Women's History Month: Woman as Wife

Introduction

I recently discovered that March is "Women's History Month". I suppose that means that we are supposed to celebrate the liberties that women have received in the workforce and in society over the past 100 years or so. If we really want to go back to the beginning, we can state that Eve was the first woman, and the first woman to become independent of her husband, stepping out from under his authority and leadership. In doing so, she took the lead in the disobedience that has obtained for us the mark of Original Sin, causing Adam to fall (at the same time, it was not only Eve's fault: Adam stood there and, out of fear, did not dispel the demon from the garden which it was his duty to guard; however, since the focus is on women's history month, the focus here is on women).

Woman as Wife and Homemaker

There are many awards for women who make a difference in the workforce, in politics, in climate activism, but where are the awards for women who choose to stay home and joyfully live under their husband's authority? They are the ones who make the greatest difference for society, especially if they take care of the children and homeschool them. They are the ones who give joy to the home or make home life miserable. The author of Sirach says it best:

Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled. A loyal wife rejoices her husband, and he will complete his years in peace. A good wife is a great blessing; she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord. Whether rich or poor, his heart is glad, and at all times his face is cheerful. A wife’s charm delights her husband, and her skill puts fat on his bones. A silent wife is a gift of the Lord, and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul. A modest wife adds charm to charm, and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul. Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home. A pious wife is given to the man who fears the Lord. A wife honoring her husband will seem wise to all. Happy is the husband of a good wife; for the number of his years will be doubled. (Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16, 23, 26).

And for the proper understanding of what subjection of wife to husband means, Pope Pius XI had this to say in his encyclical Casti Connubii, On Christian Marriage (paragraphs 26-29):

Domestic society being confirmed, therefore, by this bond of love, there should flourish in it that “order of love,” as St. Augustine calls it. This order includes both the primacy of the husband with regard to the wife and children, the ready subjection of the wife and her willing obedience, which the Apostle commends in these words: “Let women be subject to their husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ is the head of the Church” (Ephesians 5:22-23).

This subjection, however, does not deny or take away the liberty which fully belongs to the woman both in view of her dignity as a human person, and in view of her most noble office as wife and mother and companion; nor does it bid her obey her husband’s every request if not in harmony with right reason or with the dignity due to wife; nor, in fine, does it imply that the wife should be put on a level with those persons who in law are called minors, to whom it is not customary to allow free exercise of their rights on account of their lack of mature judgment, or of their ignorance of human affairs. But it forbids that exaggerated liberty which cares not for the good of the family; it forbids that in this body which is the family, the heart be separated from the head to the great detriment of the whole body and the proximate danger of ruin. For if the man is the head, the woman is the heart, and as he occupies the chief place in ruling, so she may and ought to claim for herself the chief place in love.

Again, this subjection of wife to husband in its degree and manner may vary according to the different conditions of persons, place and time. In fact, if the husband neglect his duty, it falls to the wife to take his place in directing the family. But the structure of the family and its fundamental law, established and confirmed by God, must always and everywhere be maintained intact .

With great wisdom Our predecessor Leo XIII, of happy memory, in the Encyclical on Christian marriage which We have already mentioned, speaking of this order to be maintained between man and wife, teaches: “The man is the ruler of the family, and the head of the woman; but because she is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, let her be subject and obedient to the man, not as a servant but as a companion, so that nothing be lacking of honor or of dignity in the obedience which she pays. Let divine charity be the constant guide of their mutual relations, both in him who rules and in her who obeys, since each bears the image, the one of Christ, the other of the Church.” (Encyclical Arcanum Divinae Sapientiae). 

 And later, Pope Pius XII wrote the following:

The family is illuminated by its own radiant sun, which is the wife. The wife and mother is indeed like the sun shining in the family. She shines by her generosity and the way she gives herself to others. She shines by her alertness and watchfulness and by her wise and gentle providing of all that can give joy to her husband and children. She radiates light and warmth. 

A marriage will prosper if each partner goes into it not for his own happiness but the other’s happiness – but although it belongs to both partners, this emotion, this goal is particularly a quality of the woman. Her very nature as a mother entails it. Her wisdom and prudence mean that even if she encounters troubles she will respond to them with joy; if she is belittled, she will respond with unaltered dignity and respect. She is like the sun that brightens a cloudy morning with the dawn; the sun that illuminates the shower-clouds at dusk.

The wife is like the sun shining in the family with the brightness of her glance and the ardor of her speech. Her looks and words enter into the souls of her family, softening them, touching them, raising them up from the tumult of emotion. They recall her husband to joy in good things and delight in family life after his uninterrupted and often heavy work of the day, whether in an office, in the fields, in trade or in industry.

The wife is like the sun shining in the family by her unforced, transparent sincerity, by her simple dignity, by her decent Christian behavior; by her inward thoughts and her upright heart; and also by the appropriateness of her dress and bearing, adorned by her open and honest way of life. Subtle signs of feeling, shades of expression, silences and unmalicious smiles, little nods of approval – all these give her the grace of an exquisite but simple flower opening its petals to reflect the colors of sunlight.

If only you could know the full depth of the feelings of love and gratitude that such a perfect wife and mother inspires in her husband and children!

It is both Feminism and Communism that push a hyper-egalitarianism on our society, and we must stand up to reject that notion. Pope Pius XII had some words to say in an address to women shortly after the end of World War II. 

Equality: Dignity, Role, or Ability?

Men and women are equal in dignity, but in role they are complementary and not the same. Men and women have different roles and abilities that are complementary for the good of the family and the peace of the home. Father Ripperger has some interesting things to say in the following video, Feminism: Women and the Natural Order.

I have already written something about women and the military draft because I believe it is important to put women as wives and mothers into the proper context and to see through the insidious lies of our politicians. Anyone who wishes women to register for the draft is either a willful Communist or a useful idiot of the Communists. The late Colonel John W. Ripley, USMC Ret. (may he rest in peace), also had some forceful, clear comments about women serving in combat, candid comments which cannot be refuted by anyone possessing right reason and common sense.

