Today I achieved most of a hoped-for task: swooping through the house (while the children were absent!) to gather items for donation to Goodwill. I was able to throw away about four paper grocery sacks worth of garbage (mainly broken toys) and donated another eight sacks worth! We have yet to sort through our master closet, which should result in even less clutter. I want to be free to take care of my bunchkins, not my clutter!
In the afternoon, our special activity was to make edible garland for the birds to eat! We strung popcorn, raisins, and Craisins, at which John did well, but Mary was both afraid of using a needle and was far more interested in simply eating the birds' snacks. We enjoyed a nice conversation about saints who particularly loved animals, such as St. Martin de Porres, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Anthony of Padua.
Meanwhile, Margaret (21 months) had her own run-in with wildlife. Chris and I were in the kitchen when we heard blood-curdling screams coming from the den, sounding like Margaret's very life were in danger. Chris ran in and discovered her in a standoff with a bug. This little girl is very afraid of bugs. Well, apparently she mustered her courage because she smashed the bug to death with her bare hands. She has been recounting the tale all day, about how the baby (herself) was crying (here she imitates a crying sound) because of a "blue bug" on the blanket she was sharing with "bra-bra" (brother), but she smashed the bug into a blanket, it went bye-bye, and Daddy flushed it down the potty! Just now as I was putting her to bed, she had to compulsively re-tell the story to me for at least ten minutes straight, so clearly the harrowing experience made an impression on her.
Source for information on the Christmas Octave
Opening Prayer from the Liturgy: “Almighty God, you granted the martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice. By his prayers make us willing to renounce for Christ our life in this world so that we may find it in heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
In your Bible: Matthew 16:24-27; Jesus calls “Follow Me.”
Catechesis: (Mark 8:36). Pope John Paul II, before his death, cautioned us that “the confusion between good and evil” is the “most dangerous crisis which can afflict man.” It is in this ‘affliction’ that the martyrs find their vocation. “By their eloquent and attractive example, of a life completely transfigured by the splendor of the moral truth, the martyrs… light up every period of history by reawakening its moral sense” (Veritatis Splendor 92). The man we celebrate today played a role, 835 years ago, in reawakening a sense of justice in his own world. Thomas’s is an interesting story. After becoming the chancellor to Henry II, he was chosen by the king to be Archbishop of Canterbury. As the story goes, Thomas went from being "a patron of play-actors and a follower of hounds" to his exalted vocation as a "shepherd of souls." As Henry II continually restricted the liberty of the Church, the conflict between St. Thomas Becket and the king grew. Eventually, the Archbishop of Canterbury was assassinated in his own cathedral by the “order” of the king who said, “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?”. As the assassins approached St. Thomas in his Cathedral he declared, “I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and Peace.” After his murder, Thomas became instantly famous.
Activity: Today would be a good day to bring reconciliation to those with whom we are separated for the sake of unity and peace. Thomas longed for liberty and peace to reign in the Church. We must take care not to be the cause of separation and division. This undoubtedly may be difficult to do, but we can at least pray for those with whom we have become estranged. The effort we put forth in our attempts to be reconciled is far less burdensome than carrying the anger and hurt and pain of past conflicts. Today, make an attempt at reconciliation.
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