Easter Sunday

Resurrección del Senor

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1650-60

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia.

Wishing all a beautiful Easter filled with blessings.

Good Friday

Christ on the Cross,

Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 1665

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

Because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

O Come, Let Us Adore Him

Bartolomé Esteban Perez Murillo, Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1668

Yea Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning

Jesus, to Thee be glory given

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him

O come, let us adore Him

O come, let us adore Him

Christ the Lord.

A beautiful, blessed Christmas and light-filled new year to all.

Birthday Boy

A few new photos for share in the canine collection for those who enjoy updates on the growing Boxador boy as he grows. A year old on November 27, weighing in (then) at 85 lbs., and still growing!

Dog school:

(Luka in training on the field birthday weekend)

Dog Recess:

The field's for fun too (actually, mostly)

Contemplating his stunning new maturity on the official 1st b-day

And

A man who takes his Advent season seriously:

Luka and his (gutted - in less than ten minutes) reindeer elf

Hope doggie pics make everyone as holly-jolly as they make me and wishing all a beautiful and blessed holiday season.

Pup Parent Affection and Indecision

Giving the raspberry at 23 weeks

At attention at 24 weeks

As a huge fan of art and photography of all sorts and so an equally big fan of Pinterest, I've been adding a photo or two to my Boxador (Boxer/Lab mix) board each week of our newest family member, Luka, as he grows, to share with those other pinners who have a similar board and/or might simply like to pin pup pictures of any kind. On a number of occasions, however, Pinterest seemed to be having some sort of technical difficulty with photos uploaded from a personal computer; whereas pics pinned from a blog or other website work fine. So, I decided to do a blog post to celebrate Luka's six month milestone this past Saturday (weighing in at 54 lbs., for those who'd like to know) so I could pin a picture or two from here. Unfortunately, as an enamored dog mom, I couldn't pick a favorite picture (or two) and so am subjecting any followers to a few more. For those not interested in puppy growth pictures, I apologize, and for those who love any dog picture at all, enjoy!

 The (canine) male model poses, sitting and standing, at 24 weeks

Divine Mercy Sunday

Eternal Father,

I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity

of Your dearly beloved Son,

Our Lord Jesus Christ,

in atonement for our sins

and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Link to the EWTN Divine Mercy Chaplet page, which also includes links to the background of the devotion  and the novena:

https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

Victor King, Ever Reigning

Alleluia! He is risen!

The Resurrection, Fra Bartolommeo, 1516

Wishing all a beautiful and blessed Easter.

Behold

Agnus Dei, Francisco de Zuburán, 1635-40

Readings for Good Friday of the Lord's Passion

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041417.cfm

Christ Crucified, Diego Velázquez, 1632

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Boxador

a.k.a. Luka's First Pup Portrait

And the real (even more beautiful) Luka, our new Boxer/Lab mix fur boy, when we brought him home at 10 weeks:

and at 17 and, yesterday, 18 weeks:

Thank you, Lord, for our wonderful new family member.

Glory to the Newborn King

Hark, the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

The Birth of the Word Made Flesh

Krisi Keley, Nov 2016

Link to a beautiful reflection by Robert Royal: https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2016/12/24/words-and-the-word/

A beautiful and blessed Christmas to all!

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Remembrance

Link to a short history of Our Lady of Guadalupe: http://www.catholic.org/about/guadalupe.php

My deep gratitude for your answer to my prayers, Our Lady, and thank you for taking one of your suffering children into your comforting arms on your feast day to guide him home to your Son.

