You don’t need a secret password, and it’s well worth the click to enjoy this week’s Catholic Carnival.

Intrigued by all this Carnival talk? Interested in perhaps trying your hand at joining? It’s open to all, and it’s quite a lot of fun. You can read more about the Catholic Carnival here and submit using the online form.

This week’s Catholic Carnival is hosted by Jay at Living Catholicism. You’ll find a diversity there, of the very best Catholic kind. Among the things that served as my diversion while my printer spouted off a review manuscript (ooo, it’s going to be another light blogging week…how shall I stay away from this manuscript to get anything else done?) were:

• the drool inspired by this recipe at Extraordinary Moms Network (I wonder if I can send Heidi a toddler in exchange for a box o’ those cookies?)
• the insight inspired by this post at This That and the Other Thing (I wonder how she read my mind that confession is going to be a big part of my Lent?)
• the nodding inspired by this story at Daughter of the King (are we soul sisters?)
• the book-buying desire inspired by this review at Book Reviews and More (and there’s still time to help the Dubruiel family with double royalties if you purchase in February through the OSV website)
• the tears and laughter inspired by this list of ways to mess up your marriage, which I think I have tried to write a number of times and have failed at, at Aggie Catholics

But don’t take my word for it. There are plenty of other posts at this week’s Catholic Carnival.

Interested in being part of next week’s fun? You can read the details about the CC and submit online using the online form.

Owen’s hosting this week’s Catholic Carnival, though he wasn’t able to finish it because he was rushed to the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers, and don’t forget to take a look-see at the posts he compiled.

We have been watching a lot of The Sound of Music. We can’t help it, not really. We just discovered it there, on the movie shelf, and we are now hopelessly addicted (or re-addicted, as the case may be).

I remember watching The Sound of Music as a child. But what I remember about The Sound of Music, in there among all the other memories I have, is my Aunt Charlotte’s passion for it. There was something about The Sound of Music that really made her glow, and at her funeral service a few weeks ago, they played quite a few excerpts from The Sound of Music. I always thought of her — and will continue to think of her — when I watch it. She was the one, after all, who bought me that copy we’re popping into the VCR every few days.

So this week we’re going to sing some songs and tie in The Sound of Music with our Catholic Carnival. I know you won’t mind if I wax a little long on memories of my late aunt — I’m still processing the fact that I won’t hear her sing these songs (and the 50 million others she seemed to have right on the tip of her tongue at any given moment) to my children from the other room. Maybe this Carnival is my chance to pay tribute to her. (And she’ll forgive me for the fact that it’s not a more proper tribute, not yet.)

If you would like to learn more about the Catholic Carnival, you’ll find all the information here. There’s a submission form that’s easy to use, and a Google group you can join to get weekly reminders. If you have found yourself submitting a few times, won’t you consider going one step further and trying your hand at hosting? All you have to do is pick your date and email Jay.

Favorite Things
image source
My introduction to this song was the knick-knack music box shelf thingy that hung about Aunt Charlotte’s bed at Grandma’s house. I remember her just bursting out into this song, and, in her younger days, I’ll bet she did some jumping-on-beds while she sang it.

These posts make me smile just as the movie scene of terrified children being comforted through song makes me smile. These posts are worth bookmarking and revisiting when the storms of life have you down.

• Five Poems is the best of two of my favorite worlds, poetry and Catholicism
• I Shall Call You by a New Name is a first-time submission (welcome, Becky!) and a reminder to us “old married folk” about the challenge of that whole name change thing
• The Mary Box gave non-crafty me the perfect gift idea, and it might be just what you need for the religious “stuff” that needs a home in your house
• My Mute Jesus is a different look at Jesus and faith
• President Obama and Life explains the problems of abortion in 41 seconds (whatcha waiting for — GO NOW!)

Do-Re-Mi
image source
Just seeing this title has me humming this song. It’s one of my very favorite songs in the movie, and I remember learning it for a 3rd grade (or was it 2nd?) musical. I have no idea what “do” and “re” translate to on the music bar thingy (see what a music dunce I am?), but I like this song.

These posts, like this song, are educational — learn about the world around us, sometimes through the lens of something fun like a song, and other times through the lens of Catholic apologetics.

• Conversion, Witness, and Unity tackles these three topics in a handy nutshell while reflecting on last week’s (optional in some dioceses) Mass readings on St. Paul’s conversion
• Freedom of Expression Against Free Speech is a little hard to explain (and a little much for me to swallow, truth be told) — I’m pretty sure it’s not Catholic, but I can find no reason to not include it here, so include it I am
• The Madness of Christ considers just what Jesus’ “craziness” was and where it can lead us, if we let it
• Question about Catholic Newspaper answers whether a popular periodical is “worth it” and why they might suggest “open communion”
• Temptation Battles takes a look at temptation and an approach to prayer
• Top 100 Open Courseware Links on Theology & Philosophy gives you a resource that makes learning more about our faith a matter of only your time

Edelweiss
image source
Now that I’m a wife and mother, few things melt my heart like seeing Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) start singing Edelweiss. His love for his country, captured in this tender song, reminds me of my own love for my Church. When Aunt Charlotte went to Germany and Austria with my grandparents many years ago, they brought me back a little music box that plays Edelweiss.

