THE FAMILY ZONE
Equipping the Domestic Church/ISSUE 98/10.30.22
The Saints are a Model of How to Live Our Catholic LIves
LIVE THE EUCHARIST!
THE DEFENDERS OF THE EUCHARIST, 1625, Peter Paul Rubens, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This was painted in a period of time when the Church was defending its teaching on the Real Presence. In the painting, you will see a number of saints who did not live in the same time period but were great defenders of our Catholic teaching on the Eucharist. Beginning on the right side, you see St. Jerome, dressed as a cardinal receiving Communion. Next to him stands St. Norbert, clothed carrying the Eucharist beneath his robes with great care. St. Thomas Aquinas stands holding a book and extending his hand toward heaven, symbolic of his defense of the Eucharist. Beside him is St. Clare of Assisi, holding a monstrance displaying the Blessed Sacrament. To her left is St. Gregory the Great, the pope who wrote many works contained in the Mass. Then comes St. Ambrose, who wrote about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Finally, St. Augustine is pictured, who included his reflections on the Eucharist in his writings on the Holy Trinity.
Take some time to view this magnificent piece of sacred art. If you were pictured in it, how would you be remembered as a Defender of the Eucharist? In these three years of Eucharistic Revival in our Church, how might your family develop a devotion to the Eucharist?
READ!
SUNDAY READINGS:
Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday Mass for the coming two weeks. This will give you a chance to prepare your heart and mind for full and active participation in Mass this weekend! For a Mass schedule in our diocese click on the grey button below.
Sunday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110622.cfm
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111322.cfm
Family Stories: Here are some stories about the saints:
Saints Around the World by Meg Hunter-Kilmer
Cloud of Witnesses: A Child's First Book of Saints by Katie Warner
Saintly Rhymes for Modern Times by Meghan Bausch
WRITE!
- Write a "Thinking of You" card to a parish family who has lost a loved one this year
- Create a family tree and pray for all the deceased members of your family
- Write a memory of a loved one who has died and pray for them after sharing your family memories
- Download other All Saints and All Souls Days activities by clicking the two links below!
LISTEN!
WATCH!
- Francis, the Knight of Assisi
- Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa
- Bernadette: The Princess of Lourdes
- Patrick: Brave Shepherd of the Emerald Isle
- Francis Xavier and the Samurai's Lost Treasure
- Juan Diego: Messenger of Guadalupe
- Mother Teresa: Seeing the Face of Jesus
CREATE!
PRAY!
PLAY!
BE WELL!
It is comforting, sometimes to know, that even those we look upon for spiritual guidance were not always strong and steadfast in their personal or faith lives. If you or someone you love find themselves struggling, it may help to seek out a "patron saint" who you can turn to in troubling times. Here are some saints who struggled with their mental and physical wellbeing and were said to lean heavenly on God during their trials:
St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Alphonsa Muttathupadatha
St. Jane Frances de Chantal
St. Oscar Romero
Ven. Matt Talbot
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pray for Us!
TEACHABLE MOMENT!
WORD OF THE WEEK!
We understand that the Cloud of Witnesses is the holy men and women, or saints, who have gone before us. Many imagine the Cloud of Witnesses as a stadium full of cheering spectator saints as we run our own journey of faith!! That would be a great image to illustrate! Can your family create a drawing of who you imagine in the cloud of witnesses surrounding you?
WONDER!
- What would I have to do to become a saint?
- Are there saints alive in 2022?
- Are there saints from where I live?
- Can kids be saints?
- Do saints talk to God all the time in heaven?
- Did famous saints pray to other famous saints?
- What does it mean to have a patron saint? Is that like an angel?
- How do I ask a saint to pray for me?
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Debtor in PossessionEmail: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210