Christmas in June, a Giveaway!


This past Wednesday was the memorial of Our Lady of Combermere. She's the photo you see as the header on my blog. She's been watching over me eversince I went to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy.

She is the most unusual representation of Our Lady I have ever seen. She's not standing passively and praying. Rather, she's running -- to embrace her children, us.

I have been so drawn to this title of Our Lady since I became a wife and mother. I envision Our Lady of Combermere to be so practical. She doesn't have a huge budget. She hardly has any money at all. But she is so grateful to St. Joseph for the hard work he does to provide for her and her Child. So she makes do with what she has, she doesn't grumble, she works hard, and she does this all in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving.

Just exactly what I would like to be for my husband and children.

I am so indebted to Madonna House to introducing me to Our Lady in this special title. I am also so grateful to Catherine Doherty, the foundress of Madonna House for her writings. I could say a lot about Catherine, but perhaps you should just read her bio if you don't know much about her just yet.

Her spirituality is rooted in simplicity (that is, holy poverty), performing your duties of the moment with love, and living the Church calendar with zeal. I was familiar with the first two ideas, although living them out well is another story (!), but it was the last one that grabbed me. How do you live out the Church calendar? By putting up a Christmas tree in December? By scattering chocolate eggs for your kids at Easter?

Catherine's writings have helped inspire me so much in this area. I am particularly challenged and touched by her book Donkey Bells which outlines practices for observing Advent and Christmas. The ideas are based around her Russian upbringing and Madonna House practices, but could easily be adapted to family life. What a special way to make Christmas more about Christ and less about... everything else Christmas has been reduced to.

Because Our Lady of Combermere's feast just happened, I thought I'd do a little a giveaway in honour of her. It's totally unseasonal, of course, but perhaps you'd be interested in getting a copy of Donkey Bells? Simply leave a comment about what your favourite feast day is, and perhaps, why, and I'll draw one reader to receive a copy of this book (with maybe a few other little liturgical or Church-y goodies... Just sayin').

(By the way, this isn't a giveaway sponsored by someone. I'm not being paid to promote this book by the publisher, especially since it was published by Madonna House, and they don't have money to market their books! I just happen to have two copies, and thought someone might like it!)

Comments

  1. SarahJune 11, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    My favourite season is Advent (I love the music, and the waiting, and the readings and the colour purple), and within Advent I really like the Feast of St. Nicholas. We clean up our dress shoes and leave them out and then I put treats in them. It's nice to get small treats spread out through the Advent/Christmas season, I think. It helps cut down on the gift-a-palosa that distracts from Christmas day without children feeling deprived.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ErinJune 12, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Oh Jenna...a giveaway! Always fun. I haven't read this one by the B yet, so I would love to enter. My image of Our Lady of Combermere hangs in my laundry room and we have many a chat while I sort, wash and fold the laundry. She's a better listener that everyone else too! Sending lots of love Jenna. I'm so glad to know things are getting better with Isaiah. We are just so very happy for your little family. You are truly blessed!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 12, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    I'm not actually commenting to win, since I assume you'd be willing to let me read your copy some time. I'm commenting rather to say that it's SO COOL that you're doing a give-away!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jenna CraineJune 14, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    I'm posting this myself because my friend Katie sent it to my Facebook account, and I'd like to enter her into the draw too!


    Hi Jenna,
    I can't seem to post on your blog but here is my comment....

    OOh! I would love a chance to read this book :) We learned about Catherine Doherty when we were on NET and the things she was about ring true to my vocation now in so many ways..the duty of the moment specifically.

    As for favorite feast days, I'm going to have to say either the feast of St. Nicholas or St. Patricks Day since both mean lots of treats in our house :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. RebekahJune 15, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Ooo a giveaway! Um...my fav feast would have to be St. Nicholas' Day:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. ClaireJune 22, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I love the birth of St John the Baptist . . . several years ago it was suggested I pick a day to celebrate, a day which had no connection to wounds and such (too long a story!). When you first posted this contest, I paused, thought, and prayed but no one celebration came to mind. Since then, I've made arrangements to celebrate on Friday with two dear friends who know about the wounds and see me as more than those. And then read your blog entry about Isaiah's baptism (wow . . . beautiful testimony, pictures, etc) and the reminder of your contest. And my answer is so obvious. Thank you, Jenna, for the many ways you, Patrick, and the boys bring hope and joy to people you may never meet, or even hear from!

    ReplyDelete

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