One Fine Day by Molly Panter-Downes

I finally finished One Fine Day. It really shouldn’t have taken me this long but life (and other books) got in the way. It seemed to drag on a bit and only half way through did I realize that the book was just that, “one day” I  get impatient with books that take place in just one day. (I really dislike the movie Casablanca for this reason, heh. ) But it was well written and a thoughtful book. It takes place in strange times, right after WWII, when all the families are adjusting to peace and the middle class struggles with their lowered standard of living. The introduction in my Virago modern classics edition was good, I enjoyed it more than the book itself.

 

What I’m reading now:

Birth Order Book 

Nurture Shock 

The Calls of Fatima 

 

What are you reading? What have you finished recently? Recommendations?

 

 

Traits Men and Women Want in a Spouse

Apparently  Mutual attraction wins and chastity loses, good health also takes a hit.

The Marriage Debt

The marital debt was never once mentioned in our marriage prep classes or our marriage prep counselling. It’s helpful to know these things. I find it odd how we can talk in great detail (and in mixed company) on the ins and outs of NFP and not even once mention the marital debt.  Here’s a good article on the matter.

A lone bloom

leaned against

the vase’s rim

as fresh and captivating

as baby’s first grasp.

 

The Good Life

My husband graduated from night school this May,  our girls finished another school year, we went to my brother’s wedding, our daughter celebrated her first communion that same weekend, my sister’s wedding is in August, my husband got a great job offer in the South and he’s thinking about taking it, and our ninth wedding Anniversary is tomorrow.  The years have been good and they’ve been full, here’s to many more!

 

So you want a counter-culture?

The Virginia Freeman's Society

Traditions, rituals and ceremonies take centuries to build, and can be lost in an instant. Be careful of your inheritance. – Unknown

The nuclear family must be destroyed…whatever its ultimate meaning, the break-up of families now is an objectively revolutionary process. – Linda Gordon

Since marriage constitutes slavery for women, it is clear that the women’s movement must concentrate on attacking this institution. Freedom for women cannot be won without the abolition of marriage. – Sheila Cronin

“Tribe.” How can there be tribe without clans? How can there be clans without extended families? How can there be extended families without patriarchy? How can clans become tribes without a chief? Indeed, how can there be families at all with divorce, contraception and infanticide and a ‘working ‘mother’? And as far as community goes, can you think of a people less prone to coalesce into community than Americans? – SFC Steven M…

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A girl explains why she is no longer an “altar girl”

A beautiful account.

Julian O'Dea

“B” writes:

“I went through a crappy RCIA during which someone encouraged me to altar serve, and I was also encouraged by a dodgy nun before I knew there were such things.

After a while I started attending Latin Masses, I asked the question one day and someone gently explained to me why only boys altar served. I went on a trad pilgrimage after a year or so of serving and saw the most beautiful liturgy of my life and noticed only men did it, and did so with such a profound respect and solemnity. I chatted to a priest there about it and he encouraged me (in a very fatherly and gentle way) to resign to the bishop (who was a big traditionalist himself but was pressured into having women on the altar by a diocese that hated him).

I did this once I got back and the bishop…

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Novena for Pentecost

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy Love.
V/ Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created;
R/ And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Come, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier all powerful, God of Love, Thou who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the Apostles, Thou who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us. Illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire, and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations. Amen.

Women’s Principal Defect

 

“The principal defect that if a woman can conquer this, if she can conquer this one defect she will excel in all other areas of her spiritual life and that is not controlling her husband. Because the controlling of her husband is the violation of every moral virtue. Every moral virtue. It’s against prudence because your not the head. It’s against Justice because you’re usurping his authority. It’s against fortitude because your basically following the weakness of your emotions and wanting to control him to get what you want. It’s against Temperance because your trying to indulge yourself by making him do what you want him to do so you can feel good about yourself. If a woman can conquer that, there is no other area of her life she can’t conquer. . .Their acceleration into holiness is astounding. ” Fr. Ripperger

He then briefly mentions men’s principal defects: effeminacy and unchastity

Source:

Husband’s Role by Fr. Ripperger

I haven’t listened to this video in it’s entirety but all of Fr. Ripperger’s talks I have heard have been very good. 

P.S. Please remember to pray for Fr. Ripperger.