Catholic Distance University

I started my college career at 18.  However in my Junior year, I quit college because I was scared of debt.  I was already $30,000 in the hole and had another year and a half to go for my teaching degree.  I eventually joined the Air Force and paid my debt.  I also received an Associates degree during my tenure.  I considered "completion" degrees here and there, but almost every one of them was for a business degree or nursing.  I was not interested at all in a business degree and I do not qualify for a nursing degree, so I pretty much let it go.  Until now...


CDU Logo

 I looked into Catholic Distance University.  My husband was flying for an airline, and gone 2 weeks out of 4.  Call it a mid-life crisis but I panicked a little, wondering what would happen to me if he didn't come back (I've been a stay at home, homeschooling mom for almost 18 years now).   Catholic Distance University (CDU) has a Bachelor's degree completion program in a field I'm interested in--Theology.  It can be done completely online.  They've had their online Master's courses for sometime, as well.  CDU also offers catechetical certificates and education credits, and their seminars are wonderful!  This year they've even introduced an Associates' degree program.  You can do it all on line, at your convenience.  Yes, I've done school work at 1AM a couple of times.  I fit my assignments, readings, and research for papers at my convenience. 

So, if you're a stay at home mom like me, or a working man or woman who would like to finish or get a degree, and interested in studying catechetics or theology, you should check them out. 

So go here for the CDU homepage, here for information on their AA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Catholic Studies program, here for CDU's Bachelor of Arts in theology degree completion progree, and here for their Master of Arts in Theology degree.  Also available from CDU, the catechetical diploma,  courses for education credit withour applying to one of their programs, and non-credit courses and seminars for those who just want to learn more about the Catholic faith.  So, go check them out and help me win a free seminar!

Hallelujah in Alaska

You have got to see this!  It is wonderful, especially if you like flash mob videos.  This is sweet!

Rock and Roll

Last night we, here in Oklahoma, had a 5.6 earthquake at 11pm.  It lasted close to half a minute.  It is one of the strongest I've experienced since I was a kid in Seattle.  Two of my kids were awakened and my oldest, who was awake, all  showed up in the living room, asking me what was going on.  I told them it felt like it was between a 5 and a 6.  I didn't know how right I was until this morning!  But what a ride!  It is exhilarating at the same time it is terrifying.  Our whole house shook as if it were on rails.  No damage done--but it sounded like we had monsters in the closets.  It felt like I was "home" again in Auburn (near Seattle), Washington. 

We really are not in charge.  God has us right in His hands. 

More later...

Addendum:  We had another experience about 8 pm Saturday night.  It was "only" a 4.6.  But we were fully aware of the experience.  It was quite interesting to have a thunder storm with a threat of tornadoes, at the same time an earthquake is rocking the house.  Wow!  What is God trying to tell us?!

Happy Halloween!

I know, I know, it's All Saints' Day now, but it was so fun I had to share.  My kids dressed up and went to the carnival at our parish school Saturday night.  There were all kinds of games.  My youngest son's favorite was candy corn bowling--he is obsessed with bowling.  He was, after all, dressed as a bowling ball! (The costume probably cost $4!)  He was devastated when we returned to the game after having gone to the costume contest and they had switched out candy corn bowling for a cone ring toss game.  I'll have to find one of those darn things for him.  He was surprisingly good at the tossing games.  I can only guess that is because he has a basketball hoop, and he has been playing catch with his dad.

Speaking of costumes...my oldest went as a "Steam punk" scientist, costing around $6 for a vest from the second hand store and a pair of spats made of white felt.  The rest of the costume he already had on hand.  My second son was the joker.  His was the most expensive.  I bought a shirt, tie, and 2 green shirts that I cut up to make Joker's green vest.  It cost around $15.  My third son was some sort of gaming character, costing around $10.  My daughter's hippie costume cost me around $5.  Her costume won second place in her category (6-8 grades).  So, all in all not a bad Halloween, and everyone got to dress up as the character they wanted.  They all got their pictures taken as a souvenir of the night--they were free!

