Guns, swords, and boys...

I mentioned in a post past that the Curley's were going to do a 'craft show/flea market' this past weekend at the Camden, SC Revolutionary War Park. Twice a year they have this "Farmers Market" as a fundraiser. The Park gets the concessions and charges a fee for each table.

We made a couple dozen wooden pistols (selling for $4/each) and one wooden rifle out of a 2x4. We also had a table of yard-sale junk to sell. Finally I had a few of Requiem Press' books just in case a stray Catholic wandered by.

Expectations were much greater than reality. The junk sold very well. The toy guns? Not a single gun sold.

It was an interesting day. One couple came by with their grandson who was about 5. They would have bought him anything he wanted. Amazingly they tried to push a wooden pistol on him, but he showed no interest. But this was by far the exception. Most parents saw what we were selling and immediately steered their sons to the booth across from us where they were selling jewelry and scarves. (This is unexpected in South Carolina).

I am aware that many of people discourage guns and swords as toys. (Of course they outlaw violence in their house, but have no such concern for pre-marital sex.)

I certainly understand the New Covenant law - 'turn the other cheek' - but this does not demand pacificism. It is virtuous to defend others - especially the weaker in society. How is a boy to learn to defend the weak if he is not allowed to practice. (Of course if you notice that your son always wants to play the villian, perhaps you should take a closer look at the situation.) The professions of police officer and soldier are honorable.

It is telling that so many object to their boys practicing this protection of the weak. Perhaps that is why as a society we do not protect our weakest members - the unborn and those like Terri Schaivo?

From the small holding in Bethune ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Quick notes ...

Just got back from picking up my eldest daughter from Christendom College where she has just finished her sophmore year. I took Matthew (8) with me. We camped out Sunday night about 15 miles from the college at Shenendoah River State Park. Virginia State parks are expensive. It cost $18 for the campsite - and then they charged $3 to park your car! Plus you have to make reservations - you can't just show up. It sort of takes some of the spontaneous fun and adventure out of travelling. South Carolina state parks are much cheaper, you can just show up, and the scenary and quiet is just as spectacular.

We broke camp at 6:30 AM to make the 7:00AM Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal. We didn't know if we'd make it, so we didn't have time to dress quite as properly as we usually do - we slipped on our shoes and suit coat over our camping wear in the parking lot and just made it in.

The 7:00 AM Mass (They also have 9:00 AM daily) was well attended. Excepting for Traditional Latin Masses, I was surprised to see a good 30-50% of the women at Mass wearing chapel veils. We have been to St. John's before. It is a new (less than 10 years old), yet beautiful church. I believe the stain glass windows, the high altar, and other parts of the church were gathered from churches being closed in other parts of the country.

Picked up daughter at college, who had said she only had a "few things" to bring home. Those "few things" almost caused my son to have to ride on the roof on the way home. But we managed to pack it all in and made it home in good time.

We are glad to have our Krystle back with us this summer.

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!

Saint John Paul the Great - the process has begune: Read from this from Fox News.

I found out I am sort "related" to another of st. blogs parishioners - not by blood, but by pastor. It turns out that Fr. John O'Holohan, our pastor at St. Catherine's in Lancaster, SC (author of 2 books carried by Requiem Press) used to be Mr. Riddle's pastor over at Flos Carmeli.

Really? - revisited

Don't have much time today - have a meeting tonight, preparations this afternoon, and still have some wooden toy guns to finish sanding for the craft fair on Saturday, (see this post)

Received a comment on my comments here on last month's Crisis cover story ("If Abortion Were Outlawed Tomorrow... Would We Be Ready - The Law of Unintended Consequences - A Cautionary Look at Overturning Roe v. Wade", is by Elizabeth Thecla Mauro.) The anonymous commentor said:

"I read that article. I did not get that conclusion from it. It seemed to me she was exploring possible ramifications that could come from overturning Roe v Wade without first following through on President Bush's idea that hearts and minds must be changed."

I recall the President's 'hearts and minds' comments - but I took them to mean 'that when more hearts and minds were changed (through education for example) then the country would have the will to outlaw abortion - and that will does not presently exist.'

The Crisis article author however views the 'hearts and minds' comment as if the President believes we could outlaw abortion now, but the consequences of that move would be very disruptive to society (and in the author's view, particularly to Catholics) and thus it should be put off until more hearts and minds are changed. (Note the author doesn't believe the abolition of abortion should be post-poned - she is saying Bush believes it and warning us of the consequences if it done immediately.)

