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Message: Mary is the perfect model of faith and discipleship. We can ask her, as well as the Communion of Saints in Heaven, to pray for us. We are members of the Communion of Saints, connected with the faithful who have gone before us, grounded in prayer and fortified by the Sacraments so we can become who Jesus calls us to be.
Prayer: Rosary
You may have been asked the question, “Why do Catholics worship Mary and the Saints?” before or heard it get asked to someone else. Take a moment to think of how you would respond to that question. Of course, we know that we don’t worship Mary and the Saints. Only God deserves our worship. But, how can we express to others the importance we place upon Mary and the Saints as role models for our lives?
Think of going to an art show and seeing an amazing painting. Without realizing the artist is near you, you go on and on about how great the painting is: the use of colors, of contrasts, the fine detail that went into it, etc. The artist wouldn’t ask you why you are looking at their painting and praising the painting when they are right there. You are praising the artist by praising the painting.
When we talk about the Saints and Mary, we are talking about how amazing God is. We are all ordinary, imperfect humans. Through the Saints and Mary, we are able to see how God can do great things through imperfect people and the unending grace He wants to give us. It gives us hope. We are also able to ask Mary and the Saints to pray for us as we do our best to allow God to work through us and carry out the mission we were sent to do on earth. They know what it’s like to go through the ups and downs of life on earth. They want to help us in any way they can.
“Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you more effectively than during my life.” -St. Dominic to his brothers
Saint Activities for April
Saint Activities for April
April 7: St. John Baptist de La Salle (Think about all of the teachers in your life and take a moment to pray for them.)
April 28: St. Gianna Beretta Molla (Reflect on whether or not you would give up your life for someone else. Ask St. Gianna to show you how to love the unborn that much.)
Family Activities for April
Family Activities for April
April 4: Divine Mercy Sunday (Attend a Divine Mercy Sunday prayer service or say the chaplet as a family at 3:00 p.m. - the hour of mercy.)
April 21: World Day of Prayer for Vocations (Have a conversation about the different vocations God calls us to - priesthoood, religious life, marriage, dedicated single - and how to discern what He's calling them to.)
April 22: Earth Day (Take a nature walk and pick up litter along the way.)
Week 4 Thoughts
Week 4 Thoughts
5 Minutes: Talk about what it means to be a mom. Ask them what they think a mom’s “job” is, or characteristics of the best mom ever. Relate this to Mary as the perfect mother and role model for us. Goal: Child will learn more about Mary’s love for us and ability to intercede to Jesus for us.
15 Minutes: Tell your children about the Saint you chose for Confirmation and why you chose that particular Saint. Ask them why they think we have Saints in the church, and what they want to be the patron Saint of. Goal: Child will learn more about the Saints and how they are role models for us.
30 Minutes: As a family, watch Father Mike Schmitz’s YouTube video, “Do Catholics Worship Saints?” and discuss what you have learned. Ask your child(ren) why it’s important for us to receive the Sacraments and how our decision to do/not do so affects everyone around us. Goal: Child will get to know more about the Saints and be able to understand why we do not worship the Saints but ask them to intercede for us. They will also be able to recognize how our actions affect more than just ourselves and what we can do to become more like the Saints.
Participants will recognize why we ask Mary for guidance by looking closer at her Fiat and Magnificat.
Participants will ask Mary to intercede for them and recognize the difference between honoring and worshiping.
Participants will practice different devotions to Mary to help them acknowledge their call to be a Saint.
Participants will understand they are part of the Body of Christ that contains both the living and the deceased.
Participants will recognize that each one of their choices (big or small) affects them and those around them.
Participants will know that their holiness is strengthened by the Sacraments that others receive and realize that we are not in this by ourselves.
Participants will find a Saint they can look up to as an example of a life following Jesus.
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