The Theology of the Third Verse :: Thoughts on Christmas Carols (from the archives)

This was something I wrote last year, but I wanted to share it again :)  

It's the twelfth day of Christmas!  Are you still singing carols?  You can, you know!  I am.

There's no rule that says the carol-singing has to stop when the sun sets on Christmas day.  In fact, if you're a practicing Christian who's paying attention, you probably already know that "Christmas" is often considered atwelve-day ordeal - a dozen days of Christmas!  If you're a really attentive Catholic, you may know that the season doesn't officially end until the the Baptism of Jesus (celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany).  And some people who really really like to extend their celebrating, keep it all going until the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple (all the way out there on February 2)!  

But even these Feasts and dates don't "contain" Christmas.  

Christmas isn't merely about celebrating the birth of Jesus on one particular, finite day over 2,000 years ago.  That was one day.  We cannot "be" there.  We can imagine it - all that there was to see, hear, smell - the stable, the hay-filled manger, the baby's soft breathing and tiny cries, the mother rocking, the skies filled with angels and light, "Glory to God in the highest!!,"  the astounded shepherds, the bleating of their sheep, a blinding star.  Indeed, we know these sights and sounds well from Scripture and from Christmas carols.  

For the most part, not exclusively, but for the most part, the first and second verses of the well-known Christmas carols tell the story - the one with the angels and shepherds and kings.  

 Everybody knows the first verses.  Lots of people know the second verses.  But if you never make it to the third and fourth (and fifth!) verses, you're missing the whole of the Christmas message.  Because celebrating Christmas is not about one day, or twelve, or 39.  Just as the songs are not over after the second verse, Christmas is not over after the Christmas season.  To be sure, we should never stop celebrating, because Christmas celebrates much more than the one-time birth of a baby.  It is about God made man, the Savior of the world entering into that world to change it from within, and the holy anticipation, joyful expectation, and life-giving hope that He will come again.  "Christmas" doesn't end because Christmas is about our the Savior, our present-day King of Kings and the expectation of and preparation for Christ's coming to Earth... again.  

This is the message that is so often conveyed in the later verses of Christmas carols.  Sing them to the end.  Theentire message of Christmas is often contained in the entirety of the song, from the birth of the baby, to his Saving work, to his promised return.  Sing to the end!  The meaning of the Christmas "story" - the donkey, the shepherds, the star, the gifts - finds its fullness in the theology of the third verse!

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Here are some lesser known verses you might enjoy...

Hail the Heaven born Prince of Peace

Hail the Sun of Righteousness

 

Light and life to all He brings

 

Ris'n healing in His wings

 

Christ the highest Heaven adored

 

Christ the everlasting Lord

Come desire of nations come

Fix in us Thy humble home

Come desire of nations come

Fix in us Thy humble home

(3rd verse of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing)

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Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind has bought.

(6th verse of The First Noel)

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O holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sins and enter in,

Be born to us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell:

Oh, come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel!

(4th verse of O Little town of Bethlehem)

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No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found

(3rd verse of Joy to the World)

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Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long
Beneath the heavenly strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong

And man at war with man hears not
The tidings which they bring
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing

O ye, beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow

Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing

For lo, the days are hastening on
By prophets seen of old
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold

When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing

(3rd, 4th, and 5th verse of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)

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Merry Christmas, dear friends!  He Lives.  He Reigns.  He will come again.  Merry Christmas!

Dear Catholic Parishes, Give the Sacraments of Initiation Back to the Community

Dear Catholic Parish, (Anytown, USA), 

I’ve had Sacraments on the brain, and I’ve been forming some pretty strong opinions about the way they’re celebrated, particularly the Sacraments of Initiation.  I’m not going to beat around the bush (because, the bush doesn’t need that kind of foolishness in his life)  Here it is - Sacraments celebrated apart from the congregation at large deprive the community of “the powers that come forth from the Body of Christ” and the “actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church.”  (CCC116)  And in my experience, parishes do this a lot.  

Does your church baptize babies in a special celebration after all the weekend Masses are over with??  Do your young people make their First Holy Communion at a Saturday Mass that’s not usually on the weekend schedule??  Does Confirmation take place similarly, out of the context of a regular weekend Mass??   Yeah.  This is what I’m talking about. 