In Memoriam

Patrick Joseph Roach

13 September 1934-12 December 2015

We miss you so much, Dad. All our love.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: Chaire, Kecharitomene

Chaire Kecharitomene, Krisi Keley, 2016 (after the style of the Esquilache Immaculate Conception by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo)

Luke 1:26-34: And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.
Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said to her; Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.
And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

(The Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version, 2000: Tan Books)

Some links to articles about the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception and the biblical significance of St. Gabriel's unique greeting, Chaire, Kecharitomene (Hail, Full of Grace):

https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marya2.htm

http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=50095

http://kecharitomene.com/

As someone who studied languages and linguistics and who loves words, for me these articles were fascinating in and of themselves, but also, for a reflection on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), is to note not only the significance in the uniqueness of the words in St. Gabriel's salutation, Hail, Full of Grace, but the way in which Mary received this greeting. Namely, that even before God's angel delivered the, seemingly, more astonishing news that she, a virgin, would bear the Son of the Most High, and without having known man (for no word shall be impossible with God), Mary was already troubled by the words of the greeting itself and over what such an extraordinary salutation might mean.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

A blessing filled feast of the Immaculate Conception to all.

A Blessed Thanksgiving

I have much to be grateful for this year, more than can be summed up in a blog post. However, though it can't convey the extent of my gratitude, I would feel remiss not to share my profound thanks for the incredible kindness and generosity of family and friends. Though I don't thank them by name here, for the sake of their privacy, I pray they know who they are, how deep my appreciation, and how much they mean to me. And, above all, my gratitude to the Lord God and His blessed Mother, for giving me the gift of these people in my life, for saving my brother and myself from a truly dire situation, for boundless comfort and strength during a period of deep grief, fear and stress and for countless other blessings this year. No words can express the depth of my thanks. Nonetheless:

Almighty Father,

You are lavish in bestowing all Your gifts,

and we give You thanks for the favors You have given to us.

In Your goodness,

You have favored us and kept us safe in the past.

We ask that you continue to protect us 

and shelter us in the shadow of your wings.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(Prayer of Thanksgiving, Companion Prayers, from the Companions of St. Anthony, Ellicott City, MD)

Wishing all a beautiful Thanksgiving, filled with love, joy and God's bountiful blessings.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Today's Mass Readings from USCCB:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112016.cfm

Novena Prayers to Christ the King:

http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/cking-feast4.htm

Every Human Life

October 2, 2016 is Respect Life Sunday and October itself, Respect Life month.

After recently losing my father, whom my brother and I cared for in home hospice while he suffered terribly as the result of a stroke and dementia for the last several years of his life, and with the Hyde amendment at risk of being repealed, though it's not much to offer, I still felt called, this year more strongly than ever, to a special remembrance of all life to be respected from conception through natural death.

Before attempting fiction novel writing, from a young age I wrote a lot of poetry, mainly with visions of those writings some day becoming song lyrics. That childhood dream didn't come to pass (my music composition skills are of the quality only a parent could smile indulgently at), but I did keep writing lyric style poetry off and on for many years after. This one, from the year 2000, was an attempt to recognize the preciousness of life.

Wonder Why

I thought I’d be a lot of things

Like children do, I dreamed

Of all of them, just not myself

Was preferable, it seemed

What, one in ten childhoods like that?

Two of those can’t bear the pain

And people mourn the wasted lives

Saying what a crying shame

Wonder why it’s not the same

When

A child who’d be a lot of things

If his mother’d let him be

Begins the struggle of his life

From day one, the fight, you see

What difference from the child who hurts

The child who will one day?

Why don’t the two have equal right

To overcome life’s pain?

His parents had high hopes for him

This young man gone so astray

Once such a boy, with charms and gifts

Needles have stripped away

But still, you know, they pray for him

In his quest to dull the pain

The system vows to change his life

To kill potential’s such a shame

Wonder why it’s not the same

When

A child who may or may not be

All his parents dreamed about

Is said to have some handicap

Ultrasound leaves not a doubt

What difference from a wounded mind

A body which must fight

For everything it makes of life

Who’s to judge who’s greater right?

She’d thought she’d be a lot of things

She who’s seen so many years

Some dreams she lived and some have died

Some could not survive her fears

Sometimes she thinks it’s all too much

What has she left but pain?

But her daughter’s girl has asked, “Who’s

  God?”

Not to tell her’d be a shame

Wonder why it’s not the same

When

An old man lies alone in bed

No family to forget

His care has cost us quite a sum

I’m a burden, he suspects

No one to tell him differently

Except the nurse who earns her wage

And learns that she and him share much

He dreamed, she dreams; a shame

We don’t cherish all these lives the same

Wonder why

We don’t cherish all these lives the same?

