Homestead & Bread - Sittin' by the fireplace

Headcovering

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:53:34 +0700

Why do I choose to cover ? It's all in this article. http://www.catholicplanet.com/women/headcovering.htm

"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head—it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil.
"For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels....If any one is disposed to be contentious, we recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:3-10,16)

In obedience to Sacred Scripture, many Catholic women wear some kind of veil or headcovering. Some wear a headcovering only at Mass. Others feel called to wear a headcovering at other times during the day, as well as at Mass. Many non-Catholic Christian women also wear a headcovering.

These women are following the call of the Holy Spirit. Society discourages women from wearing a headcovering and from doing anything else which shows submissiveness and obedience. Yet these women have found the light of truth in the midst of dark times.

The moral law requires all women to wear the veil on their hearts.

A woman should not wear the veil on her head, until she is wearing it first on her heart.

A woman who wears the veil on her heart accepts the place that God gives to women in the Church, the family, and society.

Women who wear the veil on their hearts are imitating the Virgin Mary in her humility, submissiveness, and obedience to Christ.

The veil should cover her head, but not her face. It is first and foremost symbolic of humility, submissiveness and obedience.

When Saint Veronica saw Jesus carrying His cross, she took off her veil and gave it to Him to wipe His face. He handed the veil back to her, and it had an image of His face on it. In this way, Christ gave a special blessing to the practice of wearing a veil. Even Veronica's name comes from this event. She is called vera icon because she had a true icon of Christ, her veil with His face on it. Nearly every Catholic Church has the stations of the Cross with this event at one of the stations.

The Virgin Mary wore a veil or headcovering because she understood this symbol of the different roles given to men and women. Those women who wear the veil are imitating the Virgin Mary in her humility and submissiveness. Nearly every Catholic Church has a stature or image of Mary wearing a veil.

Catholic 101 #1

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:00:39 +0700

Here are some facts every Catholic should know or at least know where to find them..

I have used the following websites for this post:

http://www.preces-latinae.org/index.htm

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/

http://www.fisheaters.com/lists.html

The Ten Commandments

Praecepta Decalogi

1.       I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me. Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them.

2.     Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3.     Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day

4.     Honor thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest live long upon the land.

5.     Thou shalt not kill.

6.     Thou shalt not commit adultery

7.      Thou shalt not steal.

8.     Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

9.     Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

For more information see the CCC: 2084-2540 http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/

The Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate (the official Scripture of the Church), and the original Douay-Reims phrase the Fifth Word as "Thou shalt not murder"; later Douay-Reims versions, such as the Challoner, and the King James Bible, etc., phrase it as "Thou shalt not kill." "Thou shalt not murder," however, is the original intent and the meaning of the earliest texts. Catholics, of course, have 2,000 years of Church teaching and the Magisterium to interpret Scripture, and the meaning of the Fifth Commandment is that one is not to take innocent life. It doesn't entail pacifism, ignoring the needs of self-defense and justice.

The Six Precepts of the Church

Sex Praecepta Ecclesiae

1.       To hear Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and to refrain from servile work.

2.     To confess one's sins at least once a year.

3.     To receive the Holy Eucharist at least during the Easter season.

4.     To fast and abstain on the days appointed

5.     To contribute to the support of the Church

6.     To obey the marriage laws of the Church. (Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the fourth degree of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.)

The Twelve Apostles

Duodecim Apostoli

Peter

formerly "Simon," renamed "Kepha" or "Cephas" by Our Lord; preached in Antioch, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Asia Minor, Rome; headed Roman Church (was first Pope); crucified upside-down in Rome, Italy; relics at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Symbols: the Keys; upside-down Latin Cross; book. Feast: June 29 (along with St. Paul); August 1 (St. Peter's Chains).

Andrew

Peter's brother; preached in Scythia; Epirus; Achaia; Hellas; Cappadocia, Galatia, and Bithynia, Scythian deserts, Byzantium;Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, and Achaia; crucified in Patrae in Achaia; relics at Cathedral of Amalfi, Italy. Symbols: X-shaped Cross; anchor; fish; fishing net. Feast: November 30.