The Church is the Body of Christ.  We do not practice Catholicism in a vacuum. Just as I am a living, breathing member of my family, so my family is a living, breathing member of our parish, which in turn is a viable and valuable member of the worldwide Body of Christ.  As members, we contribute to the whole, and we benefit from our interconnectedness.  The Church as the Body of Christ is an organic, living body; it lives and moves and breathes due, in part, to its "unitedness."   If this is true, then why are the Sacraments of Initiation – the sacraments which breathe new life into our Church -  typically severed from the rest of the body?  Why do many parishes tend to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation "in a vacuum?"  

This spring, we prepared our oldest child to receive his First Holy Communion. It had long been a desire of my heart that he receive Eucharist for the first time at the 8 AM Sunday Mass we regularly attend as opposed to the specially scheduled Saturday First Communion Mass.  I think initially my reasons were entirely selfish - I didn’t want to be surrounded by strangers at his First Holy Communion, I didn’t want to suffer through rehearsals and wrangling scores of kids and getting them to stand quietly in height order for processing and photographs. I didn’t want my children to even know that there was such thing as a FHC fashion show mentality.  I just wanted a simple and special event for him at the Mass we regularly attend on weekends.  

Gradually, as I prayed about the circumstances of his First Communion, my selfish reasons were tempered with a new thought – what if Aaron’s First Communion at the 8 AM Sunday Mass could be significant for our fellow parishioners??  I wanted Aaron to receive his First Communion in the midst of the community that we celebrated Eucharist with every weekend, and I began to believe that they might appreciate it as well.  They are the community that has watched him grow and mature in his Mass behavior and participation for over seven years.  They are the people who have welcomed and encouraged our family at Mass, despite crying babies, distracting toddlers, and foolish children.  They are the people who have brought us gifts to welcome a newborn, who have bought us doughnuts at the Youth Group bake sale, and who didn't seem to mind that one time when I attended Mass with my sweater on inside out :)   My heart told me that having Aaron make his First Communion amidst this community would be a gift our family could give back to our Church.  They have already seen the good, the bad, and the unbelievably embarrassing when it comes to our family.  I wanted them also to share in our family's overwhelming joy when one of our children received Jesus for the first time.  

Despite the length of those two paragraphs (+ forgive me, Father, for I am long-winded +), the issue is not really about my son, and it's not just about First Communion.  Baptism and Confirmation are the other Sacraments of Initiation that breathe new life into the Church by literally adding members to the Faith community.   Four of our five children were baptized during "special" services that were not during a regular Mass.  I'm under the impression that is a common practice now.  While the Sacrament is still monumentally significant and grace-filled no matter the circumstances under which it is celebrated, I wish our babies could have been welcomed into the community of believers in the presence of the community and in the context of the Eucharist.  "...The Eucharist occupies a unique place as the "Sacrament of sacraments… and all the other sacraments are ordered to it as to their end."  (CCC 1211)  I wish that our fellow parishioners, those we celebrate the Eucharist with each week, could have also experienced the joy and thanksgiving of seeing a new Child of God washed of original sin, gifted with Grace, and brought into the fold.   

In celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation outside of the parish community's regularly scheduled Masses, a large percentage of the Church community is deprived of witnessing the gentle stirrings of new life at Baptisms, the nourishment of young Catholics in First Holy Communion, and the powerful presence of the Spirit in the newest full members of the Faith in Confirmation.  

Consider the elderly of a parish who may never be invited to a Baptism or First Communion.  Consider those who have little hope for the future of the Church because they don't witness young families bringing their babies into the Faith via Baptism.  Older parishioners might understandably lament that the "Church is dying out" if they don’t witness Baptisms or never have the opportunity to see young adults receive Confirmation.

Consider the young parents who may not attend Mass faithfully, but whose hearts are feeling the tug to baptize their new baby and return to more regular participation at church.  That Baptism, done in the context of a regular weekend Mass automatically puts that couple in the presence of a community that will welcome them, congratulate then, and hopefully seek them out the next Sunday.  A young couple whose baby is baptized outside of a regular Mass may never see and meet other young families who attend that parish, missing an opportunity to be encouraged and supported by like-minded moms and dads.  "Baptism is the Sacrament of faith.  But faith needs the community of believers... The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism."  (CCC 1253, 1255)  A baby's Baptism into the Church is not an isolated, private event significant only for himself or his parents.  It is the beginning of a lifelong faith journey in which all the faithful are called to participate.  Baptisms during Mass, amidst the community, are the natural way to draw the parish family into that "participation."  

