1. Until last week, I had no April folder for pictures because I just hadn't taken any pictures this month. What's the point of having a nice camera if you don't use it? Dan's thinking this as he reads it. 

2. I turned 30! Wow, crazy, unimaginable! Once upon a time, I thought that 30 was grown up and people who were 30 must have their lives all in order and everything figured out. Hmmm. By all appearances, maybe I/we are grown up: homeowners, parents to three, responsibilities and bills to pay. But seriously?! I don't feel that old. Like, as old as I once thought 30 was. 

2. I was 30 weeks pregnant the week I turned 30. And now I'm a whopping 33 weeks! The countdown is on, sort of. Feeling huge and knowing I'll be getting even bigger. I've been trying to stay off my feet a little bit to stave off a hip instability that's a pain, literally. This means trying not to be on my feet all day long. Varied success. I'm not a natural couch potato.

 

3. Dan is finishing up his last week of crazy-busy after school activities this week. With his catechism kids receiving their sacraments this weekend, we'll be in the clear for seeing Daddy a little bit earlier in the day and on weekends. Yay! Joseph and John Paul alternately say at various points throughout the day (or even seconds after Dan has left after lunch) "I miss Daddy!" or "I'm miss Daddy!" (John Paul's words). But, the countdown is on until the end of the school year and Dan still has lots to do before baby arrives sometime in June. 

4. We got to hang out with all the Millette side cousins last weekend for Grandma Millette's birthday. Joseph has decided that "Cousins are friends and friends are cousins." Also, that he wants to visit with all his cousins way more than we actually do. 

The "big" kids gathered swords, water guns, and sling shots to "hunt the wolf" (otherwise known as friendly Emma, the dog). This, after the boys tried capturing and attacking the girls. They were easily convinced that the girls needed protecting and could be allies. Emma was thrilled with all the attention. 

Meanwhile, the "little" kids sort of joined in on the fun and smiled awkwardly. Actually, John Paul loves, loves, loves all the attention he gets from his big girl cousins. He cried when he had to go home and leave Marie (10) and Claire (8) behind. We sure could use a big sister over here for a few months, just sayin'.

5. We've been having some great weather of late. In years past, we've been known to still have snow at this time of the month. But it's been gone for a while now and winter clothes packed away. We've had shorts out on a few occasions, but mostly still long-sleeves or a bunny-hug. We'll take a bit of global warming in this province. 

Joseph's new favourite activity is to use the old stroller as some kind of self-motorized vehicle and roll himself around. 

And John Paul runs and runs. I can't get him to hold still for a photo, never mind look at the camera and offer one of his beautiful smiles.

6. Joseph quotes:

Joseph: "Have you ever had a 5-year-old or a 10-year-old before, Mum?
Me: "Um, no..."
Joseph: "Well, you're going to have those kind of old year-olds soon!"

7. John Paul quotes:

John Paul: "Mommy, you not Dod... Daddy, you not Dod"
Me: "Who is God?"
John Paul: "Dod!"

Every time we're ready to pull out the driveway in the van: "Read roll, Mum? Ready rock, roll?"

News to Me

I'm just sitting here, trying to kill a few hours. It's the second night of our student led conferences (formerly parent teacher interviews). I'm too tired to keep working, so I'm just browsing news sites. Boy news headlines are ridiculous.

News stories. Once upon a time people would consider themselves educated if they read the news. Now it is more of a sign of an inability to think. At least with mainstream news. Here are some recent things I've seen...


From CBC:

Restaurants in private homes — sharing economy's latest trend 
Sharing economy now serving home-made meals for dining in or takeout

You can share your vehicle and your house. Now you can cook for strangers too? What next? You can share your... Let's not go there.


And Again from CBC:

Saskatoon Catholic churches to bring in elders to talk about spiritual traditions

Read it there. it's too easy to be negative. Syncretism anyone? Pantheism? More like ecumenism gone wrong.

