This is a FB post the husband shared a couple years back. I think it was an excellent public service announcement, so I thought I’d share it here.
Hey, team. Here are some pro tips as you head into Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is for remembering those members of the armed forces who died in the service of our country, while Veterans’ Day (Nov 11) is for “honoring those who served” and for “remembering those who served” (e.g. beloved deceased family members who served honorably in the armed forces but died under circumstances other than the performance of their duties as a military member). So if Uncle Joe landed in the first wave on Tarawa, got wounded and awarded the Silver Star, then came home and worked in the Ford plant till he passed away in ’83, we would remember him on Veterans’ Day (and hopefully pray daily for the repose of his soul, right?)
While I never expect it, if you are inclined to “honor” me or express gratitude for my service, I’d recommend saving it for a day other than Memorial Day so that our fallen heroes get our full attention on the day we have specially dedicated to their memory. If you were going to formally wish me happiness on one of the two days, I’d probably go with Veterans’ Day. Memorial Day is, after all, a day-long memorial which is intended to help us remember those who died while serving in the military. I will almost certainly be happy at points throughout the day, but “Happy” and “Memorial Day” are problematic when uttered or written together. I don’t think we need to be somber on Memorial Day, but it is good to be mindful that it can be an emotional day for people who have lost a loved one in the service of the country. I would therefore avoid saying or posting “Happy Memorial Day.”
Okay, class dismissed. Go get ’em! #memorialday
We Catholics can be proud of the heroic sacrifice made by many Catholic men and women killed in the line of duty, including Catholic priest chaplains Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun, Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno, Father Charles J. Watters, and Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor, a daily communicant who dove on a grenade to save two fellow SEALS.
In my own family . . .
When World War II began, my great uncle wanted to serve his country like my grandfather was doing, as a Navy Fighter pilot. When his application was turned down by the US Navy, he ran away to Canada and joined the Canadian Air Force. He was shot down and killed over Holland a few months later, on June 8, 1943. His name was Richard Dose’. He was sixteen years old.
More on Memorial Day later on in the post, but for now, let us transition to other subjects . . .
3. We threw a Prohibition Party!
Spots at the table were up for bid at our school’s auction, so the guests were friends, fellow St. Monica Academy parents, and teachers at the school. It was a blast!
Betty and I cooked from my new favorite cookbook: The Original 1931 First Edition of the Joy of Cooking. The meal included bread salad (it’s like a salad, but . . . bread instead of lettuce), pineapple aspic (I managed to control my desire to make one of the MANY fish-themed gelatine recipes), poached trout, and flaming cherries jubilee for dessert. And YES, the table DID catch on fire, but only for a minute. It didn’t even leave a mark. I REGRET NOTHING.
After dinner, one of the teachers gave us lessons in the foxtrot and the charleston.
It was a great evening with great friends and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, or in a year anyway. But, whew, it makes me realize why this house had servants’ quarters in the twenties. Moving furniture around and hand-washing all my grandmother/great-grandmother/great-great-grandmother’s china/silver/crystal/cut-glass for thirty is no mean feat.
Of everything we did for the party, I think I’m most chuffed over the invitations. They were super fun.
The wording was amusingly awkward if I do say so myself:
“Your presence is welcome at our gathering in gratitude for prohibition, which is credited for an advent of societal temperance akin to the joyful flight of birds over the lizards in a ditch. There will soon be zero eschewing of this noble ideal, and the hot prick of conscience will put every foot on the path of virtue. Your support on the way to this noble goal is worth more than 1001 rubies, a yacht on the sea, a mansion on an avenue, a good friend at your six, and may lift you up to the 19th degree in the eyes of all who behold what you stand for. To any who are a party to your steadfastness, you’ll never be forgotten. Unless we are mistaken, the reading of Fordyce’s Sermons will be a hit among the attendees of the evening. As will Mrs. Grundy’s bread sauce, too. You will be hard pressed to bring your attentions to a more worthy cause than the eradication of appetites to your basest desires of alcohol and dancing, which steal the very shoes from the feet of suffering children and cause the secret shame of all who pass with nary a word of condemnation, and all who would try to hide behind sparkling necklaces and earbobs your unclean aims. Tomato juice will be served. Please reply promptly with regrets only.”
