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Welcome everyone to the Newsletter for June and July! Summer is in full swing, and in such a busy time we've elected to double the month:newsletter ratio, so to speak. Enjoy!
☏
𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚢𝚐𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚜
A very warm welcome to @DannyBoy, @Revan_Reborn45, @Nono_Spaghettio, @Solkitty, @JacobNumbers, and @Zee Bee!
𝚂𝚠𝚊𝚗 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚝: 𝙰 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚕𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝
Not much going on, as many Theresians departed to attend the Graduation! However, the chat has picked up in recent days.
The Book of the Month for July is Anne of Avenlea. 
 
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝙻𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢
 
The Dreamer 
by @KoalaTash!
 
        Theo glanced around quickly, then tip toed away from his parents. They were having tea with a Lord and Lady from another castle. But eight-year-old Theo thought he was much too old and dignified to be sitting and drinking tea like a girl.
It didn’t cross his mind that his father, the Lord of Stranbury Castle, was sitting drinking tea as well. If it had, he would have changed his opinion of it. But at the moment, he was too pre-occupied with sneaking away from the boring conversation of things he didn’t understand very well and didn’t care to hear about.
He quickly ducked around the door at the end of the castle parlour, and breathed a sigh of relief. Then he ran quietly but quickly down to the courtyard. When he got there, he slowed down and walked into the garden, savoring the sweet smell of flowers and the refreshing feel of the soft summer wind.
But he stopped short suddenly when he saw a small girl with golden brown curls who looked about his age sitting on a bench in the garden. She was singing softly to herself and swinging her legs, as they couldn’t quite touch the ground.
Theo’s first thought was that she might be the daughter of the Lord and Lady that had come to visit. But he quickly ruled that thought out. She was dressed like a peasant, and may even be a servant of his castle.
“Hello,” he said cautiously, walking up. “Good morning!” the girl said in a friendly voice, smiling at him. “Are you a servant?” he asked, still looking at her cautiously. “A servant?” she said, laughing.
“No, I just came to drop something off for the cook. I’m from the village. Who are you?” she asked. “I’m the Lord’s son, Theodore of Stransbury. I’m 8” he responded in a much more friendly tone.
“Well I’m Margaret, of the lowly, humble village of Stransbury” she said with a flourish, “But you can call me Margie. Oh, and I’m 7” she added quickly. Theo laughed and sat next to her.
“You look a lot older than you are” he said after a moments silence. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not, but I’m going to take it as one” she said with a smile. “It’s a compliment” he said, glancing sideways at her.
“So you’re pretty rich, huh?” she asked.
“Yup, I guess so” he said after a second.
“Do you dream to do anything when you’re older. Do you want to be someone or acomplish something amazin?” she asked suddenly.
Theo glanced at Margie a second in surprise. It was quite a big question for a seven-year-old. Something told him that Margie thought like someone a lot older than her age.
“I-I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. What about you?” he asked.
“I want to be a painter. I. wanna paint amazing landscapes and people. I want people to be happy and joy-filled when they see my painting” she said enthusiastically.
Then her face fell. “But I can’t. Paints and canvases are expensive and I don’t have enough money to buy them. But I guess some dreams can’t come true, or you’ll have nothing to dream about. And when you have no dreams, life will be tragically sad. But I wish just that one dream could come true. I’d never ask for anything again” she said quickly, putting her hands on the back of the bench and laying her head on them.
“Dreams are wonderful,” she said, softly, smiling and looking up at the sky.
“I suppose they are” Theo said softly.
“Do you have any friends” she asked suddenly, sitting up and looking at him.
“N-no, not really,” he responded, still not used to her sudden questions.
“Me neither” she said softly, “Do you want to be my friend?” she asked.
Surprise flashed across Theo’s face. No-one had ever asked him that before.
“I’m not sure” he said uncertainly.
“Pleeeaase?” she pleaded. “Alright” he said finally. “Yay!” she cried, hugging him impulsively. Theo was surprised. But before he had time to respond, she sat back and wriggled off the bench.
“I have to go back and help my mother make supper” she said, “But I’ll be in the field beside the apple orchard after lunch tomorrow if you want to come play” she offered.
“Sure” Theo said with a smile, “I’ll come.” 
 
