November and December Books for Children 2023

 Friends I may be a little late with this recommendation, but this book is good year in and year out. Susan Tassone, an author known for many books on Purgatory has written one for children. I remember learning in Catholic grade school the importance of praying for the dearly departed souls, especially in the month of November.

Susan has written a book that is sure to inspire your children to pray for departed friends and relatives and those who have no one to pray for them. They will aid those who are on their way to heaven but are in need of prayers to finally arrive. The poor souls can no longer pray for themselves, but they can pray for us. The title of the book, New Friends Now and Forever tells it all! The book is available on EWTN catalog, Amazon, and a number of other outlets.

Tomie de Paola is one of my favorite authors/illustrators. Below are some of our favorite Advent and Christmas books by him and a new one or two. You will also find a  DVD and books by other authors. Ignatius Press, Magnificat, Our Sunday Visitor, Ave Maria Press, along with Amazon are sites where you will find these books and many more.

Wishing you a blessed Advent season with your family.

Feast Day, December 6

My children watched this DVD. The story is timeless and will engage the imagination of youngsters. If you no longer have a DVD player you will find it on Youtube on Encourage TV where it can be streamed.

Solemn Feast Day, December 8, Patroness of the United States

Feast Day, December 12

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Feast Day, December 9

                                         

December 16 - 24

Feast Day, December 13     

The Three Kings and Other Stories

Founder's Day St. Augustine, Celebration of the Nativity of Mary, 2023

Reenactors with lead priest Fr. Lopez assembling their places, 2023

Founder's Day in St. Augustine, Florida, is a very historic event, not only for the city and state of Florida but for the entire country. It is the first and oldest permanent settlement in the United States founded on September 8, 1565. 

Bob and I attended the event this morning as we did last year and the year before. The reenactment of the claiming of La Florida for God and for Spain and the naming of the city for St. Augustine occurs on a weekend or holiday closest to September 8. At the end of this post, I am including an abbreviated video of this year's reenactment of Captain General Pedro Menendez as he claims La Florida.

Each year a reenactment takes place followed by Mass in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A large crowd gathers on the land called Nombre de Dios by the Spanish, the village of Seloy by the Timucuan natives, and now is the home of the oldest Marian Shrine in the United States, Our Lady of La Leche. 

Today before Mass began, Dr. Mary Soha, one of the postulators for the cause of the 59 martyrs of the La Florida Missions spoke of the closing of the Diocesan Phase of the Beatification Cause and Mass of Thanksgiving to take place on October 12, 2023, in Tallahassee with Bishop William Wack. To read more about these courageous Catholic men and women in Florida's earliest days Martyrs of La Florida

It takes many people, volunteers of various groups and organizations both Church and Civic to put on this great event. Many clergy, religious sisters, and lay organizations and the staff of Our Lady of La Leche Shrine work together with Bishop Erik Pohlmeier to see that the celebration of  Mass is beautifully accomplished and coordinated with civic leaders.

Following Mass a special dedication of the bridge which connects the Church of Our Lady of La Leche and the Shrine Museum/Gift Shop to the "Sacred Acre" so named by President John F. Kennedy and the site of the very early days of the life of the priests, officials, natives, soldiers, and families of 1565 took place . The bridge was dedicated to Dr. Michael Gannon, author of many books on the early history of Florida, a well-known one is The Cross in the Sand.

Neighbor to Mission Nombre de Dios and the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is the Fountain of Youth. Part of the festivities for Founder's Day is a Thanksgiving Meal which St. Augustine prides itself on being the FIRST to have in the United States dating from September 8, 1565! The Fountain of Youth, so called because the legend has it that Ponce de Leon was searching for rejuvenating waters, is the site where the first thanksgiving meal is reenacted every year.  

Here are a few pictures from this year and last year with the brief video at the end. Come and visit St. Augustine. Founder's Day and the Nativity of Mary are good times to see the city and visit the Shrine and celebrate Mary's birthday!

                           Our Lady of La Leche, Holy Mary, Pray for Us!

Dr. Mary Soha, 2023

Bishop Erik Pohlmeier, 2023

Bishop Erik Pohlmeier, 2022

 

Dr. Mary Soha, 2022

Jesuit Martyrs of Virginia with Father Andrew Fisher

This marker located on Colonial Parkway on the way to the Jamestown Settlement Museum from Williamsburg attests to the brave attempts of Jesuit priests, brothers, and a novice from Spain to bring the knowledge and love of Christ to the  Powhatan natives. 