- - -

From the BC Catholic there is this headline: 
CWL calls for expansion of palliative care

I'm not saying CWLers are old, but at their age flowers scare them.

- - -

CBC's just the best, isn't it?
Regina mother asks neighbours not to feed squirrels

Fearing her son's peanut allergy, a mother asks neighbours not to feed squirrels peanuts

Those darn squirrels, dropping shells all over.

- - -

If only it were this easy. From CTV:

High school student outed as 29-year-old says he didn’t know his age

Isn't it usually people trying to hide their age by saying they're 29?

- - -

For all your important world news, there's CNN:
Girl accidentally runs half marathon

I hate it when that happens.

- - -

Still:
Venezuela orders 2-day work week

Apparently it's to save energy. Such a forward thinking solution.

- - -

From Fox:
Georgia Police: Don't take selfies with 6-foot gator 'Flat Creek Floyd' 

Should you do snapchat instead?

- - -

Meanwhile in Mississippi:
Birthday party for pothole gets Mississippi city to take action

- - -

And watch out for the chef:
North Korean dictator fires missiles to vent at US, says longtime family chef

Nothing like a family chef starting World War III.

- - -

And from the TRENDING section on facebook. Sometimes they're related to what you click. Sometimes they pop up because friends are interested. Sometimes... I have no idea. I guess facebook thinks I need to know this:

Michael Bublé: Photo Shows Singer Eating Cob of Corn From the End

Bryce Harper: Washington Nationals Outfielder Hits Home Run Into Bathroom Against Phillies

Michael Bublé: Singer Comments on Response to Photo Showing Him Eating Cob of Corn From the End

Lance Stephenson: Grizzlies Guard Fails to Get Open for Pass When Guarded by Spurs' Kawhi Leonard

Kobe Bryant: Bids for Bag of Air From Lakers Guard's Last Game Reach $13,600 on eBay, Reports Say

World Naked Gardening Day: Annual Holiday Celebrating Nudism in Nature to Be Held May 7

Sigh. How much longer here?

- - -

One more thing, concerning our blog. Our blog was attacked by, as Fr. Z calls, nefarious ne'er-do-wells. Hits from China and the US are not normal. After running some tests it seems our blog is currently safe. However, if ever you do see something mysterious with it, DO NOT CLICK on it, and please let us know.

Planned Earth Day

Friday, April 22nd, is Earth Day. Or as it is known in the educational world: Christmas. Only pink shirt day can rival earth day. As a teacher I spend great care planning my activities for earth day. Here's what will happen this year:

First, I have encouraged students to not shower leading up to the day. This will conserve water.

I thought we'd start with a fun game of pin the bandaid on the globe. Students must try to put a bandaid on the Alberta oilsands regions, Gulf of Mexico, and Pripyat, Ukraine (Chernobyl). Actually, as I think about it... all areas of earth have been hurt. As long as students put the bandaid on earth they will win. Everyone is a winner. Except for the earth, of course.

We will listen to Neil Young's Monsanto Years album. Over and over.

 For drama we will do earth skits. For instance, we will reenact The Three Little Pigs. In it the pigs will build houses with plastics/fossil fuels, lumber clear cut from Vancouver Island, and then a house of rocks and mud which was safely harvested in an organic manner. The wolf will huff and puff and write a carbon tax ticket to the owners of the first two houses. This won't change the fact that they have environmentally harmful dwellings, but it will somehow make people feel better about themselves.

For math we will do subtraction. For instance, if there were 3,500,000 species in the rainforest, and 20,000 are eliminated each day, how many will be left on this day next year?

Near the end of the day we will gather in a circle and pass around an unlit candle. We will take turns sharing how we have each personally hurt the earth through our actions and omissions. I expect this session to get very emotional.

Finally, to close things off, a B-earth day cake, of course! No candles. All organic ingredients. And it tastes like earth.

Excuse me while I pat myself on the back.

Start at 1:16...

Catholics: Remember Our Faith (?)

