Sunday, November 18, 2012 - Litany Lane Blog:
Charity, Daniel 12:1-3, Psalms 16:5, 8-11, Mark 13,24-32, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, St Charles MissouriWishing everyone a Blessed Week!
Year of Faith - October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013
P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Serenity Happens). It has a remarkable way of producing solace, peace, patience and tranquility and of course resolution...God's always available 24/7.
We are all human. We all experience birth, life and death. We all have
flaws but we also all have the gift knowledge and free will as well,
make the most of it. Life on earth is a stepping to our eternal home in
Heaven. Its your choice whether to rise towards eternal light or lost to
eternal darkness. Material items, though needed for sustenance and
survival on earth are of earthly value only. The only thing that passes
from this earth to Purgatory and/or Heaven is our Soul, our Spirit...it's God's perpetual
gift to us...Embrace it, treasure it, nurture it, protect it...
"Raise not a hand to another unless it is to offer in peace and goodwill." ~ Zarya Parx 2012
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November 02, 2012 Message From Our Lady of Medjugorje to World:
"Dear children, as a mother I implore you to persevere as my apostles. I am praying to my Son to give you Divine wisdom and strength. I am praying that you may discern everything around you according to God’s truth and to strongly resist everything that wants to distance you from my Son. I am praying that you may witness the love of the Heavenly Father according to my Son. My children, great grace has been given to you to be witnesses of God’s love. Do not take the given responsibility lightly. Do not sadden my motherly heart. As a mother I desire to rely on my children, on my apostles. Through fasting and prayer you are opening the way for me to pray to my Son for Him to be beside you and for His name to be holy through you. Pray for the shepherds because none of this would be possible without them. Thank you."
October 25, 2012 Message From Our Lady of Medjugorje to World:
"Dear children! Today I call you to pray for my intentions. Renew fasting and prayer because Satan is cunning and attracts many hearts to sin and perdition. I call you, little children, to holiness and to live in grace. Adore my Son so that He may fill you with His peace and love for which you yearn. Thank you for having responded to my call." ~ Blessed Virgin Mary
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Today's Word: Charity char·i·ty [char-i-tee]
Origin: 1125–75; Middle English charite < Old French < Latin cāritāt- (stem of cāritās ), equivalent to cār ( us ) dear
noun, plural char·i·ties.
1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one's life to charity.
2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms: She asked for work, not charity.
3. a charitable act or work.
4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.
5. benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity.
6.leniency in judging others; forbearance: She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity.
7. Christian love; agape.
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Today's Old Testament Reading - Psalms 16:5, 8-11
5 My birthright, my cup is Yahweh; you, you alone, hold my lot secure.8 I keep Yahweh before me always, for with him at my right hand, nothing can shake me.
9 So my heart rejoices, my soul delights, my body too will rest secure,
10 for you will not abandon me to Sheol, you cannot allow your faithful servant to see the abyss.
11 You will teach me the path of life, unbounded joy in your presence, at your right hand delight for ever
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Today's Epistle - Daniel 12:1-3
1 'At that time Michael will arise -- the great Prince, defender of your people. That will be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared -- all those whose names are found written in the Book.2 'Of those who are sleeping in the Land of Dust, many will awaken, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
3 Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightness, as bright as stars for all eternity.
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Today's Gospel Reading - Mark 13:24-32
Last Discourse
Mark 13,24-32
Mark 13,24-32
Opening prayer
Shaddai, God of the mountain,
You who make of our fragile life
the rock of your dwelling place,
lead our mind
to strike the rock of the desert,
so that water may gush to quench our thirst.
May the poverty of our feelings
cover us as with a mantle in the darkness of the night
and may it open our heart to hear the echo of silence
until the dawn,
wrapping us with the light of the new morning,
may bring us,
with the spent embers of the fire of the shepherds of the Absolute
who have kept vigil for us close to the divine Master,
the flavour of the holy memory.
Shaddai, God of the mountain,
You who make of our fragile life
the rock of your dwelling place,
lead our mind
to strike the rock of the desert,
so that water may gush to quench our thirst.
