What We Can Learn from the Bees.

Bees have been the subject of countless meditations from the saints over the generations. They are mentioned so often I believe they must have a special place in God's kingdom. And what a privilege to serve as a beekeeper for these tiny creatures of God. They teach me so much.

Yesterday my husband and I inspected our hives to make sure they all have enough room to expand. This time of year we try to prevent swarming.

 Three hives had so many bees and the boxes were so full of nectar and pollen we added a new box to each one. It made me think of the posts I've seen lately about how many people have come into the Church this year. Praise God for all the newbies (and newbees)! 

Can we stop with the circular firing squad already!

I read a post yesterday that set my teeth on edge. It was from a Catholic who had his assault rifle aimed dead center on traditional Catholics. Well, he wouldn't want to call them "traditional" Catholics because the word Catholic should stand alone -- no adjectives. We're all just plain, old Catholics. 

Halleluia, He is Risen! Have a Blessed Easter.

Let us walk with Jesus like the disciples on the road to Emmaus listening and learning from Him. He has the words of eternal life. 

Of Hope, Sacred Tradition, and the Mass of the Ages Trilogy

 "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."  Gustav Mahler

Things that impressed me from this this third film in the Mass of the Ages trilogy:

The pilgrimage by the French mothers (and grandmothers) of priests. They walked 800 miles to beg the pope for the continuation of the Traditional Latin Mass for the sake of their sons. His answer? The crushing and uncharitable Traditionis Custodes.

Resurrecting an old post: Good Friday Gift from Hilaire Belloc and Jacques Tissot

I wrote this in 2019 shortly after the Notre Dame fire. I find this crucifixion one of the most poignant. Mary reaching out to her Son is so like the gesture of a mother reaching for her baby who perhaps has climbed something that puts him in danger. Now her reaching seems to be a gesture of uniting herself to Him on the cross and begging to take His suffering upon herself. Surely the lance that pierced His side pierced her heart.

Death of Jesus by Jacques Tissot (1836-1902)

Our Lord and Our Lady
by Hilaire Belloc

Let Us Go to the Last Supper with Jesus and His apostles.

Have you ever wondered how many people were at the last supper? Was it really only the twelve apostles? Jesus had many disciples. Were none of them included in that sacred night? The painting above, by Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet (18th c.), includes a few extras -- servants? Tintoretto in the late 16th century included even more.

One of the things I love about the Spiritual Exercises is St. Ignatius's advice to include yourself in scriptural scenes. What would it be like to be at the last supper: to see Jesus washing the feet of his apostles, hearing him give the last discourse? Will you go to the Last Supper today in your mind and see Jesus's face as He speaks the words of consecration? Will you see His grief as He points out His betrayer who dips in the dish with Him?

May this day be a source of blessing for all of us as we experience these final moments in the earthly life of Christ. Let us be witnesses who can then proclaim the truth of the life, passion, death, and resurrection of our Blessed Lord.

Lord Jesus, help me to enter into Your passion that it may set me on fire and make me a burning furnace of charity.

Spy Wednesdays from the past

I've written many posts on Spy Wednesday over the years. Here are a few. Today I'll be meditating on the betrayals in my own life. My sins were among those that caused Jesus's bloody sweat. Let me put sorrow for my sins in the cup of consolation the angel brought to Him in the garden. 

 Did Jesus Love Judas?

Why it's called Spy Wednesday

How does the evil one mess with you?

Betrayal

Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord.

I'm a beekeeper so when I saw this quote I had to share it.

"As it is impossible to verbally describe the sweetness of honey to one who has never tasted honey, so the goodness of God cannot be clearly communicated by way of teaching if we ourselves are not able to penetrate into the goodness of the Lord by our own experience."

+ St. Basil the Great

What will the pope say next?

Pope Leo says God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who "wage war." Really? History tells a different story. Pope Urban II and Pope Gregory X both called for crusades to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims. And then there is the significance of the Battle of Lepanto that saved Europe from Islam's advance. Had the West not "waged war" we would likely all be answering the Islamic call to prayer today. Yes, blessed are the peacemakers, but sometimes peace has to be won through war.

A Palm Sunday Poem from The Donkey (And GKC)