Trick or treating tonight was interesting.  I would say about 1 house in 10 had its porch light on, and of those on, 1 in 4 did not answer the door.  It is hard to explain all that to an anxious 6yo bowling ball.  His older sister wanted to go another street but he just wanted to go home.  I got him to compromise, but he complain half-way round the loop home.  Just so you all know...don't sit in your dark driveway in a black hooded robe if you actually want the kids to come to your house.  I don't know about other people's kids, but mine don't particularly want to be scared by a complete stranger in the dark.

Oh, and one neighbor said, "And don't forget to celebrate Christmas."  Huh?  Does one exclude the other?  Not really.  Halloween is actually the Eve of All Saints' Day and has been a Christian celebration for centuries--not always with costumes and candy mind you but a celebration none-the-less.  It was similar to Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas, when people get together, eat a big meal then go to midnight Mass for Christmas and open presents in the wee hours of the morning.  The man's comment just struck me as rather silly.  Halloween was never a celebration of witches and monsters.  It is actually a way of making fun of them and contrasting the silliness of them with the wonderful lives of the holy people we call saints.  Anyway, a Christian CAN celebrate both.  It is perfectly legitimate and perfectly alright.

It struck me as kind of silly, too, that I was carrying about 2-3 pounds of candy in my son's sack, while at home my husband was passing out about the same amount at home.  Silly custom, isn't it?  But the children have such a good time, I haven't the heart to not go.

I found Ben & Jerry's site tonight and got obsessed with some of the fun games on the site.  They have a Halloween section but I'm not sure if it will still be there tomorrow.  I'm going to watch out for Thanksgiving or Christmas games.  Thanks Ben & Jerry's!

Now--Don't forget to go to Mass tomorrow (today).  It IS a holy day of obligation.  That means all good Catholics must attend Mass.  You do realize it is for your own soul's health.  Jesus loves you and wants to see you there!  God bless!  Have a blessed All Saints Day!

Ave Maria

I attended a funeral Mass Monday.  The Ave Maria was sung to the music written by Shubert while the altar was readied for the Eucharist.  I thought I'd share the Latin and English translation here.

Ave Maria Prayer : The Latin text of the Ave Maria prayer

set to the music by Franz Schubert

Ave Maria Gratia plena

Maria Gratia plena

Maria Gratia plena

Ave, ave dominus

Dominus tecum

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Et benedictus

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tui Jesus

Ave Maria

Ave Maria Mater dei

Ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Ora, ora pro nobis

Ora ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Nunc et in hora mortis

In hora mortis, mortis nostrae

In hora mortis nostrae

Ave Maria!

The Latin text of the Ave Maria prayer

set to the music by Franz Schubert

It is the prayer that so many of us, Catholics, take for granted.  Schubert's music and the liturgical Latin just heighten the beauty of the prayer.

Ave Maria Gratia plena

Hail, Mary, full of Grace

Luke 1:28:  Gabriel said, "Hail, full of Grace..." The Church just added her name here because that is the name of the person called "full of grace" by an angel.  Interestingly, the only other time this phrase (Gr. Kecharitomenae) is used in the NT is for her Son, Jesus in John 1:14. 

Ave, ave dominus

Dominus tecum

the Lord is with you

Luke 1:28 cont:  "...The Lord is with you." 

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Blessed are you among women

Luke 1:42:  Elizabeth said, "Blessed are you among women..."

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tui Jesus

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.    

 
Luke 1:42 cont:  "...and blessed is the fruit of your womb."  Jesus' name was added here, for obvious reasons. 

Ave Maria Mater dei

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Luke 1:43, Elizabeth also said, "Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?"
Elizabeth actually becomes the first to use this title for Mary, her cousin. If Mary is full of Grace, then see is holy.  Since we Catholics, and most mainstream Christians believe Jesus Christ to be God the Son, and Mary is His mother, how could one object to this title?  God-bearer (Theotokos) is just as acceptable and just as true.

Ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Pray for us, sinners

Luke 2:34: Simeon's prophecy included, "...so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare."

and in John's Gospel (2:3-5) it says, "3 And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.'  4 Jesus said, 'Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.'  5 His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'

Mary will according to Simeon's prophecy hear the secret thoughts of others and in the Gospel of John, she asks Jesus a favor and prepares for the request to be fulfilled.

