May is the month of Mary

This is the month of Mary and we are celebrating the Blessed Mother by; saying a daily rosary (trying to make it a habit that sticks), building a Mary garden here at our new home, and attending a delightful concert of Marian hymns called "Songs of Mary" at the Cathedral of St Patrick in Norwich.

It was performed cooperatively with the cathedral choir and the Schola of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. Latin motets by de Victoria, ancient chant, favorites from "The Sound of Music"(the beautiful Latin hymns Preludium and Alleluia which  the nuns sing in the beginning of the film).

It was sublime, Christina slept soundly on my lap, and I enjoyed the music while contemplating the magnificent gothic cathedral, and meditating on Our Lady and special needs children.

I will be reviewing their upcoming CD, Heart of God, to be released May 20.

Just because its springtime: "Annie's Song"

Happy Gaudete Sunday, we're almost to Christmas!

Susan Boyle does it again!

This little lady is blooming like a rose, isn't she beautiful?!

Read about her advance (was anyone surprised?)to the finals of "Britain's Got Talent" and the more amazing apology of the incorrigible Simon Cowell at OMG. "After her performance on Sunday, Cowell was moved to apologize to Boyle, saying she had been poorly underestimated.
"You know what, I just want to apologize because of the way we treated you before you sang the first time," he said. "You made me and everyone else look very stupid and I'm very happy for you, very proud for you."
God is with you Susan, you are setting the world on it's ear!

Bedtime was a nightmare tonight

So I got this link from Jen (Conversion Diary) on Twitter, and now I feel better.

Susan Boyle; overcoming the tyranny of low expectations

As a mentally disabled schoolgirl with frizzy hair, Susan was mocked. She was one of 9 children, and lived with her parents caring for them till their deaths, she attended Sunday Mass and sang in the choir.Her life was one of quiet service.
I'd call her a success, just based on that. However, thanks to her triumph at "Britain's Got Talent" the world is calling her a success as well.
Why did they assume that she was a loser just because she doesn't fit the stereotype of a beautiful slim young vocalist?
If you are too loving to have been one of the crowd who laughed at Susan's dream, then this story will make your day, over at Aliens in this World blog.
UPDATE: I have the embedded video!!

Susan Boyle's pastor speaks

She makes me proud on many levels.

She's a holy woman living her faith in a quiet way, giving her vocal talents to God in her home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes. She is learning disabled, having been deprived of oxygen at birth; I can relate to the pain of mockery(actually on behalf of my daughter who has Down syndrome). I can relate to having people expect little of a housewife with a keyboard, when you are dismissed because of your poor hairstyle, frumpy outfit and less than svelte figure.

AND yet, Susan triumphed, despite the mockery.

Enjoy it my dear, and keep close to your pastor, he'll protect you from the damage fame can inflict upon your soul. Thanks for inspiring me.
Her pastor, Fr Clark says, "It is a great opportunity for her and as far as I am concerned she should make the best of it, and if it lasts, it lasts, and if it doesn't, then it's still more than almost any one of us will ever achieve," he added. "It is important in sustaining her and making sure this is all a very, very beneficial experience."He described Boyle as "a woman of great faith" who was often "very gentle and very caring" though she could also be "needy and demanding."
Here's her fan site.
Read the entire story on CNS.
Update: Collette Home at the UK Herald gets it: "She is a gift to Simon Cowell and reality television. Her story is the stuff of Hans Christian Andersen: the woman plucked from obscurity, the buried talent uncovered, the transformation waiting to be wrought.
It is wonderful for her, too, that her stunning voice is now recognised. A bright future beckons. Her dream is becoming reality.
Susan is a reminder that it's time we all looked a little deeper. She has lived an obscure but important life. She has been a companionable and caring daughter. It's people like her who are the unseen glue in society; the ones who day in and day out put themselves last. They make this country civilised and they deserve acknowledgement and respect.
Susan has been forgiven her looks and been given respect because of her talent. She should always have received it because of the calibre of her character."
Well said, Collette.

Read the entire story here.

No time or money to send Christmas Cards?

We're strapped this Christmas, for both time and money, and so I'm only sending out a few cards in the mail. Instead, I'm sending out these beautiful religious e-cards which promote my favorite new Christmas CD "The Priests". They were featured on the EWTN "The World Over" Christmas special.

Isabella's piano recital

Isabella has a wonderful piano teacher, she is the homeschooling mom who truly understands children, teaches lessons designed for each child, and shares her talent and enthusiasm for music. Bella learned Edvard Grieg's "Morning Mood" and Verdi's "La Donna E Mobile" in only three months, and gained a new understanding of technique and excitement about her playing. Afterwards the homeschooling families had a potluck dinner with the main course a gift from their beloved and talented teacher. The highlight of the dinner was the gorgeous chocolate cake made by our hostess which was a grand piano whose top was a solid piece of dark chocolate. It tasted every bit as luscious as it looked!

After dinner the young musicians enjoyed time outdoors on the wonderful swing on a towering oak tree.

Isabella's parents, sisters, and grandparents(see photo) were very proud of her musically elegant and lively performance.

Summer Symphony

"Next year, I'll camp out at the campgrounds for this event, we'll eat a leisurely dinner, and be sipping wine around the campfire when the New York Philharmonic plays. "

You know what they say about the best laid plans. . .

We didn't go camping but we did enjoy a simple picnic with good friends, and the world's most beautiful music. . .Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky in a free concert by a world class orchestra, followed by Grucci fireworks.

So, who's complaining?

National Down Syndrome Congress Conference

I'm so sorry I couldn't make this conference. It sounded wonderful.

