I coordinated a home study for my April Little Flowers meeting. I had a recollection on First Saturday and was not available for the LF meeting. Moms and I decided to forgo any rescheduling efforts due to Lent.
I provided each family with digital copies of this month’s lesson. Below are links to the handouts. I left it up to the mom’s to create their own craft and lesson for the virtue of truthfulness.
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St. Bridget of Sweden
Traditional ~ October 8 – New ~ July 23
Bridget was born in Sweden of noble and pious parents, and led a most holy life. While she was yet unborn, her mother was saved from shipwreck for her sake. At ten years of age, Bridget heard a sermon on the Passion of our Lord; and the next night she saw Jesus on the cross, covered with fresh blood, and speaking to her about his Passion. Thenceforward meditation on that subject affected her to such a degree, that she could never think of our Lord’s sufferings without tears.
She was given in marriage to Ulfo prince of Nericia; and won him, by example and persuasion, to a life of piety. She devoted herself with maternal love to the education of her children. She was most zealous in serving the poor, especially the sick; and set apart a house for their reception, where she would often wash and kiss their feet. Together with her husband, she went on pilgrimage to Compostella, to visit the tomb of the apostle St. James. On their return journey, Ulfo fell dangerously ill at Arras; but St. Dionysius, appearing to Bridget at night, foretold the restoration of her husband’s health, and other future events.
Ulfo became a Cistercian monk, but died soon afterwards. Whereupon Bridget, having heard the voice of Christ calling her in a dream, embraced a more austere manner of life. Many secrets were then revealed to her by God. She founded the monastery of Vadstena under the rule of our Savior, which was given her by our Lord himself. At his command, she went to Rome, where she kindled the love of God in very many hearts. She made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; but on her return to Rome she was attacked by fever, and suffered severely from sickness during a whole year. On the day she had foretold, she passed to heaven, laden with merits. Her body was translated to her monastery of Vadstena; and becoming illustrious for miracles, she was enrolled among the saints by Boniface IX.
Excerpted from The Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B.
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“Habits are grey, while heads are coifed in black with a white linen crown and five ruby-red spots. These are to remind us of Christ’s crown of thorns and his five wounds, which Birgitta witnessed as a child.” ~ The Bidgettine sisters of Vadstena’s
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Patron: Europe; Sweden; widows.
Symbols: Pilgrim’s staff, bottle and wallet; open book and dove; crosier, lute and chain; taper; heart charged with cross; book; head and cross; pilgrim’s staff; shell.
Often Portrayed As: Abbess in Bridgettine robes with a cross on her forehead, and holding a book and pilgrim’s staff; nun enthroned, with Christ above her and hell below, while she gives books to the emperor and kings; nun giving a book to Saint Augustine; nun in ecstasy before the crucifix with instruments of the Passion nearby; nun reading, holding a cross, with builders in the background; nun with a cross on her brow witnessing the Birth of Christ (one of her visions); nun with shells (a sign of pilgrimage), sewn on her habit; nun writing with a pilgrim’s equipage nearby; nun writing with an angel hovering over her shoulder, often whispering in her ear; nun writing with Christ and the Virgin appearing before her; small child at the Scourging of Christ (one of her visions). ~ Catholic Culture
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You must be on your guard against this desire to please, for it might easily lead you into various kinds of untruthfulness in your speech and actions. ~ Father Lasance Catholic Girls Guide
…St. Augustine had an equal horror of slander; so great indeed was his aversion to it that he caused this inscription to be placed above his dinner table: “There is no room at this table lor
those who intend to speak evil of their neighbors.” Upon one occasion certain guests forgot to observe this rule of the house, and began to discuss some absent persons in too free a manner. The saint promptly remarked: “Either this inscription must be taken down, or else you must put an end to such conversation; if you do not heed my admonition I shall have to leave the room!” ~ Father Lasance Catholic Girls Guide
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Handouts: (in order)
- Truthfulness Divider Sheet (print on orange paper)
- Truthfulness Activity Sheet
- St. Bridget of Sweden Coloring Page – Curmudgeonry
- St. Bridget of Sweden Bio for Kids – Holy Spirit Interactive
- Truthfulness Memory Verse
- St. Bridget – Truthfulness Info
Resources:
SAINT
- St. Bridget of Sweden – Women for Faith & Family
- St. Bridget: A Unique Model Of Feminine Holiness
- St. Bridget of Sweden Resource Set – That Resource Site
- The Birgittine (or Bridgettine) Nuns – the order founded by St. Bridget
- Fifteen Prayers to St. Bridget of Sweden – Catholic Culture
- St. Bridget’s Revelations to the Popes
VIRTUE
- The Truth Will Set You Free – Audio Sermon
- On Truth – EWTN This homily is the first in a series of three homilies (taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church) on “truth.”
St. Bridget of Sweden, ora pro nobis
(1181-1226) was a serviceman in his youth. His vocation — that of counteracting the growing spirit of riches infecting Europe — made itself known almost simultaneously with the young Spanish priest Dominic’s call to combat the doctrinal ignorance and heretical evil of that day. Each in his own way, they revolutionized the Christian life with the creation of their two orders of mendicant friars. In 1207 Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), a group of laymen dedicated to poverty of life and Christlike charity toward all men. Two years later, with the blessing of Pope Innocent III, he and his band set out to preach. During a crusade he penetrated to the camp of the Egyptian sultan. Following his return from the Holy land, Francis relinquished the rule of his by now immensely expanded order, and received the Stigmata in its stead. His love for poverty, for the cross, and for all creation, brought new vitality and holiness to the whole Church.
