Lumen Gentium through the Life of Saint John XXIII

This might come across as a review of  a movie, but it is a reflection on seeing Saint John XXIII  through the eyes of one of the documents of Vatican II; Lumen Gentium.

'John XXIII - The Pope of Peace' is a feature length production of 200 min on the life of Saint John XXIII. This production takes through the event filled life of St John XXIII who was the initiator of the Second Vatican Council, however never got to see it completion. 

Having seen this movie myself, it seemed fitted when reflecting On the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church <>   to put it into perspective by seeing how Christ through the life of this Vicar of Christ became a light to the nations. 

I do not mean to give away the whole movie, but his life truly exhibits not just holiness, but compassion, disappointments at times, and however creative solutions. He remains faithful to the Church, but he finds ways to stay close to the people of God. There is a striking scene in this biographical production where a parish that he is assigned too is so low in resources that he awaits and awaits and awaits  for help that does not see to come. Therefore, whenever the creditors were showing up he would pay with valuables of the church from furnitures to gold ornaments, chalices of the church. All he could do to keep sanctuary even if that meant to remain with little as long as he could serve the faithful he did. Here, and in many other ways, his actions echo the fact he knew the lay played a pivotal role in the body of Christ, so he served them wholeheartedly. 

Although, Lumen Gentium, par. 22, emphasizes that the unity and the relations between the hierarchy of the church among clergy at different levels especially the College of Bishops, the trials he experienced at times when lacking communication with those who were in position to help and from whom he needed either approval or support, some may say that he did his own things. However, in submitting in mind and will (obsequious, par 25) to the Church, he moved with courage, thus leading to heights by the power of the Holy Spirit no one could ever imagine; the papacy. 

Not only his life is worth knowing, but one never gets tired of watching again this production  that can enlighten us on the heart of the man who open the doors to this Vatican II, and whose canonization I was privileged to stay up and watch. 

Fanny Magnificat

Shea Butter and I... my discoveries

So in my previous writing, I gave you a taste of my experience with Shea Butter. However, since life is not the sum of what we think, I also sought in finding what are others saying about Shea Butter thus taking this time apart for you to research. Needless to say that there are so many resources that it was not easy to narrow down, nut I hope you will enjoy my discoveries about Shea Butter!

                     Shea Butter, originating from the Savannah Tree also known as the Shea Tree called Vitellaria paradoxa,  is a tree only found in Africa: That is why it is often referred as the African Shea Butter or the African Shea Tree. Present in over twenty countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia,Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Guinea) out of fifty three African countries, Shea Butter is usually yellow or white, but can be used unrefined, refined or ultra-refined. The research community defines is as being a triglyceride from stearic acid and oleic acid.

The American Shea Butter Institute is a potential best friend for those who have dry skin, it fights and visibly wrinkles after four to six weeks of use. Mother Nature Network  shares the benefits of its use in haircare products such as its sealing effects in moisturizing, its conditioning of the scalp, its alleviation of dandruff, its voluminous effect when applied to the roots.

Other researchers praise its richness in Vitamin A and E and how compared to other oils its healing effects and is highly recommended for the treatment of blemishes, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies caused by poison ivy, poison oak, insect bites, frost bite, dermatitis, skin cracks.
In Latin, it is also known as the Butyrospermum parkii, and some researchers suggest that it is incredibly nourishing and moisturizing, and can last  approximately two years on shelf, though I must acknowledge that we've kept it for longer than that.
In French, Shea Butter is known as Beurre de Karite. In Bambara, it is known as shiriyi or shisu (a language from Mali). In Wolof (a language from Senegal), the tree is called ghariti. In Hausa (one of the language spoken in Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Togo, Central Africa and Libya), Shea of Shea Butter is known as Kade or Kadanya. 

Furthermore, to complete these discoveries shared with you, why not watch this testimonial?

For more about my journey with Gdd's Creation, subscribe to my Botanica Theologia and 
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Fanny Magnificat

Shea Butter and I...

         Just as some are trained on the job rather than being given lenghty training, I did not learned about Shea butter from the books; NO! My story with Shea Butter was experiential. It was hands-on. Now  my desire to deepen my knowledge about God's creation has led to research more about it. So what is Shea Butter to me?

