As Catholics, should we celebrate the “devil’s holiday,” so to speak, by dressing up as witches, devils, demons, or even “innocent” characters from movies or books? If this day is evil, why do we celebrate Halloween? This is a controversial subject at best this time of year. Some say this day has pagan origins, but we are going to focus on the Catholic side of things.
The real name of Halloween is “All Hallows Eve,” and it is the day before All Saints Day in the Catholic Church. Traditionally, an eve of a feast is a day for penance, not dressing up like werewolves! All Hallows Eve is also the pre-cursor to the “Day of the Dead,” All Souls Day – now November 2 in the Catholic Church. 
Catholic News Agency reported:
Halloween “is not as innocent as dressing up as a witch and creating jack-o-lanterns with scary looking faces.” Father Joan Maria Canals of the Committee on the Liturgy of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference told La Razon that the problem with Halloween is its connection to “occultism and anti-Christianity.”
Parents should “be conscious and channel the meaning of the day towards that which is good and beautiful instead of towards terror, fear and death itself,” he added. (Catholic News Agency)
So, as parents we can allow our children to celebrate, but we can define the celebration of “All Hallows Eve” by encouraging our little ones dress up as saints. 
Now, if you are from a Mexican descent as I am, you may also want to celebrate the “Day of the Dead.” This is done by honoring the loved ones that have passed from our families. Here are some articles on this celebration if you wish to research further:
Day of the Dead (Catholic.org)
Why do Catholics celebrate Day of the Dead? (Aleteia.org)
Celebrating All Hallows Eve in a Catholic way First, have your child choose a saint they like the most. Perhaps it is St. John of the Cross or St. Rose! Then they should dress up like their favorite saint. St. John would need a cross or crucifix – perhaps make a special one for him to carry. St. Rose should dress in white and wear a crown of roses and perhaps add in a black veil, as she was a Dominican tertiary.
Next, think of a party theme idea! I have been to various All Saints parties – there are many ways to do this. One way is to have a March of the Saints and maybe a guess the saint game! First of all, have all the “saints” march together, down your street if you are hosting a party, or if at a church, go around the block and come back to the church hall.
Then, if you have priests in attendance, they can guess the saint. If you have nuns in your chapel, maybe they could be the ones guessing. Anyway, this will take some time; the other partygoers can have snacks while the guessing game is going on. If you have a church where you have classrooms, you can decorate the doors with particular saints if so desired and then hand out candy at each door – or the candy can be handed out in the hall or at your home. Other games can be played as well, such as a ring toss. Use your imagination! If you need ideas, read the book Saints and Seasons of the Liturgical Year from Catholic Heritage. 
There is also another tradition called “Soul cakes” where you pray for a person that has passed soul. The name of the person is put on candy or food (like if the host makes cupcakes or donuts – you can attach a name of a departed person on a card or sticker) – then the person eating the food must also remember to pray for that soul that has passed! I really like this tradition as it ties the Catholic All Souls Day to All Hallows Eve, and you are tying a much-needed prayer for the Holy Souls that have passed from this life.
End your party with singing some songs about saints and holy souls!
Now, that you know how to properly host a All Hallows Eve party - yes, Catholics can definitely celebrate Halloween in this wonderful way!
Will you host your own party this year or find a way to celebrate as a saint? What saint will you be? Can you guess the saints below? 

First of all this virus can get someone sick - so be prepared.
Second, it is like a bad flu - but the incubation period can vary. I read on average 5 days.
Mild symptoms can be serious for others (maybe not yourself so much if you are healthy). If you have mild symptoms of what might be this coronavirus - stay home. Don't go out and spread it around. 
(Mercola's website - symptoms:  

