December 15: Saint Maria (Paula) DiRosa

History

Paula Di Rosa grew up wanting to help people. When she was only 17, she was arranging retreats and missions for her parish and running the ladie’s guild. At 24, she was made the supervisor of a workhouse for poor girls. But she worried about the girls, because many of them were homeless. So she started a boarding house for poor girls where they would be safe at night after work. When she was 30, she became Sister Maria, superior of the Handmaids of Charity, who served hospital patients. When a war started, she and the other sisters went to work at a military hospital, even going out to the battlefield to comfort the soldiers who were hurt or dying. Once, the other army came to break into the hospital and kill all the wounded soldiers inside, but Sister Maria bravely met them at the door carrying a large crucifix, the army men felt ashamed and left.

Activity

Sister Maria would do anything to help people. Today, think of a way to help somebody before anybody asks you to help.

Saint Maria di Rosa, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

365 Rosaries

Catholic Online

December 14: Saint John of the Cross

Saint John of the Cross
Photo by Zarateman

History

John was homeless as a child. After he became a Carmelite, Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to help her correct some of the problems within the order. Teresa and John wanted the brothers and sisters to focus on prayer, but some of the Carmelites didn’t like being told to change. John was kidnapped by the men in his order, locked in a small, dark cell and beaten three times a week. He had nothing left but God, but God brought him joy, and John learned that there is no love greater than the Lord’s.

Activity

In his dark, cold prison, John found joy and love. Today, make your own scratch-art cross and find beauty in darkness. You start by using beautiful colors to cover a piece of cardboard. Then paint the whole thing black. After the black paint dries, use a toothpick to scratch away the black paint in the shape of a cross. Then add patterns and shapes to make your cross even more beautiful. Here are detailed instructions for making scratch art. 

Saint John of the Cross, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

Catholic Online

December 13: Saint Lucy

St. Lucy by Francesco del Cossa
National Gallery of Art
Washington D.C. 

History

Saint Lucy’s name means “light” and she wanted to serve Jesus and bring His light into the world. However, her mom, who was not a Christian, wanted her to get married to a certain man. Some legends say that Lucy prayed God would cure her mother of a sickness she had for a long time, and when He did, her mother believed, too. But the man Lucy was supposed to marry got angry and turned her into the government for being a Christian. When the soldiers came to arrest her, they thought they’d just pick her up and carry her away, but God made her very, very heavy so they couldn’t. 

Activity

Even though Lucy lived in Syracuse, the people of Sweden have adopted Saint Lucy – or Saint Lucia as they call her – for their own. Every year on December 13, girls dress up like Saint Lucy in white robes with a red sash and wear wreaths  with white candles on their heads. Then they bring breakfast rolls and coffee to their families. Here are instructions for making a Saint Lucia crown out of paper. If you want to make traditional Swedish Saint Lucia buns, here’s the recipe. (It calls for saffron, which you should find at any grocery store, If you can’t you can substitute 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric and ½ teaspoon of sweet paprika for every ¼ teaspoon of saffron.)

Saint Lucy, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Family Prayer

EWTN

Catholic Online

December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Saint Juan Diego's tilma with the original image
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, miraculously embedded
on the fibers of the cloak and preserved through
time, exposure  and an attempted bombing in 1921.
Photo by Joaquin Martinez Rosado

History

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, God’s special gift to the Americas. When the Spanish conquistadors first came to Mexico, they didn’t do a very good job teaching the native Mexicans about Jesus…especially because they made the native people their slaves instead of treating them like brothers and sisters. After 20 years, only a few hundred natives had become Christians. Then, as we learned last Monday, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego dressed as a native princess. This appearance to a native by the mother of our Lord dressed as a native and speaking native language convinced the Mexican people that Christianity was true and it belonged to them, not just the European who took over their country. In a very short amount of time, 6,000,000 native Mexicans had been baptized Christians, and Catholicism remains a main religion there and throughout Central America.

Activity

Throughout Mexico and all the Americas, people are celebrating the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe today. Why not bake (or purchase) a Mexican chocolate cake for dessert tonight? Here’s an easy recipe. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Sancta  (Tons of information on this site!)

Catholic Encyclopedia

Catholic Online

December 11: Pope Saint Damasus I

Pope Saint Damasus I
Lithograph by
Pedro Augusto Guglielmi

History

Damasus I was elected pope in the year 366. But there were some people who didn’t want him – they tried to make a different man pope. The two sides fought, and even though Pope Damasus I remained pope, he had to deal with people who didn’t want him throughout his papacy - right up to the day he died. Still, he was able to do some really important things. He had Saint Jerome translate the Bible into Latin, the most commonly used language at that time. Pope Damasus I also used to write rhyming epigrams – little sayings about different saints. If you ever go to Rome, you can visit the Church of Saint Mary in Palmis, where a marble slab is carved with this epigram that Damascus I wrote (it rhymes in Latin but not in English):

"You that are looking for the names of Peter and Paul,
You must know that the saints have lived here."

Activity

Today, read Luke 1. There are five saints and one archangel mentioned: Saint Zechariah, Saint Elizabeth, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Joseph and Saint Mary, plus the angel Gabriel. Can you write an epigram about one of them?

Pope Saint Damasus I, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

American Catholic

Catholic Online

December 10: Pope Saint Gregory III

History

Gregory was a well-known Syrian priest who happened to be in Rome when Pope Gregory II died. But during the funeral procession, people in the crowd who recognized him started shouting that they wanted him to be the next pope. And that’s exactly what happened. Shortly after he became pope, Gregory III had to deal with the Byzantine emperor, Leo III. Leo thought that it was wrong to keep holy images like icons and statues around. He wanted to destroy them. Gregory III made it clear to the whole Church that destroying any image of Jesus, Mary or the saints would be wrong.   

Activity

Images of holy people, like statues, icons and paintings help us think about holy things. For some of us, these beautiful images help us concentrate better when we pray (other people concentrate better with their eyes closed, and that’s good, too). Since we are in the advent season, lots of people are putting up lights and decorations outside of their homes. Make sure there is something on or in your home that helps people think about Christ's birth. 

Saint Pope Gregory III, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

EWTN

Catholic Online

December 9: St. Juan Diego

St. Juan Diego receives roses
from Our Lady,  Shrine of
Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Irapuato, Mexico

History

Saint Juan Diego lived near Mexico City and worked as a weaver and farmer. On December 9, 1531, he got up early to walk to Mass 15 miles away, but as he passed a hill, a young woman dressed as an Aztec princess called to him. She revealed herself as the Virgin Mary and instructed Juan to tell his bishop to build a church where she stood. Juan obeyed, but the bishop asked for proof. When Juan met the lady again, she had him pick flowers growing out of the frozen ground. He gathered them in his tilma (cloak) and when he showed the flowers to his bishop, a beautiful image of Our Lady was imprinted on the cloak. So the church was built, and thousands of people became Christians, and Saint Juan Diego’s cloak was put on display for all to

Activity

Today is actually the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, as well as the feast of Saint Juan Diego. Celebrate with a special Mexican meal, at home or at a restaurant. Make your family’s favorite dishes or try quesadillas — fast and kid-friendly. (Here are some healthier quesadilla recipes from Eating Well).

Saint Juan Diego, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

American Catholic

EWTN

Catholic Online