Feminism: Stunted Roots and Rotten Fruits

Since the beginning of its history, Feminism in the United States has been involved in Satanism and the Occult. Check out these two interviews with Dr. Carrie Gress:

The great thinker G.K. Chesterton had some reflections about women's suffrage, explained in this article, from which I have taken the following relevant excerpt:

The main problem that Chesterton saw with women having the vote was that it would shift the power of society from the home to the state. He was not afraid of women having more power, but of the state having more power.

He argued that women could not possibly be more powerful than they are in the home, where the most important decisions are made, where children are born and raised, and where people eat and drink and live and die.

The basic unit of society must be the family. If the family is atomized into smaller units, “individual rights” take precedence over the needs of the family. But those individuals will regroup into other interest groups, according to race or class or sex, and the rights of those groups tend to undermine the family.

No one today suggests that women should not vote, and few suggest that they should not work. But families have broken up and government has grown, just as Chesterton said.

Femininity, Not Feminism

St. Peter said, "Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of robes, but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:3-4). An attitude of disdain for certain "lowly people" makes a woman less beautiful, because beauty is as beauty does. The feminine heart is truly beautiful; the feminist heart is not.

Favorite Country Songs on Femininity

Being a die-hard country music fan, this post would be incomplete without a few country songs related to the topic at hand.

She Keeps the Home Fires Burning, by Ronnie Milsap

You Decorated My Life, by Kenny Rogers

My Miracle, by Brad Paisley

Favorite Father-Daughter Country Songs

Daddy and Elizabeth in the NICU.

Unique Father-Daughter Country Music

St. Thomas Aquinas says that grace does not destroy nature, but perfects it. My wife and I have chosen "Grace Builds on Nature" as our family motto (it is in Latin on our coat of arms). Since this is true, what better way is there for providing good nature than wholesome music? There are many father-daughter country songs, but these are my favorites.

1. Cinderella, by Stephen Curtis Chapman

Although technically not country, the instruments and the lyrics sound like country, and the message is so true. Time spent with those one loves is time never wasted.

2. Handprints on the Wall, by Kenny Rogers

My father always loved Kenny Rogers. Now that I am an husband and a father, I understand why.

3. Daddy's Hands, by Holly Dunn

This country song is about a daughter's realization of the love her father had for her. Though there are times when a father must discipline his children, he always loves them. We, as fathers, need to pray for the wisdom to lead by example, to teach with our words, and to back up our words with appropriate discipline.

4. The Girl You Think I Am, by Carrie Underwood

It is always important for a father to have faith in his daughter (and in all his children). This faith allows them to hold higher standards for themselves and also allows them to believe in themselves.

5. Just Fishin', by Trace Adkins

This is another great song about spending time with one's daughter while she is still young.

6. I Wish I Could, by Collin Raye

This is how every man feels who knows that the children he raises will be the greatest legacy he leaves behind and the greatest testament to his well-lived life.

7. Through the Eyes of My Father, by Brianna Haynes

Every father must know that he will be the image of God the Father in his children's life. This is a great calling, and one that would be daunting but for the grace of God. Let us pray that, despite our deficiencies, the grace of God will still work in us and shine through us to our children.

8. The Best Part of Me, by Lee Brice

This is a very interesting song, an attempt to explain the relationship between fathers and daughters -- a relationship that defies even the most eloquent words. And Catholics would like this music video: watch and find out why!

9. My Little Girl, by Tim McGraw

This is a great song explaining some things in a father's heart that are often too deep for words.

10. I Loved Her First, by Heartland

This is a great song for a father-daughter dance at a wedding. This will be a theme song for me when my daughter one day falls in love.

I hope you all have enjoyed this song list. Some of these songs are lesser-known, but they are from this father's heart, so full of love for his daughter -- and that love is filled to overflowing! I find myself thanking God daily for each member of my family, starting with my wife and then extending out to all our children. Deo gratias!

Parents and the Eucharistic Revival

 

My early-childhood parish, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Peru, Indiana. Image from https://cassmiamicatholic.org/.

During this time of the Eucharistic Revival in the US, I have for a while been considering the role of my parents in my faith in the Holy Eucharist. It was they who gave me this faith, both complementing each other in ways they were not even aware of. My mother taught me the Baltimore Catechism (BaltCat), especially before I received my First Holy Communion. It was she who fed my intellect in understanding, to the extent possible, the Mystery of the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. 

I have read some comments online where people call the BaltCat “anemic”, whatever that means. Even this article on the Catholic Culture website seemed to denigrate what it called “rote catechesis”, which I take to mean the BaltCat's methods of memorizing questions and answers. One friend of mine commented succinctly, “There isn’t anything wrong with [the Baltimore Catechism]. In fact, we depended on it heavily during my seminary experience, and I found it extremely useful to have information so readily available in my memory to call upon when needed.” I find that to be truly the case. I had other various texts to study for CCD and Religious Education at various parishes (like the Faith and Life Series from Ignatius Press), while at home we used the BaltCat. It seems to me that the other various texts I was exposed to in my religious education were aimed at the heart, while the BaltCat is excellent for the intellect. We should never sacrifice the intellectual side of our Faith in order to reach the heart, nor should we ignore the heart to form only the intellect.

In my early childhood, both the heart and the intellect were formed by my parents. My mother, as I said before, formed my intellect with the use of the BaltCat. My father, however, reached my heart through one particular experience. I was about five years old when the following account took place. My father had just received Holy Communion during Mass. As soon as we returned to the pew, I asked him when I could receive Communion. He told me that I would have to be older, but then asked me if I wanted to smell Jesus. I said Yes, so he breathed in my face. Since he had received Holy Communion under both Species, what I smelled was the scent of wine. But my father had told me it was Jesus, and so I knew that it was not just wine. In that moment, in that pew just after my father received Holy Communion, he bequeathed to my heart the precious gift of faith in the True Presence. I did not yet know terms like “the True Presence” or “the Consecration of the Mass” or “Transubstantiation” or anything like that – all that would come later through my mother – but I did know without a doubt that it was Jesus that my father received. I also remember that on that particular occasion, my father did not get angry with me for interrupting his prayer with Jesus, he just loved me and answered my questions patiently. From that point on, I have never doubted that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. 

