The Season…WINTER
January/February 2009 Issue | Posted by Daria Sockey in Season
The frost preforms its secret ministry, Unhelped by any wind.
— Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Activities for you and your family.
Feasts, Traditions … and Fun
Jan. 6 Epiphany
• Don’t put those Three Kings figures in the manger on Christmas Day! That is when they start traveling from the far side of your house, making a little progress each day in their journey to Bethlehem.
Celebrate their arrival with the song “We Three Kings,” and the following house blessing: “O Lord, grant that the names of your saints Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar may, through their merits and petitions, bless our home and bring physical health and spiritual protection for all who enter here. Amen.”
It is also traditional to mark the front door frame in chalk with the New Year and their initials: 20+C+M+B+09
For more “kingly” activities, click “Resources” at FaithandFamilyLIVE.com.
— Daria Sockey
24 St. Francis de Sales
• Francis de Sales is the patron saint of writers. He wrote several books and many letters to those he directed.
Things to do:
• Read his Introduction to the Devout
Life.
• Write a real, pen-and-paper letter to
a friend or relative (no email). Along
with whatever news you relate in the
letter, share something about your
faith, as well.
• Start a prayer journal. Keep track of
your progress in prayer and your
relationship with God.
— Daria Sockey
Your own faith and family traditions in January:
More Faith and Family Days in January
1
Mary, Mother of God
Holy Day of Obligation.
11
Baptism of the Lord
Light your children’s baptismal candles.
21
St. Agnes
Read the account of this virgin martyr.
Feasts, Traditions … and Fun
Feb. 2 The Feast of the Presentation
Presentation Cake
2 cake mixes (any flavor)
2 cans of frosting (caramel and
white)
small white birthday candles
Make two box cakes in 13-inch-by-9-inch pans according to directions. Place one full cake on a cookie sheet and frost with caramel frosting. Cut other cake into two 5-inch-by-3-inch pieces and eight 3-inch-by-1-inch pieces. Place a 5-inch-by-3-inch piece at the back edge of whole cake. Frost top with white frosting. Place the matching piece on top and frost with white frosting. This is the Temple. Place the remaining smaller pieces on sides for columns and frost with caramel frosting.
Place small white birthday candles outside for the courtyard. Leave a gap opposite the Temple, for the entrance gate.
Note: For fun, use four mini clothespin people decorated to represent Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna. Add two small doves for their offering.
— Maryan Vander Woude
25 Ash Wednesday
• This Lent, replace sinful habits with virtue and vow to do it for the next 40 days! One way to do this is to reflect on the seven deadly sins and their opposite virtues. Work on minimizing your vice by increasing its opposite virtue. For example:
• Pride/Humility: Swallow your
opinion once a day.
• Gluttony/Temperance: Take the
smallest piece of everything served.
• Greed/Charity: Do not buy any
new clothing for 40 days, and give
the money saved to the poor.
• Sloth/Diligence: Wake up half an
hour earlier.
• Wrath/Patience: Stop yelling at
cars in traffic. “Count to 10” if they
cut you off.
• Envy/Kindness: Pray for the per-
son whose qualities or goods you
covet.
• Lust/Chastity: Shun TV shows or
books with inappropriate content
and replace them with wholesome
entertainment or spiritual reading.
— Maryan Vander Woude
Your own faith and family traditions in February:
More Faith and Family Days in February
3 St. Blaise
Go to Mass and get your throat blessed.
14 Valentine’s Day
Write a handwritten note to someone you love today.
21 St. Peter Damian
Fast and pray for priests.
Homework: Share your own faith and family traditions with us. Contact information, page 6.
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