I probably should just shut my mouth. But here are a few thoughts. Keep in mind that the following post is written with the presupposition that Amoris Laetitia, though containing many wise teachings, is ultimately a flawed document. I leave it to others, trusted theologians smarter and clearer than me, to explain why.


Amoris Laetitia: Nothing has Changed

Catholics, do we not remember our faith? Catholic doctrine does not change because it cannot change. A pope does not  even define doctrine via an Apostolic Exhortation. Nor does a pope write something vague and then later explain on an airplane that his vague writings are to be understood as changing Church teaching (I thought I told my guardian angel to take away the pope's mic on airplanes?). Can you imagine Pope Pius XII writing a vague Apostolic Exhortation somehow hinting that Mary is body and soul in heaven. Then later in an airplane interview he says: "Yes. Period." to a reporters suggestion that he meant something in his Apostoloic Exhortation. From then the media then trumpets that Pope Pius XII has infallibly declared that Mary assumed into heaven? No, it actually went something like this... on Nov. 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII declared:

"By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."

Additionally, nor does a pope write (or have written by other people...) an Apostolic Exhortation and then say it is to be understood as changing Church teaching because the cardinal presenting the document, in a Q and A section, vaguely suggests of changes to Church teaching. Church teaching has not changed. Persisting in adultery is, objectively speaking, to persist in mortal sin. For valid absolution (needed before Holy Communion) one must firmly resolve to sin no more, i.e. get out of said adulterous relationship. This is entirely unchangeable. Otherwise the foundation of marriage, grace, and the sacraments would be undermined.

And one more thing, the official text of Amoris Laetitia has not been released yet. That document would be in the language of Latin, thereby clarifying and translation issues.

No doctrine has been changed. Catholics, we must remember our faith.


DisUnity

Yet clearly all is not well. Of course there are the liberals who declare that the pope has changed official teaching stuff. For instance, the fallacy-phantam, Cardinal Kasper, calls Amoris Laetitia a game changer. As do most secular/liberal media posts. They do not know Church teaching. Do not listen to them.

Then there are those who decry anything the pope says or does, and have declared him, by their apostolic power granted by God through the blogosphere, a heretic and one worthy of being chewed by Satan in the 9th circle of hell. Yes, we should not listen to them either.

Then things get more dicey. There are some, a vocal minority I think, who trump whatever Pope Francis says as perfect. They continually post memes and pictures of Pope Francis, often with some nice words or of a hug given to a disabled person (the picture on the left was posted by Fr. Larry Richards on facebook). They denounce anyone who has any issues with what Pope Francis says, and instead give the impression that everything is always great. While commendable in their defense of the Holy Father, I think they do a slight disservice to the Church and even to Pope Francis.

Let me explain.

Many insightful Catholic commentators, Fr. Z, Canonist Ed Peters, Fr. Rutler, Raymond Arroyo, Fr. Murray, etc., have suggested that though doctrine has not changed, the vagueness and insinuations in Amoris Laetitia will produce a change not so much in Catholic doctrine, but rather in practice. Amoris Laetitia has said some questionable things. It is long-winded and unclear in many places. It certainly has the potential to be misused by many in the Church. Now I personally don't know of any divorced and remarried Catholics who are just so bent out of shape in their desire to receive Holy Communion. I figure most people in such situations have simply moved on from the Church. Yet I don't live in places like Germany, where other rea$on$ might influence how to read Amoris Laetitia. In other words, whether or not you are head over heals in love with everything Pope Francis does, perhaps it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to admit that he in fact is unclear in his thinking/writing, and that this lack of clarity is actively being used against the Church. Let that soak in. Pope Francis' writings are being used against the Church.

Why is this important? Because Pope Francis desperately needs our prayers. He needs our specific prayers. Prayers asking for wisdom, for a strong defense of Christ's Church, for more refined words. He needs specific prayers, not an "Everything is Awesome!!!" sing-a-long. So again I say, those who act as though Pope Francis can do no wrong would do better to recognize that his words are causing confusion, and to quietly offer greater prayer and sacrifice in these difficult times.