The 'Shea Butter' I was introduced to in my native land in Benin Republic as a toddler is this raw unrefined stinking butter. Every friday, my hardcore natural hair was submitted to a regiment that was mixed with this butter. A portion would be cut, put in a pan to be melted or grinded in between the palms of her hands in order to become this oil that would then either be used to massage my scalp, or used  in a mix to dwell in my hair either for few hours or for an overnight before being submitted to a wash. Its fruits over the years can be seen for as long as I allowed this practice to be carried; my hair has gone from hardcore natural to being moist and softened. I've gone from not being able to keep my natural for more than few hours out to being able to style it and leave it out naturally for few days if so was my wish. I very much so like Shea Butter, and I do not think there are words to describe how fond I grew and became of this butter that was often purchased from the city mobile business women or at the open air market of Dantokpa.
Eventually coming to North America with Shea Butter also saved my life as for a while, my skin needed to find the right lotion. Every skincare product I used caused my body to react in these early months. Now until my mother was recommended to take me to a dermatologist, Shea Butter rescued my skin. I still remember the early winter months. I applied to my skin; it felt weird. It was hard, but it saved my skin from the cracks and kept it moisturized all day long. This was new to me. It kept me going until I eventually met with a dermatologist who recommended the appropriate skin care.

credit picture:www.amazon.com

Shea Butter! Our family has used it for multiple uses. I still remember when I told that in the North of Benin it was actually used as a cooking oil. I imagined what it would taste like to cook with this stinking unrefined butter, not the fine one that you see sold in stores these days. So there came the season we had little at home, and ran out of cooking oil. I turned to Shea Butter. Since I knew that it naturally melts in the pan, the next phase was to add ingredients. Well, Oh well! it turned out delicious, for the meal was being cooked with a healthy oil. Then Shea Butter became more prevalent in Canada, in products, but as for me I still enjoyed purchased the Raw Shea Butter, whether refined or unrefined.                   (... To be continued ... )

Fanny Magnificat - Check out my Botanica Theologia

Celebrating with you the Visitation of Our Lady..

           Could it be that the month of May has come so soon to an end? Could it be that the plans we make either turn out to be exactly what we wanted it to be or are transformed before our eyes. It was my desire since the month started to post a reflection earlier on. Lo behold, the month flew by, and I realize that though my thoughts were jolted on paper, my timing eventually was not the timing of our good Lord who himself is the master of time, but eventually He chose this day. This day being, eventually, the solemn celebration of the Visitation of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

  This celebration speaks particularly to me both within its Scriptural context  where our Lady visit her cousin Elizabeth and only marvels come out of it, and within its Meditative context where we are privilege to prayerfully dive into the second joyful mystery of the Rosary that shows us the depths of St Luke's attempt to describe what the six months spent together between the women could have been like spiritually, socially, emotionally and in every aspect unspoken of. It is also a gift I must say to have experienced in unique ways the feast of the visitation of the Mother of God, and to continue to see it take flesh in my life particularly. Obviously she keeps teaching me that the ways of our Savior are not our ways, but they are wondrous since to follow Him requires the fortitude given to the Saints who have witnessed before us that the Christian life is indeed one where fullness of Joy in the midst of our daily circumstances is possible. Once we remind ourselves that life is made of seasons just as the weather has its own seasons, we become more aware that every season draws us nearer to the purpose we were created for, and were put here to accomplish. 

    We can either be filled with remorse at the things we did not do or could have done or should have done or.... we learn from the past by picking ourselves back up in moving forward with a heart that will say: "Never again will we turn away from you, give us life and we will call upon you."-Ps 80:18 (NJB). This is not an easy task, but it is a doable duty, for we find ourselves being trained day after day to distinguish the voice of the Father 'who art in Heaven...' unceasingly, from the multitude of voices that surrounds. We find ourselves being trained in the art of wondering if our daily whereabouts are hallowing His name, so that His Kingdom to which we belong through baptism when we were covered with the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit may come. We find our souls being stirred to live out a vision that is holding us, and thus in the words of our Holy Father Pope Francis, we '... at times know what we owe to do, but we do not have the courage to do it or it seems to us too difficult, because it means swimming against the tide [...] The spirit of the Risen Christ drove out fear from the apostles' hearts and impelled them to leave the upper room in order to spread the Gospel...' 