A few weeks ago, Bob and I were in Richmond and  Williamsburg. I had heard of the Jesuit martyrs from the Spanish history of our new home state, Florida.

. 

Virginia is a state where we lived 28 years and have come to love it. We enjoy returning to visit family and friends. I was excited to learn of the marker which acknowledges the brave Spanish missionaries who for the love of Christ attempted to settle in Virginia in 1570  -  37 years before the English arrived in Jamestown!!!

For those of you who read this blog and are from Virginia or pass through the state, I encourage you to learn more about the Spanish missionaries who sought to bring the Catholic faith to the New World. It is a bit of history that has been obscured but gradually is being brought to light. 

Ponce de Leon had discovered Pasqua La Florida in 1513 for Spain. Many visit the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, Florida, attracted by the age-old story of his search for rejuvenating waters. What they find is an attraction devoted to the recognition of Ponce de Leon's brief stay on the land known as the village of Seloy, home to the Timucuan natives, and now part of the city of St. Augustine. Ponce de Leon never formed a permanent settlement for Spain in this northeast quadrant of Florida. He left with his crew and attempted unsuccessfully to land and settle the western side of Florida.

Between 1513 and 1565 the Spanish tried many times to establish a permanent settlement in Florida. In 1565, Pedro Menendez, a naval officer of the highest rank, was asked by King Philip II to rebuke the advances of France in the northeast quadrant of Florida, a land claimed by the Spanish with Ponce de Leon's arrival in 1513. Menendez was to secure the land for Spain, establish a permanent settlement, and bring the Catholic faith to the indigenous people.

Menendez with his crew of sailors, their families, and five priests landed in the harbor of St. Augustine. Fr. Lopez the senior priest offered a Mass of thanksgiving upon the arrival of Pedro Menendez and his company on September 8, 1565 along with some Timucuan natives who attended the Mass. At the end of the Mass of Thanksgiving, Menendez invited all to a meal of Thanksgiving. A date which entitles St. Augustine to the claim of the first Thanksgiving meal!

The establishment of a permanent settlement on this land today known as St. Augustine, Florida, was no easy feat. There were many obstacles in the way to a successful settlement. The land was sandy and inhospitable to agriculture. The knowledge and skills necessary for cultivating the land were still to be learned. Many of the natives initially helpful were angered by the treatment of some of the Spanish soldiers towards them. Relations between the natives and the Spanish as a result of this mistreatment became uneasy.

Menendez realized he needed more priests than the few that came with him to minister to the soldiers and their families and to evangelize the natives. He first reached out to Fr. Francis Borgia, S.J., the Superior General of  the Jesuits in Spain. It was this request for additional missionary priests that inspired Fr. Segura and others in 1568 to come to Pasqua La Florida a land whose claim was thought to reach from the tip of Florida to Nova Scotia and westward. 

It was to the upper coastline where the Chesapeake Bay flowed out to the Atlantic and the Powhatan natives lived that Jesuit Fathers Baptista Segura and Luis Quiros with Brothers Gabriel de Solis, Juan Baptista Mendez, Gabriel Gomez, Pedro de Linares, Cristobal Redondo, and novice Sancho de Zaballos traveled. A young teenager from St. Elena Island named Alonso de Olmos begged to come with them. Don Luis was their guide, a Powhatan native who had in 1561 been captured and taken to Spain and Mexico. Embracing the Catholic faith, Don Luis seemed to be the ideal guide to show the Jesuits the way and smooth relations with the natives. 

I will let Fr. Andrew Fisher, pastor at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Annandale, Virginia, tell you the rest of the story. You can click on this link to hear an enthralling adventure, Fr. Andrew Fisher

                                         The feast of St. Augustine is August 28. It is a special day

                                   for the city of St. Augustine, Florida. I hope many of you will 

                                   come and visit St. Augustine which has the first Catholic parish in

                                  the United States and the oldest Marian Shrine, Our Lady of La Leche. 

                                                            St. Augustine, Pray for Us!

Novena for First Holy Communion

 Here is a novena which begins today, May 5 and ends on May 13, or you can start it on May 6 and end on May 14, Mother's Day. Bob and I will be praying it for our granddaughter, Ella Grace, who receives her First Holy Communion on May 14, 2023. Her sister, Hannah Marie made hers on May 22, 2016. 

