January Saint Books

Key: Picture Book=PB
Long Picture Book=LPB
Colouring Book= CB
Activity Book =AB
Children’s Chapter Book= ChB
Short Chapter Book=SCB
Teenage Chap Bk=TCB
Adult Chapter Book= ACB
Short Story for Young Ch. =SYC
Short Story for Middle Ch.=SMC
Short Story for Older Ch.=SOC
Liturgical Resources=LR
Mosaic Book = MB
Poetry/Verse=PV

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God January 1
Mary the Mother of God-Tomie DePaola, PB
Came the Dawn Mary of Nazareth God’s Mother, Encounter Series, ChB
Our Mother Mary-Father Francis, CB
Mary Full of Grace-Father Francis, CB
Saints for Children, Coloring-Daughters of St Paul, Pg 1, CB
Mary My Mother-Fr Lovasik, SYC
Little Lives of the Great Saints- John O’Kane Murray, Pg 13, SOC

St Odilo January 1
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 1, SOC

St Fulgentius January 1
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 1-6, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 1, SOC

St Basil the Great January 2
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 5, Pg 3 SYC
Little Lives of the Great Saints- John O’Kane Murray, Pg 180, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 53, SYC

St Gaspar Del Bufalo January 2
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pgs 1-2, SOC

St Macarius of Alexandria January 2
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 7-11, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 2, SOC

Saint Genevieve January 3
The Saints in Verse- Susan E Horton, Pg 1, PV
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pgs 2-3, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 11-15, SOC
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 29-31, SMC
Heroines of God-Rev Daniel Lord Pg 12, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk IV, Pg 17, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 4, SOC

St Elizabeth Ann Seton January 4
57 Saints-Eileen Heffernan, pgs 249-457, SMC
Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity- Alma Power-Waters, Vision bk, ChB
St Elizabeth Ann Seton-Fr Lovasik, SYC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Partt1, Pg 2, SMC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 162, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 117, SYC
Saints and Heroes Speak- Fr Robert Fox. Pg 292, SOC

Bl Angela of Foligno January 4
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pgs 3-4, SOC

St Titus January 4
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 15-17, SOC

St Peter Balsam January 4
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 5, SOC

St John Neumann January 5
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 6, Pg 5 SYC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 171, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 119, SYC
Saints and Heroes Speak- Fr Robert Fox. Pg 282, SOC

St Simeon Stylites January 5
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 4, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 17-21, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 7, SOC

St Edward January 5
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 6, Pg 2 SYC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 931, SYC

Epiphany of the Lord January 6

A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 5, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 22-26, SOC
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pgs 51-58
The Little Drummer Boy- Ezra Jack Keats, PB
The Last Straw- Fredrick Thury, PB, MB
Christmas and the Saints- Hertha Pauli (Vision Bk), ChB

St Melanius January 6
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 26, SOC

St Dorothy January 6
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 8, SOC

St Lucian January 7
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pgs 5-6, SOC

St Cedd January 7
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 26-29, SOC

St Nicephorus January 7
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 10, SOC

St Apollinaris January 8
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 6-7, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 29-31, SOC

St Arcadius January 8
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 11, SOC

St Peter of Sebaste January 9
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 7, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 31-33, SOC

Bl Veronica of Binasco January 9
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 13, SOC

St William of Bourges January 10
Saints Especially for Boys-Joan Wyndham Pgs 97-106, SYC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 34-36, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk I, Pg 35, SYC

St John Calybites January 10
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 14, SOC

St Peter Orseolo January 10
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 8, SOC

St Theodosius January 11
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 8-9, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 37-41, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 16, SOC

St Aelred of Rievaulx January 12
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 9-10, SOC

St Benedict Biscop January 12
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 41-43, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 17, SOC

St Bennet Janurary 12
Saints of Old- Margaret Kennedy Pg 36, SMC

Baptism of Our Lord January 13 2008

St Kentigern January 13
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 44-46, SOC
Once Upon a Time Saints-Ethel Marbach, Pg23, SMC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 19, SOC

Bl Godfrey January 13
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 10, SOC

Ordinary Time January 14
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pgs 59-84

St Hilary of Poitiers January 14
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 10-11, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 46-51, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 20, SOC

St Paul the Hermit January 15
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 51-54, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 21, SOC

St Ita January 15
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 11-12, SOC
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pg 58

St Maurius the Egyptian January 16
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 55-57, SOC

St Berard and Comp. January 16
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 12, SOC

St Saturninus January 16
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 23, SOC

St Anthony of Egypt January 17
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 13, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 58-65, SOC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 5, Pg 4 SYC
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pg 60
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 13, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 24, SOC

