Shower of Roses: Celebrating the Saints

Showing posts with label Celebrating the Saints. Show all posts

Monday, June 13, 2016

Celebrating the Saints :: Saint Anthony of Padua

Two years ago today we lost our last baby when I miscarried on the feast of Saint Anthony. Seems like so long ago (so much has happened since then) but just yesterday at the same time... We miss you, little one. ♥

Today we celebrated the feast of St. Anthony! "St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most famous disciples of St. Francis of Assisi. He was a famous preacher and worker of miracles in his own day, and throughout the eight centuries since his death he has so generously come to the assistance of the faithful who invoke him, that he is known throughout the world." (Read more over at EWTN...)

We spent some time this afternoon celebrating his feast with an inspiring story, beautiful stained glass coloring pages, an outdoor scavenger hunt, and some fun "multitude of fish" themed snacks recalling the story of St. Anthony's sermon to the fish.

.: STORY TIME :.

Animals of God Vol One • Saint Anthony of Padua • A - St. Anthony of Padua (An Alphabet of Saints)

The Hungry Gray Mule

Animals of God: Volume One by Susan Peek

Additional books about St. Anthony from our collection:

St. Anthony (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero

Saint Anthony of Padua (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

Saint Anthony of Padua: Proclaimer of the Good News

St. Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan

St. Anthony of Padua Coloring Book

Our favorite audio stories about St. Anthony:

The Hungry Gray Mule from Regina Martyrum Productions

Seeker of the Lost: The Story of Saint Anthony (Glory Stories: Volume VI)

.: COLORING PAGES :.

Saint Anthony Coloring Pages from St. Anne's Helper

& Saint Anthony from Fenestrae Fidei

Dear St. Anthony, pray for me to the Little Jesus, whom thou didst hold so lovingly in thine arms. Obtain for me the grace to love Him with all my heart. Amen.

(Prayer to Saint Anthony from Jesus Make Me Worthy)

Top: Twinkle Toes • Bud - Bottom: Rose • Chiquita

.: ST. ANTHONY'S OUTDOOR SCAVENGER HUNT :.

"Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, please come around:

Something is lost and needs to be found!!"

You can find the link to my "St. Anthony's Outdoor Scavenger Hunt" in the archives.

.: CATHOLIC CUISINE :.

St. Anthony's Sermon to the Fishes Cupcakes

Remember that batch of cupcakes I made last week?

I decorated 8 more of them today for the feast of St. Anthony!

Due to one of our daughter's allergies, I've been trying to find alternatives to food coloring when possible. Over the weekend I happened to notice the Scandinavian Swimmers at Trader Joe's. I picked up a bag thinking they'd be a perfect (dye free) alternative for this year's "A Multitude of Fish Cupcakes". I used Fluffy White frosting and created little peaks on the top of each cupcake so the fish and other sea creatures could peak out of the whitewater to listen to St. Anthony's Sermon!

"A Multitude of Fish" Trail Mix

Our local store didn't have the Smores Goldfish this year so I opted for the Vanilla Cupcake and Fudge Brownie. I posted over on Instagram that I probably shouldn't have doubled the recipe, but I forgot for a moment that I have teen boys living in my home... ;) If somehow there ends up being extra we can save it for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul later this month!

You can find the recipe over at Catholic Cuisine.

.: NOVENA TO ST. ANTHONY :.

Say once a day for nine days, especially beginning on June 4 and ending on June 12, the eve before the Feast of Saint Anthony June 13. Some pray a Novena to Saint Anthony on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays, according to Pope Leo XIII's instructions, or on all Tuesdays.

O White lily of purity, sublime example of poverty, true mirror of humility, resplendent star of sanctity, O glorious Saint Anthony, who didst enjoy the sweet privilege of receiving into thy arms the Infant Jesus, I beseech thee to take me under thy powerful protection. Thou in whom the power of working miracles shines forth among the other gifts of God, have pity upon me and come to my aid in this my great need.

(Mention your intentions here).

Cleanse my heart from every disorderly affection; obtain for me a true contrition for my sins and a great love of God and of my neighbor that serving God faithfully in this life, I may come to praise, enjoy and bless Him eternally with thee in Paradise. Amen.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be. +

.: GIVEAWAY :.

Author Susan Peek has generously offered to send one of my visitors a copy of Animals of God Volume One and Animals of God Volume Two! The winner will be selected and announced in this post next Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

Please visit Susan Peek's website and sign up for her author newsletter!

Animals of God Volume One

Animals of God Volume Two

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saint Anthony, Ora Pro Nobis!

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Celebrating the Saints :: St. Colum and the Crane

Today, June 9th, is the traditional feast of St. Columba. He is also known as St. Colum and St. Columcille, or "Colom Cille" which means "Dove of the Church." He is the patron saint of Scotland, Ireland, bookbinders, and against floods.

Our schedule happened to be nearly completely free today (other than an afternoon haircut appointment for our oldest daughter) so this morning I flipped through my Saints Calendar to see whose feast day it was today, pulled out some picture books from this month's book basket, and quickly came up with a simple plan to teach my children more about St. Columba.

.: STORY TIME :.

Saint Colum and the Crane

by Eva K. Betz

Additional stories about St. Colum found in our collection that I pulled out for the children to browse through and read on their own this week:

Across a Dark and Wild Sea by Don Brown

Saint Columba (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

Holy Crocodile!: Stories of Saints and the Animals Who Helped Them

Saints Among the Animals

(other stories about saints and animals, but not specifically St. Colum)

St. Columba: The Exiled Monk (The Book of Saints and Heroes) by Andrew Lang

Color Your Own Book of Kells

(illuminated manuscript)

St. Columba: The Exiled Monk found in The Book of Saints and Heroes

Saint Columba found in Saints: Lives and Illuminations

.: COLORING PAGES :.

Saint Columcille (Columba) from Fenestrae Fidei

(Across A Dark and Wild Sea and study guide in Catholic Mosaic)

Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear when thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to thee,
and death will keep his hour;
did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power:
no walls of stone can man defend
when thou thy messenger dost send.

My life I yield to thy decree,
and bow to thy control
in peaceful calm, for from thine arm
no power can wrest my soul.
Could earthly omens e'er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

The child of God can fear no ill,
his chosen dread no foe;
we leave our fate with thee, and wait
thy bidding when to go.
'Tis not from chance our comfort springs.
thou art our trust, O King of kings.

Words: Attributed to Columba (521-597);

translator unknown; text in The Hymnbook, 1971

Top Row: Chiquita • Twinkle Toes - Bottom Row: Snuggles • Rose • Bud

.: CRAFT - ORIGAMI CRANES :.

It was a challenging craft, especially for the little ones who ended up needing help with each step, but we read Saint Colum and the Crane together we made origami cranes!

Supplies for each crane:

1 - 6x6 inch square of Origami Paper

Source: HOMESTHETICS

.: CATHOLIC CUISINE :.

The cranes made perfect cupcake toppers for a special feast day treat.

One box of cake mix made 24 cupcakes. I left 8 out for today (one for my husband and one for each of the kids) and popped the remaining 16 in the freezer to save for a couple more special feast days later this month.

Whipped Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk

Directions:
Cream room temperature butter with a hand mixer, or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until fully incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract. Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3-4 minutes.