August- The Assumption

Saint John Vianney is the patron saint of priests. Today do something for your priest! Activity Worksheet provided below!  

Also, don't miss out on the wonderfully made cartoon about Saint John Vianney from series on EWTN, My Catholic Family. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt6z8K1iAe8

Activity: Make your own Transfiguration of Jesus! 

Make your own radiant Jesus!

Jesus took the three disciples of his inner circle to the summit of Mount Tabor in order to reveal his glory to them. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured before them, radiant in the fullness of his glory as he truly was, the Son of God. Next to Jesus were Moses and Elijah as witnesses to Christ's fulfillment of the Old Testament law and prophets. St. Matthew writes of the event by saying, "He was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow."

Matthew writes of the event by saying, "He was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow."

Supplies Needed:

1. Exacto Knife

2. Card Stock, Cardboard, Cereal box Board, anything thicker than regular paper weight will do will do...

3. Press n' Seal, saran wrap, crinckled up clear material, anything like this will do 

4. Stapler

5. scissors

6. Fabric, box, something to staple to the card stock...

7. Light, head lamp, flashlight, any of these will do...

8. A dark room like bathroom or closet...

Saint Francis always was her great friend and inspiration. She gave away all that she had, and trusted that God would provide. 

The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are scenarios of sanctity: an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel life as Francis taught her; courageous resistance to the ever-present pressure to dilute the ideal; a passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of prayer; and a generous concern for her sisters.

Activity:

In the spirit of Saint Clare of Assisi and Saint Francis of Assisi- Desire to have less rather than more. To feel like we always have enough is refreshing to get out of the mouse wheel ideology of the world of more consumerism.  Clean a room out. Help give your children the gift of purging and having less. This is something I personally struggle with, and I really truly believe that how we are raised and the habits our parents teach us in this department in particular can have such an enormous influence on us. Purge toys or clothes with your children on this day with the help of Saint Clare and Saint Francis. Donate your things to the thrift store! 

"Attachment to the world, keeps us in and of the world, it is in giving and offering all that we have to God, that He gives us so much more in return"  - Ingrid Bernard  

I did read the Art of decluttering by Marie Kondo and she is on to something. I think even applying it the Christian context. We remember that even a person that follows the 10 commandments and Jesus that is attached to their things cannot go to heaven. We can't be too attached to the things of the world. We must desire heaven more than anything else. Things weigh us down from taking flight to heaven someday! Also, he concept of, "Does it spark joy" is a great start- One could take it farther, and ask, "Does this spark holiness" We should surround ourselves with Holy, and everything else is just hindering us from it. What message is each thing in our house saying to us. 

I think we can all agree, we have too much! The world has become such consumers of things and too many things. (watch the www.storyofstuff.org) It is so eye opening to consumerism and how fashion changes to perpetuate it. For example, why can't we just stay consistent with the style of jeans? Why do they have to keep changing. In order to keep people in a cycle of buying, they change fashion, they change things to make people desire the latest and greatest thing. 

1 Timothy 6:6-7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Mark 10 21-31 

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.  “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

Watch Mary go up to heaven body and soul! 

This is a great activity to have a child think about how Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven! Below, I have a coloring sheet your child can color in, cut out and stick Mary onto the balloon. Let her go, and watch her go to heaven! (To be environmentally sound, you can attach the balloon to a super long string and watch her go up and then retrieve your heavenly mother)

Saint Rose of Lima painted by Carlo Dolci 

About Saint Rose of Lima and discussion topics for the family as you color in your crown, or at dinner! 

Saint Rose of Lima is known for her crown of roses, but did you know that beneath that crown of roses she had a crown of thorns. That sounds painful and uncomfortable! Why would she do this you ask? She wore the crown of thorns as a reminder of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore on the day of His crucifixion. Wearing this crown made her beautiful because this is what she found in her life that reminded her to think of Jesus more, which helped her pray more, and do things that made God happy. This is definitely an extreme example, but for her this is what it took for her to be holy and to remember to act with Jesus in love, joy and peace, and not in herself which acting by ourselves can be very selfish.   

We might think that the roses were the most beautiful, but actually the crown of thorns were what made her beautiful because they made her like Jesus, and the roses were like exterior beauty, fleeting, wilting and slowly dying. The crown of thorns is what gave her eternal beauty and happiness with our Lord in heaven, not the roses! 

Think of things you can do to remember Jesus more throughout your day? Examples, pray before you do things. Take a pause to think of what you could do with each moment that would make Jesus the happiest and pleased with you! 

Saint Rose of Lima was also known for her beauty, but at a young age, she knew that exterior beauty is meaningless without the interior beauty. So, she did things to make herself less beautiful, like rub pepper and lime all over her face! 

She knew that the real beauty that matters is the internal beauty, the beauty that comes out from within with who we are, and who we are to others. She understood at a young age that to be like Jesus to others was the real beauty of the world, the real light of the world. 

What is the most beautiful things about out outside? How can we make who we are more beautiful to be noticed for our inner beauty? Examples: Being kind, peaceful, joyful, sharing, patient…

Let us pray! 

Dear Lord, always help us remember that true beauty is from within, true beauty comes from being who you, Lord, want us to be, which is to live a life pleasing to you through moment to moment to remember you in each moment! That is the true beauty! Amen!

A great day to talk about prayer, and power of prayers! 

Saint Monica's son, Saint Augistine, was anything but a saint, and she prayed hard for years for his conversion to God. Her prayers were answered! He is a saint! His Feast day is tomorrow! 

Here is her story on EWTN's MyCatholic Family 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmek9x47mLk&t=83s

It's Saint Monica's son's feast day! 

Talk about the sacrament of confession today. What is sin? We must know what sins are in order to know how we are not following God’s way for us. This is a great day and opportunity to talk about the 10 commandments! 

Go to confession today in the spirit of Saint Augustine, or make plans to go to confession, not just your children, but the whole family! If your child is too young for the sacrament of confession because they have not received their First Holy Communion.

Talk about contemplative prayer today! To think about the things of the faith, and think about God, keeps us united with Him. It's a different kind of prayer in prayerfully wondering about the things of the faith, so that they may be revealed to you. 

He is often depicted with a book because he wrote so many great things about the faith through contemplation. 

He wrote the book called Confessions. I highly recommend it! 

Tak about this quote and what it means. 

Remember as a family, that if something ever feels like it's missing from your life, or you are feeling restless or anxious, only or Lord can take these feelings away when you give them to Him in prayer. 

A picture of a statue from Saint Augustine Catholic Church in Oak Harbor, Washington.