Summer

July/August 2009 Issue | Posted by Daria Sockey in Season

Then followed that beautiful season ... Summer ...

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light, and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Activities for you and your family

Feasts, Traditions … and Fun

July

3 St. Thomas the apostle

­ ­• St. Thomas is the patron of those who have doubts. He was not willing to believe that the other apostles had seen the risen Jesus (John 20:24-29). According to Jesus, we have an advantage over St. Thomas: “Blessed are they who have not seen, but still believe.” This is a good day to talk with teens about the doubts or difficulties we can have with faith. If they do not already know it, teach the Act of Faith (visit FaithandFamilyLIVE.com, “Resources”).

St. Thomas is also the apostle who went to India. Kids might want to learn about this country on Kids.NationalGeographic.com.

One thing they won’t learn there: In recent years, persecution of Christians in India has been on the rise, and many Indians have followed St. Thomas in martyrdom. — Daria Sockey

18St. Camillus de Lellis

­ ­• St. Camillus de Lellis was 6-feet-6- inches tall, a mercenary soldier with a gambling addiction. After his conversion he founded an order devoted to caring for those in hospitals. In the 16th century, a trip to the hospital was a virtual death sentence. Finding quality staff was impossible: Everyone feared catching disease. Camillus’ order saved many lives, gave comfort to the dying, and brought about reform.

To learn more, check out A Soldier Surrenders by Susan Peek, $14.95 at Ignatius.com — Daria Sockey

More Faith and Family Days in July

4Independence Day

Read Pope Benedict XVI’s words on America at the White House last year.*

11St. benedict

Show the kids what all the “encoded” messages on the Benedict medal mean.*

29 St. martha

Read about her in Luke 10:38-42 —then slow down today and choose “the better part.”

*FaithandFamilyLIVE.com, “Resources”

Your own faith and family traditions in July:

Feasts, Traditions … and Fun

August

10St. Lawrence

• St. Lawrence was one of seven deacons martyred under Emperor Valerian in 258. Legend has it that St. Lawrence was martyred on a gridiron. As he was burned, St. Lawrence was reported to say: “This side’s done, turn me over.”

To celebrate this saint’s courage: Grill out!

Summer Steak Skewers

Bottle of Italian dressing

2 pounds beef sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch

cubes

Your favorite summer veggies (sliced into

bite-sized pieces) — we use green peppers,

red onion, yellow squash, and zucchini

Metal or soaked wooden skewers

Marinate the meat for two hours in Italian dressing in a Ziplock bag. Save a little from the bottle to use for basting. Alternately skewer beef and veggies. Grill over medium heat, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes each side. Baste while cooking. When one side is done, turn it over … and then take it off and have a bite! Serve these with corn and coleslaw for a summer back yard grill, compliments of St. Lawrence. — Maryan Vander Woude

22 Queenship of Mary

• Eight days after the Assumption of Our Lady, the Church celebrates her coronation as queen of heaven.

Things to do:

• Pray the Glorious Mysteries of the

Rosary.

• Pray the Litany of Loreto (or the

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

You can find a copy of the litany at

FaithandFamilyLIVE.com, “Resources.”

The prayer invokes many titles of Our

Lady as queen, such as “Queen of

Heaven,” “Queen of Peace,” and

“Queen of the Most Holy Rosary,”

so it is fitting to pray for today’s

memorial.

• Crown Mary as Queen of your home.

Have your kids make a simple paper

crown (or floral crown) for all of your

Mary statues.

• Sing “Salve Regina” or “Hail, Holy

Queen Enthroned Above.”

• Make dessert fit for a queen: tarts!

Make your own favorite recipe, or a

really easy tart can be made with: mini

ready-made crusts, a pint of strawberry

ice cream, and sliced fresh strawberries

for topping. — Maryan Vander Woude

More Faith and Family Days in August

6 The transfiguration of the lord

Read the Transfiguration account before dinner (Matthew 17:1-6).

Hand out parklers (use caution!).

15 The assumption of the blessed virgin mary

Go to Mass — but this is not a U.S. Holy Day of Obligation this year, since it falls on a Saturday.

27St. monica

Pray for the conversion of souls and for priestly vocations.

Your own faith and family traditions in August:

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