we could become saints who are remembered by the Church throughout the world. Thomas More is not known so much for his brilliant statesmanship as for his humility, charity, humor, and faithfulness to God.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to do great things. There is nothing wrong with having an apostolate or a job outside the home. The question is: why are we doing it?
Obviously, I am back to writing now. Besides my blog, I am again writing for the diocesan paper. God gave me certain gifts, and I believe He meant for me to use them. But I constantly pray that if it is God’s will for me to quit writing, He will make that clear to me and give me the strength to obey. Because the greatest thing we can do on this earth is become a saint. And that’s all about promoting God’s glory, not our own.
If you are doing God’s will, then your work is furthering His kingdom—whether it’s changing diapers or teaching or ruling a nation. God grant that this will be our only goal.
Connie Rossini strives to glorify God in everything she does. She blogs on faith-based education and Carmelite spirituality at Contemplative Homeschool, where she has begun compiling a page of links to Catholic spirituality bogs. She lives with her husband and 4 sons in southwestern Minnesota. Her husband works for the Diocese of New Ulm, and graciously carves out space for her spirituality articles in The Prairie Catholic.
St Martha Pray for Us
There are those days…those days when prayer is your only recourse and you wish someone would do it for you. You need to be lifted up in the hopes of getting just a little bit closer to God the Father. But you’re tired and weary and worn and beaten down. So you wish someone would come along and hold you up…’cause you can’t hold your self up any longer.
Let’s be that support for each other. Let’s set aside Tuesdays to pray for each other in community. Let’s run to the feet of Saint Martha, a woman who worked and worried in our Lord’s physical presence. Let’s recommend ourselves and our sisters in Christ to her. {Tuesdays have been traditionally set aside as a devotional day to St Martha.}
Here is the novena prayer, asking the intercession of St Martha for each of us here at Suscipio. After all, our very name means to encourage, support and maintain, so let’s have a plan to do just that.
Novena to St. Martha
This Novena is prayed on nine consecutive Tuesdays and involves lighting a candle. Pray also especially beginning 9 Tuesdays before 29 July, the Feast of St. Martha.
(Light a candle)
O admirable Saint Martha, I have recourse to thee and I depend entirely on thy intercession in my trials. In thanksgiving, I promise to spread this devotion everywhere. I humbly beg thee to console me in all my difficulties. By the immense joy that filled thy soul when thou didst receive the Redeemer of the world at thy home in Bethany, be pleased to intercede for me and my family, in order that we may keep God in our hearts and therefore, deserve to obtain the remedy to our necessities, especially the present situation that overwhelms me.
(Mention your intentions here)
I implore thee, O Auxiliatrice in all needs; help us to overcome our difficulties, thou who so victoriously fought the devil. Amen.
Recite three times one Our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and the invocation “Saint Martha, pray for us.”
If you have a specific prayer intention, or just need us to ‘set the timer’ and pray for you every hour, stop by on Tuesday and leave it in the comments. {This post will re-run each Tuesday morning as a reminder.}
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Laaaate Sunday night, I am…
Thanking God For
::the sound of Chris and Leo breathing slow and melodic as they sleep
::the windchimes on the front porch providing the soundtrack for this post
::our dog obedience trainer at Pet Smart (Lucy is 1000% improved according to our trainer after just one class. Yes, she was that naughty at our first class that she is now 1000% better. But better does not mean she can be trusted to be out of her kennel when the chickens are out. She stays out until about 4pm and then we kennel her and let the chickens out until about 7pm and then they get locked up and she can once again roam around.)
::going to an Apologetics Seminar with my daughters
::Maximilian in the “Children’s Choir”
::Veronica planning to make Bridget’s First Holy Communion/Confirmation dress and Anna’s Confirmation dress with help from our neighbor
Planning
I have tried emeals and I like the concept, alot, but our one problem was that constant variety. I know that sounds strange doesn’t it? I recently signed back up to use their slow cooker menu plus their breakfast and lunch menu. Then I found Plan to Eat. I’m already committed to emeals for 3 months but I can already see where Plant to Eat is going to be a better fit for our family.
In the Garden
This weekend we planted a bed of tomatoes, a bed of peppers, a Lavender bush which has mysteriously disappeared from the ground overnight, zucchini and pumpkins, beets, radishes, corn and peas. Our little orchard is looking good. I also planted two sweet potato vines in our Mary Garden and Sunflowers on the back side of the house.
Reading
40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life: Living the 4:8 Principle
The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life
Praying the Scriptures for Your Teenagers: Discover How to Pray God’s Will for Their Lives
The Hermitage Within (Cistercian Studies Series)
Learning Lessons In
I am learning some lessons in bending so as not to break.
Making
I am crocheting one big ‘ol Granny Square in various colors in the hopes of presenting it to Chris on his birthday in July. I am also making myself pick up my camera when I don’t feel like it and when I don’t think I have the time. You know how “they” tell you to drink lots of water. And if you wait to get a drink when you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated? Well, that goes for me and my camera. If I wait “until” to pick it up, my soul will already be dehydrated. Come to think of it, the same can be said about reading the Scriptures too.