I share this story because I don’t think parents really understand the power they have in the lives of their children. I never stepped foot into a Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) until I was twenty-five years old, so I know that the TLM is not the only way to receive that faith. Sure, the TLM is more reverent, and it is more obvious that Jesus is there on the altar. Yet the true power parents have in forming their children’s hearts and minds is without measure, even in the current Novus Ordo Mass (NOM). One thing I can say that impresses me as I look back upon my childhood is that my father was always there with us in the pews (at times there were exceptions because my father was in the military, but those exceptions were rare). Some fathers have told me that they leave religion to their wives, but my father was not like that; rather, he lived the Faith the best he knew how, and that provided a great foundation for me. As an example, one Lent, my parents prayed the fifteen prayers of Saint Bridget every day. Every Good Friday, the three-o’clock hour was to be maintained in the most solemn silence (and they came up with creative ways to keep us five small children well occupied to make that happen). So not only the True Presence at Mass, but also the seasons of the Liturgical Year came alive for me.

As parents, we have an awesome power in the lives of our children. We must wield that power to instill in our children a love for Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist – not just in their intellects, but also in their hearts. One of the ways my wife brings alive the True Presence for our children is by having them tell Jesus something at the Elevations. At the Elevation of the Host, the children say, "I love You, Jesus!" At the Elevation of the Chalice, the children say, "Thank You, Jesus!" It is a small but important gesture, planting the seeds of faith. At Holy Mass just recently, my four-year-old son jumped up onto the kneeler of the Communion rail and said out loud and full of enthusiasm, "Hi, Jesus!" I instinctively pulled him back because I did not know what he was doing and did not want him to grab at the ciborium or the Communion paten; meanwhile, the Deacon let out a small grin as he proceeded to give me Holy Communion.

The Liturgy is not something that should be lived only at church, but also in our homes! As parents, we need not be perfect to wield the influence we hold in the lives of our children, and we need not do anything complicated or elaborate – something small to mark the turns of the Liturgical Seasons will suffice. And I highly recommend the use of the BaltCat, together with something for the heart. More than anything, we must never forget that we must also teach them from the heart. We must be patient with them, and even if we cannot do something that they want (like my father could not let me receive Holy Communion because I was not yet of age), nevertheless, we need to provide something for them to fill that gap and help their understanding. Like my father for me, it is imperative that we be patient even if our children interrupt our prayer, for our anger will only push them away. However we respond to them, we must always remember that we are the face of God for them: if we treat them angrily, they will see God as an angry God; but if we treat them with appropriate respect (a respect founded on the truth that they too are children of God through Baptism) and seek to understand them, they will see God as a loving Father. I am not saying that we respect them to the point of spoiling them, but that we need not use harshness or discipline in every situation. There are more than plenty situations in which it is proper to discipline them for their instruction and for their temporal and eternal good, but there are also appropriate times to be patient and let the grace of God work through us as parents, as it worked through my father for me.

Hymn to Saint Benedict

 

Saint Benedict receiving Totila, King of the Ostrogoths; painting by Gaspar de Crayer, 1633; Art Gallery of Ontario

I found this hymn, by Father Faber, at the end of the book The Medal or Cross of Saint Benedict, by Dom Gueranger (it can be read online here). I am about to become a Benedictine Oblate novice, so this hymn has special meaning to me. Interestingly, Tuesday is traditionally set aside for Benedictines to honor Saint Benedict, just as Wednesday is traditionally set aside to honor Saint Joseph.

Hymn to Saint Benedict

by Fr. Frederick William Faber

1. Father of many children! in the gloom
Of the long past how beautiful thou art!
And still, dear Saint! the weary nations come
To drink from out thine unexhausted heart.

2. There are sweet waters in thy fountains still;
In every changeful age they have been flowing;
While faithful sons thy destinies fulfil
Through the wide world, like rivers in their going.

3. Kings, with thy wisdom in their hearts, dear Saint!
Have grown more royal 'neath thy Christlike rule;
And, when the earth with ignorance was faint,
Learning found shelter in thy tranquil school.

4. Deserts have blossomed, where thy feet have trod;
Thy homes have been safe shelters for the weary;
And in dark times the glory of our God
Fled to thy houses to find sanctuary.

5. O Benedict! thy special gifts are peace,
Freedom of heart, and sweet simplicity;
They fail not with the ages, but increase,
As thine own graces grew of old in thee.

6. Give us great hearts, dear Father! hearts as wide
As thine that was far wider than the world;
Hearts by incessant labor sanctified,
Yet with the peace of prayer within them furled.

7. Thou art the Christian Abraham; to thee,
Saint of insatiate love! thy God hath given
For thy grand faith a saintly family,
Countless as are the crowded stars in heaven.

8. Kind Shepherd! tend us with thy pastoral love
Across the mountains to our heavenly rest;
Father! we see thee beckoning from above;
We come! we come! to bless thee, and be blest!

The Sacramentals of the Easter Cycle

 

COOMPIA77/GETTY IMAGES

Throughout the Easter Cycle, which includes the Season of Lent, we are provided sacramentals much like in the Christmas Cycle. On Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, we are given ashes. On Palm Sunday, we are provided blessed palms. At the Easter Vigil, we are given Easter Water specially blessed by the Priest. Just as during the Christmas Cycle, these sacramentals help bridge the gap between the parish church and the domestic church (the Christian family). When one takes these sacramentals for use in the home, one helps to sanctify the home.

Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, ashes are either applied to the forehead in the form of a cross or sprinkled in the hair, accompanied by the solemn admonition, "Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and into dust shalt thou return." The ashes for use on this day are made by burning the palms left over from the previous Palm Sunday. In a way, they are doubly blessed -- blessed both before burning (on Palm Sunday) and after burning (on Ash Wednesday). As Maria von Trapp says in her book Around the Year with the Trapp Family:

I am sure it would be the case in every family, as it was in ours, that the children are the ones who most eagerly want to carry into the home as much of the holy liturgy as they possibly can. For instance, when I answered their question as to how the ashes that are blessed on Ash Wednesday are obtained, telling them that the blessed palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned, they asked a most logical question: "But, Mother, if you burn a blessed object, aren't the ashes already blessed? And if so, shouldn't we burn all the blessed palms around the place too and sprinkle the ashes over the garden?" And so we did! After we had established this as a firm family custom, I read that this is done in many places in the Austrian Alps; only there the people strew the ashes not over the garden but over the fields.

In our home, we burn the palms the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, known as Quinquagesima Sunday. Since they are not blessed by the Priest in the liturgy, these are not "doubly-blessed" ashes. Because of my starting time at work, I am unable to make it to Holy Mass in the morning on Ash Wednesday. For this reason, my wife and I bless eachother with the ashes, using the same solemn admonition. I am a big proponent of the ashes being crossed upon the forehead, so that one can be a witness to others in the workplace and elsewhere that the holy Season of Lent has begun. It can also spark some great conversations with those who have no idea what the ashes mean. In this way, it brings to life the old method of evangelization: face-to-face, one-on-one conversations. When I come home after work, we sprinkle the ashes from the blessed palms over the yard, and since I am now working on building an Our Lady of Victory Garden, I will sprinkle them over the garden next year.

Palm Sunday

The palms blessed by the Priest on Palm Sunday are sacramentals worthy of respect. There are two distinct blessings for the palms, one from the TLM, the other from the Novus Ordo, both of which make the palms a sacramental. From the TLM:

O Lord, bless + these branches of palm. Grant that the sincere devotion of Your people may make them victorious over their enemy and zealous in works of mercy, and thus spiritually complete the ceremony which they outwardly perform this day in Your honor. Through Our Lord...

From the Novus Ordo:

Almighty ever-living God, sanctify + these branches with your blessing, that we, who follow Christ the King in exultation, may reach the eternal Jerusalem through him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Then when the branches are brought home, they can be braided or formed into crosses. Since I was a child, I have made crosses with the palm branches every year (except for 2020 when the churches were shut down due to fear of the coronavirus; at that time, I was forced to cut branches from the tree outside our apartment and sprinkle them with holy water to have some semblance of order during those disordered days; I know this is not the same as a blessing by a Priest, but it was the only thing I could do as a layman without access to the Sacred Liturgy).

It is traditional to cut away a section of the palms to burn during storms to ask for God's intercession to lessen the severity of the storm, or to protect your property during the storm. In fact, the father of the von Trapp family used to put the blessed bouquets from Palm Sunday in every lot on their property "as a means of protecting his property against the influence of evil spirits, against the damage of hailstorms and floods" (Around the Year with the Trapp Family, by Maria von Trapp). Of course, one could also use the candles blessed at Candlemas during frightful storms because this also asks God's protection. And then there is this prayer for blessing against storms.

Finally, there is an Italian tradition I learned from my grandmother, that small sections of the blessed palms are sent throughout the year to various people. What it means is, "Please forgive me if I have offended you." It is a way to heal friendships and familial relationships by offering a token of apology. I imagine this has something to do with the words of Christ from the Cross when He asked God the Father to forgive those who crucified him. In any case, the crosses we make with the blessed palms will remain on our family altar until Ash Wednesday rolls around again next year.

Holy Saturday -- The Easter Vigil

Easter Candle

Our family Easter Candle from 2021.

The Easter Candle is a sacramental we most often associate with the Easter Vigil and it is lit in the sanctuary of the parish church throughout the Easter Season. But we least often think about this sacramental being in our homes. This can be built using a simple pillar candle and red ribbons with white lace and some sewing pins that are cut down in length. For now, I make the family's Easter Candle, but in future years, this will be our children's art project for Holy Week, since we are homeschooling. This year, we purchased a pillar beeswax candle and had it blessed at Candlemas, so being lit from the Easter Candle at the Easter Vigil will be a double blessing!

Easter Water

In the TLM Easter Vigil, the water is exorcised and blessed, and then the Oil of Catechumens and the Chrism are mixed with it for the baptisms. The water with holy oils is kept in the baptistry, but the water we can take home does not have the holy oils. This is truly a great and sacred sacramental, and each family should get a bottle to take home. In our family, we use the Easter Water to bless the children every day during the Easter Season, as well as on baptismal anniversaries. This Easter Water can also be used for a special Easter blessing of the home.

Blackened Coals from the Easter Fire

Almost nobody does this, but if the container where the Easter Fire is burned is left out in the open, a coal can be saved by the father of the family for use in the fireplace or at an outdoor fire pit for use during storms. As Maria von Trapp says, "on the way out of church we take some of the blackened logs from the Easter fire and preserve them at the fireplace, where they work as sacramentals in times of danger from storms and lightning." This is the TLM blessing of the Easter Fire from the Vigil Liturgy:

Let us pray. O God, Who hast bestowed on the faithful the fire of Thy brightness by Thy Son, Who is the Cornerstone, hallow + this new fire produced from a flint that it may be profitable to us: and grant that during this Paschal festival we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may come to the solemnity of perpetual light. Through the same Christ our Lord.

And why not take a coal? It may take some coordination with your pastor, but since the fire was blessed by the Priest, why not take from it for use in the home? As with all the other sacramentals from the Easter Cycle, it would make the most sense to use every sacramental available to us. There may yet come a time when we do not have access to the Sacred Liturgy, as happened during the Coronavirus. There may yet come a time when we do not even have the barest access to a Priest. Take advantage of all the graces and benefits now, so that if the time ever comes where these means of grace are taken from us, we will have stored up in our homes as many sacramentals as we can use to sanctify our time on earth and to bring us grace from God.