St Peter’s Chair at Rome January 18
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 13-14, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 65-67, SOC

St Felix of Nola January 18
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 26, SOC

St Bernard of Corleone January 19
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 14, SOC

St Wulstan January 19
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 67-68, SOC
Saints of Old- Margaret Kennedy Pg 166, SMC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 28, SOC

St Fabian January 20
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 68, SOC
St Sebastian January 20
57 Saints-Eileen Heffernan, Pgs77-82, SMC
Miniature Stories of the Saints, Bk3- Rev Daniel Lord, Pg 29, SYC
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 15, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 69, SOC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 4, Pg 3 SYC
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pg 66-67
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 14, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 29, SOC

St Agnes January 21
57 Saints-Eileen Heffernan, Pgs 90-97, SMC
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 16, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 72, SOC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 2, Pg 3, SMC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 35, SOC
Heroines of God-Rev Daniel Lord Pg 1, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk II, Pg 1, SYC
Little Lives of the Great Saints- John O’Kane Murray, Pg 170, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 15, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 31, SOC

St Vincent Pallotti January 22
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 16, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 32, SOC
St Anastasius January 22
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 75, SOC

St John the Almoner January 23
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 79, SOC
St Raymund of Penafort January 23
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 17, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 34, SOC

St Francis De Sales January 24
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 22, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 117, SOC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 3, Pg 2 SYC
Saints I Like-Peter Hansen, St Paul Pub. Pg 37, SOC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 142, SOC
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pg 70
Saints for Home and School- T S Melady, Pg 51, SMC
Little Lives of the Great Saints- John O’Kane Murray, Pg 447, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 16, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 43, SOC

St Timothy January 24
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 35, SOC

St Ananias January 25
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 19, SOC
Sts Juventinus and Maximinus January 25
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 86, SOC

St Paula January 25
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 37, SOC


Sts Timothy and Titus January 26
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 18, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 83, SOC

St Polycarp January 26
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 19, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 87, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 38, SOC

St Angela Merici January 27
Saint Angela Merici, Along the Paths of the Gospel, SCB
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 4, Pg 7 SYC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 100, SOC
Heroines of God-Rev Daniel Lord Pg 2, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk IV, Pg 3, SYC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 50, SYC

St John Chrysostom January 27
Saints for Home and School- T S Melady, Pg 46, SMC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 40, SOC

St Thomas Aquinas January 28
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 146-148, SMC
Pillar in the Twilight-Daugh. of St Paul, Encounter Bk ChB
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 3, Pg 4 SYC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 89, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk I, Pg 31, SYC
Saints and Heroes Speak- Fr Robert Fox, Pg 163, SOC
Saints for Home and School- T S Melady, Pg 62, SMC
Little Lives of the Great Saints- John O’Kane Murray, Pg 385, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 20, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 104, SOC
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 51, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 235, SOC

St Cyril January 28
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 113, SOC

Bl Odoric January 28
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 21, SOC
Dr Tom Dooley
Saints and Heroes Speak- Fr Robert Fox, Pg 75, SOC

St Peter Nolasco January 28
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 41, SOC

St Pauline January 29
Seven Saints for girls-Joan Windham, Pg31, SMC

St Balthilde January 30
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 23, SOC
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 133, SOC

Blessed Sebastian Valfre January 30
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 44, SOC

St Pope Felix IV January 30
Once Upon a Time Saints-Ethel Marbach, Pg19, SMC

St John Bosco January 31
57 Saints-Eileen Heffernan, pgs 482-487, SMC
Saints for Children, Coloring-Daughters of St Paul, Pg 26, CB
A Saint a Day-Berchmans Bittle, Pg 24, SOC
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 227-230, SMC
General Mickeey-Peter Lappin, Don Bosco Publ. ChB
Saint John Bosco and Dominic Savio-Catherine Beebe, Vision Bk, ChB
Saints of the Church- Teacher’s Guide to Vision bks-Michael Allen, Pg 141, LR
Stories to Teach Religious Truths-Sr Mary Ora Cardinal, Pg 123, SYC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Partt1, Pg 5, SMC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 168, SOC
Saints for Home and School- T S Melady, Pg 54, SMC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 17, SYC
Animals under the Rainbow- Aloysius Roche, Pg 15, SMC
Saints and Heroes Speak- Fr Robert Fox. Pg 338, SOC
Miniature Lives of the Saints- Sebastian Bowden, Pg 46, SOC

St Peter Nolasco January 31
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, Pg 133, SOC

St Adamnan January 31
Twenty Tales of Irish Saints-Alice Curtayne, Pg 49, SMC

Baptismal Anniversary Mats

It seems every year there are so many important occasions to celebrate. We have birthdays, wedding anniversaries, liturgical feast days, but other major occasions seem to be left out.