       Theo and Margie became good friends. They played together all the time and Margie even met Theo’s parents. Theo’s parents thought she was a polite, neat, kind girl and were glad their son had found such a well-behaved friend.
The years passed and, upon constant urging, Theo taught Margie how to ride his horse. She caught on suprisingly quick and could even ride bareback. After riding for a few more years, she could finally learn how to stand up on the horse.
Theo had a small suspicion that his horse liked Margie more than he liked him.
He let her borrow a couple pencils and some paper regularly and he was suprised at how good she became at sketching. She spent every free moment she had sketching. She could draw people surprisingly well, but her landscapes stunned him.
They were absolutely gorgeous annd realistic. She was a born artist, that was without a doubt. But when Theo was 14, he had to leave to go to a training school.
It was sad to leave Margie, but his parents told him he had to learn to be a proper Lord. And after a little while at school, he forgot all about Margie and their adventures together... 
 
Three years later
 
      “So this is Stransbury” Theo said to his friend with pride. “You weren’t exaggerating” John replied, “It’s a nice town.” “It is” Theo replied with a smile, “Boy, is it nice to be home!”
His friend smiled sideways at him, then continued looking around. “It’s a wonder you’ve never had a sweetheart. There’s lots of nice girls around” John continued. Theo followed John’s gaze and saw he was looking at a pretty young woman with brown curls.
She was buying fruits at a stand and joking with the elderly storekeeper. Theo stopped his horse in amazement. It couldn’t be… His horse snorted and tossed his head when he spotted the girl.
“Margie?” Theo asked, dismounting.
The girl turned and surprise flashed across her face. Theo was suddenly aware that John was looking at him in confusion.
“Here” he said, turning and handing his horse’s bridle to his friend, “take these. I’ll meet you at the castle.” John looked at him a second, then smiled knowingly. “Sure thing,” he said, glancing at Margie.
Then he rode to the castle. Theo turned back to Margie. “Hey, how are you doing?” he asked, smiling. But she didn’t smile. “Good” she said shortly. Theo was slightly taken back. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. “No,” she said, “nothing’s  wrong. I’m fine” she looked down a second. But Theo knew her better than that. “C’mon, let’s go for a walk” he said, walking toward the orchard.
Margie hesitated a second, then followed him. They walked in silence until they got to the edge of the orchard. Then he turned to her. “What’s wrong” he demanded. “Nothing” she said stubbornly, looking back at him evenly.
“Margie, I’m not stupid. Tell me what’s wrong,” he said.
“Why should I tell you? You go and leave for three years, forget all about me and never respond to my letters, and then you come home and just expect me to forgive you and forget all about it? I thought you were my friend” she said angrily, her eyes hurt.
Theo’s eyes widened. Then they softened. No wonder she was angry at him. “I’m sorry” he said, lowering his head, “I didn’t think how hurt you would be” he said quietly.
“Of course you didn’t. You didn’t think of me at all” she said, her voice still angry. “But then again, why did I think you would. You’re a Lord’s son, and I’m just a-” she started quietly.
But Theo interrupted her. “No Margie, it doesn’t matter wether I’m the Lord’s son, or even if I were the king’s. You’re my best friend, and what I did was stupid and cruel. I’m sorry” he said repentantly.
Margie’s eyes softened. “Alright, I guess I can forgive you. But you have to help me pick apples now” she said with a twinkle in her eye. Theo sighed.
“I knew there was going to be a catch” he said, smiling  slightly. She smirked, then handed him one of the baskets she was carrying. They talked while they picked and caught each other up on all the news.
Theo thought it was wonderful to talk to Margie again. She was so easy to talk to. “Mother wants me to get married sometime soon. She says I have to settle down before father retires,” Theo said suddenly. Margie nodded.
Theo wasn’t sure if he saw a hint of wistfulness in her eyes or if he was just imagining it. “Do you still dream?” he asked.
“Yes” she responded, smiling softly, “I’ve always thought dreams are precious. I have lots of them at the moment” she responded.
“Do you still want to be a great painter?” he asked. She nodded. “I’m able to buy a couple paints now, but I don’t think I’ll ever have enough money to be a real painter” she said quietly, still picking.
Something was brewing on Theo’s mind, but he wasn’t quite sure how to say it. “Do…. do you ever dream of getting married” he asked. Margie glanced sideways at him in confusion.
“I guess I do… sometimes. But not a lot. Why?” she asked. Theo hesitated a moment, then asked outright.
“Margie, will you marry me?” he asked. Margie turned and looked at him as if he had gone completely crazy.
"What?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“I said, will you marry me?” he asked earnestly.
“Are you crazy? This is the first time I’ve seen you in three years. And more importantly, you’re a Lord and I’m a peasant. What will people think? I-” but Theo cut her off.
“Let people talk. And I told you it doesn’t matter if I’m a Lord and you’re a peasant. Give me one reason why you shouldn’t say yes” he said.
“I… But- Well… I mean” her voice trailed off and she sighed. “I can’t think of one” she said finally.
“Exactly. I can give you several reasons why you should say yes. You’re my best friend, and I’ve known you practically my entire life. Your a wonderful, kind, beautiful girl who understands me perfectly. And I love you. Now, what do you say?” he asked.
Margie looked at him a long second. Then she smiled slightly.
“I say yes” she said finally. 
 
