Saint Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of charity who cared for people who were poor, hungry or sick and even dying. She is a symbol of love and charity. She said, " If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” On this very special feast day, plan on going to the store or  dollar store with your worksheet provided and make bags of blessings for the homeless with your family. We make several bags at one time. We buy about 10 things per bag containing food, water, shower wipes  a Bible, prayers and other essentials. 

After you make your bags of blessings, you can keep them in your car, and give them to homeless people you see begging on the street, or you can seek them out and hand them out in the spirit of Saint Mother Teresa.  

Talk about the blessings that you have as a family and how you can share those blessings with others in the spirit of Saint Mother Teresa. 

More quotes: 

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. 

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family."

The kids putting together their bags of blessing to give to the homeless. 

Today we honor and recognize the Holy cross in which Jesus was crucified in. It is also known as the Triumph of the Cross. Saint Helena was the mother of Constantine, the Roman Emperor in the early in the 4th century. She wanted to find the cross in which Jesus was crucified. She went to Jerusalem and to many of the locations where Jesus had lived and walked on this earth. 

She successfully found the true cross which became an object of adoration for the Church. Back in the time when Jesus lived, death by crucifixion was a common way for someone to be killed for breaking a law.  When Saint Helena was finally led to the true cross, she said that it smelled sweet. To test that it was the true cross she had a leper touch different crosses, and when he touched “The True cross”, the sick man was miraculously healed!

Constantine built a basilica on Calvary to mark the site of the crucifixion and dedicated it in 335 A.D. September 14th! Sadly, the true cross was stolen and the basilica was destroyed by Persians. This day also marks the recovery of the cross by Emperor Heraclius II who returned it to Jerusalem. He carried it on his own back and restored it to the Church in 629 A.D.

Activity:

Play find the true Cross of Jesus. Use a cross you have from home or print out the activity. Color in the crosses, cut them out, hide them, and try to find them! You can play hot or cold, or different forms of finding things. 

Saint Helena Coloring page at Catholic Playground

http://www.catholicplayground.com/saint-helen-coloring-page-august-18th/

Here we are in the presence of the True Cross! If you would like to see and adore a fragment of the True Cross, contact Father Carlos with his Sacred Relic Tour with over a hundred relics to go to your church, or find out when he will be in a Catholic Church near you! It is an amazing experience! We have so fortunate and blessed to be in the presence of all the relics in the relic tour several times in different states! 

Contact or checkout the schedule at 

https://treasuresofthechurch.com

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50) 
4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
7. The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

Mary had to endure a lot of sorrow in her lifetime. She was the woman chosen by God to bear his Son. With that great joy and responsibility also came great sorrow.  Love is what gave her the strength to embrace each sword as it pierced her heart. Love is what urged her to accept her Son’s dying request as He hung on the cross, to become our Mother. 

One of Padre Pio's most known quotes is "Pray, Hope and Don't Worry." 

Your kids will not forget Padre Pio's feast day and wisdom when you have donuts for this feast day, and say, "Pray, Hope and donut worry"! Talk about what this means. Let's give all our worries and thoughts to God, and not worry, and in giving our worries to God, He will give us peace knowing that God will always allow what is best for our souls. 

"Pray, hope and don't worry" is a simple way of saying 

Philippians 4:6-7Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Padre Pio was a holy man. His life is attributed to many miracles. Padre Pio is also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was an Italian friar, priest, mystic, was known to bilocate (to be in 2 places in one time), to have the stigmata (which are the wounds of Christ) and he was a prayerful man. 

"Always humble yourself lovingly before God and man, because God speaks to those who are truly humble of heart, and enriches them with His gifts."

"Whoever does not meditate, is like someone who never looks in the mirror before going out, doesn’t bother to see if he’s tidy, and may go out dirty without knowing it. The person who meditates and turns his mind to God, who is the mirror of his soul, seeks to know his faults, tries to correct them, moderates his im'pulses, and puts his conscience in order.

"Prayer is the oxygen of the soul."

"Do not fear. Jesus is more powerful than all hell. At the invocation of his name every knee in heaven, on earth and in hell must bend before Jesus; this is a consolation for the good and terror for evil."

