(Vol. V for Me)
In my 7 Quick Takes post last week, I talked about reading My Life With the Saints.
“You’re not going to generate a lot of discussion on a Quick Takes post,” my husband told me, and he was right. I did, however, hear from the good padre himself!
(It’s always one of those “gulp!” moments, isn’t it, seeing the name of someone you’ve blogged about turn up in your in-box.)
In his email, Father Martin said, referring to the “non-saints” in his book such as Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Pedro Arrupe,
“You’re right: they’re not canonized yet. But in addition to the canonized ones I decided to include others who I thought might be, or would be (or maybe even should be!) canonized at some point in the future. As well, these are people who have inspired me, and to whom I pray (hoping that they are in the presence of the Lord.) Moreover, I like St. Paul’s use of the term “saints” as not simply the canonized ones, but the holy men and women of the church, as when, in his Letter to the Phillipians, he sends greetings to the “saints in Phillipi.”
His remarks were very helpful, especially since this is one of the most engaging books I’ve read in a long time. I’m nearly finished with it, which—for a big distracted thing like myself—is saying a lot.
More on this book when it’s not a Quick Takes day.
In other literary news, my cousins are booksellers and have offered to sell me their personal set of Vision Books. We’re talking the complete set— all…72…books.
I am tempted, friends, sorely tempted. Would you do it?
My oldest son is now at the age where he can ride shotgun on our journeys. Being a talker like his mom, he’s good company on those hour-long errands! The other night on our way back from choir, we were discussing, (of all encouraging themes), the threat of terrorism in our country.
Suddenly Joe screamed—a piercing, unexpected shriek that sank my heart and shook the vehicle. What had happened to cause this reaction? Had another plane been hijacked? Were there snipers outside the van?
No.
“I have a loose tooth,” Joe said.
Last Friday, the kids and I had an impromptu Valentine’s Day get-together over at a friend’s. For reasons I’ll probably never know, one of my children decided to interrupt the mothers’ portion of the luncheon with a humiliating bathroom incident. (Let’s just say it involved a shortage of toilet paper and my friend’s good guest towels.)
“I know why this is happening,” I moaned on my way to clean it up. “It’s because I ate meat this morning!”
“That and it’s Friday the 13th,” my friend laughed.
Do you eat meat on Fridays? Next week this will be a non-question, of course, as I have no problem abstaining during Lent. When the Church tells me I have to do something, I do it.
Those gray areas, though…they can be tricky.
The other night my husband decided to set the oven to its self-clean feature. This in itself is not a problem, though it’s my experience that my husband’s 1:00 a.m. domestic whims are usually A. noisy; B. stinky, C. noisy and stinky; D. grounds for divorce.
Sure enough, I woke from a sound sleep to the unmistakable smell of burnt food being cooked away at an exceedingly high heat. (Did you know that the temperature inside an oven during its self-cleaning can reach 900 degrees? You should know this.)
I padded downstairs and, arching an eyebrow at my beloved, I asked what I thought was a very reasonable question: “Why are you cleaning the oven at 1:00 a.m.?”
His response: “I was making a pizza, and when I opened the oven door to check on it, there was a fire on the bottom of the oven from all the food and grease down there.”
No more questions.
Humility, though? There was indeed a fair share of that.
And speaking of humility…
In the comments section on yesterday’s post on Lenten reading, Cathy recommended the book Humility of Heart
I owned a copy once. Unfortunately, it was a cheap edition and fell apart…a sign, perhaps, that I’m not cut out for humility?
Another time, when I was teaching in a little French school near Lyons, a friend of mine from the States came to visit. She brought with her a copy of Humility of Heart.
When the headmistress of the school found the book lying around, she called out rather mockingly, “Who has Humility of Heart?”
My friend, who had humility of heart, knew better than to take the bait. She didn’t answer.
Let’s close with yet another photo, shall we? This one’s from that same little school near Lyons, and I took it on an outing with the children.