1.     Ninth Day Before Receiving First Holy Communion

Parents or Grandparents: Jesus, you love (name) very much. You saved (him, her) from sin and death by dying on the cross and rising. Through baptism (he, she) became God's child. In nine days you will come to (name) in Holy Communion. Fill (him, her) with thanksgiving for this great gift. Let our prayers help prepare (him, her) to receive you.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you. (You may say this prayer for the child if the child is not close by.)

Eighth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, you died for our sins. We remember this in the Eucharist. In eight days (name) will receive the Sacred Bread and Wine of Communion. This is your Body and Blood that you gave for us. Keep (name) free from sin and full of grace.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Seventh Day Before

Parents: Jesus, by your death and rising you won everlasting life for us. In seven days (name) will receive you, the risen Lord, in communion. Let (name) always live so that someday (he, she) may be happy with you forever in heaven.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Sixth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, in the Eucharist, you nourish the divine life we received in baptism. In six days, (name) will receive you for the first time in Holy Communion. Help (him, her) grow in love of you so that (he, she) lives as a true child of God.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Fifth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, in communion you come closer to us than anyone can ever be. As our food and drink you become one with us. In five days, (name) will welcome you in (his, her) heart. May (he, she) come to love you more and more each day.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Fourth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, you want all your followers to be united in love. Through the Eucharist you bind us all together in friendship and love. In four days, (name) will be more closely joined to the Church through Holy Communion. Give (him, her) the grace to be an active member of the Church.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Third Day Before

Parents: Jesus, (name) was initiated into your Church at baptism. (He, She) is looking forward to further initiation through the Eucharist. In three days (name) will receive the sacrament of initiation. Make (him, her) a good Catholic Christian, full of faith and love.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Second Day Before

Parents: Jesus, in the Eucharist you make us more like you. In two days you will come to (name) in communion. Enable (him, her) to be the person of kindness, compassion, wisdom and courage that you were. Increase (his, her) faith, hope and love.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

The Day Before

Parents: Jesus, tomorrow will be a great day of joy. (Name) will receive you in Holy Communion for the first time. (He, She) will know how much you love us. Bless (name) and make (him, her) a strong, loving Christian. May (name) always long to receive you in the Blessed Sacrament. May (he, she) always appreciate all you have done for us.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

~ from "The Gift of Holy Communion" prayer

Happy Easter All Season Long! April 9 - May 28, 2023

Christ has Risen! He Has Truly Risen! Alleluia!

 Since my last post for Mardi Gras, I have been busy writing a companion book to Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children. The book focuses on observing Lent and celebrating Easter with children. My audience is moms, grandmoms, teachers, and catechists. The first chapter begins with reclaiming Mardi Gras. The chapter is dedicated to getting the right balance of wholesome fun while focusing on preparation for Lent. I am asking for your prayers as I work on this next book.

Along with writing this Lent, I have added some pictures of other events and activities I have been involved with. The first is two podcasts that I was interviewed for by Priscilla Smith McCaffrey, a friend from my graduate school days. Priscilla interviewed me on the topic of Senior Living and on my book, Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children. She and her husband, Roger, have been involved in Catholic book publishing and media communication for years. I am including the link to my interviews. I think you will find many of Priscilla's other podcasts of interest, too. To locate the interviews go to Senior Living & Home School  Scroll down in Senior Living to #10 podcast and in Catholic Homeschool Radio #106.

Of course. preparations for Easter would not be complete without some time spent with the grandchildren. Bob and I traveled to Indiana to see Patrick and Becca's family. We did a variety of fun activities with the grandkids during their school break at the end of March. Here is one of my favorites, decorating Easter cookies. 

Over the years we have baked and decorated lamb cakes and made small cupcake Easter baskets. This year we did simple sugar cookies with lamb, Easter egg, chick, and bunny cookie cutters. The children chose the colors and decorations and, of course, had a few nibbles! 

We were able to attend Palm Sunday Mass with their family which was a special part of our visit. They belong to a large, thriving family oriented parish with lots of little people filling the pews. The choir was excellent and the liturgy well-executed with many strong readers taking the parts in the Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

We arrived back home for Holy Week. Sharing is common in family life, so we found out anew as we both caught head colds from our smallest grandchild. We were down for the count for much of Holy Week but managed to rise for the great feast of Easter.

The Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday found me in Jacksonville giving a talk at the Catholic Writers Guild Jacksonville chapter. It was both an in-person and ZOOM talk on Celebrating the Feasts through the Seasons. I enjoyed doing the talk and focused on Lent and Easter especially Divine Mercy Sunday. I shared with them the pictures and description of the Divine Mercy celebration at home with families that my daughter and her friends from the Catholic Women of the Chapel did in Fort Lee, VA, and again in Vicenza, Italy. We don't have any pictures from this year's Divine Mercy Sunday/Chaplet and Sundaes, but the CWC had a retreat the day before for the moms and I included a photo below. You can go to the archives here to see earlier pictures: Divine Mercy Sunday/Sundaes

                  EASTER 

         by Edwin L. Sabin

The barrier stone has rolled away,

  And loud the angels sing;

The Christ comes forth this blessed                       day

  To reign, a deathless King.

For shall we not believe He lives

  Through such awakening?

Behold, how God each April gives

  The miracle of Spring.

Divine Mercy Retreat, April 15, 2023 
Catholic Women of the Chapel, Italy

 Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Sundae Treat

Easter Blessings throughout the Season

to you and yours!

Celebrating the Good Things of Life - Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday, Carnival, February 21

Mardi Gras King Cake with the Baby Jesus 
ready to be hidden, a French Tradition

Are you ready for your favorite Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday, Carnival Treats? There are so many of them.

 Mardi Gras in New Orleans features King Cake, Gumbo, Hush Puppies, Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole, Red Beans and Rice and more. Bob and I are going to a Mardi Gras fundraiser for St. Benedict's Church on Tuesday evening. There are sure to be some of these New Orleans dishes.

Pancake Tuesday in England, Ireland, and other countries features, of course, pancakes! But one of my favorite activities of Pancake Tuesday in England is the pancake races. This year on Tuesday, February 21, the Better Bankside Pancake Race takes place in London near the London Bridge. If you are interested in viewing it the information is here: Pancake Race for Charity 

My very favorite pancake race is this one between the ladies of Liberal, Kansas, and Olney, England. It began in 1950 and will take place again on Pancake Tuesday!

Here is a link for you to read all about it, Liberal, KS, Olney, England, Pancake Race

A dream of mine is to see businesses 

Pancake Tuesday, Better Bankside Race for Charity 
London, England

embrace the pancake race for charity on

Pancake Tuesday here in the United 

States. I think there are a number of 
young men and women college students and workers of all professions that would   have great fun

tossing pancakes in a race for a

worthwhile charity. Many businesses require their employees to volunteer a few hours in the community to give back. This is a perfect way to have fun on Pancake Tuesday and give back to the community. 

2018 Competitors of the Liberal, Kansas, vs. Olney, England 
Pancake Tuesday Race

This picture appeared in a  2018 Catholic News Agency article by Perry West. It is a number of women who competed in the Liberal, KS, pancake race. For the full article, read here Liberal, KS, Pancake Race  I would love to see the pancake race simplified for Catholic school children and home schoolers. They could receive pledges from Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle Tim and Aunt Sue to sponsor an individual or team on or near the Pancake Tuesday date. Again the funds would g to a favorite charity. Small prizes would be given to the winner(s) of the race. Let's not let this pancake race tradition die out; rather let's expand it!

Venice, Italy, is known for its Carnival celebrations which include men, women, and children dressing up in very elaborate costumes with masks. Some of the masks cover only their eyes; while others cover their entire face. The city of Venice's schedule of events takes place from February 3 until February 21. The Square of San Marco is a popular place to watch the many Venetians and visitors in full costumes with masks parade their regalia. Many shops are dotted on side streets with large displays of masks to purchase. You can read about the history of Carnival in Venice here, Venice and Its Masks

Chiacchiere or Crostoli is a cookie very popular in Italy during the Carnival season (Italians call it Carnavale.). I include the recipe in last year's blog on Mardi Gras. Crostoli

My personal favorite treat for Mardi Gras, Carnival, Pancake Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or whatever you wish to call the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is beignets. Beignets are a lovely French pastry found not only in France but in New Orleans and many fine restaurants. They are simply fried dough dusted with confectionary sugar, but it is the ingredients in the dough whichC makes them so scrumptous. Here is a recipe I have made a number of times. Beignets

While we are enjoying our Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday, and Carnival Traditions, it is good to thank the Giver of all the wonderful foods, materials, and money that go into the various customs and traditions that are meant to be enjoyed before the Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. 

God has created this beautiful world with all that creation has to offer us. We enjoy its bounty in the celebrations of Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday, and Carnival, but at the end of Tuesday evening, it is time to set aside some of the good things of the festival in imitation of Our Lord. 