Consider children who eagerly await their own First Holy Communion being able to witness a friend a few years older receive Eucharist for the first time.  In rejoicing for that friend, parents have a natural opportunity to convey the "inexhaustible richness of this sacrament" (CCC 1328), to begin preparing their own child for the Sacrament, and to nurture his or her holy anticipation!

Consider children who, having no siblings or cousins, have never been to a Baptism other than their own infant Baptism.  All the pictures of Baptisms in a first grade religion book cannot replace the experience of witnessing the anointing of a baby with sweet smelling chrism, seeing the water flow over his head, and hearing the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  In seeing all the joyful excitement and loving fuss made over the newly baptized baby, a child may more deeply come to understand how special and transformative her own baptism was.  

In my humble, and unfortunately poorly expressed opinion, everyone comes up short when the Sacraments of Initiation are "isolated" events.  The community is deprived of participating in the events which strengthen the Body of Christ as well as the individual members.  The individuals receiving the sacraments are not immersed in the interconnectedness that is the sacraments, the Eucharist, and community.  By incorporating the Sacraments of Initiation into the regularly scheduled Masses at which the parish community is gathered, children and adults alike are given the opportunity to live the truth that "the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments."   They will see firsthand that they themselves are vital to the life of the Church and that the church community is vital to their encounter with Christ in the sacraments.  For "the purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God." (CCC 1123)  Let us worship Him together!   Give the Sacraments of Initiation back to the community!   

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Incidentally, my son was able to receive his First Holy Communion at the Mass we attend every Sunday!  He was much celebrated and congratulated by the many friends we have in our parish community, and my husband and I were thrilled that he received Jesus for the first time in this way. 

However, since I started writing this post two or three months ago, I have discussed this topic with a few other moms and bloggers and recognize that other families have significantly different feelings on this topic.  One friend mentioned to me that she felt First Holy Communion was more significant for her daughter because she got to receive Our Lord for the first time with several of her good friends at a special Mass.  While Aaron's reception of the Eucharist was of course special, it was not a special Mass specific to First Communion - the homily wasn't about Eucharist, we didn't sing "One Bread, One Body," etc....  Those things may be important for a  family that wants a Mass tailored to First Holy Communion.  Those things weren't as important to us as celebrating amidst the community.  

Another mom I chatted with organizes a special event with their bishop for local homeschoolers receiving Confirmation; it’s celebrated during the course of a retreat weekend.  It is important to her that her children receive Confirmation in a singular and celebratory event.  

My husband and I have also discussed this topic with our parish Director of Lifelong Faith Formation.  While he tends to agree with several of my points, he also has the most difficult and un-enviable job of serving the children of the parish who may otherwise fall through the cracks if it weren’t for religious ed classes and events.  Sometimes the administration-related logistics and the spiritual subtleties inherent in serving a large and varied congregation are more complicated and nuanced than simple parishioners like me can imagine :)

The thoughts I’ve outlined here are opinions, and I heartily recognize there will be opinions different that mine.  I am happy to host a discussion of those differences here, but will require that comments be civil, considerate, and charitable for them to remain up in the post. 

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You might also like...

Our First Baptism Day Celebration

What I Wish I Said to the Mom Who Approached Me After Mass

My *First* First Communicant

Michaelmass for Better Eyesight

Dressing Up For All Saints' Day

What I Wish I Said to the Mom Who Approached Me After Mass

A few years ago, a woman I had never seen at church before approached me after Mass.  She had a toddler with her, and because there are very few other children that attend the Mass we do, I was pretty sure it was the toddler I heard during Mass.  I had a toddler of my own at my side, a baby in my arms, and two older kids off somewhere else (I think this was around the time the boys were infatuated with the confessional, so probably there).  