The children were singing “Il neige des feuilles!”
Translation: It’s snowing leaves.
To see all of today’s Quick Takes, visit Jennifer at Conversion Diary.
And have a happy last Friday before Lent.
(Will you be eating meat today?)
All for the greater glory of God,
We try NOT to eat meat on Fridays but often what happens – is we have been meatless three days running due to finances and suddenly come into meat on Friday – I forget it is Friday until we are half way through the meal. ARGH! But our aim is to be meatless and I have gotten better at it. I did not grow up Catholic so it was a new tradition for me to try and follow. It’s been 18 years though so that excuse is wearing thin, eh?
Lent – oh my – I have been through my own personal Lent since the baby was born – I am SO not ready for a the real thing just yet.
Blessings
Christi
Margaret, you have a lot of talking points in this post! How long do you want the comments to be, I wonder??
Definitely get the whole Vision series. I haven’t regretted that decision one bit.
The bathroom incident … we’ve had something similar. Let’s just say there was a trail of droppings from their basement to their upstairs living room. My husband and I were soooo embarrassed!
As for meat on Fridays, we abstain. I think it was about 2 or3 Lents ago that I was convicted and just never went back. It’s really not that hard because there are so many good meatless meals – I felt like I didn’t have a good excuse and I’m the main meal preparer. Occaisionally we do eat meat; on those Fridays we try to offer another sacrifice instead.
Would love to hear more about the book, My Life With the Saints, when you have time. I thought about that particular post, then decided I really couldn’t comment when I hadn’t read the book, much less the back cover!
Margaret, You never fail to inspire me AND make me laugh during the same post. We eat meat on Fridays although our Friday nights are spent at the bowling alley they do have meatless entrees on their menu – egg salad and grilled cheese. Like a lot of good Catholic girls I know – I hate fish!!! We grew up eating fish sticks and tuna burgers on Fridays – YUK!
(What an interesting life you have led – teaching in France, etc!)
Cathy – Your comment is funny to me because growing up my brothers and I looked forward to Lent because it was the only time of year we got to eat fish sticks! I love them. Tuna casserole on the other hand…
Number three was very funny. About eating meat, we try to abstain, but don’t always (except during Lent, of course). If we don’t we try to do a different penance but once and a while we forget. I have noticed that some Catholics get wrapped up in the meatless Fridays so much that they won’t even eat meat on Church solemnities like Easter Friday. I think that is really sad since they are missing the big picture.
I’ve had this conversation several times with other bloggers. No, I am not eating meat on Fridays. I am having some difficulty enforcing it throughout my house. Lent of course is without discussion but the rest of the year has been more challenging particularly with the older ones.
Yes, buy the books!
Thanks for the reading suggestions. Will check them out!
We stopped eating meat on Fridays a couple of years back. The only exception (no exceptions during lent of course) is if we are at someone’s house and they are serving meat – then we try to remember to do something else that day.
Margaret:
On the meatless Friday issue: yes…we abstain throughout the year. No meat on Friday. At the same time, we recognize this is only one way of making a penitential act in remembrance of our Lord’s Passion and Death on Good Friday. We choose to abstain because it’s easier to remember and seems to help us focus throughout the day, and reminds us in a tangible way of our Lord’s sacrifice. It’s still kind of dicey…I mean, my kids love Long John Silver’s, so even though “technically” LJS would be a meatless meal, it’s an absolute luxury. So we forgo it. I usually serve the family’s favorite Loaded Potato Soup…without the “load!” Without it’s crispy-crunchy-bacony topping. The children call it the Soup of Suffering, LOL! We try really hard to keep the nature of sacrifice in perspective. It’s not about legalism…it’s a love offering.
I admit, sometimes we dont’ do meatless Fridays. It’s usually because I took something out a day or two before and never cooked it. I am better at meatless Fridays than other nameless members of my family. Salmon is my staple on Friday nights. A good frittata is always tasty too!
