Happy Birthday Donut!

Dear Philomena,

You truly live up to your name!  You have been and continue to be such a beautiful and loving little girl.  I think we were amazed by how affectionate you were so early on, and we continue to love your sweet embraces and kisses.  

You were definitely the quietest baby after delivery.  I almost wondered if something was wrong, but you were unaware that you were brought into this world.  You were our smallest baby.  How tiny your features were compared to Tobias and Magdalene, but you definitely did not stay tiny for long.  I prayed for a chubby baby, and God granted that wish!  

Your first day home was such a joyful day!  You had an older brother and older sister awaiting your arrival.  Tobias was only 18 months old when you were born, and Magdalene was a little over 2 1/2 years old.  They took their jobs very seriously!  Your madrinha (godmother), grandparents, tias, uncles, other family members, and friends were awaiting your arrival.  

Daddy laughed when he saw how much hair you had.  Hairy and Portuguese just go together.  Sorry!

We were so excited for your baptism later that week!

Like I mentioned earlier, it didn't take long for baby Mena to get her chub!

"What do you mean I'm in the 100th percentile for weight?  Well, at least I'm only in the 15 percentile for height."

Mommy was a little too excited to make you a tutu for your first birthday like your big sister.

Nothing has changed.  You still like the frosting and cream....you don't really eat the cake.

This picture perfectly describes your first reaction to new people or situations.

First tea party with your madrinha (godmother)!

Thank you Daddy for taking me to Disneyland.

Daddy loves to call you donut, and you love it as well.  So why not have a donut party!  

By the way, you had the easiest party ever.  Thank you sweet girl!

Map from Dora was taking you on an adventure on your birthday.  You had clues to presents or destinations to get you to your donut party!

Sure you can have mini donuts for breakfast!

First part of the adventure was talking to Vavo through videochat.

Poor Mena has a hard time pedaling so her birthday present this year from Vavo was a trike that Mommy or Daddy could help push from behind.

She was so excited!  It was like watching her on an exercise bike.  She was pedaling away.

 And she could park her trike like big sissy and brother.

Part 2 of her adventure was hearing a riddle from Daddy the Troll (Dora character).  She had to find a present in the dryer.

Hello Sheriff Callie!  Now on to adventure party three to the new house!  She was going to find her "horse" there.

Daddy traded firewood for a little girl's adventure bike.  He even spray painted some details to make it more fun.

We take a break in this post to write an update on the house.  Our new front door has been added.  Thank you to the wonderful carpenter who placed it in!

Now onto the last part of the adventure.  Donut party!

We had some really excited children!

Happy Birthday Donut!  We could not imagine our lives without your sweet smile, laugh, and personality.  We are blessed to be your parents!

*Thank you to everyone for your birthday treats, calls, cards, and gifts.  You are all so sweet!  She loved opening each card, and then she immediately wanted to draw a picture in each card except for the one she received from Texas.  She wanted to keep opening it over and over and over.  It was sweet to watch her.

*It will be a surprise when Tia Brenda comes to visit.  We plan on doing a party with extended family during her trip so Tia Brenda can have fun too!  I think Brenda and I will be busy baking some donut inspired flavored cakes!

Magdalene's donut decoration for Philomena!

Mother's Day and Crowning Mary

"It's my day too, right!" exclaimed Magdalene.

"Yes, it is.  It's your special day too."

Our sweet and loving five year old Magdalene was super excited about crowning Mary following Mass on Sunday on Mother's Day.

First, I woke up that morning with Magdalene staring at me in bed.  She was beaming and waiting for my eyes to open.  She then immediately gave me a card she had made at Grandma and Papa's house.  "Here! Happy Mother's Day!"

It was so sweet.  How I wish I could wake up so bubbly in the morning!  I smiled, opened her letter, and gave her a big hug.  It was such a thoughtful gesture.  Magdalene was then ready to start dressing for her big day to crown Blessed Mother!

Tobias and Philomena were excited about giving their roses to Mary as well.

It seemed very fitting to crown our Blessed Mother on Mother's Day!

I noticed a little anxiousness in Magdalene before she went down the aisle to crown Mary.  I gently reminded her, "Remember to give her your heart today."   She smiled and was ready to go!

Daddy was waiting for her near the statue and helped her out.  Following the crowning, all the children presented flowers to our dear Mother.

I think one of my favorite parts about the crowning ceremony was hearing this hymn that I had never heard before, but I heard a few older women in our parish start to sing.  It was so beautiful and simple.

On our way home Tobias was very excited about giving water to his white rose. It was so sweet to see him so concerned about making sure his rose would be able to stay alive.  His tenderness is such a joy to watch.




Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and godmothers!

She is still trying to eat this large piece of cake from Sunday.  :)

Dear Precious Baby

Dear Precious Baby,

Hello dear one!  I think of you as my little miracle baby, because I never expected that I would be able to carry another child.  I was not sure if God intended for our family to grow, but with good counsel and trust in God, you are here!   I am curious...very curious if you are a boy or girl.  What if there are more than one of you!  I love being surprised, and you definitely light up the household.   