But this goes for all Catholics. Remember, our faith will not change. We can take great comfort in that. Yet the battle for souls rages on. Pray for Pope Francis.

Combox is closed.

O My Son, My Son, Pick up Your Toys

I am at war with my son. We have a deep and bitter feud which, at the moment, appears irreconcilable. His attitude and I-alone-am-the-Boss mentality reminds me of Absalom of the Old Testament. I am
David. Attacked by my own son. My own traitorous son.

O my son John Paul! My son, my son, John Paul! 

I don't know how it all started. Perhaps it was the fact that he sent me packing out of my own bedroom long ago. Or simply that he just turned two.
Whatever the reason, it all came to a head Saturday night at Mass. He started acting up in the pew. Later at the back of church he started running around and wrecking everything he could. When I told him to stop he looked at me, rather smirked at me, right in the eye, and spoke a forceful: "NO", before going on his way. I, like a good father who pretends to be in charge, went after him. Somehow or other we ended up in the basement of the church having a tussle.

Yesterday he was out playing in the backyard. There was a puddle that caught his fascination. Becca called the boys inside. One boy came. The other stood in the puddle and hit it with a stick. When I went out to call him I was given the familiar look in the eye and the forceful: "NO". Oh he came in eventually. It involved me holding him, like how a bear holds onto a fish fighting for its life. I'm surprised the new neighbours haven't moved out yet. Although our old neighbours used to tell us we were entertaining.

Once inside more kicking and crying ensued. After calming down in his room he was told to say sorry. He looked me right in the eye and retorted: "NO!" He was sent back to his room crying. Again he came out later, and said: "NO!" Five times this occurred. Eventually he spoke a quiet, meaningless "sorry" before coming to eat. At supper he threw his carrot on the floor and demanded more meat. Three times he was rebuked. Eventually he ate his carrot and was given his sought after meat. After one forkful of meat he then demanded more carrots instead.

It's a feud to be sure. I will not break down. He'll thank me when he's older, if I live that long. A stubborn boy. I console myself with the thought that he probably takes after his mother's side. But the fight continues. Everything is a power struggle. Be it such unreasonable tasks as a diaper change, picking up a toy, or not walking in the middle of the road. Joseph must love it. He looks like the second coming of St. Dominic Savio as compared to John Paul. Don't worry, it's just a little war. This too shall pass


I came home today to Becca working in the kitchen, Joseph quietly colouring, and John equally quietly destroying the house. When it came time for him to clean up he instead ran away to the bathroom and started emptying the drawers. More discipline ensued. I discipline kids all day, I shouldn't have to discipline when I get home! Right!? Later when we went out for Mass he demanded that we go to the Latin Mass in Saskatoon instead. We told him maybe on Sunday. "No! Not MAYBE... Now!" His desire for the Latin Mass is charming. His method in demanding it could use some cleansing.


Although I may be tempted to think we've crossed the Rubicon in our fight with this boy, there is still a glimmer of hope. Tonight as Joseph, John Paul and I engaged in one of our wrestling fights, John Paul threw himself at me as he always does. He fearlessly punched at me as I held him in a bear hug. Away we fought. But then he paused for a second... looked me right in the eye, smiled, and kissed my cheek ever so sweetly. We then went back to our fight.

O My Son, John Paul, My Son... 

... would that you would blow your nose before kissing me on the cheek.

Somehow he always wins.

A Perfect Anniversary

Yesterday marked our 6th wedding anniversary. Seeing as we've been around a little bit now, the anniversary went off beautifully. It was well planned, fun, inspiring, and all in all a true grace to our marriage, as every anniversary should be. It began with a trip to Saskatoon on Saturday. We stayed at the Bessborough hotel. In the evening we dropped the kids off and ate at the renowned Samurai restaurant. The miso glazed black cod there is amazing. Afterwards we went to the symphony for a wonderful rendition of Gustav Holst's Jupiter. Very fitting since the tune is used in O God Beyond All Praising which was the recessional hymn at our wedding.
The next day we went to a beautiful Traditional Latin Mass, ate a lovely, low key, brunch at Humpty's, and then strolled the riverbank with the kids on a gorgeous 18 degree and sunny afternoon. For supper we stopped at Boston Pizza in Melfort, and went home to watch a movie before the night was over. Oh yeah, and I gave Becca her new diamond earrings. She gave me a new Makita mitre saw. All around a blessed day.

