Sponsorship for the Chartres Pilgrimage needed!

Hello! I hope anyone who is reading this is having a wonderful day! My name is Virginia Nolan, and I am a Catholic girl from a large Catholic family. My oldest brother is a preist with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, and my second oldest brother is a seminarian there. We have 13 children in our family, and 4 are adopted. 3 from Eithiopia and 1 from a local agency. I have been on the Chartres Pilgrimage before, and have found it to be one of the most spiritually uplifting experiences. Even if I don't notice it while I'm there. Something about it makes me want to go back year after year, eventhough I know how painful and difficult it is. This year I would like to go on it again, but as I am a college student and my parents cannot afford to help me out, or my parish, I find myself in the situation of asking for sponsorships from strangers. If there is anyone that would like to help sponsor a young Catholic girl to go on a long and difficult walk, who would offer her sufferings up for her sponsors, please contact me through this blog. God Bless!


GINNY!!! You really ARE a brat! You advertised through MY blog! HUMF! I'm taking you off the administrator list. :p

Lent

Fast and Abstinence.
It is a traditional doctrine of Christian spirituality that a constituent part of repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God, includes some form of penance, without which the Christian is unlikely to remain on the narrow path and be saved (Jer. 18:11, 25:5; Ez. 18:30, 33:11-15; Joel 2:12; Mt. 3:2; Mt. 4:17; Acts 2:38). Christ Himself said that His disciples would fast once He had departed (Lk. 5:35). The general law of penance, therefore, is part of the law of God for man. The Church has specified certain forms of penance, both to ensure that the Catholic will do something, as required by divine law, while making it easy for Catholics to fulfill the obligation. Thus, the 1983 Code of Canon Law specifies the obligations of Latin Rite Catholics [Eastern Rite Catholics have their own penitential practices as specified by the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches].
All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance. Can. 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

The Church, therefore, has two forms of official penitential practices - three if the Eucharistic fast before Communion is included.

Abstinence
The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Moral theologians have traditionally considered this also to forbid soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste.
On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. Since this was not stated as binding under pain of sin, not to do so on a single occasion would not in itself be sinful. However, since penance is a divine command, the general refusal to do penance is certainly gravely sinful. For most people the easiest way to consistently fulfill this command is the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year which are not liturgical solemnities. When solemnities, such as the Annunciation, Assumption, All Saints etc. fall on a Friday, we neither abstain or fast. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere, and it is sinful not to observe this discipline without a serious reason (physical labor, pregnancy, sickness etc.).
Fasting
The law of fasting requires a Catholic from the 18th Birthday [Canon 97] to the 59th Birthday [i.e. the beginning of the 60th year, a year which will be completed on the 60th birthday] to reduce the amount of food eaten from normal. The Church defines this as one meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal in quantity. Such fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The fast is broken by eating between meals and by drinks which could be considered food (milk shakes, but not milk). Alcoholic beverages do not break the fast; however, they seem contrary to the spirit of doing penance.
Those who are excused from fast or abstinence Besides those outside the age limits, those of unsound mind, the sick, the frail, pregnant or nursing women according to need for meat or nourishment, manual laborers according to need, guests at a meal who cannot excuse themselves without giving great offense or causing enmity and other situations of moral or physical impossibility to observe the penitential discipline.
Aside from these minimum penitential requirements Catholics are encouraged to impose some personal penance on themselves at other times. It could be modeled after abstinence and fasting. A person could, for example, multiply the number of days they abstain. Some people give up meat entirely for religious motives (as opposed to those who give it up for health or other motives). Some religious orders, as a penance, never eat meat. Similarly, one could multiply the number of days that one fasted. The early Church had a practice of a Wednesday and Saturday fast. This fast could be the same as the Church's law (one main meal and two smaller ones) or stricter, even bread and water. Such freely chosen fasting could also consist in giving up something one enjoys - candy, soft drinks, smoking, that cocktail before supper, and so on. This is left to the individual.
One final consideration. Before all else we are obliged to perform the duties of our state in life. When considering stricter practices than the norm, it is prudent to discuss the matter with one's confessor or director. Any deprivation that would seriously hinder us in carrying out our work, as students, employees or parents would be contrary to the will of God.

