Did you know there is a patroness of the TV?

Well, there is: Clare of Assisi.

I'm not Catholic, and I've been very forthright on this matter here.  So I don't know my saints and patrons like others I'm sure, but I am very curious why an inanimate object needs a patron(ess).  People...yes; countries...yes; causes....yes.  But an object to which countless hours of meaningless junk is transmitted?  Really Pope Pius XII?

Clare of Assisi (1193 - 1253), born Chiara Offreduccio, is one of St. Francis of Assisi's first followers and an Italian Saint.  According to what I read online, Clare's life was extremely Christ-centered and selfless.  She founded the Order of the Poor Ladies, and wrote the Rule of Life - "the first monastic rule known to have been written by a woman."  From what we know about the respect and treatment of women in the 12th century, this is a huge deal.  She obviously was extremely intelligent and very wise to have impressed the monastic rulers of the time.  Upon her death, the Order of the Poor Ladies as renamed the Order of Saint Clare. 

So where does the television come into play?  Well, apparently Clare became ill and wasn't able to attend mass.  However, projected on the wall of the common room she saw and heard mass.  She was even able to identify the priests, because the image was so clear.

She was made a saint upon her death, but in 1958 she was made the patroness of the television.  I suppose because she saw mass on the wall, pretty much the way TV is projected today.  However, rather than question why this woman is a patroness, the question is: why does the television need a saint in the first place?

So...what is a patron saint?  According to Wikipedia: A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are believed to be able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges.

So...no mention of inanimate objects like a television, radio, couch, etc.  Further research proved that Television has three patron attributed to it: Gabriel the Archangel, Martin de Porres, and Clare of Assisi.  Of course then there are the different sub-sections of television: writers and workers.  Clare appears as the patron of television writers and Gabriel as the patron of television workers.  I completely understand the idea of a career patron, but television is an object.  Unless the TV asks Clare to be its intercessor of prayers, I cannot imagine why it needs a patroness.

I did find there is a patron saint for most everything you can imagine.  Skin conditions, all careers, animals, people of all walks of life, and every country, city, and town.  But I could never figure out why a TV needed a patroness.

If someone out in the blog world has an idea, I am completely open to hear the reasons.  Thanks!

Carrying Your Cross (Think About It)

Antonietta Meo - venerable child

As you all know, I am not Catholic.  No, I am not one of the many converters from Catholicism to something else.  However, I did grow up Lutheran...or as Jim calls it: Catholic Lite. I did leave the Lutheran church, but have found two homes: one at the United Church of Christ and one a a non-denominational school that my girls attend.

One of the main differences between Lutheran and Catholic is this idea that saints existed and can still potentially exist.  Lutherans do not believe in saints, not even the main 12 (i.e. the disciples of Jesus).  Anyway, I have always been fascinated by saints, especially those that are relatively new.  My fascination is centered about the lives of the saints.  What makes them special.  What makes them different than another person. 

Today, in my Advent little blue book, there is a lovely write up about Antonietta Meo and her possible sainthood.  I am not the average person when I don't know about something.  I don't just take a small blurb as the totality of the information regarding that subject.  So I googled the little girl and came up with these two pretty comprehensive sites on her: Nennolina and Wikipedia. 

What fascinates me about this little girl is her precocious behavior with God and Christ Jesus.  Between the ages of 5 and 7, little Nennolina wrote many poems and prose and laid them at the foot of her crucifix while she was dying with bone cancer.  The Nennolina site has most of the writing there, but I wish there was a book that compiled these beautiful words from such a special little girl.  This little girl had such honest love and beauty with her relationship with Christ.  Evie tells me the little girl looks like her sister, Zoe.  And I think there is a timeless quality with this little angel of God.

I am continuing to research little Nennolina and her angelic heart.  I would love to have a book of her poetry and prose, so maybe I'll compile it myself.

Surprise! It's a BOY!

As in years passed, I am currently doing an Advent Bible study.  I am a few days behind, but I suppose I should acknowledge that it's better late than never.

When I was a little girl I thought that a virgin was simply an unmarried woman.

I remember specifically this one Christmas (I was probably 10).  My Grandma made a nativity set at ceramics class, and everyone was admiring it.  My uncle and dad began to laugh, because Josephs painted eyes were very wide and surprised.  They began to make suggestive comments as to why his eyes were so wide.

It was at that time that I learned the true meaning of virgin: an unchaste woman; a woman who has not had sexual intercourse.  So no wonder Joseph's eyes were so darn wide. The baby Jesus wasn't his!  Before this I always thought Jesus was Joseph's son, and that God put the holy spirit in Mary to inhabit the baby.  So the flesh was from Joseph and spirit was from God.

The "little blue book" Advent study this year is from the book of Matthew.  Like the book of Luke, Matthew starts with the genealogy proving Jesus is the Messiah.  Interestingly enough, Jesus technically isn't from Joseph, so the lineage is pretty inconsequential. 

This study is a Catholic one, so a "theology" connection is what they attribute the long genealogy in the scripture - not DNA.  But it does leave the question, is Jesus REALLY the Messiah.   This doesn't, interestingly, mean that Jesus did not die for our sins (as all good Jews believed would be the case for the Messiah).  In fact, I just don't believe that on a DNA level (i.e. elemental) that one could say Jesus was Joseph's biological son.  But was there anything in the Bible that said this descendant of the house of David would HAVE to be blood related?