The former case is very likely true. While popular opinion is swaying to the pro-life position, still the majority of the populace doesn't care.

The latter case is incredulous to me. I don't see how outlawing abortion is going to tramatize the country especially Catholics. And re-reading the article, the author certainly seems to believe it will. She says a major schism in the Catholic Church in America is a likely consequence of outlawing abortion immediately. Yet I don't see how - and the author doesn't make the case.

I quote from the article below:

"Furthermore, we must anticipate what might come from overturning a law before hearts have been made ready. For the consequences aren't merely societal. Indeed, such a move could actually lead to a full-blown schism within our own Church.

"Does that sound improbable? Think again. Most of us already know Catholics who refer to themselves as "American Catholics", careful to distinguish themselves from that intolerant/sexist/racist Church in Rome. There are entire parishes tha simmer and pop with palapable restlessness, relfexively embracing the tenants of deconstruction over orthodoxy and calling for the acceptance of abortion, divorce, and women's ordination the way some saints have called upon the Holy Trinity. Anngered by the overturning of Roe (and Romes vigorous support of it), those parishes coul conceivably try to effect a formal separation."

Okay, why would these parishes break into schism and not just join together and secede from the union - because Rome's influence does not generally effect constitutional amendments in America. Thus, again, I don't see how all the anger is directed at Rome, if abortion is outlawed - not to this extent. I don't think the abortion lobby among Catholics in America is so strong.

Now it may be a different story if contraception were outlawed by a Catholic majority - either on the Supreme Courst or in Congress. Contraception is considered by many Christians (and unfortunately many Catholics) as the best thing since sliced bread. But even here, the anger would be taken out in the voting booth and demonstrations - not in schism from the Church who has no political power in the US - at least at the moment.

Just my thoughts - from the small holding in Bethune ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Vatican II, Persecution, Benedict XVI, and John Paul the Great

Has there ever been a widespread (worldwide) persecution of Christianity since the times of the Arian heresy? Oh yes, there have been regions of persecution: behind the iron curtain, Spain, parts of Europe during and after the Protestant Revolt, the French Revolution.... All of Christianity in Europe (which was practically the whole of Christendom) was threatened, but the threat turned back at the battle of Lepanto. So I don't think there has been a worldwide persecution since the early centuries of Christianity.

I am no doomsayer, but it seems to me that a worldwide persecution of Catholicism could be in the not too distant future (next 20-100 years or so). While John Paul the Great was alive, his personal popularity, success in defeating Communism, and charisma made frontal assaults on the Church impossible. Pope Benedict XVI is popular with me and many Catholics no doubt - but does his popularity (and will that of his successors) extend to the masses?

There is much tension in today's society between the forces of good and evil. For one example, while technology is helping to win hearts and minds to the pro-life cause (3-D ultrasounds), technology is also furthering the culture of death and Utilitarianism (worldwide) with euthanasia, embryonic research, etc - and very few are even remotely concerned about this. Contraception continues to be viewed by the great majority as an intrinsic good.

Speaking the Truth about human sexuality is becoming a hate crime in Canada, (and it is not too far-fetched to see the same in America). "Secularism" is the new religion - championed by France and spreading everywhere.

The last gasps of hedonism in the Roman Empire spawned a great persecution of the Church in the early days of Christianity - yet it is those tired bodies who have not found fulfillment in carnal and earthly pleasures that turned to the Church but only after seeing the joy of the Christian martyrs.

Will the present civilization, which has found no satisfaction with the sexual revolution of the 60's, but is continuing to push personal pleasure at all costs, also (as did Rome) try to appease their unsatisfied carnal desires with public orgies and bloodbaths?

Some may say that the good news (here in America at least) is that the polls during the last election cycle showed people want 'morality' and thus voted against John Kerry and against homosexual marriage proposals in 15 states. Yet I don't take too much heart in this, because I get the feeling that people want government to take care of morality - they figured with Bush in office they didn't have to worry about taking stands or action. Not the case folks. While I certainly prefer our current president over the major alternative - I don't kid myself - he does not share my priorities for the country - there is a lot of lip service and a little action, but it doesn't pervade his outlook, personnel, or policies. Further, despite setbacks for the homosexual agenda in 15 states on election day, since then the legislature in one state and the courts in a second state have legalized homosexual benefits/unions/marriages. So the march goes on with no huge public outcry.

