St. Catherine of Siena and a great surprise in Rome

Catherine of Siena is a favorite saint of mine.  She was born and lived in Siena, Italy but died in Rome in 1380, only thirty-three years old.  She was in Rome at the request of Pope Urban VI who wanted her advice on unifying the Church.  When she died her body was entombed in Rome.  Her head, however, is in Siena.
In planning our trip to Italy, I had originally hoped to go to Siena, not that I really wanted to see her head, because you can if you like that sort of thing, but I wanted to see where she lived, the Church dedicated to her and get to know more about her.  For various reasons I couldn't work it out from home and so decided that if God wanted us to go to Siena, it would happen and if not, so be it.
I never once thought to find out where Catherine was in Rome.  Not once.  I have no idea why I didn't but I didn't.  In Rome, she was the last saint on my mind as we walked the streets searching for the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Most churches in Rome have very unassuming exteriors, often you can't even find the name of the church.  We had left the Pantheon and where aiming towards St. Igantius Loyola, clutching our map and trying to find a street sign.  We see a church with an elephant outside of it and John suggests we go in to see what's inside.  I'm a bit reluctant because my other saint is on my mind, but we were right there so in we went. It is beautiful the Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva (St. Mary over Minerva, built over a temple of Minerva, goddess of wisdom) I look at the map of the interior of the Church (Italian version) and see Main Altar:  St. Catherine of Siena.  I check the English version and sure enough, I read it correctly.  I am speechless. John tries to get me to look at the side altars and art but I am off to the main altar.  I shed tears (and that is so not me) as I saw her tomb.

So beautiful.  I knelt and prayed and felt such peace.  I thanked God for leading us to her.  It was a gift. 

This prayer was on a prayer card in the Church:

O God, who adorned blessed Catherine with the particular privilege of virginity and of patience and who permitted her to triumph over the assaults of evil spirits and to remain steadfast in the love of your name, grant, we implore you, that we, in imitation of her, the corruption of the world scorned and the dangers of all our enemies conquered, may attain your glory with certainty.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.  

Holy place

Most Monday nights I am with a small group of women talking about our spiritual lives at Panera.  Tonight was no exception.  What struck us tonight was how many other small groups were there doing something similar.  We were not eavesdropping but three other groups around us were definitely Christian groups getting together for coffee and conversation related to faith.  We think Panera may be one of the holiest places in the neighborhood and ecumenical as well.  When we left I checked for a halo over the place but there wasn't one.
It really does remind me of what Jesus said, "Where ever two or three are gathered, there I am in their midst."  It doesn't matter where, he is with us.  Always.

Picture time

Since I am not spending much time on Facebook these days, you can see what I'm am doing with my time.

Over the summer we redid our offices at work, new carpeting, paint and new furniture.  This meant I could rearrange my office and start with a clean walls to decorate.  Here's what I did:

Flowers, fabric hoops, quotes and a photo  by my daughter!

Fabric covered canvas, more quotes

Fabric covered canvas and crosses

I really wish I knew how to make these pictures go where I want them to !

Tonight I made Broccoli soup for dinner:
1 head of broccoli
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic
6 cups broth or water (approx)

Cut broccoli, (I don't use the stalks) onions, garlic, place in large pot, add broth or water, almost to cover.  Bring to a boil, let cook at medium boil for about 15 minutes or until broccoli is tender, but not mushy!  Let cool, puree in a blender in small batches, reheat and serve.  I added a dollop of goat cheese, but it's good without it, says my daughter, who would not eat goat cheese if you paid her!

Then I did a craft involving wine bottles, hemp and stickers.
1.  Empty some wine bottles, how you do this is up to you. I prefer to invite a few friends over and share the goodness.
2.  Scrape off the labels, but not before noting the type of wine if you really enjoyed it. Trust me, there is nothing worse than going into a wine store and trying to describe a wine by the color or picture on the label.  It just makes you look like either you are old and forgetful or you drink to much wine.
3.  Spray paint the bottles, I choose burgundy.
4.  Wrap the necks in hemp or twine
5.  Put letter stickers and fall type stickers on the labels, thread a small piece of hemp through the hole and tie onto the bottle.

I want to change the tags for Christmas to say Merry Christmas.  I guess I need to  have some more friends over.

One other detail, I used approximately 15 yards of 20 lb hemp to wrap the bottles.  If I'd had more I would have wrapped the bottoms a bit as well.  The inspiration for this came from here.

All this talk of wine, I may go have a glass.

Different

When I was a kid, all I wanted was to be like everybody else.  I wanted a normal family life with a dad who came every night for dinner and dress clothes we bought at the store.  I wanted to watch Happy Days, wear jeans and have long hair.  Alas, it was not to be.  My dad was a waiter, sometimes with 3 jobs and we had family dinner Saturday afternoon before he went in for the dinner shift.  My grandmother made all of my and my sister's dress clothes, often matching, well beyond it being cute:).  My mother refused to let us have long hair, our bedtime was before Happy Days ever came on and I had jeans when I finally bought them for myself.
Now, I no longer want to be like everyone else.  I want to be different, noticed, someone who makes a big contribution to the world, probably in the area of catholic teaching or pastoral ministry.  Yes, I know I am special to my family and friends and my children are a wonderful contribution to the world (no, they don't read this, but really, they are wonderful) I know I have served in the Church many years and helped guide others to a deeper faith, both children and adults.
But I am prideful and slightly greedy and envious.  There. it. is. the truth. What brought this on?
I saw a book today written by two people I know, I had to look twice, and then I said, "really, they wrote a book about that?"  Why can't I write a book?  Why don't I write a book?
Then I wondered, I read many, many books but rarely do I know the author personally or have worked with them in some capacity.  I "know" them from afar.  Maybe their colleagues, past or present think the same thing I thought, "Really, a book, them?"
This is less about writing a book and more about learning to live the life I have now, in the present.  Which, if I were to give you a verbal snapshot, you'd seen I really have nothing to complain about.  So many lessons yet to learn, so many ways to grow towards God.

New Digs

My new position has me constantly thanking God for his blessings.  I truly feel like a different person, much more relaxed and calm.  My new office is bigger than my bedroom!  I took some pictures so you can see where I am every day. I usually have the verticals open, but to take the pictures I had to close them.
I know it's not all about a great new office or feeling wondrous at the possibilities or being so ecstatic that people notice.  I feel I have been given a gift and I intend to use it to serve others.  I am going to stop going on and on though, because a few of my friends can't take it anymore.  (Wow, too many I's and my's.)

My office as you look in from the doorway. A door that people knock on before entering:)



Bookshelves and credenza, still working on it

Work area in one corner of the room,
Pink chair!

My desk, with chairs for visitors.
The window that lets in the sun and lets me see outside.

Courtyard where I can sit to work or have lunch.