A few coloring pages that fit this Holy season of Easter, from our Life of the Soul and Life of Our Lord collections.

Manual of the Holy Catholic Church
Imprimatur 1906 
St. Valentine - February 14.
Of St. Valentine few particulars are known. He was a holy priest of  Rome, put to death about the year 270. One of the great Roman gates  was built in his honor and called after him. It is now known as "del Popolo." But the name of St. Valentine has  come down to us associated with the  remnant of a  pagan custom, that of choosing for a year  some person to whom honor should be paid. The casting of lots  was held on the 15th of February, and with it began the Roman festival of Lupercalia, in honor of the god Pan  and the goddess Jimo. To put down so dangerous a feast-making, the Church, according to  Alban Butler, instituted the custom of drawing saints to be venerated for a year on the feast of St. Valentine, the day preceding that of the pagan lot-drawing, thus substituting heavenly for earthly love.
 
This old, old custom of choosing  some one to love, to be looked up to, sets one thinking.  So widespread a custom, lasting, too, for so long a time through the  pagan . "Through tlie Middle Ages, even to our own day, seems to point to  some natural cause. And it does. We are social beings in the natural and supernatural order, conscious of weakness  and insufficiency when standing alone. In the garden of Paradise the foundation of society was laid when Adam said, "a man shall leave father and  mother and cleave to his wife," showing that at no period of his life need he stand alone. The supernatural order is based  upon the two great laws, '' Thou shalt love the  Lord thy God with thy whole heart,  and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

And there is such a stretching out of hands towards our fellow-creatures, such an expansion of heart at the sight of suffering or sorrow or need, that we have to be on our guard, lest it work in us merely from a natural goodness without the sacred  stamp of grace. This custom then of  drawing saints to be our patrons for the year is a happy thought, bearing  upon the inward yearning towards others; it is  an expression of the loneliness of the human heart, its  want of  sympathy ; it is also the  bond between Heaven  and earth. We are not made like the beasts with our eyes level with the ground, tending downwards. "We have a right to invade the unseen world, to choose helpers there, to count  upon assistance  and comfort  and cheering, where there is so much consolation, help,  and joy.

A certain number of patrons  were chosen for us by our parents without our having a say in the matter. Otliers we ourselves chose at coniinnation, but Avithout  any very distinct idea of  what we  were doing, perhaps. But our patron on Valentine's day can be one of mature deliberation, based  upon a natural attraction  and admiration, one whose example in the battle-field of life will be a help to us in our hour of trial. The  more communion we can have with Heaven the better for us. The more our interests lie above, the less will the chains of earth rivet us to things below. And the chains of earth do bind. They bind in childhood and in youth; in middle manhood  and old age.  So the spirit that soars upward is the brave spirit, the safest, the happiest, and the strongest. There have been those who, in extreme old age, could  show a long list of patrons whom they  had honored for a year each with particular devotion,  and when the allotted time was over added  them to the long list of their predecessors,  and invoked  them still with the new Valentine of the New Year. What an array there
would be of choice spirits to  meet such as these when they  came to their Heavenly reward.

To  some of us who do not love multiplicity our own  namesake may be our perpetual Valentine—the patron given to us at our baptism, or chosen at our confirmation, or at  any other solemn occasion.
Let these then  become realities to us, living friends  and helpers, substantial guardians. The  Heavenly patron will never be wanting to His earthy client— of that we may be sure. Let us not be wanting to
 him. St. Valentine,  pray for us!

The almond is a symbol for Christ and is often used on this Feast Day which reminds us of the love of Christ. Below are two wonderful tidbits about this symbolism with more resources to follow.

An Excerpt of A prose by  Adam of Saint Victor
The Liturgical Year - Christmas Vol. 1    By: Dom Gueranger Imprimatur 1927

Aaron's sapless branch yields leaf and flower and almond: so does the chaste Virgin her Child, the Son of God. Gedeon's fleece bears the dew from heaven; the creature bears the creature's ransome - the Creator. The leaf and flower, the almond and the dew, are mystic emblems of our Saviour's love. Jesus is the leaf that shades us; the sweet flower that regales us; the almond-nut that feeds us; the dew that waters us with heavenly grace. Why is it that the Virgin's delivery should be a stumbling-block to the Jews' Have they forgotten the dry branch of Aaron, how it bore the almonds? Let us once more contemplate the almond-nut; for, viewed in its true light, it is the mystic emblem of him that is the Light. It unites in iteself three things, and all three it gives to man: unction, light and food. Jesus is the almond-nut. The rind is the cross and passion he endured in the Flesh: the shell is his Body - his Flesh and Bones. The Divinity and the sweetness of Jesus, which are sheathed within the Flesh, are figured by the kernel. Jesus is Light to the blind and unction to the sick, and soothing to holy souls.

