Divine Mercy & Beatification Watch Party!

I am so excited for Divine Mercy Sunday!

~I have fallen in love with this devotion over the last couple of years and my love just keeps growing...What a blessing and ocean of grace that mercy and love are the hallmarks of our Christian Catholic faith~

"True mercy is always a bilateral reality, a two-way street: As we give it, we also receive it." ~Pope John Paul II Encyclical letter: Dives in Misericordia~

As most of the faithful already know, this year is EXTRA special with the Beatification of the man who instituted Divine Mercy Sunday...Pope John Paul II.  We already have our EWTN timers set at our house and just learned of a few other sources to view this historical event.  You can also watch it live online via Vatican Youtube sources or even Facebook! (Resources listed below)
We are having our own "Beatification Watch Party" at our house!
~We are looking forward to a celebration in honor of Blessed JPII and Divine Mercy~

Here are some easy candles to make for your celebration.

Candle holder and candles can be found at the Dollar Tree.  Just tie on a Divine Mercy medal with red, blue, or white ribbon.

I placed these stickers of JPII on the back of the candle and gave a few for gifts:

(I'm wondering if some of my friends are getting tired of receiving my candle gifts!?)

This one has a colored Divine Mercy medal and a silver oxidized JPII medal:

I also placed stickers on these mini glass jars (front and back).  This Rosary Card site has great stickers for both Divine Mercy and JPII.

Back:

We planned to whip up some treats for our Beatification Watch Party, of course!

We attended our parish Divine Mercy service and settled in to watch church history unfold before our eyes.  This year we made the same cupcakes we made for Mardis Gras, this time using red, white, and blue! ( I think these would also be great for 4th of July or Memorial Day)

They are also posted over at Catholic Cuisine!

I found some little Divine Mercy plastic figures at our local Catholic Bookstore for the toppers.

I also made a Rays of Mercy Fruit Platter that I posted details over at Catholic Cuisine.  There are only 2 rays but I added the white bananas since the pale blue ray is often seen mixed with white. Once again, I'm thinking this would also make a good 4th of July sparkler platter!

It was so easy to make!

"Let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth, and life."

Diary of St. Faustina~1486

Last year we made this cake:

"I am mercy itself; therefore I ask you to offer Me your misery and this very helplessness of yours and, in this way, you will delight My Heart." Jesus~Diary of St. Faustina (1775)

Social Networking Resources:

Pope 2 You has links to Vatican Youtube, Facebook info, Iphone App, and more!
Special Vatican site resources

This is the Vatican Media link, combining all media efforts for the Vatican.

If you have Facebook, this page has been set up for JPII
Free Divine Mercy Iphone Application
Vatican YouTube
Vatican Twitter Info.


Grow in Divine Mercy Devotion:
Consoling the Heart of Jesus
Diary of Saint Maria Faustinsa Kowalska


Great Divine Mercy craft ideas and free printables for kids at Catholic Icing
Divine Mercy food ideas at Catholic Cuisine


The Official Prayer for John Paul II's Intercession


O Blessed Trinity,
We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for
allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the Cross of
Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.
Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of
Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has
shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we
implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen.
With ecclesiastical approval CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI
the Holy Father's Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome

Resurrection Pots

Resurrection Pots  
Front View (Top photo); Back View (Bottom photo)

We enjoyed planting "New Life" today! 

We dug in to plant Easter grass, also using it for a combined science and faith unit.  Seeds and plants are the perfect segue to Lent as we are preparing for a new life in Christ through the glory of His ressurrection, hence the term Resurrection Pots!  We used the Resurrection analogy as we planted our Easter grass from seeds. We talked about how we are also but little seeds who yearn for the life giving water and light of Christ, just like our Easter grass needs water and light. {This also corresponds perfectly with the 3rd and 4th Sunday of Lent Gospel readings.  I didn't plan it this way, but it sure worked out nicely!} I'm making note of this to repeat for next year!

Materials:

Any size pots (I got these from the Target dollar section)

Faith stickers, Google images, or see Holy Reflections and shrink to fit (these images may bleed)

Mod Podge (to seal if paper images are used)

Potting soil

Rye grass seed (or wheat berry grass seed)

Spray bottle for misting the seeds

After pots are decorated, add soil...

Sprinkle a handful of Rye Grass seed to top of pot...

We used a measuring cup to scoop...Hope we weren't too generous with the seeds!?

Then pat down firmly...

