Pondered In My Heart

Loosed from a snare - St. Alphonsus Liguori

 

My current spiritual reading is The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ. Our priest recommended it in his sermon a couple of weeks ago, and he also mentioned how another favorite priest of ours is fond of this book as well, so of course I got a copy straight away. I took it with me to holy hour one evening, and Kateri picked it up and started in. The next day she told me this quote she remembered, so I encouraged her to write it down in the book. (side note- is it time to get my eight-year-old her own commonplace book?)

The book is really excellent. St. Alphonsus is always good, but this book in particular seems very accessible and easy to digest, perhaps because at 150 pages it's not nearly as long as some of his other classic works. But it is rich and wide and deep as St. Alphonsus always is, and in fact I'm not getting very far very fast as I keep re-reading the parts I've already read. In typical St. Alphonsus fashion the book contains many quotes from the saints as well as Scripture. After a lengthy introduction, the book's short chapters each focus on a different verse of St. Paul's passage in I Corinthians 13 describing the characteristics of love. St. Alphonsus focuses on our love for Christ, and how our charity towards others is commensurate with our love for Him. There are chapters on suffering, meekness, detachment, humility, faith, hope- everything that matters most in one's spiritual life. Each chapter ends with a devotional prayer directed to Our Lord Himself, and St. Alphonsus writes beautiful prayers indeed.

If you need a last minute gift idea for a thoughtful person, or are looking for new devotional material for yourself in the new year, may I suggest The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ. Highly recommended by good and holy priests, and approachable enough for even the likes of me.

O God! And how is it that men do not love this God who has done so much to be loved by men? Before the Incarnation of the Word, man might have doubted whether God loved him with a true love; but after the coming of the Son of God, and after his dying for the love of men, how can we possibly doubt of his love? "O man," says St. Thomas of Villanova, "look on that cross, on those torments, and that cruel death, which Jesus Christ has suffered for you: after so great and so many tokens of his love, you can no longer entertain a doubt that he loves you, and loves you exceedingly." - St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ

Roses in the Snow!

Thank you all so much for your support and kind words for Lydia's new book, Roses in the Snow! We are all so delighted to hear that folks are enjoying the book!

We now have a quantity of books in stock so can have your copy signed by the illustrator if you purchase the books directly through Quis Ut Deus Press. There's a place to type in the personalization you would like, and you can even mention a favorite bird for Lydia to add a doodle if you wish.

You can also visit Quis Ut Deus Press to listen to audio files of the Hungarian words used in the book- just in case you don't know how to pronounce nagymama. Hint: it's not naggy-mama. :-)

And just for fun:

Roses in the Snow is the #1 Hot New Release in Children's Religious Books! So nice to know we beat those bears. :-)

Thank you again!

Announcing! Roses in the Snow (illustrated by Lydia Grace)

 

Lydia's new book is here!

Lydia has been hard at work for many months illustrating Dessi Jackson's latest saint story, one very near and dear to our hearts: Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. It is a pleasure to be able to announce it today on the Feast of St. Nicholas, patron of all children. Roses in the Snow tells the tale of a little Hungarian girl preparing to celebrate St. Elizabeth's feast day while her grandmother relates the story to her of the saint's holy and inspiring life.

Lydia's watercolors are beautiful and bring Dessi's delightful story to life with her signature style of rich details and vibrant colors.

Such an exciting moment, when that box of proofs arrived! Unlike last time, Dessi now lives far away and could not be here in person to see her new book.
We are so pleased with how it all turned out.

Eliza, as you may see if you read it, is particularly delighted by the book.

Lydia is one of those artists who doesn't show any of her work until it is All Finished, so we were all anxious to see the finished book and be able to savor all of the wonderful pictures.

 Roses in the Snow is currently available here on Amazon:

Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us!

Edited to add: Roses in the Snow and St. Felix and the Spider are now available directly through the Quis Ut Deus Press website , and if you buy them there you can have the books signed by Lydia. Of course she'll probably add a doodle as well. :-) There's also some information on the site, such as pronunciations for the Hungarian words in the book. Thanks for all your support!

