Father Paul pointed to my favorite statue of Mary in the front of the school chapel today and told us that she was the Immaculate Conception... How I have loved her! I have this on my deck... she is crushing the serpant under the snow! It was special to have grandson, Simon, now with his class as a Kindergarten student... they were all so good in church this morning.. the other 4 we had with us in the balcony... well......
Little Davey is here while mommy has to work as a clinic nurse this afternoon. All 3 are up napping now... it was a crazy celebration around here starting with mass, then painting decorations for the tree and then a tea party with lunch and ice cream... Grandma was kind of shell shocked, but in a good way! 
Another frosty world greeted us on the way to mass today! So beautiful is the winter landscape.. without the wind.. the cold doesn't seem so bad! I just had an amazing time googling... New Ark of the Covenant - Mary! I would encourage you all taking the time to read this... http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0510fea5.asp I was wowing and filled with the wonder of it all! It has only been in the last few years that it all came together for me!
I knew that there was the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary... where she is called the new ark of the Covenant, but until you put it all together... it can just be a mindless bunch of words... when you look back at the OT and how important the Ark of the Covenant was to Israel... The Ark of the Old Covenant"God loved his people and wanted to be close to them. He chose to do so in a very special way. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "The prayer of the people of God flourished in the shadow of the dwelling place of God’s presence on earth, the ark of the covenant and the temple, under the guidance of their shepherds, especially King David, and of the prophets" (CCC 2594). God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle surrounded by heavy curtains (cf. Ex. 25–27). Within the tabernacle he was to place an ark made of acacia wood covered with gold inside and out. Within the Ark of the Covenant was placed a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant (cf. Heb. 9:4)."
I was once again wowed last night in evening prayers where they talked about how Mary... being the New Ark of the Covenant prepared by God without any sin so that she could be the dwelling place of His Son! "Mary is the House of Gold, the replenedent temple prepared by God as a fit dwelling place for His Son. By her faith, more precious than gold itself, she furnished her heart to receive him in pure love." see http://www.magnificat.com/ 
"In the innermost part of the temple was located the sanctuary to house the ark of the Lord's covenant, twenty cubits long, twenty wide , and twenty high. Solomon overlaid the interior of the temple with pure gold. The entire temple was overlaid with gold so that it was completely covered with it." I Kings 6: 19
"You are all-beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish in you." Song of songs 4:7
I remember when I was with the Little Sisters at the end of March last year and they were celebrating a feast of Mary... The Feast of the Annunciation - they blew me away comparing the cloud of God that covered the tent in which was the ark of the covenant, and the Cloud of the Holy Spirit that "overshadowed" Mary and placed within her God! Yes, even "overshadowed" is used in both circumstances!
There are so many ties between David and the old ark in the OT and Mary as the New Arc in the NT.... I should try to write them out in my own word by the rest with rosary time is slipping away... How I love the comparison of David dancing before the Ark...leaping and dancing for Joy and then how John the Baptist from within the womb of Elizabeth... leaps for Joy when Mary appears holding the Son of God within her womb - the New Ark! Another amazing comparison!..."
When David saw the ark he rejoiced and said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" Elizabeth uses almost the same words: "Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Luke is telling us something—drawing our minds back to the Old Testament, showing us a parallel."
When David saw the ark he rejoiced and said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" Elizabeth uses almost the same words: "Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Luke is telling us something—drawing our minds back to the Old Testament, showing us a parallel."
We had such a wonderful celebration starting with Church and the wonderful words of the mass... to have all my grandkids there including little Simon, who is now a student there at the Catholic School... then we headed for home and food and art projects...
The kitties got lots of attention and are now in their box recovering with an afternoon nap...
The kids thought that Hallel should replace her dried up Black eyed Susan's with some candy canes... I wonder how long those will be in her hands(?)... My girls that were here today think that Hallel is a bit over the top and offered to get rid of her for me. Noooooooooooo!
Every year since we were first married I get a dated ornament - with the being our 32nd year together... I think that the ones we made today are the most special! 
Sitting with the kids and kittens running, laughing and painting(?) ... a very fun and family time... once again grandpa even showed up for tea party/lunch as Therese has learned that with ice cream you get the biggest and most fun crowd! 
These are ornaments that were decorated on a most special day - the Day that we remember the New Ark of the Covenant... "Blessed are you, Our God, who today have brought to nought the enemies of your people... Blessed are you, daughter of the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of Heaven and earth." Judith 13: 17-18 Mary Lanoue was a bit confused when we were talking with the kids about how Mary never had to sit in the corner or did anything wrong... Mary is a good girl, but with a namesake like that she also has a lot of help to be as good as she can be! 
"God chose Mary the Immaculate to be 'our pattern of holiness' in much the same way that DNA plays an integral part in our genetic code; from the inside , not from the outside. At Mary's conception, a new way of being human happens, and we are 'chosen, destined' to share it. Adam and Eve were tricked by the serpent's 'conception." The yes of Mary at the annunciation, the culmination of the Immaculate Conception, undoes the disobedience of Eden and makes paradise once again a possiblity for us." 
"I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God; for he has clothed me in the garment of salvation and robed me in the cloak of justice, like a bride bedecked with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10 Lord, How we love you and are so filled with awe at the way that we are called to celebrate with rejoicing and feasting! All the marvels of your love for us are poured upon us over and over! The waves of love,peace and joy knock us off our feet and we swim in your sea of Truth! WE have no fear as we float on our backs in the warm waters of love and look up at the wonder of a blue sky filled with fluffy clouds and warming Son! We are filled with wonder and delight! Jesus,we trust in you! Come Holy Mother of God and lead us to your Son! Amen and Halleluia! 
Bless-bless, Barb"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.' " Luke 1:26-38 The Gospel of the Lord!
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