---- Colin B. Donovan, STL

Just for the Halibut

So... I realize that my blog is mostly dead, and has been for a while. One might say that it's been moving in and out of limbo. Blog limbo. Anyway, the poor thing was calling out dejectedly, and I finally mustered enough pity to answer it's call.

Hence, this post.

Which I suppose I must use to write something interesting... I'd hate to be accused of pointless blogging.

So... I just finished reading a most interesting book titled, "voice-over voice-actor", by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt. I must say it's a most interesting read! Normally, any and all instructional books are left unfinished, half-read or picked through, but only rarely do I read this kind of book from cover to cover. It is very informative, and has renewed my enthusiasm for acting. It is so easy to get discouraged when trying(or dreaming about trying) to get into an acting career, but this book really brings the process down to a level an amateur can understand. It's so funny too! There were many surprising and quirky statement, jokes, and anecdotes laced throughout the book. I found myself laughing so often that those around me must have thought I was reading a comedy. It's a good read for actors, and those who just like watching behind-the-scenes special features on DVD's... This book details, "What it's like behind the mic".

:)

Completely off subject; I've developed a taste for fish: a food I used to have a strong aversion to. And to what do I owe this new found palatability? Why, to a delectable fish called, Rocky. Rocky Fish. Yum.

ONE Tubbe, tubbe....

Yikes... I feel so fat. I just ate a McDonald Big N' Tasty, and a large order of french fries... yuck.
Hey.... Before you judge, let me just tell you that I was just trying to celebrate my birthday! Really! I just got off work, and McDonald is the only place nearby that's open after 11:00pm. Seriously, I can't believe that there are more places to go at night in Edmond than there are here, but it's true. I currently live in a very small city/town/suburb.
SIGH
But it could be worse...
SIGH
But I REALLY wanted to go see a movie tonight...
SIGH
but even if I HAD been in Oklahoma, there isn't a movie theater that has showings after 11:30pm...
SIGH
So I got McDonald instead; to celebrate...
SIGH
And now I feel fat...
SIGH
ONE, tubbe, tubbe..............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHELLEY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDYA TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAAAAAPY BIIIIRTHDAY TO SHEEEEEEEEEELLLEEEEEEYYYYY!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUU!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You should look at my blog too!! Tee hee!!

I posted on GinNs blog...

Well... It only seems right that I should post something on my own dead-ish blog since I posted something on Ginny's. Question is: what should I post?
So. Since I don't want to post anything terribly boring(that would be uncharacteristic) I have decided to post a literal thinking puzzle.

A man walked into a bar, and immediately was knocked unconscious. Why?

Okay... and for anyone who may be tempted to ask a stupid question, here's a hint: I did not make any spelling mistakes.

A Day is a Year in the King's Court -4-

Okay... I wrote the next part for you... Hope that you enjoy it! It's.... well... a very interesting part.