The Marriage of the Blessed Virgin - another writing on the symbolism of Almonds/Almond Branch

Visit our Almond Pinterest board for some great recipes! My favorite is the almond covered pretzel- the prezel being a symbol for praying hands and almonds a symbol for Christ. Perfect for St. Valentine's Day especially this year as it falls during Lent!

Multiplying Divine Love with St. Valentine- File Folder Game 9x tables

Adding Divine Love with St. Valentine - File Folder Game 9 addition tables

Saint Valentine Bookmarks and Holy Cards to Download and Print

St. Valentine brings the Holy Eucharist Coloring Page

Saint Valentine Word Search

Saint Valentine Maze Printable

Check out our BLOG entries for the Feast of Saint Valentine!

Visit our St. Valentine Page for MORE printable (coloring pages, cards, etc.)

Our "little" project is growing! We continue to add to our Life of our Savior and Life of the Soul pages weekly. There are many, many coloring pages with many more to come. Next week we should have several coloring pages on Our Lord's passion and death with some on Easter to follow. We also added a coloring page for Ash Wednesday on our Lent page. Make sure to check them all out and keep coming back to see what is new. 

March and April's children's planner pages are also up, including some exciting news to go with them! Starting in May we will be offering a printed planner for sale for both the Maiden's for Mary and Crusader's for Christ planners. That is in addition to the Holy Simplicity planner in which we will start taking pre-orders for PRINTED VERSIONS! Those pre-orders are expected to start late April or early May. If you have suggestions for any of these planners, things you like, would like to see changed etc. Please leave us a comment at the bottom of this blog post. We are more than happy to accommodate where we can and make these planners easier to use and the most productive for students and teachers.

We pray that you are having a wonderful week and contemplating plans for the Lenten season.

For those of you with children, looking for a way to teach about the life of Our Lord , Holy Communion, First Confession and/or studies for lower elementary on the upcoming Lenten season...

Today's post comes from the book Catholic Life, Imprimatur  1908, and is listed for the New Year day but has such a lovely description of the Holy Name of Jesus we thought it best to share it, this second day of the New Year when the Church holds the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus


"The Holy Name of Jesus justifies the sinner, delights the just, supports those who are tempted, augments grace for the just, and beatifies all that call upon it." 
- St. Thomas

The ecclesiastical name for this day is the Feast of the Circumcision. It was instituted in honour of our Lord's receiving, on the eighth day after His birth, the mark of God's covenant with Abraham. The reception of this Sacrament of the Old Law was what distinguished God's chosen people from the rest of mankind, and was a figure of Baptism, which in the New Law distinguishes Christians from pagans and others.

The Divine Child was exempt from the ceremony, which was a remedy for sin, because He was Sanctity itself; but He submitted to it, having taken upon Himself the figure of sinful man, and to teach us respect and obedience to the laws of God and the Church. He also submitted to it in order to show that He was descended from Abraham, and thus fulfilled the
promise made of old to that Patriarch that the Messiah should be born of his race.

On that occasion He received the name of Jesus, which signifies Saviour, in accordance with the command of the angel to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph.

On this day we ought to repeat frequently the 'Divine Praises' in reparation for the many times the Holy Name is used irreverently. We can resolve, too, that in future, whenever in the streets or other places, we hear the Holy Name insulted, we will raise our hats and say, "Blessed be the Name of Jesus," and thus send reparation at once to the throne of God. The Litany of Jesus may also be said, with the view of obtaining a great increase of respect, love for, and confidence in Him. We ought also to thank God for conferring on us, without any merit on our part, the grace of Baptism,
conferred, too, at a time when we could not thank Him.

Let us renew our Baptismal vows with great fervour, especially as it happens to be the first day of the new year, and make firm resolutions
to avoid sin and to practice virtue more steadfastly than in the past. In the case of habitual sins we must try to find out the causes and remove them. We can more easily do this if we impress deeply on our minds the unspeakable value of the grace of God.

It was to give or increase it that the Sacraments were instituted. It was to preserve it that the Commandments were ordained, and it is to deprive us of it that the devil watches us and attacks us so frequently and violently.

"Blest Name that is rest and a shelter,
And light to the heart perplexed;
In this life, my last word and dearest,
My rapturous first in the next."

Example.-St. Genesius.

