Sister Christer

there ain't no solstice in it, but happy one anyway!

because i love that mason-dixon knitting

12 funky accapella days

via natty

blessed happy holy days to you.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

(received from a good friend of mine and I think it's worth the post.)

Dear Children,

It has come to My attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Inviting me into your life each day is more important than celebrating when Christmas falls on the calendar.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.  I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen in your own yard and put in a small Nativity scene there.  If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was my Father who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that once in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to those depressed, lonely, in harms way, or away from home.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the president complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and how I came to show what it means to love.  Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. (Then stop  shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families).  I long to celebrate a day of rest with you each week but you have to stop running around first. 

8. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

9. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember : I LOVE YOU

JESUS

all souls/dia de los muertos

A reading from the book of the prophet Daniel:

(I, Daniel, mourned and I heard this word of the Lord:)

“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people;

It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time.

At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;

Some shall live forever; others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament,

And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”

The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

We live to remember those

who passed before us,

their life gave us life

we honor their memory

Salud!

(Raul Sanchez. El Dia y la Noche de los Muertos.  Viva la vida! Viva la Muerte!)

homonym

fill in the blank...

second to _____

____ the worse for wear

bar ____

half a loaf is better than ____

____ of the above

_____ of your business

____ too gently....

____ the wiser

____ of your beeswax/business

____ theless

"to do no evil is good; to intend ____ is better."  Claudius

"Love all, trust a few, do harm to ____."  W. Shakespeare

____ other than Sr. Christine

(that's my costume)

Happy Halloween!!!

happy easter (all season long)

Thanks to the   Diana Macalintal, Associate for Liturgy of the Diocese of San Jose
(She does an amazing job!)

Take Easter Home

ideas for celebrating the season at home

• Take an Easter Walk
  Sometime during the week after Easter Sunday, take a walk around your neighborhood, in your garden, at the park, or even at the local shopping center. Look for signs of new life all around you. Remember the neophytes—those who were baptized this Easter—who are “new plants” in the household of God.


• Do a Baptism search
  Search for photos and other mementos of your own baptism, for example, your baptismal gown or certificate. Place these in a prominent spot in your home during the season. Bring home some holy water from the parish baptismal font, and use it to make the sign of the cross each morning on your forehead.

• Wear white and dress up
  On Sundays during the season, try to wear lots of white or something more “Easter-y,” for example, a flower corsage on your wrist or lapel. If you don’t usually dress up for Sunday Mass, wear dressier clothes each Sunday of Easter. Each time you dress, remember that you have been “clothed in Christ.”


• Light candles  Buy some nice candles for your home. Place them in your living room and on your dinner table. Light them at night and whenever you sit down to eat at home. Use a match to light them, and as you strike the match, say “Christ, our Light.”


• Dress up your dinner table Throughout the season, use a table cloth on your kitchen or dinner table if you don’t already. Use the nicer plates, utensils, and glasses that you save for special occasions. Commit to eating at least one meal at home on Sundays. Light candles, turn off the TV, and put on some nice music for these meals. Every time you eat, begin by saying, “Jesus, Lamb of God.”

• Make bathing a time of renewal  Whenever you shower or bathe, remember your own baptism. Recall how the neophytes were bathed in the font. Make it a special time of prayer by saying, “Christ, the Water of Life” when you begin. Pamper yourself with soothing oils or lotions. Remember how you have been anointed with the Spirit of Christ.


• Let each day be a little Easter  As you wake up each day, consecrate that day to God by saying, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This comes from the traditional psalm for Easter (Psalm 118). If you can, give yourself some quiet time before the busyness of the day. Sit in silence with your morning coffee, light a candle, and let God speak to you in that moment.

• Write a thank-you note, just because “Eucharist” means “thank you” in Greek. Each week of Easter (there are seven), write a thank-you note to someone you appreciate but don’t often get to thank. Send it to them, and say a prayer for them as you seal the envelope or click the “send” button.

