Sneak peek at our Prayer Book...

*Susan and I continue to work on the Women's CRHP Prayer Book project that started as a little collection of favorite prayers.  Here is a preview of the section closest to my heart, "Prayer in Family Life," including SIMPLE ideas for living the Church year as a family.  This is similar to the "Dozen for Delight" ideas I've blogged about before but expanded upon here.

I will be posting monthly with text or links for the prayers, books, further ideas, & recipes mentioned in the Family Liturgical Calendar below.


V.  PRAYER IN FAMILY LIFE
Excerpts from Part 1: Prayers and Blessings for Families in all Ages & Stages--

How do we start really praying as a family?
By just starting... by just praying. Before meals, before bed, at the start of a new day are all times that prayer works and creates a moment of peace & strength. It doesn't have to be long or fancy, only desired as a means of being close to God. It doesn't even have to feel good- important relationships often feel like work.

A family prayer space-This is not necessary but often helpful. This does not have to be fancy either but should have at least one religious image, such as a crucifix or picture of the Holy Family. It could also be where the family Bible(s) and rosaries are kept. The space could be in a child's bedroom or at the table where meals are eaten.

Blessings-It is a special habit to bless children at night and before school or to least before special days and events. Simply trace a cross on your child's forehead and say "May God bless you, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Or "May God bless you, our Mother Mary intercede for you, your Guardian Angel protect you, and your patron saints pray for you!". Amen.

Prayer of Parents for Their Children-Lord, enlighten our children's minds so they will find the path you have marked out for them, for your glory and for their salvation and happiness. Support them with your strength, so that the ideals of your Kingdom will inspire their lives. Give us light so that we, their parents, can help them to recognize their Christian vocation and to follow it generously by cooperating with your inspirations. Amen.


Part II: Living the Church Year as a Family--- A Family Liturgical Calendar

January--
1. Feast of Mary, Mother of God/New Year's Day
Instead of typical New Year's resolutions, choose (with the help of the Holy Spirit) a virtue to work on during the next year by drawing one per family member. Use the theological virtues of faith, hope, & love. Or use the cardinal, human virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, & temperance. Or use both. Look them up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church on-line.

Epiphany-
This Feast of the Three Kings is usually celebrated two Sundays after Christmas, to remember the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. (The first Sunday after Christmas is typically the Feast of the Holy Family.) Young children really enjoy making the three wise man of the family nativity set actually travel around the home during the time from Christmas to Easter, progressing in their journey to the manger a bit more each day.

Old Catholic traditions for this feast include baking a "King Cake," a cake with a tiny toy baby hidden inside and blessing the home for the new year. Use the House Blessing prayer found in this book and write this on the door in chalk: 20+C+M+B+__. C, M, and B are the first initials of the names of the three kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, respectively. The last blank is filled with the remaining numerals of the new year- 13 for 2013, for example.

February--
14. St. Valentine's Day
In addition to the other ways you celebrate this day of love, read the real story of today in the beautiful picture book all ages will enjoy: St. Valentine, by Robert Sabuda.

March--
17. St. Patrick's Day
Pray the Breastplate of St. Patrick in this book, as well as celebrate in your usual green-style. An Irish meal always includes potatoes, one easy but different favorite is potato soup. Mashed potatoes are even easier and both can be dyed green with a few drops of food coloring. (Why do young children enjoy eating green food so much?)

19. Feast of St. Joseph
Bake bread in honor of the "breadwinner" & protector of the Holy Family, an old Italian Catholic tradition. Use any favorite bread recipe and, if you can make the extra time to shape the dough into something symbolic like a communion host or shafts of wheat, you can even call it "St. Joseph Bread."

