All Souls Day - Remembering Our Passed Loved Ones

All Souls days is usually forgotten by many due to being right after Halloween, on November 2nd. All Souls Day is a feast commemorating all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and the temporal punishments for the mortal sins that they had confessed and atoning before entering fully into Heaven.

So how do we teach this feast to our children? Death is not something a lot of people like to talk about, and some children just are not ready to understand the concept of death.

I decided to use the words "love" and "remember" a lot that day. We started our celebration the day before visiting a local museum that was hosting a Day of the Dead exhibit. It was a great way for the kids to learn more about their own culture as well. We belong to the museum so it was free to see.

The night before we made heart cookies for our loved ones. I got pre-made rolled dough on clearance from Walmart from the Halloween section of cookies for only $1. Each pack came with 2 sheets of rolled dough so it was simple and almost mess free! All we needed was a cookie cutter. The kids had a lot of fun making them. You can use candy to decorate and even use edible markers to write names if you would like for older children.

The morning of All Souls Day we set up a display on our home altar with pictures of our passed loved ones an dsaid a few prayers including the Prayer of St. Gertrude 

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

We left that morning and picked up some flowers and visited our local passed loved ones. The kids enjoyed putting flowers on their statues. 

Take this day just to celebrate your memories with your passed loved ones and tell stories to your children about them. It is a great day of celebration and praying to help them make their way to the Lord. 

Pet Blessing on the Feast of St. Francis Assissi

What better way to celebrate St. Francis then to take our furry and some non furry animal babies to our parish and have them blessed! The cold weather and rain did not stop my daughter and I to take our furry baby to get his blessing!

Here is a wonderful coloring page for the kids to color and a prayer you can say of your pets.

                         (right click on image - click save image as - save, open and print)

Feast Day of St. Maria Goretti Activities

St. Maria Goretti

Feastday: July 6

Patron of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape

Birth: 1890

Death: 1902

The life of St. Maria Goretti is an inspiration in the trust she had in God and the forgiveness she had shown to her attacker. This is a great lesson to teach to our children. Heer are a few quick fun activities you can do with your children on today's Feast Day of St. Maria Goretti.

Coloring Pages

This is a great book that is sold on amazon that you can purchase for future use here 

Here are a few pictures that you can print online at home

they came from this site here  if you have problem printing form my page 

St. Maria Goretti is sometimes pictured holding white lillies. The story behind this is from a dream that her attacker Alessandro had while he was in prison. The dream was so vivid he could not distinguish it from reality. The prison bars and walls fell away and his cell was a sunlit garden blooming with flowers. Towards him came a beautiful girl dressed in pure white. He said to himself: 'How is this? Peasant girls wear darkish clothes.' But he saw it was Marietta. She was walking among flowers, smiling, and without the least fear. He wanted to flee from her but could not. Marietta picked white lilies and handed them to him saying, 'Alessandro, take them!' He accepted the lilies, one by one, fourteen of them. But a strange thing took place. As he received them from her fingers, the lilies did not remain lilies but changed into so many flaming lights. There was a lily turned to purifying flame for every one of the 14 mortal blows he struck her on the fatal day in Ferriere. Marietta said smilingly, 'Alessandro, as I have promised, your soul shall someday reach me in heaven. 

Ultimate forgiveness and he was converted!

Handprint Lily Craft

   

What you'll need for this craft: 

Pencil

White card stock

Scissors

Green card stock

Hole punch

Green plastic straw

Tape

Yellow pipe cleaner

How to make it

Have your child trace his hand onto a piece of white card stock (regular paper works too but isn't as durable) and cut out the shape. Cut two double leaves from green card stock and punch holes in the centers where the leaves meet, as shown.

Curl the paper fingers and leaves by wrapping them around a pencil.

Wrap the hand around the top of a green plastic straw and secure it with tape. Slide the leaves onto the straw and tape them in place. For the flower's stamen, fold half of a yellow pipe cleaner in half and curl down the ends. Insert the folded end in the straw.

