R U God's Pumpkin?

                                               
 A woman was asked by a coworker, “What is it like to be a Christian?”
The coworker replied, “It is like being a pumpkin.  
God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. 
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed
Then He carves you a new smiling face
And puts His light inside of you to shine for all
the world to see.”

Happy Autumn and May God Bless You Abundantly!

Feast of the ArchAngels: September 29th

Angelic Council
(wikipedia)

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

                                                                                                               Revelation 12:7-9

The feast of Saint Michael, one of the seven archangels of Scripture, originated in the sixth century. It was known, in English, as "Michaelmas", and this name lives on in a wildflower, a white aster with many small star-like flowers, that blooms in late September, known as the Michaelmas daisy.
Recently two other of the archangels named in scripture, Gabriel and Raphael, are also honored on this day.

Michael the archangel, whose name in Hebrew means "Who is like God?", is revered as the leader of the angelic army who will conquer Satan and his armies of demons, and is considered the defender of the Church. Michael is more often represented in art than any other angelic being. He is often shown wearing armor, in the act of slaying the great Dragon of the Apocalypse [Satan] in Revelation 12:7-9.

The archangel Gabriel, whose name in Hebrew means "Strength of God", announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zachariah, and soon after, announced to Mary that she was to become the mother of Our Lord. His address to her, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" (the "angelic salutation") is familiar to all who say the Rosary.

The archangel Raphael, whose name means medic or ointment of God, is mentioned by name in the Old Testament book of Tobit (Tobias), whom the angel aided by healing him of blindness and guiding him on his travels.

"We speak of nine orders of Angels, because we know, by the testimony of Holy Scripture, that there are the following: Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. It must be realized that "Angel" is the name of their office, not of their nature. For the holy Spirits of the heavenly homeland are always Spirits, but they cannot always be called Angels; they are Angels only when they are announcing something. Those who announce less important things are called Angels, and those who announce the highest things are called Archangels. And so not any Angel but the Archangel Gabriel was sent to Mary; for this ministry, it was fitting to have the highest Angel, since he was to announce the greatest news of all. These Archangels are also given special names to describe their particular virtue. For Michael means "Who is like to God?" Gabriel means "Strength of God," and Raphael "Medicine of God."
except from the "Sermon  of Pope St. Gregory" Visit:  Women For Faith & Family for full story and for prayers to each Archangel

Did you know, Holy Communion is often called the “Bread of Angels”?
For full article by Fr. Ben Reese go to Angels and the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist

For Fun Family Activities:  Women For Faith & Family
An angelfood cake -- so named because of its pristine whiteness and ethereal lightness -- would be a most appropriate dessert on this feast. It could be frosted with white icing. If you cover the center of the cake with a piece of cardboard before frosting the cake, it will support a small figurine of an angel. Silver dragees could be added for an even more festive look.
Go to: For Angel Food Cake recipe

Prayer
God our Father,
in a wonderful way you guide the work of angels and men.
May those who serve you constantly in heaven
keep our lives safe from all harm on earth.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen

http://catholicexchange.com/2007/09/28/97623/ for more on the Archangels

Feast of St. Wenceslaus: September 28th

 

St. Ludmilla and young Wenceslaus

Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia, was born of a Christian father, Wratislaus, and a pagan mother, Drahomira (who had feigned conversion and received Baptism). Brought up in piety by the holy woman Ludmilla, his grandmother, he was adorned with every virtue and with the utmost care preserved his virginity unspotted throughout his life. His mother, having murdered Saint Ludmilla, seized the reigns of government; but her wicked life, and that of her younger son, Boleslaus, excited the indignation of the nobles. These, wearied of a tyrannical and impious rule, threw off the yoke of both mother and son, and proclaimed Saint Wenceslaus King at Prague.

He ruled his kingdom rather by kindness than authority. He helped orphans, widows, and all the poor with the greatest charity, sometimes even carrying wood on his shoulders by night, to those in need of it. He frequently assisted at the funerals of poor persons, liberated captives, and often visited the prisoners during the night, assisting them with gifts and advice. It caused great sorrow to his tender heart to condemn even the guilty to death. He had the greatest reverence for priests; and with his own hands he would sow the wheat and prepare the wine to be used in the Sacrifice of the Mass. At night he used to go the round of the churches barefoot, through ice and snow, while his bloodstained footprints warmed the ground.

The Angels formed his bodyguard. In order to spare the lives of his soldiers, he undertook to fight in single combat with Radislaus, Duke of Gurima; but when the latter saw Angels arming Saint Wenceslaus, and heard them forbidding him to strike, he was terrified and fell at the Saint’s feet begging his forgiveness. On one occasion, when he had gone to Germany, the Emperor Otto I, at his approach, saw two Angels adorning him with a golden Cross; whereupon, rising from his throne, he embraced the Saint, bestowed on him the regal insignia, and presented him with the arm of St. Vitus. Nevertheless his wicked brother, instigated by their mother, invited the Saint to a banquet. Afterwards, while St. Wenceslaus was praying in a church and preparing himself for the death that he knew awaited him, Boleslaus, together with some accomplices, killed him. His blood is still to be seen sprinkled on the walls. God avenged his Saint; the earth swallowed up the inhuman mother, and the murderers perished miserably in various ways.

