4Real Forums: Reference to explain different feasts ?

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Topic: Reference to explain different feasts ?

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mommy4ever
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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
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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.

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mommy4ever
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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
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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.

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Angie Mc
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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,

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Angie Mc
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MaryM
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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.

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Mary M. in Denver

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