One major occasion in my life that I never wanted to forget was the day I was baptized. This was a day I would rank right up there with my wedding day and the births of all my children. Truly, it is one that has changed my life forever! Now that we are converts to the Catholic faith where all my children were baptized as infants, I really wanted the importance of this beautiful sacrament to be remembered and celebrated each year, along with their birthdays.

Several years ago, I came up with the idea to make Baptismal Anniversary mats. Each year on the anniversary of a particular child's baptism, we set the dinner table with their personal Baptismal Anniversary mat, then celebrate with a special dessert, and share reminiscent stories about that special day. The mats provide wonderful visual aides. Now, when we are blessed to become God-parents, I like to make one for our Godchild.

Since the children did this as a group project, each mat was personalized with their own creative flair. The girl's mats had the prayers printed on pink and the boy's were on blue.

Here is a list of items I printed out for them to use while creating their mats:

• Special pictures from their Baptism day
• Pictures of their Godparents
• Cards with their Godparents names
• Quotes from the Saint they shared their Baptismal day
• Pictures of the church they were baptized.
• Copies of a Baptism Prayer from this book
• Copies of their certificate of baptism (shrunken down on the computer)

Other items: Poster board, ribbon, glitter glue, construction paper and fancy scissors, stickers of saints and other christian symbols etc. After the mats were throughly dry, I got them laminated at Kinkos.

We have recently added the feast day of Our Lord's Baptism to this celebration, and on that particular day we place everyone's baptismal mat on the dinner table.

December Saint Books

I collected these booklists several years ago, and can't remember where I got them. I personally would like to thank the person who gathered all these book titles and organized them by each month. This list has proven to be very fruitful in our family.

Key:
Picture Book=PB
Long Picture Book=LPB
Colouring Book= CB
Activity Book =AB
Children’s Chapter Book= ChB
Short Chapter Book=SCB
Teenage Chap Bk=TCB
Adult Chapter Book= ACB
Short Story for Young Ch. =SYC
Short Story for Middle Ch.=SMC
Short Story for Older Ch.=SOC
Liturgical Resources=LR
Mosaic Book= MB
Poetry/Verse=PV

St Edmund Campion December 1
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 199-202, SMC
Saints of the Church- Teacher’s Guide to Vision bks-Michael Allen, Pg 75, LR
Saints I Like-Peter Hansen, St Paul Pub. Pg 31, SOC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 277, SOC

St Bibiana December 2
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 278, SOC

St Francis Xaxier December 3
57 Saints-Eileen Heffernan, pgs 260-283, SMC
Set All Afire- Louis deWohl, ACB
The Children’s Book of Spanish Saints- Hugh Ross Williamson Pgs 55-59, SMC
The Saints in Verse- Susan E Horton, Pg 5, PV
The Saints in Verse- Susan E Horton, Pgs 15-16, PV
Coloring Bk about Saints-St Joseph Coloring, Pg 11, CB
Saints for Children, Coloring-Daughters of St Paul, Pg 16, CB
Miniature Stories of the Saints, Bk3- Rev Daniel Lord, Pg 33, SYC
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 188-191, SMC
Saint Francis of the Seven Seas-Albert Nevins, Vision bk, ChB
Flame in the Night-Daugh. of St Paul, Encounter Bk ChB
Saints of the Church- Teacher’s Guide to Vision bks-Michael Allen, Pg 57, LR
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 3, Pg 28 SYC
Saints I Like-Peter Hansen, St Paul Pub. Pg 43, SOC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 115, SOC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 281, SOC
Saints for Home and School- T S Melady, Pg 41, SMC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 109, SYC

St Barbara December 4
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 4, Pg 29 SYC
Heroines of God-Rev Daniel Lord Pg 4, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk IV, Pg 5, SYC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 110, SYC

St Peter Chrysologus December 4
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 282, SOC

St Sabas December 5
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 283, SOC

St Nicholas December 6
Six O’Clock Saints- Joan Windham Pgs, 29-33, SYC
Coloring Bk about Saints-St Joseph Coloring, Pgs 12-13, CB
Saints Especially for Boys-Joan Wyndham Pgs 43-48, SYC
More About the Saints-Mary Cousins,Pg31, SMC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 4, Pg 31 SYC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 285, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 111, SYC
Country Angel Christmas- Tomie DePaola, PB
The Legend of Saint Nicholas – Demi, PB, MB
Christmas and the Saints- Hertha Pauli (Vision Bk), ChB