 

Recent Reads: Englishmen, Priests, SS Guys and Vagabonds

"I think it will last," said Grandfather. "In my experience when people once begin to read they go on. They begin because they think they ought to and they go on because they must. Yes. They find it widens life. We're all greedy for life, you know, and our short span of existence can't give us all that we hunger for, the time is too short and our capacity not large enough. But in books we experience all life vicariously." ~ Elizabeth Goudge, A City of Bells

That lovely stack of books there came to me from a very kind and generous reader (thank you, 'Kitty'!). She said she was sending me a book and behold, she sent three (like Galadriel, my kids noted)! So I am happy to be reading Goudge again. She sent a sweet little copy of Henrietta's House, but recommended I read A City of Bells first, so I did. It's a wonderful story with delightful characters young and old, set in an English cathedral city during the early twentieth century, totally satisfying and typical Elizabeth Goudge. Thus I've just started Henrietta's House and it seems to be a charming story - so nice to be able to visit again with the beloved characters from A City of Bells.

I think the last Goudge I mentioned reading some time ago was The Middle Window, and I feel obliged to let you know that one was quite a disappointment. I enjoyed Towers in the Mist so very much that after borrowing it through interlibrary loan I wanted to find one for myself. The only nice copy I was able to locate was part of a lot which included The Middle Window, so I purchased and read it not knowing much about it. I must say it was not a favorite (to put it mildly), having a rather bizarre story line combining the present and past and implausible, disturbing notions of how the two can come together. Even as just a plot device it was pretty dreadful. At times I actually groaned aloud wondering how she could write such stuff, but I persevered and finished the book. There were some pleasant parts, with it being set in the Scottish highlands after all, but still. (sorry dear daughters, it's not all about the setting) Happily my mind dwells on the enjoyable romanticized Jacobite middle section and has handily blocked out the rest. Definitely not the best Goudge to try if you're not already a devoted fan. ;-)

On to something completely different,  Hannah Fowler by Janice Holt Giles was recommended by Leila as a book she (wisely!) gives to her daughters as they head off for marriage. This is the story of a Kentucky pioneer woman in the time of Daniel Boone, learning along with her new husband to live and to love together, forging a marriage of uncommon strength and beauty. The language is simple but powerful and the portrayals of what makes a hearth and home, marriage and family, are just beautiful. Hannah is such a strong, spirited woman but in no way does she seek to overpower her man. I like how their deep love is lived so truly without having to be spoken. I like how all the domestic little things that are so dear to a woman's heart are given their rightful importance and meaning, and how in the end none of them are what really matters at all. If you like Laura Ingalls and Little House you ought to love this beautiful book.

Other books in circulation right now are Churchill's own series on World War II. I still remember the time we were at a booksale and teenaged Josiah came up and asked me if we could buy this set of old books as he heard they were good. Yes, of course we could! He proceeded to read all of them for what constituted his history studies for the year. We've since picked up a couple more sets at book sales as several other folks here wanted their own copies, and Jonathan and Lydia are currently reading them. There's nothing like reading an in-depth history of the war from such an important person who lived it. "A sad tale of all the complicated idiocy." Highly recommended.

I am currently reading aloud another awesome book from the same time period, The Shadow of His Wings: The True Story of Fr. Gereon Goldmann, OFM. I had read this aloud to some of the older kids during Lent, and it was one of those books where we all wanted to right away read it aloud again to the family members who missed it - it's that good. This is the first hand account of a Franciscan priest who was drafted into the German SS as a young seminarian and the truly astonishing events surrounding his military service and life of faith. It would be a first rate choice for an older student studying WWII as it gives a most unique and interesting (!) perspective on the war, but it's really an awesome read for anyone (teens and up) as a story of incredible faith. On the surface it would seem amazing that I ever became a priest... Don't miss this one.