While my children are not always fabulous at Mass, they had been exceptionally good that day.  As the woman neared me, for a split second I wished my kids hadn't been so good that day.  She was coming toward me with a pleading look in her eye, and I didn't want to be on the Perfect-Mass-Family pedestal (I know it exists because I've put other families up there myself.)  She's going to ask me for advice.  She's going to want to know how we do it.  She's going to ask me... how do you get your toddler to behave at Mass?  Please don't ask me.  Please don't ask me.  Please don't ask me.  I don't know the answer.  I don't know!

I didn't know the answer to her question, but she asked it anyway.  How do you get your kids to behave at church?  She had struggled through Mass with a toddler as I had struggled before.  We had not done anything different that particular Sunday; there was no discernible reason whatsoever that my children had behaved so well at Mass that morning as opposed to any other Sunday morning.  So when she asked me how I did it, I stumbled over my words, admitted that taking kids to Mass is hard, agreed that taking toddlers to Mass might actually be a form of cruel and unusual punishment according to the eight amendment, and that I'm sorry, but I really don't have any advice for you.  

I mean, we do stuff to increase our chances of success... We bring religious picture books for our kids to look at.  We've allowed some of our babies to eat Cheerios in Mass.  We let our babies and toddlers crawl on the floor and on the pews.  We usually attend Mass with my parents so there's often a favorable ratio of adults to kids.  We take restless babies to the back to walk around (our church doesn't have a cry room so that's never been a thing for us.)  We have rules for the older kids on what's expected of them. We often bribe encourage good Mass behavior and participation with the promise of donuts.  We celebrate with donuts when deserved ;)   But none of these ensure good behavior from our children at Mass.  None of these guarantee that we won't make a spectacle.  And in no uncertain terms do they make it more likely that our children will grow up to be  pious daily communicants.  There are no guarantees.  

I didn't offer any of these suggestions to the woman who asked me how do you do it.  But in the pressure of the moment, I didn't give her my best answer either.  Since that day, I've often thought about what I wish I said to her.  If I could go back, I would tell her the two things I tell myself when confronted with kid-related struggles at Mass...  Keep bringing your kids even when it's difficult and Don't let your children's behavior be the measure of the Mass. 

That's all I've got.  But, it's the advice I take to heart when considering my own family and instructing my own children in the proper behavior, participation, and appreciation of the Mass.

Keep bringing your kids!  Try all the different strategies once you get there (books, coloring, snacks, rules, rewards, etc...) but keep bringing them!  Mass with toddlers is hard, hard, hard, but the Mass is so important that it trumps the toddler's difficult-ness.  Perhaps more to the point, kids will understand (maybe subconsciously, at first) that what we are doing is important because we continue to do it even though they make a spectacle, even though they throw a tantrum during the Consecration, even though they run out into the center aisle to confront the priest during the recessional, even though they swallowed the gum stuck under the kneeler.   I feel like I need to insert an inspirational poster here with a quote about perseverance and with a picture of a rock climber hanging by his fingertips in the middle of a cliff, because to be honest, Mass with a toddler often feels like how that cliff-hanger looks.  But I believe it truly is our perseverance in the face of the struggle that will impress on young hearts the significance of what we're doing.  Have you ever felt like attending Mass with your kids is a power struggle?  Go with it!  We will not let go or give in or surrender no matter what you throw at us!**  That's how important this is.  

Keep bringing your kids, but don't let their behavior become the focus of the Mass.  I never really have to convince myself to bring my kids to Mass - we've always done it; I don't have to rev myself up for it.  But I do  have to occasionally remind myself of the second part of my advice.  A couple years ago I remember spending an entire Mass watching my kids' behavior and participation to see what they got right and what they did wrong so that I could review it all with them blow by blow after the fact.  I didn't really attend Mass that day.  What I did was convey to my children that their behavior was more important than what was happening on the altar - the Scripture readings and homily, the communal prayers, the Consecration and Eucharist.  Now during Mass I periodically glance at my older children to see if they're paying attention and participating, or to gently pat them to remind them not to slouch, or to put my arm around the toddler as a reminder not to test out a twirly skirt in the pew... but I still occasionally catch myself playing hawk-eye and have to remind myself that the measure of the Mass is not how well my children did. We are not there so that they can have perfect behavior.  We are there to be in the presence of the Lord and to take part in the Eucharist, the "source and summit" of the Christian life.  That's more important than monitoring every little twitch and twirl and giggle.  And they will only learn that if they witness it.  

