St Frances of Rome says....

"A married woman must often leave God at the altar to find Him in her household care."

Source: the Women for Faith and Family Facebook page.

Note to self: get their magazine.

Sleep -- So Nice to Sleep!

Have you ever been So tired that you just must sleep -- but, you can't?

Sometimes I will go for days without sleeping well, or at all. I have tried herbal remedies and concoctions. While they work for some people, one actually caused me kidney stones. Thank you, I'd rather not sleep than go through that again!

I've also tried the prescription medications that are touted as being able to give you a pleasant night's sleep. Have you ever listened to the side effects? Dry mouth, headaches, nausea, feelings of grogginess, suicidal thoughts. Thank you, I rather not sleep than go through that again!

I am of the mind that sometimes it just takes an event to change the sleep pattern -- even if that pattern is caused by hormones. I just had a vicious stomach virus in my family. There was, of course, very little sleep happening, especially when it hit me.

Since the virus has resolved, I have experienced a better sleep than I have had in years. Now, I am not suggesting that we with insomnia all go out and get stomach viruses. But, I do think that there is a connection between the behavior, the change in brain chemistry and the resetting of my sleep clock!

This is just an opinion piece with nothing to back it up beyond my personal experience. I am going to try and look at some of the science later -- now that I've had some sleep. (smile!)

Right now, I plan to start my day in a pleasant mood, reflect on Scripture with my Bible Ladies, and enjoy the rest of the day with my kids who are off from school today. Thank you, Lord --it's nice to feel rested.

Has anyone else with insomnia experienced this same change of sleep pattern as a result of an increase of activity or illness? I'd be really curious to know.

Bishop Loverde to his flock: "Prayer and Fasting this Monday"

From the Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington to his flock:

I invite you to take part in a day of prayer and fasting on Monday, March 15 for protecting the life, dignity, health and conscience rights of every human person in any legislation that Congress considers. I also invite Catholics to pray and fast for this intention beyond March 15.

In moments of concern and crisis, Catholic tradition through the centuries has unfailingly urged the faithful to turn to the spiritual aids of prayer and fasting in order to draw closer to our Lord and His will. Through these deliberate actions, we communicate a desire to avoid sin and unify ourselves with that which is right and good. I firmly believe that, working together while open to God’s wisdom, the citizens of our nation can respect the dignity of each human person both in law and in practice.

The complete letter online

Feast of St Frances of Rome

Poor Frances!  Born in 1384, by the age of eleven she was sure that God was calling her to be a nun.  However, her father was sure Frances was being called to marry (after all, he had arranged the marriage.)

In an effort to do God's will, she finally consented to the marriage.  Her new husband was from a noble family, which meant that the new bride was thrust into Rome's high society.  Doing God's will now meant living up to her mother-in-law's standards of what a society wife should be: attending banquets and paying calls and entertaining.

To her surprise, though, Frances found a kindred spirit in her sister-in-law.  Together they prayed and did works of charity, while performing the roles expected by their family.  When famine came to Rome, they shared as much as they could with the poor.  Frances's father-in-law took exception to her generosity -- how could she give away all their stores when there was a famine on! -- until the contents of the family's granary and wine cask were found to be miraculously replenished.

Over the course of her life, God granted Frances visions (often, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "in the form of drama enacted for her by heavenly personages.")  She was also given the favor of being able to see her guardian angel (who at one point advised her to lay off the bread-and-water and the hair shirt).

Frances continued to persist in her trust in God and in her generosity to the poor through hard years of war and invasion.  She eventually founded the Oblates of Mary, a lay order for women attached to a Benedictine monastery.   After she was widowed, she moved to the Oblates' house to live in community with the other widows of the order:  religious life at last!  She died at the age of fifty-six.

Catholic Online, my main source, has much more about Saint Frances, including this lovely prayer:

Saint Frances of Rome,
help us to see the difference between what we want to do
and what God wants us to do.
Help us to discern what comes from our will
and what comes from God's desire. Amen.

Especially when God's desire comes in a way we're not expecting....

A Little Irish Stew among Friends

Today, a few of the Geniuses got together for food and fun. We had delicious (if I do say so myself) Irish Stew from this month's Cooking Light magazine.

The stew was very easy to make. I used all two tablespoons of raisins from the little single serve box. Peony is here with me and reminds me that we just couldn't wait that extra hour for the simmer, so we shortened the cook time. But other than that, we were by the book. Oh, and there was the matter of the beer. I bought Guinness Stout instead of Draught.

OK, so there were a few modifications. But it still hit the spot. And we didn't even drink the rest of the beer!

Nine levels of prayer

Part one of a series at The Divine Life

Stabat Mater