"If the world could see the beauty of a soul without sin, all sinners, all non-believers would instantly convert (their lives)"

Color in the worksheet provided, and put it up in your child's room, as a reminder and habit to pray more and worry less! 

One of my favorite Novenas! 

This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who asked for prayers.
The faithful are invited to recite it daily, so as to be spiritually united with the prayer of Padre Pio.

I. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of [insert your intention.]
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask any thing of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of [insert your intention.]
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of [insert your intention.]
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours.

Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

About Saint Vincent de Paul

Later in life, he received in an inheritance from a wealthy parishioner. While travelling, he was captured by pirates, who took him to Tunis, Northern Africa. He was sold into slavery and was a slave for two years. He prayed to God, telling Him that if his life would be spared and he was freed, he would devote the rest of his life to the service of the poor.

He was able to escape slavery and Africa. Vincent kept his promise, and served a church in rural France. The poverty he found there shocked him. There were many poor people that would die from starvation because they were unable to find work in his community.  He remembered his relationships with his former friends and acquaintances with the wealthy and influential. He sought out their financial assistance. He met with affluent friends and inspired them to organize into groups go from house to house requesting furniture, food and clothing. They were very successful in their efforts, and other parishes began to seek him out to learn how they could organize in the same kind of efforts. Soon after, churches all over France were using the same model Vincent had created to help their neighbors in need.

The Mission of Saint Vincent de Paul

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is dedicated to feeding, clothing, housing and healing individuals and families in the community who have nowhere else to turn for help. They provide meaningful opportunities for volunteers to serve their neighbors in need with love and compassion.

Quotes from Saint Vincent de Paul

“Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying.”

“Go to the poor: you will find God.”

“If we are faithful to God, we will lack nothing.”

 “Charity is the cement which binds communities to God and persons to one another.” 

“It is his good pleasure that we remain always in the holy joy of his love.” 

“Let us do our duty well, let us go straight to God, let us work to become very humble, very patient, very mortified, and very charitable.

On this feast day, we should make a point to find a shelter and make a good habit of serving the poor, literally, monetarily, with their food needs, or in anyway that you can help! Serve the poor in the spirit of Saint Vincent De Paul. 

The three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation.

Saint Michael is the "Prince of the Heavenly Host," the leader of all the angels. His name is Hebrew for "Who is like God?" is invoked for protection against Satan and all evil. Pope Leo XIII, in 1899, having had a prophetic vision of the evil that would be inflicted upon the Church and the world in the 20th century, instituted a prayer asking for Saint Michael's protection to be said at the end of every Mass. We call upon Saint Michael, to fight against Satan, to rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death, to be the champion of God's people and to call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgment. 

Saint Gabriel, is God’s messenger, whose name means "God's strength," is mentioned four times in the Bible. Gabriel appeared to announce the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias. Angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the savior, also called the Annunciation. 

Saint Raphael. His name means "God has healed" because of his healing of Tobias' blindness in the Book of Tobit.  Tobit is the only book in which he is mentioned. Saint Raphael is the patron Saint of happy meetings. 

ACTIVITY: Pray the prayers together!  You can print out the prayers, and have the kids make prayer cards! 

Saint Michael Prayer: 

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Saint Gabriel Prayer: 

O blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, do thou intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy in our present necessities, that as thou didst announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, so through thy prayers and patronage in heaven we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.

Saint Raphael Prayer:

O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of happy meetings, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your light and transfigured by your Joy. Amen. 

ACTIVITY! ACTING! Learn about the 3 Archangels mentioned in the Bible! Which Angel would you be more like! Kids love acting and role playing. Have them play it out! 

Get creative, use props, and have the kids learn about the different angels and what they did and said, and have the kids play it out! They will learn so much this way! Kids love acting things out and playing like this!

Michael the Archangel

Revelation 12:7-9

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Angel Gabriel

Luke 1:26-38

Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor  with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God. “Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child. But nothing is impossible for God.” Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.” Then the angel left her.

(Acting out the Annunciation)