Knit and Pray

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

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Prayer For Peace

PRAYER FOR PEACE,
TO MARY, THE LIGHT OF HOPE

(By Pope John-Paul II)

Immaculate Heart of Mary
help us to conquer the menace of evil
which so easily takes root in the hearts of the
people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war,
deliver us.

From nuclear war, from incalculable
self-destruction,
from every kind of war,
deliver us.

From sins against human life from its very
beginning,
deliver us.

From hatred and from the demeaning of the
dignity of the children of God,
deliver us.

From every kind of injustice in the life of
society,
both national and international,
deliver us.

From readiness to trample on the
commandments of God,
deliver us.

From attempts to stifle in human hearts
the very truth of God,
deliver us.

From the loss of awareness of good and evil,
deliver us.

From sins against the Holy Spirit,
deliver us.

Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all
individual human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit
to conquer all sin:
individual sin and the "sin of the world",
sin in all of its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the
history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the
light of hope.

Amen

There Are No Coincidences

Click HERE to read more.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

1720

That's the number of stitches I bound off to make such a nice frilly edge to this round blanket. I used Universal Yarn's Bella DK Tapestry yarn 100% Dralon 3.5 oz. US5 dpn and circular. I knit until I had 43 sts in between stitch markers. I then change to Bernat Softee Baby 100% Acrylic in white and k one round then k2tog, yo one round and k one round. I change to the Bernat Softee Baby in pink and k one round then kfb one round, k one round and kfb one round, k one round then bound off. The bind off took over 2 hours. It measures approximately 30" in diameter. I like the way this turned out and it will be gifted soon.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

You Are Invited

I recieved the following invitation from my dear friend JoAnn and I wanted to pass along the same invitation to anyone who is in the area. May you accept this invitation to be blessed and be a blessing.
Your friend in Christ Jesus,
Lana
*******

Dear Friends,
I would like to invite you and your families to join with ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, in Springfield for the MASS OF THE ANNUNCIATION and CONSECRATION OF THE PARISH TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY on Thursday March 25 (next Thursday) at 7 pm. Rosary will begin at 6:30 pm.
St. Joseph's is celebrating this feast in conjunction with our dear Bishop Johnston who will be consecrating our entire diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady at the same time in Cape Girardeau.
Why the consecration to our Lady and why now?
First, it has been asked of us by our Bishop. In a beautiful article in the MIRROR last December our bishop stated:
"Along with the diocesan consecration, I am also asking all of our priests to consecrate their parishes to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and I encourage each of you to consecrate yourselves individually."
Secondly, it has been asked of by Our Lady.
- In the modern world this devotion began in 1830 with Mary's visit to St. Catherine Laboure asking her to have the Medal of the Immaculate Conception made and distributed to bring conversion and peace to the world. At the direction of Our Lady, the inscription on the medal reads: "Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." This medal is now known as the MIRACULOUS MEDAL due to the countless miracles obtained and attributed to the faith of the people in wearing this medal.
- Then, in 1858, Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France saying "I am THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION", affirming the Church's declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception just 4 years prior.
- In 1917, Our Lady appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal promising "My Immaculate Heart will ever be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."
-In 1981, Our Lady began her visits to the children of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. They continue to this day. Here Our Lady has promised that "The 'peace' of Medjugorje flows from the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a special gift from God." Just as at Fatima, Our Lady once again, at Medjugorje, offers refuge to all who seek her love through her Immaculate Heart. Medjugorje pilgrims are called to spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
-In 1973 Our Lady began speaking to an Italian priest, Father Stefano Gobbi of Italy who began the Marian Movement of Priests, a worldwide movement initiated by Our Lady to mobilize her "priest sons" to "call all my children to consecrate themselves to my Immaculate Heart. It is the message of Fatima which is reaching its fulfillment and is being realized everywhere, through the merciful action of your heavenly Mother. Through it I have asked for the consecration to my Immaculate Heart, as a sure means of obtaining conversion of heart and of life, and of leading humanity back along the road of its return to the Lord." In a recent letter by Father Gobbi, now 80 years old, to his priests he stated: "...as long as the Heavenly Mother gives me the health and the strength, I think that it is my duty to continue the already exhausting mission of leading bishops, priests, religious and faithful to the Consecration to her Immaculate Heart. In fact, these are the times in which the Most Blessed Trinity is showing the power of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in order that her Immaculate Heart be glorified by the Church and by humanity..." In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your little brother, Don Stefano Gobbi Feb 11, 2010
In the same December 11 MIRROR article Bishop Johnston states three main reasons he is consecrating our diocese to The Immaculate Heart of Mary and encouraging all parishes and faithful to do the same:
"HOLINESS...Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is ordered toward our common vocation to holiness; to fulfilling the purpose of our original consecration at baptism, deepened and strengthened at confirmation...Entrusted to Mary and consecrated to her Immaculate Heart, the goal is made closer for each of us.
FRUITFULNESS...Each of us is called to bear 'fruit that will last' (John 15:16)...We are each called to bear fruit in our respective Christian vocations:...While Mary is the Mother of the only begotten Son of the Father, she models that openness and respect for life that Christian marriage exemplifies...Mary is a special mother to all priests...a powerful help for priests to maintain their fidelity and their purity...a comfort and source of strength...in their day-to-day service of the Body of Christ. As she was present at the cross she is present at every Mass. Consecrated religious find in Mary a model of total self-giving which is a special gift to the Church...Those who are living a dedicated life in the Christian single state she serves to model a fair and pure love for Christ that must be at the heart of those who live as single people today...Along with our individual vocations, as a diocesan church we are engaged in many pastoral initiatives that we must entrust to Mary so that they might bear fruit...
PROTECTION...so that our diocese may be protected from evil...In the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help...His (Jesus') tiny sandal, which has slipped off of one of his feet, is a sign of haste with which we should all turn to run to Our Mother's refuge and care...In a similar fashion, Christ bids us to turn to his Mother, entrusting ourselves, our families, our Church to her loving and Immaculate Heart, that we might be consoled, strengthened, and filled with peace to respond in faith to God's will..."
Our Bishop concludes:
"...But in accepting her maternal role as Mother of the Church at the foot of the Cross (John 19:26-27), Mary must now search for all her children who because of sin are not where they are supposed to be, in their Father's house. In consecrating ourselves, with greater resolve each day, we take Mary's hand and allow her to lead us ever closer to Our Father's house. We likewise assist her in seeking out the many around us who are lost and disoriented and know not their way to true peace...The words of ...Pope Pius IX...are fitting for us to recall today: 'We have, therefore, a very certain hope and complete confidence that the most Blessed Virgin will ensure by her most powerful patronage that all difficulties be removed and all errors dissipated, so that our Holy Mother the Catholic Church may flourish daily more and more throughout all the nations and countries...and may enjoy genuine peace tranquility and liberty. We are firm in our confidence that she will obtain pardon for the sinner, health for the sick, strength of heart for the weak, consolation for the afflicted, help for those in danger; that she will remove spiritual blindness from all who are in error, so that they may return to the path of truth and justice, and that there may be one flock and one shepherd.' "
Please join us in this historic CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY and spread the word!
For more information on a personal consecration to Mary see: http://www.fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Preemie Hat From Birthday Yarn