A Day is a Year in the King's Court: The Intruder

Catherine was thankful that there was no one else in the room, for she gave a very ungraceful jerk when she heard the sound and then leaped/ stumbled of her bed. She composed herself and went into the library. She heard the man again before she saw him, he was laughing at something in one of her books. She stood in the doorway waiting for him to notice her. She examined him while she waited for him to notice her, and saw that he was quite handsome, but with something hinting at arrogance about him. When he did notice her, she said, "Ahem." In a very I-am-making-myself-noticed-because-you're-too-stupid-to-notice tone.
The man lazily looked up and then said, "How did you get in here, and who are you?"
Catherine was understandably indignant and replied, "Pardon me, but it is I who have the right to ask that question, not you. It so happens that these are my apartments and you are invading my privacy. I would appreciate it if you would tell me how you managed to get in. I would also, that you never came here again without permission and a chaperon."
It truly is incredible how those polite words conveyed her meaning more effectively than had she simply said, "Get out of my library and never come back." For the man was truly taken aback at this, but then put on a sly smile and said, "You must be one of the country girls."
Catherine was insulted at having been called a "girl". Her father had not called her a girl since her tenth birthday, and she was certainly not going to accept his degrading tone, let alone the remark.
"Indeed, I am just a country girl who happens to own the library which you have invaded. Since you do not seem to be a gentleman, as a gentleman would have graciously left when a lady asked him, I must assume that you are a guard or servant. As a guard or servant you can have no business with my library, and I must ask you more forcefully this time to remove yourself from my library." Catherine did not truly believe that he was a servant or a guard, his clothes were too elegant for that, but she thought that by insinuating that he was behaving below his station, the man would apologize for his rude behavior, and leave her alone.
Catherine was not normally so forceful. But she'd had a long day, and everyone in the castle seemed so rude, that she had no choice but to be more forceful than she liked.
The man, however, did not seem to mind, but found it all a great joke.
"You really are a country girl if you expect a man's manners to define his station. I am not a guard or a servant, but as you might have known had you more experience, I am a nobleman."
Catherine thought that the title had never been more ill-used.
"In fact, I am... well. I'll not brag about my position, but I'll not have anyone speak to me that way, not even a "lady"." The word "lady" was dripping with so much sarcasm that Catherine wished he'd drown in it.
"I have every right to use this library, as I obtained the key legitimately, and as there has been no one occupying these rooms for years. And.... if I am not mistaken and I'm not. You are merely the daughter of Lady Jeanette, and the rooms will not officially be yours until her death. Even then they do not belong to you because everything in the kingdom belongs first to the king."
Everything in the kingdom did not belong to the king. Catherine thought the man was being a pompous... a.... mule. She just stared at him with immense dislike, and asked him again, "Well then. Since you are, as you say, a nobleman, then you will be so noble as to leave my library as I have asked you to. And although you may have had the right previously to enter this library at will, you no longer have that right, and I must ask you to give me the key in your possession."
The man smirked, looked as if he were going to argue again, changed his mind, reached into his pocket, took out the key and looked at it as he said, "As you wish, lady...."
Catherine did not want to supply her name but could find no polite way out and so finished for him, "Lady Catherine."
"Ah..... Well, Lady Catherine, " he said as he sauntered uncomfortably close to her, "I am Hector, and very pleased to meet you."
He took her hand and kissed it. Catherine tried not to show how disgusted she felt, even as her heart was moving faster because of his close proximity, he was really quite good-looking. But the smile he was giving her was not pleasant for all it's charm.
"There are very few ladies at court with your kind of.... spirit. It is an attractive quality, even if it is a little, shall we say, rustic."
He leaned too close, and Catherine was about to slap him when he turned and sauntered out of the room.

Okay. I know that was a bit... well. It was kinda fun to write, I hope that it wasn't too frustrating to read. I have the next part in my head and I'll get it written as soon as I have more time.
Have a good day!

A Day is a Year in the King's Court -3-

Here you go GinNs :)