*LENT:
Start the family Lenten tradition of using a Lenten centerpiece, similar in idea to the Advent Wreath to help prepare for Easter. A desert scene, made of sand & rocks in a glass pie plate, reminds everyone of Jesus' 40 days in the desert. A crown of thorns, made of salt dough & toothpicks, is an activity for showing love to family members by removing one thorn for each act of love or sacrifice made for Christ. Empty it of thorns and wrap it in flowers by Easter.

Other traditional Lenten practices include praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. The Stations mark and help us to meditate on the steps along the path of Jesus' Passion, his suffering and death. One set of Stations is found in this book.

April--
**EASTER:
Remember to make Easter all about Jesus' Resurrection by including mostly faith-filled treats in Easter baskets: chocolate crosses, religious stickers, art supplies w/ a Resurrection coloring sheet, kids religious books, "Easter Story Cookies" & "Resurrection Eggs" all make for a more Christ-centered Easter celebration before or after Mass. The recipe and instructions for both can be found on the Catholic Icing website.

***Divine Mercy Sunday is always the first Sunday after Easter. Learn the story behind this popular devotion promoted by Blessed Pope John Paul II and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, both found in this book. Even use the iApp mentioned in the Resources section .

May--2nd Sunday/Mother's Day-
Include our heavenly mother, Mary, among the mothers you honor this month. One old tradition is to plant a "Mary Garden," flowers that are named after her and/or are in colors of white (for purity) or blue (her identifying color in Christian art). Another option is to include godmothers among the mothers you remember- have your children make cards for their godmothers or remember your own godchildren in a special way in your prayers this day. A Prayer for Godchildren is found in this book.

Pentecost Sunday-
This Sunday we remember the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and Mary. It is often called the birthday of the Church because the Apostles were changed and strengthened to go forth and preach the Gospel without fear. Celebrate with a birthday cake for the Church and start or finish a novena (nine days of prayer) to the Holy Spirit today. The Catholic tradition of novenas comes from this time when the Apostles waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit after Christ's Ascencion into Heaven. Use the Prayer to the Holy Spirit in this book and pray it for nine consecutive days. Or check out the Novena to the Holy Spirit and many others found on this website: http://www.resurrectionparish.us/novenas.htm

June--*Don't miss Sunday Mass during the summer- many great Sundays in the Church calendar are during the summer months. After Pentecost are Trinity Sunday and the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ). The readings for Mass are especially interesting and related to each other and worth a few extra minutes in prayer.

11. Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus-
This is the annual feast day of our parish! Share the love of Jesus' Sacred Heart with our pastor, deacons, associates, and staff- thank them for their service with an e-mail or note. Attending daily Mass on First Fridays of the month is part of traditional devotion to our Lord, under the title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (First Saturdays are reserved for Our Lady, under the title of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.) Read more about this devotion on-line.

12. Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary-
Pray at least one decade of the Rosary today! Want help? More on the Rosary can be found in the Traditional Prayers & Novenas section of this book.

3rd Sunday is Father's Day.
As with Mother's Day, remember to honor godfathers, priests, and even St. Joseph today, along with dads. A Child's Prayer for Parents is found at the beginning of the Prayer in Family Life section of this book.

July--
4th/Independence Day-
Don't forget to pray for our country today: for God's continued blessing on it; for the right to life of all human persons, especially in their most vulnerable stages; for our military & their families and for peace built on justice throughout the world; for the efforts of our Bishops to protect & promote religious freedom. Use the Prayer for Religious Freedom in this book.

14. Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Get outside to be close to God today, in honor of this holy woman called the "Lily of the Mohawks." She is the first Native American Indian to be declared a saint. Work in the garden or go for a walk or hike with your family today and enjoy our Creator latent in all of his creation.

26. Feast of Sts. Anne & Joachim
These are the grandparents of Jesus and parents of the Blessed Mother and patrons of Natural Family Planning or NFP. NFP Awareness Week is every year during the week of their feast. Learn more about it at www.live-the-love.org.

