Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, and...

...not much else to say. Right now a lot of my creativity is taken up by writing the annual Dadwithnoisykids newsletter as well as writing some other important works.

But we took some time out to celebrate the 14th birthday of Noisykid #4 yesterday. After going to Mass, we went to dinner at a steakhouse(his choice) and after looking at the prices I had to advise the other children on what was permitted and what was not. The Birthday Boy could pick anything on the menu. The other children told me the breadsticks were especially tender last night.

We went to a hunting/camping/fishing/boating store afterwards where I was inundated with children who wanted more 'stuff.' "Wasn't Christmas just last week?" I asked. They all assured me that the cost would be taken out of the balance I owe them for various odd jobs around the house. My children may forget to do their chores, but they never forget the debt I owe them.

Of course I had to return to work today to get back to earning money to pay for all this....

Anyways, here are the two saints we selected as Noisykid #4's patron saints. The one below is St. Louis-Marie de Montfort. I love his books on the Blessed Mother and the Rosary. He wanted to be a missionary to the North American Indians, but God had something else in mind.

Then there is this guy, Bartholomew. He is also known as Nathaniel. He was referred to by Christ as the 'man without guile.' If you read further along the passage which describes the first meeting between Jesus and Bartholomew, you probably wonder what he was doing under the tree, too.

Just paying the 'coffee tax,' I suppose....

Bartholomew was skinned alive, and is an example of how those who follow Christ must shed all earthly attachments, sometimes one's skin, for Our Lord.

Two Memorials

Today we recall the 7th anniversary of Fr. John Hardon, S.J. Please pray for the repose of the soul of this holy priest. While I have my opinion as to where he is, the Church has only declared him 'Servant of God.' So I will continue to pray for the repose of his soul; if he doesn't need them, I am sure he can put them to good use.

Fr. Hardon was a spiritual advisor to the Missionaries of Charity, and celebrated the private funeral Mass for Mother Theresa. His last assignment was in Detroit, and he used to counsel some families we knew. I used to tease my wife that I wish we had enough marital discord to need Fr. Hardon's advice. She didn't think it was funny....she still doesn't.

We used Fr. Hardon's name for one of the Noisykids. We hope that we can raise our children up to become holy men and women.

Yesterday was the Feast of the Holy Innocents. We named the first child we lost after the Holy Innocents: Anastasia Innocent Dadwithnoisykids. We pray to the Innocents daily.

Frustration

After spending days trying to upload another video from the piano recital, I FINALLY got this one landed. Noisykid #4 plays what I believe is Mozart's 'Fur Elise':




Old folks from Michigan may remember this music from the Highland Appliance commercial where the boy records his practicing this song on a REEL-TO-REEL player and then sneaking off to play outside.

Then there is this one of Noisykid #8 which we recorded after the recital - we were having issues with the camera:




I couldn't find the Highland Appliance commercial I mentioned, but here is another one. Pretty creative:

Open Letter from Our Lady of Guadalupe to North America

These people are dancing in my honor!

Dear Children:

It is I, Mother of Our Lord and Savior - and my precious Son - Jesus Christ, who am writing you today. You all know me by many names, many titiles which have been bestowed upon me by the prophets, the Angels, Saints, and Holy Mother Church. Today I wish to address you by the title 'Our Lady of Guadalupe.'

Why? Well, it is to remind you that while I am mother to all mankind - recall what my Son said to St. John while He hung upon the Cross - in a very special way I am the patroness of North America when I am using the title of the Virgin of Guadalupe. December 12th is the day set aside to honor me, and yet I did not see many of you remembering me - or, more importantly, MY SON - on that day. Some parishes had celebrations honoring me, but they tended to be those churches with a large number of Mexican parishioners. Good for them, but I am patroness of ALL of North America - not just that part of it below the Rio Grande. I want to see all of my children in this continent turning toward my Son with love and prayers, and I stand ready to add my prayers and intercessions to yours. I want to see all the many ethnic groups of the United States and Canada remembering me as someone who wishes to intercede for them - even the Irish!

