St. Patrick's Day -- just a week away

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The feast day beloved by religious and non alike (although I love to remind people that it is a religious feast day) is just around the corner. I am posting here some activities that I rounded up last year -- get ready, get set, go!

St. Patrick --
March 17

Because this holiday has become a secular holiday for most people, it is actually fairly difficult to find religious activities. You can Google St. Patrick's Day and find a million leprechaun coloring sheets, or rainbow crafts. I'll let you do that, if you want -- it's not difficult. I'm going to pretty much limit this post to activities related to our faith.

● For the story of St. Patrick, go here.

● You can find a coloring page of the Celtic cross here.

● Ach, my coloring page disappeared, but you can go here and scroll down for St. Patrick.

● Catholicmom.com offers some suggestions for a St. Patrick's Day party.

I normally steer clear of using symbols, especially those that are abused by the secular celebrations. The shamrock, however, holds religious symbolism so I will include it in our lessons. It is said that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity -- one stem, three separate leaves. Many grocery stores stock this plant during March --Oxalis sp. (They are fascinating plants for children because they go to sleep each night -- the leaves fold up -- and wake up each morning.)

To have fun with shamrocks:

● A shamrock pin craft here.

● To create a paper shamrock angel, go here.

● Make a stained glass shamrock for the window.

● Take a potato, cut it in half and "carve" a shamrock image to use as a stamp. Like this.

● This little craft requires buying a few supplies, but would make a cute pin or hair clip.

● Because I like to incorporate food into our feast day celebrations, here and here are entire pages of St. Patrick's Day recipes. I cannot vouch for any of them, but I can vouch for this Irish Soda Bread -- it's my favorite.

● For young elementary grade activities, go here.

● Prayer:

The Shield of St. Patrick

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!