The Joy of the Lord in the Home

 

"As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy" (St. Luke 1:44).

Introduction

Joy should be a decided feature in Catholic homes, which are domestic churches. Catholic parents should do all in their power to create a joyful atmosphere -- a joyful culture -- in the home. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Ghost, and it is one of those fruits that is most at risk of being lost when one is accustomed to fighting battles. Thus it is that among Traditionalist Catholics, it is the fruit that tends to be most lacking. Saint Teresa of Avila once remarked, "a sad saint is a bad saint." Saint Francis de Sales also said, "a sad saint would be a sorry saint." In the domestic church, parents should be striving to raise their children to be wholesome citizens and joyful saints. How else do we do that than to build a joyful Catholic culture in the home? Then, that Catholic culture in the home radiates outward and builds the Catholic culture in society.

The Liturgical Year

There is a joy unique among all joys to be discovered in living the Catholic Liturgical Year in the home. For some, this looks like praying the Breviary (also called the Divine Office [Vetus Ordo] or the Liturgy of the Hours [Novus Ordo]). For other families, this means praying according to the current Liturgical Season in the morning and the evening, for example, praying the weekly Collect before the morning offering or before the nightly examination of conscience. Still other families will cook their way through the Liturgical Year. Other parents will mix special drinks for certain feastdays. 

I remember that one year, the way my parents lived Lent was to pray daily the Fifteen Prayers of Saint Bridget. Since hauling five small children to the Good Friday Liturgy was out of the question for my parents, they nevertheless kept the three-o'clock hour as an hour of absolute silence. No one was to talk during that time, and my parents had the patience to direct all five of us to quiet activities. There are no wrong ways to celebrate the Seasons of the Liturgical Year, but each Season can be marked by different activities or different prayers. Whatever we do, the experiences we give our children in their short years under our guidance should be marked by wholesomeness and joy. These won't be their only experiences, but they will be their foundational ones.

Sacramentals

Another way to bring joy into the home is by the use of sacramentals. Sacramentals help us to "bridge the divide" between the domestic church and the parish church. The Christmas Season in the Vetus Ordo, for example, provides many blessings of sacramentals that can be used in our homes throughout the year:

1. the Blessing of Saint John's Wine on December 27th;

2. the Exorcism and Blessing of Water and Salt on the Eve of the Epiphany, January 5th;

3. the Blessing of Chalk, Gold, Incense, and Myrrh on Epiphany, January 6th;

4. the Epiphany Home Blessing that can be done between Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord, January 6th -- January 13th; and

5. the Blessing of Candles at Candlemas, February 2nd.

(If these rites and blessings were allowed in the same manner in the Novus Ordo and the new Book of Blessings, it would take away some of the sting of the Vetus Ordo being recently severely limited and nearly completely taken away, but I digress.)

The use of these sacramentals and others, such as Exorcised and Blessed Oil, the Oil of Saint Philomena, and Exorcised and Blessed Medals of Saint Benedict (all of which are used in my home), are a source of joy and gladness for both parents and children.

The Father's Blessing

Another source of joy that I can attest to from my own family's practice is the daily blessing I, as a father, give to my children. I bestow this daily blessing on each of the children in the evening just before bed. My wife and I have found that the children become eager and ready for bed after this blessing. When tracing the Sign of the Cross upon the forehead of each of the children with holy water or blessed oil, I usually say the following blessing:

May almighty God, + Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless you in time and eternity, and may this blessing remain always with you. And may the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary Immaculate, Saint Joseph, [N.N. name saints], [N. patron saint for the year], and your Guardian Angel watch over you and protect you through the night. Amen.

The beginning part of the blessing above was inspired by Sam Guzman of The Catholic Gentleman, on one of his podcasts. Here is a great article from him regarding a father's blessing. Sometimes, if it is late, I use a shortened form to bless each child while tracing the Sign of the Cross on each one's forehead, again with holy water or blessed oil:

I bless you in the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

If I am away for work or on some other business, I allow my wife to bless them for me, and she uses her own words for this blessing. My wife and I have found that the children remind us of the daily blessing if we try to skip over it for a night. They are not ready for bed until they have been blessed. This is a source of joy to us because it has become such an important and permanent part of our evening ritual in the home.

Two Feasts

I would propose adding two feasts to be celebrated in every Catholic home: Saint Philip Neri, the patron saint of joy, on May 26th; and the Seven Joys of Mary on August 27th. The former is already on the universal Liturgical Calendar in both the Vetus Ordo and the Novus Ordo; the latter, however, is a Franciscan feast that has largely been forgotten. We have retained the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, so why not reclaim the Seven Joys of Mary? As the lay faithful, we do not have to wait for a feast to be initiated by the Church's Liturgy in order to celebrate it in our domestic churches. Often enough in the Church's history, feasts were instituted Liturgically only after extensive devotion was initiated and firmly established by the faithful. 

Conclusion

These, then, are the means that I propose for joyfully living the life of the domestic church. First, to live the Church's Liturgical Year in some way in the home. Second, to generously and freely make use of sacramentals in the home. Third, by blessing one's children often, even daily. Fourth, by devotion to Saint Philip Neri and to the Seven Joys of Our Lady. Now we must go out and live joyfully the life of the home, transforming it into a joyful domestic church.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

The account of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Office of Readings for the day is a wonderful reading. Actually, the entirety of this Office is very beautifully arranged, and I highly recommend these readings. The only thing that it lacks is that it does not have the entirety of the consoling and inspiring words of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego.

One tradition that I love is that of singing the Mañanitas a la Virgen at sunrise or just before Holy Mass.

There is a beautiful account of these apparitions for children. It tells the story and lays the backstory very artfully. At the end of this account, there is a beautiful song to the Lady of the Roses.

