- New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas - As the holiday season approaches, and we bid farewell to All Saints Day and Martinmas, it's time to shift our focus to the upcoming feast of St. Nicholas. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving preparations,...
Advent begins at the beginning of next month, and the time has come for my annual reminder to prepare for the season and order Advent Candles for your wreath. The dear nuns at The Cloister Shoppe have these beautiful candles ready to ship, and they have a tendency to...
A Christmas Carol Book Review: Last December St. Nicholas gave one of our daughters an illustrated edition of The Christmas Carol. She also received the Charles Dickens Tribute Lego Set (which was a gift with purchase awhile back). I asked this Dicken's lover of ours...
Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the "O Antiphons" on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end...
"The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn... ...The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead...
Advent Book Basket Is it really Advent already? How is that even possible?!? This month (year!) has flown by... We have had our college kids home all week which has been wonderful! I sure love it when everyone is home and I am already looking forward to having them...
"The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God's giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves." - St. Nicholas of Myra The feast of St. Nicholas is coming up so fast! Now that All Saints Day and Martinmas are behind us it's...
The Wise Men Who Found Christmas by Raymond Arroyo Do you have the courage to follow the light of Christ? Raymond Arroyo delivers an adventurous retelling of the journey of the Magi who bravely responded to God’s promptings. Are we bold enough to follow in the Wise...
Advent begins at the end of next month and it's time for my annual reminder to order Advent Candles for your Wreath. The dear nuns over at The Cloister Shoppe have them ready to ship and they tend to sell out for the season pretty quickly!For many years now...
Santa Lucia Day 🎶 Night walks with a heavy step Round yard and hearth, As the sun departs from earth, Shadows are brooding. There in our dark house, Walking with lit candles, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! 🎶 - Excerpt from Santa Lucia Song The pictures are...
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.
