September 9: St. Peter Claver

St. Peter Claver
Statue from St. Nicholas
Church in Strassburg

History

When Peter Claver was a young priest, his mentor, Saint Alphonsus Rodgriguez, inspired him to go to the America to preach the Gospel to “millions of perishing souls.” When Peter arrived in what we now call Columbia in the year 1610, he was horrified at the sight of the slave trade. He dedicated himself to serving the captives from Africa. He would meet the boats with medicine, water and food and hurry down to tend to the sick and dying. He taught the Africans about Jesus and administered Sacraments as they became Christians. He also traveled to the plantations where the slaves were forced to labor and begged their masters to treat them well.

Activity

Human trafficking is still a big problem in the world today, and just like Saint Peter Claver 400 years ago, there are priests and religious brothers and sisters, plus lay Catholics, who are working very hard to rescue the victims of modern-day slavery. Today, make a donation to Catholic Charities USA in honor of Saint Peter Claver, earmarked “for human trafficking victims.” You can mail your donation to Catholic Charities USA, P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD, 21297-1066 or make a donation online. 

Saint Peter Claver, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

American Catholic

Catholic Online

September 8: Birth of Mary

"The Nativity of the Virgin" by Jan Erasmus Quellinus

History

The Bible doesn't say anything about the birth of Our Lady, but tradition and a book called the Protoevangelium of James gives us one version of the story. Mary's parents, Anna and Joachim, were godly people who loved the Lord. They were never able to have a baby, but they prayed and prayed that God would give them a child. When they were quite old and everybody else would have given up any hope, they received a message from the Lord that they would have a child who would be part of God's plan of salvation for the world. Saint Augustine (whom we learned about a couple weeks ago) called Mary, "the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley."  

Activity

Today, plant some Lily of the Valley bulbs in your yard. These are also called "Our Lady's Tears." Next spring, around Easter time, the bulbs will bloom and become another reminder of what Our Lady did for all of us by agreeing to be the mother of Christ. (And you can make a birthday cake for Mary, too, if you like!) 

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our deaths!

More reading for parents: 

EWTN
American Catholic
Women for Faith and Family

September 7: Saint Cloud

St. Cloud statue from
a hospital in St. Cloud, MN

History

Clodoald, or Cloud, was in line to become King of France, but he had a mean uncle who was killing everybody who stood in his way. Cloud’s two older brothers were killed, but he got away. He wasn’t interested in becoming king anyway. He wanted to be a priest, and he worked hard at teaching people to love Jesus and to live lives of purity and devotion.

Activity

Did you know you can turn a bar of Ivory soap into a cloud? Follow these instructions, and then take your Saint Cloud’s Day Clouds into the bath. (You can cut one bar into thirds or fourths to make an individual cloud for each child.) As you make the outside of your body pure, think about making the inside of your heart pure, too. 

Saint Cloud, pray for us!

More reading for parents: 

Catholic Saints Info

365 Rosaries

Catholic Online

September 6: Saint Eleutherius the Abbot

Saint Eleutherius the Abbot (Image from SQPN)

History

Saint Eleutherius was a simple man of great faith who was the head of a monastery. He helped a child who was possessed by the devil. But then Eleutherius became full of pride and said that the child would be safe in the monastery school because of all the good men who lived there. The devil attacked the child again, and Eleutherius realized his mistake. He fasted and prayed with all the other monks until the child was free again. After that, when Eleutherius prayed for a miracle, it usually happened. 

Activity

When God answers our prayers for a miracle – like He did for Saint Eleutherius – it’s a sweet experience! Here’s a pretend “miracle” with a sweet ending to help you remember to strive to say and pray for the right things. “Miracle” Peach Cobbler is not really a miracle because it’s kitchen chemistry that makes the crust appear, but it’s a fun way to remember the miracles that Saint Eleutherius prayed for.

Saint Eleutherius the Abbot, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

SQPN

Catholic Online

September 5: Saint Teresa of Calcutta

September 5: Saint Teresa of Calcutta

1988 photo by Evert Odekerken

History

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, she joined the Sisters of Loreta to become a missionary. She served in Calcutta, India and became Mother Teresa after making her final profession of vows. When she was 36, she received a message from Jesus to “Come be My light,” and His desire to save souls became her focus for the rest of her life. She started a new religious community called the Missionaries of Charity to serve the poorest of the poor. In time, she became famous, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Only after she died did the world find out that she felt rejected by God after starting her noble work. The fact that she continued to serve despite this doubt shows her great faith and commitment to Jesus. She was canonized by Pope Francis yesterday!

Activity

Today, color a picture of Saint Teresa to hang in your room, remind yourself that even if you doubt God's love for you, He is there, loving you and helping you love others. Here’s a simple coloring page and one that is more complex for older children.

Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Vatican biography (includes link to Blessed John Paul II's homily on the occasion of her beatification)

American Catholic

Catholic Online