May the poverty of our feelings
cover us as with a mantle in the darkness of the night
and may it open our heart to hear the echo of silence
until the dawn,
wrapping us with the light of the new morning,
may bring us,
with the spent embers of the fire of the shepherds of the Absolute
who have kept vigil for us close to the divine Master,
the flavour of the holy memory.
Lectio: Mark 13,24-32
24
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling
from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then
they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and
glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect
from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father
28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father
A moment of silence:Let the sound of the Word echo in us.
Meditatio
A few questions:
- After that tribulation. Life
bears the signs of labour, the seal of a death pregnant with new life.
Can we count ourselves among the elect gathered from the four winds?
- The Son of man coming in the clouds: Will we be capable of raising our eyes from our miserable things so as to see him coming on the horizon of our story?
- From the fig tree learn: We have so much to learn and we need not look far. Nature is the first book of God. Are we willing to go through its pages or do we tear its pages thinking that we own it?
- All things pass away, only the Word of God remains forever. How many are the vain words, the dreams and pleasures inexorably swallowed by time that carries away everything that has an end! Is the rock on which we have built our lives the rock of the Word of the living God?
- Of that day or that hour no one knows: it is not for us to know. The Father knows. Are we open to put our trust in him?
- The Son of man coming in the clouds: Will we be capable of raising our eyes from our miserable things so as to see him coming on the horizon of our story?
- From the fig tree learn: We have so much to learn and we need not look far. Nature is the first book of God. Are we willing to go through its pages or do we tear its pages thinking that we own it?
- All things pass away, only the Word of God remains forever. How many are the vain words, the dreams and pleasures inexorably swallowed by time that carries away everything that has an end! Is the rock on which we have built our lives the rock of the Word of the living God?
- Of that day or that hour no one knows: it is not for us to know. The Father knows. Are we open to put our trust in him?
A key to the reading:
The great change of the cosmos described
by Mark lies between metaphor and reality and proclaims the imminence
of the end of time as an introduction to an immensely new world. The
coming of the Son in the clouds opens up for humanity a heavenly
dimension. He is not an intransigent judge, but a powerful Saviour who
appears in the splendour of divine glory to reunite the elect, to make
them share in eternal life in the blessed reign of heaven. Mark does
not mention a judgement, threat or sentence…so as to bring hope and
increase the expectation, he proclaims the final victory.
v. 24-25. After that tribulation the sun will be darkened… a
new reality is contrasted with the great tribulation. The Evangelist
thinks that the parousia is near at hand, even though the hour of its
coming is uncertain. The confusion of the cosmos is described in terms
typical of apocalyptic language, in a stylised and accurate form: the
four elements are ranged two by two in a parallel manner. The reference
to Is 13:10 is clear when he speaks of the sun and the moon being
darkened and to Is 34:4 when he speaks of the shaking of the powers in
heaven.
v. 26. Then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. This
is the peak of Mark’s eschatological discourse. The time of
expectation is over, this is the time for restoring everything in
Christ. The end of the world is no more than the promise of the
glorious parousia of the Son foreseen by Dn 7:13. The clouds point to
the presence of God who in all his self-revelations uses clouds to come
down to earth. The attributes of divine sovereignty, power and glory,
mentioned by Jesus before the Sanhedrin (14:62), are not a threat to
humankind, but the solemn proclamation of the messianic dignity that
transcends the humanity of Christ.
v. 27. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of heaven.
By this first act of the Son of man, the meaning of the true parousia
is made clear: the eschatological salvation of the people of God spread
throughout the world. All the elect will be reunited. No one will be
forgotten. There is no mention of punishment of enemies nor of punitive
catastrophes, but only of unification. It will be the only place
because from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven the angels
will gather people around Christ. This, indeed, is a glorious meeting.
v. 28. From the fig tree
learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth
its leaves, you know that summer is near. The parable of
the fig tree points to the certainty and nearness of the proclaimed
events, especially the coming of the Son of man, prefigured in the
imminent passion, death and resurrection. The imperative addressed to
the listeners: Learn! reveals the implied
meaning of the similitude: it is an invitation to penetrate deeply into
the meaning of Jesus’ words in order to understand God’s plan for the
world. When fig tree loses it leaves in late autumn, later than other
plants, even past springtime, it announces the coming of summer.
v. 29. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Human
beings may know God’s plan from the events that take place. What are
the things that have to take place? Mark spoke of the abomination of
desolation in v. 14. That is the sign, the sign of the end that is the
parousia, the coming of the Son of man. Those things that are the
beginning of woes will bring humankind to a new birth, because He is near, at the very gates.
v. 30. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before these things take place. Many hypotheses have been put forward concerning the meaning of this generation.
