Sing Joyfully Unto God...

In the third week of November, on the heels of our 19th wedding anniversary and just before Thanksgiving, we hosted a little festival in honor of one of our favorite saints, the patron of music, St. Cecilia, and were reminded of all the things for which we are grateful. We accomplished a pig roast with the help of friends, with fathers and sons braving the cold in tents all the prior night to keep watch and tend the pit, and many families came to join the worthy feast. Of many remarkable things - amongst the mix of piety and camaraderie and seriousness and play - the most enjoyable aspect (aside from the delicious food) had to be the performances and presentations made to especially mark the occasion. Not only were there more guests in attendance than ever before at the farm, but so many came in genuine and eager willingness to sing a song, play an instrument, showcase a piece of art, or recite a poem. The story of St. Cecilia warmed everyone up and the recitation of Psalm 99 (DRB) set the stage, for surely, like David, the one after God's heart, and St. Cecilia, the one inflamed with the music that moves the universe, we were come together and bound in a desire to make a joyful noise! And then things really began where they should, with a rhyme from Mother Goose. The happy crowd enjoyed folk songs, sacred vocals, the enchantment of the harp, the liveliness of the fiddle, a hornpipe with dance, some inspired Hopkins, and too many budding musicians with guitars and banjos, pipes and drums, to count. Late into the afternoon people played, sang along, roamed around, met and conversed in gladness.

​There was something charming in the chill air as the sun went down, and the moon stood out in a great brightness over our happy time. We hope that St. Cecilia, beautiful soul whose pious courage and musical heart united her finally, against severest odds, in martyrdom to God, will continue to inspire and bless our future festivals in her honor. Too, we hope she is endeared to the hearts of those who met her for the first time here. Our hearts are restless Lord, until they rest in you - and yet gladly do we welcome these occasional respites and glimpses of goodness here on earth! Be sure to consider joining us for a First Sunday sometime, or for the St. George Festival in the spring! In the meantime, we make our way in the holy anticipation and penitential weeks of Advent, looking forward, as all faithful have for centuries, to the joyful coming of the Savior!