A great CD that we listen to on this Feast is titled I Wait on Tepeyac. Since I was a child, these songs have been a staple to understanding the times of the Conquistadores in Mexico, the conflicts between the natives and the Spaniards, the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the hope and consolation brought by Mary's words.

Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe

First Apparition: December 9

“Juanito, dearest Juan Diego. Juanito, my dearest son, where are you going? Know and understand well, you my most humble son, that I am the ever-virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; there I will listen to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions, and sorrows. And to accomplish what my clemency pretends, go to the palace of the bishop of Mexico, and you will say to him that I manifest my great desire, that here on this plain a temple be built to me; you will accurately relate all you have seen and admired, and what you have heard. Be assured that I will be most grateful and will reward you, because I will make you happy and worthy of recompense for the effort and fatigue in what you will obtain of what I have entrusted. Behold, you have heard my mandate, my humble son; go and put forth all your effort.”

Second Apparition: December 9

“Hark, my little son, you must understand that I have many servants and messengers, to whom I must entrust the delivery of my message, and carry my wish, but it is of precise detail that you yourself solicit and assist and that through your mediation my wish be complied. I earnestly implore, my son the least, and with sternness I command that you again go tomorrow and see the bishop. You go in my name, and make known my wish in its entirety that he has to start the erection of a temple which I ask of him. And again tell him that I, in person, the ever-virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, sent you.”

Third Apparition: December 10

“Well and good, my little dear son, you will return here tomorrow, so you may take to the bishop the sign he has requested. With this he will believe you, and in this regard he will not doubt you nor will he be suspicious of you; and know, my little son, that I will reward your solicitude and effort and fatigue spent of my behalf. Behold, go now. I will await you here tomorrow.”

Fourth Apparition: December 12

“Hear me and understand well, my little son, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear this sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything. Do not be afflicted by the illness of your uncle, who will not die now of it. Be assured that he is now cured. Climb, my dear son, to the top of the hill; there where you saw me and I gave you orders, you will find different flowers. Cut them, gather them, assemble them, then come and bring them before my presence. My dear little son, this diversity of roses is the proof and the sign which you will take to the bishop. You will tell him in my name that he will see in them my wish and that he will have to comply to it. You are my ambassador, most worthy of all confidence. Rigorously I command you that only before the presence of the bishop will you unfold your mantle and disclose what you are carrying. You will relate all and well; you will tell that I ordered you to climb to the hilltop, to go and cut flowers; and all that you saw and admired, so you can induce the prelate to give his support, with the aim that a temple be built and erected as I have asked.”

Triduum to Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

Hymn: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Text: 15th Century German, transl. by Theodore Baker (1894)

Tune: “Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen” German from Köln (1599)

1.  Lo, how a rose e’er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
As men of old have sung;
It came, a flow’ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

2.  Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind;
To show God’s love aright,
She bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

3.  O Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispel with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From Sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

Prayer of Pope St. Pius X

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for holy Church, protect the sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke you in their necessities, and since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, of burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.

Canticle: Ecclesiasticus 24:16-25

Antiphon: I am the Rose of Sharon. I am the Lily of the valleys. (Cant. 2:1)

V. And I took root in an honorable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. 

R. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on mount Sion. 

V. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho: 

R. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted.

V. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon. and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh:

R. And I perfumed my dwelling, and my odor is as the purest balm. 

V. I have stretched out my branches as the turpentine tree, and my branches are of honor and grace. 

R. As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odor: and my flowers are the fruit of honor and riches. 

V. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. 

R. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue.

Antiphon: I am the Rose of Sharon. I am the Lily of the valleys. (Cant. 2:1)

TLM Collect for Our Lady of Guadalupe

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us pray. O God, Who hast willed that, under the special patronage of the blessed Virgin Mary, we be laden with perpetual favors, grant to Thy suppliants that, as we this day rejoice in her commemoration on earth, we may enjoy the vision of her in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. 

R. Amen.

The 2021 Advent Season

 

Introduction

In the Advent Season, we prepare for Christmas. In our family, our domestic church, there are some things we do differently. For example, at the beginning of the O Antiphons on December 17th, the Legionaries of Christ used to begin setting up Christmas decorations, a little bit each day at a time. Our family has taken this (and other things) and adapted it for our own use. There are various things from the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms that I have taken together, like "a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old" (St. Matthew 13:52). So much treasure has been lost throwing away the old, and so much refreshment has been lost rejecting the new, so I strive to revive the good that is old and accept the good that is new. This is the plan for our domestic church, striving to live the Advent Season of the Church's Liturgical Year.

Our Domestic Church's Advent

First Sunday of Advent: Begin writing annual Christmas Letter. Begin reading from Dom Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year for each day of Advent (after dark, light the appropriate amount of candles depending on the day, and read those excerpts by candle-light; as we light more candles in our approach of Christmas, it should get easier to read said excerpts).

November 29th, St. Saturninus of Toulouse. The Novena to the Immaculate Conception begins. When I was a Legionary of Christ, this Novena became one of my favorite novenas due to the beauty and timeliness of the prayer of Pope Pius XII.

December 1st, St. Edmund Campion. The Jesse Tree story begins.

Second Sunday of Advent: Finalize Christmas Letter and send out Christmas cards. This was previously done on Gaudete Sunday, but when the mail service announced delayed deliveries earlier this year, we moved it up a week.

December 6th, St. Nicholas. The tradition is for the children to place their shoes outside or next to the fireplace so that St. Nicholas can fill them with chocolate coins and oranges and candy canes. The chocolate coins and oranges are to remind us of the story that St. Nicholas gave away some of his money to a woodcutter so that his daughters would not be sold into slavery: St. Nicholas dropped some bags of gold coins through the chimney so there was enough to save his daughters from a wretched life. The candy canes are because they are in the shape of a Bishop’s crosier, and St. Nicholas was a Bishop. There is a Blessing of Candy Canes done on this feast. We leave out some cookies for St. Nicholas, and also a carrot for his horse. One tradition I would like to begin when the children get older is the tradition of the scrolls from St. Nicholas to each child.