It is more a Christological expression than a chronological
affirmation. The early Church kept affirming the uncertainty of the
precise moment, even though it held on to the hope that the Lord would
come soon. Every believer, in any age, who reads this passage, can think
of him/herself as being part of this generation.
v. 31. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. The
certainty that the words of the Lord will never pass away, add
confidence to whoever reflects on the decline of the world and the
things of the world. To build on the Word of God means that the
abomination of desolation will not last and that the sun, moon and stars
will not lose their splendour. The present time of God becomes for
human beings the only way to their own being because, if in their speech
the present never becomes the past, then they need not fear death.
v. 32. But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. The
end is certain, but the knowledge as to when it will come is reserved
to the Father. Jesus never made any precise statement on this matter.
Thus, anyone who pretends to have some presumed teaching of his own, he
is lying. The end is one of the many unfathomable secrets that belong
to the Father. The mission of the Son is to establish the kingdom, not
the revelation of the fulfilment of human history. Thus Jesus shares
deeply in our human condition. Through his voluntary kenosis, he even
complies with the possibility of not knowing the day or the hour of the
end of the world.
Reflections:
Tribulation is like daily bread in human
life and it is the sign of the coming of the Son of God. A life
pregnant with a new face, cannot not know the pain of childbirth. The
children of the Most High, dispersed to the ends of the earth, far from
one another, will be gathered from the four winds by the divine breath
that breathes over the earth. The Son of man comes in the clouds
whereas our eyes are fixed on the ground, on our puny works, lost
between the tears of delusion and those of failure. If we could raise
our eyes from our miserable things to see him coming on the horizon of
our history, then our life will be filled with light and we shall learn
to read his writing in the sand of our thoughts and will, of our falls
and dreams, of our attitudes and learning. If we have the courage to
leaf through the pages of daily life and there gather the seeds fallen
into the furrows of our being, then our hearts will find peace. Then
vain words, pleasures swallowed by time, will only be a lost memory
because the rock on which we would have built will be the rock of the
Word of the living God. If no one knows the day or the hour, then it is
not for us to go guessing. The Father knows and we trust in him
Contemplatio
Lord, I gaze upon the tender branch of
the fig tree that is my life and I wait. As the shadows of evening
lengthen along my path, I think back on your words. What peace floods
my heart when my thoughts dwell on you! In your own good time, my
waiting for you will be fulfilled. In my time your expectations of me
will be fulfilled. What a mystery is time, past, future and the eternal
present! Today’s waves break on the burning experience of your
Presence and remind me of games in the sand that are always washed away
by the sea. And yet, I am happy. Happy that I am nothing, happy with
the sand that will not last, because once more your Word goes on
writing. We seek to pause in time, writing and talking, achieving
excellent works that stand the ravages of centuries. You, however,
pause to write on sand to achieve works of love that have the perfume
of a caressed gazelle standing still, that have the sound of formless
voices that are the basis of daily life, the taste of a doused vendetta
of a returned embrace… works that do not last except in the heart of
God and in the memory of the living who are sensitive to the flight of a
dove in the heaven of their existence. Tender love of my soul, may I,
each day, look up to the clouds and be consumed by the nostalgia of
your return. Amen.
Reference: Courtesy of Order of Carmelites, www.ocarm.org.
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Featured Item of the Day from Litany Lane
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Saint of the Day: St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Feast Day: November 18
Patron Saint:
She was the daughter of Pierre-Francois Duchesne, an eminent lawyer, and her mother was a Perier, ancestor of Casimir-Perier, President of France. When she was 19 years old, she joined the convent of the Visitation, which her family did not know. The convent shut down in 1792. She was educated by the Visitation nuns, entered that order, saw its dispersion during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, vainly attempted the reestablishment of the convent of Ste-Marie-d'en-Haut, near Grenoble, and finally, in 1804, accepted the offer of Mother Barat to receive her community into the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1815 St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was instructed to create a Sacred Heart House in Paris.
