The past week +

I pulled... two all nighters to finish the Modeling Modesty Handbook* (thanks for your assistance!).

I traveled... to northern WI.

I gave... two presentations (with PowerPoint; that was fun) to 130 or so ladies at the Embracing Your Call to Holiness Conference. Great response, and great event!

I visited... several wonderful families we know in Northern WI, and my grandparents on the way home.

I enjoyed... Sarah home on Spring break!

I felt... the pain of too many priests and seminarians under attack. The battle for souls is at an all-time high.

I welcomed... the first days of Spring.

I saw... A Walk to Remember with sisters and friends for "girls' movie night"

I practiced... for the upcoming Seven Last Words of Christ Performance, the premiere Lenten meditation/passion play of Chicagoland. With nearly 100 performers, it includes a large choir performing Dubois' classical contata (that's where I am), several professional soloists, live orchestra, and actors. Purchase tickets online, or call (815) 727-3018.

I smiled... at my music students' recital last night, and the pleasure of seeing their joy.

I went... from one big project right into another, as I write an Easter Play for my RE Program. As soon as I hit "publish", it's back to that now...

I (just) watched... this inspiring movie. I remember seeing this skilled gentleman last year at the Sacred Music Colloquium. Never say "can't".

I stole (shamelessly)... the style of this post from my sister. :) Love you, sis.

~~~

*To request a copy of the Modeling Modesty Handbook, email me at lily maiden @ sbc global . net (remove the spaces).

Next Weekend in Wisconsin...

...I am thrilled to be speaking at the "Embracing Your Call to Holiness" Women's Conference in Altoona, WI on Saturday, March 6th. If you or a lady you know lives somewhere in that area, please take this as a personal invitation! :)

The online PDF brochure can be downloaded here. You can still register by calling
715-597-2268.

I will be presenting two talks...

Clothed with Grace: Feminine Modesty and the Call to Beauty
Society depends on our authenticity as women, and more than ever has need of our gifts and dignity. This feminine dignity is empowered by purity and protected by the virtue of modesty. What does the Church say about feminine dignity, and what does it teach about modesty? What is feminine mystique? What role does beauty play in the healing of society? While exploring the answers to these and other important questions, we will learn from the inspiring examples of Our Lady and heroic feminine saints to understand the noble call of womanhood.

Raising Marylike Maidens amidst a Culture of Death
In a culture that eschews virtue and encourages vice, powerful influences infiltrate from every direction to affect the formation of our young generation. The challenge is to train our children to be in the world, but not of it. How can we raise young women confident in their identity as daughters of God and filled with holy boldness to resist the darkness? Sharing from her homeschool upbringing and experiences as a teacher and Catechetical leader, Claire will offer wisdom relevant not only to mothers, but to all Catholic women.

Regardless of your proximity to La Crosse, WI, please keep me in your prayers this week as I prepare my presentations, and work to update and replenish my print resources. I also really need to update my website... Holy Spirit, grant me efficiency!

The King's Castle

This morning's Joliet Herald News ran a beautiful article on what has been an immense but delightful summer project for me: organizing a Catholic Kids' Day Camp through St. Joseph Parish.

If you are visiting this blog because of the link mentioned in the newspaper article, welcome! This is actually my personal blog site; but the website of the purity apostolate mentioned in the article is www.rosamysticamodesty.org. If you are not attending the Camp, but are interested in receiving the children's coloring books mentioned in the article, you can email me at stjosephcre @ sbcglobal.net . net (remove the spaces).

If you're looking for information on the Camp, here is a summary...

THE KING'S CASTLE:

Knights and Princesses in the Family of God

~ ~ ~

Not just your typical Vacation Bible School...4 days of Catholic immersion!

When: July 28-31 (Tue-Fri) • 9am to 12noon
For: Kindergarten-6th Grade

Cost: $35/child • Second child in family $15 • Third child free

Limited openings available until July 25 by contacting Claire:

(815) 325-7361 or stjosephCRE @ sbcglobal . net (remove the spaces)

I will try to post some photos after the event!

So Amazingly Appropriate

Today's First Reading:
Heb 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:
God is not unjust so as to overlook your work
and the love you have demonstrated for his name
by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.
We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness
for the fulfillment of hope until the end,
so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who,
through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.

When God made the promise to Abraham,
since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
and said, I will indeed bless you and multiply you.
And so, after patient waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.
Now, men swear by someone greater than themselves;
for them an oath serves as a guarantee
and puts an end to all argument.
So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise
an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose,
he intervened with an oath,
so that by two immutable things,
in which it was impossible for God to lie,
we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged
to hold fast to the hope that lies before us.
This we have as an anchor of the soul,
sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil,
where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner,
becoming high priest foreveraccording to the order of Melchizedek.

~~~

I am continually blown away by the poignant relevance of the liturgical readings to current events. This one covers it all:

God is just
He does not overlook our efforts
He is the source of hope
We can't become sluggish
Faith and patience inherit His promises
Oaths are sacred
He is sure, firm...an anchor

There is more on which I could reflect, if I wasn't in the midst of packing to leave at 5am tomorrow for the March for Life! Please keep me in your prayers, and know I will do the same for you. When I return, I'm sure I'll have plenty to share!

Around the Corner...

Illinois Catholic Homeschool Conference and Vendor Fair

May 23-24, 2008

University of St. Francis, Joliet

Since my mom is coordinating this conference, the Little Flowers Troupe is performing, my resources will be in the vendor hall, and my sister Sarah and I are giving a workshop ("The Fruits of Homeschooling: A Graduate's Perspective"), I will be more than occupied the next few weeks. In fact, if you think of it I could really use some prayer warriors' intercession because what I need to accomplish in the next two weeks is not humanly possible... that means only by the grace of God and the power of prayer will I be ready. That also means that I must leave any and all blogging till after this event is over!

Of course, I can't leave without plugging the conference — especially if you live in IL or the greater midwest! Visit our conference website to see all of its wonderful offerings... including terrific keynotes, wide selection of workshops, Conference Mass with Fr. Pablo Straub, and entertainment by the Little Flowers Catholic Dance and Theatre Troupe.

May the grace and peace of Christ be with you all! Adieu for now!