Homeschool Goodies

Esther tagged me for this tough, but fun, meme!

What picture I would use for my holy card, should I make it to saint, and of what cause(s) would I want to be patroness of?

Since most modern saints have holy cards showing them as a child and as an adult, here are my two holy cards:

Now that I’ve achieved sainthood, at least in this meme, what on earth could I be patroness of? Perhaps I could be patroness of Mac users or computer junkies. I’ve been known to pray for the quick clear of a newly opened swimming pool each spring — I could be patroness of pool owners. More than likely I would end up as patroness of hopeless housekeepers!

I am tagging the following five:

Jenn
Easter
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks (’cause I’m from Louisiana too!)
Footprints on the Fridge (I’m enjoying your Pauline Year Scripture Study!)
Waltzing Mathilda

Archbishop Emeritus Raymond Leo Burke, now Prefect of the Aposolic Signatura, was the main celebrant and homilist at his farewell Mass on Sunday, August 17 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. It was standing room only with over 1,500 in attendance. The Mass was beautiful and at times emotional. We are grateful to have been able to participate in this wonderful celebration. On June 27, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Burke to be prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome. At that moment he ceased to be Archbishop of St. Louis and became Archbishop Emeritus. During his four and a half years as Archbishop, Burke touched many people in this Archdiocese. Archbishop Burke was always very accessible to his flock. He was incredibly supportive of the Catholic homeschool community and even presided at one of our Homeschool Confirmation Masses. We will miss him, but we are grateful for the time he spent with us. Now that we have said our goodbyes, we anxiously await our new shepherd.

“My greatest joy is to teach the faith and celebrate the Sacraments for the flock which God has entrusted to my pastoral care. Having been called by Christ to the priesthood, I am ever more humbled by the reality of the priestly life and ministry. At the same time, I am filled with confidence, because the ministry belongs to Christ Whom I, through no merit of mine, have the privilege to serve.”
– Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke

More on Archbishop Burke’s farewell:
The St. Louis Archdiocesan website pays tribute to Archbishop Burke with an article, a photo gallery, and a pdf of the Farewell Mass Progam. Newly added: Archbishop Burke’s final homily at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, August 17, 2008

The St. Louis Post Dispatch has an article and a slideshow of Sunday’s Farewell Mass.

My family with Archbishop Burke at daughter #3’s Confirmation in 2006

Don’t miss this week’s Catholic Carnival hosted by Jay at Living Catholicism!

Born August 12, 1591, St. Louise de Marillac was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934. In 1960, she was declared Patroness of Social Workers by Pope John XXIII. Her feast day is March 15th.

St. Louise is the patron of our 2008 - 2009 homeschool year as daughter #4 has chosen her as her Confirmation saint. Confirmation is scheduled for early 2009. Happy Birthday, St. Louse!

Last night, my husband and I went to a talk by Dale Ahlquist on the Orthodoxy of G.K. Chesterton. Many will know Alquist as creator/host of EWTN’s G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense. He is also President of the American Chesterton Society and the foremost Chesterton scholar. To quote Alquist:

Considered by many to be Chesterton’s best book, it is certainly his most indispensable book, a unique and refreshing spiritual autobiography and defense of the Christian faith. Everyone should read this book. Everyone should read it every year.

Orthodoxy was written 100 years ago this year, fourteen years before Chesterton converted to Catholicism. The talk was very entertaining and if I could find our copy of Orthodoxy, I would start reading today! While I am searching, here are some choice quotes from the book:

Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.

The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that splits.

The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums.

Every act of will is an act of self-limitation. To desire action is to desire limitation. In that sense, every act is an act of self-sacrifice. When you choose anything, you reject everything else.

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.

I did try to found a heresy of my own; and when I had put the last touches to it, I discovered that it was orthodoxy.

Anyone interested in learning more about Chesterton should visit the American Chesterton Society. Be sure to check out Chesterton 101 and find the text of 61 lectures on the works of Chesterton. This is a great resource for Catholic homeschoolers. Every six weeks a new lecture is added. For my student in Medieval History this year, I plan to follow the reading of The Ballad of the White Horse with Lecture 21.

A visit to Esther’s blog, A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, led me to a great post on homeschooling at Catholic Commentary. This in turn led me to Diakonia, blog of a permament deacon and homeschooling dad who presents his own thoughtful experience of homeschooling. It’s always nice to hear from the dads!

In 1968, something terrible happened in the Church
by James Francis Cardinal Stafford
L’Osservatore Romano, July 25, 2008

Cardinal James Stafford reflects on how dissenters to Humanae Vitae tore the Church apart — and how that rift left scars that remain to this day.

That’s what we’ll be doing on September 27!

Dancing in the Streets is Grand Center’s outdoor street festival to celebrate the opening of the St. Louis performing art/music/theatre district’s fall season. The day includes performances from 50 local dance organizations. This video is from last year. Daughter #3 is in the red tap group and the white ballet group. This year I will have 2 girls performing: a contemporary pointe dance, 2 tap dances, and #3 will do her pointe solo. Put your dancing shoes on!

You’ll find a very interesting Catholic Carnival this week at Ho Kai Paulos.

Visit Matthew 12:37 for a pictorial walkthrough of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. This seminarian, who is also a very talented photographer, was part of a group that recently accompanied Archbishop Burke to dedicate the newly finished church at the shrine. Thanks, Jeff!