The girls were ready to go for their second meeting. We had 10 Little Flowers at Mass. Two more joined at the meeting. The girls learned about St. Faustina and Mercy. The coordinaating flower was the Lily. It was also the traditional feast day of St. Therese the Little Flower, our patron saint.
The girls had Divine Mercy Strawberry Shortcakes, St. Therese Rose Cupcakes, chip mix and drinks for snack.
We then discussed the life of Helena. I briefed the girls on her life as 1 of 10 children and the fact that the family was very poor. I also shared a story of how St. Faustina and her sisters only had one dress to share for Mass. They would take turns wearing the dress and going to Mass on Sunday. St. Faustina heard God calling her to religious life when she was only seven. At age 15 she stopped attending school and by age 18 was ready to enter a convent. Her parents refused her request. She was obedient to her parents. Later, while at a dance St. Faustina received a visit from Jesus. He appeared to her asking, “How long will I put up with you, and how long will you keep putting me off?” She followed God’s prompting and went to enter a convent. She worked for her dowry to enter a convent, The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The girls learned of the great gifts that St. Faustina received from our Heavenly Father; hidden stigmata, bilocation, and visions of Jesus only to name a few. The Little Flowers noted her virtue of OBEDIENCE and willingness to say YES to God.
They also learned about the vision of Jesus’ Divine Mercy and His order to her to have the image created with the words, Jesus I Trust In You.
The girls then thought of a few ways God shows us mercy. We briefly discussed the sacrament of confession – mercy. The girls also brainstormed ways in which they can show mercy to others.
We then began our craft, Handprint Lily Pens. The Lily was the flower chosen to represent mercy.
Miss. Casi reviewed the Works of Mercy with the girls. Each girl received a book to further review at home. The book is by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S. V. D. This full-color illustrated children’s book from the collection of St. Joseph Picture Books explains both the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy, in terms young children can understand.
Father L visited the girls during their craft. The girls did an excellent job greeting Father. He spoke of St. Therese when she was three. He said it was the first story he had ever heard of the Little Flower. The story showed St. Therese’s vow to obedience. He also gave the girls a special blessing for the feast day of their patron saint. Praise be to God for Priests.
At the close of the meeting the girls received their Little Flower binders. These binders are meant to last the girls their entire Little Flowers career. The girls will need to keep all their work in their binder and bring it with them at each meeting.
Their first assignment is included in their binder. Girls who have completed any or all assignments will be rewarded with a trip to the Little Flowers box. This box includes goodies such as lunchboxes, folders, snacks, stamps, holy cards and etc…
In addition to the assignments, the girls received coloring and activity pages related to St. Faustina.
September –
As they continued working on their beads I introduced the girls to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Saturday was her feast day. She had a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux and took the name as her religious name. Many of the girls were acquainted with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She too had a call to the religious life at an early age. We spoke of those that Mother Teresa helped, the poorest of the poor. I described the condition of Calcutta and the girls identified why she served those in destitution, “because she loves God.” It amazes me how easily the young girls get the message of love. I believe it is the same language they speak.