Oil of rejoicing grace your head

On Monday evening, I had the great pleasure of accompanying two dozen or so members of our church parish to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Virginia. We joined with seemingly thousands (the Cathedral was standing room only) to celebrate the Chrism Mass. During this once-a-year mass, the Bishop blesses the sacramental oils each church in the diocese will use during the coming year. The many priests of the diocese are also present and they are given a chance to reaffirm their vows.

I had never attended a Chrism mass and was eager to introduce both myself and my candidate Kayla to the experience. During the RCIA classes, the Chrism Mass purposes are explained and the candidates are encouraged to attend, especially since the oils will be used directly on them during the Easter Vigil Mass. It's at this most significant Mass of the Catholic calendar that the candidates become fully embodied in the Church.

Kayla was enamored by the grandeur of the Cathedral. We took time before Mass to visit the museum in the basement, as well as tour the individual side chapels.

The Museum of Virginia Catholic History

During Mass, we listened to the wonderful Diocesian Choir and snapped a picture of my good friend Eileen.  I knew she'd love to see herself in print  :)

Following Mass, the Bishop stood at the rear graciously greeting and chatting with his congregation as we filed out of the building.  He was willing to take pictures and Kayla wanted to meet him.  We waited patiently until our turn and the gentleman in line behind us offered to snap the picture.  It's a bit out of focus, but we had our moment in the sun:

When we reached Bishop DiLorenzo, I thanked him for his awesome homily (it was really good!) and introduced Kayla as a wonderful young woman entering our Church.  He was so excited to see a young person excited about joining and demanded that we bring chairs over so that we could sit and talk!  The young deacon waiting to escort the Bishop to the next event was horrified - sitting wasn't on his schedule.  But sit, we did.  And rejoice!

Today's post title from Stephen Dean's Into the Family of God

Roll away the stone

Irish Jig and I had a sweet friend hanging out with us for two days last week.  His mama needed a little child care help and, happily, I am currently in a position to fill that need.  I remember my days of working (both full and part time) and running into days when extra/ additional care was needed.  I had a friend available to help me then and I like to think I am that friend now.

That said, sweet little James was really a help to me.  With a playmate, Irish Jig was challenged and entertained by someone other than me!  I was able to sew a bit, complete some much needed ironing and tend to necessary chores.  It's what I call a win-win!

I did set aside windows of time to concentrate on the two of them and one of those windows was making Resurrection Rolls.  After reading this post on children's abilities in the kitchen, I stepped back and just directed.  Admittedly, this was really difficult for me to do as I am a control freak and a neat freak.  But they did just fine with their age appropriate tasks.  James measured and mixed the cinnamon sugar "spices" and Irish Jig cut the butter pats and placed the bowl in the microwave.  (I removed it in case it was hot).

We talked about the use of the oils and spices in the preparation of Christ's body for burial.  Then I introduced the marshmallows   I'd forgotten to buy big white ones, so I quickly improvised that the leftover Valentine pink hearts represented Christ's love for us - don't judge me.  They took turns rolling marshmallow hearts and wrapping them in "linen" crescent roll dough.

They did need a little assistance with the wrapping of the marshmallows and the pinching of the open seams.  James slid the pan into the lower oven and they stood at the window to watch.  There was much excitement as the marshmallows melted and made little puddles.  After I pulled the tray from the oven and the rolls cooled a bit, we broke one open and marveled at the empty "Tomb".

We made eight tomb rolls.  After they each sampled one, they surprised me by not asking for a second.  Instead, they decided to save the remaining rolls for James' brother and Jig's siblings.

Luckily, that left an extra for me and an extra for Mr. Neoclassic :)

Today's blog post title from Matt Maher's Resurrection Day

PS - Did you notice the new header?  It's the Shenandoah Valley ripe for a snow storm.  More on that later!

Long have I waited for your coming home to me

This Lenten Season, I am joyfully acting as sponsor to a lovely, vibrant young woman who is entering into the Catholic Church. Kayla is the same age and grade as our Classic Rock and is the adopted daughter of a long time friend. Their family story is theirs to share, but I will say that she and her younger sister came to live with my friend Tim and his wife a few years ago. This coming Easter celebration will see a dream of his - to have his girls join the Church - come to fruition.

As I talk with Kayla, I realize what a mature decision she and her sister (5th grade) have made. It's easy to just lope along in the faith of your parents when you begin as a baby, but to knowingly and willingly choose a faith at such crucial ages is magnanimous. Sure, her parents are supporting the decision, but there are also family members of other faiths giving differing (not opposing) views. Trusting yourself and your burgeoning faith isn't easy for adults, much less those still being greatly influenced by their school peers.

At Mass this past Sunday, Kayla and I, along with the other RCIA candidates and their sponsors, experienced the first of three Scrutinies. During these Masses, the candidates are presented to the larger Church community so that we may enfold them in prayer.


