Christus vincit...

"Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon." ~ G.K. Chesterton
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Deo gratias! We enjoyed a successful and bountiful gathering for our St. George Festival at Fatima Farm this past weekend, with a great turnout of families and friends. There was an obstacle course set up with competitive games, including a running race along the wooded trail, scaling a wall, traversing the waters of a shallow creek, clambering up and through a steep and undergrowth-entangled ditch, crawling under a low bridge and also a log tunnel, throwing axes, shooting arrows, hauling a "battering ram" to throw over a fence, leaping over the gaga pit borders, racing through the pine woods and then up the drive carrying a pine pole lance while being pelted with pine cones to finish at the "dragon" (the huge mulch pile) in which to thrust a fatal blow while crying out "Christus Vincit!!" The top times for the course, two boys and two girls, one per age group, received a St. George or St. Joan of Arc blessed medal. It is good sport and enjoyable play, and yet we enjoy it all the more since we believe that dragons really are real, and Christ really is the Victor. 

Importantly, we were given a chance to revel in the freedom of life that arises, apparently, from an engagement of the real order of things, sourced and graced by none other than heaven above. Last year our revelers actually dodged thunder and hailstorms to join us for this feast, and we ended up indoors for the play, but nonetheless we all agreed it was a blessed engagement and stood amazed at how the storms were interspersed with timely windows to allow us to do everything we had planned after all. This time, we were fortunate to have good, bright, sunny (but not too warm), clear-skied weather with a refreshing breeze blowing through the lush green and springy verdure, and it seemed the children (and adults) might run and sing all day. And, a favorite aspect, we welcomed souls of all ages who partook with good wills in the running, in the singing, in the praying and sharing of good food - a welcomed time of peace, the Easter Octave brimming over with Paschal happiness, in a retreat away from a troubled world. During the short play of the story of St. George, we were happy to have a talented young tenor take the role as minstrel and lead the featured Non Nobis Domine, definitely adding a more fully dramatic and inspiring effect to the production. Another highlight was the debut of a "Fatima Farm" themed song our daughter composed and performed, met with heart-warmed smiles and happy applause, which will be shared more broadly soon. May God grant us many more good times and aid us on our pilgrimage as we seek His will and strive to recognize the better portion during this earthly travail!