       Ten months later, almost exactly two months after Margie’s and Theo’s wedding, Margie finished one of the most beautiful paintings she was ever to paint.
It was a big canvas, nearly four by three feet, and it potrayed two young children standing on a balcony, one dressed as a young Lord’s son, the other dressed as a peasant. The girl was sitting on a chair, her chin in her hands as she gazed up at the spectacular canopy of stars above.
The light flooding in from the doorway behind illuminated her hair and made her golden brown curls seem to glow.
The boy watched the girl with a smile as he leaned against the balcony railing. It was signed ‘Margie'. Theo had the painting hung over the giant fireplace in the grand hall. And underneath it was the inscription: 
 
Dedicated to the dreamers, 
for without them, we would have no paintings to paint,
 cities to build,  kingdoms to make. 
So let us keep the dreamers, and God bless you all. 
 
Lady Margaret of Stransbury
The Dreamer
 
 
𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚂𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚜
 
God's Own Little Fireworks
by @Bluebird29
My little companion, 
Oh, how you do glow,
From sunset to sunrise,
You put on your show.
My little companion,
Go, fetch your friends,
From the tops of the trees,
To where the river bends,
From the grassy sloped hillsides, 
Where small bluebirds fly,
To the tips of the mountains, 
That reach for the sky.
My little companion, 
Go, fetch them soon,
Before the sun bids us welcome,
And farewell to the moon. 
My little companion,
Dance! Show your light,
Fear not your audience,
Fear not the night. 
Dip, swoop, and dive,
Like the fish in the sea,
Shine, like the stars,
In a sky clear and free. 
And so little fireflies, 
Why, don't you suppose?,
That you are God's fireworks,
He made you to glow. 
You are His sparklers, 
His own special brand,
Beautiful firecrackers, 
Made by His hand. 
So shine, little fireflies, 
For all of us know, 
That you are God's fireworks,
And He made you to glow.
 
𝙸𝚗 𝙵𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜
 
In Focus June: Rainbows and their Real Meaning ~ by @Isabel

In June, rainbows appear everywhere, representing ideas contrary to the teachings of Christianity. I can't help being bothered by the fact that such a beautiful thing has come to represent something that we as Catholics cannot agree with. But what are rainbows exactly, and what is their real meaning? Well, to define a rainbow:
rainbow /rān′bō″/   noun
An arc of spectral colors, usually identified as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, that appears in the sky opposite the sun as a result of the refractive dispersion of sunlight in drops of rain or mist.  
Basically, rainbows occur when water splits white light into the color spectrum. So what do they mean? One of the earliest (if not the earliest) accounts of a rainbows is in the Bible, when God places a rainbow in the sky as a covenant sign and a sign of hope. So this month, when we see rainbows everywhere, let's try to remember what their real meaning is: Hope. Hope that God will defeat the assaults on family and love, and help everyone who is confused to understand His truth.
 
