Sanctus Simplicitus

I'm starting a little project with my son called Notebooking Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints. I recently found out about notebooking pages as a way to keep track of school projects and papers throughout the year in an orderly fashion as well as something presentable that the child can show family and friends. One of my little guys has taken up to learning about every saint that is mentioned and asking daily who the saint is on our Liturgical Year Bulletin Board.

I showed him one day Butler's Lives of the Saints, he isn't yet able to read on his own, but he was still in awe because the book was much bigger than his children's saint book. I asked if he wanted to learn about each saint listed there, being one for every day, and he was full of excitement. So I share with you our notebooking pages for the month of April Lives of the Saints. The goal is to share these monthly pages along with the saints for the Liturgical Year Bulletin Board. The bulletin board may not have as many as there are notebook pages as the ones for the board come from the mass prayers the Church has for each day where as the notebooking pages come from Butler's Lives of the Saints. Directions are included in the download but as always feel free to leave comments/questions below.


*** As an additional note! ***
Aprils Saint download for the Liturgical Bulletin Board had the wrong picture on the 29th for St. Peter of Verona. That file is corrected now and replaced, you may find it HERE as well. Pieces have also been added for Maunday Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday per reader request. God bless!

Yes it is near completion! Many of you are asking about it, reserving your copy, anticipating and anxious for a release date! We do not quite have a date yet but it is near done and then it will go to be reviewed and any corrections made. We are anticipating yet another month before we have a firm date. The calendar in the planner starts in the month of June. In the mean time feel free to download last years planner and just print out the last few months in the mean time. If you would like to reserve your printed copy (all we know of pricing at this time is under $30 plus $5.15 for shipping) please fill out the form below. May you have a blessed Holy Week!

As many of our readers know the new 2012/2013 Home*School*Liturgical Holy Simplicity Planner will be out very soon. Last year we printed a very few hard copies and then discontinued printing as our printing option wasn't working out for us. We continued to give the PDF version for free which many loved.

We have decided this year to continue giving the PDF version of our lesson planner for free. The inspiration for this Liturgical Year based planner came about in trying to organize, our homeschool, our household and our Liturgical Year in the home all in one place. It seems many people are looking for a similar tool to utilize in their homes and so we decided to share it with others in the most affordable way.

We are currently seeking the best option for a printer in order to bring the printed version to you at the most affordable price, more details should be following soon! Please take our short survey and let us know if you will be downloading the FREE PDF version or purchasing the printed version (ranging from $14-$30 depending on amount of orders, plus shipping). God bless!

Two more freebies for our readers! A great way to teach the order of the 10 commandments, something of conversation in our house more recently as the boys are learning them. They also seem to get reminded of certian ones throughout the day ;) What better way than to make it a game and with the special ones in our house any game that is moveable always captures the attention much better! The Matching the 10 Commandments with Moses gives them the opportunity to use their fine motor skills and strengthen those fingers!

The second printable is Ordering the Stations of the Cross- 'busy bag'. If you are aware of the busy bag craze you will know what these are about. Great simple games that can be contained in a small bag. Easy to take on the go and simple enough to entertain without too much instruction. This printable features the 14 stations of the cross on which the child places the correct number station (as marked on the clothes pin) to the correct picture and title. This one comes with an answer key so the child or the parent can check the work when it is complete. For those who can't read yet they can use the answer key to match up the pins and still have a fun, entertaining and educational time.

Feel free to share the printables, if you would link back to our website or give credit in some way that would be wonderful! May God provide you a most fruitful Lenten season! God bless!


Matching the 10 Commandments with Moses- Busy Bag Download

Ordering the Stations of the Cross- Busy Bag Download

The same wonderful friend of mine who generously shares her families St. Catherine Academy's Newsletter has allowed me to share her wonderful Lenten Lapbook. Created by a Catholic mother for her children using many resources. Here are a few files to help out in creating a lapbook similar to the one pictured above.

Stations of the Cross

Sacred Heart Stickers

Flower Stickers

Inserts for Lapbook

Crown of Thorns Image

A few directions:
Use the cross to count down the days to Easter by placing a Sacred Heart sticker at the end of each day, and the crown of thorns is where they keep track of their good deeds.

My Gifts for Jesus

Can you make sacrifices and acts of love for Jesus throughout the day?  The thorns are reminders of Jesus' love for us, and how much He willingly and lovingly suffered.  When you love someone, it overflows from your heart into action!  The love we pour into each small act is precious to Jesus.  At the end of each day, if you have tried your best to love Jesus during the day by being obedient, kind, and helpful, place a lovely flower sticker on a thorn (or draw and  color a flower "sprouting" on a thorn).  On Easter you will have a beautiful wreath(s) of flowers to give to our Risen Lord! (From a Year with God by Catholic Heritage Curricula)

Under each small picture is an explanation of what takes place in the Church on that day and why.  The little folder with Jesus and the Children is where they write down the sacrifices they are trying to do along with some of the bad habits they are trying to correct.  The Stations of the Cross cards are for them  to color.  The yellow envelope contains a picture of the Resurrection to open on Easter.  It is done on a purple file folder.


May you have a blessed Lenten season!

4 new file folder games have been added to the File Folder Game page. Feel free to share the files/link up they are free to use. I just ask that you don't sell them and if you would link back to Sanctus Simplicitus that would be wonderful (don't forget to grab our button on the side bar). God bless!

* Saint Anthony & the Mule Taught a Few Phonics (ew sounds)

* The Good Shepard's Crook Phonics (oo Sounds)

* Multiplying Divine Love Saint Valentine File Folder Game 9 times tables

*Adding Divine Love Saint Valentine File Folder Game 9 addition tables