Yeah...

No, there was no trip to Saskatoon. Becca and the kids are still struggling through colds. Ear aches and head aches were thrown into the mix as well this weekend. So that was pleasant. We made it out to Mass Saturday night. Well, Becca and Joseph did. I had John Paul in a headlock in the church basement for most of the Mass, as he cried, shouted, and all around did his best "terrible twos" rendition.

Our actual anniversary consisted of staying inside, watching Jordan Spieth blow it at the Masters, and making garlic oil for hurt ears. The morning was one of those days that if you didn't hear John Paul cry in over a minute, you had to check to see if he was still alive. The weather was stormy, snowy, and cold. It eventually dipped to 15 below (in the 20s with the windchill). For supper we decided to order a pizza. The pizza place wasn't open. So, long story short, there we sat at our kitchen table with some greasy A&W food. But at least there were no added steroids or hormones! Right? Happy 6th anniversary dear! We're just getting better and better at this.

On one hand, this is all the kids' fault! They get sick. They cry. They make us unable to take a trip to the city. They they they.

They also make the day.

They were so amazed when I added cheese sauce to their morning omelettes. It was the best day ever. Later, when we had A&W, there couldn't have been a more perfect or happier meal. Much better than any $100 plate of black cod. They frequently complimented us on the grub. The sick day inside was spent doing fun activities like playing football, playing a Thomas memory card game, and even having a mom and dad vs. the boys fight! Despite the sickness, tears, headlocks, and a complete deterioration of plans, they made it a fun and hopefully grace filled day.

Perfect indeed.

 And there's left over A&W fries in the fridge too!

 Becca's card to me.

My card to Becca.

Being 2

Two is such a hard age. I'm pretty sure John Paul believes none of us know just how difficult it is to be two. 

Two is all about attitude and letting the world know you are not just part of your mom. It's all about asserting your own will. It's emotional and messy.

It can also be adorable and hilarious. 

See, emotional!?

Fun. Playful. Happy and alone. As long as he remains alone with that dozer. What's with the imaginary stuff in his hands? What's he saying? No clue.

JP: Put baby on couch, Daddy. 

Daddy: Put baby on couch? What if the baby cries?

JP: Put baby in ________ 

Daddy: Really?

JP: Yeah. Eat chili in mine bowl.

Daddy: Is the baby going to have a beard?

JP: Uh... No, I'm have beard. 

Joseph: It's a mustache and beard.

JP: Moostache *laughs*

Daddy: Mustache?

JP: Daddy have mustache.

Daddy: Daddy have mustache? 

Joseph: You have one right up there. (He does not)

Daddy: Is it orange? Where's your orange mustache?

"Do you want to be married, or be a saint?"

So? I guess that's the choice we all face when discerning our vocations. To be married, or to be a saint. Actually, those are the words a past professor of mine once heard his daughter say when she was deciding what role to undertake while playing with others. For some reason those words always stay with me...

Now according to Raymond Arroyo, Mother Angelica said that the biographers of the saints should get 40 years in purgatory for making sainthood seem unattainable. Now of course sainthood is attainable. Chapter 5 of Vatican II's Lumen Gentium is even titled the "Universal Call to Holiness." The point of this chapter is simple: be holy, according to your state of life. Sounds good. Perhaps even simple.

