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Little Ways

by Filed Under: Crafts, Little Flowers, St. Therese 4 Comments

You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much on the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.

~ St. Therese Lisieux

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St. Theresa of the Child Jesus

October 3 feast day in the Traditional Roman Rite Calendar

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I had wondered for a long time why God had preferences and why all souls did not receive an equal amount of grace […] Jesus saw fit to enlighten me about this st_therese_thumb[2] mystery. He set the book of nature before me and I saw that all the flowers He has created are lovely. The splendour of the rose and whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. I realised that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wild flowers to make the meadows gay.

It is just the same in the world of souls — which is the garden of Jesus. He has created the great saints who are like the lilies and the roses, but He has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice His eyes whenever He glances down. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being that which He wants us to be.

~St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul

Called to Serve

by Filed Under: Girls, Little Flowers, RMGS

It wasn’t an easy decision to make but it was covered in prayer and brought to direction, I have moved on from leading Little Flowers. I spent a total of six years leading a Little Flowers group for my daughters and community. Ultimately, that’s why I do it, to fulfill my vocation as a mother to my girls to serve my community – ALL FOR! It has been challenging at times due to my many limitations but Dad and the kids support me in all ways possible. A break from all leadership roles has sounded ideal to me on more than one occasion. Yet, the good Lord, often times through my husband, encourages me on – to grow, to serve, and to love!

I was led this year to step down from RMGS binder clipone role to fill another. I will now lead  Rosa Mystica Girls’ Society (RMGS), a group of girls from ages 9-13, forty-one girls to be exact. A dedicated and talented mother within my parish community created RMGS. She successfully led the girls in domestic skills, devotion to Our Lady, and a baby blanket ministry for the local pregnancy resource home for several years.  She had to move on from leadership this year due to a new  season in her life. Her shoes could not be filled without His grace, the grace that prompted me to rally a partner and serve once again.

It also helped to have early discussions with Margaret and Jessica. It’s my hope to share (on my blog) some of what my partner and I will be offering the girls in RMGS.

Sparkles is a member of RMGS, Sweetie will spend another year in Little Flowers, and Rose continues to be actively enrolled in Sodality. I’m praying for the grace and energy to persevere in this task that I have been called to.

Our Lady of the Mystical Rose, pray for us!

Little Flowers Retreat ~ America for Mary, Our Blessed Mother

by Filed Under: Little Flowers, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patriotic, Retreat, Wreath III

retreat logo - America for Mary, Our Blessed Motherv2

This was the final meeting and retreat of my Little Flower leadership.  The theme of the retreat was our country – America for Mary, Our Blessed Mother.

Retreat pic JOY

It was a blessed day spent with twenty-three Little Flowers, several moms, some sibling helpers, and a couple of Priests.

The day started at 9am with our regular LF format.  Then we celebrated Mass, had lunch, and transitioned into our retreat.  Below is a brief overview of our schedule for the day that I loosely followed.

P62003279:00 – Arrival

9:10 – Attendance Roll, Prayer

9:15 – Recap Saints & Virtues for the Year

9:25 – Saint & Virtue Lesson – St. Anne & Responsibility

9:45 – Review Take-home Packet and update BinderRecently Updated84

9:55 – Craft – Spiritual Bouquet

10:30 – Snack

10:45 – Outdoor Play – jump rope, parachute, tag, races, hula-hoop, and more.

11:45 – Clean-up and restroom break

12:00 – Depart for prayer time in Church

12:15 – Mass

1:00 – Lunch

1:30 – Craft Rotation – God Bless America windsock and Love of Country Handprint Flag T-Shirt

2:15 – Clean-up

2:20 – Out Door Activities – St. Joan of Arc Water Wars, Crown of Mary Relay, and Gracefilled bubbles

3:00 – Snack

3:15 – Free play

4:10 – Clean-up

4:15 – Cool Snack

4:25 – Rosary

4:40 – Pack-up

4:45 – Quiet Craft – Patriotic Jewelry with pipe cleaners and pony beads

4:55 – Snack

5:00 Depart

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Little Flowers Retreat 2012

America for Mary, Our Blessed Mother

CRAFTS:

God Bless America Wind socks

God Bless America Windsocks

God Bless America windsock at rectory

windsock displayed at the Rectory

Love of Country handprint shirt

Love of Country Handprint Flag T-Shirt

OUTDOOR PLAY:

Crown of Mary relay

Crown of Mary Relay

water wars

St. Joan of Arc Water Wars

LF at play

Gracefilled Bubbles & Free Play

LF Friendships with Father

Patriotic Popsicles, Rosary, Friends & Fellowship

CRAFT:

Patriotic Jewelry

America for Mary Jewelry

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America for Mary, Our Blessed Mother logo

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the Holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessities, and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary, and Mother of the True God, obtain for us from thy most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, of burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.

St. Anne ~ Responsibility ~ Mum

by Filed Under: 07 July Saints, Little Flowers, Spiritual Bouquet, St. Anne, Wreath III

St. ANNE

SAINT ANNE
Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Old ~ Feast Day – July 26

Anne and Joachim, her husband, were both of the royal house of David. They served God continually in prayer and good works, but were looked down upon by the Jews because they were childless. At length God gave them a daughter, who was to become the mother of His own divine son. Because St. Anne devoted herself ceaselessly to educating her child in innocence and sanctity, she is patron of all Christian mothers. St. Paul says that it is by a holy exercise of their parenthood that parents are to be saved (Col. 3:18-21).

