A special surprise and Italian adventure.

 Look who surprised me in Vienna a few weeks ago - my beautiful sister, Mary!! Apparently, the whole family knew about this event for a couple months; kudos to them for keeping it secret - I had NO idea and was shocked! Once I calmed down, I realized she would be with us during our little trip to Italy, and that made it all the more fun! We had plans to meet up with a second cousin of ours who is military, and stationed in Vicenza, Italy.

Auntie Mary and Michael on the night train - Michael simply loved having his aunties with us on this trip and always made sure they never strayed too far from his side.

After a not-so-restful-night-train trip, we arrived in Venice, then switched trains to continue on to Padua. We walked through Padua to the Basilica of St. Anthony at the other end of the town.

 We headed first to the Chapel of Reliquaries with 15 minutes to spare before it closed. Here we saw St. Anthony's tunics, the rock which he used for a pillow, his incorrupt lower jaw, tongue and vocal cords. St. Anthony was a Franciscan, and a great preacher, often spontaneously inspired by the Holy Spirit; hence, fitting that these parts of speech are miraculously preserved. He often stressed that one should humbly and sincerely pray to the Holy Spirit for the gift of speech as was given to the Apostles; "Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself!"

St. Anthony was found being visited by the Child Jesus on occasion.
“Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions." - St. Anthony

Side chapel, tomb of St. Anthony.

The walls of this chapel have marble reliefs which depict some of St. Anthony's miracles; most concern raising dead people to life; many children.

 Excited for the start of our Italian adventure!

 We stayed two nights in Vicenza with our cousin, Peter. It was lovely to meet him and his family, and Michael enjoyed playing with their four children. Peter kindly drove us to Verona the next day and gave us a little walking tour.

 The Roman arena built in the 1st century and still used for opera and musical performances.

 The original city gates - La Porta Borsari.

 Feeding pigeons.

Of course, we had to see the famous Casa di Giulietta and balcony purported to belong to the family of Shakespeare's protagonist in Romeo and Juliet. The walls leading to the little courtyard are lined with carvings and love notes.

 Michael apparently had been watching everyone else who touched Juliette's breast for good fortune in love...but he looks skeptical.

So nice to spend time with Peter and sweet Alexia!

 Mary is wonderful with kiddos.

Walking around Vicenza before taking the train to Venice.

So fun to see these two reunited and be able to enjoy their company!

 What a sight as one exits the train station in Venice!

Adjusting after departing the train. We travel light - 2 backpacks and a double stroller full of diapers/wipes/snacks and 2 adventurous boys; thank God for that.

We stopped at San Geremia to pray at the relics of St. Lucy, one of the 4th century virgin martyrs. 

We were able to walk behind the altar and see her close up! What a blessing.

Then we set off into the heart of Venice via the traditional waterways.

 Ready to explore Venice!

Feast of the Ephipany.

Michael is finally old enough to participate in some simple liturgical year traditions; I say "finally" because I have such wonderful and pronounced memories of learning and living the liturgical year through celebrations and activities growing up, and have been eagerly waiting to start them with my boys. I am glad they are still very young, and so I can start slowly as I am limited in budget, supplies, and energy in this life of ours here. :)

After Mass, we took out the 3 Kings.

 Giving the Magi a blessing.

 Papa helped us sing "We Three Kings" as Michael set the Wise Men at the crèche scenes.

 Each figure has to kiss the Baby first.

 Then Michael wanted to say a bit of the Mass.

In the afternoon, we had a special visit from 3 Magi! It is the custom in Germany and Austria for the children to dress as the 3 kings, carry the star, and go door to door singing and reciting messages of Christmas. They also ask for money for poor children, which Michael put in their box.

Here is a lovely painting by Anton Pieck depicting the same.

 Later, Papa and Michael made a star for the crèche.

 Michael's favorite song and movie is "The Little Drummer Boy" and Auntie Elizabeth gave him the best surprise of this drum on Christmas Eve; we still need to find some proper drumsticks, but he and Dominic love carrying it around and playing it with whatever "beaters" they find.

Happy Feast! May the same grace that drew the Magi to the Savior's side be yours this season, and may we each discover what gifts we have to offer Him, be they ever so humble.

It's a new year.