The problem is that whole state of life thing. Not all states of life are equal, at least in practice. I can't help but think of this past Easter Triduum. You see, Becca and I really try to embrace the life of the Church. It is important for families to create ways to bring the liturgical year to life at home, be it dressing up for All Saints Day, making a lego passion scene on Good Friday, or hiding money on spy Wednesday (and walk around saying that Judas is "the bad one"). It's all important. The issue though is that these practices are separate from actual in-church practices. We can make Easter bread and paint eggs all we want, but what about actually going to the three hour Easter vigil? With little boys. Boys who never sleep in church. Or stop moving. Well this year we tried the vigil.

Here I am with the boys. It was one of the four or five times I took them outside during the vigil. We almost went out to Timmies at one point. But the only money I had was for the collection. Plus I think technically it was still a time of fasting. Every time we came back there was another reading going on. Now I love the Easter vigil, or at least beautiful and well done vigils. We attended such a vigil. But the boys, namely John Paul, chased me out for most of it. By the end they were zombies. Tired. Confused. Emotional (but still better than the other boys at the vigil!). It was tough slugging. We then went back to the hotel room for a little party, but they couldn't handle much of that, so we went to bed. John Paul then proceeded to sing in bed for a long while afterwards. How cute. We got up early the next morning to then attend the Easter morning Traditional Latin Mass. It was all so beautiful. Really. My soul gives a big *sigh* when I just think about it. The boys did very well there. We snagged some food after Mass and drove home. They were out instantly. When we got home we endured the seven most grueling, torturous, despairingly severe, and onerous hours of John Paul's life. You have not encountered misery until you've encountered John Paul deprived of sleep. If I had a nickel for every tear he cried I think I'd buy myself a country or two. Oh yeah, and it was his second birthday.

The Masses were so glorious. But attending them with the boys was, to put it politely, ambitious. Silly me! What was I thinking? Really now... trying to go to the Triduum with a young family! How utterly preposterous! I should know better. "Do you want to be married, or be a saint?" Well I made my choice long ago. Get over it!

No, I can't get over it. I wanted to attend the most important services in the liturgical year, with my family. It was extremely difficult. I think my soul benefited greatly, as did everyone else's. It just cost us nearly an entire week to get our lives back to normal. Do other vocations have such problems? Surely not! Just the married!

Until I actually started to think about it.

Consider the priests. Their Triduum is probably quite burdensome. Tons of planning. Then it comes and they are saying multiple Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies. The vigil is long, yet perhaps not entirely a prayerful sursum corda as it is a concern that everything goes off right. Easter Sunday contains more Masses. Oh, and there would be fasting and hearing confessions throughout the entire weekend. In short, it would be brutally exhausting. I have never, though, read a blog post written by a priest bemoaning the fact that priests are unable to prayerfully enjoy the Triduum because they are too busy, and too exhausted.

Consider the retired. Retired as in, er, elderly. Yes! No kids! They can pray, sing, and party as they see fit. Hmm. Think of the Triduum... Up. Down. Sit. Stand. Kneel. Long. Knees hurt. Hip replacement not working right. Can't hear a darn thing going on. So tired, haven't stayed up this late in a year! Oooow my knees again. Don't show pain. How much longer? And so it continues. I have yet to read a blog post written by an elderly person bemoaning the fact they they are unable to prayerfully enjoy the Triduum because their bodies are putting up a fuss. Not that they are into blogging, mind you.

Consider the single people. Grrrr you single people. No kids! Bodies in shape. They can pray, sing, and party as they see fit. Hmm again... My I look sharp tonight! Here we go. The Triduum. The priest is lighting the Paschal candle. Boy that must be amazing. I think I would like to do that some day. Lord, what is your will for me!?! Oh, look at that family over there with the two young boys being carried out, again. They must be so holy! And happy! Lord, perhaps I should be married? What is your will! Ahhhh. Lord, I NEED to know. I have no peace. Help me. I am in despair. And so it continues. I have yet to read a blogpost written by a single person bemoaning the fact that they are unable to focus on the Triduum because of their muddled minds and souls.