In 1818, Rose Philippine Duchesne headed out to America with a few other members of the Society. She arrived in New Orleans, and traveled the Louisiana territory and ended up in St. Charles, Missouri which was close to St Louis, Missouri. Bishop Dubourg welcomed her to New Orleans, when she sailed up the Mississippi to St. Louis, finally settling her colony at St. Charles. Here she created a new house of the Sacred Heart Society in a log cabin. This was the first house ever built that was outside of France. This newfound house faced many struggles including lack of funds and very cold weather. Another major problem was that Duchesne struggled to learn English. She and four other members of her Society continued to create schools in America. By the year 1828, six houses had been added in America.
"Poverty and Christian heroism are here," she wrote, "and trials are the riches of priests in this land." Other foundations followed, at Florissant, Grand Côteau, New Orleans, St. Louis, St. Michael; and the approbation of the society in 1826 by Leo XII recognized the work being done in these parts. She enjoyed her work with these students, but truly desired to work with Native Americans. Years later, a school in Kansas was founded for the Potawatomi tribe children. At this new house, she spent much of her time taking care of sick Native Americans. The Native Americans named her Quahkahkanumad, which stood for "Woman Who Prays Always". Inspired by the stories of Father De Smet, S.J., Duchesne was determined to continue on and help students in the Rocky Mountains, but she became ill when she was about 73, and had to go back to St Charles. During the last ten years of her life, she Died November,18 1852 in St. Charles MO, at the age of 83.
She was canonized on July 3, 1988, by Pope John Paul II.
References
- Catherine M. Mooney, Philippine Duchesne: A Woman with the Poor (NY: Paulist Press, 1999; rpt. Wipf & Stock, 2007)
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Today's Snippet I: St Charles Missouri
St. Charles (French: Saint-Charles; Spanish: "San Carlos") is a city in and the county seat of St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 65,794 at the 2010 census, making St. Charles the 2nd largest city in St. Charles County. It lies just to the northwest of St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River,
and, for a time, played a significant role in the United States'
westward expansion. It is the third oldest city west of the Mississippi,
founded in 1765 as Les Petites Côtes, "The Little Hills", by Louis Blanchette, a French Canadian fur trader, and was the last "civilized" stop for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804. The city served as the first Missouri capital from 1821 to 1826. It is the site for the Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne shrine. It is also the home base for the St. Louis National Weather Service Forecast Office, serving central, east-central and northeastern Missouri, as well as west-central and southwest Illinois.
History
Louis Blanchette
Louis Blanchette was a French Canadian who traveled to the Americas, it is said, for adventure. According to Hopewell's Legends of the Missouri and Mississippi:
- In the year 1765, a French Canadian, called Blanchette Chasseur, animated by that love of adventure which characterizes all who have lived a roving and restless life, ascended the Missouri, with a few followers, for the purpose of forming a settlement in the then remote wilderness.
According to Hopewell's rather romantic
account, Blanchette met another French Canadian (Bernard Guillet) at
the site of St. Charles in 1765. Blanchette, determined to settle at the
site, asked if Guillet, who had become the chief of a Dakota tribe, had chosen a name for it.
- "I called the place 'Les Petites Côtes' " replied Bernard, "from the sides of the hills that you see."
- "By that name shall it be called", said Blanchette Chasseur, "for it is the echo of nature — beautiful from its simplicity."
Blanchette settled there in 1769 under the authority of the Spanish governor of Upper Louisiana,
and served as its civil and military leader until his death in 1793.
During this time perhaps only a couple dozen buildings were built.
Although the settlement was under Spanish jurisdiction, the settlers
themselves remained primarily French Canadians.
Fort San Carlos
The first church, built in 1791, was dedicated to San Carlos Borromeo, and the town became known as San Carlos del Misuri: "St. Charles of the Missouri". This church was destroyed by a tornado in 1916. The Spanish Lieutenant-Governor Carlos de Hault de Lassus appointed Daniel Boone commandant of the Femme Osage District, which he served until the United States government assumed control in 1804. The name of the town, San Carlos, was anglicized to become St. Charles. William Clark
arrived in St. Charles on May 16, 1804. With him were 40 men and three
boats; there they made final preparations, as they waited for Meriwether Lewis to arrive from St. Louis.
