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A Rose for Sharon

  For many years now, I have posted the single pink rose image to my social media on August 19th and June 4th. Those who know me well know it is in honor of my little sister, Sharon, who died in 1994. Her birth date and her death date. That has been the extent of my communication about my sister or her life since. Thirty-two years is a long time to hold onto words. I have considered writing about her. It doesn't matter how deep my feelings are for her or how much I cherish her memory, the words don't come easily, if at all. Words feel cheap and wrong. It's hard to even describe why. Maybe it is because she was our family's: Our sister, our cousin, our niece, our daughter. We knew her best, so no one else should have the right to know about her like we did. Maybe that's why I hold onto my words. But I realize that if I don't tell her story, who will?  I have spent hour upon hour researching my long-gone ancestors, yet I haven't written about my own sister. I ...
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GENEALOGY CHALLENGE 2021 - Heirloom

Adam and Eve banished from the Garden of Eden, illustration from
Velky Dejepis Biblicky, 1914.

GENEALOGY CHALLENGE 2021

Heirloom - January 4th entry of a 31-day challenge to post a document, photo or artifact on social media every day in January.

By Nancy Gilbride Casey

These Slovak prayer books are amongst the oldest items I have, passed down to me from my Mom, who received them from my grandmother Margaret Simonik Kozlina. They are well-worn reminders that our Grandma likely used these books at church or perhaps prayed in her family home with them.  I used Google Translate to get a rough idea of their purpose. 



Cesta K Bohu 
The Way to God
A prayer book for Catholic Christians who will obtain the grace of God, offer life and save salvation.
 
Appears to be a book of prayers, devotions, list of holidays, etc., published in 1920.




Velký Dejepis Bibliky Starého i Nového Zákona
Great Biblical History of the Old and New Testaments 
 
Published in 1914 by the Society of St. Adelbert, this book is in pretty rough shape and falling apart. I love the illustrations, which tell the story even if you don't read Slovak, such as the image of Adam and Eve above, the depictions of Moses and the Pope, and the wedding feast at Cana, below.

Stary Zakon and Novy Zakon, "Old Law" and "New Law."   




Kvietky Modlitby a Piesne pre Katolícku Slovenskú Mládež
Flowers of Prayer for Catholic Slovak Youth

This was likely published in an effort to keep first-generation Slovak youth engaged with their heritage. The inside front page (below), has a touching dedication written by my Grandma, "Rec'd on Dec. 27, 1942 from my dear Mother. This book belongs to Mrs. Thos. J. Kozlina." 

 


 
Krízová Cesta 
cili
rozjimanie a uctenie prehorkého umucenia a smrti Spasitel'a našého
Pána Ježiša Krista
The way of crisis or meditation and reverence for the bitter torture and death of the savior our Lord Jesus Christ
 
This is a stations of the cross booklet, published in 1919, was a devotional used during Lent to commemorate Jesus journey to Calvary in fourteen "stations." In one beautiful illustration below, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, and is gifted with Jesus' face left as an image on her cloth.

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, illustration from Krízová Cesta, published 1919.


Katechizmus
a pouenie o sv. Sviatostiach
Catechism and instruction on the Sacraments 

This booklet is written in both English and Slovak on facing pages, so one can get a sense of what is being discussed. This catechism was published pre-Vatican II, which older Catholics will remember well, especially if one attended Catholic school.


NEXT UP -  A Wedding Photo



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