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Dry cough

Milder symptoms can be just aches and pains, not feeling well,  etc. just like a mild flu.  (Yeah kind of confusing - so treat the symptoms!)
Read up more at this link:   https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/04/novel-coronavirus.aspx
OK, we hope this article was helpful above.
Now what to do to stay well? 
Sounds like from above article children are less likely to get this - so we should make sure our elderly are being cared for and make sure they are staying inside or away from crowds as much as possible. 
If you are like me- well middle age - then your immune system might be just "down" thinking about this stuff. 
Here's a few tips:
1. Don't panic - golly buying out toilet paper is kind of silly.
2. Don't panic again - stay calm stop reading all the news - anyone who has gloom and doom on my Facebook feed - I am putting down "unfollow" for the next 30 days.  
3. Think positive thoughts - "I am well, I am fine, I am energetic, I am going to live through this." If you say this to yourself 10 times a day or more - you will get through this a lot better than gloom and doom thoughts.
4. Stock up on what's important to you - feel like you would not have to shop for the next 30 days - then go get groceries for the month - that seems like a reasonable idea if you like. 
5. Buy items that make sense, hand sanitizer, wipes, diapers (if you have a baby), soaps, candles, batteries (golly might need that), etc.
6. Take vitamins -Vitamin C is good for any kind of health issue. Garlic supplements, sinus supplement, etc. 
7. Take Elderberry syrup. I am going to be making my own soon! 
By the way I am hosting an herbal class online soon - and right now - I am going to offer anyone reading this post half off - instead of the $99 I was going to charge - it is now $49.95 for the class - Email [email protected] and tell us 50-OFFHerb class - you can learn to make your own things in the course. I am going to extend enrollment out through March 20th - however if you sign up today - you get in today - I will be posting new videos in the classroom as part of the special event. This is a six module class over 6 weeks - but you can do it faster if you like. The class covers fertility herbs, pregnancy herbs, how to make herbal things, to postpartum herbs. 
Last but not least- 8. Just stay calm and pray. Prayers can help any disease go away - I truly believe this. One of my friend's had bacterial meningitis and our whole parish prayed for her healing - she won out and beat it. Thank God - He must have had other plans for this wonderful woman. I really believe in the power of prayer. So, ask God to bless your community and to keep it free from disease. 
9. Also, I personally recommend - stop traveling outside USA. Also, boycott China made products - this is probably hard to do - but we should try to boycott as much of their junk as possible. They start these diseases and never get punished for it - we need to show China we don't rely on them! We should also write the President or Congress to stop travel . This would have spread less if travel had stopped - so all I can suggest is if you can not travel - then don't. I understand if someone has a job, work, etc. See if you can work from home some too.  
Anyway, let's just pray for our nation now - thanks! 
See our next post about an online conference!! 

Simeon's Prophecy:
Our Lady came to the Temple to pray and to do her duty as to being "purified" as an act of humility on her part since she was "full of grace" (Gabriel Angel confirmed that she was always full of grace during the Annunciation). So, Mary did not need to be purified after the birth of her son. She performed all rituals of the Jewish rite as an act of humility! 
So, Mary goes to the Temple and Simeon asks to hold baby Jesus - it is like he recognizes the baby as God's son! Simeon's prophecy is this: "And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;" 
Mary now writes or tells us.. from Your Sorrow is my Sorrow book:
"For awhile Simeon's words just hung their in the temple. I was stunned not believing what I heard. Then the devastating news came home to me. My son was going to be harmed. "Oh no," I thought, "this cannot be." All joy drained out as fear and trepidition rose...What did this mean? 
Then Anna at the temple came by and she held Jesus in her arms. "As I began to ease, Anna also spoke highly of Jesus and how she would help others. She too, promised Jesus would make a great difference in people's lives." 
OK, back to me the editor writing...so Mary is also surprised about Jesus' possibly suffering in the future. Her first sorrow of her first sword in her heart starts. She will have six more throughout the life of Jesus and esp. at his death. 
We will be covering most of these sorrows this Lent. We hope you will walk with us! 
Another short story the book mentions (Your Sorrow is my sorrow) is the diagnosis of a baby being Down Syndrome. 
The parents were not expecting this - so it is like the surprise or sorrow of Mary - however, after the baby is born the parents realize how much a blessing of a Down syndrome child can give to them. That they are indeed blessed to share the love these children can only seem to give to the family. 
Book writing:  I am gathering stories of bereavement, surprise stories (like above) or anything like this such as miscarriage, stillbirth or even a loved one gone - to be shared in a bereavement book honoring Our Lady of Sorrows. If you have something you wish to share with us please email [email protected] and send us your story to share - this week we are looking for any stories that would go with the theme of Simeon's prophecy. 
Another type of prophecy would be a diagnosis that means the fetus/baby inside the mother would not survive. (Like a stillbirth or later miscarriage). 
We also have an optional Facebook group you may join if you need extra help in your journey this Lent at here: ​

I will try to post here for my first post - however, I want you to join our newsletter for mother's so I can share with you in your inbox. 
Before, I get into the retreat, what would you think if I sent you a text message once in awhile? I hear there is away to send SMS messages to a group for not much on my end - and would you opt-in for this idea? I want to reach people more - mothers, etc. The message would probably be short and prompt you to come to the blog or a page for the longer message - it could be to our blog or a sale - anyway, if you like this idea - let me know! I am just wanting to find out interest in this idea...

OK, so Lent is starting and I am terrible at planning for Lent-however, this year I want to walk it with Our Lady of Sorrows -so we will be going through her meditations and posting a passage about her Sorrows for each week - and if there's an extra week - we will wrap things up.