As parents, we still have a responsibility to instruct our children in age-appropriate Mass behavior.  It's our task to help form them so that eventually their behavior flows from their understanding and appreciation of the Mass.  But all the rules, and tips, and tricks, and  Cheerios and picture Bibles and Missals for young people won't help if we don't convey the unshakable import of the Mass by our committed attendance and our righteous attentiveness.  Providing our children with the witness of our holy commitment, devotion, and attention, gives them the best foundation for imitating and eventually owning proper behavior, reverence, and participation at Mass.  

I wish I could go back and look that fellow mom deep in the eye and smile and confidently say to her, You're doing great.  You're here!   And you brought your daughter and I know that's hard.  It's half the battle.  And you did it.  It's not always perfect, and you may not be the image of the pious family on the parish brochures, but you've done the important thing.  Stick with it!  

**The power struggle is real, and I realize that there seriously are times when the kids just have to be taken out of Mass.  Been there, done that.  So when I say "we won't surrender" it primarily refers to the decision to make getting to Mass a priority every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.  It doesn't mean you wont have to take extreme measures to manage your children once you get there ;)

My *First* First Communicant (How He Received Jesus and I Was Granted a Desire of My Heart)

My oldest child received his First Holy Communion last month!  The best and most important thing about that day was obviously the gift of Jesus himself, given to my son in the Eucharist for the first time.  Obviously.  My heart was overflowing with emotion - joy, pride, humbleness, gratitude -  at the immensity of the intimate moment between my Lord and my son.  But my heart was filled with a different kind of happiness as well, for we were able to celebrate his First Communion in the way that I had long desired.

The story sort of begins several years ago when I had very emphatically urged my husband to agree with me - we had to change parishes.  I had my "serious" reasons for leaving and he had his "serious" reasons for staying.  I couldn't persuade him and eventually made my peace with the fact that this was a decision for him to make as the head of our family.  I would follow his lead in obedience and not pester him about it again.  I had no idea at the time that remaining in our current parish would play a role in having a future prayer of my heart answered...

Because then the story begins again last year when we were given permission, albeit hesitantly, from our parish Director of Lifelong Faith Formation to prepare Aaron ourselves for his First Confession  (as opposed to sending him to religious education at the church.)  At that time I had also asked if there was any chance he could receive his First Communion that year as well - a year earlier than usual, as our parish reserves First Communion for third graders. Sort of selfishly, I suppose, I wanted my children to be able to receive the sacraments when we thought they were reasonably ready, not according to the parish timetable based on age instead of individual readiness.  It seemed to me that my request was evaded for a while and then eventually denied, and I was given the impression that it was a decision that came from our new pastor.  I was disappointed, but didn't pursue it, primarily because Aaron himself didn't seem too eager to jump from one new sacrament into the next, but also because we liked the new pastor, and felt that perhaps we were being called to practice patience and dying to our own desires through deference and obedience to his leadership.

  

While it still nagged at me,  it had become an issue about which I could do nothing.  Within the course of the next year there was a new Director in the Faith Formation Office, and we received the letters reminding us of all the expectations and meeting dates, etc... for the kids receiving First Confession and First Communion in the new year.  I grumbled and rolled my eyes, and grudgingly went to the first scheduled meeting for parents of the First Communicants.  My husband and I had decided, after all, that we would defer to our parish on the matter of the sacraments and would honor the decisions our pastor made on the matter.  In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have been so grumbly about leaving the house for that first meeting - you know, modeling cheerful obedience and all for my kids ;)

To make a long story short (sort of), that meeting proved to be an answer to prayer.  The new Director surprised me with his encouragement, faithfulness, and enthusiasm, but he really got my attention when, toward the end of the meeting he said something like, "And if you're out of town the weekend of the First Communion, that's not a problem at all.  Fr. M__ and I agree wholeheartedly that our parish operates on a "readiness model" and your sons and daughters will be able to receive the sacraments when they're ready.  If that's not the scheduled First Communion weekend, that is fine."  What?!?!?!  Did he just address one of the deepest desires of my heart in a let's-wrap-up-this-meeting off-handed remark?  I introduced myself to him afterward, assured him I'd love to hear more about that "readiness model," and told him I'd be in touch.  I'm pretty sure I went out to my car in the church parking lot singing God's praises out loud that night -- our pastor and I actually wanted the same thing for my children!   

