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molly
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| Posted: Oct 31 2009 at 8:15am | IP Logged
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What are your plans?
We are attending Holy Mass at tbe Catholic cemetary, afterwards we do grave rubbings and visit Oliver's grave and other friends we have known graves. Then back to the house with 3 other families for Day of the Dead reading, candies skulls (from Hearthsong) and ghost peeps that have written on them, Pray for Me!!!
I would love to hear others plans 
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Susana
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Your plans sound great!
My family is actually from Mexico and my mom has always been real cautious of all the "Dia de Los Muertos" celebrations. She always felt that back in Mexico many people celebrated it in a very pagan manner, and forgot to actually pray for the souls. Because of this, I struggle with whether or not to incorporate "Dia de Los Muertos" aspects into our "All Souls Day" activities, especially since it is a big deal in Mexican culture. My mom used to always say, "We are Catholic first, and Mexican second."
Molly, I like how you are spending your day. First going to Mass at the cemetery and then eating the sugar skulls can remind the children to pray for the souls in purgatory and the sweetness of Heaven that awaits them, and hopefully all of us too! Hmmm, maybe I found a way to fit it in a little culture after all!  The whole baking bread for the dead to eat though, I think we'll leave out
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Mami to ds12,ds11,ds10,ds8,dd7, dd4, and ds 2.
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florasita
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We are going to drive out and visit 3 cemetaries which our relatives are buried at . Then I always like to make a meal which our ancestors would have enjoyed .We will have pickeral cheeks & fillets , squash and wild rice and some good bannock too .
I always make up a table as well with pics of loved ones gone but also for those souls of people we know here who are burdened and hurt etc. we decorate with colours , saint cards etc. I set this up for about a week beforehand so we are thinking and praying thruout the week leading up to All Souls day .
This is my fav feast day of the yr.
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May I rise & rest with words of Gratitude on my Breath
May I have the Heart & Mind of a Child in my Depth
May I forever remember to be a Light
May Peace Love & Hope be My Sight
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molly
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| Posted: Oct 31 2009 at 6:09pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the reminder Rox, I need to reset our altar with pictures of deceased relatives.
I found some wonderful skull candle holders at teh Goodwill for our altar for the month,
Susana, thanks for your thoughts on the day of the Dead. Every feast has it abusues  Look at christmas forheavens sake, but I am so thankful for the rixhness of the Church to preservere with traditions and culture.
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MaryM
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I understand your concerns and questions about "Dia de Los Muertos" celebrations, Susana. All one has to do is read some of the literature and sites out there to see that it is often celebrated without the religious aspects or in a very superstitious way.
I am fascinated by the traditions and though we are not of Mexican heritage we live in an area very influenced by the Mexican culture, so I do like to learn about it. I feel that the traditions can very much be incorporated into a very faithful Catholic remembrance of All Souls Day. For the past few years we have been having a "Dia de Los Muertos" activity day with our homeschool group, then we go to the local Catholic cemetery for a visit. I blogged about our day a few years ago - here.
This year we made and decorated calacas in the the style of Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book , made noodle skeletons, paper marigolds, and papel picado. I think if done well and always promoting the actual praying and remembrance of the dead how our Catholic faith explains it is good - those negatives of how it is celebrated by others can be overcome when celebrating in our homes or groups.
Here is another thing we did this year when we visited the cemetery. Since it is the Year for Priests, this year I had everyone choose at least one priest and get a rubbing of that headstone. We are now researching to find out about each priest we picked. During the month of November our family will be praying especially for these particular priests we chose. I think is it a concrete way to focus on both the Year for Priests and the month of Holy Souls.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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donnalynn
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donnalynn
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ekbell
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Candles?
The burning down of a candle as we pray can remind us of how our prayers are reducing the poor souls 'time' in purgatory.
Decorate with appropriate symbols for purifying/cleaning.
The candleflame itself is fire, a image of purification found in the letters of Paul.
[ for my children, everything's better with candles]
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Mackfam
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donnalynn wrote:
I want to make a real effort this November to help my children pray for the souls in purgatory. I'd love some kind of visual to put on my table -
Maybe some felt "souls" on our table that we could place in the "Heavens" after our prayers? But I want them to understand that while our prayers do help - it's really God's decision as to when the purification is complete.
Any thoughts? |
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Donna,
You're welcome to use these....
2009-11-03_193143_Holy_Souls_Cards.pdf
2009-11-03_193203_Holy_Souls_Cards2.pdf
I made them to share with some friends for remembering the faithful departed during the month of November. We write the names of family and friends on the cards and then add them to our Communion of Saints display. We try to start at the bottom with pictures of us, of Father, of friends to represent the Church Militant...then, we add our Holy Souls cards to represent the Church Suffering in need of our prayers...and then finally, we add pictures of the saints to represent the Church Triumphant. We always add Our Lady and an image of the Holy Trinity at the top.
If the Holy Souls cards are helpful, print as many as you need!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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donnalynn
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Oh thanks so much for the ideas!
The cards are great!
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Zeliemum
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Thank you Jennifer for offering your beautiful cards for us all. Even though the feast day is over I am hoping to use them to enter names of loved ones for the rest of the month.
God Bless C
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Mother to seven with five in heaven...Spiritualmotherhood for Priests
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: All Souls day