Someone was kind enough to donate some pretty cotton yarn along with some other yummy yarns, but this yarn spoke to me first and I just had to cast on for a Tea Cozy Hat. This used up all the vibrant colored cotton yarn. I love it when there is no waste and everything turns out so pretty:~D

Paris Flea Market Giveaway

Click HERE to enter this fabulous giveaway:~D
You have until March 31.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

46th Birthday


Wow what a wonderful day! Carol at Simply Fibers had let me know that someone had donated some yarn for me so that was our first stop. I bought a US3 circular and some baby yarn that was on sale. Got to talk with my new friend Nelda and got the news that Simply Fibers will be having KNIT-INS on the third Friday of every month! YEAH!!
My dear husband and I then went to the Outback Steakhouse and ordered from their Red, White and Bloomin' menu which goes toward helping our troops. We ordered a delicious bloomin' onion and we each had a salad and steak & shrimp combo. So good! Since it was my birthday I could have had some free ice cream but I declined as I was full enough.
We did the weekly shopping and stopped at Papa Murphy's to get their Chicago stuffed pizza. Man is that yummy! For dessert we had vanilla cupcakes.
I've received so many wonderful birthday wishes. Thanks to you all!!! I truly feel blessed to have lived through this trying year. God hasn't finished with me yet:~D

Friday, March 12, 2010

Multnomah Finished



Measuring 54" across and 14" down the center. I just did 7 repeats of the lace instead of 10. It's a pretty shawlette. I used 3 skeins of the Noro with just a few feet left, whew! I believe it will end up being a gift for a friend. Haven't really decided yet.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Tomorrow is my 46 birthday. I'm just so thankful to be here as last year was not so great with feeling ill and then the surgery on April 15. A lot of changes have happened since then.
Michael is hoping everyone has a wonderful day every day:~D

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Multnomah In Progress


In between burial buntings I've begun a Multnomah shawl using some Noro Lily yarn 30% silk and 70% cotton in a beautiful light purple (so appropriate for this litergical time of year) from the stash.

Something Wonderful Is About To Happen

Catholic Knight has the news HERE about something wonderful that's going to happen on March 25 of this year. So excited!!

Monday, March 08, 2010

Feeling Better



The impatients that were given to me by my friend Dana have started to bloom! A nice surprise for a Monday:~D
Michael has been feeling rather sickly the last few days (he did enjoy making a "nest" in the big beanbag chair). Thankfully he greeted me this morning with a big smile and a hug:~D
Unfortunately we had to miss out on going with Norm, Eric and Daniel to Poplar Bluff for a surprise 90th birthday party for my dear MIL Ruth this weekend. She's officially 90 today!!! It was a really nice surprise for her as 5 of her 6 children got to be there for her. I gifted her with a Clapotis which she says she likes:~D

Monday, March 01, 2010

I Choose Whale

LO V E T H I S ! ! !

Recently, in a large city in Australia ,
a poster featuring a young, thin and tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym.
It said, "This summer,
do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman,

whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster,
responded publicly to the question
posed by the gym.


To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans..)

They have an active sex life,
get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.
They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.

They play and swim in the seas,
seeing wonderful places like Patagonia ,
the Bering Sea
and the coral reefs of Polynesia .
Whales are wonderful singers
and have even recorded CDs.
They are incredible creatures

and virtually have no predators
other than humans.
They are loved, protected and admired
by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.

If they did exist,
they would be lining up outside the offices
of Argentinean psychoanalysts
due to identity crisis. Fish or human?
They don't have a sex life
because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex?
Just look at them ... where is IT?
Therefore, they don't have kids either.
Not to mention,
who wants to get close to a girl who smells
like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me:

I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age

when media puts into our heads
the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight
because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads
that when there is no more room,
it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy,

we are enormously cultured,
educated and happy.
Beginning today,

when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think,
¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