Another favorite recent read here is Priest on Horseback : Father Farmer 1720-1786 by Eva K. Betz. This little gem of a book is unfortunately out of print, but is certainly worth tracking down to borrow from the library or some fortunate acquaintance who owns a copy. This book tells the story of a circuit riding priest during Colonial times and the hardships and trials Catholics faced during pre-revolutionary times, something often glossed over in the history books as the pilgrims all came here supposedly for religious freedom. Under English law Mass and the Sacraments were forbidden in the colonies, and while the Quaker William Penn showed religious tolerance in his lands, priests in New York were subject to the death penalty.  Though this is a children's book, Michael and I both enjoyed it as well as the older girls. It also sent us on a bit of a rabbit trail investigating local history, as Fr. Farmer was assigned for a time to a church in our (present day) diocese and there is a page about him in our book on the history of the diocese. He spent time at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia and helped to establish the parish of St. Peter's in Manhattan, where years later St. Elizabeth Ann Seton would become Catholic. You can even find his marriage register online. If you can't find it at all there seems to be recordings of it at librivox, but you know we like books. :-)

I have also been reading aloud to the family some favorites of the older kids. Rasmus and the Vagabond by Astrid Lindgren is a splendid story about an orphan boy and his adventures with a big-hearted but mischievous, singing, wandering vagabond who calls himself 'God's best friend.' It has old fashioned charm and hair raising adventure, good guys and bad guys, all the stuff that makes for a good story and an utterly satisfying ending to boot.

Rasmus was sitting in his regular notch in the linden tree, thinking about things that shouldn't be allowed to exist. Potatoes were at the top of the list. Cooked, with gravy on them for Sunday dinner they were all right, but when they kept on sprouting in the field and had to be dug up - then they shouldn't be tolerated. He could also easily do without Miss Hawk, for it was she who was always saying, "Tomorrow we're going to spend the day digging up potatoes." "We" she said, but of course that didn't include her...

But it also has love and longing and friendship and family and what it means to belong to someone else. And butterscotch.

That Oscar happened to be such a moderate butterscotch eater made him still more perfect in Rasmus' eyes..."Let's save the others," suggested Oscar. If we ever get into a tight spot it might be nice to have a little butterscotch in reserve."

With Rasmus and Oscar as the protagonists this one has special appeal for boys, though it is of course enjoyed by all as all good stories are. I don't know why the silly Pippi Longstocking remains a perennial favorite while this rich, rewarding work of Lindgren's is out of print. I suppose that's how you know it's extra good?

(Amazon affiliate links herein.)

A little Saint Felix book news

Just a quick post to let you know Divina over at Beauty of the Picture Book has a little interview up that she did with Lydia about the illustrating process for Saint Felix and the Spider. She is also hosting a giveaway of a copy of the book, signed by the illustrator. (it's quite likely you'll get a little bird included with your signature as well, naturally) Visit Beauty of the Picture Book to see a bit of the artist's work in progress and to enter the giveaway.

Also of note is a new website for Quis Ut Deus Press. You can learn a bit about the author and illustrator as well as some of the birds included in the book. Take a peek!

Yarn Along: my first knits, and family hats

Look! I am learning to knit! That blue thing up there is a hat in progress for myself. I am very happy that I have finally figured out this secret thing called knitting, a skill previously elusive to me for many years. I have known how to crochet since I was a little girl, having been taught by my dear Auntie Irene, but alas I had never learned how to knit. After trying several times over the past few years I have at long last succeeded (at least in the basics) and am enjoying myself immensely to boot.

My previous attempts were with English style knitting, and the running conversation in my head would alternate between Look! I'm really knitting! It looks like real knitting! and Why would anyone want to do this? It's so hard! I could have crocheted five times as much my now! This is terrible! and back again to Look! I'm really knitting! ...Then someone told me about continental style knitting and how it is easier for crocheters to learn, and is faster as well. It has definitely been the ticket for me! It all feels so comfortable and natural, whereas the English made me kind of want to scream (see above). I'm not sure if continental is very unusual or not- I was sitting in a coffeeshop knitting and someone came up and said, Oh! I haven't seen anyone knit continental in years! Made me feel a bit odd, but at least I knew what she was talking about and I was actually knitting. :-) It's so satisfying to learn something new (at my age! ahem), and to learn something that I've wanted to do for so long. It's fun! It's relaxing! I like it! (okay, so I'm a little excited about it!) (pat me on the head and smile)

Oh, and the book I am reading is Towers in the Mist, set in 16th century England,by Elizabeth Goudge. It was recommended by a reader on the girls' blog after Mary Rose wrote a rousing post about her Confirmation and taking St. Edmund Campion as her patron. I do love Goudge's writing, and apparently her historical fiction more than her more modern works (this is reminding me of how much I enjoyed Gentian Hill, my first Goudge love). I have it out on interlibrary loan and hope I can finish it before it's due. (the library failed to notify me when it actually came in, and the return date is fixed and non-renewable - no fair)

I'll also show you all the hats I made for my family and presented to them on Candlemas. My first Finished Object of the knitted variety was a WWII watch cap I made for Josiah:

It's from a 1940 pattern, and just the thing for history-loving Josiah. Everyone was suitably impressed that I had actually Knit Something, and I think it suits him very well.