By the way, I checked with St. Jane Frances de Chantel, whose feast day is also on December 12, and she denied getting a host of prayers and intercessions from North America.

I have another reason for writing to you. Next week, on January 1, I am honored with the title of Mother of God. This is a day for you to come to Mass and receive my Son, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. This is a day to consider that Our Lord and Master of the Universe humbled Himself to become the Child of one of his creatures - me. So rather than spending the day in front of the television - you know Michigan will choke in any 'Bowl' game - take the time to worship and adore my Son by acknowledging me as the Mother of God.

I look forward to seeing you.

With tenderest regards,

Your Mother Mary

Feast of St. Stephen

"St. Stephen was stoned, dude!" was the comment of a classmate of mine in high school one day. We all laughed, because this young man was named Stephen, and this particular Stephen was fond of using various substances to generate euphoria and who knows what other kinds of feelings. It is not so funny now, looking back almost thirty years on this incident.

But I digress. Stephen is a family name. St. Stephen was the first martyr, and an example to all of us of the kind of courage we must have in living our Faith - even to the point of death.

St. Stephen also is a good example of how a tremendous good can come out of evil - through Divine Providence. If you recall, the folks who were stoning Stephen left their coats with one Saul, who was observing and approving their activities. Saul went on to have his own personal experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus which led to his conversion. Saul, renamed Paul, became the greatest Apostle to the Gentiles.

Someone once said that the blood of the martyrs would foster many vocations. St. Stephen's life and death would be a good example of this.

PRAYER: Found at this site

St. Stephen's Day Night Prayers
Leading the great saints who radiate from the Christ-Child is St. Stephen, whose feast is December 26. First of the martyrs, he was stoned by the Jews because he courageously proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. His name signifies the crowned. In a day like ours, when hatred of enemies floods the minds of children, the soldier-saint Stephen, who loved his enemies, is an excellent model for them and for us.
On St. Stephen's Day our night prayers at the crib are varied in this fashion from the previous night prayers:

Father:
Christ, the New-born, today crowned blessed Stephen.

All:
Come, let us adore Him.

Mother:
Stephen, full of grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

All:
Thanks be to God.

Father:
You crowned him with glory and honor, O Lord.

All:
You have given him rule over the works of Your hands.

Father:
Let us pray. Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies; because we now solemnize his martyrdom who knew how to pray even for his persecutors to our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth forever. Alleluia.

All:
Alleluia.

Another Performance by a Noisy Kid

Another Noisy Kid sends his Christmas greetings to you in song:



I couldn't resist.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Special Christmas Wish in Song - UPDATE

The wireless internet is down again. I am sending this via my blackberry, but I really wanted to include a youtube video of the tune that goes with this song. I shall do that later.... LIKE NOW



This song is called "I want a Positive Pregnancy Test for Christmas," and is based on the tune for "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."

HERE IS THE VIDEO WITH THE TUNE IN IT




Enjoy. Merry Christmas.





I want a positive pregnancy test for Christmas

Only a positive pregnancy test will do

No false alarms

I want morning sickness

All that I like are cute maternity dresses



I want to conceive twin baby girls for Christmas

If not, I know twin baby boys will do

Skip the iPod

Or a new Mustang

Raising up children of God is my favorite thang



I can see me now on Christmas morning

waiting in a chair

Oh what joy and what surprise

When I open up my eyes and see a little plus sign showing there



I want to raise up another child for Jesus

That's what my vocation calls me to

Use NFP

Detect ovulation

But only to participate in the gift of God's Creation!



(Musical interlude)



People say we're nuts, with overpopulation

But we know that there's lots of room up in Heaven



(Musical interlude)



There's lots of room, remodel the garage

God always provides, you get the message!



I can see me now on Christmas morning

waiting in a chair

Oh what joy and what surprise

When I open up my eyes and see a little plus sign showing there



I want a positive pregnancy test for Christmas

Only a positive pregnancy test will do

No false alarms

I want morning sickness

All that I like are cute maternity dresses

And cute maternity dresses like me too!