Long Islander Chris Burke was there with his band, singing the theme song from his 1989-1993 TV series, "Life Goes On". I bought the CD when we met Chris at the Buddy Walk in New York City, and it's great. Chris has served as a role model for self-advocates for a generation.

My favorite patriotic song

This is my favorite verse from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" it sums up my love for the USA.

Our Father's God, to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
Of Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King!

A tale of two parks; life with mother

Out till midnight at our Friday evening rosary at a dear friends' home, my daughters went to bed exhausted but happy. Early the next morning, I awoke Gabbi and Bella to accompany me to an advance screening for the film, An Arctic Tale (review to follow) in Manhattan. We have to travel 2 hours to get there, and the parking was $40, so it's quite an undertaking. They slept a bit on the way, and were alert enough to be awestruck by the Loew's Lincoln Square Theatre on Broadway with its 1930's Hollywood-style decor; art-deco murals, rich red carpets, and soaring ceilings held up by pineapple-topped columns. We entered the Majestic Theatre and enjoyed the world of the Arctic for two hours.
Afterwards, I had an inspiration, and asked the girls if they wanted to go to the Central Park Zoo and see a real Polar Bear. We trekked through the park, getting lost numerous times, and finally found the diminutive zoo. We were fascinated watching the bear's powerful swimming style, as viewed from underwater.
Fighting three hours of traffic on the way home, we collapsed into bed for a nap at 5, only to hear the phone ring at 6 with my friends' inviting us to join them in the park for the annual New York Philharmonic concert on Long Island. I dragged the poor girls, three of them this time, into the car with our chairs and some provisions, and off we went again for another cultural adventure.
Their lack of enthusiasm was gently overcome by the sheer beauty of Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" symphony ennobling the treed landscape while we were caressed by the soft summer breezes. Fireworks finished off this amazing day, and this morning, Mom is finally letting the girls sleep in. We'll go to evening mass today, and be thankful Sunday is a day of rest.

My Favorite Catholic Singer

I have known and loved the music of Irish singer Dana since she first burst upon the international scene in 1979 as Pope John Paul II visited Ireland and the USA, with her song, "Totus Tuus". She composed and performed the theme song for World Youth Day in Colorado in 1993, "We are Once Body", sang many more times for Pope John Paul II, and has had two musical TV programs on EWTN since then, "Say Yes!" and "We are One Body". My favorite CD of hers is devoted to Marian hymns, and was the first place I heard the "Salve Regina" in Latin.

I was at one of her concerts in a local church, and her sweet voice and deep faith which her music embodies, made for an unforgettable evening. Her current TV program on EWTN, "We are one Body" airs at 5 AM EST. This morning, she had a program dedicated to the Marian devotion of Hispanic singers Anna Maria Padilla and Miguel Angel Guerra, and showed footage of her serenading the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, with her song, "Lady of Guadalupe".
I'm so glad I caught the program. Dana, along with her hero, Pope John Paul, brought me safely through the tumultous years of the 1980's, when I was growing in my faith, seeking orthodoxy, and struggling with the temptations of being single in a corrupt society. I bought her cassette "No Greater Love" on my 1988 visit to my cousins in Ireland, and drove around the Irish countryside that Easter, singing her songs.
So that's why I couldn't get back to sleep this morning!What a wonderful treat, thank you, guardian angel!

What I buy every year for Christmas

Since I was single, and couldn't wait to be married with children as I am now, I have had a tradition of buying at least one ornament, and one collection of Christmas music. Now, I have some lovely religious items some with precious memories that remind us of Christ's birth.
1. Music (first it was albums, then cassettes, now CDs. but Gaby wants to graduate to downloads!) Guess who's getting an Ipod?
This year we augmented our Spanish Christmas Carol Collection. One of my favorite carols is, "Los Peces en el Rio" (The Fish in the River)which tells a tale of how when the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus were by the river, the fish gathered near to see God incarnate. I'm also buying a copy of Kara Klein's Christmas album. She's a lovely pro-life young singer who has written a moving song about Terri Schiavo entitled, "Do You Still Think I'm Beautiful?"
2.As a newlywed, I nervously bought this large creche display for half price after Christmas, wondering if I was doing the right thing. This began our tradition of collecting Fontannini Nativity figures: we buy them after Christmas when they go on sale, and add them for Three Kings Day. We have amassed a Neopolitan-style display! The girls love playing 'Nativity' with them, which keeps them focused on the birth of Christ. This was one of the best investments I have made.


3. Ornaments: This year, I collected ornaments for the tree all year; I bought this hand carved Peruvian nativity ornament in September from a flea market at the parish I grew up in, and I saw this collection of Catholic saints at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island (or soon to be saints in the case of Blessed Mother Teresa and Servant of God John Paul II). I think they're lovely, and they're virtually indestructible! I attended my cousin Larry's son's Baptism this fall, and received a lovely Celtic cross as a favor, which adds that personal touch to the tree, and reminds my children they are 1/8 Irish. They are half El Salvadorean, 1/4 Italian, and 1/8 Polish, this makes for a truly catholic (in the sense of universal)Christmas celebration.

4. Children's books: this year we bought "The Donkey's Dream" , "St Francis and the Donkey"(do I see a donkey theme here?!), and "Mary, Mother of God", "The Country Angels Christmas",and "Hark, A Christmas Sampler" ,which we loved from our Tomie de Paola Christmas unit. It has made Advent so rich this year, as his stories bring the children's imaginations to the story, and get them involved like few other authors.
See the blue Aunt Chiara's Stellini (star) cookies whose recipe is included in the back of "Jingle, the Christmas Clown". I used almond flavoring instead of orange juice, and they were perfect to celebrate the Immaculate Conception with the Queen of Heaven.
These items serve as what Mother Angelica called 'holy reminders' of our Heavenly Destination.