James the Greater

he and his brother (John) nicknamed by Jesus "Sons of Thunder" (Boanerges); a son of Zebedee; preached in Spain; beheaded by Herod Agrippa I to please the Jews; relics at Compostela, Spain. Symbols: seashells; pilgrim's staff; scroll; book; floppy hat; trampling a Moor; mounted on horseback. Feast: July 25.

John

he and his brother (James the Greater) nicknamed by Jesus "Sons of Thunder" (Boanerges); a son of Zebedee; the disciple whom Jesus loved; Evangelist; preached in Asia Minor (Ephesus). Symbols: chalice; eagle; serpent; sword; cauldron. Feast December 27.

Philip

preached in Hieropolis in Asia (?); relics at church of the Dodici Apostoli in Rome, Italy. Symbols: basket of loaves; T-shaped Cross. Feast: May 11 (with St. James the Less)

Bartholomew

preached in India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Armenia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, shores of the Black Sea (?); beheaded or flayed alive and crucified, head downward in Albanopolis in Armenia; relics at St. Bartholomew-in-the-Island in Rome, Italy (?). Symbols: tanner's knife; flayed skin. Feast: August 24.

Matthew

"Levi"; Evangelist; preached in Ethiopia to the south of the Caspian Sea (not Ethiopia in Africa), Persia and the kingdom of the Parthians, Macedonia, and Syria, and to the Hebrews generally (?). Symbols: angel/man/winged man holding a pen or inkwell; bag of coins, money bag, money box, or purse; spear; sword; halberd; lance. Feast: September 21.

Thomas

"Didymus," meaning "Twin"; familiarly (not Scripturally) known as "Doubting Thomas"; preached in India; pierced through with spears by four soldiers at Syriac Mazdai; relics in Santhome Cathedral, Chennai, India. Symbols: T-square; spear. Feast December 21.

James the Less

"James the Just" or "James the Younger"; son of Alphaeus (Clophas) and "brother of the Lord"; Bishop of Jerusalem Church; epistle writer; killed by Jews by being thrown off the Temple and clubbed to death. Symbols: fuller's club; book; windmill. Feast: May 11 (with St. Philip)

Jude

"Thaddaeus"; "brother of James (the Less)"; epistle writer. Symbols: shown with medallion with profile of Jesus around his neck; shown with flame above his head; oar; boat; axe; book; pen. Feast: October 28 (with St. Simon).

Simon

"Simon the Zealot" or "Simon the Canaanite." Symbols: fish(es); man being sawn in two longitudinally; saw; lance. Feast: October 28 (with St. Jude).

Judas Iscariot

replaced after his suicide by Matthias (St. Matthias's Feast: February 24).

More to come!

Gospel Reading for second Sunday of Lent

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:42:13 +0700

Mark 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Gospel Reading for Holy Lent 3/6/09

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:23:19 +0700

Matthew 5:20-26

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.”But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

Hard Work

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:18:01 +0700

Hard work.

A word dreaded by many.

What is wrong with hard work?

Think who built this amazing country of ours:

It was people like farmers and construction workers, working from sunrise until sundown, working until their bodies ached with exhaustion. Those people built our country.

In 2009 hard working jobs are perceived as punishment and only for those of us with lower intelligence, education or from poor families.

Can’t you imagine the following conversation: “What do you mean you want to be a plumber?????” We are paying $ 20,000 for your education every year! Are you trying to embarrass us???”

What is wrong with being a plumber? How is the education wasted? How is being an educated person ever wasted, no matter the occupation?

What is wrong with being a plumber, fixing your leaking toilet that your $60,000 education can’t fix?

Imagine the money you can save with a plumber in the family!

Our society is no longer satisfied with “keeping up with Jones’”, no, we have to beat them and be better.

I grew up poor, hard work is what put food on the table.

I was the first in our family to go and graduate from college. My parents couldn’t wait until they would able to add a Dr. or Prof. to my name and let me know that many times. Their daughter was not going to be JUST a housewife and mother…..

All I wanted in my heart was to find a good man, get married and be a mother!

A man and to love and to honor, to cook dinner , to wash his clothes and create a Home.

To be a Mother to a child, to love and cherish.

Not wanting to embarrass my family, I fought those feeling for many years.

But our Lord has a way with miracles…

I met my wonderful husband even before I graduated and we got married that same year.

We both were longing to create a traditional and biblical family.