I am not naturally a pessimist - after all, the blood of martyrs is the seedplot of the Church. Further, I am comforted that though I may be weak and devoid of personal courage, I will be too old or too dead to be bothered about by any upcoming persecution.

Another sign of the coming strife is the growth and enthusiasm of the "new springtime" among the laity. As places like Christendom College grow and have more influence; as our bishops, clergy, and laity become more outspoken and work in society for the Truth; as the Catholics unify behind our Holy Father and the Truth - the present civilization will have to take notice and take a stand. For many years now, the disunity within the Church has made Catholicism seem to be an idle threat to the present Utilitarianism and hedonism. (Those orthodox individuals who were outspoken, bishops or laity, could simply be labeled as 'cranks' and not the face of the "future Church"). Once the present civilization truly realizes that the teachings of Christ and carried on by Peter, through John Paul, and now Benedict are the past, present, and future of the Church- then they must convert or persecute.

Again, I don't hanker much to those preach doom and gloom, but these thoughts keep coming back to me. Tensions generally build to a crescendo, then .... History shows these types of cycles. And yet the action of a Catholic should be the same whether in peace or persecution: a daily regimen of prayer, psalm, mortification, work, and joy! - in other words a striving for holiness and union with God!

Finally - and this is what started my ruminations to begin with - what role does the 2nd Vatican Council play in preparing Catholics for the future. The emphasis on returning to study and practice of early Christianity found in the writings of Vatican Council II - was this in inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Who knows that we may soon go through a universal persecution much like that of the early Christians?

I realize that some may say I have it completely backwards - that VII was part of the internal persecution or just a silly mistake. Yet I would argue that one of the most influential council participants and authors, became our sovereign pontiff for 26 years. Whether you believe he was a good governor of the Church or not, most would not argue about his holiness and prayer life. Could such a holy man be such a tool for the devil? I think not. I think God allowed John Paul the Great to be Peter for 26 years as an endorsement of Vatican II. The election of Pope Benedict XVI seems to further ratify that endorsement.

Finally, with respect to Vatican II - I believe it has been in many instances grossly misrepresented and misapplied. However, the future is bright - especially with the continuity and forthrightness of our present Holy Father. Let us pray for Pope Benedict XVI!

From the small holding in Bethune ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Mrs. Curley is very happy today. The radishes are ready for pickin'. My sister, Teresa (now Sr. Marie Paul, DSP) used to grow radishes in our little garden. Only she and my Dad ever ate them. I don't know who is going to eat ours. I had suggested growing them for the rabbits - but we don't have any rabbits yet. So with dozens of radishes ready for the pickin', we either get us some rabbits right quick or we'll be eating them. Mrs. Curley says she has some recipes....

Two Towers

I do mention our business and give soft plugs often enough on this blog. But I generally don't use the blog as an ongoing advertisement. Occasionally I have been tempted to rotate bookcovers on the sidebar, etc, but that is not the purpose of Bethune Catholic.

However, I am going to make an exception over the next several weeks. I am going to blog at least a few times about a book we are releasing at the end of May. Its cover does not yet appear on our website, but will in a few days. (maybe today)

The book is entitled: "Two Towers - the de-Christianization of America and a Plan for Renewal". The subject matter is sometimes controversial, but smacks of the truth, and is close to my heart. Today I will not write about the book, but something about its author.

John Meehan is the retired (2000) President of Magdalen College - which he co-founded in the early 70's. Magdalen College is consistently mentioned with the handful of truly Catholic colleges in America today. Although I don't know the details, I am sure it was at great personal sacrifice and risk when he founded the college as he had a growing family.

I have connections to Magdalen College as my olderst sister gradutated in one of the first classes and a second sister graduated several years later. As a youth we would go to Parents' Day weekend festivities to see my sister. I really felt at home there. My Dad had discussions with Mr. Meehan. He liked and trusted him. Further there was an unabashed love for the true Catholic Faith at Magdalen, which you would hard-pressed to find in many places in those dark years.

I almost attended Magdalen College myself. It was in fact the only college I visited. I can still remember this visit so many years later. I was impressed and yearned for the Catholic culture being lived on campus. This culture is present in so few places today (Christendom College is another such place.). My decision to attend college elsewhere (The Citadel in SC) was born of my own ignorance and materialism. I could not at the time fathom going to college and majoring only in "liberal arts". I thought the purpose of college was to get a good (well-paying) job. I couldn't be convinced otherwise.

