4Real Forums: Reference to explain different feasts ?

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Domestic Church ( Forum Locked)
4Real Forums : Domestic Church

Topic: Reference to explain different feasts ?

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

mommy4ever
Forum All-Star

Joined: April 08 2011
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 596

Posted: May 03 2011 at 9:32am \| IP Logged

I am thoroughly enjoying the various blogs that share activities they are doing to celebrate the faith in their homes, not just Sundays.

It's fantastic!

However, coming from a cultural Catholic upbringing, I'm really unfamiliar with these. Is there a resource out there that would help me learn more and in a simple manner so that I can teach the kids too?

JennGM
Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702

Posted: May 03 2011 at 10:10am \| IP Logged

Are you looking for a list? Short explanations of what the feast is? Are you looking for an overview to see the big picture (like which feasts are more important than others?)

I have 3 websites that would be helpful in this area:

Women for Faith and Family Liturgical Year section

Catholic Culture Liturgical Year section

Church Year

Specifically, the Table of Liturgical Days 2011-05-03_100852_TABLE_OF_LITURGICAL_DAYS.pdf
is one part of the Church's document, General Norms of the Liturgical Calendar

I have lots of books but I'm trying to understand what areas would help you the most.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to

& ds1

'03 & ds2

'07
Family in Feast and Feria

mommy4ever
Forum All-Star

Joined: April 08 2011
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 596

Posted: May 03 2011 at 10:23am \| IP Logged

These are ALL new to us. This isn't something I was taught in school or at home. I'm wanting to teach the kids(7-17) about the Saints, Feasts, etc. But being unfamiliar, I need to know what they are, their meaning, as well as find a simple way to explain it.

We are slowly starting. I'm planning ahead :) not rushing to it today about upcoming things. Rather learning today so I can teach it just before.

guitarnan
Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883

Posted: May 03 2011 at 10:29am \| IP Logged

Amy Welborn wrote a great children's book about saints that we used as a read-aloud when my children were younger.

__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.

Angie Mc
Board Moderator

Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400

Posted: May 03 2011 at 2:47pm \| IP Logged

What an exciting time for your family!

You are looking to do two things. One is to get into the swing of the liturgical calendar. Two, you are trying to build a relationship with the Church Triumphant...the saints! These 2 paths overlap (celebrating the feast days of saints) and each offers unique ways of learning and celebrating the faith (such as Holy Name Sunday = calendar... and having a daily devotion to your patron or favorite saint.)

For the liturgical calendar path, do you have a Catholic calendar? If not, call around the parishes in your area and see if you can get one from them, usually for free. There is something very Catholic about having this calendar hanging in your home...something concrete to touch. (If you can't find one locally, there's a good chance that someone here could find one for you.)

With calendar in hand and highlighter ready, call a family meeting. Read through a month or two and ask each child to pick a feast day that they are interested in learning about. No need to force this but don't allow balking. Serve snacks

.

Here are some good choices for May:

8 Holy Name Sunday (easy to find interesting activities)

31 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (another opportunity to honor Mary in her month of May)

For the overlap path, do the same thing and ask them to pick a saint they would like to learn more about in May:

13 Our Lady of Fatima (good reads, coloring book, old movie available)

26 St. Philip Neri (popular)

For the 2nd/saint path, have each child start looking for a saint to really get to know well. This can be a saint based on the child's name or on a shared common interest or...well anything!

*Consider the gender of your children. Boys tend to identify with male saints, girls...female.

*Consider the temperament of your children. A gentle child may appreciate getting to know Our Mother Mary while a warrior child may enjoy getting to know St. Michael the Archangel.

*Consider age. St. Therese is a lovely saint to come to know as a young girl. My teen boy appreciates St. Peter.

*Consider interests or talents. Academics may be interested in St. Thomas Aquinas or students who struggle with academics may be attracted to St. Bernadette.

*******

Now...the key is to do something that is a blessing for each family member...meeting them where they are...and for the family as a whole. Celebrate! Do you like to craft? Read? Watch movies? Cook? These and other ways can bring the liturgical calendar to life and build relationships with the saints!

The next key is to do a little bit at a time. Honestly, try not to do too much at first. Try not to "make up" for "lost time." God's time is PERFECT! You can trust Him! Once you figure out your highest priority, your starting point, come back here and I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful ideas and encouragement. Our archives are full of ideas for most anything liturgical and saintly

and you can always bump old topics or start a new one.

Have fun and I just know that God will bless you mightily for your desire to better know Him through His Church and the Communion of Saints

.

ETA: underlining to hopefully help with format & if this doesn't makes sense, please ask for clarification.

Love,

__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me

MaryM
Board Moderator

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104

Posted: May 04 2011 at 12:32pm \| IP Logged

And there is an FAQ section in the sticky notes for this forum that inlcudes resources for learning about hte litugical year. There may be something helpful for you there as well.

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church

Sorry, you cannot post a reply to this topic.
This forum has been locked by a forum administrator.

[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com