We have been married for almost 13 years now and I love my husband more each passing day.

God blessed us even more and made us parents, now we cannot imagine living without children.

There is calling inside of us, listen to your calling, no matter what society thinks.

We want our children to go to college, but if our daughter would choose to be a housewife instead, we would call ourselves blessed.

Think about our Lord Jesus Christ: He did not choose scholars and rabbis for his first disciples.. he choose hard working men! Saint Peter, his first disciple, was a fisherman.

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not judge a person according to their occupation, He eat dinner with tax collectors and prostitutes!

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child.”

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Gospel Reading for Holy Lent Matthew 6:7-15

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:19:54 +0700

"And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts,

As we also have forgiven our debtors;

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:7-15

Hallejuliah

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:38:19 +0700

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Melanie, Plain and Short

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:52:51 +0700

You guessed correctly, “Sarah, Plain and Tall” is one of my favorite movies.

Plain and Simple have taken on a negative meaning, especially over the last decades.

To call someone plain and simple is an insult.

What is wrong with plain and simple?

Nothing.

What is wrong with plain and simple clothes, that are feminine and yet covered. Nothing

“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10

What is wrong with a plain and simple family meal, sharing our day and thanking the Lord for our blessings? Nothing

“She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Proverbs 31:27

What is wrong with a plain simple life style? Without the need for the best, the newest, the trendiest? Nothing

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or
greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

Ephesians 5:5

What is wrong with plain and simple speech? Nothing

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Proverbs 10:19

What is wrong with being a plain and simple wife and mother? Nurturing, caring for her loved ones instead of shopping and lunching? Nothing.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Titus 2:3-5

What is wrong with plain and simple acceptance of the word of God? Is it any better than the over-analyzed version of a scholar?

For it is written,

"AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."

Romans 14:11

Plain simple things in our life, a simple sunset, a plain meal, a simple smile, a plain hug, a simple sunshine, plain rain, plain and simple joys….

Those simple things bring me closer the Lord…

Gospel Reading for Holy Lent

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:51:57 +0700

Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?

Luke 9:23-25

Homemade Cleaners

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:49:22 +0700

Laundry Detergent

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated) I prefer Fels-Naptha
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
Cover pail and use 1/2 -1 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).
Optional: a few drops essential oil

Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 cups Ivory Soap
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Softner

Use vinegar in your downy ball.

Optional: Add a few drops Essential oil to vinegar

Microwave Cleaner

Mix 2T baking soda +1 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for five minutes or until the liquid boils and condensation builds up inside the microwave. Wipe down.

Optional add-ins: citrus peel/citrus juice/”used” citrus fruit

All-Purpose Cleaner#1

Water

Squirt of castile soap/Ivory

Optional: essential oil/vinegar/borax

In a spray bottle, combine the ingredients

All-Purpose Cleaner #2

1 tsp. borax
1/2 Tsp. washing soda
2 Tbl. lemon juice

In a spray bottle, combine the ingredients with 1 cup of hot water and shake.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners:

Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. Cleans and deodorizes

Drain Cleaner:

For slow drains, use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 quart boiling water
Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.

Scouring Powders

Baking Soda or Table Salt. These are mild abrasives and can be used as an alternative to chlorine scouring powders. Simply put either baking soda or salt on a sponge or the surface, scour and rinse.

Carpet Fresher

4 cups baking soda or cornstarch
35 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
30 drops Lavender essential oil
25 drops Rosewood essential oil
or any combination of your favorite essential oils
Measure 4 cups of baking soda into a bowl, add essential oils. Break up any clumps that form, stir until well mixed. Before vacuuming sprinkle powder from a shaker type can or jar. Let it sit on the carpet for about 15 minutes then vacuum.

Herbal Carpet Freshener
1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup lavender flowers or essential oil
Crush the lavender flowers to release their scent. Mix well with baking soda and sprinkle liberally on carpets. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Wood Polish

Jojoba oil (does not go rancid) Olive oil can be used-use within a week or store in fridge

Drops of essential lemon/orange oil or essential oil of your choice

Disinfectant Spray

16oz distilled water

20-30 drops tea tree oil

Optional: a few drops peppermint oil/lavender oil

Glass Cleaner

Equal parts of water and vinegar

Combine in spray bottle