St Ambrose December 7
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 17-21, SMC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 6, Pg 30 SYC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 286, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 112, SYC

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 288, SOC


Bl Juan Diego December 9
Stories to Teach Religious Truths-Sr Mary Ora Cardinal, Pg 87, SYC
Saints and Heroes Speak- Fr Robert Fox, Pg 85, SOC
St Peter Fourier December 9
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 291, SOC

St John Roberts December 10
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 292, SOC

St Daniel the Stylite December 11
Saints Especially for Boys-Joan Wyndham Pgs 55-65, SYC

Bl Franco Grotti December 11
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 294, SOC

St Jane De Chantal December 12
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 139, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg801, SYC
Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12
Stories to Teach Religious Truths-Sr Mary Ora Cardinal, Pg 87, SYC
The Legend of the Poinsettia- Tomie dePaola, PB, MB
The Lady of Guadalupe – Tomie dePaola, PB, MB

St Finnian December 12
Twenty Tales of Irish Saints-Alice Curtayne, Pg 25, SMC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 295, SOC

Saint Lucy December 13
57 Saints-Eileen Heffernan, Pgs 83-89, SMC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 2, Pg 29 SYC
Heroines of God-Rev Daniel Lord Pg 16, SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk II, Pg 27, SYC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 297, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 113, SYC

St John of the Cross December 14
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 31, Pg 2 SYC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 121, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 106, SYC

Saint Spyridon December 14
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 299, SOC

St Nino December 15
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 300, SOC

St Adelaide December 16
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 302, SOC

St Olympias December 17
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 303, SOC

St Flannan December 18
Twenty Tales of Irish Saints-Alice Curtayne, Pg 91, SMC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 305, SOC

St Peter Canisius
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 5, Pg 31 SYC

Bl Urban the V December 19
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 306, SOC

St Dominic of Silos December 20
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 307, SOC

St Thomas Apostle December 21
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 308, SOC

St Peter Canisius December 21
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 36, SYC

St Frances Xavier Cabrini December 22
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 310, SOC

St Servulus December 23
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 313, SOC

St Victoria December 23
Seven Saints for girls-Joan Windham, Pg14, SMC

Bl Paula Cerioli December 24
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 314, SOC

Christmas Eve December 24
The Saints in Verse- Susan E Horton, Pgs 9-10, PV
The Saints in Verse- Susan E Horton, Pg 55, PV
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pgs 39-50
The Night Before Christmas- Clement Moore, PB
The Night of Las Posadas- Tomie dePaola, PB, MB

The Nativity of Christ December 25
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 316, SOC

Twelve Days of Christmas
Emma’s Christmas- Irene Trivas, PB
The Twelve Days of Christmas- S D Schindler, PB
Picture Book of Christmas Carols, PB
Kingfisher Christmas Book

St Stephen December 26
Miniature Stories of the Saints, Bk3- Rev Daniel Lord, Pg 31, SYC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Partt1, Pg 31, SMC
Best Loved Saints- Fr Lovasik, Pg 28, SOC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 318, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 115, SYC

St John the Evangelist December 27
John Beloved Apostle-Dorothy Laux, SCB
More About the Saints-Mary Cousins,Pg11, SMC
Book of Saints-Fr Lovasik, Part 8, Pg 30 SYC
Miniature Lives of the Saints-Rev Daniel Lord Bk I, Pg 17, SYC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 321, SOC
Little Lives of the Great Saints- John O’Kane Murray, Pg 127, SOC
Picture Book of Saints – Fr Lovasik, Pg 116, SYC

Feast of the Holy Innocents December 28
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 323, SOC

St Thomas Becket December 29
Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson, Pgs 107-111, SMC
Thomas Becket-MV Woodgate, St Paul Publ. ChB
More About the Saints-Mary Cousins,Pg100, SMC
Saints of Old- Margaret Kennedy Pg 155, SMC
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 325, SOC

St Anysia December 30
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 327, SOC

Feast of the Holy Family 1st Sunday after Christmas

St Melania December 31
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year Vol 2- Daughters of St Paul, Pg 329, SOC

New Years Eve December 31
A Treasure Chest of Traditions For Catholic Families-Monica McConkey Pgs9-14

St. Nicholas Feast Day...

St. Nicholas Prayer

We call upon
Your mercy, O Lord
Through the intercession
of St. Nicholas,
keep us safe amid all dangers
so that we may go forward
without hindrance
on the road to salvation.
Amen

Today is our oldest daughter's saint feast day! We love St. Nicholas, so much so that several years ago I gathered a ton of resources from many different cyber-places and put together this wonderful study for our family.