Piano Recital - Noisykid #6

Here is Noisykid #6 playing Carol of the Bells at a piano recital on December 16, 2007:

A Very Billy Christmas - UPDATE

Found at this place, I am happy to bring you what will surely be a tradition in your family as it is in mine:

Update: I removed the video because it always took forever to load. Go to the blog above to see the video.
12.26.2007

Lead, Kindly Light - Prayer #5 of the 1001

Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th' encircling gloom
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home --
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene -- one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that Thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile

John Henry Newman

Why I chose this prayer:

This prayer was first introduced to me by my confessor. In the course of discussing my faults and sins, I mentioned how I was faced with a major decision and that I was unsure of the way to go. Father quoted the line in the first stanza about 'one step enough for me' and recommended that I pray that God would show me the 'next step' to take rather than show me the whole trip. There are many times since then that I have just prayed to know what to do next, and it is wonderful to include this prayer in the list of '100 Prayers You Should Say Before You Die.'

Piano Recital

From the piano recital on Sunday. This is Noisykid #7, Daughter #2, 10 years old. The song is called 'Night Train.'

More Prayers You Should Say Before You Die: #2, #3 and #4

#2. "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

#3. "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

#4. "Hail Mary, full of Grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death. Amen."

On another note............................

Take a look at this video of a home-schooling family.

Check out this contest:

SEE THE UGLIEST VESTMENTS HERE

The Crescat has a contest for the ugliest vestments. You will laugh, cry.

The above vestment was featured in the movie Manos, the Hands of Fate, which attained its fame after being featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Kittens for Christmas!

We need to add to the stock of cats we have on our property. I shall be picking up a few of these exotic kittens later this week.

No, these are not Noisykids in the picture.

1001 Prayers You Should Pray Before You Die - Number 1

(This is the first of a series of prayers you should say before you die)

Prayer to God the Father

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Jesus says in Saint John's Gospel: "Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, it will be granted to you."(Jn 16:23). With full confidence in the Truth of Jesus, I turn in Prayer to You, God my Father.
God the Father, in the Name of Jesus, send me the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, come into my Life - from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
Holy Spirit come into my very being. Holy Spirit come into every part of me.

Holy Spirit I ask You to come into my thoughts, my mind, my will, and my imagination.
Holy Spirit I ask You to come into my emotions, my feelings, my senses, and my appetites.
Holy Spirit I ask You to come into my desires, my inclinations, my actions, and my reflexes.

Holy Spirit I ask You to come into every part of my memory.

Holy Spirit I ask You to come into my habits, my attractions, my tendencies, and my convictions.
Holy Spirit I ask You to come into my impulses, my dispositions, my moods, & my outlook on life.
Holy Spirit I ask You to come into every part of me and "whatever" You find in me that is not in complete accord with Your Divine Plan for me, then I totally surrender it all to You, Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, please take it all away and in its place, fill me with Your Divine Presence.

AREAS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Holy Spirit, come into ALL of the areas concerning my personal development.
Holy Spirit, come into my physical development.
Holy Spirit, come into my spiritual development.
Holy Spirit, come into my emotional development.
Holy Spirit, come into my social development.
Holy Spirit, come into my intellectual development.
Holy Spirit, come into my moral development.
Holy Spirit come into every aspect of my personal development and should You find me in any of these areas at a level of development "lower" than where it is proper that I should be, then
Holy Spirit, in Your Great Charity, by tomorrow, please raise me up to the next level.

DOUBLES
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my hunger and thirst for Holiness.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my hunger and thirst for Prayer.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my Faith, Hope and Charity.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my patience.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my confidence and trust in Divine Providence.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my love and appreciation for the Blessed Virgin Mary and for
her beautiful Prayer which is the Most Holy Rosary.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my desire to live the 10 Commandments
and renew this desire in me with every beat of my heart.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my spirit of generosity and self-sacrifice
so that I may more perfectly imitate Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my ability to look at other people O-N-L-Y as you see them.
Allow lust to have no part of me.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my desire and my ability to forgive my enemies and persecutors.
Each day urge me to pray that these people will be blessed abundantly by being led to the Truth.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, allow me to pray this Prayer twice as well tomorrow as I am praying it today.