 

All the other hats are crochet, as I knew I could do that reliably and in good time. Mary Rose got a green beret in her favorite olive drab:

 

I used some bulky yarn for some quick-but-cute flowered hats for the little girls:

At first Eliza didn't like hers - she called it a big blueberry and threw it across the room. But then she changed her mind, and now she likes it. :-)

Jonathan got a new medieval looking slouchy:

Michael got a stripey beanie. It fits perfectly and he likes it!

I made Lydia this owl hat, and she looks so cute in it:

And finally Anna's is a felted hat with a bit of a vintage feel, topped off with a pin from the thrift shop:

 I've also (finally!) just joined Ravelry as Tea Drinking Fool (I had the hardest time coming up with a user name, can you tell?). My project page is here, where you can find links to all of the hat patterns and any notes and such.

I'm joining Ginny for this week's Yarn Along - visit her to see what lots of others are knitting/crocheting and reading. Currently we are expecting another snow storm, great weather for reading and knitting. And tea drinking. :-)

A Couple of Chesterton Gifts

If you've read here for any length of time you surely know that we are rather enamored of Chesterton around here. In fact Josiah was once rebuked by a professor for quoting Chesterton too often in his papers and such (he took up quoting Belloc instead). We have fond memories of a visit with a very famous and learned Chestertonian, and we once had a whole Chesterton themed tea-party in honor of Josiah's birthday. So it seems about time I join Sarah's Weekends with Chesterton link-up she hosts every Sunday. 

Like some of our other favorite authors, Chesterton has naturally graced a couple of our handmade gifts which often have a literary theme. Above is a linen pillow case I gave Josiah with a quote from The Honour of Israel Gow, found in this collection of Father Brown mysteries.

"Sleep!" cried Father Brown. "Sleep. We have come to the end of the ways. Do you know what sleep is? Do you know that every man who sleeps believes in God? It is a sacrament, for it is an act of faith and it is a food." ~ G.K. Chesterton

(I also thought Sarah would appreciate this dear little quote on sleep, being the mother of a toddler along with infant twins she really thinks rather highly of the elusive, coveted stuff.)

Note that if you are new to Chesterton or are looking for a good way to introduce your kids to this writer, the Father Brown mysteries are an excellent place to start. His intellect, wit, and faith along with his brilliant writing in these classic detective stories are sure to whet one's appetite for more Chesterton.

And this is a gift I gave Anna when she took to drinking her cocoa out of a large white bowl after we read this line from Chesterton:

Every morning and evening an iron hatchway opened in his oblong cell, and a brown hairy hand or two thrust in a plate of perfectly cooked lentils and a big bowl of cocoa.

Can you identify what book that is from?

Don't forget to visit Sarah for more Gilbert Keith!

In Honor of Saint Felix

Yesterday was the commemoration of St. Felix of Nola, that lesser known saint who we have all come to know through Dessi Jackson's wonderful story about him and Lydia's illustrations.

Divina, a fellow homeschooling mother has started a new blog entitled Beauty of the Picture Book where she is highlighting favorite picture books, as she puts it the 'heart' of her family's homeschool.  She kindly did a spotlight on Saint Felix and the Spider yesterday in honor of his feast day! This new blog looks like it will be a lovely place to check out some wonderful pictures books, both old and new, and Divina is also posting some of her children's artwork inspired by picture books. 

Jessica at Shower of Roses was also reading Saint Felix and the Spider yesterday, and you have to see the beautiful artwork done by her children inspired by the book! We were all so delighted by their wonderful, creative works and to see Lydia's book 'in action' so to speak, and I always love pictures of children creating art. Jessica also made a very cool and tasty looking spider web snack to go along with their activities, and the details for that are over at Catholic Cuisine.