I find it interesting that the gospel of Matthew does so much to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.  I realize that the earliest Christians needed to be shown that in fact this man, Jesus, was the true Messiah spoken of in the books of the Tanakh.  However, Matthew chooses to quote Isaiah and the verse about the virgin bearing a son and naming him Emmanuel.

In Matthew, the birth narrative tells us that Mary was a virgin and became pregnant.  However, we all know she called the baby Jesus, as told to Joseph.  The Angel of the Lord tells Joseph that Mary has been impregnated by the Holy Spirit, and the baby will be called Jesus.  Emmanuel means God is with us.  But Jesus means the Lord is salvation.  I realize that the Tanakh spoke of a boy child that would be the Messiah, one that would definitely prove that God is with us.  But this Jesus of Nazareth, our salvation, is he the same man the Hebrews were waiting for?  According to scholars, Emmanuel and Jesus are similar names.  I'm not positive.  My name is Michelle.  It means, one who is like God.  What if the Angel of the Lord told Joseph that his name shall be Michael (which means the same as Michelle)?  After all, the Jehovah Witnesses will tell you the Angel Michael came on Earth to be Jesus.  Yes, leave it to a JW to really mess with your brain!

I recall a song from when I was a child.  My mother was in a chorus and at Christmas they sang this song about Jesus's many names: Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, Mighty God, Emmanuel, etc.  In my research today, I found a website that lists over 100 names and titles that Jesus went by: 100 Names.  So does it matter what his name will be called?  We call him so many things.

For me Advent is a time of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  Devotion and meditation surrounded by the titles of the 4 Advent candles in the Advent wreath.  In past years, Advent is always the craziest time of the year, with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  However, this year, I am focusing on the sense of inner Hope, inner Peace, inner Joy and inner Love.  So that by this time next year I can pass those principles along to others.

I have a secret...

I have myself a secret

I keep it locked up well.

For I have made a promise

And to no one did I tell.

I have myself a secret

As many people do.

But this is not about me

But rather about you.

I have myself a secret

But little do I know.

If what I think's a secret

Is only just a show.

I have myself a secret

But friends we are no more.

So maybe I could tell it

Thus evening the score.

When patience becomes pointless

I have never been patient.  However, as a Mother I have daily reminders of my desire to learn the virtue.  For those of you without children, no matter what you do each day (may that be work, go to school, etc.) nothing, NOTHING, is as trying to your patience as being a parent.  I also think that is multiplied infinitely when you are the primary caregiver.  

Earlier this year, I worked and reworked a manuscript that I have been working on for almost two years now.  I posted a blog about it back in April: The Tra La La Tree.  After posting the blog I began sending it out to a variety of publishing companies.

As expected, it was not picked up by any of the first round of submissions.  I began round two of the manuscript submissions.  I also wrote a few short stories during this time, and submitted them to Christian monthly publications.  The Invitation, Three Billy Goats Grrruff, The Green-Eyed Monster, and Poetry are the writings which kept me busy throughout the summer months.

Then I read two books this fall that were published by independent (less-known) companies.  The one that stood out was Zoe Life Publishing (Zoe...just like my daughter's name).  So I made color copies of the illustrations for Tra La La Tree and sent the entire manuscript to both companies.  I don't consider myself an artist, just someone that likes to draw.  I also had this image of the tree...a specific idea...and I was afraid that an illustrator would not be able to effectively produce my imagination.

So off my manuscript went.  Then seven weeks ago I came home to a phone message from Dr. Adams from Zoe Life Publishing.  They loved my manuscript.  YES!  All the work finally paid off!  I phoned her back, and left a message.  I was impressed with the lovely answering system they had, and the lovely message was very sweet and Christ-focused.  But I did not hear back.  Two days later I called again, thinking that maybe I should leave my cell phone number too.  Left another message.  Two weeks later I phoned yet again, this time hoping to get an actual person.  No dice.  Another message left. 

This passed Saturday, November 27th (coincidentally my mom's birthday), I wrote an email to Zoe Life Publishing.  Mainly because I really want closure with this unsettling incident.  I just feel like I was told a cruel joke, or at least there was zero respect for my emotions regarding the manuscript.  After all, my writing has always been a piece of my heart.  Here is what I wrote:

To Whom It Concerns:

I submitted my manuscript, "The Tra La La Tree," to Zoe Publishing a few months ago. 

I also heard, via phone message, from Dr. Adams regarding interest in the above mentioned manuscript.

Since then I have returned this phone message a couple times hoping to contact Dr. Adams to further discuss my manuscript.  Unfortunately this has not happened.

If you are still interested in speaking to me regarding my manuscript, please contact me at:
313-XXX-XXXX (home phone)
313-XXX-XXXX (cell phone)
XXXXX12@gmail.com (email address)

I would also appreciate if you have changed your mind, if you could let me know that as well.

Thank you for your time.



So you can understand my surprise when I received the following shortly after sending my email:

Hi Michelle:

Our offices are closed for the holiday and will be re opening on Monday.  I will also give you a call at the time.  Thanks for following up.

Blessings

Sabrina

But now it is Thursday, and I have not heard a word.  Do I email back?  Do I just realize that people are not what they seem?

At what point does patience become pointless?  I think I have hit the point that patience is not longer the acceptable behavior needed for this situation. Sigh.