I don't regret the path I took, as God has blessed me in many ways - yet I am wistful in knowing how much I have had to struggle through Augustine, Aquinas, Plato, Aristotle etc. on my own these past years instead of having done it at 18 under the guidance of those Magdalen College tutors when my mind was more agile.

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!

Fishing ...

A couple weeks ago the boys and I got up early and went fishing in a nearby stream on our way to Mass. Thomas Becket, our youngest boy (5), caught his first fish - a 6 inch bream (sunfish for y'all from the Northeast). The rest of us came up empty. Thomas' fish is getting bigger and bigger as time goes on. First he wanted to have it for dinner for himself and his oldest sister when she returns from college next week. Then he wanted to feed the whole family with it. Now he is talking about feeding all our friends and family who are coming to a celebration we are planning for late June. His hopes are mighty high for that little fish.

Last evening I was home alone with Thomas Becket and our youngest, Bernadette (3) . We decided to give that stream another go. We fished for about an hour. I had gotten some serious nibbles repeatedly in one particular spot - but couldn't reel him in. Once I almost had him. Well, I am not much of fisherman in general. Usually when I do go, I spend so much time untangling the kids' lines or baiting hooks, etc. that I never get much fishing done anyway. But last night was different. For some reason, catching that fish became somewhat important to me. (Subconsciously I think it was symbolic to me of being a good provider - maybe becase we had a fish/rice/egg concoction for lunch?).

Anyhow, after about an hour it was about time to leave - the kids needed bed. That fish had eaten my worm - the rest of the bait was in the car, somewhere downstream. It was too far to leave the kids and too much of project to get all the way there and then return. So reluctantly, I decided wrap things up. I was helping Thomas reel in his line when Bernadette said, "Daddy, there's a worm!"

Sure enough, coming out of the ground was a nightcrawler. I scooped it up and instantly baited my hook. As I cast into that spot where that fish had tormented me all evening, I said to Bernadette, "See, God has provided us a worm and now He will provide for us a fish." (I wish my actual faith was a great as my words. My real attitude was more like, "But Lord we have fished all night and caught nothing ....") But sure enough, the fish bit and was hooked within a few seconds. We reeled him in and thanked God.

While this may seem a small thing - for the last few days this is how things have been going - God encouraging my weak faith.

From the small holding in Bethune ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Feast of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales

This feast holds a special place in my heart - for it is several of these holy martyrs who originally led the Curley's down the road which we travel now. I have a large collection of writings on the 40 martyrs - mostly on the Carthusian martyrs. I have a book in French (which I can't read despite 4 years study of that language), and a book in Latin published in 1888 of an eyewitness account which was originally published in the 16th century (again which I couldn't read despite 3 years of Latin - but fortunately I finally secured a translation.) I have a copy of the official presentation of their cause for canonization presented to Rome from the Archdiocese of Westminster. (Of course it is unclear to me whether it is actually today or the 25th of October where we celebrate these martyrs. But certainly the proto-martyr of the English Revolt, Saint John Houghton would be remembered this day of martyrdom 470 years ago.)

These martyrs have fascinated me - mostly because the historical parallels between 16th century England and 20th (or 21st) century America are uncanny at times.

However, I would like to clear a point which comes up time and time again in the course of my business and which I have seen elsewhere. One of our titles, "Witnesses to the Holy Mass and other sermons" is about Thomas More, John Fisher and the 40 English Martyrs. (Thomas More and John Fisher were canonized in 1935 whereas the rest in 1970.) People buying this book often ask me if it is about defending the traditional Latin Mass vs the Novus Ordo. Of course this is not the case - Witnesses to the Holy Mass and other sermons" (originally titled "Tyburn and the English Martyrs") was based on sermons given 101 years ago this week to commerate their sacrifices.

More interestingly and worrisome is that I often come across this attitude: 'there is an irony in the fact that in the same year Pope Paul VI promolugated the new missal, these 40 Martyrs who had died for the traditional Latin Mass were canonized'.

- In fact some of the 40 Martyrs died for Papal Supremacy - not particularly for the Mass.

- The Carthusians have their own Liturgy and rite - which was not then (nor is now) the "traditional Latin Mass". So for some to claim they died for the right to have the Tridentine Mass is just plain wrong.