They attended dances, dinners, and a church service during this time,
and the excited town was very hospitable to the explorers. Lewis arrived
via St. Charles Rock Road on May 20, and the expedition launched the next day in a keelboat at 3:30 pm. St. Charles was the last established American town they would visit for more than two and a half years.
State capital and growth
When Missouri was granted statehood in 1821, a decision was made to build a "City of Jefferson"
to serve as the state capital, in the center of the state, overlooking
the Missouri River. Since this land was undeveloped at the time, a
temporary capital was needed. St. Charles beat eight other cities in a
competition to house the temporary capitol, offering free meeting space
for the legislature in rooms located above a hardware store. This
building is preserved as the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site and may be toured. The Missouri government continued to meet there until Jefferson City was ready in 1826. Gottfried Duden
was a German who visited in the area in 1824. Travelling under the
guidance of Daniel M. Boone, he wrote extensive accounts of life in St. Charles County
during his year there. These he published upon his return to Germany in
1829, and his favorable impressions of the area led to the immigration
of a number of Germans in 1833. The first permanent German settler in
the region was probably Louis Eversman, who arrived with Duden but
decided to stay. St. Charles, Missouri, is where the first claimed
interstate project started in 1956. Off of Interstate 70 going westbound
to the right of the First Capital Drive exit, a highway sign is
displayed with a logo and information regarding this claim. Kansas and Pennsylvania also lay claim to the first interstate project.
Education
The City of St. Charles school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools,
and the Lewis & Clark Tech Building located on Zumbehl Road. St.
Charles High School (sometimes called SCHS or simply "High") was the
first built of the two high schools. St. Charles West ( SCW or simply
"West") was added in the late '70's in response to the city's growing
population. St. Charles West had their first graduation in 1979. St.
Charles High School underwent renovation in 1995 to improve both the
exterior and interior of the building, as did St. Charles West in 2005,
in which a new library and auxiliary gym were built. The city is also
served by Jefferson Intermediate, which has all 5th and 6th grade
classes, and Hardin Middle School which has all 7th and 8th grade
classes. St. Charles is home to a variety of private schools
including Immanuel Lutheran (Pre-K to 8), Zion Lutheran (Pre-K to 8),
St. Charles Borromeo, St. Peter's, St. Cletus (K-8), Academy of the
Sacred Heart (founded by Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, and the site of her shrine), Duchesne High School
(formerly named St. Peter High school), and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton-St.
Robert Bellarmine (K-8). There are other schools associated with the
Francis Howell School District and the Orchard Farm School District
that serve St. Charles as well. Many students who live on the southern
edge of St. Charles City attend Francis Howell North High School and
Henderson Elementary as well as Barnwell Middle and Becky David
Elementary and Harvest Ridge Elementary. The Orchard Farm School
District serves St. Charles but is outside of the city like Francis
Howell. This school district to the North has two elementary schools, a
middle school, and a high school.
Lindenwood University
is located on Kingshighway, near downtown St. Charles and St. Charles
High. Founded by Major George Sibley and his wife Mary in 1827 as a
women's school named Lindenwood School For Girls, the instituition is
the second-oldest higher-education institution west of the Mississippi River. The university is a private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church,
LU is one of the fastest growing universities in the midwest and
enrolls close to 15,000 students, although it did briefly attract less
welcome publicity when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals staged a small protest against its unusual tuition fee policies. Lindenwood is also home to 89.1 The Wood (KCLC), a commercial-free student-driven radio station. St. Charles was also home to the now defunct St. Charles College (Missouri) (which should not be confused with St. Charles Community College).
Recreation and development
St. Charles lies at one end of the Katy Trail,
a 225-mile (362 km) long state park enjoyed by bikers and walkers.
Since the late 1970s, there has been very healthy new home construction,
commercial growth and explosive population growth in the St. Charles
area. The phrase "Golden Triangle"
was coined for this area in the Eighties, referring to the tremendous
growth in real estate development in the St. Charles County region
bordered by Highways Interstate 70, Interstate 64, and Route 94.
