Knit and Pray

Catholic woman talks about knitting, sewing, crocheting, cross-stitching, crafting and Catholic Faith and family.

Sunday, May 29, 2005

SOME PRAYERS FOR TODAY

In honor of Saint Benedict here is a litany that anyone is welcomed to say. Also here is a Prayer to Saint Gabriel for Others that is very beautiful.
In honor of Memorial Day here is "A Creed For Those Who Have Suffered" attributed to an unknown Confederate soldier:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things...
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might wise...
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...
I got nothing I asked for - but everything I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!
Praise God He is so good to us, even and especially since we do not truely deserve it!
May everyone who reads this have a wonderful Memorial Day vacation. Let us pray for peace. And in honor of our Blessed Mother whose month of May is almost complete for another year I propose praying this litany. God bless you!!

Friday, May 20, 2005

Time to Think of Others

The day was gorgeous oh God, thank you for so many blessings!!! This trip to the park we had a picnic and it was the first time since having Michael that we all felt well enough to go as a family. The view was wonderful and though the ankles swelled as they are wont to do, I just enjoyed my precious family.
The photo of St. Therese and the huge rose called Mr. Lincoln ( the only surviving rose I planted after being married) is special because St. Therese promised a shower of roses as she promised to do her heaven doing good on earth and I believe she does just that. Too bad the camera just doesn't do the actual rose justice. And the odor is most appealling. My mil has a devotion to St. Therese the Little Flower, and I'd like to honor her as well. In the background is another kleenex cosy. I'll be selling some this fall I hope.
I've added and deleted some links. Check out Daily Stitches and those marvelous quilts! So much talent out there in blog-land and we are priveleged to be able to share our talents with others in this medium. The blogs like Wendy Knits and others who use their talents for the good of others is an inspiration.
I leave this post with one of my favorite litanies. I hope it becomes one of yours as well! God Bless you all!

Greetings from Close Park.

Pretty in green.

Pretty pink flowers.

St. Terese, meet Mr. Lincoln.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

STUFF...

The 12th was the 13th anniversary of my grandma Josephine's passing. It's always bittersweet memories as her life was full of much misery and sorrow, but she had the talent of being the best hostess ever. I always remember a goodly number of people who would at any time of the year come and visit us. My grandma could cook up some fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, buiscuits, and home grown and canned green beans. Mix up some sweet tea and a pie or two. It is no wonder that I've had a weight problem all my life. My grandma fed us real good! I can't write all that this loveing woman had to suffer. It is in my memory and the thorn of watching her cry bitter tears over many years over the many wrong choices people in my family have made.... well, she did her pergatory on earth if any one did. She was a self professed "hard shelled Baptist" and she did her very best to see to it that my younger brother and I went to church every week (sitting at the 5th pew from the front and center). Granddad never went with us, but he never stopped her from doing what she felt was important. She made sure that my brother and I graduated high school and got some college. It is such a consolation that she got to give Norman and me her blessing for our marriage before she died. I know that she must have had something to do with me having boys as she said many times "You've never lived until you've raised a boy." With all the trouble and tribulations she had with her two, I believe she knew what she was talking about.
I miss her so much. She could tell the funniest stories and she knew so many people. My goodness, all I had to say to practically anyone that I was Josephine's granddaughter and they knew who I was, even if they were strangers to me. My grandma had a great reputation that proceeded her. She was a very giving person. If anyone had a fire she would often donate a quilt. Many times her fried apple pies would go to homes where people's loved ones had passed. She was a wonderful, wonderful person to know and I was so very blessed to have her to be my grandma and a serogate mother. So she was on my mind this Thursday as she is almost every day in some way.
Daniel, Michael, and I visited Norman at work Thursday. We got to show off to Carolyn, who hasn't seen Michael since he was born. So ALOHA Carolyn!!! See how our boys have grown!
Today we got to go out to the park and have a picnic. All of us. Yes my ankles swelled and my hip was having some trouble, but I'm hopeful that we'll be able to do more of that as the weeks progress. I'm thinking of rejoining TOPS (take off pounds sensibly) again to help bolster the spirit and help with this poor old bod. I need a boot camp for older mothers I guess, so as to keep up with my sweet Michael, who is rolling around and getting those knees under him just so he can roll over. It won't be long before he'll be anywhere and everywhere he wants to be.
On knitting news I finished a simple shawl but have not blocked or photographed it yet. Daniel and I went to our lys and I got some beautiful Mandalay yarn in a nice blue/green color to make the infamous Clapotis that seems to be the rage. Need to make some more tissue box cosies first.....

Brotherly love.

Good morning Mama!

Sweet baby cheesecake.

I'm ready for my close-up. (This is for you, Carolyn!)

Sunday, May 08, 2005

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Hail, Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

PRAYER TO THE SHOULDER WOUND OF JESUS

O Loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I a miserable sinner, salute and worship the most Sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy Cross, which so tore Thy Flesh and laid bare Thy Bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other Wound of Thy Most Blessed Body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful, I praise and glorify Thee and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Amen.
It is related in the annals of Clairvaux that St. Bernard asked Our Lord which was His greatest unrecorded suffering and Our Lord answered: "I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others and which is not recorded by men. Honor this Wound with thy devotion and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through Its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins and will no longer rememeber their mortal sins."
This revelation and promise of Our Dear Savior is another proof of His unlimited mercy. You are urged to say these prayers daily and to promulgate this prayer on a continuous basis, so that others may share in this blessing.
I do wish to share any and all blessings from Our Dear Savior and hope that if you visit you partake in its merit.
Pictures this time include some from the walk in the Nathaniel Greene Park that Norm, Eric and Daniel took. Michael has been suffering from a yucky cold. Also featured are pics that show my early Mother's Day gift of new ceiling light fixtures (YEAH!), and a new Kleenex cozy I knitted out of some pretty green eyelash yarn that was gifted to our dear friend Carolyn to help brighten her day. I finished the very bright afghan except for the fringe, which I need to get some more black yarn for. Have made some more little red sweaters, and am seeing just how many I can eeek out of the 8oz of Super Saver Red Heart. Have a blessed day ya'll:)

Tuesday, May 03, 2005


King of the Hill.

Norm's favorite picture of the day.

The beauty of spring.

Let there be a new light fixture.

Everyone should have a knitted "grass" cozy for their Kleenex. Amen.