- Finally, I have read - but not yet confirmed - that until after the Council of Trent (which codified and made the Tridentine Mass the norm), the Tridentine Mass was not the rite most common in England. (I am not sure which rite was the common one, but I will have to research this some more.) So some of these martyrs who did particularly die for the Mass, may not have been dying for the Tridentine Mass in particular.

My point in all this is that some people like to claim saints for their own - in order to further their own agenda. But we must remember that these martyrs died for our Lord. They died for the Faith, not for a particular form of the Liturgy.

Carthusians:
John Houghton, May 4, 1535: proto-Martyr of the Protestant Revolt in England - ora pro nobis
Robert Lawrence -
Augustine Webster -
Brigittine:
Richard Reynolds -
Augustinian friar
John Stone -
Jesuits:
Alexander Briant -
Edmund Arrowsmith -
Edmund Campion -
David Lewis -
Henry Morse -
Henry Walpole -
Nicholas Owen -
Philip Evans -
Robert Southwell -
Thomas Garnet -
Benedictines:
Alban Roe -
Ambrose Barlow -
John Roberts -
Friar Obervant:
John Jones -
Franciscan
John Wall -
Secular Clergy:
Cuthbert Mayne -
Edmund Gennings -
Eustace White -
John Almond -
John Boste -
John Kemble -
John Lloyd -
John Pain -
John Plessington -
John Southworth -
Luke Kirby -
Polydore Plasden -
Ralph Sherwin -
Laymen:
John Rigby -
Philip Howard -
Richard Gwyn -
Swithun Wells -
Laywomen:
Anne Line, widow -
Margaret Clitherow -
Margaret Ward - ora pro nobis

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!

God Provides ....

One of the problems with having to do all e-mail checking and blogging at the local library is that you don't have the proper time to mull over and critique your posts before publishing. Finally last evening a computer technician came out to install the new network card which had been UPS'd last week. It was something I certainly could have myself, but if I had done the installation, the warranty would have been voided. As it turned out, I couldn't have done it myself because the part sent wasn't a network card. They had sent a internal modem. Fortunately for me the computer technician had a brand new network card in his bag of tricks and installed it. Now we are up and running again.

Since I don't get the newspaper much, we don't watch TV, and radio stations with actual news on them are few out here, I really have been cut off for the past week. I did make sure nothing cataclysmic had happened by scanning the headlines of the newspapers whenever I stopped for gas. But it will take me a few days to catch up with all of st. blogs and the news - especially as things are busy here.

I appreciate the concerns expressed below (Alicia and William Luse) and elsewhere (Hallowed Ground) on our well-being. My comment on "taking stock" maybe was not well thought out. It is true that after a year at a new enterprise you should sit down and see where you are going. And it is certainly true that Catholic publishing is not a "get rich quick" business. It takes a long time to get established. One Catholic publisher I had consulted before starting our endeavor told me that my enterprise was "an act of madness" - and he is probably correct. However, we are having fun! Certainly, all prayers are welcome. And certainly the next few months will be critical. I have promised to blog about the "important book" which we are releasing at the end of May. I will say quite a bit about it in the next few weeks - but later. The success of this book and two more which should appear before the end of summer will be crucial to Requiem Press remaining viable. I am not worried - God will provide one way or the other. So pray, yes - I will never refuse prayers; be concerned no. God has blessed us abundantly. The clouds I mentioned in the post below are real - in that hard work, sacrifice, prayer, faith, and patience will be needed over the next months - but these are all things to embrace as gifts.

I mentioned some time ago that we were reading the story of the Trapp Family Singers out loud every night. (We have missed a week or so and must get back on track). Once, early in their singing career in the States, the Von Trapps had four months between concert series and only $50 to their name. They had seen some craft fairs in the area and decided to join in with some Austrian crafts and gifts. They made enough $$ to survive the four months without further debt. In this same spirit, the Curley's have decided to try a little crafting of our own. I, with the help of the boys, am going to make some toy wooden pistols and rifles (don't tell Amy Welborn - see her comments on the subject of toy weapons and boys here) . Mrs. Curley is going to make some "Roy Rogers" bandanas. We have made these as presents for our own kids in the past. In a couple weeks there is a craft show at the Camden Revolutionary War Park some 20 miles from here. It should be interesting, fun, and hard work for the whole family - both in the making and in the selling. [If we have surplus at the end of the day, I will post some pictures and offer them to y'all at a discount. ]

Finally, before signing off, chicken production (eggs) is not quite back to normal, but about 80% there. We haven't eaten any chickens in a while. But I have feeling this will change this weekend. A couple friends will be coming over to our place for a May Crowning of our Blessed Mother. I think we will kill the "fatted chickens" for the occasion.