I am currently working on a site where Lydia can post about some of the natural history in the book, mainly the birds of course. She will be able to tell you more about all the different species when we get that up and running. I am also hoping to set it up so you can buy the book directly from us if you choose so they can be signed by the illustrator if you like. In the meantime the book is available at Amazon here: Saint Felix and the Spider. 

There is another recent review of the book: Paolo Belzoni, author of Beliarius: The First Shall Be Last and the sequel, reviewed Saint Felix here on his blog Gloria Romanum.

Thank you to all for your support of Lydia's first (publically available) picture book!

Advent Book Wrap / Gift Bag (a bit of a tutorial)

Advent is upon us! I thought I'd share this little book idea right away in case it is helpful to someone out there. I'm sure you've seen the idea on some of the blogs to wrap your Christmas picture books for Advent, and then each day the children have the fun and surprise of opening the book you plan to read aloud that day. Those lovely pictures of crisply wrapped books in all of their purple paper splendor (or rose or red or gold as the case may be) always look so inviting, and I'm sure the sight is even more delightful looking for the children who get to open up all that goodness. Watching the pile grow smaller and smaller as we near the Nativity, wondering what old favorite story they will hear each day, the joy of opening a present each day - it all sounds wonderful!

But it's never happened here. :-)

This year I thought of a simple alternative that gives some of the elements of surprise and a way to pleasantly and gradually bring out the books throughout the season - without the trouble of finding purple paper and doing all that wrapping. I decided to make a fabric gift bag big enough to hold a few books. We keep our Christmas picture book collection on a shelf in a cupboard so they are not in general circulation throughout the year; I plan to move them someplace inaccessible like my closet, and each day 'wrap' the day's selection(s) in the bag for the little girls to open before our daily story time. The books will be doled out gradually, there might be a new book or two now and then, and they have the surprise of finding out what is the book of the day. One bag for all the days, all the years, no paper to buy, no books to wrap, no mess.

So I had some festive looking fabric in my stash that I picked up at the thrift store. I looked at our picture book collection to get an idea of the largest size book. I folded the fabric in half, selvage to selvage, and cut off a piece about twelve inches wide.

Leaving the piece folded like that, I sewed up one long edge like so. Then I found a nice piece of red ribbon to use for a tie. I folded that in half (approximately) and pinned it to the other side of the fabric, about five inches down from the top edge. Note, if your ribbon has a shiny/nicer side, you want to fold the ribbon 'right sides together'.

Pin along the other long edge, with the ribbon tucked inside the 'bag', and sew it up.

Go back and forth a few times over the spot where the ribbon is, for reinforcement:

Then I just turned down the top edge twice to make a narrow finished hem edge, and sewed along it. Turn the bag right side out, give it a press, et voilà!

Slip in your books, tie the pretty bow, and there you go!

Saint Felix and the Spider! (illustrated by Lydia Grace)

Subtitled: If you give a girl a paint box...

Here is the 'big project' that Lydia has been working on!

Some time ago, Lydia was asked if she would like to illustrate a picture book!

Written by Dessi Jackson, Saint Felix and the Spider is a sweet story about a third century saint and his unusual friendship with one of God's smallest creatures: a spider. Felix is pursued by the Romans and very nearly captured, but wondrous are God's ways when He seeks to protect those who love Him! If you are familiar with Dessi's blog or her articles at Seton Magazine you know that Dessi has a wonderful way with words and the gift of delightful storytelling. I've read the book aloud numerous times and it is such a pleasure.

And last Friday evening we had the pleasure of meeting Dessi for the first time as she graced our home and family with a visit!

It was wonderful to be able to present Dessi with the proof copies of the book in person, and Lydia got to see firsthand her reaction to the illustrations for her story.

Dessi is truly a natural storyteller and she had us all in stitches with tales of village life in her native Bulgaria and the current joys and trials of her country life in Maryland.

We all laughed

and laughed and laughed.

We've all been enjoying the new book and Eliza has read it ever so many times!

Saint Felix and the Spider can be purchased here on Amazon:

Lydia spent much time designing and sketching page layouts, researching everything from Roman helmets to native birds of Italy, observing spiders and their webs, and painting ever so many watercolors - and now the book is finally here! Hooray!

 

...and after she reads her new book, chances are she'll take her paint box and go back to painting birds.