The Hillbilly Thomists

Dr. David Arias from our homeschool listserv group recommended this bluegrass and Americana band (known as The Hillbilly Thomists) of Catholic Dominican clerics: "All proceeds from their album sales go toward the formation of the orthodox Dominican friars at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. This could even count as a form of almsgiving this Lent!" Here is the link to their website: The Hillbilly Thomists. I also love this article in First Things praising the authentic Catholicity of the albums of The Hillbilly Thomists while also paying tribute to this land of America that we call home: Bluegrass and the Bible. The band gets its name from Flannery O'Connor who called herself a "Hillbilly Thomist" owing to her Southern roots and her devotion to St. Thomas Aquinas and his Thomist philosophy. I love this band!

King Cake

In these "carnival" days before Lent (Latin: carne, meat; vale, goodbye), our family celebrates with Haydel's famous King Cake from New Orleans, which comes with fun beads, Mardi Gras music, and a parade guide. It makes for a fun preparation as we clean out the cupboards of meat and sugar in the days before our Lenten fast (to begin this coming Ash Wednesday). This year, Anna found the hidden baby Jesus in her slice of cake: it was a cute moment, as she incredulously exclaimed, "What is this!?" With her discovery, Anna is Mardi Gras Queen in our house, and she will be my designated helper for next year's carnivale celebrations!

Stations of the Cross

Gaudete Sunday