Both Aaron and Dominic have since received sacraments according to their readiness.  Dominic made his First Confession the first weekend of Lent and Aaron received his First Communion the first Sunday after Easter.   Both occasions brought me so much joy, for in addition to being occasions of immeasurable outpouring of grace upon my sons, the sacraments were celebrated just how I believed was perfect for our family.

Since we homeschool and provide our own religious instruction at home, the 40 some other children in the First Communion class were not friends of Aaron's.  I think making his First Communion among a crowd of children he didn't know would have been much less meaningful for him and our whole family, than perhaps for the other boys and girls who were excited about receiving the sacrament with their friends.  I was much happier having Aaron surrounded at his First Communion by the men, women, children, and families we see each weekend at Mass.

That morning before Mass (Divine Mercy Sunday, no less!), our pastor greeted us and told us more than once how much he was in favor of families "presenting their children for the sacraments" before the community and celebrating in this way!  He chatted with Aaron and our other children, congratulated Aaron and fed his excitement a little before Mass began.  Father announced at the beginning Mass that it was Aaron's First Communion and invited our family to go up before the rest of the congregation for Communion.  Aaron received lots of love and congratulations from the community afterwards.  He received a card from our Mass friend, Mrs. Trudy, and even was given some small cash gifts from people we don't know very well!  We took his picture with the pastor and our deacon.  We had a small brunch at home afterward to celebrate, much like we do every Sunday after Mass, but this time there was cake!  And that was it.  As far as I was concerned, it was perfect.  Aaron was ready to receive the sacrament, and he did in a way that suited our family, and was special to him and our community. 

I am still praising and thanking God that it happened this way.  I couldn't have planned it better.  Truly, there was no planning involved; it was an answer to prayer that was a also a lesson in obedience and patience.  

There was no pious prayer-hands posing for this kid ;)

Our First Baptism Day Celebration

Were you reading my blatherings back at the beginning of January??   (And you've stuck with me?  Wow!)  One of the things I had included on a list of goals/ideas for the new year was our intention to celebrate Baptism day anniversaries.  I've always been so grateful that our children have been able to witness the Baptisms of their siblings, our godchildren, and family friends.  It helps them see and appreciate what happened at their own Baptism.  Celebrating the anniversary of the day they became Christians seemed like another meaningful way to help them appreciate and understand the sacrament they received as infants.  

We kicked off our new family ritual this past week.  Dominic Jerome was baptized on February 2, 2008, so we celebrated Monday night, February 2 - which also happens to to Candlemas - the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple, so isn't that neat how they coincide!?!

We began by asking the kids to remind us what Baptism is all about.  At their age, we expect them to be able to tell us that Baptism permanently washes away the stain of Original Sin, that Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ, Children of God, and members of the Church, and that Baptism is God's gift of His grace into our lives.  

Russ offered an opening prayer and Dominic lit his Baptismal candle.  (Can you believe I actually found all of them?!?)  Then Russ led Dominic in renewing the Baptismal promises, then asked the questions of the rest of us.  We closed with a blessing with holy water and a final prayer, and then we enjoyed pumpkin pecan pie because that's what Dominic chose!  

It was a lovely, simple, and meaningful celebration.  I'm looking forward to the rest and hope that this becomes a regular tradition for us!  

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Renewal of Baptismal Promises...

Closing prayer:

God, the all-powerful Father of our 

Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new 

birth by water and the Holy Spirit, 

and forgiven all our sins. 

May he also keep us faithful to our Lord 

Jesus Christ for ever and ever. 

R. Amen. 

Goals, Plans, Ideas, Dreams (Bring it on, 2015!)

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a few posts looking back on 2014 - what I wrote about and what I learned.  I've been inspired by some other lovely bloggers to look ahead now to the new year and to jot down some of the things I hope to accomplish this year.  I'd love it if you check out my ideas, but honestly, I'm excited to just start this list for myself.  I hope to update is as more things come up and intend (we'll see if it happens) to come back at the end of the year to "check off" what I followed through with.