𝙿𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝

Gazebo over Water, captured by @StarChild! I love the lighting.
𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚘𝚛 𝚁𝚞𝚖𝚘𝚛
:P

 

 

𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜
By @Stulta Artifex!
Hello everyone, I am back with yet another way to create art! 
This one is a medium that is a naturally occurring mineral on our earth. That for some reason, even though it is a terribly messy thing to use, people wanted to make art with it. So here it is:
Chalk
 
History and Facts
I searched through an ancient resource called Google and discovered some interesting facts on this weird, soft yet hard, mineral. 
Chalk is a form of white limestone, nowadays people put pigments in it to make other colors, that is not only used as a medium on its own but is put in as an ingredient in things like pastels. For a very long time, tailors and designers have used it for taking measurements on fabric as it can wash off really well. Additionally, some people even carve the chalk itself into different shapes for special uses.
As for being used as a medium, chalk has been around for a very long time. I mean why not? All you have to do is dig up a rock to get it, so it is a lot easier to obtain. In fact, even some of the cavemen used it. 
Caveman 1: Hey look! I found a white rock!
Caveman 2: Great! Can it cut stuff? My spear tip broke.
Caveman 1: No, it can't cut. It just crumbled in my hand.
Caveman 2: Can we eat it?
Caveman 1: *tastes it* Nope, tastes awful.
Caveman 2: So, it is useless. Throw it away.
(a few seconds later)
Caveman 1: I found what we can use it for! *Holds up a slab of rock with squiggles on it* It's a doodle rock!
Caveman 2: Great. *Rolls eyes* Just what we need. We are starving and weaponless, and you found a doodle rock.
While the first chalk pictures date to the prehistoric times, chalk was very popular during the 1400's and was favored by such artists as Jean Clouet. He used a combination of black, red, and white chalk to create many drawings. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Rembrandt also used chalk to sketch and create art. Many artists like to use chalk to make starting drawings of works. Rubens famously used a red chalk to sketch out his ideas for artworks. Even more modern artists like Degas, Matisse, and Picasso employed chalk to sketch ideas or to add details to their paintings.
Chalk artists normally use a slightly thicker paper for their artworks. One of the reasons people enjoy using it is the nice smudgeable quality it has making it very easy to blend their colors on paper.
 
The Materials
As for locating some chalk to use it, you can find it in art stores, like most other mediums, in two forms: Student grade: the cheap, little kids stuff that comes in fun colors; or Artist grade: the expensive stuff that produces a much better look but like I said, is very expensive. Honestly, in my experience of it, the children's stuff is just fine you don't really need to buy the more expensive ones unless you are really getting into it. 
For paper, there is a lot of personal taste in choosing a paper. You basically just need some kind of paper that is thicker than normal and has a bit of tooth. Additionally, a lot of chalk artists use a neutral toned paper instead of white.
 
Instruction
You can find instruction in this medium in the same places you find instruction for others: YouTube, your library, and online articles.
One of the places I found instruction for it is Here . This site's Freebies page changes every now and then, I think about every other week, but I am not certain, and usually has at least one chalk art lesson. They are usually bible based.
 
I hope y'all liked this ARTicle and have fun getting your hands dirty, because it sure does get everywhere.
(By the way, I am not a chalk artist myself, so if I got anything factually wrong that you know of in this ARTicle, do tell me in the comments and send a virtual bonk on the head.)
See y'all later!
 
With love from the Carmelite Contributors: @Cath @KoalaTash @CatholicIrishDancer @Bluebird29 @Isabel @The Horse Enthusiast @HallieMae @Stulta Artifex  & The Theresian House!

𝔗𝔥𝔢 ℭℌ 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰:
Ⓢⓤⓜⓜⓔⓡ  Ⓣⓘⓜⓔⓢ

Howdy, howdy, welcome to the latest edition of The CH Times! I don't know about y'all, but this summer feels both like it's gone on forever and is also flying by.