 

in other words

Acholi - Mot ki Yomcwing Botwo Me Mwaka Manyen
Adhola - Wafayo Chamo Mbaga
African Rehus - Beal-Ledeats
Ahtna - C'ehwggelnen Dzaenh
Aklanon - Malipayon nga Paskwa ag Mahigugmaon nga Bag-ong Dag-on
Albanian - Gezur Krislinjden
Aleut - Kamgan Ukudigaa
Alsatian - E gueti Wïnâchte
Alur - Wafoyo Kado Oro
Alutiiq - Spraasnikam
Amharic - Melkam Yelidet Beaal
Amuesha - Yomprocha' ya' nataya
Amharic - Enquine le gena adersashewu
Arabic - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Aragonese - Nabidà! & Goyosa Añada benién.
Aramaic - Edobri'cho o rish d'shato brich'to!

Arawak - Aba satho niw jari da'wisida bon

Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Aromanian - Crãciunu hãriosu shi unu anu nãu, bunu!
Araucanian - Wi tripantu in che
Asturian - Bones Navidaes & Gayoleru anu nuevu!
Assamese - Rongaali Bihur xubhessaa lobo
Ata - Maroyan na Pasko woy kaopia-an ng Bag-ong
Tuig - kaniyo't langon mga sulod
Aukan - Wi e winsi i wan bun nyun yali
Aymara - Sooma Nawira-ra
Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia - Selamat Hari Natal
Bantu (Kipare Dialect) - Luzihiro Lwa Krismas
Bantu (Chinayanja) - Kwa Beno Banso Bwanana
Bantu (Kikango) - Na Bino Banso Bonane
Basque - Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali - Shubho Barodin
Bohemian - Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian - Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian - Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan - Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou
Chile - Feliz Navidad
Chinese (Cantonese) - Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese (Mandarin) - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Choctaw - Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia - Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsican - Pace e salute
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Dagbani - Ni ti Burunya Chou & Mi ti yuun
Damara/Nama - Khiza
Danish - Glaedelig Jul
Dibabawon - Marayaw na Pasko aw Bag-ong Tui g kaniyo tibo na mga soon
Dinka - Miet puou yan dhiedh Banyda tene Yin
Dine/Navajo - Ya'at'eeh Keshmish
Divehi - Ufaaveri aa ahareh
Dschang - Chrismi a lekah Nguo Suieh
Duri - Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Egyptian - Colo sana wintom tiebeen
English - Merry Christmas
Eskimo - Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo
Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian - Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi
Faeroese - Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi - Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish - Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua
Flemish - Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French - Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année
Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Gaddang - Mangamgam Bawa a dawun sikua diaw amin
Galician - Bo Nada
Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur
Gari - Soalokia God i gotu vasau, mi lao ke ba na  rago vanigira ara dou i matana!
Gciriku - Mfiyawidi yaKrisimisa
Georgian - Gilotsavt Krist'es Shobas
German - Froehliche Weihnachten und ein gluckliches Neues Jahr
Gikuyu - Gia na Thigukuu njega Na MwakaM weru wi Gikeno
Gitskan - Hisgusgitxwsim Ha'niisgats Christ gankl Ama Sii K'uuhl!
Golin - Yesu kule nongwa kaun umaribe ongwa ena mone di mile wai wen milo
Greek - Kala Christougenna Kieftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
Greenlandic - Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit
Guahibo - Pexania Navidadmatacabi piginia pexaniapejanawai paxainaename
Guambiano - Navidadwan Tabig tugagunrrigay