December 7th, St. Ambrose of Milan, Vigil of the Immaculate Conception. Conclusion of the Novena to the Immaculate Conception.

December 8th, The Immaculate Conception. A consecration of our family to the Immaculate Conception is made on this day. 

December 9th, St. Juan Diego. The Triduum to Our Lady of Guadalupe begins.

December 10th, Our Lady of Loreto. Pope Francis ordered that this feast be inserted into the General Roman Calendar as an Optional Memorial for the Ordinary Form. 

December 11th, St. Damasus I. Conclusion of the Triduum to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

December 12th, Our Lady of Guadalupe. This day, we read the story of the appearance of Our Lady to Juan Diego. It is especially wise to meditate this day on the consoling and beautiful words of Our Lady. On this day, we also make a consecration to Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

December 13th, St. Lucy. Lucy means “Light”. On the Sunday before this feast, we bring our strands of Christmas lights to the church to be blessed by a priest. On the feast itself, we check the strands of lights, replacing any bulbs as needed. Then, we put them aside as we wait for the great Christmastide, when we will enjoy them on the tree, lighting up the family room in a most glorious fashion. On this feastday in Italian homes, it is also the Feast of Lights. The young girls in the family dress in white and wear a wreath around the head with lit candles on it (if we were to follow this practice as our daughter gets older, we would not include lit candles on the wreath, but we could do a lit candle in her hand). In our home, there is a special blessing for the little girl from me, the father of the family, on this day. The Italian song Santa Lucia is among my favorites. I sang at least one verse of this beautiful song when I was a Legionary of Christ. This is also a special day because it is the wedding anniversary of my parents.

Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent), Advent Embertide. We begin the week reminded of joy, and we end the week in fasting and in abstinence. It seems to me that the revival of Embertides (and Rogationtide) would go a long way to renewing a healthy respect for nature, not the neo-pagan worship of nature that we seem to be evolving towards as of late.

December 16th, The Christmas Novena begins.

December 17th, The O Antiphons begin. Christmas decorating begins. Christmas tree goes up today.

December 18th, The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Put Christmas lights on the tree. Once on, leave lights off until the evening of Christmas Eve (or after Midnight Mass when the whole family attends). 

December 19th. Put ball ornaments on the tree.

December 20th, Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle. Put other ornaments on the tree.

December 21st, St. Thomas the Apostle; Winter Solstice, First Day of Winter. Replace fall decor with Christmas decor.

December 22nd, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Put up Christmas wreathes, especially on the front door as a witness to the nations (O Rex Gentium – O King of the Nations).

December 23rd, O Emmanuel. Change liturgical color of, and assemble Nativity set on, home altar or fireplace mantle.

December 24th, Christmas Eve, Sts. Adam and Eve. Jesse Tree story ends. Christmas novena ends. Put tree skirt under tree. In the evening, after the Vigil Mass in the Ordinary Form (which I call the “Mass of Saint Joseph” due to the Gospel reading), add the angel to top of the tree. Then there is the family blessing of the Christmas tree (this one really isn't a blessing of the tree but of all of us who enjoy it) followed by this blessing (which really is a blessing of the tree). During the first blessing, the tree lights are lit. Before the children go to bed, they leave cookies for Santa Clause (the Christ Child’s delivery man) and apples for his reindeer. 

Immaculate Conception Novena

 

This novena runs from November 29th through December 7th, the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.

Part I: Hymns

Hymn I: O Purest of Creatures

For days 1, 4, and 7.

Text: Fr Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)
Tune: “Maria Zu Lieben”, from Paderborn Gesangbuch (1765)

O purest of creatures! sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world.
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church - all her eyes are on thee.
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair;
For the empire of sin, it had never been there;
None had e'er owned thee, dear Mother, but He,
And He blessed thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Hymn II: Hail, Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star

For days 2, 5, and 8.

Text: Fr. John Lingard (1771–1851)
Tune: “Stella” by Henri Frederick Hemy (1818-1888)

Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
To thee, blest advocate, we cry;
Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And sooth with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.

And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.

Hymn III: O Maid Conceived Without a Stain

For days 3, 6, and 9.

Text: Author Unknown (1871)
Tune: “Horsley” by William Horsley (1844)

O Maid conceived without a stain,
O Mother bright and fair;
Come thou within our hearts to reign,
And grace shall triumph there.

Hail, Mary, ever undefiled,
Hail, Queen of purity!
Oh! make thy children chaste and mild,
And turn their hearts to thee.

Thou art far purer than the snow,
Far brighter than the day;
Thy beauty none on earth can know,
No tongue of men can say.

O Mother, of all mothers best,
Who soothest every grief,
In thee the weary find their rest,
And anguish'd hearts relief.

Oh! then for us, thy children, plead,
Thy pity we implore;
That we, from sin and sorrow freed,
May love thee more and more.

Part II: Prayer and Responsories

Prayer of Pope Pius XII

Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.

Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of the sublime gifts with which God hath filled thee, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which, after thine assumption into heaven, He crowned thee Queen of the Universe.

O crystal Fountain of Faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of All Holiness, captivate our hearts with thy heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of Evil and Death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!

O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy church, make all men feel the attractions of Christian goodness. In thy name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.

Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around thy altars: 

V. Thou are all fair, O Mary.

R. Thou art all fair, O Mary.

V. And the original stain is not in thee.

R. And the original stain is not in thee.

V. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.

R. Thou art the joy of Israel.

V. Thou art the honor of our people.

R. Thou art the advocate of sinners.

V. O Mary.

R. O Mary.

V. Virgin, most prudent.

R. Mother, most tender.

V. Pray for us.

R. Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.