So, here's looking at 20 things I'm planning on for 2015 in some loosely organized categories... 

for my spiritual and personal well-being...

1. Continue reading my new copy of Lisa Hendey's A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.  I'm only on the second week, but already I think this is going to be a lovely book for me and for sharing with my family.  - AND - Read the daily meditations from In Conversation with God.  I know I probably won't get to these every day, but I really want to make them a priority again because I think I can honestly say that this series is the best spiritual reading I have encountered.  The spirituality of St. Josemaria - upon which the medications are based, - is so practical, relevant, and convicting.  

2. Use the elliptical in the basement!   (It will feel so great and you know it, Theresa!) 


for the spiritual life of our family...

3. Every four to six weeks invite a Catholic family to join us for Saturday afternoon Confession and a casual dinner at our house afterward.   We did this during Advent and Russ and I have been convicted that it's an important and awesome thing to continue.  We'll get to confession on a more regular basis, it will give our children the opportunity to see other kids (their young friends) participating in the Sacramental life of the church, and it will help us connect with families that we may not otherwise see (for some reason it seems less intimidating for me to have families over in this casual way than a more traditional dinner for guests.)  

4. We are going to start celebrating our Baptism days with a special dessert and a renewal of the Baptismal vows by Baptismal Candlelight (if I can find them...)   And so that I don't forget...  

    February 2 - Dominic
    March 2 - James 
    April 14 - me
    April 15 - Russ (the dad)   
    April 18 - Ruth
    June 10 - Clare
    September 24 - Aaron

(what would you do about the April situation?  Lump them together?  Lump the parents together and give Ruth her own day?)  

5. Stick to a weekly family prayer time.  We've chosen Tuesday nights.  We've decided to keep the format short: prayer to the Holy Family, everyone offers three intentions - something they're thankful for, something they're praying for, and asking for grace and strength in improving in a specific virtue / overcoming a particular sin or struggle.  We'll close by offering a decade of the Rosary for all of our intentions.
  

6. I will figure out a spot to have a small home altar and arrange one.  I was really inspired by the beautiful simplicity of this one :) 

7. Have the kids help make our new Stations of the Cross before Lent starts (so our beautiful art prints don't sit around for another year...)  


for the well-being of our family...

8. We will continue our weekly family meetings.  So far we've only have two, but they have been so valuable and enjoyable!

9. We won't have desserts during the week unless it's a special occasion.  I will serve a homemade dessert every Sunday.

10. We will read at least four picture books a day, ideally one will about about a Bible story, a saint, or some other Faith-related topic.

11. Read aloud goals: I will finish The Chronicles of Narnia with the boys (we're currently in the middle of The Horse and His Boy) and will start The Little House books with the girls.  

12. We will aim for at least one family game night a month.


for fun and lifelong learning...

13. We will try our hand at making dill pickles for the first time!  (plan to use this recipe)

14. We will do our best to get to another hot air balloon festival launch.  

ideas for blogging...

15. Get 100 Likes on my facebook page.  Yay!  We did it!  Thanks everyone!  

15.  regroup and reorganize my posts into easier-to-find categories with easy access on the side bar (like this!)

16. clean up and organize my pages at the top

17. run my "10 Days of Family Friendly Soups" series in January while the weather is still cold and moms are still trying to figure out what to set out for dinner!  (have another fun series planned for February!!)


other...

18. Clean up, organize, and de-clutter my craft room (I don't need ALL the supplies)

19. Make myself a whole bunch of crocheted dish cloths instead of buying more.  I really need some new dish cloths... 

20.  Embroider something.  


And for the things that are on the probably-never-will-happen end of the spectrum so don't deserve to be numbered... but I can dream, dream, dream...

Re-paint the interior of the house.  almost every room.  

Replace the living room furniture.  (dream, dream, dream...)

Re-Do the Kitchen:
   paint the walls
   deal with our pealing kitchen cupboards like she does on this blog here.
  re-finish the laminate kitchen counters something like this (though it sounds really involved...)

   and all the other stuff... a back splash, new sink faucet, and new lighting  (dream, dream, dream...)