Weekly Feast Day Activities -- Week 5

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This week brings the Feast Day of three of our great saints, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Bosco and St. Brigid of Ireland.

In my research this week, I came across this Patron Saints quiz. It would be fun to take the quiz now and then as your children become more knowledgeable, go back and take it again.

St. Thomas Aquinas -- January 28
St. Thomas Aquinas is the Patron Saint of academics, against storms, against lightning, apologists, book sellers, Catholic academies, Catholic schools, Catholic universities, chastity, colleges, learning, pencil makers, philosophers, publishers, schools, storms, students, theologians, and universities.

● Here is a St. Thomas Aquinas prayer and here is a student's prayer to him. Here are prayers to and by St. Thomas Aquinas.
● Here (Kidipede-- History for kids) is a good bio written for children (warning this page also has ads).
● Here is another children's bio.
● A coloring page can be found here, just click on "Saints by Feast Day" and then click on "St. Thomas Aquinas."
● This hangman style gameuses a quote by St. Thomas Aquinas. If you don't want to do all the quotes, just click "next" until you find St. Thomas Aquinas. You could also make up your own hangman game using a variety of saint phrases.


St. John Bosco -- January 31

● St. John Bosco Prayer, the patron of apprentices, boys, editors, Mexican young people, laborers, schoolchildren, students, and young people.
Here is some good information, and here is a child-appropriate bio.
● A coloring page can be found here, just click on "Saints by Feast Day" and then click on "St. John Bosco."

● Enjoy and Italian dinner tonight. Here is what's on our menu: Pasta Primavera, Chopped Italian Salad, garlic bread, pizzelles

Saint John Bosco, you reached out to children whom no one cared for despite ridicule and insults. Help us to care less about the laughter of the world and care more about the joy of the Lord. Amen

St. Brigid of Ireland -- February 1
St. Brigid is the patron of: babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle, chicken farmers, children whose parents are not married, dairymaids, dairy workers, fugitives, Ireland, mariners, midwives, nuns, poets, printing presses, sailors, scholars, travellers, watermen
For a St. Brigid prayer, go here.
● For a child appropriate bio.
● Make a St. Brigid's Cross or here. From fisheaters.com: It is customary on St. Brigid's Day to make a Cross -- known as a "St. Brigid's Cross" -- out of rushes or reeds (other materials may be used if no rushes or reeds are available). Once the Cross is woven, it is blessed with holy water and with the words

May the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost be on this Cross and on the place where it hangs and on everyone who looks on it.

It is then hung on the front doors of homes and left in place all year, to be burned and replaced with a newly-woven Cross on the next St. Brigid's Day.

● Also from fisheaters: Families also hang a ribbon or handkerchief out on trees or clotheslines, believing that if the Saint touched it it would have curative powers. These ribbons or handkerchiefs are called "St. Brigid's Mantle."
● Because of St. Brigid's association with fire, the building of bonfires would be fitting, too, if you live in a temperate zone. Fire and light are the perfect segue into Candlemas tomorrow, too, a day known as a "Feast of Light."
● Traditional foods for St. Brigid's Feast day are: colcannon, St. Brigid's Oatcakes (scroll down), and Boxty Cakes.
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