Here is the supply list for the suggested activities for next week, October 27-November 2. Feel free to improvise or to adjust activities to fit your family's preferences, skills and time allotment.
Sunday: 3 red onions, 1/4 cup chili paste, 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, 2 lbs. beef brisket, water, flour, tesmi (Ethiopian spiced butter - you can substitute a little regular butter, garlic and ginger).
Monday: Bible
Wednesday: A small icon of Christ (or of the Blessed Mother holding the Christ Child), suitable for hanging on your front door; supplies with which to hang the icon.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
October 26: Saint Alfred the Great
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| St. Alfred the Great Chester (England) Cathedral Photo by Wolfgang Sauber |
History
When Alfred was only 4 years old, he went to Rome with his
dad, King Æthelwulf of Wessex (part of England). While he
was there, Pope Leo the IV made Alfred his godson and anointed him king…which
was surprising because Alfred had three older brothers. Alfred was a very good
student. He loved to learn, and once he won a book of poetry by being the first
of his brothers to memorize it. He and his parents probably thought that he
would become a priest or even a bishop, but instead he had to become king after
his father and three brothers died, one by one. King Alfred was a very smart
and humble king. He came up with good plans to keep the Vikings from taking
over his land, and he encouraged everybody to learn philosophy and theology.
Alfred led by example, and he believed he was responsible for the welfare of
the people who lived in his kingdom – both in this life and in the next.
Activity
Saint Alfred the Great knew how important it was for all
Christians to know certain Latin texts and prayers. Today, make it a point to
learn one of the Latin version of common Catholic prayers. Even small children
can easily learn the Sign of the Cross in Latin. Older children could be ready for the Our Father or even the
Nicene Creed. Here's a site where you can listen to prayers in Latin to help you learn them.
Saint Alfred the Great, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
Friday, October 25, 2013
October 25: St. Gaudentius
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| St. Gaudentius |
History
Gaudentius was a bishop who lived almost 1800 years
ago. At one point, another saint, John Chrysostom, was sentenced to exile in
the east. Pope Innocent sent Gaudentius and two other bishops with letters to
Emperor Arcadius, asking for Chrysostom’s release. The three bishops were grabbed
and thrown in prison. When they refused to support the man who had taken
Chrysostom’s place, they were put on an old rickety ship that was sure to sink,
but they managed to make it across the sea safely.
Activity
Today, build a boat out of recycled items (instructions at Life at the Zoo) and add
three small action figures to represent the three bishops. Float it in your
bathtub or kitchen sink? Can you think of how to make the boat rickety? Then
try to float it again and see what happens.
Saint Gaudentius, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
Thursday, October 24, 2013
October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret
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| St. Anthony Mary Claret (Image is public domain in the U.S.) |
History
Born in Spain, Anthony started out
studying to be a weaver, but he spent all his spare time learning Latin, French
and a kind of art work called engraving. When he realized God was calling him
to religious life, he became a priest. Father Anthony served as a missionary
and gave retreats to inspire others to holiness. In time, he was made
Archbishop of Cuba, where he accomplished many great things for the Lord. All
his life, he was dedicated to helping the poor and encouraging education. He
built schools, libraries, a scientific laboratory, a museum of natural history.
Activity
For Saint Anthony Mary Claret,
faith was the most important thing in the world, and education was a close
second. He wanted everybody to have the opportunity to learn history, music,
languages and, of course, spiritual things. Today, visit a museum or library
and make a point of learning something new.
Saint Anthony Mary Claret, pray for us!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
October 23: Saint John of Capistrano
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| Statue of St. John of Capistrano at the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna, Austria |
History
First, Saint John of Capistrano was a lawyer, and then he
was governor of Perugia, a city in Naples, Italy. He later
became a Franciscan priest. Father John was a marvelous preacher, and he
traveled all through Europe to teach people the importance of penance and to
start new religious communities. In 1456, when Father John was 70 years old,
the Ottoman Empire was threatening to take over Vienna and Rome. Pope Callistus
III asked John to lead a crusade of 70,000 Christians. The Holy Father
instructed all other Christians to pray for the defenders, and he had all
churches ring their bells at noon as a reminder. Father John and his crusaders
were successful.
Activity
To this day, Catholic churches all
over the world ring their bells at noon as a call to prayer. Today at noon,
ring bells in your home, and then pray the traditional noon prayer for
Catholics, the Angelus.
Saint John of Capistrano, pray for us!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
October 22: Blessed Pope John Paul II
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| Blessed John Paul II (1980) |
History
In 1920, Karol Wojtyla was born in
Poland. His mother died when he was nine, and his only brother died three years later. Karol’s father taught him to love and serve Christ and to look upon
the Lord’s mother as his own. Karol went to university to study theatre, but
when the Nazis took over Poland, they closed the school. When he was 22, Karol realized God was calling him to become a priest and started to take classes at
a secret seminary run by the archbishop of Krakow. He also performed in plays
that quietly condemned the Nazi government. After the war was over, he was able to complete
his seminary training. He was ordained in 1946. Father Wojtyla was much loved
and respected. He was made a bishop, then cardinal and in 1978, he became Pope
John Paul II. As pope, he worked to unify believers and to inspire people to
love Jesus more deeply. Toward the end of his life, Pope John Paul II was
severely disabled by Parkinson’s disease, but he continued to serve the Lord
and the Church, teaching us that everyone has a role in the Church, no matter
what their limitations are. Very soon after his death, people began calling him
John Paul the Great. On April 27 – just over six months from today! – Blessed Pope
John Paul II will be canonized a saint.
Activity
When Blessed John Paul II was a young man, he used theatre
to tell important stories. This is something you can do, too. Write a short
play about Blessed John Paul II and perform it with your family or friends.
Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
Monday, October 21, 2013
October 21: Saint Gaspar
_-_interior,_statue_of_Saint_Gaspar_del_Bufalo.jpg) |
| Saint Gaspar statue at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Philothea, Ohio, USA. Photo by Nheyob |
History
Saint Gaspar was a newly ordained
priest in Rome when Napoleon’s army took over the city. Father Gaspar, along
with most of the other priests, were thrown out of the city because they
refused to give up their loyalty to the Pope. But Napoleon did not remain in
charge. The priests returned to serve the people who had been almost entirely
without Mass, confession and other Sacraments for nearly five years. Father
Gaspar had a lot of work to do. He started the Congregation of the Most
Precious Blood to work in the most awful places in Italy. Father Gaspar
understood these people and started an all-night prayer for men who were too
embarrassed to come to church during the day, when others might see them.
Activity
Have you ever been too embarrassed to admit that you are a Christian? Or that you go to church? Have you ever been too embarrassed to pray before your meal at a restaurant? Saint Gaspar would have understood, even though he was brave enough to stand up for what he believed him when faced with a powerful army. Today, pray to Saint Gaspar and ask him to help you be courageous about your faith.
Saint Gaspar, pray for us!
More reading for parents:
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