Family in Feast and Feria

Today is the Optional Memorial of St. Wenceslas.

"Good King Wenceslas" was my son's favorite Christmas carol at a very young age. He memorized all the verses, and it was quite humorous to listen to a 2 year old belt out the tune and verses. So I nurtured this love by getting books with wonderful illustrations and stories to flesh out this saint.

I had a long post for this feast I wrote last year, with all the book recommendations. If you know any more, pass them along my way. We NEVER tire of St. Wenceslaus.

A happy feast day to you all!

I've changed my mind.

Of course, it's not the first time, but I think this is the correct decision. A while back this 4Real discussion tossed the idea of using A Child's Missal by Patmos. I looked it over and hesitated on buying it because we usually attend the Novus Ordo, and I thought the book might confuse my son. Probably the biggest stumbling block (which was actually a very small objection) is that the priest is pictured facing the altar, instead of the people.

Fast forward to July when Pope Benedict XVI issued his beautiful Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. His words echoed what I felt all along, that the these weren't two rites, but one rite, different forms, ordinary and extraordinary.

So I looked at the book with different eyes, and bought it for my 4 year old more than two months ago. I now say it's one of our best purchases. This is our Mass missal. Granted, he can't read yet, but the book is so visually captivating. I can honestly say that this book has helped us tremendously on being still and focusing on the Consecration. And if you knew what a wiggle-worm he was, you would know that this is HUGE. He is more reverent and attentive when following this book.

Each section of the Mass has the Latin and English names for the High and Low Masses. On the left side is an illustration echoing the illustrated manuscripts that depicts an event Jesus' life that corresponds to the section on the Mass. The facing page has small illustrations and photos that depict and illustrate the part of the Mass, and words to help meditate on this section. I think the title "Missal" is a little bit misleading, as it doesn't have the rubrics of the Mass to follow along in the text. But it does provide visual and written information to help pray along more fully.

There really aren't extra elements or pages that wouldn't apply in an Novus Ordo mass. I wish there were a few more pages for the beginning part of the Mass, but that's really my only complaint. The priests in the photos are wearing Roman style vestments, so even if they are facing the altar, my son hasn't questioned or been confused at all.

Patmos has now changed its name to Sacros. You can download a page and read more about the book from their site and decide for yourself.

I think this book can be for the younger children who can't read, to ages 10 and 11. I read it outside of Mass to go over the illustrations and discuss, so that ds can remember when we're attending at Mass (since I'm not reading it out loud in church).

I'm glad I changed my mind.

Check out Biblical Art on the WWW. What a fabulous resource! You can search for art on biblical subjects, biblical text, artists, and words. There are even some great links to art "beyond Scripture".

This is what I found for The Wedding Feast at Cana. Beautiful!

I found this interview with Dr. Susan Treacy interesting. Well, it's personally interesting, because she was at Franciscan University of Steubenville while I attendeded. She formed and directed the Gregorian Schola, which I was a particpant. It was the beginnings of bringing Latin and Gregorian Chant to the campus, and she did a terrific job.

I've referred to the Ward Method many times. I just received the latest issue (Fall 2007, Volume 134.3) of Sacred Music Magazine, and there's a terrific article by Alise Brown entitled How the Ward Method Works. This is a great magazine, I encourage you to sign up for a subscription. I do hope this article goes online eventually, because it really explains the elements of the Ward Method, how it predates Orff and Kodaly methods, but also more well-rounded a music education than these other methods.

I am eager to implement the Ward method with my son. I think this fall I will start some of the Book 1 lessons and see how he responds. Justine Ward wrote it for the school-aged children, and some elements require reading skills, so I'll have to "tweak" to see what works for a preschooler who can recognize his letters and sounds, but still at pre-reading level.

One of the most welcome gadgets we have in the house right now is the DVR for our DirectTV. This device allows me to easily record shows. I can then play them with a push of a button.

This handy device has brought a store of Mister Rogers Neighborhood shows for our use at home.

I love Mister Rogers. I did as a child and watched him regularly. We also owned and listened to his records. He was a Very Important Person in my childhood.

And I still love him. I know he's not with us anymore, but we do have the blessing of his shows and music that he left behind. This baby will always remind me of Mister Rogers. When the music from the Neighborhood is sung or played, the baby kicks up a storm. This is a quiet time of the day to play his shows. They are calm, informative, and reassuring. I admit I catch a little rest during the show (hard to find nap time when ds doesn't take one anymore).

I dug up the old records that we played when I was a child. Mister Rogers was definitely much younger then, but the songs are still quite endearing. Being pregnant makes me more emotional, of course. I get choked up listening and remembering, and seeing my son responding so warmly to the songs. He smiles and sings along and asks to play them over and over.