V. In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.

R. Pray for us to the Father Whose Son thou didst bring forth.

Part III: Collect

TLM Collect for the Immaculate Conception

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us pray. O God, Who, by the foreseen merits of the death of Christ, didst shield Mary from all stain of sin and preserve the Virgin Mother immaculate at her conception so that she might be a fitting dwelling place for Thy Son, cleanse us from sin through her intercession so that we also may come to Thee untainted by sin. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. 

R. Amen.

Family Hymn

The Holy Family

Reason

I was inspired to write this hymn/poem after reading Dear Newlyweds: Pope Pius XII Speaks to Married Couples and studying the work of Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey and the Enthronement to the Sacred Heart in the home. We finally did the Enthronement of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts on Laetare Sunday during the pandemic shutdown in 2020.

The hymn is meant to be sung to the tune Rustington by Charles H. Parry (1897). The text is now copyrighted through the Library of Congress.

Hymn Text

1.  Joyfully to celebrate we
Come, Lord, singing unto Thee,
Asking Thee to bless our fam’ly
Through Thy holy Wisdom’s Seat.*
Unto Thee we come for healing,
Unto Thee we come for love,
Unto Thee we come for blessing
From Thy holy Throne above.

2.  And we come with supplication
For our humble fam’ly life:
Save us from all vain contention,
Save us from all selfish strife.
May our arms embrace each other,
May our lips speak kindliness;
May our labor and our leisure
Be in Thee true godliness.

3.  Sacred Heart, Thou King of our home,
Keep us all in harmony,
As the organ and the voices
Blend together beauteously.
Make our home a place of bounty
And of understanding love;
May our hearts trust in each other
And in Thine unending love.

4.  Mother Mary, Queen of our home,
Reigning here, show forth thy pow’r!
Graciously dispense all graces
To these hearts and souls of ours!
Be thou here, who art our Mother,
Keep us in thy folded arms,
Grant us joy and banish anguish,
Be our refuge from all harm.

5.  May we imitate the goodness
Of the Holy Family,
Where Saint Joseph ruled with meekness
Jesus and His Mother sweet.
Good Saint Joseph, faithful guardian;
Mother Mary, purest Maid;
Little Jesus, Who, obedient,
Grew in wisdom and in age.

6.  Praise we sing to God the Father,
And His Sole-begotten Son,
And to God the Holy Spirit,
Everlasting Three-in-One!
May we ever sing Thy goodness,
May we ever bless Thy Name,
And in one unceasing chorus
All Thy glorious wonders claim. Amen.

 

* This line may be replaced by any of these lines:

     Christmas and its Octave: On this merry Christmas Feast.

     Epiphany and its Octave: At Thy great Epiphany.

     Feast of the Holy Family: On this Holy Fam’ly Feast.

     Eastertide: At Thy Resurrection Feast.

     Ascensiontide: At Thy great Ascension Feast.

     Pentecost and its Octave: At descent of Paraclete.

     Sacred Heart of Jesus: Through the Heart of Christ the King!

     Christ the King: On this Feast of Christ the King.

     American Thanksgiving: On this grateful harvest feast.

     Wedding Day: At our joyful wedding feast!

     Wedding Anniversary: On our anniversary.

     Other family feasts: On this day of special feast.

© 2021 David Varella

Great Saint Dymphna

The Beheading of Saint Dymphna, by Godfried Maes (1688)

About Saint Dymphna

Saint Dymphna is the patroness of the mentally ill, those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. This was because of the depression of her father, who wanted to marry her after his wife died. Because of her refusal to marry him, he beheaded her. Mental illnesses abound in our day, and we must pray for all those who suffer from such disorders. Loyola Press has this to say about Saint Dymphna's story:

Born during the 7th century to Irish royalty, St. Dymphna’s mother, the queen, had the girl baptized and raised in the faith in secret because of her husband’s pagan beliefs. When Dymphna was only fourteen, her beloved mother died and the king went mad in his great state of grief. He decided that he wanted to marry Dymphna, his own daughter, because she looked so much like her mother. Dymphna, who had made a vow of virginity before God, was horrified by her father’s proposal and adamantly refused.

To escape the king’s inevitable outrage over her rejection, Dymphna fled the kingdom. She was accompanied by her confessor, Fr. Gerebran as well as several faithful servants from her father’s court. The group settled in Belgium in a city called Gheel near a shrine of St. Martin of Tours. While there, Dymphna used her wealth to care for the sick and poor of the region.

Unfortunately, her father discovered her whereabouts and he sailed to Gheel in the hopes of bringing her back with him. Upon his arrival, the king continued his attempts to convince Dymphna to marry him, promising great wealth and esteem if she accepted his offer. Still, she would not change her mind, staying true to her vow of virginity and refusal to enter an incestuous relationship. In his anger, the king ordered his men to kill Fr. Gerebern while he himself beheaded Dymphna. She was only fifteen years old at the time.

Reason

There is an excellent novena to Saint Dymphna for those who are suffering mental illness, as well as one traditional novena to her for all the Christian world. When I pray novenas, I like to add hymns to the beginning before the prayers. To me, adding hymns to novenas is an expression of Christian joy, and it follows the precepts of Saint Paul, "be ye filled with the holy Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19). I found an interesting song to Saint Dymphna, but no hymn, so I wrote a hymn of my own. It is meant to be sung to the tune Aurelia by Samuel S. Wesley (1864). The text is under copyright.

Hymn Text

1.  We hail thee, great Saint Dymphna,
O hear our fervent plea
For all the Christian people
Who now do cry to thee:
Help us attain to Heaven,
Ask God, His grace to send,
To persevere in virtue
And ordered peace within.

2.  We hail thee, great Saint Dymphna!
Please intercede for all
Who suffer great depression
And bitterness of soul.
Let us not be despondent
Who call upon thine aid,
But quell the great depressions,
And anxious minds allay.

3.  We praise thee, great Saint Dymphna,
For all thy courage bold,
Resisting thou thy father
When his own mind went cold:
When in his great depression,
And heeding ill advice,
He would not bend to reason,
And took thy youthful life.

© 2021 David Varella