Nunc et In hora mortis nostrae

now, and at the hour of our death.

From 2 Maccabees 12, it says, 44 "For had he not expected the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, 45 whereas if he had in view the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the thought was holy and devout."

Amen.

As we can see the "Hail, Mary" prayer can be seen in the tradition of Scripture which is part of the Tradition of His Church.  The Mysteries of the Rosary that we pray every time are Scripturally-based also.  It is a wonderful way to meditate on Scripture.

“Joyful Mysteries” (Mon & Sat)

First Decade: The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
Second Decade: The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
Third Decade: The Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:1-21)
Fourth Decade: The Presentation of Our Lord (Luke 2:22-38)
Fifth Decade: The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)

"Luminous Mysteries” (Thurs.)
First Decade: The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-16)
Second Decade: The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself (Jn 2:1-11)
Third Decade: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15)
Fourth Decade: The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8)
Fifth Decade: The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist (Mt 26)

“Sorrowful Mysteries” (Tues & Fri)
First Decade: The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56)
Second Decade: Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
Third Decade: Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
Fourth Decade: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32)
Fifth Decade: The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-56)

“Glorious Mysteries” (Wed & Sun)
First Decade: The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-29)
Second Decade: The Ascension of Our Lord (Luke 24:36-53)
Third Decade: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)
Fourth Decade: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Song of Songs 2:2,10-11)
Fifth Decade: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (Gn 3:15a) (Jdt 13:18) (Jdt 15:9) (Rv 12:1) (Sir 24:4) (Sir 14:9) (Cor 4:17) (Lk 8:21)(Gal 4:19)
(From CatholicBridge.com)

You can learn the Rosary here and here 

Wonderful Book on the Mass



This is the whole package that is available

 I don't think I can recommend many books as highly as I want to recommend Dr. Sri's current book, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass.  I am only halfway through the book and study guide.  I've seen the introductory video (at our last month's catechists meeting).  This book takes you not only through the biblical roots of the Mass, in what we say and do, but it also takes you through the changes to the wording of parts of the Mass that go into affect this year at Advent.

All of the materials for the parish or for personal use can be purchased from Ascension Press.  I have the book (orange cover) and the student book behind it.  I did not purchase the videos, but our parish did.  It is well worth the viewing.  This book is a must for anyone interested in the changes in the Mass this year or interested in the Biblical roots of the Mass.

Being a Grown Up

I don't know about the few of you who read my blog, but I'm tired of being a grown-up--the only grown up I know sometimes seems.  I feel like I know too much about some people and too little about others.  I have to make all the decisions, and push every one else in my life to do so.  I am the only one who can pick up anything, remind everyone else to pick up anything, or remember to pick up anything.  I am the one who runs all the errands, and must make all the phone calls.  It seems like I am the one who has to make sure everyone eats and breathes. 

Sometimes, I sit dazed at the end of the day wondering--when is my day off?  When is my break?  When do I get to have fun?

I have so long fought for my children's right to be kids that they can't be bothered to do chores, or pick up after themselves.  Now, I'm not even taken seriously unless I'm yelling at everyone.  I don't know when that happened.  I've tried to tell everyone that I don't enjoy being angry, but they don't do anything I say unless I'm yelling.  I hate it.

Being the grown up sucks. 

I need to pray more:

"When night comes, and retrospect shows that everything was patchwork and much that one had planned left undone, when so many things rouse shame and regret, then take all as is, lay it in God's hands, and offer it up to Him. In this way we will be able to rest in Him, actually to rest and to begin the new day like a new life."
[St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - excerpted from Gold in the Furnace, Jean M. Heimann, copyright 2004.]

"Holy Spirit, come into my heart; draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God, and grant me charity with filial fear. Preserve me, O ineffable Love, from every evil thought; warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love, and every pain will seem light to me. My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions. Jesus, love, Jesus, love."
Amen
[St. Catherine of Siena]