Wandering Around the Web
10 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Attend Holy Mass
Saint Theophan the Recluse on Prayer
Quotable Guide to Attending Holy Mass
Captured
She’s been making flower crowns for the younger ones.
Suscipio PSA #8 – Fueling Your Body
Disclaimer – I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or professional fitness guru. I am sharing what I’ve learned through research and experience; you all must use your own judgment in deciding what is best for you and your own health, including checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise or dietary program.
We gather at mass to fuel our souls; we study scripture, read and come together here to fuel our minds and spirits. What are we doing to fuel our bodies? Not just eating Real Food every day, but fueling our bodies for exercise.
Are you supposed to eat before, during or after exercise?
The answer is Yes.
First, the science behind it. Your body is an amazing machine, and it works constantly to maintain a certain level of glucose in your bloodstream. Glucose is fuel – it keeps your muscles moving and your brain processing. Your body changes the food you eat into glucose to power your pretty self. Once your bloodstream is saturated at the proper level, extra glucose is stored in your liver as glycogen.
When you exercise, your muscles go into overdrive, drawing glucose from your bloodstream. Once that source is used up, your liver will change the stored glycogen back to glucose and release it into your bloodstream to keep you moving. Once the liver glucose is used up, your body will start using stored fat to make more glucose for your muscles. Unfortunately, changing fat to glucose is a v-e-r-y s-l-o-w process, much slower than the rate your exercising muscles are screaming for fuel. If you get to this point during a workout session where your muscles have used up all the free floating glucose in your bloodstream, BAM! You hit a wall! You start to shake, feel light headed and break out in a cold sweat. You just can’t keep going.
What? Isn’t the purpose of exercise to burn up fat? Why yes! Yes it is! Just not DURING the actual exercise. Your body can’t convert fat to glucose fast enough to support exercise in the moment that you are actually moving. Fat burning takes place once you stop. Remember how your body keeps a constant level of glucose at all times? Once you’ve depleted the glucose in your body and stopped actively exercising, your body will pull from your fat reserves to balance the glucose level in your bloodstream and to recharge your liver.
You need to fuel your body for working out – give it some fast easy energy that your muscles can pull straight from your blood stream, because they NEED that fuel to function! This doesn’t mean a full meal – this means a snack, preferably one with a balance of carbohydrates (fast fuel, converts quickly to glucose and floods the muscles) and proteins (slower fuel that will hit the bloodstream about the time the carb rush gets used up). I usually have 1/2 of a peanut butter and banana sandwich before I exercise.
For really long workouts, like hiking running or marathon bike rides, you need to top off the glucose fuel tank during the exercise to avoid that muscle crash. Some folks swear by those little gel pack things; I prefer real food. I’ll carry an apple or a granola bar with me and have a bite or two every 30 minutes. Again, not a full meal or complete snack, but just enough to keep the fast fuel coursing through my bloodstream for my muscles to pull from.
It’s also important to have a snack after working out that’s a little higher in protein in order to give your body materials to repair muscles and to do its work replenishing your blood stream and liver from your fat reserves. I usually have a few slices of turkey or a piece of cheese. Some serious runner friends of mine swear by chocolate milk for after run recharging.
There are hundreds of opinions about fueling for working out, and every body is different. You each need to figure out through trial and error what works for you – what lets you get through a workout without collapsing, but still keeps your body burning fat afterward.
Fuel Your Bod. Keep the Faith.
Next Time: An End to Procrastination
Angela Pea lives in Texas and has been married to Mr. Pea for 27 years. She has two adult daughters, Cherry Ames, who is almost finished with nursing school, and Princess Pea, who resides in Aggieland and is studying to be an orthodontist. Her two teenage sons, The Architect and DirtBike, still live at home, where they mostly eat everything in sight and build bicycles from random parts. She is a practicing civil engineer, occasional college instructor, random knitter, beginner mountain biker, and a secret shoe lover. Angela blogs at Keeping the Faith.
Moments of Grace
Good Morning Ladies. How’s your Friday?
I’ve shared with you a bit about the season I’m in right now. Apparently I’m also in a season of learning humility…like when your debit card is declined at Wal-Mart after the checker has just scanned $160 worth of groceries.
I’m also apparently in a season of God revealing His wildly amazing grace…like when the lady behind me in the check out line steps forward and hands the cashier $200 cash to pay for my groceries. Oh yes she did. And only after my protests agreed to give me her address so I could send her the money.
Last night, a seemingly ordinary woman, a mother of three with one on the way, had eight, nine if you count any prayers Leo may be offering as he walks from person to person during family rosary, rosaries offered for her intention. You see, my oldest four children were in that grocery line with me and witnessed first hand the overwhelming kindness of a complete and ordinary looking stranger.
(In my defense, we have a very low spending limit placed on our debit card for theft protection. Earlier in the evening, I had filled up the 12 passenger van, Chris had filled the car, and I had already grocery shopped at Aldi’s. The local gas station places an automatic $100 hold plus the price of the actual gas purchase on our card until the gas purchase price clears. I had forgotten this until I ran in the door to check our bank account after the Wal-Mart incident all the while trying to assure myself and Chris this had to be some kind of crazy mistake.)
Share your moment(s) of grace my friends in the comments or link up.
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