Guarani - Avyaitete ahi ko Tupa ray arape qyrai Yy Kapyryin rira
Gwere - Osusuku Omusa
Gwich'in - Drin tsal zhit shoh ohlii
Han - Drin tsul zhit sho ahlay
Hausa - Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian Mele Kalikimaka
Haya - Waihuka na Noeli & Waihhuka n 'Omwaka
Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Shana Tova
Heiban - Ati kalo gathje uwa gigih
Herero- Okresmesa ombwa Ombura ombe ombwa
Hiligaynon - Malipayon nga paskua
Hindi Shubh Naya Baras
Holo - Seng-tan khoai-lok!
Hmong - Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tahiab
Hungarian - Kellemes Karacsonyiunnepeket & Boldog Új Évet
Hungduan - Maphon au nitungawan. Apo Dios Kituwen baron di toon
Icelandic - Gledileg Jol og Farsaelt Komandi ar
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Iroquois - Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian - Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish - Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Kannada - Hosa Varushada Subhasayagalu
Karelian - Rastawanke Sinun
Kaqchiquel - Dios tik'ujie' avik'in
Kawalib - Amirnar Krismas Gi
Khasi - Krismas basuk
Kinyarwanda - Umunsi Mwiza
Kirundi - Noeli Nziza
Kom - Isangle Krismen
Konkoni - Khushal borit Natalam
Korafe - Keremisi ewewa
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Kosraean - Tok Tapeng
Koyukon - Denaahto' Hoolaank Dedzaanh Sodeelts'eeyh
Krio - Appi Krismes en Appi Niu Yaa
Kuanua - A Bona Lukara na Kinakava
Kurdish - Seva piroz sahibe u sersala te piroz be
Kwangali - Kerekemisa zongwa
Latin - Natale hilare et Annum Nuovo
Latvian - Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu
Lausitzian - Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish - Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
Macedonian - Streken Bozhik
Malayalam - Puthuvalsara Aashamsakal
Maltese - Nixtieklek Milied tajjeb u is-sena t-tabja
Mandarin - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori - Meri Kirihimete
Marathi - Shub Naya Varsh
Mongolian - Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye
Naasioi - Tampara Kirisimaasi
Naskapi - miywaaitaakun mikusaanor
Ndjem - Mbeya mbeya Ebiel
Ndogo - Esimano olyaKalunga gwokombandambanda!
Ndonga - Okrismesa iwa & Omude Mupe wa Punikwa
Nepali - Krist Yesu Ko Shuva Janma Utsav Ko Upalaxhma Hardik Shuva
Newari - Nhu Da Ya Vintuna
Nii - Nim Ono
Niuean - Monuina a Aho Kilisimasi mo e Tau Foou
Norwegian - God Jul og Godt Nyttår
Notu/Ewage - Keremisi dave be
Occitan - Pulit nadal e bona annado
Oriya - Sukhamaya christmass ebang khusibhara naba barsa
Papiamento - Bon Pasco
Papua - New Guinea Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Philippines - Maligayang Pasco at Manigong Bagong Taon
Poland - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese - Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi- Nave sal di mubaraka
Pushto - Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island) - Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian - Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche  (sursilvan dialect) - Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian - Sarbatori vesele
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Saamia - Muwule Omwaka Enjaya
Sami - Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sango - Gloire na Nzapa na ndouzou aho kouè, Na siriri na ndo sessé na popo ti ajo so amou nguia na Lo.
Santali - Raska nawa Serma
Saramaccan - Nuan wan suti jai o!
Sardinian - Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Scots - Gaelic Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Singhalese - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slavey - Teyatie Gonezu
Slovak - Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok

 Slovenia- Vesel Bozic in Srecno novo leto!
Soga - Mwisuka Sekukulu
Somali - ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican
Songe - Kutandika kua Yesu kuibuwa!
Sorani - Newroz le to Piroz be
Sorbian - Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto
Spanish - Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Swedish - God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Sudanese - Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal
Suena - Kerisimasi kokopai
Surigaonon - Malipayon na pasko sanan bag-on tuig!
Swahili - ºKrismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish - God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon
Tahitian - Ia ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti 'api
Tagakaulu - Madyaw Pagsalog sa Pagka-otaw ni Jesus
Tala Andig - Maayad ha pasko daw bag-ong tuig
Tamazight - Asseggwas Ameggaz
Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Tanaina - Natukda Nuuphaa
Telugu - Christmas Shubhakaankshalu
Thai - Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
Tlingit - Xristos Khuwdziti kax sh kaxtoolxetl
Tok Pisin - Meri Krismas
Tokelau - Ke whakamanuia te Kirihimahi
Tonga - Kristo abe anduwe muciindo ca Christmas
Tongan - Kilisimasi Fiefia
Toraja - Salama' Natal
Trukese - Neekirissimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Tshiluba - Diledibua dilenga dia Mfumu - Tshidimu tshipia - tshipia th silenga
Tswana - Keresemose o monate le masego a ngwaga o montsha
Tubetube - Yayaliyaya Yesu sikabi kaiwena
Tumbuka - Kristu wabe namwe munyengo ya Christmas
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Umbundu - Natale, Natale, Oyo O Natale
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Uvean - Italo fa ide tau fou nei eseke
Uyghur - YanghI yiling ahlqIs bolgey!

Valencian - Bon Nadal i millor any nou
Vanina - Bon Natale a Tutti
Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh - Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Votian - Yvaa rashtagoa!
Waray-Waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tuig!
Warlpiri - Miri Kirijimiji
Welsh - Nadolig LLawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Yugoslavian - Cestitamo Bozic
Yiddish - Gute Vaynakhtn un a Gut Nay Yor
Yoruba - E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!
Zarma - Barka da Issa hay-yan hann
Zaza - Newroz'a tu Piroz be
Zia - Kerisimasi wosewa
Zime - El ma ka bar vra aso vei Lu
Zulu - Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

merry christmas

falalalafridayfive

Festive Foods Friday Five (via revgalblogpals).

Well friends, we've covered advent, music, and movies/TV--but we here at F5 HQ would be remiss if we did not acknowledge that quintessential holiday topic... fooooooooood.

1. Favorite cookie/candy/baked good without which, it's just not Christmas.

Frosted sugar cookies.  I'm the keeper of this tradition.  I have about 40 different cookie cutters - some of which were my grandmother's and most of which were handed down to me via my own mother.  In the past five or so years I've hosted a Christmas baking party for friends and some young adults (mostly women, but not only) at the convent where I most recently lived.  We'd each bake at least one different kind of cookie and at the end of the party all were encouraged to take many of them home, to work, to parties, etc.  Alas, this year, I'm not living in the convent with the amazingly large and two-ovened kitchen.  Sigh.  Also, the time has gotten totally away from me and so - while it will of course still be Christmas, there are no homemade sugar cookies to share and none of the other 10 types either.  No wonder it's been hard to get in the spirit this season!

2. Do you do a fancy dinner on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, both, or neither? (Optional: with whom will you gather around the table this year?)

As a matter of fact we don't do fancy hardly ever.  Thanksgiving maybe.  But Christmas is more a grazing holiday for my fambly.  We will, however, have a nice dinner - this year we're having chicken and dumplings, salad, green bean casserole (ILOVEIT), mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and desert.  My brother, sister-in-law, niece1, niece2, nephew, sister and her boyfriend and a friend of my mom's will be joining us (mom and me) this year.

3. Evaluate one or more of the holiday beverage trifecta: hot chocolate, wassail, egg nog.

always think I like eggnog more than I do.  I've never had wassail (what is it anyway?) and of course, love the hot chocolate with the little marshmallows.  :-)

4. Candy canes: do you like all the new-fangled flavors or are you a peppermint purist?

Just like there should never have been a Grinch remake, the peppermint candy cane cannot, in my opinion, be improved upon.  All the other flavors are a crass grab for the holiday buck.

5. Have you ever actually had figgy pudding? And is it really so good that people will refuse to leave until they are served it? 

Never had it... I hear from the muppets it's made with figs... and bacon.

to what Advent could lead...

The God who comes without retinue or riches is the metaphor of a humility that requires us to remember how really small we are in the universe--and to come to the point where that is enough for us.

-- Joan Chittister