Happy Easter 2005

Happy Easter!!!!!!!

The Lord is Risen!

After a long Lent it is now time to celebrate with family and friends. I hope everyone has a blessed day.

Celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph

It is a Sicilian tradition to honor St. Joseph, patron Saint of the Universal Church, spouse of the Blessed Mother and Foster Father of our good Lord Jesus Christ, on his Feast Day.

It began in thanksgiving for a favor granted through the intercession of St. Joseph. The Sicilians were enduring a great famine when they prayed and asked this great Saint to pray for them to our Lord. Their prayer was answered and the tradition of the Saint Joseph's Altar was born.

Still, today many Catholic churches and families host their own altars either in petition of a desired favor or in thanksgiving for a favor granted.

It is a labor of love and sacrifice for a lost soul or some other need.

In our family, I started an altar 12 years ago, in petition of a lost soul. I promised St. Joseph ten years for this petition. I fullfilled that promise and now our altar is in petition for the health and prosperity of my husband, children and myself.

Here is the St. Joseph prayer that should be said nine days up and until the actual day of the altar.

Prayer to St. Joseph
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interest and desires. Oh, St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ , our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power. I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms: I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls-Pray for me. Amen.

Surveys Still Available

I am still taking surveys for my book "The Topsy-Turvy Homeschooler" from all Homeschoolers who are willing to share their information with me.

I would like to thank all those who have completed the survey with such warmth and deep thought!

Here is the survey:

The Topsy-Turvy Homeschooler

Survey March 2005

1) What was it that led you to homeschool in the first place? (This is the most important information, since it relates strongly to my book).

2) How many children do you teach?

3) How many years have you homeschooled?

4) What do you feel YOU have gained from homeschooling?

5) What do you feel is the biggest draw back of homeschooling.(If any)?

6) Do you plan to homeschool through highschool?(If not, why do you feel it necessary to send the children to conventional highschool)?

7) Do you adhere to a strict curriculum or do you take a more relaxed approach?

8) Feel free to share any stories of fun, learning, field trips etc.(Basically a short personal history of the joys of the time spent with your children).

9) Are you part of an organized group of homeschoolers?

10) Do you receive positive/negative, support from any/all of the following: husband, parents, siblings, extended family and friends?

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be a part of my survey.

God bless,

Penny

All information will be used in general terms. No names will be used.

Great Resource for Catholic Books

http://emmanuelbooks.com

Check out this site for some wonderful books of learning.

March, Month of St. Joseph

Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare)

Sts. Perpetua & Felicitas

J.M.J.

Taken from Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph (http://olrl.org/books/joseph.shtml)

St. Teresa’s Plea

Words of St. Teresa of Avila

“Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint [St. Joseph], for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and honored him by particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It is now very many years since I began asking him for something on his feast, and I have always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good . . . I ask for the love of God that he who does not believe me will make the trial for himself—then he will find out by experience the great good that results from commending oneself to this glorious Patriarch and in being devoted to him . . .”

—Autobiography, VI, 11-12

Words of Pope Leo XIII

From the Encyclical

Quamquam pluries, August 15, 1889

"Since the bond of marriage existed between Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, there can be no doubt that more than any other person he approached that supereminent dignity by which the Mother of God is raised far above all created natures."

"Blessed Joseph . . . was indeed the husband of Mary and the father, as was supposed, of Jesus Christ. From this arise all his dignity, grace, holiness and glory . . . [The Church] is his numberless family, scattered throughout all lands, over which he rules with a sort of paternal authority, because he is the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus Christ."

"Just as Mary, Mother of the Saviour, is spiritual mother of all Christians . . . Joseph looks on all Christians as having been confided to himself . . . He is the defender of the Holy Church, which is truly the House of God and the Kingdom of God on earth."

Words of St. Alphonsus Liguori

“Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him as the advocate of the dying who had honored him during their life, and that for three reasons:

“First, because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that of any other Saint.

“Second, because St. Joseph has obtained special power against the evil spirits, who tempt us with redoubled vigor at the hour of death.

“Third, the assistance given St. Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary.”

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Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph, (http://olrl.org/books/joseph.shtml) available from OLRL:

1/$1 - 5/$4.50 - 10/$8 - 25/$17.50 - 50 or more 60¢ ea. We also offer the St. Joseph prayer card (http://olrl.org/pray/joseph.shtml) for only 2¢ each. Both of these items priced very low for quantity purchase and wide distribution. See our order form at http://olrl.org/library/oform.shtml.

The Feast of St. Joseph is March 19.

--
Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls."
http://olrl.org

Blessed Katharine Drexel, Religious

Today the Church honors Katharine Drexel. Born in 1858, into a prominent Philadelphia family, Katharine became inbued with love for God and neighbor. She took an avid interest in the material and spiritual well-being of African Americans and Native Americans. She began by donating money but soon concluded that more was needed--the lacking ingredient was people.
Katharine founded theSisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and African Americans, whose members would work for the betterment of those they were called to serve. From the age of 33 until her death in 1955, she dedicated her life and a fortune of 20 million dollars to this work.
In 1894, Mother Drexel took part in opening the first mission school for Indians, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools quicky followed--for Native Americans west of the Mississippi River and for African Americans in the southern part of the United States. In 1915 she also founded Xavier University in New Orleans. At her death there were more than 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country. Katharine was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1988.

Prayer: Let Blessed Katharine never cease commending us to Your kindenss. By imitating her charity and prudence may we succeed in keeping Your teachings and preserving good morals. Amen.

Lives of the Saints for Everyday of the Year
Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D.

New Catholic Online Study Program

Check out this new online study program at www.setonhome.org

I was at a friends house today and she told me about Seton's new program for online study. I'll be looking into it for possible use for next year.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my survey. I will be taking surveys till the end of this month. Please share this information with any other homeschoolers you may know. All information is going to be used for general purposes only and no names will be used.

The results of my survey will appear in my book, "The Topsy-Turvy Homeschooler".

Sincerely,
Penny