A Day is a Year in the Kings Court: Introductions


"Oh, my dear Catherine! Do not be so hard on them, they were only following my instructions. I had hoped that you would be so enraptured by the library that you would not notice until they had done. You see, it is my intention to buy you an entirely new wardrobe. I knew that your dresses would be horribly out of fashion, and I've been planning this for weeks. Do not blame the maids for getting a little carried away."
Catherine was not placated. "I do not care who told them what. Any well-mannered servant would treat property belonging to a lady with more care than this no matter what state that property be in. And if I may say Lady Margaret, although I appreciate your gesture, I would have preferred that you consult me before throwing away my things. As it so happens, I am aware that my wardrobe is out of fashion, and I planned on redesigning my dresses to fit the fashions at court as soon as I had a chance to observe them.
Lady Margaret was unperturbed, "You must call me Aunt Margaret, dear! And don't get so worked up about it. I am sorry that I didn't consult you first, but I wanted to surprise you."
Catherine found that she couldn't stay angry with her decidedly cheerful aunt, and gave into her.
"Very well, Aunt Margaret, I forgive you, but please remember that I only like surprises that do not include ruining any of my things."
"Of course, dear, of course. Now. I have already had a dress sewn for you, based on the measurements your mother gave me, and I am simply dying to see if it fits you! You must try it on at your earliest convenience. My apartment is two doors down to your left, visit as soon as you finish settling in. Oh yes, and these young maids were hired especially to wait on you as I knew that your mother would not think to send any with you. Their names.... oh well. It doesn't really matter, I suppose that you can call them whatever you want and they'll answer. I'm off! I shall see you shortly, yes? Goodbye dear!" And with that, her aunt swept out of the room with a flourish that Catherine had not known was humanly possible.
Catherine considered that cheerfulness was not really a virtue, and lamented how ill her aunt had treated the maids in speaking about them the way that she just had.
There were a few moments of silence before Catherine remembered that her maids were still in the room, and were probably waiting for her leave. She turned to them, and said, "I do not suppose that you young women are used to being on informal terms with the ladies you serve, if you have served any before, but I am afraid that I must insist. I absolutely refuse to treat you as no more than servants considering the close proximity of our living conditions, and the amount of time that we shall be spending together."
The young maids were shocked into silence, and Catherine could not help but feel a little anxious that they like her, and that they not think her to be too capricious.
"First and foremost, I would know your names."
She turned to the maid on the right, and waited for her name.
"My name is Martha, milady."
"And where do you hail from Martha?"
Martha unsure how to answer for a moment, but then replied, "My mum works in the kitchens, and my d... my father is a guard."
Catherine smiled and reassured Martha saying, "Do not be ashamed of your parents, Martha. I am certain that they are honest, hard-working people."
She turned to the next girl who took her cue, and said, " I am called Anne, Lady Catherine. My father is a merchant in the city."
Catherine detected refinement in Anne's speech and asked, "And your mother? Anne is a name for a lady. Is your mother a lady, Anne?"
Anne reluctantly responded, "She was, Lady Catherine. However, when she married my father, she was disowned by her father... my grandfather."
"Do not fret, Anne. Sometimes, the noblest of people are not possessed of a noble title. I am certain that your father is a very worthy man."
Anne dimpled, and earnestly replied, "He is Lady Catherine! I truly believe that he is."
Anne sighed contentedly and then felt badly for having dissappointed her new mistress earlier by treating her things so carelessly. She was ashamed for her ill-mannered behavior, and determined to never behave so again.
Catherine asked the next young woman her name and was surprised when she answered in thickly-accented English, "Olivia, my lady."
"Olivia.... That is a very Italian name. Are you Italian, Olivia?"
"Yes! How did my lady know?"
To which Catherine responded in fluent Italian, quickly explaining about Cecilia, her beloved Italian tutor, and friend.
And then in English for the benefit of the other two maids, "I have spoken Italian since my childhood."
Catherine was excited at the prospect of speaking Italian with Olivia, and Olivia returned the feeling twofold.
"My mother was a lady-in-waiting in Italy too, only, my father was a baron. He lost his land in a small war, and now he is forced here. He is trying work as a merchant, but it is being very hard for him."
Catherine chatted with the girls a little longer and then left them to carry out the rest of their duties. As she left the room, she noticed Mark sitting in a hard-backed chair by the door.
"Why, Mark. I must apologize, I completely forgot about you. I suppose that you are waiting to be dismissed?"
Mark had jumped out of his chair the moment Catherine began speaking to him and was now standing ready to be given orders.
"No, if you'll excuse me for contradicting you milady, but I am supposed to wait on you all day, every day should you wish to give me a task."
Catherine could not imagine doing such a thing, and told him so.
"Mark, I am giving you the rest of the day off, and from now on, it would suit me if you were to find another way of making yourself useful throughout the day, perhaps help in the stables, and just check to see if I need anything every few hours. I imagine that will suffice. If I desire to change arrangements I shall let you know. But do not forget to come at eight tomorrow so that you can guide me through the castle."
Mark began to protest, but Catherine insisted, and so he went, reluctant at first, and then happy about his unexpected good fortune in serving so gracious a lady.

That was earlier today. And Catherine had time to consider her situation since. She had not yet gone to visit her aunt about the new dress, and her thoughts were moving ever foreward.
"How am I ever going to get accustomed to this?" She lamented to herself.
"Lord, please help me to accept, and make the best of my situation." That prayer was her last thought before she leapt from her bed, startled at the sound of a man's laughter coming from HER library!