Magnificat Advent Companion 2016 Giveaway!

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates but... well, you know. It's the same ol' same ol'. My week consists of (mainly) schoolwork, exams, lectures, lab assignments, observation hours and then writing reports for those hours. Rinse and repeat. I have another month of this before I take my first two final exams but I'm getting closer to the finish line with my sanity intact which is all I ask for. lol.

I did get some socializing in yesterday when the young adult group met up for coffee/tea and muffins at a local coffee and ice cream place after Mass. It was my second Latin Mass in less than a week which was so good for my soul, literally and figuratively. I was the only gal who went to the meet-up but the priest and the fellas are all so nice, I didn't feel like the odd girl out. Since I grew up with my best guys being mostly guys, I felt comfortable talking about religion and politics with them. Yes, those are usually topics to avoid but we all seemed to be on the same page across the board so I thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so we spent chatting while enjoying our beverages (and muffins) of choice. This was the second meeting with the group (the first with two young men I hadn't met before) and I already feel comfortable to keep attending the meetings and events with them. :) I have a lot more thoughts I want to share when I'm not in a rush so I'm going to get straight to why I'm writing this post.

The lovely people at Magnificat have graciously given me two iOS app codes to give away to you lovely readers for Advent 2016, just like I did for Lent 2016. Though I could've taken one more myself, I decided to give both codes away since I will be purchasing either the app or the actual booklet. Since I know I'll be incredibly busy for the first 3 weeks of Advent with school (the last final is on December 16 unless I can finish them earlier), and I know that the Magnificat app worked so well for me during Lent, I'm going to use it again. No, Magnificat is not paying me to say these things nor am I employed by them. They just gave me the codes to give away. :) Again, this is an iOS app only, not the booklet.

To enter the giveaway, please enter through the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the blog post. The giveaway will run from today through next Sunday. I know Advent doesn't begin for another two weeks but I don't know how busy I'll be the week before Advent begins. Again, school is going to get crazier after this week and I want to get the codes to whoever wins them on time. :)

I will blog about my plans for Advent -- which is my favorite time of year -- soon. I have other blog posts in mind as well but I'll post them as I get the time to do it. :)

That's it for now. I have an exam to study for. I was planning on starting it on Friday and again yesterday but things happened so I have to start today if I want a decent chance at passing it. I need to pass it if I want to pass the class. Yes, it's one of those "do or die" exams before finals begin. It's the hardest course of the program so any prayers you can spare, in your charity, would be greatly appreciated.

I hope y'all had a lovely week despite the election and post-election craziness that has been happening. Just remember that prayer can move mountains. It's a cliché idiom for a reason, folks. ;)

As always, thanks for reading and God bless!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prayers for Poland; Personal Update

Before I post any sort of update, I just want to ask everyone to please pray for those lives lost in the tragic plane crash that killed the Polish president, his family, and many government officials. A good friend of mine, Maria, is currently studying/working/living in Poland and I know that this news has hit her, as well as others in the country, very hard. I got the news just as it was breaking early this morning (since I stayed up late watching a movie) and the first prayer for the day went to the souls of the deceased. I will dedicate two decades of today's Rosary to them as well. May Our Lady of Częstochowa look after Poland and her citizens in this time of need.

I apologize for not posting anything in over a week. I will publish back posts soon -- as soon as I turn in my Oedipus Rex paper for Humanities class, my POV assignment for Creative Writing, and do my quiz and assignments for World History. Did I mention that I have to turn in a majority of that tonight by 11:30 p.m. Oh yeah. Since a few professors decided to bombard us with assignments for Spring Break, I've been focusing on the work for the past week and a half. Also, what little time I have has been dedicate to novel writing (or, I should say, finishing) since I've been in a creative kick lately. I do have posts to publish, but y'all know that this semester has been crazy and that I sometimes do take a few days to publish all the back posts... but they are published eventually.

Alright, that's enough for now. I have to work hard on my assignments (though I am very happy my Art Appreciation course ended yesterday!). I am also going to confessions later on (I try to go every two weeks, even if I just have one small venial sin on my conscience), which means I have an hour or so that I won't have to study/write.

I hope everyone is having/has a great weekend!