(If you haven't been able to tell yet, I may have had a minor obsession with Phineas and Ferb when I was younger)
This issue re-introduces what past editors have done-- Poll of the Month! Each issue will now have a poll that you can vote on until it closes by the next CH Times edition. I've been debating doing either monthly or bi-monthly issues, so y'all can let me know if you'd prefer The Times twice a month or just at the beginning. There's also been another addition aside from Poll of the Month: Prayer! All good things start with prayer, and I'm hoping this newsletter will be good, so let's start it off with a prayer! Enjoy =)
Ⓟⓡⓐⓨⓔⓡ
In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong,
I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to
comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
- Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Ⓟⓞⓛⓛ ⓞⓕ ⓣⓗⓔ Ⓜⓞⓝⓣⓗ
Given that it is summertime, it seemed fitting to have a 'dream vacation' poll! I've always wanted to visit Greece SO much, specifically Athens or Santorini.. but then I also have really wanted to visit this adorable small town in France called Eguisheim. Kindly ignore the fact that the poll has both Hawaii and the USA, I promise this isn't a personal act of kicking Hawaii out of the US but rather my not-very-good geometry..I mean geology...geography?? Not too good with any of the geos, evidently. Be sure to vote on the poll, maybe you'll meet up with some CHers in your dream vacation spot one day!
ⒸⒽ Ⓝⓔⓦⓢ
- The 2027ers are working on a class superlatives/yearbook
- The 2028ers are doing a Snack Swap and Triathlon
- The 2025ers are beginning to cry and stress over being the upcoming graduating class
- We've had one new book added to the Library-- y'all gotta get reading!
- We've had four new movies added to the Film Vault-- all curiously Lego related. 
- @SAINT IN TRAINING is running Prayer Sessions 
- The Theresians are currently reading Anne of Avonlea for their Book of the Month
- Our CH Superlatives have arrived, if you couldn't tell from the giant green banner at the top! Just click that banner to go to the topic and put your votes in!
ⓝⓔⓦ ⓜⓔⓜⓑⓔⓡⓢ
Everyone please welcome @Fenrir, @Adrianna, @Jose Ruiz, @Clone46 , @Evie Tolson, @Revan_Reborn45, and @Nono_Spaghettio!! We're so glad to have you here, enjoy the site =)!
ⓢⓣⓐⓣⓘⓢⓣⓘⓒⓢ
Franciscan House Stats: 5 members have joined and stayed since the last check for Franciscan, bringing the total member count to 175 and still the House with the most members.
Theresian House Stats: 2 members have joined and stayed in June for Theresian, bringing the total member count to 135.
Dominican House Stats: 1 members have joined and stayed in June for Dominican, bringing the total member count to 121.
Benedictine House Stats: 10 members have joined and stayed since the last check for Benedictine, bringing the total member count to 174- right on Franciscan's tail.
Most popular Members topic: Ask A Girl A Question
Most popular piece of artwork: @Lily777's Stella in full color
ⓟⓔⓡⓢⓟⓔⓒⓣⓘⓥⓔ
The Works of Obscure Saints: A Forgotten Treasure
by @Sapientia
The works of the saints are the filigree upon the rock of Christ's teaching. Indeed, resting
upon the foundation of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, they are the well from which the
energy of the Church flows. An inspiration for countless Catholics, they are dear to the hearts of
thousands of members of the Church. They are, in a very real way, a gate to Heaven: the stepping
stone to fully grasping the light of the Church’s teaching.
It is a true tragedy, then, that the works of obscure saints have gradually become forgotten
among modern Catholics. Only a few of the magnificent classics, a few stones in the lantern of
the saints’ light, are prevalent parts of a Catholic’s spiritual journey. Most young Catholics have
read Saint Therese’s Story of a Soul; many have tried to conquer the bulky pages of Thomas a
Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. Those who have been blessed with a rigorous Catholic formation
usually read condensed editions of the most eminent Church Fathers, such as Saint Athanasius.
Beyond these points of light, however, most Catholics have never set foot into the great world of
the spiritual classics.
Of course, it is not that the authors of famous spiritual classics are in any way inferior to
those of lesser-known writers. On the contrary, the fact that their works are so popular gives
Catholics all the more reason to study them. They have stood the test of time, transcended the
individuality of every soul, to touch the lives and hearts of millions of Catholics throughout all
the nations of the world. Saint Therese, in her Story of a Soul, truly has rained roses of spiritual
blessings upon her children on earth. Thomas a Kempis has changed the lives of almost all
members of the Church, both of saints canonized and those unknown but to God. It is fitting that
these works continue to be studied and beloved among Catholics.
Tragic, though, is the negligence of many works of even the more well-known saints.
Many Catholics know that Saint Louis de Montfort, the man who gave his life to the Blessed
Virgin, wrote True Devotion to Mary; yet most do not know that he wrote countless other
inspiring works on Mariology, such as The Secret of Mary and The Secret of the Rosary. Millions
of Catholics across all generations have read Thomas a Kempis’ work, The Imitation of Christ.
Yet have they read his other works, such as Solitude and Silence? It is a great misfortune that
many of the works of even the most well-known Catholic authors have been neglected in favor
of only one of their many books.
Yet, as Catholics are called to strive in everything they do, so, too, should they seek to
pursue the works of lesser-known saints. Saint Maximilian Kolbe chose both the crown of purity
and that of martyrdom; so should Catholics choose both the beauty of the well-known works and
those of the lesser-known ones. As Saint Francis loved all animals, both the little sparrows and
the great black crows, so Catholics should honor all of Christ’s saints by reading their invaluable
writings.
Beginning with the Dark Ages, such obscure writings serve as a beacon of light to the
truth of the Catholic Faith. With the flourishing of Catholic literature in the so-called Dark Ages,
these Catholic works shine light upon the vibrancy of Catholic tradition in a time filled with
seeming ignorance and poverty. It is a common lie in the secular world that the people of the