Picture: Encyclopedia.com

Saint Wenceslaus won the crown of martyrdom in the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, which he visited on account of their Feast on September 27. He also acknowledged the Feast of tomorrow with his last words at the fratricidal banquet: “In honor of the Archangel Saint Michael, let us drink this cup, and let us beseech him to lead our souls into the peace of eternal happiness.”

Christian de Scala, son of the fratricide Boleslaus the Cruel, and nephew of the Saint, became a monk and wrote the lives of St. Wenceslaus and St. Ludmilla. The feast of the latter is celebrated on September 16.

more information at St. Wenceslaus where this article can be found

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"Good King Wenceslaus" is a popular Christmas carol about a king who goes out to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (the second day of Christmas, December 26). During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by the heat miraculously emanating from the king's footprints in the snow. The legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935), known in the Czech language as Svatý Václav. The lyrics are by English hymnwriter John Mason Neale, and the tune is Scandinavian, from Piae Cantiones.

Feast of St. Vincent de Paul: September 27th

Patron Saint of Charitable Societies

Many parishes have a St. Vincent de Paul Society. It is a wonderful group to be involved in, esp. these days with so many out of work or down on their luck and in need of help. A collection just held was, School Supplies, for children going back to school and in need of supplies. SVDP programs help with food and/or small finances such as paying a utility bill. They can not sustain an individual or family for a great length of time, but long enough to give some immediate relief. The most active time for this society is Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter when food baskets (toys/gifts included at Christmas) are donated by parishioners and given to those in need.  Many SVDP programs have a food pantry and are always seeking food items. Check with your local parishes to see when they collect and what they need the most. Please don't forget that people need food even in the summer. This is when cupboards are bare because many are on vacation. Food and monetary donations are always appreciated. Christ asks us to take care of those less fortunate...let us all make an effort to do so. God Bless!

St. Vincent was born of poor parents in the village of Pouy in Gascony, France, about 1580. He enjoyed his first schooling under the Franciscan Fathers at Acqs. Such had been his progress in four years that a gentleman chose him as subpreceptor to his children, and he was thus enabled to continue his studies without being a burden to his parents. In 1596, he went to the University of Toulouse for theological studies, and there he was ordained priest in 1600.

In 1605, on a voyage by sea from Marseilles to Narbonne, he fell into the hands of African pirates and was carried as a slave to Tunis. His captivity lasted about two years, until Divine Providence enabled him to effect his escape. After a brief visit to Rome he returned to France, where he became preceptor in the family of Emmanuel de Gondy, Count of Goigny, and General of the galleys of France. In 1617, he began to preach missions, and in 1625, he lay the foundations of a congregation which afterward became the Congregation of the Mission or Lazarists, so named on account of the Prioryof St. Lazarus, which the Fathers began to occupy in 1633.

It would be impossible to enumerate all the works of this servant of God. Charity was his predominant virtue. It extended to all classes of persons, from forsaken childhood to old age. The Sisters of Charity also owe the foundation of their congregation to St. Vincent. In the midst of the most distracting occupations his soul was always intimately united with God. Though honored by the great ones of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility. The Apostle of Charity, the immortal Vincent de Paul, breathed his last in Paris at the age of eighty. His feast day is September 27th. He is the patron of charitable societies.