I also am trying to write a book about Bereavement and Our Lady of Sorrows. I wanted it to be kind of specific to miscarriages, etc. However, if you have a story to share under bereavement and it is not quite miscarriage category - I may still add in your story. So, send it to us via [email protected] and let us know to have permission to print it. We are not trying to make money off this book - but I may have to charge a small fee - I'll see about the publisher that I am working with right now. 

So, we have two options for our retreat - you can sign up for our mother's newsletter and get in on it there or you can go to Facebook group and join it there and I"ll post something once a week. 

I may also post here at the blog too. However, more info will be in the newsletter or group. 

I like the group idea because we can talk about what we struggle with if so desired during Lent. 

Go here to join the Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/MiniMomRetreat/
OK, well, I hope you join our mini-retreat - most posts will be on Wednesdays! 

 A virtual doula helps a mother long distance and serves her via email, chat, phone, Raidcalll, Skype or other forms of communication - whatever works best for client and doula  together.
A virtual doula will offer prenatal  sessions - sometimes this can be done by emailing information or other times it can be powerpoint slides of instructions that help the mom know what to expect for her baby's birth.
During labor, the mom will probably call first to let doula know she's in labor, and either continue calling on/off or texting or other forms of "phone communication" that work for mom and doula - if you are real fancy "Face Time" or other apps. The dad may also text doula some during labor as mom maybe too busy with the contractions and such. The doula is there as a 'virtual assistant' so to speak. Also, the doula makes sure dad gets attention - she may actually be communicating more with him during labor - so this is a great way to be part of both parents as a virtual doula! 
So, where do you find a virtual doula? 
Glad you asked!
I offer these services as a way to reach out to Catholic or Christian mothers.  These services maybe more affordable for mothers to try out instead of having a hands on doula - esp. if you are in an area where those doulas charge $1,000 or more a birth! Perhaps, you don't want that much hands on help - you have your spouse - so this is win-win . Your doula can listen to your fears, be your prayer partner, and help with seeking the best birth friend you have!
I offer various birth packages that include a special surprise  box after birth.
I also can offer postpartum support - I know this may sound strange, but many moms need someone to talk to after birth - well I offer  this kind of support as well. 
Anyway, if you would like to know more information: http://avemariadoula.weebly.com to  book me.
I offer free consult to see if virtual doula is the right way to go for your upcoming birth. 
I also only take 2 clients a month - so get your request in early! God Bless!
Julie Larsen 

Today's feast - at least in the Traditional Latin Mass is the Feast of the Holy Family.
I think this is a great time to consider what the Holy Family went through. 
Mary and Joseph couldn't find "room in the inn" so they had their first born son- Jesus and laid him "in a manager" in "swaddling clothes".
I love this one - we like to train our doulas to know about swaddling the baby - so it is right here in the bible too! 
So, the shepherds come and worship.
I believe the Holy Family must have also did the circumcision in the manager most likely.  This is when Jesus was named as well.  They must have  gone to the temple to "purify Mary" though she was 100 percent holy - this was tradition and Mary submitted to this ritual. Then I believe the 3 wise men came sometime after this - that's just how I would see the order of things. It mentions that the three kings came to a "house" find the verse. So, the Holy Family did have a place in Bethlehem  somewhere - now it could be that the cave/stable was near a house - so I don't know for sure if they were in a real house or still in the stable area when the wise men came - but the did see  a star. However, remember in the Bible, the Wise Men even stopped in Jerusalem - it seemed the star had disappeared for a short time - they found out that the prophecies suggested the baby would be born in Bethlehem. They did seem to find the star again and find Jesus! 
After the wisemen left their gifts, an angel told them to go home a different way. Then, another angel appeared to Joseph to go fly to Egypt as  Herod was after killing all the babies ! So, Joseph obeyed and took Mary , Jesus and  went immediately in the middle of the night to Egypt! Imagine the Holy Family being "homeless" in a way for a few years in Egypt. I am sure they did find a place to live, etc. Joseph was  a resourceful man! Then finally, they hear from an angel that it is safe to return - but to go to Nazareth a safer region to live in. So, this is why Jesus is called a Nazarene.
So, what does all of above have to do with being a doula. First of all, we should meditate on life of Jesus - it is good for our doula souls! Secondly, we are reminded by this narrative, that no mother is perfect - she may have moved around 100 times or not be in the best place at this moment in her life - but she's having a baby and needs your best support. Don't judge a mother because of her circumstances. Look at the Holy Family they were even were homeless! 
Third, the Holy Family shows that no matter what God is with us. If we are feeling discourage in our doula business - then pray and God will provide our needs and desires. So, think about above and pray to God for your doula business needs. Pray to the Holy Family!