Your daddy is working very hard on our new home.  We should be able to move in this month.  It's such a nice home.  

Your older sisters and brothers are very excited to meet you.  I imagine they will have opinions on names.  The girls want you to be a girl, and your brother hopes for a boy.  I pray you will be baptized.  It has always been your father and my ardent prayer to see you baptized as with all the other little ones.  

I hope to be the mother you deserve while I carry you under my heart.  I love you.

With love,

Mommy

New Eucharistic Miracle in Poland!

New Eucharistic Miracle in Poland

May 01, 2016 

District of the USA

A report on the most recent Eucharistic miracle in Poland with an answer to a common objection.

Recent miracles, which are investigated by scientists and made public by the proper ecclesiastical authority: are they not in the plan of God? And today as in the past, a they not a reminder of His Real Presence, a powerful apologetical argument, and an invitation to increase our faith and devotion?

On Christmas Day, 2013, a consecrated host accidentally fell to the floor during the distribution of Communion in the parish of St. Hyacinth, Legnica, Poland. The priest picked it up and placed the host in a container with water as the rubrics prescribe in such a case. Soon after, red stains appeared on the host.

The then bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy, created a commission to investigate it. In February, 2014, a tiny red fragment of the host was separated and placed on a corporal.

The Scientific Process

Samples were taken in order to conduct thorough tests by the Department of Forensic Medicine in Szczecin.

The final medical statement reported that “in the histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.” DNA tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin, and found that it bore signs of distress.

The Vatican Investigates

In January 2016, Bishop Kiernikowski presented the matter to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. On April 10, Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica made public in a Communiqué that a Eucharistic miracle had happened in 2013. In accordance with the Holy See’s recommendations, he ordered parish priest Andrzej Ziombrze “to prepare a suitable place for the Relic so that the faithful could give it the proper adoration.”

I also ask for providing the visitors with information and conducting the regular teaching that could help the faithful to have the proper attitude to the Eucharistic cult. I also command to form a book to register all received benefits and other miraculous events.”

Bishop Kiernikowski concluded his announcement with these words:

I hope that this will serve to deepen the cult of the Eucharist and will have deep impact on the lives of people facing the Relic. We see the mysterious sign as an extraordinary act of love and goodness of God, who comes to humans in ultimate humiliation.”

In Sokolka, Poland in 2008, a similar miracle took place, and a separate investigation led by Prof. Maria Elizabeth Sobaniec-Łotowka  and Prof. Stanislaw Sulkowski, both from the University of Bialystok, concluded that the fragment analyzed was cardiac muscular tissue of a dying man.

Historical Details

Following their conquest of Russia, the Mongols (Tatar) commanded by Batu Khan invaded Poland and Hungary in 1241. As it happened so often in the history, Poland stood up courageously to defend Europe and stop the invaders. At the Battle of Liegnitz, or Legnica, on April 9, 1241, the Mongols defeated a Polish army under Henry II, prince of Lower Silesia.

But this battle put an end to the Mongol invasion for some time. They turned away from Bohemia and Poland and headed south. The Soviets – who often used symbols - had a Red Army battalion in Legnica composed exclusively of soldiers from Central Asia.

The parish where these events happened is dedicated to St. Hyacinth, the first Polish Dominican and companion of St. Dominic. In 1240, during the Siege of Kiev by the Mongols, as the friars were fleeing, Hyacinth went to save the ciborium from the tabernacle in the monastery chapel. He heard the voice of Mary, asking him to take her with him. Hyacinth lifted the large stone statue of Mary and saved both the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady.

St. Hyacinth's church in Legnica was built in 1904/5 by order of Emperor Guillaume II when Silesia was under the Prussian dominion. It was then a Protestant temple built “in memory of Emperor Frederic III”. In 1945, the Red Army used it as a stable for horses. In 1972, when it was eventually converted to the Catholic Faith, it was the unique case of a Protestant church converted into a Catholic church in recent Polish history.

Answer to a Common Objection

Some may ask the question: how can God allow a miracle to happen in the context of the New Mass?

When we say the New rite is defective, we do not say all the Masses celebrated with this rite are invalid. We say that the rite in itself departs from the unequivocal expression of the Catholic doctrine about the priest, the Real Presence, and the propitiatory character of the sacrifice.

During any valid Mass, the host is consecrated and therefore Our Lord is present under the species of wine and bread, no matter how the reverence of the priest and of the assistants treat Him.

In fact, Church history shows us that Eucharistic miracles - which consist precisely in the appearance of other species - often happen because of doubt or irreverence. At Lanciano, the priest doubted the Real Presence. At Cascia, the priest was irreverent by putting the host in his breviary for a sick call.

Whenever the mass is valid, Our Lord is present. God freely manifests His power by a miracle to rectify the attitude towards the reality of the Eucharist. May these miracles lead to the suppression of Communion in the hand and bring the definitive triumph of the traditional Mass!