St. Charles City has a historic shopping district and most standard
living features (with the exception of a public golf course) that are
usually found in a community of St. Charles' size. The City also has
many current events and features related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
A new feature (opened November 2006) of the St. Charles Parks and
Recreation System is a dog park on the north side of town as a part of
DuSable Park-Bales Area. This off-leash dog area has two sections- one
for smaller dogs, one for larger. In 2007, St. Charles welcomed men's
professional road bicycle racing riders and fans as it served as the stage 5 final for the 2007 Tour of Missouri.
The St. Charles Convention Center
brings visitors to town along with a 11,000 seat arena called the
Family Arena was built in the early 1990s near the Missouri River and is
used by minor league sports franchises and hosts events.
Riverfront St. Charles
The Riverfront area, with Main Street, is a central gathering place
and focal point for the community. The primary features of the
riverfront and Historic Main Street are residences and businesses open
year-round. Each block features shops, restaurants and offices that
visitors and locals frequent. Much is planned for the development and
improvement of the area, including a northward extension of the Katy
Trail, residential and commercial development, parking garage expansion,
casino expansion and development of hotels in the Weasand district.
The "Christmas Traditions Festival", one of the nation's largest
Christmas festivals, takes place on the streets of St. Charles every
year starting the day after Thanksgiving and going through until the Saturday after Christmas. Over 30 costumed Legends of Christmas stroll the streets and interact with guests, while Victorian Era
Christmas Carolers fill the air with old-fashioned carols. Every
Saturday and Sunday the Legends of Christmas and the world-renowned
Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps take part in the Santa Parade as
it heads up Historic South Main Street to the site of the First Missouri State Capitol.
On the Fourth of July fireworks displays draw large numbers on two nights, July 4
and another night before or after the Fourth. Many bring blankets to
sit near the riverfront. Others opt to view the festivities from the Old
Courthouse. The festival, named Riverfest, has been sponsored by the
city of St. Charles and organized by a volunteer committee formed of
city residents and sponsoring private organization (like the Jaycees)
leaders. Food and fun are always a major highlight of the event.
The Festival of the Little Hills is a historic St. Charles tradition
that takes place every year in August, the third full weekend of the
month. Started in 1971,
this festival is known nationally as one of the top ten craft fairs,
and runs through an entire weekend featuring great food, live
entertainment, craft sales, and shows for kids. The theme of the
festival centers around the famous Lewis & Clark expedition: many
participants don clothing from the era and act out historic events. The
city also encourages individuals to bring their homemade crafts,
jewelry, paintings, clothing and other items to sell at the festival.
Oktoberfest celebrates the German influence on the history of the
city. Many vendors sell beer and other German goods. Includes a parade.
Missouri Tarten Day is a celebration of Scottish American Heritage and
Culture held each Spring, coinciding as closely as possible with April
6, which is the anniversary (1320) of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.
This document was one of the resources used by our Founding Fathers,
when they were drafting our own Constitution. The event features a
parade with marching bagpipers from around the World and region,
Scottish heavy athletics (caber toss, hammer throw, etc.), musical
entertainment, traditional and contemporary foods and lots of fun.
Highlights include the Kirkin' o' the Tartans (ceremony of blessing for
the Scottish clans), displays of traditional Scottish clan Tartans, and
demonstrations of traditional Scottish activities and games.
The Fete de Glace is an Ice carving competition and demonstration
held on North Main Street in Mid-January. The Missouri River Irish
Festival is held every September in Frontier Park and on Main Street to
celebrate Irish Heritage with music, dancing, storytelling, athletics,
food, and fun.
During Quilts on Main Street hundreds of quilts are displayed outside
the shops up and down Main Street on storefronts and balconies. Stroll
along and enjoy the beautiful handiwork. The event also features a
lecture. Event is held annually in September. The Bluegrass Festival in
Frontier Park on the big stage of Jaycee's pavilion early in September
every year. Features talented local and regional acts.
References
- "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- "Historic Saint Charles". Greatriverroad.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "Timeline". Stcharlescitymo.gov. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- "St. Charles: Missouri's First Capitol". Slfp.com. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
- Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne. Academy of the Sacred Heart. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
- "National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office - St. Louis MO". Crh.noaa.gov. 2012-11-16.
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