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!

Musings and Anniversaries

(Still have not fixed my network card at the home-office. The good news is that because I live in such a rural area, the warranty company is not making me take the computer into a local repair shop, instead they are giving me onsite service. The bad news is that after 4 days they haven't found any repairmen willing to come all the way to Bethune, SC. Good news - I am getting to know the local librarians.)

13 months ago I was laid off from my job 0f 9+ years as a patent agent. Last week (without fanfare) Requiem Press became a one year-old enterprise. Next week we will have lived in our country 'small holding' of two acres for 9 months. We are taking stock.

We have just sent a very important book to the printer - (as I mentioned somewhere below). We are negotiating for a new book by a well-known writer. Our chickens are starting to lay eggs again. Our daughter is returning from her 2nd year at Christendom College in a few weeks for her last summer with us. God has blessed us: Our daily bread arrives on time; Daily Mass with a holy priest; beauty on the landscape; the blessings go on and on.

Yet not all is rosy. Clouds may be on the horizon.

I work harder than I ever have in my life - yet get paid less than I ever have in my (working) life. But we have never had such a good life. It is so good I am afraid I will blink and it will be gone. Excuse my ramblings - but we are taking stock...

From the small holding in Bethune....

Oremus pro invicem!

A few things ....

It has been almost a week since my last post ... and the trend may continue. My network card or my modem or both have bit the dust, so I am checking Requiem Press email at the library. In our small town, the library is only open a couple hours each day - and different hours every day.

After reading some of the news at Bettnet.com I wish Requiem Press had some of Cardinal Ratzinger's books for sale. It appears Ignatius Press has almost sold out all their stock.

We did send a very important book to the printer today. I plan to blog about it some in the coming weeks. The subject of the book is very close to my heart. The book is due for release in late May. More on this later...

Jeff over at Hallowed Ground ponders getting a milk cow - how this would tie them down - and how this would make their life more monastic. These are thoughts Mrs. Curley and I have pondered also.

However, we are having trouble with simple chickens. We suddenly went from 6-7 eggs a day to 1-3 eggs a day. We can't figure out what is the problem. They look healthy, but they don't seem to be eating much.

We are also afraid the cold weather may ruin our first real vegetable garden. Last night it was in the high 30's - low 40's. This is unheard of in late April in SC.

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!

Interesting thoughts on Benedict XVI here over at Caelum et Terra.

I do think that many will be surprised by the beliefs and leadership provided by Benedict XVI. I don't think he can be put in many of the boxes those on both the right and left are putting him.

Unbelievable! Pope Benedict!

A tip to Suburban Priest for finding this:

Here's a portion:

Pope Benedict XVI made his first public appearance on the streets of Rome on Wednesday afternoon, April 20, as he visited his old apartment near Vatican City to transfer some belongings to his new home in the apostolic palace.

The newly elected Pope, clothed completely in the distinctive white vestments of the papacy, caught onlookers by surprise when he chose to travel on foot, walking the few hundred yards to the apartment in the Citta Leonina where he had lived for years. When the news spread that the Pontiff was walking through the city, hundreds of people quickly gathered, and he spent some time in front of the apartment building, greeting the people and blessing young children. Italian police and Vatican security officials did their best to control the crowd, preserving some breathing room for the Pontiff.

Unbelievable!

Just read this over at Fructus Ventris/. Our pastor mentioned the Benny Hinn story yesterday at Mass. It looks like John Paul the Great is continuing to work on Christian unity from Heaven!

In the comment box to the post below, Nicole writes "In celebration of today's international event, several college students (including myself) roamed creation-- paricularly Front Royal, VA-- exuberently proclaiming the good news: "Viva el Papa!" May he reign many years. God keep and bless you and yours! Te Deum laudamus . . ."

I understand that the Front Royal, VA is historically a Protestant stronghold, but because it now sports a Catholic college, HLI, Seton Homeschool, etc. Front Royal does have a very strong Catholic community.