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless. :)

Reflection of the Day

I fought and I lost... this week's fight against my homework that is. I didn't even get a chance to finish either my Humanities paper (though I did read and write quite a bit) nor a discussion thread for my Creative Writing course. I finished everything for my Art Appreciation course -- a week early no less, and my History homework isn't due until tomorrow so I have time to finish (just 20 pages and then a quiz plus discussion to write.) Normally I would've beat myself up for it but I didn't this time. I will remember what several priests have told me and take my parents' advice: I will stop being so hard on myself and be proud that I did all that I could. Unfortunately, being sick in bed for a good part of this week (as well as last) didn't help but I won't use that as an excuse. I am just happy that I tried (though I know I could've tried harder) and that I didn't resort to cheating. If I fail this week's assignments (oh boy, that's going to bring down my Humanities grade quite a bit, not so much Writing) then that's life. I have always been an overachiever and have done well academically but this year has been a nightmare.

Perhaps this is all a blessing in disguise. I've always been overly confident about my academic career and maybe this is all to teach me that failure (well, failure for me) is okay sometimes... and that I shouldn't beat myself up. Maybe I do need to be humbled. Either way, as long as I know I did the morally correct thing (by not cheating), I will accept whatever grade I get. Pass or fail, I'm good with God and that's ultimately what matters.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a break from typing.

Thanks for reading my reflection. :)

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless. :D

Finally! Two Weeks Worth of Entries Posted

Just a quick "WHOO!" post to announce all the entries from March 4th until today finally been published! You can either go to the right hand column and search for them there or you can click one of the following links.

Posted entries (from oldest to most recent):
- March 4: Catholic Bookstores
- March 5: These Darn Temptations
- March 6: Practicing Patience in Church
- March 7: (Fictional) Catholics in Films, T.V. Shows
- March 8: Modesty and "Old Fashioned" Ways Coming Back?
- March 9: The Show, err... Posting, Must Go On
- March 10: Today Was a Stinker
- March 11: Apathy and Insight in Mass
- March 12: In Pain; No Proper Post Today
- March 13: See? I'm Alive!
- March 14: Update from Swamp Thing
- March 15: Music Monday: Ave Maria (Schubert)
- March 16: Deadly Sins Quizzes
- March 17: Happy St. Patrick's Day

I will keep my promise to write a blog entry every day during Lent... even if they are posted a bit late. Hopefully that won't happen again. *fingers crossed* I am on schedule for once, but I want to go back and read what I skimmed previous weeks. I have Spring Break coming up in a week and a half (we get Holy Week off... in the secular Los Angeles Community College District no less) so I have hopes that some day in the near future I won't be saying "still swamped with homework" or even mention it like I have lately. I'm keeping the dream alive! lol.

Alright, I want to get to bed a bit early tonight in hopes to get most (if not all) the remaining coursework done -- that way I can enjoy my weekend. I am not going to the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim but I have plans nonetheless. :D

Thanks for having patience with me. :D

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless.



P.S. Fingers crossed for the big announcement (hopefully) coming soon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This honorary, "adopted" Irish lass wishes you all a happy St. Patrick's Day. I say I'm adopted being I was officially named an honorary Irish lady (hello repetition) by Corey from the awesome podcast and website, Irish Fireside, two Christmas' ago. I have the note with the Shamrock Christmas ornament he sent me to keep that lovely memory. I have been mentioned on the podcast before but I won't say which one because he says my full name and y'all know I'm a bit wary about that (for now, at least).

I'm sure all the other Catholic blogs have been writing similar things about St. Patrick so I'm not going to. All I will say is that I LOVE this holiday and it surpasses many other holidays (including Valentine's Day, *gasp*). I've always loved the Irish culture and people, and I used to lament not being Irish as far back as junior high, so this particular day makes me very happy. Many of my favorite saints are Irish as well: St. Dymphna, St. Fiacre, St. Brigid of Ireland/Kildare, and (of course) St. Patrick. I hope to one day visit the places where they once lived/preached/breathed. I also have a great wish to go visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock at some point in my lifetime. :D

Before I end this post, let me just say a Happy St. Patrick Feast Day to all those named Patrick, including Patrick Madrid and my friend Melissa's infant son whose middle name is Patrick. :D

That's all for today. I'm attempting to get all my homework done early so I can focus on my big Humanities paper which is due on Saturday night. So far, I've finished all the work for my Art class (including the quiz, whoo! :D) and am not too far from finishing my Creative Writing work. :D

Until next time, thanks for reading and God Bless. :D

Update from Swamp Thing

I feel like a thing from the swamp - gross. I'm still sick but I have to try to concentrate because a lot of things are due tonight and I've missed days of studying due to my being sick. This means, yes, I am once again behind on my work. At this rate, I'll catch up on my Spring Break -- with only a day or two to enjoy it. By the way, I even missed Mass today (that's how sick I've been) so I'm not a terribly happy camper at the moment. Ah, well... c'est la vie. Just keeping up with my goal to write an entry every day.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. :D I hope to post something good soon. Fingers crossed. :D

'Til next time, thanks for reading and God Bless.