This year our second grader is doing the study and it has been a lot of fun revisiting this wonderful saint! Here are a couple of our activities:

On St. Nicholas Eve we made cookies, then put up our stockings. We chose to use this day to put up all our stockings instead of putting out shoes. Next morning the children found gold coins, tangerines and a Christmas ornament in each of their stockings.

On St. Nicholas Day - we colored beautiful window mosaics and watched movies...

For lunch we had St. Nicholas pizza...

After reading many great books the kids narrated what they learned about this wonderful saint by putting on St. Nicholas puppet show....

We ended the day with our traditional St. Nicholas meal:

Stuffed Pork Shoulder
Mashed Potatoes
Broccoli Spears
Rolls
Black Forest Cake

St. Nicholas pray for us....

More Advent Ideas....

If you are looking for children's literature and craft ideas to do each day during the Advent season, this wonderful link just came across my homeschool loop yesterday. I think this is a definite keeper for our preschoolers!!!

St. Nicholas Feast Day Coins

Here is another fabulous post by Jessica on how to create your own St. Nicholas Feast Day coins! I am thrilled with this idea because it is such an inexpensive craft. I will definitely be adding this link to my St. Nicholas Study.

What Is Humility?

Today is the first day of Advent 2010. As we begin preparing our minds and hearts for the birth of our Savior I wanted to share what our family will be focusing on during this beautiful season.


The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility
From the Writings of Bl. Josemaria Escriva

1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say or do
2. To always want to get your own way
3. To argue with stubbornness and bad manners whether you are right or wrong
4. To give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity does not demand it
5. To look down on another's point of view
6. Not to look on your gifts and abilities as lent
7. Not to recognize that you are unworthy of all honors and esteem, not even of the earth you walk on and things you possess
8. To use yourself as an example in conversations
9. To speak badly of yourself so that others will think well of you or contradict you
10. To excuse yourself when you are corrected
11. To hide humiliating faults from your spiritual director, so that he will not change the impression he has of you
12. To take pleasure in praise and compliments
13. To be saddened because others are held in higher esteem
14. To refuse to perform inferior tasks
15. To seek to stand out
16. To refer in conversation to your honesty, genius, dexterity, or professional prestige
17. To be ashamed because you lack certain goods


Litany of Humility Prayer
By Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930)

Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X -- O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed…. Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...


That others may be loved more than I…. Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Guardian Angels Feast Day

Prayer to Guardian Angel

O Angel of God,

My guardian dear

To Whom Gods love

Commits me here

Ever this day

Be at my side

To light and guard

To rule and guide.

Amen.

St. Therese of Lisieux Feast Day

Over the years we have learned so much from Lucy's nameday saint. St. Therese's words of wisdom and love are so simple but so deeply powerful. In light of our efforts this month to promote healthier homes and environments we can't think of a better patron saint to intercede on behalf of our small efforts....

"St. Therese loved nature, and often used the imagery of nature to explain how the Divine Presence is everywhere, and how everything is connected in God's loving care and arms. Therese saw herself as "the Little Flower of Jesus" because she was just like the simple wild flowers in forests and fields, unnoticed by the greater population, yet growing and giving glory to God. Therese did not see herself as a brilliant rose or an elegant lily, by simply as a small wild flower. This is how she understood herself before the Lord - simple and hidden, but blooming where God had planted her."... Society of the Little Flower


St. Therese Pray For Us

Our Lady of Sorrow

A couple years ago we did this simple craft project for Our Lady of Sorrows Feast Day.

In the picture above you will see all the supplies we used. Let me tell you where we got them:

• Square cork board, pieces felt, bag of flowers, paints and fabric glue all came from Walmart
• The Cocktail swords came from my local grocery store
• An outline of the Immaculate Heart came from A Catholic How to Draw

We took the outline and traced then cut a heart and flame out of the felt. Then we laid the felt patterns on top of the cork board and cut out the shape of the immaculate heart.

Then we glued on the hearts. Made seven holes in the fabric and painted the entrances with a dab of red paint.

Then we took the plastic cocktail swords and spray painted them silver.

As they were drying we typed up the seven sorrows and placed them on labels. After the swords were dryed we placed them on the swords.

Here is the finished project. Simple but effective.

Our Christ Candle

Today I want to talk about how we made our 'Christ Candle'. If you click on any of the pictures you will see an enlarged image.

In order to make our Christ Candles the resources we used were a white pillar candle (we made our own out of beeswax hence the yellowish color), Jesse tree symbols, crayons, engraving tools, wood burning tool, acrylic paint and some fine point paint brushes. A helpful tip for those who will be using a store bought candle make sure it is not treated or glazed. We found the exterior glaze would chip off and ruin the engraving.