August--
15. Solemnity (or Solemn Feast) of the Assumption of Mary, a holy day of obligation (HDO)
Don't forget to get to Mass today. Most parishes add an extra Mass to the daily Mass schedule on HDOs and other churches located close to work or school are often a good option for HDOs during the week.

September--8. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This is the birthday of Mary. Young children enjoy making cards and a cake to celebrate, remembering her with a typical birthday celebration. Any feast of Mary is a good day to pray the Rosary, or at least a decade, for all of us.

27. St. Vincent de Paul
Remember this saint who loved and gave his life to the poor by doing something for the least among us. Collect and donate clothes or household items to the local St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (or any other).

29. Feast of the Archangels
Haven't had enough cake already this month? Bake an angel food cake to celebrate this feast of these powerful angels mentioned in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Use the child-friendly version of the Prayer to St. Michael found in this book to ask his intercession in spiritual battles.

October--1. Feast of St. Therese
Start or finish the unique and beautiful Rose Novena of St. Therese, a favorite among Catholic women for generations, found in this prayer book. An atypical treatment of this young & innocent saint whose "Little Way" of spirituality is anything but sappy sweet & weak can be found in the book Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux, by Heather King.

2. Feast of the Guardian Angels
Another good day to bake an angel food cake to celebrate and give thanks for God's provision and protection for us in His angels.

4. Feast of St. Francis
Take your family pets to the "Blessing of the Animals" held at many parishes on this day, in honor of this saint of radical material & spiritual poverty who was so peaceful that it is said he could communicate with animals. Or bless your animals at home as a family with a simple spontaneous prayer.

November--
1. All Saints
No celebration of the silly & "sinners" (witches, zombies) of Halloween is complete without celebration of the saints the next day! Little ones love dress-up and dressing up as a saint is a fun way for them to learn. Older children might enjoy crafting a costume of their favorite saint. (Great & easy saint costume ideas can be found on the Catholic Icing website.) All ages can create and pray a litany today. A litany is a prayer in "list" form, with a repeated response- like the intentions (also known as the Prayer of the Faithful) at Mass. This one asks all your family's favorite saints or patron/name saints to pray for you by simply naming the saint, then responding all together with "Pray for us!"

2. All Souls
Pray for all the deceased souls among your family and friends today and even for those whom you don't know. The traditional prayer is short and efficient: "May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

25. Feast of Christ the King
This is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, before the Church's New Year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. Celebrate by literally crowning Christ the King of your heart and home. Children enjoy crafting crowns to place on a statue or image of Christ. They can decorate the crown with sequins and rhinestone jewels earned by doing acts of love for others that week.

December--
*ADVENT:
The traditional and beautiful way to mark the Advent season of waiting and preparing for Christmas is with an Advent wreath of evergreen and four candles, three purple and one light or rose pink. All kinds of materials work but the symbolism is even more rich with "real"materials, especially taper candles that burn down and create a clock of sorts marking the passing of the weeks. Light the same purple candle all of the first week, the first and another purple candle the second week, the same two purple and the rose candle for the third week, and all four candles during the last week. By the end, the first purple candle burned almost completely down contrasts with the much longer fourth purple one that remains mostly tall. Simply lighting the candle(s) for that week and singing the refrain from "O Come, Emmanuel" makes a short & beautiful prayer time each night.

Another way to focus on Advent as a time of waiting and preparing for Christmas is to save singing carols and most decorating until closer to Chrstmas. Only put out nativity scenes but leave the manger empty & awaiting the arrival of the Christ Child, until after Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. (Also hold back the Three Kings for a later arrival in Bethlehem.) Children enjoy slowly filling the manger with "straw" (paper or real grasses) for Baby Jesus earned by good deeds and acts of love. Start the tradition of putting up your Christmas tree and other decorations on the 3rd Sunday ofAdvent, also called Gaudete Sunday or the Joyful Sunday. This Sunday marks the half-way point to Christmas and is distinguished by the rose candle.