We can spend Lent imitating His generosity in various small ways. For some of us it will be setting aside favorite foods and alcoholic drinks. For others we will be more generous with our time, helping family, friends, and others in our community. Some of us will attend an extra Mass on a weekday, or pray the rosary, or read Scripture or listen to a podcast. There are many ways to observe Lent with love and reverence, so while you are celebrating Mardi Gras reflect a little on what good thing you can set aside or do in imitation of the Giver of all good gifts.

For the rules on fast and abstinence for Lent, Lenten Regulations in the Catholic Church

Previous Mardi Gras posts in this blog with recipes can be found here Mardi Gras Scroll through the posts.

Mardi Gras masks, beads, feathers, etc. can be found at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, General Dollar, and Party Stores. 

Wishing  you an enjoyable Mardi Gras Celebration!

and a Holy and Blessed Lent!

Epiphany January 6 and January 8

 As many of you know, Bob and I have five grandchildren living in Italy. One of our grandchildren, the youngest, Madelyn, is in an Italian elementary school. In fact, when her older brothers and sisters went back to the American school this week after the U.S. New Year's Federal holiday, little Maddie remained at home with the entire week off! 

Italy celebrates January 6th as a Holy Day of Obligation as do a number of other European countries. It also celebrates it as a holiday with a gift-giving aspect to it, mainly for children. The story of La Befana, the cranky old woman, who the Magi asked for directions to Bethlehem in order to find the Christ Child is a legend the Italians retell and celebrate over and over again. As the story goes, La Befana refused to help the Magi but later regretted her decision. She decides to look for the Christ Child herself. She scoops up sweet treats she had made earlier in the day and goes out looking for Him, but to no avail. As she searches, she leaves her sweet treats with all the children she encounters, hoping that one of them will be the Infant Christ. 

January 6 in Italy has a folk flavor to it, and you can read more about it here: January 6 - La Befana And yes, January 6th is a holy day of obligation, a national holiday and many Italian school children have been off from school all week!

In the United States, Sunday, January 8, 2023, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Divine Child to the Magi, is celebrated. It is the feast that acknowledges that the Christ Child came as the Savior not only for the faithful of Israel, but for all mankind. To the right is a picture of the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, which houses the gilded sarcophagus, a reliquary. believed to contain the bones of the Three Kings. Pilgrims come from all over the world to venerate these relics.

 You can read more here: Relics of Three Kings?  Whether the reliquary contains the bones of the Magi or others, the solemn feast proclaims a great truth of our Catholic faith. Christ, the Divine King, came for all men and women. The reliquary offers us a concrete reminder that the Magi did exist, and they were deeply inspired to follow the star from their homeland to the homeland of the Jews. The challenges of this journey and the hardships that each Magi encountered may remain in part unknown. What we do know is they appeared in the court of Herod the Great, and asked him where the newborn king of the Jews was to be found. 

The Magi may be admired for their energy and determination to continue the search. After meeting with Herod, the chief priests, and the scribes who pointed them in the direction of Bethlehem, they journeyed on. They were honest men who after  finding the star again followed it to the Christ Child, worshiped Him, and gave the Divine Child gifts. They received a message in a dream that directed them to return to their homeland by another route which they did.

We do not know who these Magi were. The information we have is found in the Gospel of Matthew 2: 1-14. It is probably the Blessed Mother who recounted this event to St. Matthew. As we enter into the New Year of 2023, let us turn to the Magi in prayer asking them to inspire and strengthen us in our journey to deepen our relationship with the Divine King. May we celebrate this great feast of  the Epiphany which has been passed down to us through the centuries with a beautiful liturgy, music, and food.

Here is a children's retelling of The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie dePaola. You can find it in your favorite Catholic bookstore, online Catholic publishers, or amazon.

The French have a lovely pastry for the Feast of the Epiphany called Galette des Rois, French King Cake.

Here is a link to the recipe French King Cake. You will find in Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children a recipe for an Epiphany Cake, pictured below. You can go to the archives of this blog  September 2014, where there are pictures of stained glass star cookies and  a chocolate candy called Balthazars! The recipes are in Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children, too.

Here is a prayer to the Magi:

O Holy Magi, who offered to Jesus Christ gold, frankincense and myrrh, thereby recognizing Him to be King, God, and Man; obtain from the Lord for me the grace never to present myself before Him with empty hands; but that I may continually offer to Him the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, and the myrrh of penance 

Wishing you and your family a joyous feast of the Epiphany 

and a Healthy, Happy, and Holy New Year!