Dark Ages had somehow regressed in advancement since the Pax Romana. In many ways, they
say, the Catholic Church put an end to the glory of Rome; it inaugurated an age of misery, of
wretchedness, of ugliness, compared to the post-Renaissance “enlightenment” which dominates
the modern world.
Yet when one examines the greatest works of the Dark Ages, they will soon find
themselves not only proven incorrect, but confounded by the great beauty of Catholic doctrine
which shone through throughout this period. There certainly was political chaos, yet in the hearts
of the monasteries there was a profound beauty: that of the love of Christ. It was during the Dark
Ages, for instance, that Saint Idelphonsus, the Spanish bishop, wrote his incredible treatise on the
Blessed Virgin Mary, The Crown of the Blessed Virgin. This work not only honored Our Blessed
Lady, but showed an incredible understanding of the natural blessings that God has given to the
world: the stars, the flowers, the gems, which all bless the earth and sing the Blessed Virgin’s
praise. For the Catholic, the created world is intimately connected with the glories of heavenly
things, even one so dignified as the Blessed Virgin Mary. With the work of obscure saints, the
Church flourished during the seemingly primitive time of the Dark Ages.
Similarly, despite popular claims of secular historians and critics, the High Middle Ages
were a time of great glory of the Catholic Church. Indeed, this was the greatest era of obscure
saints: those who, educated to serve God with their very beings, were liberated from the
materialistic thought that shackles today’s residents of the Christian West. Their minds were
expanded beyond the earthly things to those of the spiritual; for them, the “Our Father” was not
only a request for daily bread, but a call for strength against temptation. Though many scholars
attempt to paint the High Middle Ages as a dark, imprisoned era, it was really a time of the
freedom and glory of Catholic thought.
Such is most vividly demonstrated in the holy work of an anonymous Carthusian monk:
The Doors of Silence. An only recently discovered treasure lost for over a millennium, this work
is a guidebook for Catholics on cultivating true humility within oneself. This author- this saint,
whose name is known only to the Lord Who created him- was a simple monk, forgotten for a
thousand years. Yet his book still inspires and enlightens Catholics who have been blessed to
read his work. The silence he proposes is not one that bites, that shackles; rather, it is a freeing
one that lights the way into the path of humility. The Doors of Silence, written by an unnamed
monk, is a profound testament to the humility and piety of medieval Catholics.
As the years quickened their pace with the approach of the Renaissance, new goods and
inventions were flooding the late medieval world. Indeed, many modern historians claim that this
was the time of great “enlightenment,” a time when “reason” triumphed over the “superstitions”
of medieval Catholics. What these historians do not recall is that Catholic piety still flourished
across this Renaissance world. Countless saints lived during this era, and their writings are a
profound testament to the richness of the Catholic Church in the Renaissance. 
With Saint Aloysius of Gonzaga’s work, Meditations on the Holy Angels, for instance,
Catholics still grew in profound devotion to the spiritual life. Though many material
advancements were flourishing across Europe, Catholics were still growing in devotion to the
Holy Angels, those mighty, purely spiritual creations of God. Though medicine and science
rapidly improved throughout the 1400’s, people still looked to the greatest science of all: that of
the holy angels. Though schools expanded to include a more dramatic emphasis on the classics,
students still cultivate a love of God’s spiritual universe. The works of a young saint, unknown to
many people, reveals that the Renaissance did not completely quench love of God, but rather
fosters a greater love of Christ when interpreted rightly.
Indeed, the nearly forgotten works are valuable pieces of Catholic history and tradition
that should never be overlooked in the heart of a young Catholic. Amidst the sea of anti-
Christian (and, more pointedly, anti-Catholic) lies that dominate today’s media, these invaluable
pieces are a beacon of truth shining through the darkness that enemies of Christ’s Church have
woven for themselves. These works are lanterns which illumine the truth: the truth of Catholic
history, the truth of Catholic belief. It is perhaps for this very reason that the Evil One has
shrouded them in mystery.
Most important, however, is the value of these obscure spiritual works themselves. The
historical significance of these works certainly adds to their value; yet they are guides, not just in
material time, but for the eternal soul. To stretch one’s intellect is to give honor to Christ; yet
they themselves are imbued with love of Christ, so that they in themselves are a sort of love
letter to their Creator, Who inspired them with such golden words. The works of the obscure
saints are not merely precious in their historical and academic contexts. They are rich
experiences for their own merit. The quiet song of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga will fill the reader
with the angel’s song, and the Door of Silence’s advice is a treasure full of spiritual wisdom that
goes beyond material value. The language of The Crown of the Virgin will pierce the reader’s
heart, as will any diary of all the many saints that have blessed the Catholic Church. The works
of lesser-known saints are not just works of natural significance as old works, but they are
masterful roads which lead to the Eternal Goal: Heaven.
It is a true tragedy that the works of obscure saints are no longer frequently read among
Catholics. They are radiant with the rubies of an academic challenge, of a race that the Lord
invites His children to run for His kingdom. Meanwhile, they sparkle with the emeralds and
sapphires of historical value, defeating the lies that dominate the secular world about the glorious
age of Christendom. Most importantly, they sparkle with the gold of spiritual value, which
echoes throughout the soul of every Catholic reader. May all search for this treasure and discover
its richness. May they run toward it, seeking the counsel of the saints in all they do. It will
certainly be a rewarding search.
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collected by @tahitianmangoes 