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I will meet on June 20 for the last Little Flowers meeting of the year.  It has become a tradition to hold a day retreat for the last meeting of the year.  We start the day with our normal meeting agenda.  Then we break for Mass.  We have lunch and then move onto the “retreat.”  The retreat is time for faithfilled crafts, activities, and social time.  Last year we were blessed to be joined by Father and two seminarians (who were ordained on 5.19).

This year’s retreat will start with a meeting on St. Anne & Responsibility.  The second half of the day will be the official retreat — America for Mary, our Blessed Mother.

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Handouts:

Resources:

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***UPDATE***

P6200353The Little Flowers completed a Spiritual Bouquet for Father L, in thanksgiving for his devoted care to the LF over the years.

Girls Retreat 6.202

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click here for a printable spiritual bouquet sheet that can be used for children to draw a picture on and complete the sentence, I will offer for you and your intentions…

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You, my dear child, have a very difficult and 
responsible task — you have to preserve your inno- 
cence; therefore go to your mother, to Mary, 
the sweet Mother of God. Dangers threaten, and 
hellish foes pursue you ; therefore fly to your Mother 
and cling fast to her protecting hand.

 

~ Fr. Lasance Catholic Girls Guide

 

 

st anne -holycard

St. Julie Billiart ~ Fortitude ~ Hyacinth

by Filed Under: 04 April Saints, Little Flowers, St. Julie Billiart, Wreath III

“Oh, how good God is!” ~St. Julie Billiart
Ah, qu’il est bon, le bon Dieu
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Saturday was the seventh Little Flowers meeting for 2011-2012.  There are only two more meetings to go for Wreath III, not including our participation in the Marian Procession.
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“By union with God we shall gain hearts…. Without this union we will but make a little noise.” ~ Saint Julie Billiart

4_8_julie

SAINT JULIE BILLIART
Religious
Old ~ Feast Day – April 8
Sixth of seven children of peasant farmers Jean-François Billiart and Marie-Louise-Antoinette Debraine. She was poorly educated, but knew her catechism by heart at age 7, and used to explain it to other children. At age 14 she took a private vow of chastity, and gave her life to serving and teaching the poor. At age 22, she was sitting next to her father when some one shot at him; the shock left her partially crippled for 22 years. During the French Revolution, a group of her friends helped organize the work she’d started. Julia was miraculously healed of her paralysis on 1 June 1804, and resumed her work. Her organization became the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame (Institute of Notre Dame; Sisters of Notre Dame), dedicated to the Christian education of girls, formerly established in Amiens in, the first vows being made by Saint Julia and two others on 15 October 1804. The Congregation By the time of her death the Institute had 15 convents. ~SQPN
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I discussed the life of St. Julie Billiart with the girls.  They were immediately drawn into her pious life as a young girl.  The girls also were excited to hear that she was part of a large family with seven children.  Many of the girls come from such a family.  C’s family has 12 children with one in heaven.

The girls could not believe that during St. Julie’s life one could not receive First Holy Communion until the early teen years.

We discussed the specific times in St. Julies life when her fortitude was most noticeable.  Then the girls thought of ways to work on fortitude in their home.  Mrs. D offered an example for the girls to work on fortitude.

“Doing school work to it’s completion, in a timely manner, with a cheerful smile, and to mom’s satisfaction.”
“Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. “The Lord is my strength and my song. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” -CCC: 1808

Our discussion on fortitude led us to the craft of the month – Mini Empty Tomb Garden.  I thought this was a perfect craft for the Lenten Season and the virtue of fortitude. (I hope to create and link to a tutorial within the week.)

Jesus’ fortitude that culminated in His death and resurrection.IMG_1107
The girls were instructed to say an ejaculation to the Good Lord every time they water/care for their garden.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
“How good is the good God.” ~St. Julie Billiart
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The girls created beautiful Mini Empty Tomb Gardens with the help of several moms.  A special thanks goes out to all the moms and siblings who offer a hand at the meetings and to those who work behind the scenes.  This is truly a group ministry.  Praise God!
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We returned to the room for our closing.  Father L gave us a visit.  He spoke about the Lenten Season and took time for questions.  The girls received their blessing and gave Father a farewell.  The older girls of the group presented Father with His own Mini Empty Tomb Garden.
S and her mom passed out the second snack, cupcakes in honor of S’s birthday on Monday.  There are three other LF who will be celebrating their birthday in March, including myself.  Birthday Blessings to all the March birthdays.
St. Julie Billiart ~ ora pro nobis
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Handouts:

Resources:

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“I ought to die of shame to think I have not already died of gratitude to my good God.” ~St. Julie Billiart
“Let us pray more and more that the Kingdom of God may spread everywhere in the hearts of all. The harvest is great but there are no labourers. Let us work at becoming good labourers!” ~St. Julie Billiart
“The good God will give you grace and light to know what is right at the time.” ~St. Julie Billiart
“Days of darkness are perhaps our best and happiest days for glorifying the good of God.” ~Julie Billiart

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