The purpose of the Christ Candle is to engrave pictures depicting the events that took place in the bible that lead up to the birth of Christ. First, we took the Jesse tree symbols from the book Celebrating the Faith in the Home: Advent and Christmas for the Christian Family, and shrunk them on the computer to fit our candle. Then the girls cut out the symbols, taped them onto the candles and used and engraving tool to out line the symbol onto the candles. After they made the outline, the paper was removed and we engraved the symbols deeper into the candle.

After the girls made their engravings they chose the colors they wanted for their pictures.

Then using a wood burning tool we melted the crayons into the engravings. If any of the melted crayons spilled outside the engravings it was easy to clean up by scraping them away with a finger nail after the wax cooled. After all the engravings were finished being 'colored' I used a fine point paint brush with black acrylic paint to outlined them. This added a nice finishing touch.

Here is a pictures of all the symbols we chose for our Christ candle.

At the top we engraved a picture of a snake - for the fall of Adam and Eve and the ark - for Noah's ark.

stars - Abraham, and an angel - Zachariah and Elizabeth.

lilly flower - Virgin Mary, and a shell with water - John the Baptist. These engravings have not been outlined yet with acrylic paint.

and Chi Rho - Jesus Christ.

The work was time consuming but the reward was well worth the effort. We have thoroughly been enjoying our new prayer candle this Advent season.

St. Nicholas Thematic Study

LIVING BOOKS

1. The Miracle of Saint Nicholas
2. The Baker's Dozen
3. Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend
4. Saint Nicholas
5. A Gift from Saint Nicholas
6. The Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint Nicholas
7. The Legend of Saint Nicholas

Read Aloud Chapter Books

• The Real St. Nicholas: Tales of Generosity and Hope From Around the World
• St. Nicholas: The Wonder Worker

LITERATURE / POETRY

1. Select any of the following stories, folktales or picture books for copywork.
2. After reading about the life of St. Nicholas cut out a graphic of St. Nicholas and trace several blank pages on which to narrate his biography. Compile in order and attach a with a gold brad at the miter to make a fan book.
3. Select one of the following poems for memorization and use others for copywork:

• Origin of Species
• Saint Nicholas Day Poem
• Find Us Quickly If You Can
• St. Nicholas Verse
• Saint Nicholas
• A Rhyme for Nicholas
• Will the Real St. Nicholas Please Stand Up? -- And Indeed He Did!
• The Story of Saint Nicholas

CRITICAL THINKING

1. Compare/contrast St Nicholas and Santa using a Venn Diagram
2. Complete this Word Search and this word search puzzles
3. Complete the following Crossword Puzzle

RELIGION / CHARACTER

1. After reading and narrating the chosen stories, discuss the virtues of humility and charity as modeled by St Nicholas.
2. Research the office of Bishop: What qualifications are necessary? Do Bishops normally get nominated by the people as St Nicholas did? Who is your local Bishop? Archbishop?
3. For which countries, causes, and groups of people is St Nicholas a patron saint?
4. St Nicholas's tomb is in Myra which was a popular place of pilgrimage. What is the Catholic definition of a pilgrim?
5. The sailors of Bari made a box to hold St Nicholas's relics. What is a relic?
6. Select one of the following St. Nicholas activities to imitate the virtues of humility and charity.

SOCIAL STUDIES

1. Create a timeline of Saint Nicholas's life. Look at this interactive online timeline.
2. Make a Chronology timeline of the development from St Nicholas as Saint of the Church into Santa the popular folk figure of the 21st century. Who is responsible for the character of Santa as we know him now? Additional stories of St. Nicholas for can be found here and for older children here.
3. Create a map with details of St. Nicholas's travels.
4. Find and create a map of Asia Minor (use Uncle Josh's or Blackline maps) and for comparison overlay it with a map of modern day Turkey on transperancy paper.
5. Create a map of modern day Turkey. Create a 'key' for major oceans, rivers, mountains, cities and other landforms. Draw a flag and create a facts sheet.
6. Talk about the different symbols of St. Nicholas and make note of them as you read through the many stories during this unit. Identify the symbols associated with St. Nicholas and narrate the stories behind them (older children in writing).
7. Compile customs about St. Nicholas from around the world and make them into a booklet map:

• Poland
• Russia
• Netherlands
• Italy
• Germany
• Turkey

MUSIC

1. Listen to and learn a traditional St. Nicholas hymn. Use for copywork.
2. Music students may wish to print the sheet music and play traditional St. Nicholas songs.