Happy New Year 2015! We rang in the new year with a little party at our house with the remaining adults on campus. Everyone brought delicious, cultural nibbles and we had Austrian Gluhwein. We let Michael stay up until 10pm and he had fun playing with one of his friends and interacting with the adults. At midnight, those of us who had lasted (most of us were tired parents or expecting mothers!) ran over to the chapel to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament and have benediction as the fireworks were going off all around Trumau and Vienna. What a great way to dedicate the new year's work, joy,  sorrows, troubles, successes and days to our Lord. Then Andrew and I had a champagne toast with our Canadian friends, Kenton and Rebecca, while watching the fireworks from the balcony. 

This morning, we and our friends from ITI; an English couple, wanted to drive to a Marian shrine for a mini pilgrimage for Mass on this feast of the Holy Mother of God. We settled on going to Loretto, a town about 20 minutes from here. This church has an interesting story behind it. Apparently, an Austrian gentleman visited the shrine of the Holy House of Loretto in Italy, and was so inspired, he built a small shrine in the form of the Holy House in this area in Burgenland, Austria (1644), and donated a statue of the Black Madonna. The town of Loretto grew around the little shrine, and eventually this large church was built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Austrians and Germans have a strong devotion to the Black Madonna, and more than 100 miraculous cures have been attributed to her in these countries. 

Prayers after Mass. We lifted all you, dear family and friends, up in prayer for your peace and well-being!

The painting of the Assumed Virgin over the altar is so so beautiful! Entrusting all to our dear Lady this year, she always stands quietly waiting to help us and we so often forgot to call on her as Mother!
"Mary, my Mother, give me your heart, so beautiful, so pure - so Immaculate - so full of love and humility." ~ Blessed Theresa of Calcutta

A Black Madonna statue.

The front doors of the basilica are ornamented with silver flowers. I just love and appreciate when one can really sense a feminine spirit and delicacy in the architecture of Marian churches.

The Black Madonna statue from 1644 in the Holy House replica called the Gnadenkapelle or "grace chapel".

Oops, Michael forgot about not running on slippery ice.

A few ladies asked me about my new year's resolutions...and I don't really have any. I do intend to carry on with perfecting and realizing the goals I have set for myself in the last few months; for my own person and soul, as well as those goals I have being a mother, and those goals for my boys well-being and growth. Always with the end-all goal in mind: to get us all to Heaven. The physical - health, stamina, nourishment, rest, and the spiritual - peace, growth, charity, service, and joy. The baby steps in these departments are endless but necessary for complete achievement and ultimate perfection!

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert." Isaiah 42:18. 19

This verse especially speaks to me as being my tone for this new year. Forgiving, forgetting, and letting go, have never been my strong suit, but I have found with His grace and help, these things come so much easier. Life is beautiful, comfortable and easy in the Lord and He truly wants to relieve us of our burdens. If only we can let go of our pride, flesh, vanity, silly ideologies, self...and try more and more to be as St. Paul says, "not I, but Christ who lives within me," all is easier to bear because He is our foundation and we will have no shame if we do all in His name. When we cease thinking about ourselves (more than is necessary); how to benefit ourselves, how we appear, how we are affected, and rather face our crosses with trusting confidence, and even joy, in Jesus, how light the burdens become - we become iridescent with His peace and radiance, and are able to complete our task as Christians, to be His light to the world and witness to the peace that only He can give.

I think it no coincidence that January 1 was chosen to celebrate the Mother of God, Who in turn gave her to us as mother. Isn't it the nature of a mother to be concerned with the well being and happiness of her children? And how many times has she expressed it, through visions and messages. The Second Vatican Council taught that everyone should have a genuine devotion to Mary and entrust his life to her motherly care. The great saint of Marian consecration, St. Louis de Montfort, said that Mary is the best way to have direct access to Jesus, and the road to Him is easy through her. He said that Mary "prepares her servants' crosses with so much maternal sweetness and pure love as to make them gladly acceptable, no matter how bitter they may be in themselves." Wow. What encouragement and strength there! We all seek love, peace, fulfillment, and some sort of success in life, and our hopes for these are high especially at the beginning of a new year. What better time than to entrust these aspects to Mary our heavenly Mother, than on January 1.

It is my hope to visit a few of the Marian apparition sites this year to strengthen our faith in her Son, to consecrate ourselves to her protection and Immaculate Heart, and to receive her maternal blessing; this too, I entrust to Mary.

Happy Feast of the Mother of God, and a blessed and fruitful 2015 to you all!