What a beautiful picture. I am very much interested in your book references. As for meat on Fridays? We don’t abstain through the year. I almost never eat meat so it’s honestly just not on my radar as a sacrifice – that being the case, I haven’t implemented it as such with the family. But oddly enough, though I find it completely disgusting it never fails that I crave fried chicken or something on every Friday in Lent.
I would be very interested in reading more about your experiences teaching in France.
Yes on the books! If you don’t want them, I do. :o)
We don’t usually eat meat on Fridays — the only exception being if we’re at someone else’s house and they serve meat.
I’m sorry, Margaret, but that oven story is just about the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long, long time. Because I can just picture it! “There was a fire on the bottom of the oven…” Heehee! I will be laughing about this one all day. The best part is that it could have totally happened in my house, too!!! 🙂
We try not to eat meat on Fridays during the year.
I have to say I LOVE your blog. It’s kind of my guilty pleasure. 😀
We don’t have dessert on Wed. and Fri. For sure no meat on Fri. during lent. I think also it is better to just practice eating less.
Love the oven story and the tooth!
word verifi: busta
Buy the books!! As for meat, we don’t eat meat on fridays, and you would think that wouldn’t be such a big deal (I’m not a huge meat eater anyhow)…but somehow, on Fridays, its’ really hard! Must be because I am a two year old on the inside…sigh. M
Get the books, woman!!
No meat on Friday’s during Lent, working on the no meat on Friday’s throughout the year. Finally coming to terms with Traditions . . . this is the hardest ‘cos my story is similar to mum2twelve’s, but with nine less kids. 🙂
Many Catholics are unaware that the law of abstinence is still universally binding in the new (1984) Code of Canon Law. Substitutions are allowed for, but it is the local diocese that determines the particulars. Of course, true charity must prevail over the letter of the law, as in anything. So if you are served meat at a friend’s house, it’s not pious to offend your hostess! Eat your meat, compliment the hostess, and check to see what sacrifice you can offer in place of abstaining. I would think this would apply in a situation in which food would otherwise spoil, etc. In our family, we all just abstain, regardless of age (the new Code is binding at age 14). We just find it easier to form the habit that way, and you can just imagine the bickering otherwise!! 🙂
Buy the books!
We try, today I failed. I thought I’d ordered simply an egg and cheese wrap but wouldn’t you know there was sausage in it? As I was driving I opted not to flick the little sausage balls at the other annoying drivers, no matter how tempting – that was my penance.
On the other hand, I mentioned to my dd today that maybe I’ll give up yelling at other drivers, especially the old blue hairs, for Lent. Her response? Keep yelling, it’s better than running them over, I suppose.
*blushing*
For keeping the oven clean, my MIL always put a sheet of aluminum foil to cover the bottom of the oven. I’ve tried it – doesn’t seem to have any drawbacks – if something spills (and smokes!) just change the foil.
Check with instructions first with the foil idea on the bottom. In my new oven it stuck to the bottom and I tried to peel it off and now my oven looks yecko.
I have a feeling that I must now read Fr. Martin’s book. He was a guest speaker recently at my son’s college and he went to see him (with out “having” to I might add!) and he raved about him.
Thanks for the chuckle about the oven cleaning. My husband, though I love him dearly, wouldn’t have a clue how to work the self-cleaning oven feature and the only way he would be able to do it, especially at 1:00 am would involve waking me first.
Definitely get the Vision bks! I have some of the OOP ones and they are really great, you’ll regret it if you don’t.
I second the foil tip, it really works. Now can I ask why dh was cooking pizza at 1am??
Generally speaking we abstain from meat on Fridays. Can I admit though that if it is a birthday we don’t.