Music Monday: World Youth Day Theme Song

I finished two quizzes, an assignment, and now I'm getting my financial aid stuff all worked out. Mondays are hectic for me. Tomorrow I will be at 3 different campuses in less than 5 hours (seriously), so I am getting everything ready for that. As I said yesterday, no real entry until tomorrow when I can finally breathe... you know, after I drive around L.A., trying to get my transcripts sent to the school I am hoping will accept me for next Fall. Which school that is -- no comment until I know that I am for sure attending it. Anyway, I haven't forgotten today's entry (though it's very late -- 11:33 p.m. PST). I decided to re-vive Music Mondays and thoughts today would be the perfect day.

I chose the theme song, "Receive the Power" by Guy Sebastian and Paulini, from 2008's World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia because it brings wonderful memories to me. Though I personally couldn't attend (due to my anxiety which was still really bad at the time), I watched all the coverage EWTN offered... which was a lot. This song always brought tears to me eyes (and it still does) because of the message it brings to us.

By the way, did you know that you can find the songs to the most recent World Youth Days on XT3? If not, now you do. ;) You can find them here.

Alright, without further ado: the music video for "Receive the Power."


Isn't it a beautiful song? :D I can't wait to hear what the song will be for the next World Youth Day in Madrid (just a year away!) By the way, don't think that because I posted the song, I am telling you guys that the new WYD theme song is about to be released. I don't have that kind of intel. If it comes out soon, it'll be a coincidence. Got it? lol. :D

Alright, I need to get back to filling up these forms before midnight comes around... because that's when a lot of the school websites do their maintenance. :D

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless!

No Real Post Tonight; Saints Quiz

Yes, I am posting about there being no real entry tonight. lol. Sorry. I just finished my History homework and quiz... with 5 minutes to spare. I have a feeling I will be in a similar situation tomorrow as I have just barely caught up with my homework... and tomorrow is the final round of tests and whatnot before the new cycle starts Tuesday. I expect it to be less chaotic from Tuesday on.

Anyway, here's a fun little quiz I found that I think many of you will enjoy. Have fun. :)

Saints Quiz: Which One Are You?

My answer:
"Your saint is Maximilian Kolbe.

Maximilian Kolbe
1894–1941
Feast day: August 14
Canonized in 1982
Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of drug addicts.

As a young Franciscan, Maximilian Kolbe conceived of himself as a “knight” of Mary. He saw his mission as fighting at her side to reverse the dark tides that were engulfing the world. Maximilian was a communications genius, founding a widely circulated magazine and his City of the Immaculate, a state-of-the-art media complex with a printing press, a radio station, a college and an airfield. Kolbe suffered from chronic tuberculosis, which slowed him down, but never stopped him.

Kolbe was an outspoken critic of the Nazis. So in 1939, they turned the City of the Immaculate into a concentration camp and arrested him. His spirit never flagged during the months before his death at Auschwitz, and he gave other prisoners hope.

God’s justice will prevail, and all will plainly see it, so there is no reason to despair.
—Maximilian Kolbe

Other saints whose stories may interest you: Jacob Gapp, Margaret Clitherow, Teresa of Calcutta

This quiz has been taken 7797 times. Your personality type matches 8.77% of the people who have taken this quiz."

I like it! :D Which saint did you get? Let me know. :D Alright, off to bed I go!

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless!

