The Feast Of All Saints

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival day in honor of all the saints; at whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright. ~Introit from

I’m thankful that I can share with so many via Instagram in a way that is most conducive to my season in life but there are certain things I’d prefer them to have a permanent home here. Please excuse me while I share a few blasts from the past.

Why has the Church instiuted this festival?

To give praise to God in Hus saints, (Ps. cl) and to pray to the saints themselves the honor which they merit for having made it the work of their earthly life to promote the honor of God.
To impress vividly upon our minds that we are members of that holy Catholic Church which believes in the communion of saints, that is, in the communion of all true Christians, who belong to the Church triumphant in heaven, to the Church suffering in purgatory, or to the Church militant upon earth; but, more particularly, to cause us earnestly to consider the communion of the saints in heaven with us, who are yet battling on earth.
To exhort us to raise our eyes and hearts, especially on this day, to heaven, where before the throne of God is gathered the innumerable multitude of saints of all countries, times, nationalities and ranks of life, who have faithfully followed Christ and left us glorious examples of virtues, which we ought to imitate. This we can do, for the saints, too, were weak men, who fought and conquered only by the grace of God, which will not be denied to us.
To honor those saints, for whom during the year there is no special festival appointed by the Church. Finally, that in consideration of so many intercessors God may grant us perfect reconciliation, may permit us to share in their merits, and may grant us the grace to enjoy with them, one day, the bliss of heaven.

We are all looking for ways to grow closer to the Saints. Celebrating All Hallows Eve with an All Saints’ Day party is a wonderful opportunity for us to keep our eyes on Heaven, living out the Liturgical Year.

I can’t say them I’m a pro or there’s not a part of me that dreads having to make my children’s saintly dreams come to reality (make the costumes) but it’s all worth it!

Generally, we try to use what we have around the house. This year we upcycled several

Paint stir sticks that were left over from a painting project.

Inexpensive brown fabric from Wal-Mart with pumpkins as fabric weights.

Felt left-over from Jesse Tree ornaments, stick from the front yard, and Dollar Tree floral tape.

Our Parish holds festivities that the parishioners coordinate so we do not have to partake in the secular “celebrations.” The evening starts in Church with the Litany of Saints and procession if the weather permits.

Dragonfly’s costume of St. Martin de Porres was made from inexpensive black material for his cassock which was held together with fusing tape. The white piece was simply a piece of cut fabric. His friendly mouse/rat was a stuffed pet from IKEA. The broom belonged to Rose, a souvenir from a field trip at a local broom factory (before they moved their manufacturing out of the country). St. Martin de Porres is sometimes referred to as the Saint of the Broom for his devotion to his work, no matter how menial.

Martin is probably best remembered for the Legend of the Rats. It is told that the prior, who objected to rats, ordered Martin to set out poison for them. Martin did as he was told, but he was very sorry for the rats. He went out into the garden and called softly and out came the rats. He reprimanded them for their bad habits, telling them about the poison. He further assured them that he would feed them every day in the garden, if they would refrain from annoying the prior. This agreed upon, he dismissed the rats and forever after, so the stories go, there was no more trouble with rats at Holy Rosary Convent.

Papi desired to go as Bl. Junipero Serra (who has since gone on to be a saint) as his devotion has grown to him over the years through our pilgrimages which culminate with Mass offered over his tombstone. His cross was made from the painted paint sticks tied to braided scraps of brown fabric. His simple brown robe was made with this technique using inexpensive brown fabric and fusing tape. Papi is wearing a Han Solo robe that Nana purchased for $2 after last year’s Halloween. (She stocks up on Christmas gifts, dress-up clothes, after seasons.) His walking stick was something found at Papa’s house. I had great plans to give him a faux tonsure using nylons but he backed out at the last-minute.

Lil’ Man is also Junipero Serra since he loves to follow his big brother. They’re both wearing twine rope from the Dollar Store and plastic rosaries.

Sparkles chose St. Zita, an easy one for us to put together. She wore her own clothes and we made this apron out of a thrift-store sheet.

Born to a very poor but pious family. At age twelve she became a domestic servant for the wealthy Fainelli family in Lucca, Italy, a position she kept all her life; she looked at it as a way to serve God. She often gave her own food, and sometimes that of her master, to those poorer than herself, which caused her to get in frequent trouble with her employers and the other servants in the house who resented her. However, she did such a fine job she was eventually placed in charge of the house, and entrusted with its keys. Attended daily Mass before beginning her duties, and would go to a nearby monastery to pray in private.

Sparkles chose a saint that shes has admired, St. Maria Gorretti. She wore her own clothes with a scarf from the thrift-store. The lily was homemade with the pictured (above) stick, white and yellow felt, and green floral tape. She borrowed a “knife” from her brother’s collection.

Beautiful, pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria’s father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto the Serenelli farm to survive.

In 1902 at age twelve, Maria was attacked by 19-year-old farm-hand Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to attack the girl who fought, yelled that it was a sin, and that he would go to hell. He tried to choke her into submission, then stabbed her fourteen times. She survived in hospital for two days, forgave her attacker, asked God‘s forgiveness of him, and died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. Counted as a martyr.

While in prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria. He saw a garden where a young girl, dressed in white, gathered lilies. She smiled, came near him, and encouraged him to accept an armful of the lilies. As he took them, each lily transformed into a still white flame. Maria then disappeared. This vision of Maria led to Alessandro’s conversion, and he later testified at her cause for beatification.

The children are invited to go on the stage to share something about their saint.