You can see this craft from Spoonful

St Maria Goretti Movie

There is also a movie that was done about her and you can purchase it on Amazon here 

Prayers for St. Maria Goretti

Traditional Prayer to St. Maria Goretti 1
Heroic and angelic Saint Maria Goretti, we knee before thee to honor thy persevering fortitude and to beg thy gracious aid.

Teach us a deep love for the precepts of our holy Church; help us to see in them the very voice of our Father in Heaven. May we persevere without stain our white baptismal robe of innocence.

May we who have lost this innocence, kneel humbly in Holy Penance; and with the absolution of the priest may the torrent of Christ's Precious Blood flow into our souls and give us new courage to carry the burning light of God's love through the dangerous highways of this life until Christ our King shall call us to the courts of Heaven.

Traditional Prayer to St. Maria Goretti 2
Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed thy blood and sacrifice life itself to defend thy virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.

God Bless! 

Jennifer 

Saints and Feast Days for July 2014

Saints and Feast Days for July 2014

July 1st -Most Precious Blood of Jesus -This feast calls to mind that the Redemption was bought at a great price, that of the Blood of Christ, shed in such pain and love for us.

July 2nd -Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -At the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel revealed that Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, was also with child. With haste, the Virgin went to minister to her until the birth of John the Baptist.

July 3rd -St. Leo II (Pope) -His short pontificate was noted for calling the council that condemned the Monothelite heresy in the seventh century. He had a great interest in perfecting church music and concern for the poor.

July 4th -St. Odo (Bishop) -In 942 Odo was named Archbishop of Canterbury and was active in both legal and monastic reforms.

July 5th -St. Anthony-Mary Zaccaria (Confessor) -At age 28 he founded the Clerks of St. Paul, later called the Barnabites. Like St. Paul, whom he greatly admired, he was consumed by apostolic labors, dying at age 35 in 1539.

July 6th -St. Maria Goretti (Virgin and Martyr) -(1890-1902) A beautiful child, Maria was the victim of a young man's impure assault. While resisting him she was stabbed fourteen times. She died the next day forgiving her attacker.

July 7th -Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Bishops) -In the ninth century these brothers labored to evangelize the Eastern empire. They invented the Slav alphabet, translated the Scriptures and offered the sacred liturgy in that language. They are called the Apostles of the Slavs.

July 8th -St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Queen) -(1271-1336) Named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Nov. 19), and like her, led a life of extraordinary piety and charity. She was a reputed peacemaker.

July 9th -St. Thomas More (Martyr) -(1478-1535) A devout layman, lawyer and scholar, he was made Chancellor of England under Henry VIII. Refusing to approve Henry's divorce, Thomas was jailed in the tower and beheaded, keeping his humorous wit to the end.

July 10th -Ss. Rufina and Secunda (Virgins and Martyrs) -They were probably sisters who were captured during Valerian's persecution in the third century. After suffering torture they were beheaded for their Faith.

July 11th -St. Pius I (Pope and Martyr) -In the second century he guarded the Church against various Gnostic doctrines and is venerated as a martyr.

July 12th -St. John Gualbert (Abbot) -St. John, a soldier, converted when he sought to avenge his brother's murderer, becoming instead a model of forgiveness. He founded the order of Vallombrosa in the eleventh century.

July 13th -St. Serapion (Martyr) -An Easterner, probably of Macedonia, he was put to death during the persecution of Septimius Severus in the 2nd century.

July 14th -St. Bonaventure (Bishop and Doctor) -(1221-1274) The "Seraphic Doctor" was a glory of the Franciscans by his teaching; clear mindedness and ardor.

July 15th -St. Henry (Emperor and Confessor) -Henry II, called the Pious, reigned over the Holy Roman Empire from 1014-1024. He worked for the spread of religion by building churches and monasteries, while living an exemplary life.