Article St. Vincent de Paul  found on Catholic Online

Reach Out & Touch Someone

I was recently presented with a lovely award and asked to pay it forward to 15 other bloggers. I was thrilled, elated, people actually read my blog and someone liked it! After the initial euphoria passed, came the thought...I don't know 15 bloggers, no make that 30 because my cooking/recipe blog, Cucina Nanette, was also given the award. How do I go about this, I fretted? Find blog sites I like & contact bloggers...Could I find the time? After all, I have 2 blogs to "run", my activities on CookEatShare.com (more fretting), a full time job, a home-life that keeps me busy. That's when I heard that God voice in my head..."Wait a darn minute, Nanette." Does God say, darn..I think He did?
Wasn't it a short while ago that your wonderful friend, Mary (Beautiful Gate), mentioned in one of her posts that it would be nice to  reach out to new bloggers and let them know that someone is aware that they exist...actually cares? Wasn't it Vic & Bernie that agreed, saying that bloggers need encouragement....our encouragement? Mary stated that many bloggers feel ignored, they write and write and no one comments...no one cares. Hurt and disillusioned, some "close up shop".
How sad and even sadder if it involves Catholic blogging. Where's Christ in all of this? Aren't we, His messengers, supposed to lift each other up? Encourage the talents he/she has been blessed with?  Bring joy to a "stranger"? Yes, yes to all these questions. I had the opportunity to do all these things and I was fretting? Shame on me.
So where to start? I went to the Catholic blog directory and began searching. Gems were everywhere I looked. Eventually, I had the blogs I needed...some of them new ones, the ones with no comments, yet. I recalled the first comment I had received and how thrilled I was, now I wanted someone else to experience the same feeling. I even threw in a few not-Catholic bloggers, after all, the apostles didn't preach just to followers, right? So through this I met Maria of This Crazy Life, Mike at My Life and Such, Margo at the Rosary Trail, Grace Marie at the Rustic Home, and other dear, dear bloggers.
I can't reach out to every blogger in the blogoshere, but I can make an effort on a regular basis..and if you reach out to 5 bloggers, and someone else reaches 5 more..just think how many bloggers we can touch. Just think how we are serving God.
So, the invites went out....and I kinda held my breath. Would anyone accept the award....would I get a , "Who the hell are you?" response. I had nothing to fear....the response was terrific! Even Mike, who I thought might say, "A Lovely Blog Award" with a rose and tea cup badge...are you kidding? said, "Wow" and would display it proudly.
Have there been rejections...a few. Would it have been polite to have accepted it and passed it on to just two other bloggers. Yes. But I'm not here to judge...that would be unkind.  Then there are those like Claudia (Pegasus Legend) who is so, so , so busy, who graciously accepted it, but said it would have to wait a bit because of her schedule. Perfectly fine. This is supposed to be fun, not stressful. Send it to 3 bloggers instead of 15....and at your leisure.
This is a random act of kindness. I think God is pleased with the idea and the space we make in our hearts for others. Mary, Vic  & Bernie hit on something God-Approved....to encourage other bloggers to use the talents they are blessed with. To show strangers, as well as friends, that we care. We should always be looking for ways to bring Christ's compassion to others. We are Catholic-Christians, we are obligated to go out of our way..to be inconvenienced sometimes. If I am blessed, then I should be a blessing to others.

also check out: stblogsparish.com  &  catholicconverts.com for new bloggers

Sunday Snippet-Catholic Carnival

What did you post about this week? Stop by the weekly Catholic Carnival and share what you've been blogging. Be sure to visit RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing and check out some posts from other bloggers participating in Sunday Snippets this week.  You're invited to share a blog post or two from last week. Here are my contributions for this week:

Feast of St. Pio
Feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle
A Tribute To God & Country
18 Year Old Italian Woman Beatified

18 Year Old Italian Woman, Beatified 9/25/10

Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, pray for us!

Chiara died on 7 October 1990 at 18 years old. She is to be beatified on 25 Sept. 2010 at the shrine of the Virgin of "Divine Love" (Rome - Castel di Leva) chaired by Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Sometimes we’d prefer that our lives be a different story than the one God seems to be writing.  In our fragile existence it doesn’t take much to turn a romance into a drama, or an adventure into a tragedy.  At a glance, the story of Chiara Badano—an only child conceived after 11 years of marriage, who died at 18 after a bout with a painful form of bone cancer—looks like an empty tragedy, but not from the perspective of the Divine Author.  
Chiara seemed to have everything going for her as a teen.  She had a loving, holy family and a rock solid faith that was nurtured by retreats and youth ministry programs.  She was popular amongst her friends and was liked by boys.  It’s not hard to see why.  She was beautiful.  Chiara loved to hang out in coffee shops.  She was great at tennis, swimming and mountain climbing.  Her outgoing personality and adventurous spirit made her dream of becoming a flight attendant.  Chiara had a bright life ahead of her. 
One day while playing tennis, Chiara experienced excruciating pain in her shoulder.  Shortly afterwards she was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma.  She watched her bright future slip away.  But it’s here that the real story of her life begins—the story of heroic virtue.
Chiara’s joy was explosive and it only increased with her suffering.  After one very pain-filled night she said, “I suffered a lot, but my soul was singing.”   Story continues at link below

By Christopher Stefanick.

Blessed Chiara Luce Badano

Chiara Luce Badano - born October 29, 1971
Died of bone cancer - October 7, 1990
Cause for beatification opened - June 11, 1999
Diocesean Inquiry closed - August 21, 2000
Declared Venerable - July 3, 2008
Miracle Approved - December 9, 2009
Beatification - September 25, 2010

Prayer

O Father, source of all good,
through Your Son Jesus You produce wonderful goodness in those
who entrust themselves to Your  love,
we give You thanks for the Christian
testimony of Chiara Badano.
Inspired by the fervor of Your Spirit,
she found in the union with Jesus
the light to recognize in Love
life's ideal and the strength to offer her youth,
in filial abandonment to Your will,
for the good of the Church.
If it is Your will that
the example of the Servant of God
be proposed to the veneration
of the faithful, we pray that you give us
the grace of ..… for the glory of
Your Fatherly benevolence.
We ask this through Our Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen