Spring

Spring 2010 Issue | Posted by Melissa Hartog in Season

Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees, Rock’d in the cradle of the western breeze.
~ William Cowper

Feasts, Traditions … and Fun

Faith and Family Days IN FEBRUARY

17 Ash Wednesday

Lent begins.

March

More Faith and Family Days IN MARCH

3 ST. KATHARINE DREXEL

Learn more about this American saint at FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources.”

19 ST.JOSEPH

Pray for fathers today.

17 ST.PATRICK

• Google “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” for
a long and beautiful prayer to say on
the morning of this feast. If you are in
a hurry, here is a short excerpt:

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, his might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide, his shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His heavenly host to be my guard.

— Daria Sockey

25 ANNUNCIATION

• Today is a solemnity — one of the Church’s major feasts. Therefore, it’s an official break from Lent! And given that today we celebrate the true beginning of Christ’s life on earth, we might want to look on it as a “little Christmas.”

• Break out some festive foods — perhaps bake a favorite Christmas cookie.

• If you can’t get to Mass, then pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

• Make it your goal for the rest of Lent to acquire the habit of praying the Angelus together at noon or after dinner each day.

— Daria Sockey

April

4 EASTER

• The Church can hardly contain her joy during the Easter season and continuously sings “Alleluia.” To reflect the Church’s joy, pick an Easter Alleluia song to sing before or after meals. You can continue this tradition for the 50 days of Easter.

• Serve up an Egg Bake for Easter Brunch:

Egg Bake

1 1/2 cups chopped cooked ham

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers

10-ounce package frozen cut asparagus,
thawed

8 eggs

2 cups milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a greased 9-inch-by-13-inch dish mix the ham, onion, red bell peppers, cheese, and asparagus. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, flour, Par-mesan, salt, and pepper. Pour over the ham mixture. Bake 20 to 30 minutes in a preheated 425-degree oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

— Adapted from AllRecipes.com

— Maryan Vander Woude

28 ST. LOUIS MARY DEMONTFORT

• Though this saint hails from the 1700s, his books (including The Secret of the Ros-ary and True Devotion to Mary) play a huge role in the spirituality of Catholics today. In fact, Pope John Paul II attributed a turning point in his life and his motto “Totus Tuus” to St. Louis de Montfort.

• After his ordination, the saint dropped his family name and replaced it with “de Montfort,” for his place of baptism. Dis-cuss your children’s place and date of
baptism and why this sacrament is so important.

• St. Louis de Montfort promoted “Total Consecration to Mary,” in which a person prepares with prescribed prayers for 33 days and on day 34 makes his consecration on a Marian Feast day. Start consecration preparation today, and make your consecration on the feast of the Visitation, May 31. (See FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources” for prayers.)

• Kids can read St. Louis de Montfort: The Story of Our Lady’s Slave (Windeatt).

• Pray the Rosary as a family.

— Maryan Vander Woude

More Faith and Family Days in APRIL

2 GOOD FRIDAY
Go to Stations of the Cross tonight.

3 HOLY SATURDAY

Attend the Easter Vigil with your family.

11 DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
Go to confession today.

May

More Faith and Family Days in MAY

9 MOTHER’S DAY

Cook brunch for mom. Find some ideas on page 64.

13 THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Holy Day of Obligation

*Some dioceses move this celebration to Sunday.

31 MEMORIAL DAY

Download Memorial Day coloring pages from FaithandFamilyLIVE.com “Resources.”

1 ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

• Decorate a large piece of paper with thank you notes to Dad from every member of the family. Serve him breakfast in bed on that placemat.

• During the month of May, offer this prayer every morning before work:

Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow, you supported Jesus and Mary, and had the Son of God as your fellow worker. Teach me to work as you did, with patience and perseverance, for God and for those whom God has given me to support. Teach me to see in my fellow workers the Christ who desires to be in them, that I may always be charitable and forbearing towards all. Grant me to look upon work with the eyes of faith, so that I shall recognize in it my share in God’s own creative activity and in Christ’s work of our redemption, and so take pride in it. When it is pleasant and productive, remind me to give thanks to God for it. And when it is burdensome, teach me to offer it to God, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world.

— Elizabeth Foss

31 THE VISITATION

• Mary hastened to visit her cousin Elizabeth and blessed her with both presence and practical help. Pack a basket with tea and cookies and go visiting. Visit an elderly neighbor, a pregnant mother, or a lonely relative, and stay to enjoy the goodies with her. While you are there, see if there is anything practical you can do to help.

— Elizabeth Foss

Homework: Share your own faith and family traditions with us. Contact information, page 6.

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