mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply:
Amen.

119 days.

Muñequitos Monasticos: Poor Clares

The Poor Clares, the sisters of the Friars Minor. In 1212, at the advice of St. Francis, Saint Clare founded a community in San Damiano, Italy. Over the course of time various observances emerged.
This caricature is based on a pic I found, don't know which observance or community.
Update: I found out that the pic was of Capuchin Poor Clares

Order of Friars Minor Capuchin here

Order of Friars Minor here

Order of Friars Minor Conventual here

Habemus Episcopus

Earlier this week while the news of Philadelphia getting a new Archbishop made headlines another Franciscan was assigned to take over the See of Savannah. Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop J. Kevin Boland and assigned Father Gregory John Harmeyer O.F.M Conv. as the Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah.

Bishop Elect Hartmayer is a native of Buffalo, NY and has been a Conventual Franciscan for 42 years. He was the pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Lithia Springs, Georgia. He will be the second Franciscan Bishop in Savannah.

Prayers for Bishop Emeritus Boland and for Bishop Elect Hartmayer.

Clip Art VII

The cross of St. James.
St. James, one of Christ's apostles, preached in Samaria, Judea and Spain. According to tradition St. James was martyred in Judea by Herod, after which his body was miraculously transported to Iria Flavia in Spain. His relics can be found in Santiago de Compostela, which is the destination of the pilgrimage known as "The Way of St. James". In the image I used the scallop shell which is a symbol of St. James and the Cross of St. James that is used by the Military Order of Santiago, a chivalric order in Spain originating in the 13th century. The cross can also be seen on the flag of Santiago de Compostela and on the Spanish Army emblem.

Muñequitos Monasticos: El Císter

Cistercian of the Common Observance. They are a Benedictine reform, established in 1098 at Cîteaux (Cistercian comes from the Cistercium which is Latin for Cîteaux)  by St. Robert of Molesme.
I saw some old pics that shows that an older version of their habit had a black cowl, making them look like the O.P. brother cooperators of times past. Currently their habits vary from monastery to monastery. This version uses the type of habit seen in the Polish Cistercians from the Mogila Abbey.

Updated version






Post on Cistercian Nuns here 

Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Happy Feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to all the Carmelites and wannabe Carmelites out there.

May Our Lady of Mt. Carmel keep you under her mantle.

Flos Carmeli

Fos Carmeli, 

vitis florigera, 

splendor caeli, 

virgo puerpera 

singularis.

Mater mitis 

sed viri nescia 

Carmelitis 

esto propitia 

stella maris.

Radix Jesse 

germinans flosculum 

Nos ad esse 

tecum in saeculum 

patiaris.

Inter spinas 

quae crescis lilium 

Serva puras 

mentes fragiluim 

tutelaris.

Armatura 

Fortis Pugnantium 

Furunt bella 

tende praesidium 

scapularis.

Per incerta 

prudens consilium 

Per adversa 

iugie solatium 

largiaris.

Mater dulcis 

Carmeli domina, 

plebem tuam 

reple laetitia 

qua bearis.

Paradisi 

clavis et ianua, 

fac nos duci 

quo, Mater, gloria 

coronaris. 

Amen.

Blessed Kateri

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha is one of my patrons. I've always had a interest in Native Americans, especially the Eastern Woodland tribes. So naturally I took to Blessed Kateri, also known as the Lilly of the Mohawks. Her story is a great one and a great witness to the Faith. Once you get past all the eco-garbage attached to her you get a person devoted to Our Lord despite the consequences.
Here is an outstanding post I'm co-opting from the ladies at Team OPCarm about Blessed Kateri.

VEE: Today is the feast of Bl Kateri Tekakwitha and while I had heard her name many times I had not read about her until today. I was not altogether surprised to learn she died at the age of 24, I tend to be more surprised when saints (and blesseds) make it out of their 20s! rest here

Ipse venena bibas!

Today is St. Benedict of Nursia's feast day. St. Benedict is one of my "patrons". By patron I mean one the the saints whose prayers I specifically ask for on a regular basis. Being a person that suffers from scrupulosity I am a magnet for spiritual warfare. The devil is good at using my weakness against me, but thanks to St. Benedict I have been able to get the upper hand in my spiritual melees. The exorcism prayer on St. Benedict's Jubilee medal has been a powerful rally cry for me.

On the medal you find the initials V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V which stands for "Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas! (Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!)"

St. Benedict had to ward off evil on occasion. He thwarted a poisoning attempt by blessing a cup, thus shattering it and it is said that he was either fed or saved from another poisoning attempt by ravens, so if you see any ravens today you get bonus points for coolness.

Sanctus Benedictus ora pro nobis!

My New Rosary

Not too long ago I got a Rosary from the Hopeful Bride. The Hopeful Bride is a young lady in Florida that is anticipating her entrance into religious life. She makes beautiful keepsake Rosaries, Chaplets, and key chains.
She made me this outstanding Rosary

It has a St. Benedict Crucifix and the St. Benedict Jubilee Medals for the Pater beads and center piece.
If you need a nice Rosary and want to help out a future Sister check out the Hopeful Bride's site. You can choose from her current stock or request a custom made item.

Clip Art VI

A Pelican In her Piety. A pelican striking her breast to feed her young.
This is an image used in heraldry and religious symbolism that represents the shedding of Christ's blood for our salvation.

Pie Pellicane: Updated version

My Neighbor

I got a new neighbor this Spring. It moved into the woods behind my back yard. I've been hearing it screech for a few weeks now and today I decided to go in the woods to take a look. I followed the sound of the screeching and quickly located it, then ran back to the house and grabbed a camera. I'm certain that it's a Red-tailed Hawk. I'm pretty sure it's female too, and has a nest back there and possibly some offspring. I named her Guita, after the Puerto Rican name for the Red-tailed, Guaraguao = Guaraguita = Guita.

When I returned with the camera Guita was still in the same spot, I took a few pics then moved in closer. I was able to get this pic before she got spooked and flew off.

She flew a few trees over and I was able to find her again quickly.

Mofongo

Photo by Salina Canizales

Mofongo, it's great, it's a mound of plantainy, porky, and garlicky goodness.
If you haven't had any you are wrong and must fix yourself right away by getting some, unless of course you live in a place devoid of Puerto Ricans. Maybe if you're lucky you have a Cuban or Dominican restaurant and can get some fufu or mangú, close but they aren't mofongo.