the brave Joan of Arc

As I mentioned yesterday, my posts will be a little different since I will be traveling for the next two weeks. Michael and I arrived today for what I’m calling a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage of the French countryside with my wonderful in-laws, Tony and MarySue. They are introducing us to some of their favorite places in the world!

I’ve mentioned before what a slow (and thorough) processor I am when it comes life experiences. Paraphrasing one of my favorite authors, Heather King, I need three or four days of contemplation for every one day of lived experience. At least I know that I’m in good company.

All that is to say that what I'd like to do is give you a visual glimpse of what I get to see and discover every day:

in the courtyard of our hotel in Compiegne

the view from our bedroom window

entrance to St. James church -- which sits on one of the French routes to the Camino de Santiago!

I learned today that this is the church from where Joan of Arc was arrested, taken away.

holy water font in the shape of a conch shell, 

symbol of baptism and of the Camino de Santiago

memorial on side of the church naming the people from the village of Compiegne who died in WWI and WWII. you can see the different shades of gray for each war.

on spiritual motherliness and Edith Stein

Image of Mary on side altar

St. James Church, Compiegne, France

Two things on my brain today – 

#1, a disclosure: I’ll be traveling for the next two weeks (will tell you more details on that later!) – so my timing and postings may be a bit unpredictable for a while. Thanks for your understanding!

#2, With Mother’s day just past us, I’ve been pondering the charisma apparently inherent in every woman towards “mothering,” and of course, what exactly does this mean!?  Let me explain by paraphrasing and quoting from my adopted patron saint, Edith Stein,Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

Every woman is meant to develop what Edith calls a common sense of spiritual mothering, of companion and mother, in order to help others develop to their fullest potential.

“The body of woman is fashioned ‘to be one flesh’ with another and to nurse new human life in itself,” Edith emphasized. 

“A well disciplined body is an accommodating instrument for the mind which animates it; at the same time, it is a source of power and a habitat for the mind. Just so, woman’s soul is… also fashioned to be a shelter in which other souls may unfold. Both spiritual companionship and spiritual motherliness are not limited to the physical spouse and mother relationships, but they extend to all people with whom woman comes into contact” (Woman 132).

Seeing motherhood as a universal calling for all women means it is not simply a duty to be exercised with one’s biological children. This has certainly been true to my experience. In Edith’s exposition, a woman’s concern for the good of persons must be universal, extending to all whose lives touch hers in some way (emphasis mine).       

“The soul of woman must therefore be expansive and open to all human beings... it must be quiet so that no small weak flame will be extinguished by stormy winds; warm so as not to be numb fragile buds; clear, so that no vermin will settle in dark corners and recesses; self-contained, so that no invasions from without can imperil the inner life; empty of itself, in order that extraneous life may have room in it; finally, mistress of itself and also of its body, so that the entire person is readily at the disposal of every call” (Woman 132-3).

~Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, 

Edith Stein [Link to my biography of Edith Stein] 

in spite of being damaged (or maybe because of it?), I love this simple image of Mary holding her Son. 

According to the church description, she's the "Virgin with a significative swaying hip," called

the "Silver Footed Virgin" or the "Laticca Virgin"

Check out her facial expression! 

Church of St. James, Compiegne, France

Why I love Catholic schools -- #1

Choosing the best schooling option for your children and their education is one of the hardest decisions a parent can make. At least, it was for us! It was also one that we revisited at various points in our family's journey.

Rebekah at St. James

Where should they start school? What about moving into a new city, a new state? What about high school? And finally, what should we encourage for college? At every one of these points, Michael and I stopped, re-assessed, discerned--and finally re-committed to sending our awesome foursome to a Catholic school.

Because it's a difficult and important decision, I'm not trying to convince anyone one way or the other. But I do want to share with you my top three reasons why I love Catholic schools, and why I'm grateful that we committed to Catholic schools.

First of all, I love Catholic schools because they offered us, as parents, the opportunity of sending our children into an educational environment that provided a wholistic approach to learning, one where faith is not a separate topic, but an integral part of EVERY other subject. 

When our oldest was ready to enter Kindergarten, we had no Catholic school in our vicinity. More than anything I desired an educational setting for Christopher that was Christ-centered and founded on the Gospels. One where, whether learning history and mathematics or going on a field trip, I knew that every subject, topic, event or activity centered on living out our Christian faith. So our first school experience, in fact, was a small Lutheran school in Cedar Park, Texas.

When we moved to Oklahoma, Christopher was headed to 5th grade, and our youngest to Kindergarten. Again, we discerned and found a Catholic school in nearby Oklahoma City. As beautiful as our experience was at Good Shepherd Lutheran, being able to incorporate our Catholic faith and tradition to their academic experience was the ultimate goal for us. 

Michelle serving at a school Mass

Clearly, we -- and the schools -- don't always get it right. But the fact that incorporating our Catholic faith was the mission and vision of their school provided our family continuity. This was and is the life code and cornerstone that we deliberately profess(ed) and present(ed) at home.

To put it another way, I knew that we needed all the help we could get to inculcate in our children the Catholic faith that I love and profess.

That's why I love -- and am eternally grateful -- that the schools and the teachers that were a part of my children's lives were my partners in this primary endeavor.

Thank you, Good Shepherd Lutheran School -- Cedar Park, TX

Thank you, St. James Catholic School -- Oklahoma City

Thank you, All Saints Catholic School -- Norman, OK

Thank you, University of Notre Dame -- South Bend, IN

Thank you, Marquette University -- Milwaukee

Thank you, Creighton University -- Omaha