Feast of St. Maria Goretti

Today, on the feast of St. Maria Goretti (my confirmation saint), our lilies are in full bloom! The orange, deep red, white and yellow lilies are bursting with color this week.

It's always been a desire of mine to own a home with a yard that is sprinkled with flowers that grow all summer long. Growing up, my mom would cut a fresh bouquet from what we had growing around the house and place it either on the dining room table or at the family altar next to a statue of Mary. I hope to carry on this tradition for my girls.

This framed image titled, "Aspiration" 1897, was given to me from my Aunt Mercy the year of my 16th birthday. It's a print of the watercolor painted by British artist, Henry Ryland. It now hangs in the girls room of our new house. Interestingly, the year this was painted, the young Maria Goretti was only 7 years old. It is a beautiful and stunning image. My hope is that it will inspire my girls to live a life of holy purity and encourage them to ask St. Maria Goretti for her intersession.

Lilies from our back yard

Bouquet of home grown flowers

There are flowers springing up all around the yard. It will take me awhile to learn them all. This arrangement is composed of daisies, lilies, and vibrant magenta Bee Balm.

St. Maria Goretti, ora pro nobis!

Comments

If You Give a Moose a Muffin Party

These dull, gray and cold days of winter seem long and unending. Fortunately, our family was able to escape the dreariness and celebrate a birthday this month. For our daughter's second birthday we hosted a moose party themed after the cherished book, If You Give a Moose a Muffin , by Laura Numeroff. My siblings and I grew up reading this funny story and listening to the book on tape. The silly tale is about a hungry moose who follows the smell of fresh muffins. He enters the house and asks the boy for a muffin, but this is just the beginning of many comical requests. The amusing complications that ensue will entertain youngsters (and adults). Since I had such a hoot planning last year's caterpillar party , I was eager to start collecting/creating the decor for the moose party. The book was acquired (for free!) when I posted an "ISO" in the local Facebook sale page. I'm hoping to do another post featuring this book with photos of the illustrations.

Butter on the Feast of St. Brigid

We made fresh butter on the feast of St. Brigid (Feb 1) and the kids LOVED it! They eagerly took turns shaking the jar full of cream, listening and waiting for the sloshing to cease. What does St. Brigid have to do with cows and cream you might ask? Well, along with being one of Ireland's most famous saints, she is patron of midwives, dairy maids, and newborn babies. I read the story of Brigid and the Butter to the kids while they enjoyed their slices of the freshly buttered bread. St. Brigid was born into slavery around the year 451. She was taken from her mother at birth, but at the age of ten, rejoined her on the farm working for their master. St. Brigid gave generously. She offered milk and butter to the poor and hungry, even when that meant she and her mother would go without food. Tradition holds that she knew St. Patrick and that he may have baptized her. When she grew up she became a consecrated sister, spreading Christ's love to all in Ireland. She later bec

Feast of St. Therese the Little Flower

St. Therese, the Little Flower, please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love. Ask God to grant me the favor I implore and tell Him I will love Him each day more and more. Amen "St. Therese loved nature, and often used the imagery of nature to explain how the Divine Presence is everywhere, and how everything is connected in God's loving care and arms. Therese saw herself as "the Little Flower of Jesus" because she was just like the simple wild flowers in forests and fields, unnoticed by the greater population, yet growing and giving glory to God. Therese did not see herself as a brilliant rose or an elegant lily, by simply as a small wildflower. This is how she understood herself before the Lord - simple and hidden, but blooming where God had planted her. " - Text taken from the Society of the Little Flower The girls colored the Little Flower print out while I read them a short story of St. Therese from ou

Custodians of Beauty

Search This Blog