Holy Spirit, come into my Prayer Life and by tomorrow, double my sensitivity to Your
Divine Guidance.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my love for Jesus' Presence in the 7 Sacraments.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my desire to know You and to love You and to serve You until I draw
my last breath.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my ability to examine my conscience so that I may always recognize my own, personal sins. Each day double my ability to forgive others out of love for You.
Holy Spirit, give me the desire to receive often the Divine Mercy of Jesus. Help me and my family
to go to the Sacrament of Confession regularly – every week or two weeks or three weeks or as often as necessary.
Holy Spirit, guard me from ever displeasing You through mortal sin. Each day double my
distaste even for venial sin.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my ability to center my life on Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit, by tomorrow, double my love for our Lord in the Eucharist - in Holy Communion.
Holy Spirit, grant me daily progress in meditation on the Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ
In order to prepare the spiritual foundation for the Prayer of contemplation.
Holy Spirit, come into my Prayer life and by tomorrow, double my desire for the Prayer "at the
Feet of Jesus"- which is the Prayer of Contemplation.
Holy Spirit, come into my many distractions in personal Prayer. Give me the confidence and self-assurance to know that You will always guide me through every distraction in Prayer back to You and back to my Prayer. Do not allow me to give in to the many distractions in Prayer
but allow me to see them now as opportunities for a deeper Faith in You.
Holy Spirit, strengthen my resolve. Each day double my resolve to do Your Will - ALWAYS above my own will.

Add personal intentions

And finally, Holy Spirit, I ask You to be a guard for me - a sentinel to watch over me today while I am awake or semi-conscious, even when I am asleep.
Holy Spirit I know with Faith that these requests have already been granted because Jesus has
said: "Whatever you ask the Father in My Name it will be granted to you."
I have asked all of these things of You, God my Father, in the Name of Jesus, through the intercession of the Holy Spirit.+In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Paul L. Weinberger, Pastor, St. William Church/Our Lady of Fatima
Greenville, TX 75401, May 13, 2004, Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

Oratory Scene One

Past open Tabernacle's door
A cross, on it Our Savior.
His head is bowed, and knees are bent,
evidence that his life is spent.

But there beyond the cross I see
Infant Jesus and Our Lady.
She sits at ease, composed, at peace
while Jesus plays upon her knees,

stares at the cross and says to me,
"that place is where I long to be."

SMD
12.09.2007
Featherock Retreat Center
Schulenburg, Texas
www.featherock.org

Ein Flug Nach Vorn

If my German is correct, that means 'a flight forward.'

Tonight I shall be starting a silent retreat at Featherock(http://www.featherock.org/). I shall keep the intentions of visitors to this blog in my prayers.

But of course I must continue to pray for one of our family's greatest intention, and incorporate it into a little 'Bad Poetry:'

Another Midnight Prayer

Heavenly Father,
hear my plea, though it is from
a selfish man's heart.

Grant us the blessing
of another child, for with
the great joy it would give us
- once again cooperate
in the act of creation
- it would also get me that
wonderful warmth that only
pregnant women generate
and resulting in lower
heating, electricity
bills in this cold north Texas
winter where my feet are froze
As I lie in bed.

Even a selfish
man's prayers are answered if it
is the Will of God.

SMD
12.04.2007

Good meditation on materialism during Advent

Our friend Bridget posted some thoughts on 'stuff' on this blog HERE. We have the honor of being friends of Bridget's parents as well, and they are wonderful people who live simple lives full of charity. It is always a joy to see them.

Wifeofdadwithnoisykids pointed out that Bridget gave us the idea to only give our children 3 presents. We have done that for years and have not noticed any complaints.

