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St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, Novena, St. Therese

Patroness of the Missions & Missionaries

Sainte_therese_de_lisieux

NO Calendar: Oct. 1 – Memorial St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, virgin

EO Calendar: Oct. 3 – St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, virgin

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We are preparing for the feast day (in the EO calendar) of St. Therese of LIsieux, October 3.

We will start our novena on September 24 and end on October 2, the eve of St. Therese’s feast day.  We will continue to use the novena found at EWTN since we are particularly found of the daily mediations.

We will lead the littles in the twenty-four Glory Be to the Fathers Novena, also referred to as the Miraculous Rose Novena.

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Act of Oblation as Victim to God’s Merciful Love
(Composed by St. Thérèse)

In order that my life may be one act of perfect Love, I offer myself as a victim of holocaust to Thy merciful Love, imploring Thee to consume me unceasingly, and to allow the floods of infinite tenderness gathered up in Thee to overflow into my soul, so that I may become a very martyr to Thy Love, O my God.  May this martyrdom, after having prepared me to appear in Thy presence, free me from this life at the last and my soul take flight — without delay — into eternal embrace of ThereseHandsFoldColorThy Merciful Love.
O my Beloved!   I desire at every beat of my heart to renew this oblation an infinite number of times, ’till the shadows retire,’ and everlastingly I can tell Thee my love face to face.

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Daily Offering to God

(Number 10 in the collected prayers of St. Thérèse)

My God, I offer you all that I do today

for the intentions and the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I want to sanctify every beat of my heart,

my thoughts and my simplest works

by uniting them to his infinite merits.

I want to repair for my faults

by casting them into the furnace of his merciful love.

O my God!

I ask you for myself and for those dear to me

the grace to fulfil perfectly your holy will

and to accept for love of you

the joys and sorrows of this passing life,

so that one day we may be reunited in Heaven for all eternity.

Amen.

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Resources:

Info:st_therese

Prayers:

Misc.:

Audio & Video:

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st therese and holy family thumb

All Hallows Eve

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, All Saints Day, St. Isadore 2 Comments

st isadore and holy cow

God, through the intercession  of St. Isidore, the holy Farmer, grant that we may overcome all feelings of pride. May we always serve You with that humility which pleases You, through his merits and example.

 

We made costumes out of our everyday attire since we were deep into our move.  Papi was St. Isadore and Dragonfly was his Holy Cow.  Sparkles was Mary Magdalene and Sweetie was Mary, Queen of Heaven. 

Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, Christ the King, Consecration, Sacred Heart of Jesus

Christus Rex

Christus Rex
Sunday, October 26, 2011 is the feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  One may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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The kingship and empire of Christ have been recognized in the pious custom, practiced by many families, of dedicating themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; not only families have performed this act of dedication, but nations, too, and kingdoms. In fact, the whole of the human race was at the instance of Pope Leo XIII, in the Holy Year 1900, consecrated to the Divine Heart.

We institute the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ to be observed yearly throughout the whole world on the last Sunday of the month of October – the Sunday, that is, which immediately precedes the Feast of All Saints. We further ordain that the dedication of mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which Our predecessor of saintly memory, Pope Pius X, commanded to be renewed yearly, be made annually on that day.

~ Quas Primas, Encyclical of Pope Pius XI

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Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. christusrex

Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise be to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor for ever." Amen.

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Additional info and resources can be found here, my post from 2010.

St. Bridget of Sweden ~ Truthfulness

by Filed Under: 07 July, 07 July Saints, 10 October, 10 October Saints, Little Flowers, St. Bridget of Sweden, Truthfulness, Wreath I

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

St. Bridget of Sweden

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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7_23_bridget2Patron: 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)

Resources:

SAINT

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.”

truthfulness craft page

St. Bridget of Sweden, ora pro nobis

A Spouse of the Holy Spirit

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, St. Francis

To Francis, being with Christ was a love affair. When referring to his relationship with God, he called himself “a spouse of the Holy Spirit.”assisi7

October 4 ~ St. Francis of Assisi, confessor

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Born at Assisi, Italy, and Christened John (Giovanni) di Bernadone, Francis of Assisi (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.

We celebrated the feast day of St. Francis in simple ways.

st francis front yard

The littles tended to gardening  their vegetables with dad.  They cared for their ivy topiaries with mom.

 paint joy

The littles painted a coloring page.

We watched a favorite, Clare and Francis.

st francis books JOY

We read two books on St. Francis of Assisi.  The Song of Francis was given to Papi from his Nina (Godmother).  This is Assisi was given to Sweetie from Sparkles’ Nina.  She purchased the book in Assisi!  It is a cute and informative book that we all enjoyed very much.  It takes the reader on a journey through Assisi.  It was a pilgrimage in a book.

dinner JOY

For dinner, we had left overs.  Not very creative, I know, but we figured it was simple enough for St. Francis.  After all, he is a saint who at times ate with the pigs.

We used the rotisserie chicken that Rose made us late last week.  The little ones eagerly went along with the idea and Rose is pious enough not to question mom.  I even offered to allow the children to eat outside in the dirt as St. Francis and his followers ate with the pigs.  Needless to say, they didn’t go along with that one.

pumpkin bread JOY

Rose made pumpkin bread (with this kit) for dessert.  She said that it was “natural” enough to fit in with the feast of St. Francis.  She tried to rally the little girls to help prep the kitchen.  By the 5th attempt, I told her to work without them and that they will be certain to get their portion share – NOTHING.

So the time came when the bread was done.  It smelled yummy as it sat on the counter warm and ready to be eaten.  The little ones came running into the living room, “can we have some bread?”  I replied, “you did not clean when asked, you did not prep when asked,……”  It was straight from the Little Red Hen.  Of course, they immediately offered to give a hand, to which dad informed them that it was too late.  Instead, the girls prepared two loafs to take to the neighbors.  They JOYfully delivered the bread.

St. Francis of Assisi, Ora pro nobis.

assisi1

Saint Francis’ Prayer Before the Crucifix
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me
true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command. Amen.

Prayer for PeaceSanDam3

Lord, make me a channel of your peace, that
where there is hatred, I may bring love;
where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
where there is error, I may bring truth;
where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
where there is despair, I may bring hope;
where there are shadows, I may bring light;
where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather
to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand than to be understood;
to love than to be loved;
for it is by forgetting self that one finds;
it is by forgiving that one is forgiven;
it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen.

(ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI)

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