Throughout the year we celebrate feast days of the Saints. There are many ways to celebrate all of the different feast days throughout the year. On September 8th we celebrate the birth of Mary which is a great time to share stories about her life, travel to a Marian Shrine, pray the rosary as a family or eat a large feast including a Birthday Cake. On St. Patrick's feast day on March 17, everyone becomes Irish for the day, we wear green and eat corned beef and cabbage. Often times special Masses are offered on a Saints feast day and some people may even pray a novena (9 days of praying) leading up to a Saint's feast day. Advent has begun which means we are getting ready for the birth of Jesus. This also means we are getting ready for the madness of the holidays. It's important during this busy time of year to make time to slow down, reflect, pray and enjoy time with our family and friends. One way to do so is by celebrating St. Nicholas' feast day on December 6th. Growing up I had several friends who's family celebrated St. Nicholas. I would always hear from my friends about the different fruits and candy they would get in the shoes on the morning of December 6. I decided when I had my own kids, I would make sure we celebrated this feast day. In our house, we will watch St. Nicholas' story by the Veggie Tales and read a few books about St. Nicholas the days before his feast day to help learn about him. On December 5th, we hang our stockings by our fireplace and prepare for St. Nicholas to visit our house. The next morning we all wake up to find our stockings filled with Clementines, Apples, Candy Canes, Chocolates and a small gift which is typically a book, craft or something along those lines. This is one of my favorite holiday traditions in our house. We get a chance to learn about a Saint and then celebrate their feast day together. As my children continue to grow up I hope we can do this more often with other Saints' lives as well. Below is a video with some more information about St. Nicholas. If you wish to learn more about how other countries celebrate and honor St. Nicholas Day, check out this website: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/around-the-world/ I also invite you to learn more about the lives of the Saints. There is so much they can teach us about how to live a holy and good life. Feel free to share your family traditions for St. Nick's Day in the Comments. - Kate Tyler, Pastoral Associate -
0 Comments
He traveled to the East Indies, as well as a Portuguese colony. He later traveled and spent much time in India and Japan, visiting many other places during his years of mission work. He spread the Gospel and baptized many who had previously been mistreated by European missionaries. Once, he even baptized ten thousand Indians in one month! Can you imagine having such a burning passion for God that it overflows and affects ten thousand people's lives? He lived an exciting life, narrowly escaping being stoned in two seperate towns! But far more people wanted to learn from him and listen to him than stone him. Xavier eventually fell sick and had to stay on a ship that was used as a common hospital at the time. He died on December 2, 1552 at the age of 46. Prayer by St. Francis XavierGod of all peoples, be mindful of those without belief.
Created in your image, they do not know your Son Jesus Christ, their Savior who died for them. By the prayers and labors of your Church, free them from ignorance and unbelief and lead them to worship you. Amen I have heard the song Keep Your Eyes Open by NEEDTOBREATHE close to a million times. NEEDTOBREATHE is one my favorite bands, I have seen them twice in concert & I would see them in concert every time they go on tour if I could. I love their music. |
Archives
November 2018
Categories
All
|