ART

1. St. Nicholas is especially loved in the Russian Orthodox Church which is known for its icon art. Research icons and study details of St. Nicholas icons. Use this icon link for your art appreciation studies during this unit study. After coloring your own St. Nicholas icons brush with Modge Podge or vegetable oil t make a more authentic icon, mount on wood when finished.
2. Older children might want to follow this link for a meditation on such an icon.
3. From living books above there are three printable illustrations for narration for The Baker's Dozen. Please print and copy. Free online text for this fabulous picture book maybe found here.
   

CRAFTS

• Clay pot figure
• Converting Chocolate Santas
• St. Nicholas Coins
• Pop-up Scene
• Roll-up figure
• Cut-out figure
• Coloring Pages
• Saint Spoon
• Create a St. Nicholas Christmas ornament.

DRAMA

1. Select one or two of each of the following stories, folktales or picture books to create a puppet show or skit with your siblings for our traditional family St. Nicholas Eve night.
2. Consider organizing a larger presentation using full size costumes, with homeschool friends for local parish or nursing homes. Try this link for skits.

COOKING

• Spend St. Nicholas's feast day baking traditional cookies and treats.
• Follow suggestions for completing an entire St. Nicholas menu. Cut and paste recipe and directions with pictures at the top of the page. Don't forget to include photographs of children making cookies and main dishes.

EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS

• Watch the CCC movie, Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa and How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus: The True Story.

WEBSITES

• Saint Nicholas Center
• O Night Divine
• St. Michael the Archangel Online
• Family in Feast and Feria
• Domestic Church
• Catholic Culture

New Traditions for future years...

On several of the blogs this year I have been reading great posts about simplifying our Advent and Christmas season. These postings have really caused me to stop and ponder on our own family's traditions.

I am currently re-reading this fabulous book The Year & Our Children: Catholic Family Celebrations for Every Season, and in my older edition Mrs. Newland articulates so perfectly what I have been desiring for our family for quite sometime now....

"We were a typical American family stirred by an uneasiness it was hard to define. It had to do with the desire to draw closer to the Church and what she was doing as she moved from one season to another, but we didn't know how to explain it..."

"To see that the Church lived the year made the difference. To see ourselves as part of the Church, and therefore with a year to live, was the clue. Christ is our life. If we would pattern our life after anything it should be after His life. But we share His life in the life of the Church. We had the pattern all the time in the daily life of the Mystical Body, and didn't know it.

This is how we started 'living the Church year'. It began, for us, with an Advent wreath and reading the fine print in the missal; after that, we read everything we could get our hands on that would help us. One by one the seasons of the Christian year began to shape our prayer and our activity, and shed light on how we were to use the doctrine. We were a long time reaching the point where we fell naturally into the practices we now use to celebrate feasts and keep vigils. Because it was new to us, we were awkward, even embarrassed. This is something we meant with all our hearts; one is afraid to be caught posing at something so precious to us. So it entered us slowly, this "Christianizing of our life."

It was a relief to see that it took several years before these practices became comfortable. Being the only Catholics on both sides of our family right now we feel that awkwardness but Mrs. Newland gives us hope for future years.

As our family has grown it has really allowed us grow in our own faith. We have grown more and more tired of all the commercialism and materialism that the secular world constantly pushes on us especially during this time of the year. Limiting our television viewing has helped tremendously but we've also had to work hard to instill habits of giving and sacrificing with attitudes of love and joy.

We have grown tired of unexpected nuisances like all this lead poisoning found in children's toys made in China. Consequently if you want a comprehensive list here is a wonderful sight and if you are wondering about symptoms this sight has some helpful information. We've been working harder on focusing our attentions towards homemade gifts that come from the heart rather than purchased from a store shelf.

Most of all we have wanted to pass on the true meaning of this Christmas season.

• It isn't about getting but giving.
• It isn't about Santa Claus but about the birth of our Savior.
• It isn't about spending the holiday time doing what "I" want but rather it is about spending it with those that we love like family and friends!
• It isn't about that great high on Christmas morning from opening all those new presents to then feel that depressing low the next day when you know it is all over and in a couple days it will all be packed up and gone.

Anyone who has experienced what it is like to have a newborn come into the family will know that that feeling of excitement and awe last for weeks and months, there aren't any sad or depressing feelings. Our Christmas season should be filled with this same joy and excitement that lasts for weeks because Christmas night is when a newborn baby comes into all of our homes and best of all it is our Lord!!

Last year Katherine from Living Education posted some excellent thoughts and ideas on this topic. In the past we too have felt that we celebrate Christmas in Advent and then when the actual Christmas Season arrives, we are ready to pack everything up and move on. So like Katherine's family we too began to make the necessary changes.