I love projects that even a toddler can do!

The next step is to sprinkle a light amount of soil over the seeds, just enough to cover them. And the final step is to mist the seeds, soaking them thoroughly.  Directions remind us to be sure to mist the seeds each day. We placed our Resurrection pots in our kitchen window, at the foot of our Lenten cross.  This window receives abundant light. We secretly hope their position helps their growing process!

We forgot to add a little top layer of soil in this photo...oops!  We went back and did that.

Several articles claim that this is a very result oriented planting project and that grass will begin to sprout within 4-5 days and full in about 2 weeks.

These would make lovely Easter gifts for grandparents, godparents, etc.  I think they would also be great centerpieces for the Easter meal table.  This is a google image photo of what the grass is supposed to looks like when sprouted:

We are saying a little prayer that our Easter grass will sprout quickly and nicely, just in time for the Resurrection!  

Other Helpful Links for Easter Grass:

Make and Takes

DIY Easter Grass
Easter Grass by Kaboose

As mentioned in my trip up to Calvary Hill, I gave myself an assignment to re-pot a Lenten plant in memory of the late Venerable Pope John Paul II and my late husband, Chris.  They share the same death anniversary today.

The snails attacked my plant so it looks a little sad compared to a week ago.  I'm hoping that it will perk up with a little TLC and snail bait.

Soon-to-be-Saint John Paul II, please pray for us!

Update on the Resurrection Pots:
~Growth after 5-6 days~

~Growth after 9-10 days~

Fully Grown!

~Approximately 14 days~
Perfect timing for Holy Week!

The Virtue That Studied Us

~St. John The Almsgiver~

 I didn't "plan" to study one of the Theological Virtues this past week...

But somehow the virtue of Charity found it's own way to our studies! 

It all began with the reading about the life of St. John the Almsgiver

on his Feast Day, January 10th.

On Monday: Our favorite daily saint reading book described John the Almsgiver as a Christian nobleman who used his position to help the poor.  Because of his great charity, he is called the "almsgiver", which some of my younger children learned means someone who gives money, food, or clothing to those who need it.  When people asked Bishop John how he could be so charitable and unselfish, he told a story about a vision that he had as a young boy.  "Charity" came to him in the form of a beautiful girl, the oldest daughter of the King.  Charity tells Bishop John in his dream that she will lead him to Jesus and no one is as powerful as she is.  Charity goes on to tell John that it was for her that Jesus became a baby to redeem humankind.  

Wow, the power of Charity and Love really sunk in!

This story prompted a lively (impromptu) discussion, as the lives of the saints often do.  A verbal list of actions for our family began to develop from the hearts of the children, including almsgiving that can begin right here at home! [Especially since Lent is right around the corner]

On Tuesday: I picked up one of the many books that I had recently found at the local library for our Winter Theme Study.  Most of the books I had just chosen randomly.  My sister suggested this one with the adorable illustrations.  As it turned out, it was the sweetest story about CHARITY!  I highly recommend this precious book for K-3.  You won't be disappointed.

On Wednesday: I visited JOYfilled family to "discover" Lena's beautiful post on, YES, CHARITY!  She posted a Charity Litany that was a prayerful addition to our virtue that studied us!

On Thursday: I learned a bit more about charity (myself) during my Holy Hour.  Oh, the power of love!

On Friday:  The news came out that our beloved Venerable Pope John Paul II, The Great, will be beatified on May 1, 2011.  (Divine Mercy Sunday)  This was an amazing finale to our study as we talked about his life, lived for others in love and complete charity.  We also learned that he will be Patron of  World Youth Day (WYD), 2011.  This will be a lovely spiritual experience  for my husband and oldest son who will be attending WYD with other parish pilgrims in August!  I have my own connection with VJPII, The Great, who shares the same death anniversary, April 2, (different year) as my late husband.  Pope JPII taught me many things but one quote in particular sustains me: 

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair, we are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."

Our Venerable Pope was a personal witness to love.


I just love this man and I share this Christian love with so many.  Like the quote from Mark Twain: "He loved to love people, therefore people loved him."

His exhortations for Catholics, and all people of good will, was to “stand up when human rights are attacked, when the unborn are threatened, when marriage is undermined, and the poor and suffering are neglected.”

How's that for ultimate Charity?

I never could have planned out such a week in the providential way it unfolded on it's own.  

I couldn't be more grateful for the virtue that studied us!