In contrast, we are probably the only Catholic family in Bethune, SC and the surrounding areas. The nearest Catholic Churches (of which there are several, but some of which are missions) are all 25-30 miles away. Yesterday, in watching the broadcasts of the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI, there was no larger community to share the joy with.

However, we were able to watch and pray together as a family in these moments - which is memorable in itself. We did feel solidarity with the crowd in St. Peter's square and with the whole Church.

From the small holding in Bethune ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Pope Benedict XVI!!!!!

Deo Gratias!


Te Deum laudamus:te Dominum confitemur.
Te æternum Patremomnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli, tibi coeliet universæ Potestates,
tibi Cherubim et Seraphimincessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terramajestatis gloriæ tuæ.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarumsancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensæ majestatis;
venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu, ad liberandumsuscepturus hominem,non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo,aperuisti credentibusregna coelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes,in gloria Patris.
Judex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quæsumus,tuis famulis subveni,quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Æterna fac cum Sanctis tuisin gloria numerari.
Salvum fac populum tuum,
Domine,et benedic hæreditati tuæ.
Et rege eos, et extolle illosusque in æternum.
Per singulos dies benedicimus te,
et laudamus nomen tuumin sæculum, et in sæculumsæculi.
Dignare, Domine, die istosine peccato nos custodire.
Miserere nostri, Domine,miserere nostri.
Fiat misericordia tua, Domine,super nos, quemadmodumsperavimus in te.
In te speravi:non confundar in æternum.

We praise Thee, O God:
acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee and the Father everlasting.
To Thee all Angels: to Thee the heavens and all the Powers therein.
To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim: cry with unceasing voice:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Hosts.
The heavens and the earth are full: of the majesty of Thy glory.
Thee the glorious choir: of the Apostles.
Thee the admirable company: of the Prophets.
Thee the white-robed army of Martyrs: praise.
Thee the Holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge.
The Father of infinite Majesty.
Thine adorable, true: and only SonAlso the Holy Ghost: the Paraclete.
Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.
Thou having taken upon Thee to deliver man: didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
Thou having overcome the sting of death: didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come: to be our Judge.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants:
whom Thou has redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints: in glory everlasting.
Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine inheritance.
Govern them: and lift them up forever.
Day by day: we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy name forever: and world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day: to keep us without sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord: have mercy on us.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us: as we have hoped in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I hoped: let me never be confounded.

God Bless Pope Benedict XVI.

From the small holding in Bethune ...

Oremus pro invicem!

Corn

My neighbors have cornfields on two sides of our property. They also grow turnips, collards, watermelon, etc. They haven't planted the cornfields yet this year, but there is still plenty of corn laying around which was missed in last year's harvest.

Yesterday our neighbor came by with some empty sacks and told us the boys could pick up all the old corn they could carry for our chickens.

All afternoon the boys labored, first getting the corn off the ground and then removing the kernals from the cob (the chickens wouldn't touch the corn on the cob). We didn't finish, but did a good afternoon's work. There are some tired boys downstairs.

Now for the Rosary, bed, sleep (a little more work for me) and fishing in the morning before Mass! This is the life.

From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!

A New Schedule

Since we now have flexibility of schedule, we are thinking of turning our day upside down to fit our livestyle better. Presently we have a fairly conventional schedule, main meal at dinner, school in the morning and early afternoon, etc.

We are thinking of changing the main meal to lunch time and schooling after lunch. This allows the outside chores to be done in the cool of the day.

This type of schedule also allows that we should be able to eat together more leisurely than in the evening. In evening sometimes I have meeting, or the children have a class, etc. this always disrupts dinner.

Further the saying for a more healthy lifestyle goes, "Breakfast like a king; lunch like a prince; dinner like a pauper".

We shall see how it progesses.

Mrs. Curley, with some the help from the children, has put in potatoes, carrotts, cucumbers, zuccinni, beans, tomatoes, cantalop, onions, scallions, spinach, many sunflowers, and possibly some other varieties I am unaware of. Potatoes are already up. The plum tree has flowered already, and the peach trees, as well as our dogwood is in flower now. A few weeks ago the whole countryside smelled of manure. Now the whole countryside is lush green and in bloom. (The green won't last around here - the hot sun will scorch most of the countryside to brown in a few months.)

We have been blessed greatly by our Lord.

As the Cardinals go into conclave - we pray: VENI, Sancte Spiritus

From the small holding in Bethune....

Oremus pro invicem!