Back to school tomorrow for the boys.  And first day in Junior Infants at Scoil Mhuire Fatima for Mary Teresa.  Sigh:

WEE HUGHIE
Elizabeth Shane

He's gone to school, wee Hughie,
An' him not four,
Sure I saw the fright was in him
When he left the door.
But he took a hand o' Denny,
An' a hand o' Dan,
Wi' Joe's owld coat upon him—
Och, the poor wee man!

He cut the quarest figure,
More stout nor thin;
An' trottin' right an' steady
Wi' his toes turned in.
I watched him to the corner
O' the big turf stack,
An...

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Many remain at the foot of the mount who could ascend to the top...I repeat and ask that you always have courageous thoughts.  As a result of them the Lord will give you grace for courageous deeds.

(Meditations on the Song of Songs)



The 25th of May is the Feast of St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi.  From the Hanscom Family blog:

Mystical ecstasy is the elevation of the spirit to God in such a way that the person is aware of this union with God and both internal and external senses are detached from th...

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You know why God made daughters?

Today I was dancing with Mary in the kitchen - she's three (nearly four - June, Feast of Bl Anne of St Bartholomew) so I have to carry her round.  We normally dance to "Dancing Cheek to Cheek" but today we branched out into "Moon River". 
As I was singing and doing a passable waltz around the laundry basket Mary looked at me and said,

"You know Daddy what you should be when you grow up?" 

"What?" says I. 

"A pop star!"
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You know there's a recession on when Dunnes have a massive display of Shredded Wheat at 2 euro a box at the front door.

And you know it's become a depression when you find ten boxes of Shredded Wheat in your utility room!
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Did you count the Virgin's hands in the icon?  Interesting I thought - the explanation is below:

The renowned writer and Church poet, Saint John Damascene, served at the court of the caliph in his youth and was the ruler of the city of Damascus. A native of Syria, he...
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Now count Our Lady's hands.

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My daughter Mary likes to talk - she likes to talk a lot - as do we all of course.  My wife and I were much amused the other evening when Mary began to describe death - "it's when you can't talk anymore".  Or as I prefer to see it, when you don't have to listen.

Well as luck would have it I was reading Pope Benedict's marvellous book on eschatology, handily entitled "Eschatology", and what to I find on page 89 but the following:

"communication is life and its absence, death".

And no footnote to ...
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I see that Prof. Vincent Twomey has entered the fray in defence of the Pope.  I almost missed the story because of all the other articles and letters in defence from the bishops.

I exagerate a little.

Well, a lot.

Perhaps they're remembering him in their prayers.
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I happy feast day to you all.  We're having a "Big Mass" tonight in St Mary's Drogheda to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first Mass in St Mary's.  And tea afterwards in the Wendy Parish Centre.  You know the way a T...
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