Kayla and I chatting before Mass starts.  Raise your hand if you're coveting her boots!
Phone pix are from my friend Tim; taken from across the church.  A bit blurry, but still joyous.
(Quick I-Spy: How many Sisters do you see in the background?)

There's a great discussion of the Scrutinies here that I would encourage you to read. I especially like the last paragraph's point that these Masses are also very much intended as lessons and reminders for us, the Catholic community.

"Every time someone joins the Church, it should prompt us to consider whether we are providing encouragement and good example to them. Further, we should pause to remember and to thank God for the good people who taught us the faith, whether they are parents and grandparents, teachers, friends or neighbors. God has worked through them mightily. May he also mightily work through us to share our faith to others!"

We stand as the Prayers of Intersession are spoken for the candidates.

That's Kayla's sister in the gray sweater with her sponsor, awesome Noelle.

The Laying on of Hands.

A silent ritual of calling down the Spirit of Jesus to be with (and within)

the candidate, to guide and protect as she is sent forth into the world.

In 1995, Mr. Neoclassic fully entered the Catholic faith.  Each Lenten and Easter Season, we remember the journey he took, the questions he asked, and the joys he discovered.  This year, I get to experience it again first hand as I watch Kayla make this journey.

Today's post title from Hosea by Gregory Norbet, OSB.  Here's a little bit.

40 days to grow stronger

I've posted enough King Cake pictures that I've decided to let Mardi Gras go by without much fanfare. Given that New Orleans has received something like 6+ inches of rain these last two days, I'm guessing there wasn't much fanfare there, either.

As this Domestic Church looks toward Lent, we also look back. Last year, we tried a new Lenten tradition for encouraging service and sacrifice. We enjoyed it so much, we decided to do it again this year. Alas! I couldn't find my file of the 40 days activities I mention in that post. So, I created our own to use this year. I invite you and your family to play along.

You can download the entire list here.

(Then you can congratulate me for figuring out dropbox)

I am also going to print this awesome Lenten Journey Calendar for each of the girls.  The boys are too old for this visual, so they will keep track a different way.  My plan is to print a 40 days guide for each boy and post it on the fridge.  The girls will use the same list, but I will help them choose an activity for each day of their Journey calendar.  I will have to modify Irish Jig's a bit since she doesn't go to school and can't wash a car :)

Post title from 40 Days by Matt Maher; Also check out the great Lenten Playlist that Spirit and Song has put together.

Will you let me be your servant

Our little domestic church is experiencing Lent in a new way this year.  We generally use the Little Black Book devotions published by the Diocese of Saginaw.  These short reflections explore the Sunday Gospels for each Lent a few verses at a time.  The publisher describes this method of praying - using short verses with explanations and reflection points - as lectio divina [divine reading].  The method employs oral verse, meditation, prayer and contemplation as God speaks "live" through the sacred word.

This has been a wonderful experience for us, but is, admittedly, a bit heavy for our younger children.  Enter our new activity - specifically designed for their ages.  We've taken it a step further and made it an "all play". 

40 Deeds for 40 Days

by Judene Leon Coon (Catholic author)

Ms. Coon listed forty activities, including prayer and action items, for the days of Lent.  The directions she gives are to cut the items apart, drop them into a container, and choose one item to do each day of Lent.  Keeping up with five (Irish Jig's not participating) containers and multiple slips of paper would make my self-diagnosed OCD roar; therefore I made a simple chart with each family member's name and the numbers one through forty.  Each day, we randomly chose a number, I read the assigned activity and we are off to fulfill our missions to be self sacrificing.  Mr. Neoclassic and I are finding ways to integrate these younger-aimed activities into our day, which is fun and challenging.  For example, during a particularly difficult week at work, he was challenged to be kind to someone in your neighborhood (office) whom you don't especially like.  That takes work!  For me, trying to spend the whole day without complaining was hard.  I don't like to think I am negative, but, honestly, finding Irish Jig in the den with my favorite lipstick in hand and sitting on the new couch made me really bite my tongue.  I pretty much failed that day.  Good thing I can be New Every Day! 

Some of the included activities are:

• Try to spend your whole day without complaining - it's harder than it seems. (Trust me)
• Pay special attention to the Sunday Mass homily and lead the dinner conversation about it's message.
• Be more attentive in all your classes today.
• Pray for people who have no one to pray for them.
• Find information on a saint you've not already studied.  Ask him or her to help you love others.
• Make an effort to keep your room (or the communal bathroom) especially neat today.
• Write a letter to Jesus and thank him for his great love.  Promise to do something special to show your gratitude.

And the list goes on.  I would be happy to create a PDF list for anyone interested.  Just tell me in the comments and I will figure out how to do that.  Remember that I fall very low on the technology totem pole.

This is how Jazz entertained herself the Saturday she picked "limit your screen time to one hour."  That's hard around here since t.v. and computer games are only allowed on weekends.

Today's post title = The Servant Song by Richard Gillard.  One of my favorites and a great bedtime lullaby!