VENI, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
On April 8th, the day of the great solar eclipse, our family had the most wonderful gift of having four of our six children (three sons and a daughter) confirmed together by His Excellency, Bishop Fellay at the SSPX Chapel we have attended since last year. The sacrament and the occasion was more momentous than the eclipse and marked all of us, the confirmands and those who love them, in a way that will last a lifetime. The eclipse we had anticipated with excitement for some time. After traveling a little north in Georgia to witness the full solar eclipse of 2017 - an incredible natural phenomenon the sight of which we will not soon forget - we had immediately made plans to view the next one, making "reservations" with friends who live in Ohio so we could be in the path of totality for the great event of 2024. Once we discovered the Confirmation date fell on April 8th - the Feast of the Annunciation - we also unhesitatingly broke our "reservation" for the eclipse viewing and put all prayer and energy into preparing our children for the sacrament. Our youngest son is also receiving his First Holy Communion in a couple of months, and so it has turned out to be a very big year of graces for our whole family. We couldn't be more grateful. The day before Confirmation day we had our First Sunday gathering of April, with a Carnival theme. Instead of bidding farewell to meat, as we did last year before Lent, this year we bid hello to meat to celebrate Easter. We prayed a rosary, had a proper feast, and played many, many carnival games to the delight of old and young alike. There was live music and folk dances in the gazebo on our new portable dance floor - and the weather was perfect and the trees had all just burst into bloom and so the ambiance was charming and the scene could not have been better sketched by the Divine hand. And while we spent Monday making ready for our big evening, pressing suits and shirts and dresses, there was just enough time before the long drive to the church in the late afternoon to step outside and view the weird light and shadows made manifest in what was for us a partial eclipse - the farm animals were seemingly hushed, the sky and landscape grew dimmer, the shades thrown by the trees looked unusual - the air had a slightly shimmering quality - and though we had no instruments with which to view the eclipse proper we still experienced the moment in wonder. Then, we embarked on a most important journey, driving long to arrive early, waiting in great anticipation for everything to begin in a standing-room-only chapel (the aisles and halls were filled) where upwards of 100 souls were to be confirmed. Bishop Fellay's homily was so replete, extensive, instructive, inspired, and inspiring. We were all awestruck and surprised in the best of ways - never before had we encountered a bishop so full of zeal and who takes his mission to teach so seriously. It was clear he could have gladly talked for hours - in fact he nearly did - about the history of our faith, the source and meaning of the sacraments and the graces they bring, and how they work in our lives. He summarized the mission of the persons of the Trinity in a way we could all understand; everyone left that church catechized. He made clear the special, specific, and singular work of the minister of the sacrament. He imprinted the Confirmands, surely - but just as surely he marked all those in attendance with a deeper understanding and love for the Church instituted by Christ, a deeper gratitude for the love and mercies of Our Maker, and a desire to receive graces and live according to the workings and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Afterwards, he lingered long and condescended to let everyone kiss his ring and have a photo taken with him, gracious and dignified and cheerful and feeding our souls each second. We lingered long also after the Vigil-like experience, and did not return home until after midnight. Words fail to describe the whole experience, but for a parent there cannot be many greater moments of fulfillment than witnessing your child receive a sacrament from a good bishop. We watched them all grow in knowledge and virtue and in love for their chosen saints - St. Lawrence, St. Cecilia, St. Nicholas, and St. Patrick (orate pro nobis!) - over these last few months and prepare in mind and heart for all that culminated on this past Monday night. The experience is not only a beautiful consolation but a font of much needed strength and graces in this life of great spiritual battle. Bishop Fellay stressed explicitly that we are engaged in battle, and that the Lord has provided our armor and our weapons; we may experience sweet mercies in our life of faith, and we may be called to the utmost self-sacrifice and even martyrdom - the latter for which Confirmation, perfecting the graces received in Baptism, especially readies us. May God protect the holy priests and bishops upon whom we depend, and bless us as His creatures. May Our Lord save us, and Holy Mother Mary teach us to follow His will as she does, and lead us ever closer to Our Savior! Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love!
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Fatima FarmOn this little homestead our family aspires to work the land and hand on the Catholic Tradition, walking in wonder and learning to live by the fruits of our labor, in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, who guides us to Him. Archives
April 2024
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