cred: @Ravenclawed

cred: @KitKat

cred: @SweetBelle

cred: @PinkDonut7
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(I'm going to do one house at a time to space these out. Everyone heckle Franciscan, only House where I got no reply therefore able to be executed)
Benedictine House:

(cred: @Bernadette20)
Featured Class: The 2028ers
by @tahitianmangoes
"Hello, reader. I am Tahitianmangoes, president of the 2028ers. Recently, I organized a triathlon of sorts for my class with the winner being declared only just yesterday (as of July 13th). There are approximately somewhere between 20-50 people in our class. While our class is small, big things are planned with the upcoming election this August. I hope you may take interest in our upcoming election and whomever is elected once my term ends."
Friend for Sale:
Someone is selling @Bluebell for the stellar price of two tomatoes and a French Fry! Have you ever been walking around your house, suddenly felt a deep, deep, horrendous loneliness, then thought to yourself, "Man, I wish I could buy @Bluebell as my property and use her as a footstool or something." We all have, just admit it! Now you can access her! Only for a limited time, buy now!
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I hope you enjoyed this read of the CH Times! The issues released on the 15ths of the month will be slightly shorter than our big issues on the first of the month, so tune in on August 1st for a fully loaded Times! That being said, I now need to go watch a spiky red haired triangle head and british green haired rectangular robot duo. God bless you and keep you!