But they also received this:
“Prohibition is for the birds. Ditch the zeroes and hot foot your way to 1001 Sea Avenue* at six, May 19th, for a party you’ll never forget, unless we hit the sauce too hard. Bring your appetite, your dancing shoes, and the secret password: Bob’s Your Uncle.”
Fortunately, all the guests managed to figure it out!
*because you would all send me worried emails if I didn’t, I changed this to be other than my actual address to put it on the blog.
4. It’s the Feast of St. Philip Neri!
Speaking of parties, St. Philip Neri was a sixteenth century Italian priest who knew a thing or two about entertaining. He moved to Rome as a layman and spent seventeen years hanging out in the city, striking up conversations with people over coffee and on park benches, and converting them to a deeper understanding of their faith . . . by the hundreds or thousands! Eventually he became a priest, but that didn’t stop him from being a guy who knew how to throw a get together. I’m personally most indebted to him for coming up with the Seven Churches Visitation on Holy Thursday, as something to do with friends as the Triduum began. So, strike up a conversation with someone today, it just might change a life!
And, if you’d like to be inspired by the words of St. Philip Neri all year long, there’s an email for that.
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| “St. Philip Neri encouraged his spiritual children to meditate on a spiritual maxim or saying throughout each day. St. Philip Neri had so many of these sayings that, eventually, his followers organized them so there’s one for every day of the year. (All 365 are available at our blog here.) The Sacred Art Series is promoting these excellent spiritual sayings through Email, Facebook, and Twitter.” |
And if Will Bloomfield and The Sacred Art Series sound familiar, it’s because I’ve featured them before. We use and recommend their the Holy Gospels of St. Luke and St. John for our middle grade kids.
It features 100 beautiful classic works of art alongside a readable Douay-Rheims story-by-story text, in a leatherette cover with a ribbon and everything. See more images of the book here, or just head on over to Amazon where the books are 25% off the retail price for this week only.
And I get to give three of them away! One here on the blog and, later in the week, I’ll be giving away one on Facebook and one on Instagram. If you’d like to enter to win a copy of the Holy Gospels of St. Luke and St. John, leave a comment on this blog post that begins with the number 4. and tell me who in your life would benefit from this book. The blog winner will be announced next Saturday.
5. A Memorial Day Giveaway
Jen Buckley is the founder of Grace and Grit Design Co., a faith-inspired boutique specializing in home décor, art, gifts, and lifestyle.
She thought we might like her line of mugs . . . and she was right. We DO.
Maybe even Memorial Day weekend since that has such meaning for our family — my first husband and father to my three oldest was killed in Iraq in 2005. (I have so appreciated your “teaching” people the distinction between Veteran’s Day & Memorial Day!) I came back to the Catholic Church after my first husband was killed and it has made all the difference in my life. And it’s been on my heart to spread the Good News with faithful products ever since!
😭😭😍😍
The giveaway for the Hands Full Heart Full mug will be here on the blog.
Stay tuned to the Catholic All Year on Facebook, and @kendra_tierney and @graceandgritdesignco on Instagram for a flash giveaway sometime during the week. To enter the blog giveaway, leave a comment here on this blog post, with the number 5. and the name of a member of the armed forces who died in the service of our country. It could be a loved one, or scroll back to point number 2 and get to know one of those guys! Repeats are allowed. Let’s all take a moment today to pray for the repose of the soul of Jen’s husband, and my Great Uncle Dick, and everyone else in the comments.
6. Last Week’s Winner is . . . Amy D!
Amy, you win the awesome purple rosary from the Catholic Woodworker, you have until Monday at noon Pacific to email me at helpdesk@catholicallyear.com to claim your prize, otherwise I’ll choose another winner. The social media winner will be announced there.
The rest of you still have time to order a rosary for a dad in your life before Father’s Day!
And the Chews Life discount code for Catholic All Year readers is still good. Just visit ChewsLife.com to look around and use the code CAY10 to get 10% off!
7. Because Seven Quick Takes!
Here’s a one minute long video of my entire beauty routine. At full speed. And if you’re thinking, but SURELY you also . . . wash your face, moisturize, remove makeup, etc? Nope. This is it. 💁😂
And here are all the beauty products I own . . .