Krisi Keley 2000

Likewise was a painting I did for a pro-life art show at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, PA in November of 2009:

Where Babies Come From, Krisi Keley 2009

As a writer and, even more, a reader, it's difficult not to quote a line from a favorite book that seems to sum up rather succinctly what respecting life from conception through natural death means to a Catholic like myself, even if the quote wasn't originally referring to any particular moral, religious or political position on the matter.

"We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving." Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Photo courtesy Heartbeat International via Pinterest

Life is a precious gift, every human life is worth the same and must be cherished in every stage and in every condition of physical, mental and spiritual health. I thank my father, an array of recent difficult life circumstances and the Lord for reminding me of that and for helping me to attempt getting my priorities in order. Though the above meager shares of my own work show my contribution thus far has been much too little, my prayers, today and every day, with all those who dedicate themselves to defending life as well as with the lives they defend.

Picture courtesy of Respect Life Program, copyright 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

No Words, Just Stupid Love and Broken Hearts

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets."

Rubeus Hagrid

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Samson

13 November 2005 - 29 July 2016

Please forgive us, my strong gentle boy. If only stupid love and "anything" could have been enough. Despite that you deserve chapter after chapter dedicated to the beauty you brought to the story of our lives, there is simply no prose or poetry, there are no adequate words, to say how much we love you, how much you did for and are to us, and how much we miss you everyday. Give those precious kisses to all the family until we know your luminous hearts again in the Creator. Sweet baby boy, last of our so cherished gifts of God, all our stupid love - always.

Our Dear Boy

Theophilos (Philly)

28 February 2002 - 16 May 2016

My-own-man, proud hound to the core

Our runner supreme, our "sparkle motion"

Still, "Foxweiler (Rotthound?)," whichever - an uncle sure

From accepting brother and constant friend of devotion

Our gratitude for fourteen beyond special years
And for making our lives so much more complete

Of separation, yet sweet remembrance, the tears
'Til in the Creator together, and family joy replete.

We love you and miss you, our dear boy, until we meet again.

Love's Pure Light

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Rest in Love's pure light, Mom and Dad, and in our hearts until we can be in your arms again.

In Loving Memory of

Patrick Joseph Roach

13 September 1934-

12 December 2015

                                

A beautiful and blessed Christmas to all.

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart

Prayer to the Sacred Heart

 

May Your Heart dwell always in our hearts!

May Your Blood ever flow in the veins of our souls!

Sun of our hearts, You give life by the rays of Your goodness.

I will not go until Your Heart has strengthened me, Lord Jesus.

May the Heart of Jesus be the King of our hearts.

Blessed be God. Amen.

- St. Francis de Sales

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

  I place my trust in Thee.

The True Bread from Heaven

Corpus Christi 2015

Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity

I shall praise the Savior's glory,
of His flesh the mystery sing,
and the blood, all price excelling,
shed by our immortal King;
God made man for our salvation,
Who from virgin pure did spring.

 

Born for us, and for us given,
born a man like us below,
Christ as man with man residing,
lived the seed of truth to sow,
suffered bitter death unflinching,
and immortal love did show.

 

On the night before He suffered,
seated with His chosen band,
Jesus, when they all had feasted,
faithful to the law's command,
far more precious food provided;
gave Himself with His own hand.

 

Word made flesh, true bread of heaven
by His word made flesh to be;
from the wine His blood is taken,
though our senses cannot see;
faith alone which is unshaken
shows pure hearts the mystery.

 

Therefore we, before Him falling,
this great sacrament revere;
ancient forms are now departed,
for new acts of grace are here;
faith our feeble senses aiding,
makes the Savior's presence clear.

 

To the everlasting Father,
and to His Son Who reigns on high,
with the Holy Ghost proceeding
forth from each eternally,
be all honor, glory, blessing,
power and endless majesty. Amen.

 

Hymn from the Evening Prayer for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Words: Thomas Aquinas; tr. Edward Caswall; Music: Pange Lingua 87.87.87 Mode III plainsong