Homework; Fr. Stan Fortuna at Catholic Underground

No long post tonight since I am in a homework nightmare. Try as I might, I cannot focus on my readings thus I can't finish this darn homework or take the quizzes. This also means that I am very unlikely to go see Fr. Stan Fortuna at Catholic Underground L.A. tomorrow night. Since almost everything is due tomorrow night, it's going to take a miracle for me to finish on time. *sigh*

Anyway, just stopped by to let y'all know about Fr. Stan's gig at Catholic Underground tomorrow night. Starts at 8 p.m., if I'm not mistaken. Hope those of you who get to go have a great time. :D

Back to the beating my poor brain is getting. *groan* By the way, any tips y'all can give me are greatly appreciated. I have tried listening to music but it hasn't helped. Being completely silent will only drive me bonkers. I can't go out in the rain (and with my pain it's impossible) so any outdoor related tips are out. Thanks in advance!

Merging Two Cultures; The Mission Continues; Catholic Blogs.

I interrupt my studying/homework thing for a much needed blog. Okay, so the blog isn't necessarily needed but I need this break for the sake of my sanity. I only have about two more pages to write (or roughly 500 words) and then I am done. So close... so close! lol.

I know it's not Music Monday, but, darn it, I am having music problems... sort of. It's music and cultural problems. First, I have to find a way to merge Mexican folklorico with Spanish flamenco into one dance. How I'm going to do that, I have NO clue. All I know is that if I don't find a way, there's a good chance I will offend either the Mexican or Spanish side of the familia. I've already been advised to just stomp my feet a lot. Haha! Yes, they have that in common but doing too much of that will only make my feet angry at me. I don't even want to think about the music, or even what I'll be wearing. Oy. I'll figure something out.

This is something I have to do quite often, and sometimes it's hard because I think there's still some bad blood between both countries/cultures. If I say I really want to go to Spain (especially for the World Youth Day in two years), but decline an invitation to vacation in Mexico, I get "the look". I want to eat posole but not paella, or vice versa, I get "the look". It doesn't help that when I speak Spanish I don't have an accent... and when I do, the dialect is more Spanish (Castilian) than Mexican. The only safe thing that I can talk about, without offending either, is the religion. Thank goodness both are primarily Catholic (though Spain seems to be more and more secularized than Mexico). I can show my love of St. Teresa of Avila (a Spanish saint) and St. Juan Diego (a Mexican saint) and have everything be fine. I love that there's no religious intolerance between these cultures.

While there are no religious issues between countries, I am still struggling with it in my family. One parent refuses to go to Mass (and even puts up a fight every Saturday I go to confessions and every Sunday I want to go to Mass). The other is a little more willing but I've probably gone to Mass by myself more often than not recently. I even volunteer to go to the Spanish Masses so they can go, but nothing. When I told my mom I was open to a religious vocation, a while back, she was against the idea. I have since then figured out that it is not what the Lord has in store for me, which made her happy. Her reaction, she says, comes from attending a Catholic boarding school and having to deal with "mean nuns" in her childhood. The only people that have had an influence on me have been my mom's Godparents (whom we don't see often), one of my paternal aunts, and my paternal grandmother (may God rest her soul). In fact, I still have a mantilla my grandmother handmade for me before she passed away a few years ago. She used to go to Mass every day with her veil. I remember her wearing them, when she took to take me to Church as little girl. There's something about that that I find absolutely beautiful. I've had a couple of priests ask me how it's possible that I'm so into the faith, while my parents are the opposite. Trust me, I don't know. All I know is that my mission to get my parents back to the Church continues. I've seriously made that my ultimate goal and I won't quit until I get them to come back. And if you know me well enough, you know I'm stubborn enough to get this to happen... eventually. Haha. I only use the "stubborn mode" for good. lol.

I should probably stop writing and get back to my homework. *groan* Just two more pages and I am done for the week. I'll only have one more class to work on (which I can finish in about half an hour) and I will have the weekend free. Whoo! :D Alright, I'm off to watch the Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls match... while I finish my Speech assignment. Yes, it CAN be done. It's impossible during a Liverpool F.C. match, especially with the amount of screaming, dancing, and celebrating I do (teehee :D), but for all others I can multi-task. :D.

Oh, before I go, I'd like to point out that I have a couple of new Catholic blogs listed. A few were requests and a few were added because I thought they deserved to get more readers; I liked all of them. If you're a St. Jude devotee (like me; he IS my patron saint, after all), St. Jude Novena Blog is a great place to visit. And, Verbum Veritatis (Word Of Truth) is one of my new favorites, as well. If I have yet to add yours, please let me know. I want to help y'all get more readers. :)

I'm stalling, aren't I? Okay, I'll shut up now. lol. :D As always, thanks for reading and God Bless. :D
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