One of the presents for the boys is pictured above. It was the last one at Costco and was listed at 40% of full price. One of my reasons for getting the boys this thing is so they can burn up some of their energy with it. That is also why I like going on walks with them at night - it also gives us a chance to talk about things.

Veni Veni Emmanuel

And So Advent Begins....

From today's Office of the Readings, the first chapter of the prophet Isaiah:

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isaiah kicks some backsides here:


Listen, you heavens; earth, attend
for the Lord is speaking,
‘I reared sons, I brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its owner
and the ass its master’s crib,
Israel knows nothing,
my people understands nothing.’
A sinful nation, a people weighed down with guilt,
a breed of wrong-doers, perverted sons.

They have abandoned the Lord, despised the Holy One of Israel,
they have turned away from him.
Where shall I strike you next,
since you heap one betrayal on another?
The whole head is sick, the whole heart grown faint;
from the sole of the foot to the head there is not a sound spot:
wounds, bruises, open sores
not dressed, not bandaged,not soothed with oil.

Your land is desolate, your towns burnt down,
your fields-- strangers lay them waste before your eyes;
all is desolation, as after the fall of Sodom.

The daughter of Zion is left
like a shanty in a vineyard,
like a shed in a melon patch,
like a besieged city.
Had the Lord not left us a few survivors,
we should be like Sodom,
we should now be like Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the command of our God,
you people of Gomorrah.

Here he takes the gloves off:

‘What are your endless sacrifices to me?
says the Lord.
I am sick of holocausts of rams
and the fat of calves.
The blood of bulls and of goats revolts me.
When you come to present yourselves before me,
who asked you to trample over my courts?
Bring me your worthless offerings no more,
the smoke of them fills me with disgust.
New Moons, sabbaths, assemblies--I cannot endure festival and solemnity.
Your New Moons and your pilgrimages
I hate with all my soul.
They lie heavy on me,
I am tired of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands
I turn my eyes away.
You may multiply your prayers,
I shall not listen.

How often are my prayers and sacrifices an offense to God?

Your hands are covered with blood,
wash, make yourselves clean.
‘Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.
Cease to do evil.
Learn to do good,
search for justice,
help the oppressed,
be just to the orphan,
plead for the widow.
‘Come now, let us talk this over, says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’

Is it any wonder that some of the prophets were killed off? But then again, that's what they were there for: to preach and teach, and correct. Certainly Isaiah was not politically correct in this reading. Every priest and bishop should be prepared to die for his flock - whether that death is one of red martyrdom(rare in our country) or white martyrdom, where

This is a good way to start Advent: to recall our sins, start penance, and prepare internally for Our Lord.

This week I am off work, even though I have to spend two days working on continuing medical education and next weekend on retreat. Be that as it may, I resolve to waste as little time this week as I find myself with my wife and children. This will be my offering this week. Wifeofdadwithnoisykids will be the temporal judge of this...

In your charity of prayers...

This is the type of helicopter I flew in, an Augusta 109:

...please pray for the repose of the souls of three colleagues of mine who died on this day, December 1, 1994. They were the crew of an aeromedical transport team in a helicopter which crashed in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The next day I was scheduled to fly.

There has not been a day since that I have not thought about my friends who died. In addition, it makes me pause to consider how I have wasted so much of my time on this earth. What was a tremendous wake up call has in so many ways been neglected by me over the past 13 years.

I have been blessed with the privilege of remaining 'in the game' to know, love, and serve God on earth, particularly in my vocation as husband and father. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and a dozen living children who are mine to serve, and the privilege of caring for the sick as my means of providing for my family.

So, as I have done for the past few years on this day, and as I should be doing every day, I resolve to become a better steward of the many gifts God has given me. If I remember nothing else from the deaths of my colleagues, I should keep in mind that death may come when I least expect it, rushing at me just as the earth rushed up to meet my friends who fell from the sky.

May the souls of Richard, Janice, and Terry, and all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us.

See last year's post if you are interested HERE

New Holiday

Food for thought for this Advent:



Hat tip to Ted, one of my Air Force colleagues.