Ok, that last one was a bit of a stretch. The point is, though, that it's always something. There's always something that can potentially distract, or take away from, the grand (liturgical) and prayerful experience offered by Holy Mother Church. That something can become an excuse to throw the hands up in the air and resign oneself to a life of mediocrity. Perhaps Becca and I won't be able to take the kids to the vigil next year. Especially with a new baby. I would be saddened by that. We will be ambitious in our efforts to attend. Our souls pine for it. How ambitious I cannot say. Every state in life has it's struggles. Even with a Triduum. Whether something is possible or not, we cannot use our state of life as an excuse for not getting holy.  Perhaps the question is not: "Do you want to be married, or be a saint?" but rather: "Do you want to make excuses, or be a saint?" Amen.

Now if you'll excuse me, John Paul just woke up and is crying. I gotta go help. That should be worth 40 years off purgatory, right? Thank you, my state in life.

Mother Angelica: A Sad Happy Ending

And so it's over. The legendary tale of Mother Angelica. We arrived home from Mass this morning just in time to hook our computer to the TV and live stream Mother Angelica's funeral. It was a morning of Masses. Yet a Mass of mourning. I half expected some jubilant ceremony with smiles and overall joy at the possibility of there being a new saint in heaven. Instead we witnessed one of the most beautiful, reverent, touching, and yes sad, funerals ever shown on live television. How fitting that it would be Mother Angelica's. And as I sat watching, too many memories flooded my mind. I too became, in a healthy sort of way, sad.

How do I even begin? Mother Angelica. EWTN. It's not like I ever met her. EWTN was just one of those things. It began with this low key Catholic TV channel that one could only get with a giant satellite dish. You know the ones that were about the size of a mini-van? You see EWTN wasn't allowed in Canada for many years by the CRTC. Almost as if a small group of powerful select people in Canada wouldn't allow it. You can read between the lines on that. And so EWTN was slow in taking off.

But it did eventually arrive. And it came just as promised. Daily Masses. Dynamic Catholic speakers giving talks with nickel and dime production value. Mother Angelica Live. EWTN was incredible. We used to laugh at the 30 minute rosary she would pray with her nuns. We'd mock them saying that we could say three rosaries in that time! We're French, after all. There was always a rule in our house that when commercials came on while watching some other station, we had to flip the channel to EWTN. It was always safe. I mean EWTN's "commercials" consisted of saying various prayers, such as a memorare. Sometimes it was a bit much. I remember watching the 3rd period of a Canada/Russia World Junior Championship game once. It was one of the most intense games I ever watched. With 5 minutes to go there was a commercial break. Flip. There was Mother Angelica praying with her nuns. The juxtaposition was a little too severe in that instance. But still, she was always there.

We all have our favourite people on EWTN. We've seen Bob and Penny Lord (RIP), the rise and fall, and then rise again, thanks be to God (and probably Mother Angelica's prayers) of Fr. Corapi and Fr. Francis Mary. We've marveled at Raymond Arroyo (and his ears), as well as the likes of Marcus Grodi, Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, and company. The Masses taught us beauty and reverence, in a Church which has by and large abandoned it. The daily Mass was a Godsend to the many trapped in difficult parishes. We used to affectionately call a little man who sat at the front of the church, every day, and who would frequently sneak a little peak at his watch, "Billy." Then one day "Billy" wasn't there anymore. With sadness we assumed he died. I swear I saw him at Mass there this week, as though he came back for the week to remember Mother Angelica.

The website too was something to behold. I used to come home from work at the gas station at 11pm and grab a snack while reading the ewtn.com question and answers section for an hour or more each night. The website was the foundation for me wanting to learn more about the faith at OLSWA, and then at Holy Apostles College. Later in life Becca and I, when preparing for marriage, found the most useful book/resource to help prepare us for marriage. We have since directed other couples to it.