We started by putting up our tree on the second Sunday of Advent, but until Christmas Eve our tree has not been a Christmas Tree but an Advent Tree. Our Advent tree is decorated in the liturgical color of the season, all symbolizing the sovereignty of Christ. This year we added the apple ornaments as visual reminders for why Christ had to come in the first place. Next year we will add homemade ornaments of saints that celebrate their feast days in this special season.

On Christmas Eve, when the season of Christmas begins, we undress our Advent tree and after Mass we have a tree trimming party where the kids get to redecorate it with all of our traditional Christmas ornaments, lights and our beautiful 'twelve days of Christmas' tree skirt made by my gifted and talented mother in-law. Then we put the baby Jesus in His 'Kris Kringle Crib' that has been so carefully filled with soft hay (yarn) made by all those good deeds throughout the Advent season.

Fortunately, this new tradition last year brought a whole new excitement and joy that did last beyond Christmas day right up until the Feast of Epiphany. This year we have added a couple more Advent decorations like a front door wreath and mailbox greenery. Again these are all decked out in the purple colors then Christmas Eve we will replace the purple with our traditional red, green and gold decor. I don't think a little tasteful evangelizing is such a bad thing especially in this neighborhood of ours - LOL!

Again Mrs. Newland articulates so well what our family is experiencing...

"Some may protest that this is not really praying with the Church, this making of wreaths, baking of cakes, crowning of kings, dressing of dolls, cutting, pasting, sewing, planting; that this is not prayer of any depth, and certainly not the liturgy of the Church. No, but for people who are learning what the liturgy is, and how to follow the prayer of the Church, who are making their first attempts really to pray it, this is the way to learn. We learn to swim in the shallow water before are able to swim in the deep. These delightful things to see and touch and smell and taste and hear and make and do are by far the best tools there are to teach of the beauty and power of God, and the richness of life in Christ."

So true! And I can't think of any better way to teach my own children these golden nuggets of wisdom and truth.

Advent 2007 - School plans

A commonly asked question I hear every year from homeschool friends is 'What do you do for school during the holiday season?' Typically here at Knotty Pines Trails, we take a break from our regularly scheduled school subjects and go on an Advent and Christmas season "rabbit trail" or unit study.

In past years we have done variations of this integrated literature unit for Advent and Christmas with Tomie de Paola which has now been updated, and Jan Brett's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas unit study both of which Elizabeth Foss has brilliantly put together. We have thoroughly enjoyed them both and look forward to using them in future years.

However, this year we will be taking a different literature approach for the Advent and Christmas season with 'The Little Pinecones'. My dear friend Cay Gibson has just come out with a new book Christmas Mosaic, An Illustrated Book Study for Advent and Christmas. After starting our Liturgical Craft Club this year, using her book list and ideas from Catholic Mosaic, I could not resist this new treasure trove. I am really excited for this year our Christmas budget is very tight and many of these books I have been able to find at our local library and I promised the kids we would fill the season with many fond memories - cooking, crafts and reading etc! We are all very excited and thank you Cay for this wonderful treasure we will enjoy it for many years to come.

Starting the week after Thanksgiving we like to take a break from some of our regularly scheduled school subjects to follow rabbit trails (mini unit studies) that are more focused on the season.

In the afternoons the whole family has been enjoying wonderful books from Christmas Mosaic and participating in some great craft and cooking projects of which I will post more on later. I am building a wonderful Christmas list of books for next year.

This year the children are participating in a couple different unit studies. Typically we do these together as a family but this year it worked out that each student desired to pick their own unit study.

Aravis is working on a St. Nicholas study that I adapted for our family using a variety of resources from several very creative and resourceful ladies at the 4Real Learning forums.

Jill is working on a mini unit study for the fabulous Advent trilogy Jotham's Journey. This idea was one of those unexpected rabbit trails graciously offered by Catholic Mom's Journey. When she is finished with this mini unit study she will be doing a Twelve Days of Christmas lapbook. We love Jan Brett's books so when this opportunity unexpectedly arose we decided to take advantage of all the wonderful ideas.

King Peter and Lucy have been working on Jesse Tree books while reading aloud from a wonderful book called The Jesse Tree. King Peter is using the prayers relating to that day's Jesse Tree reading for copywork then coloring an illustration of the symbol that will then be bound together into a book. Lucy's Jesse Tree book is a bit more simplified. We are creating felt symbols each day, using many from Serendipity and several of our own, then gluing them onto a page where that day's Jesse Tree bible verse is already written. These will then be bound into a book. I will try to work on getting updated pictures into our albums this week.