July 16th -Our Lady of Mt. Carmel- To bring unity to the Carmelites the Blessed Virgin appeared to the Superior General, St. Simon Stock, and presented him with a habit. She promised special blessings for all who wear the Brown Scapular devoutly.

July 17th -St. Alexius (Confessor) -According to tradition he fled his wealthy family on his wedding day to live an ascetical life. Seventeen years later he returned home in disguise to live as a servant. He probably lived in the fourth or fifth century.

July 18th -St. Camillus de Lellis (Confessor) -While a soldier in Italy he received an incurable wound and also became addicted to gambling. Later, being converted, he founded a congregation devoted to hospitals and the sick. He is the patron of nurses.

July 19th -St. Vincent de Paul (Confessor) -As a youth St. Vincent fell into the hands of Turkish pirates who carried him off to Africa. When he returned to France he became an angel of mercy toward the poor, sick and insane. He is patron of Catholic charitable societies.

July 20th -St. Jerome Emilian (Confessor) -(1481-1537) After his ordina- tion St. Jerome was consumed with care for the poor and plague stricken. He began a congregation of Clerks Regular to educate and care for orphans. He died of the plague, a victim of charity.

July 21st -St. Praxedes (Virgin) -Little is known about her, except that she was the daughter of a Roman senator and sister of St. Pudentiana, who aided Christians during the persecution under Marcus Aurelius.

July 22nd -St. Mary Magdalene (Penitent) -Christ elevated her from a life of sin to perfect love. Once transformed, Magdalene formed part of the group of holy women, stood at the foot of the cross, and was the first to see Christ risen again.

July 23rd -St. Apollinaris (Bishop and Martyr) -The first bishop of Ravenna, Italy is said to have been banished and tortured four times and finally, beaten to death by a mob during the reign of Vespasian in the first century.

July 24th -St. Christina (Virgin and Martyr) -At the age of ten she destroyed the idols in her father's house for which she was delivered to extreme tortures and death in 303. She is the patroness of Palermo and all of Sicily.

July 25th -St. James the Greater (Apostle) -Christ called James and his brother, John, to leave their fishing nets to follow Him. James preached in Judea, Samaria and Spain. He was beheaded in Jerusalem, but his body was carried back to Compostella, Spain, a popular, pilgrimage site.

July 26th -St. Anne -Early veneration of St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, began in the East and spread to the Western church, becoming universal. Her name signifies grace. She is the patroness of Christian mothers.

July 27th -St. Pantaleon (Martyr) -Pantaleon, a doctor, was arrested, tortured and beheaded under Diocletian. He is one of the fourteen Auxiliary Saints (Holy Helpers). He is invoked against tuberculosis and is patron of medical men.

July 28th -St. Nazarius (Martyr) -In Milan about the year 68 A.D. Nazarius and Celsus were beheaded. In 395, when their bodies were discovered, a vial of bright red blood was also found in the tomb, as if it had just been shed.

July 29th -St. Martha (Virgin) -According to Scripture, Martha, the elder sister of Mary Magdelene, often hosted Our Lord at her home in Bethany. Jesus raised her brother, Lazurus from the dead.

July 30th -Ss. Abdon and Sennen (Martyrs) -They were two martyrs, probably from Persia, who were brought to Rome under Diocletian. They were hacked to death by gladiators for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods.

July 31st -St. Ignatius Loyola (Confessor) -At first taking up a military career, he later determined only to serve his Divine King. For this end he founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to combat Protestantism and paganism throughout the world.

Taken from
http://www.praytherosaryapostolate.com/calendarofsaints.htm

Feast Day of St. Barnabas : Coloring Page!

     June 11th is the feast day of St. Barnabas. Barnabas (originally Joseph). He sold his land and property and devoted it to the Apostles and Church. The Apostles then named him Barnabas.  He is the Patron of Cyprus, Antioch, against hailstorms, invoked as peacemaker. 

Check out this great coloring page to show how Barnabas gave his wealth to the Church! Click here to print!