I always love your families humour, you make me smile:)
I grew up abstaining from meat on all Fridays of the year and have had no trouble bringing the tradition into our family. It’s a worthwhile sacrifice that helps us be mindful of Our Lord (It’s kind of a paltry sacrifice next to His, actually, isn’t it?), and also teaches us a bit of self discipline. (Something so lacking in this world today!) I gotta admit, though, it’s never been an inhibiting sacrifice for me or the kids as we love all the meat-meal substitutes out there, including fish. (We’re not a picky group)
Sheesh Margaret, this should have been seven separate posts. How about creating a separate thread for some of these?
Re: the vision books: If you don’t buy them, tell your friends the booksellers that I will, 🙂
Re: meat on Fridays: I wish the church would just up and require it again, frankly. We don’t do meatless Fridays as a regular practice as a whole family, although I almost always make meatless meals for myself and whoever else has to eat my food. Today because of poor planning I’m making chicken soup.
I’d like for us to do it at some point, but it’s not a commitment we’ve all been willing to take on yet.
Margaret, I’m only familiar with the 27 Vision books about saints for children. What are the others in the set about? Beautiful picture…and I just remembered, I should go clean my oven.
We’ve never had a problem being meatless of Fridays during Lent, and recently began going meatless on Fridays the rest of the year as well – it’s just easier to have a “given” sacrifice than to try to remember to do a different one – and it does help focus you on Christ’s sacrifice in a special way. We’re low on meat right now anyway though, so I’m not sure how much of a real sacrifice it is – finances are just really tight right now. I’ve thought that maybe if the Church gave people a choice like – give up meat or give up sugar on Fridays – maybe people would take the sacrifice more seriously. I know plenty of people who would find giving up their daily sugar in their coffee and elsewhere a bigger sacrifice than giving up meat. 🙂
~Jenny
That is a stunning photograph! I love it. And no, we try our best not to eat meat on Fridays, but if we do by accident or otherwise, we pray a chaplet of mercy together that night.
For many years the only Catholics I knew (very few in total) would seem to just focus on the days of fasting and meatless fridays in a very legalistic way. In this southern culture where I live many of the evangelicals and mainline denomination folks really look down on the catholics for doing as the Church teaches and often don’t hold back their ugly comments about it… It wasn’t until I was going through lent last year approaching my confirmation that I could see that for many it is a true gift the Church gives us with this discipline… She is so wise, knowing what encourages our spiritual growth. This year now that I’m not nursing and I “get” the heart of the teaching I’ll be trying to stay better organized and plan some meatless meals. We did go meatless today, so it’s a start 🙂
Dear Margaret,
There is a beautiful explanation of the Friday penance and abstinence on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website: http://www.usccb.org/lent/2007/Penance_and_Abstinence.pdf
It explains the purpose of the abstinence during both Lent and ordinary time. Perhaps it might help you and others to discern what to do on Fridays.
A spiritual friend
We don’t eat meat on Fridays… it’s easier than doing another penance.
Margaret,
I also “commune with” non-saints whom are not named saints or whom I expect will be saints. A beloved family member and our beloved Father Bennett for example. Just like I call on my friends on earth, and my non-friend real saints in heaven, I call on those whom I believe to be in the presence of God. That may presumptuous of me to assume they are with God, but they were good, really good, people on earth.
We are not meat eaters on Fridays. Someone else may have covered this in their comments — I haven’t read all of them — Though our church does not talk about it any more, it’s still in the rule books (Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.) We offer ours up for the unborn, but many offer theirs for the poor. The only exception in our house is to eat a leftover meat dish if it will otherwise go to waste. In my opinion, it would be a sin to waste, also.
Buy the books. One never regrets buying books but often regrets NOT buying them in retrospect.
We try to do the meatless thing on Fridays all year but sometimes fall short. I’m a cradle Catholic but my parents rejected that teaching (and continue to do so), so it isn’t an automatic thing for me to think about.
lol about the oven. I had a similar thing happen when I was grilling. I had to run and get my husband because the grill caught fire. “Honey, the grill’s on fire!” “um, shouldn’t it be on fire? isn’t that what grills do?” “NOOOO!!! Its really on fire!”
Heidi in NJ