striving to radiate Him always
Mary, you are the joy of those in heaven, the help of those on earth, the consolation of those still burdened by their sins. Accept our May blossoms, accept each flower as a symbol of praise and thanksgiving! Thank you for your cooperation in the plan that changed the destiny of the world. Teach us, Mary, teach us, that we, too, may make the place where we are a little paradise for God.
~ based on the lament of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
My family participated in our Parish/Diocese May Procession through the streets of Downtown Sac. I coordinated the participation of my Little Flowers group. Dragonfly and Papi tagged along. Rose could not walk because she was required to be at the church for choir practice prior to the Solemn High Mass. I doubt she would have been able to walk, anyways. She is still recovering from a dislocated knee cap.
The Little Flowers led the procession. Each girl wore a blue hat in honor of Mary and held handmade paper basket filled with flower petals. They tossed the petals as they walked.
Papi was the honorary Little Flower. He would sneak flowers from the baskets and toss them from the stroller. Dragonfly had the best seat in the house, my back. He fell asleep within the first mile. Dad was part of the security patrol. He escorted the front of the procession.
The sacrament of Confession was offered on the procession.
The three mile procession led us to the Cathedral. A Solemn High Mass was held. It was followed by the May Crowning. A Little Flower (who will be receiving First Communion next week) was selected to crown Mary.
We add a blessed day.
ALL FOR JESUS THROUGH MARY!
Mary, you are a queen! The most Blessed Trinity has confidently placed the welfare of the Church into your powerful and gentle motherly hands, just as that same Church is entrusted to each of us at our confirmation. You will lead the pilgrim people of God home to his infinite loving heart. Giving you the crown is a symbolic way to entrust to you once more the full responsibility for this task.
~based on the lament of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
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)
Resources:
SAINT
VIRTUE
St. Bridget of Sweden, ora pro nobis
“O my God, I will do everything for the love of Thee.”
I held my last Little Flower’s meeting of the 2010-2011 session on March 5 – First Saturday . LF moms and I decided to opt out of rescheduling a meeting in April so that we could observe the Lenten season. I will, however, provide all members with their Saint/Virtue packet so that they can complete their study at home. The May meeting will be our participation in a May Procession. It will be a splendid way to officially close this year’s LF session.
Ad Jesum per Mariam
May Procession 2010
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The girls attended Mass with help from two Sodality members. We had 25 girls in attendance. The First Communicants joined us after their lessons with Father L.
I had a limited time to introduce the Little Flowers lesson since we were expecting special visitors. As we waited, we briefly recapped last months saint and virtue – St. Jane Frances de Chantal & Love of Our Neighbor.
~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini & Industry ~
Then I introduced St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and the virtue of industry. I used the following excerpt from Fr. Lasance, Catholic Girl’s Guide.
Christianity teaches us to regard work as something sacred, honorable, and exalted. Work is your duty.
You must not only value work very highly, you must also love it.
We are taught by daily experience that industrious, active girls who are fond of work are almost without exception virtuous and pure.
A girl ought to learn every kind of work which she will be expected to know later in life; she ought to help her mother as much as she possible can.
~ Fr. Lasance, Catholic Girl’s Guide
I was able to share fresh daffodils since they had just bloomed. Majority of the girls immediately recognized the industrious flower.
I mean the daffodil. I have chosen it from among its brethren and sisters, the fair children of spring and I have called it industry’s flower because of hastens to blossom as soon as possible. I wish to place it before your eyes, Christian maiden, as an emblem of industry, that virtue which should find a place in the garland which decks your youthful brow. ~ Fr. Lasance, Catholic Girl’s Guide
The girls brainstormed ways in which thy could be industrious (or work) at home. I also prepared them for this month’s activity in place of the usual craft. I planned for the girls to be industrious around the parish.
~ Special Visitors ~
Our lesson led into the introduction of our special visitors, two Missionaries of Charity sisters. Father L coordinated this visit for all the girl groups of the parish. Sr. Miram and Sr. Lourdes spoke to the Little Flowers and Sodality members.
The sisters shared their beautiful testimony and gave a brief on their daily lives. They encouraged the girls to find silence in their hearts among a world full of noise.
“God speaks in the silence of our heart.” Sr. Lourdes, MC
The sisters also emphasized the need to grow close to Jesus through Our Blessed Mother. They were a beautiful witness on finding “simple JOY” in all we do.
The sisters left and the girls immediately went to apply their direction, work for Jesus with great love.
~ Industrious Work ~
My local Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshop donated aprons and craft kits. Unfortunately, I requested the donation prior to this year’s registration and I only estimated 20 girls – I’m short by 10 aprons.
A few Sodality members generously offered to help the LF clean the parish. I had 4 groups:
I tried to have the girls rotate through the different stations. My goal was to have the girls experience the work that they can do for their community, to serve and share their JOY with others.
“Little things with great love.” ~ St. Therese of Lisieux
~ Handouts ~
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Keep your gaze constantly fixed upon that workshop [of the Holy Family] and thence learn to be faithful and assiduous in your work, and to regard it as honorable. Whether it be easy or difficult, servile or otherwise, consider it to be a precious remembrance, a priceless relic of the house at Nazareth. Within those walls was work also exalted and sanctified…~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Hi! I'm Lena, mama of JOYfilledfamily.
We are a traditional Catholic family striving to live for Jesus Christ in everything we do. We pray to completely surrender our will to His and to become His servants. Our mission of this blog is to share our JOY.
This blog serves as a journal of us making good memories, living the liturgical year, and our spiritual journey.