- Maybelline New York Superstay 24, 2-step Lipcolor, All Day Cherry (I also have this nude, and this medium shade)
- bareMinerals Barepro Performance Wear Powder Foundation (but only because it was at Costco, usually I use this: L’Oréal Paris True Match Loose Powder Mineral Foundation)
- The blush I’m using now is Amy Nadine, also from Costco, but I’ve used and like this one better: Physicians Formula Powder Palette Blush, Blushing Natural
- Eyeliner is the Pixi Crayon Combo from Target in Softly Smokey
- Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara, Black
- EOS 2016 Limited Edition Holiday Lip Balm Sphere Vanilla (I have apparently had this a while!)
- For evening, I use the darker end of the eyeliner combo and add NYX Roll On Shimmer in nude and chestnut.
Action items:
Pray, hope, don’t worry, have an excellent weekend, hug your loved ones, leave a comment to chat about any or all of the above, leave a comment beginning with number 4 or 5 to enter the giveaways!
5. Trane McCloud
In the early 2000s, I was living in Washington DC and a Capitol Hill staffer. I joined a running club, one of the best things I ever did, which was coordinated by the Office of the Marine Corps liaison. Marines in the DC area either end up working at or running in the Marine Corps Marathon each fall. Those working on the Hill formed a group to train for the race and invited all staffers to run with them. My time running with and learning from these men and and women was incredibly formative to me as a runner and a human being. Major McCloud was among the leaders of the group – and I am honored to have crossed paths with him ever so briefly. I am thinking of him and many others this Memorial Day.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/06/AR2006120602046.html?noredirect=on
4. I'd love it for my own kids and probably me because who doesn't benefit by more time with the Gospels?! Thanks, Kendra. I'm in awe of the party and need a local friend who will do all the work of throwing one like it!
5. Pat Tillman
5. Richard Dose' Such a cool party idea!!! Praying for your family!
What a fun party!
5. Sgt. Brett Swank (my husband’s cousin)
4. I'd give the Bible to my special needs son. We are always looking for Illustrated books for him that don't look babyish. Also your invitation was brilliant! Laughing at your menu. I found an old cookbook at a thrift store from the 50s. So. Much. Gelatin.
5. Tom Broomhead
I am in desperate need of mugs! Ours are mysteriously dwindling and getting broken…
5
Raymond Zachman
4. My ten year old son, Zachary.
5. Fr. Vincent Capodanno.
4. I love the idea of that book, and honestly- I'm the person in my life who needs it! I'd love to read it with my husband.
4. I love the idea of that book, and honestly- I'm the person in my life who needs it! I'd love to read it with my husband.
Emil Kapuan #5
Paying for all the men and women who have died protecting and serving this country!!
I love this Prohibition themed party and am totally going to copy it someday!
4. I would love the book to use as a teaching tool for my boys
5. My great-uncle Ray Neameyer was a fighter pilot in WWII who *should have* died when his plane was shot down, but he made a miraculous emergency landing. Miracle credited (by him, not the Vatican!) to the intercession of St. Padre Pio, whom he had met a short while before that day and who had promised to pray for his safety. We are grateful that he and all of our other family members made it back safely. Ray spent the rest of his life encouraging devotion to Padre Pio. So he didn’t die, but I like an in to share that story! I prayed for Jen’s husband and your great-uncle!
I would argue pretty firmly that your prohibition party invitations are your best work to date.
#5 Emil Kapuan
Praying for the repose of the souls of all of the men and women who have died while serving our country.
4 My children
5 Father Kapaun pray for us!
#4 For my middle school aged girls. Perfect timing. The book is already in my 'cart' just in cast. 😉
4. Cheers to you, dear ghel, for using the word "chuffed". I speak Brit.
5. Jay Fried
Jay was my grandma's first husband.
5. Joseph Jacobson, my cousin who fell in Vietnam
Thank you for the psa about Memorial Day, which I feel like I knew at some level, but now will be mindful of.
However, I don't think any opportunity for saying, "Thank you for serving," should be missed, and Memorial Day reminds me to say that (I do say it on Veterans Day too). So tell your husband not to take it the wrong way if I tell him "thank you" around this time of year.
