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| Adoration of the Magi by Vincente Gil |
Sunday, January 5, 2014
January 5: Feast of the Epiphany
If
you don’t receive chalk at church, you can still make a special dinner,
including a Crown Cake. That can be a very traditional recipe with yeast, a short-cut recipe using store-bought puff pastry dough or
this easier one for Orange Bundt Cake. Bake a single, whole almond or dry bean in the cake,
and whomever gets it is king or queen for the day. You can ice the cake with an
orange glaze, sprinkle it with gold sugar sprinkles and decorate it with gumdrops to make it look like a crown.
More reading for parents:Fisheaters
Saturday, January 4, 2014
January 4: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
_-_stained_glass,_arcade,_Saint_Elizabeth_Ann_Seton.jpg) |
| St. Elizabeth Ann Seton St. Paul Catholic Church Westerville, Ohio Photo by Nheyob |
History
Elizabeth grew up in a popular,
rich family and had every advantage, but she preferred to read more than anything.
She married a rich young man, and they had several wonderful years together
until the hard times came. First, her husband’s father died, leaving them in
charge of seven little brothers and sisters and a business that failed. Then
her husband became sick and died. Elizabeth found help in the Catholic Church.
Through the Holy Eucharist and the knowledge that the Blessed Mother was her
mother, two, Elizabeth grew in faith and confidence. She started the first free
Catholic school in the U.S. and a religious order. Elizabeth became the first
U.S. saint ever canonized by the Church.
Activity
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton found
comfort and joy in the Holy Eucharist, even before she was confirmed Catholic
and could receive. Today, pay a visit to your parish to pray before the
tabernacle for a little while. (If a nearby parish or chapel is offering
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – meaning the Eucharist is on display in a monstrance,
that would be even better.) While you are praying, ask God to give you the same
love for the Eucharist that Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton had.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
Friday, January 3, 2014
January 3: Saint Genevieve
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| St. Genevieve by Pierre Hébert (1804-1869) Saint Etienne du Mont Church, Paris |
History
When Genevieve was only 7 years
old, Saint Germain of Auxerre came to visit her small village near Paris. He
noticed her in a big crowd of people and talked about what she would
accomplish for Jesus. She was consecrated to God right away and became a nun
when she was 15. Genevieve devoted herself to prayer, worship and helping the
poor. When the people of Paris where packing up to leave because Attila the Hun
was getting ready to attack, Genevieve convinced them to fast and pray instead.
Attila the Hun changed his mind about Paris and never did attack!
Activity
As part of being a humble servant
of God, Saint Genevieve ate a vegetarian diet. Today is Friday, and Catholics
traditionally gave up meat on Fridays, so it’s a good opportunity to try
something like what Saint Genevieve would have eaten – a French omelet made of
eggs, cheese and herbs. Add some fruit, vegetables or a tossed salad on the
side, and perhaps some French bread. If you don’t have your own omelet recipe,
here’s one that fairly easy to follow. (If you are using a non-stick skillet,
use a pair of chopsticks to stir the eggs after pouring them into the hot pan,
so you won’t scratch the surface.)
Saint Genevieve, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
Thursday, January 2, 2014
January 2: St. Basil the Great
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| Fresco of St. Basil the Great, Macedonia |
History
Basil grew up in a big family. Not only
did his parents become saints (Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia), three
of his brothers and one of sisters also became saints: Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina the Younger, Naucratius and Peter of Sebaste. Basil started out as a lawyer like his dad. Then he became
a monk and started his own monastery where the monks were dedicated to prayer,
manual labor, and living as a true community of brothers who loved and helped
each others. Basil eventually was made a bishop, and he got quite famous for
the wonderful way he taught people about Jesus as well as his dedication to
helping the poor.
Activity
Imagine so many people in one family becoming saints! That’s
really the goal for all of us, though. Today, pray that God will help each
person in your family become a saint – say one prayer for each family member.
Saint Basil the Great, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
January 1: Octave of Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary
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| "But Mary Kept All These Things and Pondered Them in Her Heart" (1888) By Alice Havers |
History
The Church has always celebrated the eighth day
after Christmas, January 1. Originally, it was the feast of the Circumcision of
Our Lord, because in the Jewish tradition, boys were given a special operation
on the eighth day after they were born. Then, the name of the feast day was changed
to the Holy Name of Jesus, because Jewish children were also named on the
eighth day after birth. Now we call it the
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and we take this opportunity to think about Mary's great faith in agreeing to be the mother of Jesus, no matter what that might mean for her. We also thank God that He chose to
give us a Savior who was born of a woman, fully human so that He could die for
our sin.
Activity
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| Our cakes, fresh from the oven this morning. |
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
More reading for parents:
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