This song seems to represent the conflict of tough-guy-turns-softie and to prompt me, so gently, to stand up for what I believe in. Just like the song, these posts don’t make any bones about what’s important.

• The Beautiful Hands of a Priest touches a special chord with me (just like the song Edelweiss), and reminds me that these men, so often forgotten in the rush and bustle, are so very, very dear and cherished
• Meditation on the Credo explains how the exaggerated separation of Church and State allows the blurring of good and evil
• Nancy Pelosi’s Latest Lie tackles the lack of logic and proof behind the House Speaker’s now infamous statement
• An Open Letter to President Obama presents a simple way for President Obama to usher in a color-blinded society
• Pelosi Says takes apart the argument that contraception could improve the economy
• The Sin of the Century examines our culture in light of our faith and Church teachings
• What Can We Expect reminds us all to pray for President Obama and to stand up for life

The Lonely Goatherd
image source
We’re yodeling for hours after seeing this scene, and then we’re giggling. Singing and laughing — these are things that are good for all of us.

These posts, just like the Lonely Goatherd, have good stuff in them, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy them just as much as I did.

• And the Last Shall Be First uses basketball to remind us about pride and the need for hope even in the face of a sports blowout
• Divine Love and Human Love considers how a loving God could do the things He does in the Old Testament
• Movement is an examination of a new abolitionist movement
• Purpose and Power of Prayer gives us encouragement in our prayer journeys
• Short Prayers Week demonstrates the power of prayer inserted throughout the entire day

Climb Every Mountain
image source
Life is not easy. My Aunt Charlotte knew this, though I never knew her to wax poetic about it (and she could have). She had a rare disase, myotonic dystrophy, that caused her a lot of pain and restricted her activity. This disease was the reason she lived in a community with neighbors who were at least 20 years her senior. This disease was the reason she could only sleep a certain way each night, and the reason she had oxygen hooked up to her. It was the reason she died at only 50, and the reason for many other sufferings, small and large, known and unknown, in her life.

I never heard her complain or dwell on it, though. I thought of that after she died. And though this scene in the movie, where the Mother Abbess sets Maria straight, has never really resounded with me, when we watched the movie last week, it sparked my thoughts. What advice might Aunt Charlotte give me this week, as I struggle and juggle? Well, she’d tell me to pray. And then I think she might just tell me to get my hiking shoes out of the closet.

These posts struck me with their hope, which is a virtue that we could all use more of in our daily lives.

• Don’t Worry, Be Happy considers the advantage trust in God plays over worry
• Feeding the Hungry shares the unexpected gift received while performing a corporal work of mercy
• Inauguration Day chuckles at an irony and then reminds us to PRAY for our government
• Out of the Blue considers the Hand of God at work in the unexpected normalcy of life

Thanks for stopping by this week’s Catholic Carnival.

Well, then, you’re at the right place. Because, you know, the Catholic Carnival next week is going to be…

RIGHT HERE.

I know you’re shocked, can hardly believe it, and all that.

We’ve been watching a lot of The Sound of Music, so maybe we’ll have a Do-Re-Mi theme, or perhaps a problem-solving expedition for Maria theme, or a favorite things theme. Hard to tell. Maybe I’ll be crunched for time and it will all just come together. (Oh wait, that’s what usually happens!)

So will you join the fun?

In case you’re new to the fun of the Catholic Carnival, read Jay’s explanation about the Carnival.

For those of you who have wondered just what it takes to submit, here’s how easy it is:

1. You’re Catholic (or becoming Catholic or interested in Catholicism).

2. You wrote something on your blog. It does not have to be about the Catholic Church or any specific topic. Themes of faith and Catholic life are common. If you want to see some examples of what’s been in the Carnival before, check out “Catholic Carnival” in my sidebar and do some clicky-linky fun. Once I submitted this post. So, you see, you don’t have to write deep theological work. Ever! (Else how would I participate?)

3. You sent it (“submitted it”) to the Carnival (email or the web form) host.

If you have wondered if what you have written should be submitted, send it and I’ll let you know (the answer will, inevitably, be YES!).

Email me at peerybingle [at] gmail [dot] com or use the handy web form. You have until Monday night, 10 PM EST (or whenever you send it, because I’m sympathetic and likely to be running late anyway!).