4. Sorry, I missed the fact that I needed to leave a person's name here! I have 7 kids and they all love looking at beautiful works of art to accompany prayers. (The Illuminated Rosary, which you put us on to) I've got it on our wish list in the unlikely event that I don't win the giveaway. These giveaways are getting very expensive for us! : )
4. For my children, and ME! These are beautiful!
4. My daughter. We love doing our bible reading in the morning and this would be a treat to eyes, mind, and soul. Meg
5. Richard Dose
5. I’m never really able to respond to these “you got your hands full” people. I have 4 kids who usually are helping me. They are literally keeping my hands empty, making it so I can drink coffee from this new mug?! 🙂
5. Pat Tillman
4. My husband .
4. My whole family! But I think I would especially. I'm very visual.
5. Darrell Lee Tucker. July 7, 1969. My dad's older brother was killed in Vietnam. May he rest in peace.
4. I'm a DRE and am collecting a bunch of Bibles to review and display for the families in my religious ed program this fall. I'd love to add this one to the selection. It's beautiful, and I'll bet families would be blessed by knowing about it!
5. My husband's uncle, Kenneth Westerberg, Vietnam.
5. Fr. Charles J. Watters
#5. Dr. Joel B. Wills, a great great grandfather who died in the war between the States. Thankfully my grandfathers both made it home from WWII…or I wouldn't have been here. And my husband made it home from the first gulf war, or none of our 9 blessings would be running about hollaring. Thanks to & Prayers for all our veterans. I would really love to give that beautiful mug to our homeschool co-op president!
4.
For my boys, when they get older. We just started homeschooling them (preschool), but we are building a library for them.
Thank you for the explanation of Memorial day/ Veteran's day, btw.
5. Thomas Vitagliano. My husbands best friend. They served together.
5 Dan Burdick. My third grade teacher's brother, died in Vietnam less than a month after his twentieth birthday.
Question – in the area where anyone else lives, is it usual to commemorate fallen firefighters as well as servicemen? Thanks!
#4 I would keep the book myself and share it with my kids. The stories would be great for reading aloud before bed.
4. My daughter would benefit from this beautiful book!
4. My nephew Thomas would love this book! I think I will also purchase a copy for our family. Thanks for the great recommendation!
4. My teens would benefit from this faith filled book!
Tracy, you win! Please email me before noon on Monday to claim your book!
4 my godson, who is 13!
5 Michael Cifuentes, 2005 in Iraq. I didn't know him, but he was an alum of my university and also in the marching band. He died right before my first band camp, and I remember so many of the upperclassman coming to camp late because they had gone to his funeral. It was so very sobering.
Liesl, you win the mug! Congratulations! I emailed you.
5. Thomas Harold Hart
4. for me….to share with grown kids, son in seminary, and grandchildren
5. thankfully no one terribly close to me…but my daughter served in the Army has lost several buddies to suicide/PTSD since deployments etc. Very sad, gone too soon and too young. I will remember them and that we all need to be sensitive and caring to our vets, even the young ones who have served.
5. For my aunt Ruthie’s brother who died in the Vietnam War.
5. 1st Lt. Kathryn Bailey
4. My ten year old son!
4. Patrick
5. Father Charles J. Watters
4. For our parish kids in their Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium. I love this series, and it would be such a great thing to have available for our kiddos!
5. Jen's husband ♡
#4. My daughter would love it. 🙂
Soo, you used the word chuffed! I've only ever heard it from an Irish lady farmer that I follow on Instagram. I had asked her the meaning of it and I thought, what a cute word! Where did you pick it up from, Kendra?
4 boys (and 1 girl) would love studying these Gospels and looking at the pictures! We like to read the gospel readings before Mass, and this would help them (an me honestly) pay more attention.
5. Fathers of young families.
Beautiful sharing, thank you.
4. Jacelyn my best friend, fellow mother, lover of all.
5. Fr. Kapaun
5. Michael A Monsoor
5 Fr. Charles Watters
5. Gustavo Guerrero my uncle I never met.
5. I was very honored to work in the intensive care unit from 2009-2011 where all of the wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan stopped before being transported to the US. There were several young men and women who expired there that I will never forget. ������������ I am forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.
5 Dr. Hiram Green
I've already entered the giveaway but I wanted to tell this story and muster all your prayers for a family intention. My grandfather was a doctor in WWII, slated to go out on a submarine when he got meningitis. Dr. Green took his place and the sub ended up being sunk. My family has been praying for Dr. Green ever since—over 70 years and four generations: my grandfather had seven kids, 22 grandchildren, 17 great-grands. Now your readers can help us pray for him.