     So it seems that each of us is called to witness in different ways though they will all be complementary or might come across as if we were doing the same things. St Paul did mention that we are all given different gifts, but we are all here to build the body of Christ whether within Mother Church or from the Church to those who surrounds within the society that we live in day after day. Over the past few years, you've seen me grow in many ways, however with the same and unending desire to do all things with Christ at the center because I am honoured to dwell in the heart of His Blessed Mother. Year after year, different talents of mine have unfolded, some being desires I have yearned for, and other being graces I've discovered. All this has also shaped my character in a way for through the intercession of Saint Teresa of Avila, I came to understand and still, day after day, learn to 'be gentle to all and stern with (myself)'. However, it fosters within us growing attitude of focus, if I may say; an  awareness toward matters we might have never paid attention to before. How glorious it is! 

All this to share with you one of my longstanding dreams. May I introduce you to my Jewellery line... I say 'introduction' because it is still in its infancy; and infancy I have longed to see birth. It is inspired by the very faith I was raised in; my One, True, Catholic and Apostolic Faith. I never thought it would actually come to be. I do not know where the road will leads, but I trust that just as Abraham was called forth to go to a new land, and got to see GOD's promises 25 years later, in the same manner after almost the same number of years, the doors have opened, and I am willing to take it one step at a time, one day at the time with a heart of thanksgiving. I may hear inquiries rise about past endeavors or endeavors on hold,  but I say none of that will ever go away for the Lord who puts a calling in us brings it to fruition in its season. I am presenting with images of few pieces below. Every piece you will see in the sample pictures below were made by me. If you wish to see more, do contact for there is is still more details to be worked over the months to come. Therefore, I kindly invite you to voyage with me for as Nelson Mandela would say: 'It always seems impossible until it's done.' However, these were prayerfully done with my hands. 

Until I hear from you, remember that "the world offers comfort, but you were not made for comfort; you were made for greatness." - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. 

And to order your own, or to see more... connect with me wherever you see me either face to face or on social media. Not only these will be made available over the days, weeks to come on my Holy Emporium, but I will keep you posted to the best of my abilities. Thank you for being a faithful supporter...

 Prayerfully yours,

Fanny Magnificat 

Stripped Delusion

Stripped Delusion

It is delusion to rely on a horse for safety,
for all its power it cannot save.-Ps.33:17

1

Contractions of her memories commenced.

Catalogued pictures formerly honey-condensed

rotated quickly rapidly anxieties distresses she heaved

grieving the deceitful steps of ballroom lovers misperceived.

Where did time get a handshake poisoned?

Ordering actors’ guilty meals served to a past tired

of contentious minds winter’s abusive fights confessed

to street corpses in the linens of my life sorrowful alas retired.

2

Pity oh pity, in misery shouted…

Pleading my internal idols retreated

shipping pretty illusions castles amassed

to Sheol whose counsels fallacies my all grilled.

The limping sky screening how valued

my windows of hope have the truth desired

as I modeled Spring away for designers self named

until Gregorian chants my heart to the arms of God transferred.

3

O victorious music! my soul has listened

as you rescued me from the path disgraced

transporting me to adore the Sacrament blessed.

O unworthy me! Like Samuel my archived name called.

O wondrous day! my wastrels washed

my violent manners encouraged glorified.

Anew I walk stroll gracefully fiercely restored

genuinely magnificently as a Lady of virtues clothed.

4

O Summer of life renewed.

Adieu my delusions beloved

Here kneeling in thanksgiving forever stripped

I am of my illusions pour toujours in the ocean drowned

O Shining Mount Sinai, on your ground I stand resurrected

Perceiving the struggles ahead hopeful I am comforted

Dancers of the past my cheek their hands lured

Visions I hold firm of my life transfigured.

©Fanny Magnificat - For more poetry, join me and let us learn to keep 'Making Wise History'. Stop by the gift shop for more...