"When a Baby Comes to Your House" was one favorite growing up. One of my brothers at a young age would cry at the song.

And I remembered how much I loved his song "Cinderella as a Princess". The feminists wouldn't agree with this song, but how it does embody what a young girl perceives marriage to be. Not necessarily the princess part for me, but to be given a home, love, and protection from our own "Prince Charming" -- well, that's what I was looking for and have found in my dh:

Refrain: A princess.
Cinderella as a princess.
Cinderella in a crown as a princess.
In a castle with Prince Charming,
Who will keep all things from harming
Little Ella,
Cinderella, as a princess.

And do you remember "Josephine, the Short-Necked Giraffe"? Those episodes were played a few weeks ago, and my son loved them. I played the record we had. The story had a few different characters, a few different songs, but in essence the same. He liked both versions.

There is a contrast with my son's enjoyment and my own memory. I never really cared for the videos of how things are made, but my son really, really does. He cries when there is no video. And so now I've discovered the show How It's Made that he also enjoys. But that has commercials I need to fast forward. Nothing constantly soft and calm like Mister Rogers.

What a gift Fred Rogers was to my childhood, and now my own family. I am extremely grateful.

Since Elizabeth's dh is traveling for Monday Night football, she shared a wonderful geography idea using the football game locations.

I love it! Since Penn State Football is regular fall Saturday occurence, and then following the Steelers on Sunday, I think I could adapt some ideas. I don't think I'll do the whole unit studies for ds yet, but the idea of mapping the teams we play is excellent. He's really enjoying maps and learning the states. So I'm off in search of a United States Wall Map.

ETA: I had a bad link at the beginning which I've fixed. Now it makes a little more sense.

I've mentioned before our Fall Traditions with Football. This year Penn State Football had their opening game on the first of September, Labor Day Weekend.

Because of the location of the placenta, we had to get doctor's approval for traveling and attending the games. After securing a temporary handicapped tag and words of caution, my OB gave me clearance, thinking that before 24 weeks I'm at less risk.

So Labor Day weekend we packed up to go to Nana's. Saturday Dh, Ds, my MIL, and I loaded up the car and headed for Happy Valley for the game against Florida International. We did things a bit differently than from the previous years, parking in the handicapped lot, and I took the shuttle inside the stadium to my seat. But we all had a glorious time. Ds was just beside himself with excitement -- the band, the Nittany Lion, the football players, the cheers, the crowd, the food -- it was all wonderful!

This past weekend was the big Notre Dame game. I've always been a Notre Dame sympathizer, and have enjoyed going to a few ND games in my single days. When I first met dh in 1999, I looked at the 8 year projected schedule. ND vs. PSU was planned for 2006 and 2007, first away, then this year at home. I made the date with dh right then -- I'm going to go to that game, God willing! And with each football season the Big Game came closer.

Until at last September 8, 2007 arrived! Dh and I packed up the tailgate food and left ds to spend the day with his Nana. We invited a couple, friends from Pittsburgh, to join us. The grill worked well, the food was all delicious, and the conversation was wonderful. Our location in the parking lot was perfect -- all the other tailgaters around us were quiet and low key, so it was a very relaxing time. I used the handicap shuttle and met some wonderful people. Central Pennsylvanians are some of the nicest people.

The rain held off, and besides being really hot and sticky, everything was just wonderful. I had no complications, baby and I made it. The baby definitely could hear the crowd and music and was kicking all night long. Penn State fans were all wearing white, so the stadium was a "White House". The crowd was electric, the game was great, and Penn State beat ND, 31 to 10.

Dh and I spent a wonderful 12 hour date together. The day was even better than I expected, after my 8 years of hoping and planning! And if this will be my last game of the football season, because of pregnancy travel restrictions, it definitely ended in a Grand Way.

And although I like ND, for this game I cheered for the Blue and White. After all, it's a family love and tradition.

I love pistachios. Admittedly, I don't get them very much, as I eat too many at one time and they are expensive. But I have real nostalgia for all the times my dad would share his special bag of pistachios -- and back then they seemed to always have the red shells. Pistachios will always remind me of my father.

Although my son isn't allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, I've been cautious in introducing these to his diet. The allergy doctor said he might be more at risk for developing these allergies, since he's allergic to eggs, wheat, and milk already.

So today was a big day -- Mommy and son shared a small bag of pistachios. He loved them from the first bite, and learned to shell them just like a pro. It was so much fun sharing this nostalgic treat together.

And of course, I had to call my dad and tell him.