Oh how EWTN/Mother Angelica was/are hated. I mean hated by certain Catholics. I once met with a priest in Saskatoon who was stating some incorrect teachings about the faith. When he asked me where I had heard otherwise, no sooner had I mentioned EWTN then he flew into a rant about the station, Mother Angelica, how they were owned by billionaires, didn't know anything, blah blah blah. I suspect his hatred was far too common. Perhaps it was all Mother Angelica's fault. She just couldn't keep her big mouth shut. And we're so grateful for that. Think of her legendary rant against the Denver World Youth Day, and how they had a woman Jesus. Not just legendary, but an actual turning of the tide for Catholicism in America. People such as Cardinal Mahoney didn't appreciate Mother Angelica, which made her all the more popular with people such as myself. She was tough. Tougher than all of them. And they knew it. "Holiness is not for wimps, and the cross is not negotiable, sweetheart, it's a requirement."

Most of all I remember Mother Angelica, and EWTN, for my frequent trips driving across county. Driving for 34 hours is taxing. Then I was given a satellite radio with EWTN. It is difficult to describe, but my trips became a retreat. A very very good and holy retreat. Listening to the Mass. Hearing all sorts of talks. Praying with others. Listening to Mother Angelica Live. - As an aside, her words were incredible. Somehow they stuck with you. I remember how she once described walking down the street when a bus came racing off the road towards her. Mother Angelica described that her first thoughts were not: "Oh Jesus, please forgive me my sins and prepare me to meet you," but rather, "Holy crap there's a bus about to hit me!" The message being that we need to prepare for death beforehand, and not expect, or hope for, a deathbed conversion. - My retreats. In the bustle of life, and kids, and work... I sometimes long for them again. After all, as she would say: "If it wasn't for people, we could all be holy."

All of this, and more, came to me while watching her funeral Mass. As it ended we were left with Raymond Arroyo, her biographer and all around good guy, to close the program. With tears in his eyes he gave touching words of our sorrow that she is gone, our promise to pray for her, our hope of her joining Christ in heaven, and yes, very much so, our gratitude for Mother Angelica. It was sad. In a healthy way. A legend passes. One of the few saints I ever "knew." They're all dying off, aren't they? The ones we grew up with. The ones we looked up to and knew that it was still possible to be a saint in this world. Mother Theresa. Pope John Paul II. Perhaps soon Pope Benedict. Now Mother Angelica. In a sense a part of us died with her. We are sad. Yet we are happy. In the back of our mind we hope, and pray... no... we know in our hearts, that someday we will watch a different sort of Mass. The canonization Mass of one holy but fierce little nun. The one who brought Catholicism to our very homes, when all seemed like it was lost. May Our Lord accept Mother Angelica into the joys of paradise.

Thank you Mother Angelica.

 

Thank you Jesus.

Vote NDP

Our provincial election is next week (April 4th). Given that we are just days away, I think it only right that I announce my full out support for the Sask NDP. I hope you will consider my undeniable logical reasoning when you head to the polls.

Yes I went all out in decorating my house this time around. But the truth must be proclaimed. Here are a few things for you to consider...

1) I am a teacher. That means I vote NDP. Period. I checked my own will at the door when I signed up. At first I was a little weary, but now I can say I am proud to contribute thousands of dollars every year to my union so that I can pay for other teachers who need to take mornings off in order to get a relaxing massage. It's what makes us who we are. We vote together as sisters and brothers.

2) Brad Wall wants to get rid of publicly run liquor stores. Has there ever been a more dear principle to Saskatchewan than the right to have all liquor stores run exclusively by the government? Wall's decision will surely cost our province upwards of 3 billion dollars in just five years. I think. That's money that should go to education.

3) Our local NDP candidate, when he was first nominated, said that he would provide a voice for people. Voices are important. Without them it is hard to communicate. At the time I wasn't aware that I didn't have a voice. It scared me to think that I didn't. Thankfully I will soon have a voice again. Moreover, the TV show The Voice is exceptional, or so I hear. I like the sound of voices.  Especially the ones I hear in my head. Plus this is the age of the internet! I should have the right to sit in my house and surf the internet while someone else provides a voice for me.

All in all, as we enter this new month of April, on this first day, take to heart what I say. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go book a massage for when school returns.