Filled with Joy

St. Agnes Lambs

Familia Catolica introduced me to Liturgical Folders.  They are a perfect way to display and store the information we want to focus on for a saint..  Much simpler than a lapbook, but it can be as simple as a coloring sheet with a prayer or filled with as many details as we feel up to including.

 

The St. Agnes coloring page can be found here in her sidebar.

This is the first time we have celebrated the Feast of St Agnes.  We learned a lot during our internet search for information about her and how this day is celebrated.

My children wanted to know why she was pictured with a lamb, and why were there so many crafts and foods on blogs?

We found out that Agnes in Latin means "lamb" and "pure or chaste" in Greek. 

 There is a tradition of blessing lambs on her feast day.  That wool is used to make palliums that every year on June 29, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope places a pallium around the neck of each new Archbishop.

 

Simple marshmallow Lamb Cupcakes

 Prayer to St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

O Little St. Agnes, so young and yet made so strong and wise by the power of God, protect by your prayers all the young people of every place whose goodness and purity are threatened by the evils and impurities of this world.

Give them strength in temptation and a true repentance when they fail.

Help them to find true Christian friends to accompany them in following the Lamb of God and finding safe pastures in His Church and in her holy sacraments.

May you lead us to the wedding banquet of heaven to rejoice with you and all the holy virgin martyrs in Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Word for 2011

Instead of making New Year's Resolutions, I focus on one word that summarizes what I need to work on in the upcoming year.  It was somewhat of a challenge to hear only ONE word to focus on.

After reflecting on the past year, I knew that I needed to make big changes to my attitude.  I wasn't enjoying all the blessings that God has given me the way that I should.  Being a homeschooling mom felt more like a burden. The necessary daily tasks felt like a punishment.  To serve equaled being a servant.  Consequently, the example that I set for my children wasn't good.  God willing, how could my daughters even consider being a stay at home mom when I didn't show them how much of a blessing it really is?  If my sons don't see me happy, why would they be an encouragement to their future wife if she chose to stay home to care for their home and children?

Many words went through my mind that I needed to work on:  patience, happiness, smile, joy, serve, and family were just a few.  None of them quite encompassed what I felt God was asking of me. Finally, during a quiet moment while putting my little one down to sleep, God put the word LOVE in my mind and heart.

Love sounds so simple!  As a mother and a wife, I obviously LOVE my family, but I wondered if each of my children really knew how much I love them? Dealing with depression has had me more withdrawn from the world than I'd like. 

When my children look at me going about my tasks I wondered what they saw?  

What kind of attitude do I serve my family with? 

Something as simple as scrubbing the toilet with the correct attitude makes a huge difference.  It's not the best job in the house, but done with love, it really isn't so bad.   I want to serve my family out of love (Galations 5:13), not because it's my "job". 

I want my children to be able to look at me and know they are loved.

My prayer is to be able to show everyone, family and friends, the love of Christ.

  "At the moment of death we will not be judged according to the number of good deeds we have done or by the diplomas we have received in our lifetime. We will be judged according to the love we have put into our work."  ~~ Mother Teresa

 

 

There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives--the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them. ---Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart. Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well." ~~Mother Teresa

 
LOVE is.....

patient,  kind, not jealous, not pompous, not inflated, not rude, does not seek its own interests,  not quick-tempered, does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth.  It bears all things, believes, hopes, and endures all things. 

Love never fails 

(1 Cor 13)