6. Feast of St. Nick
St. Nicholas is the original Santa Claus and a Bishop from the early Church, during the time of the Roman empire. Fill childrens' shoes or stockings with chocolate "coins" in honor of his anonymous generosity to those in need, especially children. It is said he saved three young Christian sisters from enslavement by dropping three sacks of coins, one for each, down the chimney of their family home.

8. Solemnity (or Solemn Feast) of the Immaculate Conception, another Holy Day of Obligation (HDO)- Don't forget to schedule time to get to Mass today.

12. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe-
This favorite image and feast of Mary can be marked with a Mexican food feast and by praying the Rosary. The children's cartoon video called "Juan Diego: Messenger of Guadalupe," produced by CCC, is an excellent retelling of the story of the apparitions of St. Juan Diego and the healing that the love of the Blessed Mother brought to the troubled land that is now Mexico, during the time the Spaniards conquered the Natives originally living there.

**CHRISTMAS:
After Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, place Baby Jesus in the manger prepared for him and have the Kings set out on their journey to Bethlehem (which may only be a trip across the living room). Allow young children to move the Kings to a different or closer spot each day, as they follow the Star to Bethlehem and arrive at your nativity on Epiphany.

Fruits of Summer 2012

I did this post at the end of last summer, too, but was actually referring some real fruit I had grown.  Lazy way to reflect.  I've always loved summer with its change of pace, new adventures, and opportunity for real learning in the midst of it all...

• The only real fruit this year comes in our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box each week.  Lots of yummy produce & fun learning to cook it.  Favorite new recipe: Crunchy Asian Salad.  I didn't try to grow anything but wildflowers, strawberries, & some herbs myself and all but the potted herbs have died.  Didn't even get a single strawberry.
• Renewed love for my husband after watching him work so hard to care for us, for me in the midst of several very crazy months of tons of work for him preparing to deploy, trainings here and away, then cancellation of it all because he re-injured his back at the last, month-long training.  We re-learned never to know what to expect from God and gratitude that He has all things worked out better than we can imagine when we just trust Him.  Learned a lot about horse care during his absences.  And we're both working hard to take care of our backs.  He is still in intense physical therapy.
• Trip to San Antonio with him and the kids for one of his trainings.  Fun with old friends and some homeschool learning: Texas history at the Alamo and rocks & minerals at the Natural Bridge Caverns.  Also a lot of American history from watching Liberty's Kids when we in the hotel room.  Highly recommended, no-guilt TV for your kids.
• Couple of trips to Ft. Worth to see my family, including a week-long one for all the boys.  Big ones went to LEGO Camp at TCU and had a blast, learned some about robotics.
• Biggest boys also did swim team & a boys' book club this summer. 
• They are also working on reading patches from the library.
• Jude will continue with swim team this year and John Paul has started judo with friends.  Trying new sports & different ones for each, rather than soccer this fall.  A little sad for this soccer mom.
• Little pair did pre-school camp at church with fun crafts & games.
• And we all did VBS at church, too.  Cat Chat: Angels & Saints.  Solid & fun program.
• Mark is a fish in the water and swimming well, including in the deep end with a vest & going off the board.  Mary loves the water.
• Mary turned 2 yrs. on the 18th and is talking all the time.  She is sweet again & not as ornery as she had been the last few months, probably from frustration at not being able to express herself.
• New, even homeschooling friends for us all.  One family from book club & another from our CRHP experiences.
• Got some help w/ the problems I had been having w/ this blog and, combined w/ the fact that I have a camera again, I'm hoping to be a more regular poster, especially since we are using it for the CRHP Prayer Book project.
• Last but not least, Jesse & I both finished CRHP Formation and helped put on the Women's & Men's Retreats these past two weekends.  An awesome experience on both the retreatant & team ends.  God really has used it to renew our faith & show His power in our lives and those of our friends.  More on CRHP & the Prayer Book later...