SAINT LUCY'S CHURCH: The Mother Italian Church of The Diocese of Scranton. Home to All! Ministered to by Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

The weeks of the year outside of the seasins of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter are called Ordinary Time. Ordinary comes from the word ordinal meaning, "counted." The liturgical seasons mentioned above take us on a journey into the very heart of our faith. During Ordinary Time we must attempt to live there, at the heart of Christianity, faithful to the essence of our faith in our daily lives, allowing God-not self-will or convience-to order our days.

From an early age, our children know who they are in the family. By the age of two, they are individuals with autonomy and a sense of self. They understand the words mine and no (which, roughly translated, mean "I am me and not you"). It is in adolescence that our children develop thier identity. Identity is not self-concept; it is not the answer to Who am I? Identity is the answer to Who am I in the world? In adolescencs, our children begin to leave the warmth, security, safety, and confinement of home to enter into the freedom, challenge, and opportunity open to them in the world.

The first Christians began a kind of adolescence on the day of Pentecost. They had discovered, in the days following the Resurrection, who they were in their intimate familial relationship with Christ and with each other. Now they would embrace their Christian identity, becoming a people for the world. Today is a birthday for both the ecclesial and the domestic Church. It is a time for our families to celebrate the birth of the Church and the coming of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and homes; but it is also a time to reflect on the necessary connection between our homes and parish. To become Church is to become a Christian for the world. How might you strengthen a connection between your family and parish life? Begin by praying as family for Church unity.

This is a good day to teach children to make the sign of the Cross. This simple ritual has been practiced from the earliest centuries. Christians made the Sign of the Cross with three fingers, representing the Trinity, on thier foreheads. Now it is customery to make the Sign of the Cross by touching the middle fingers of the right hand to the forehead, heart, the left shoulder and then the right, saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Try singing the Doxology as a grace at mealtime or before bed.

It has been customary since the fourteenth century to carry the Blessed Sacrament on procession around the outside of the church on this day. Join your parish processions, spend time venerating the Blessed Sacrament, and return home for a special family meal with a good bread. Before your meal, read 1 Cor 10:16-17. Put children's First Communion pictures on the mantel, surrounded with flowers.

This feast, coming at harvest time when the fruits are ripe and the grain is full grown, celebrates Mary's entrance into the fullness of heavenly life. Her example renews our hope that the fruits of the spirit shall ripen in us as well. According to popular (and ancient) legend, the disciples discovered Mary's empty grave filled with flowers and herbs. From this arose the lovely custom pf blessing herbs and other plants on this day. This was especially meaningful at a time when herbs were a primary source of healing. Use herbs in your family meal today, decorate the house with flowers, and pray the glorious mysteries of the Rosary.

All Saints Day is a good day to read the stories of the saints(especially obscure ones). Find stories at your local library or read the brief stories offered by the Daughter's of Saint Paul at http:/www.daughtersofstpaul.com/saintday/index.html .

Today we pray for our beloved dead, and many families visit gravesites. Pray this prayer form the Liturgy of the Hours: "Merciful Father,/hear our prayers and console us./As we renew our faith in your Son,/whom you raised from the dead,/ strengthen ourhope that all our departed brothers and sister/willshare in His resurrection,/who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,/one God for ever and ever."

The liturgical year comes to an end with today's solemnity. Decorate your dining table or home altar with yellow roses or other yellow flowers, representing Christ in glory. Pray for the coming of the kingdom of God when all will live in peace.