Genesius was a pagan Roman comedian. He was so skilled in his art that he was the idol of the Romans, and always drew an immense multitude of spectators. Public rejoicings were going on, and the Emperor Diocletian came to the capital in great state. Amongst the entertainments prepared for him was a stage performance.

Genesius, who was aware of the hatred of the Prince against the Christians, prepared a mock ceremony to ridicule the Sacrament of Baptism. He made his appearance in the theatre on a bed, pretending to be sick, and asked
to be baptized, so that he might have a happy death.

All this being done in comedy, excited the laughter of the people. Two actors then came forward, one dressed as a priest, the other as an exorcist, and said to Genesius, with mock gravity: 'My child, wherefore didst though send for us?" Genesius, suddenly changed by a miracle of grace, answered seriously: "Because I desire to receive the grace of Jesus
Christ, and by holy regeneration to obtain remission of my sins."

The ceremonies of Baptism were then gone through. When the white robe, the mark of the newly baptized, was put on him, the soldiers took him bound before the Emperor to be interrogated. Diocletian enjoyed the whole thing very much, and, to make the play more real, pretended to be very angry, and asked Genesius: 'Are you a Christian?' Genesius replied in
an inspired tone: "Hear me, O Emperor. Formerly, when I so much as heard the name of Jesus Christ uttered, I trembled with rage. I detested those among my relatives who professed the Christian religion. I studied the rights of Christians solely to scoff at them. But the moment the water of Baptism touched my flesh, my heart was changed, and I answered sincerely to the questions put to me. I saw a troop of angels over me, who read out of a book all the sins I had committed since childhood.Then, having plunged the book into the water, they showed it to me, whiter than snow, the writing being effaced. Do you, then, O mighty Emperor, and you, O Romans, believe with me that Jesus Christ is the Lord, and that He is
worthy of our adoration, and try also to obtain His mercy." The Emperor, equally surprised and irritated, first ordered him to be beaten with rods. Then he handed him over to the perfect Plautius to compel him to sacrifice to the idols. Genesius was stretched on the rack, and had his sides burnt with torches. Many other tortures were tried in vain.

The martyr constantly repeated: "There is no other Lord like Him Who appeared to me. I adore and love Him with my whole soul; though I had a thousand lives to lose, nothing could separate me from Him. Never-no, never shall torments take Jesus from my mouth and heart. I feel the deepest sorrow for all my past errors, and for having commenced so late to
serve Him." Seeing that his eloquence was making an impression on the people, the Emperor ordered his head to be cut off.

3 The Wonders of the Holy Name!

From the Publisher's site:
"This booklet is lovingly dedicated to the Sweet Mother of Jesus. No one loves the Name of Jesus as She does. The Holy Name of Jesus is, first of all, an all-powerful prayer. Our Lord Himself solemnly promises that whatever we ask the Father in His Name we shall receive. God never fails to keep His word. When, therefore, we say Jesus let us ask God for all we need with absolute confidence of being heard. 36 page booklet, Impr 1947."

The Liturgical Year - Advent Volume
By: Dom Gueranger Imprimatur 1927


O Emmanuel! King of peace! Thou enterest today the city of Thy predilection, the city in which Thou hast placed Thy temple - Jerusalem. A few years hence the same city will give Thee Thy cross and Thy sepulcher : nay, the day will come on which Thou wilt set up Thy judgement-seat within sight of her walls. But to-day Thou enterest the city of David and Solomon unnoticed and unknown. It lies on Thy road to Bethlehem. Thy blessed Mother and Joseph her spouse would not lose the opportunity of visiting the temple, there to offer to the Lord their prayers and adoration. They enter; and then, for the first time, is accomplished the prophecy of Aggeus, that great shall be the glory of this last house more than of the first; (Agg. ii.10) for this second temple has now standing within it an ark of the Covenant more precious than was that which Moses built; and within this ark, which is Mary, is contained the God whose presence makes her the holiest of sanctuaries. The Lawgiver Himself is in this blessed ark, and not merely, as in that of old, the tablet of stone on which the Law as graven. The visit paid, our living ark descends the steps of the temple, and sets out once more for Bethlehem, where other prophecies are to be fulfilled. We adore Thee, O Emmanuel!   in this Thy journey, and we reverence the fidelity wherewith Thou fulfillest all that the prophets have written of Thee; for Thou wouldst give to Thy people the certainty of Thy being the Messias, by showing them that all the marks, whereby He was to be known, are to be found in Thee. And now, the hour is near; all is ready for Thy birth; come, then save us; come, that THou mayest not only be called our Emmanuel, but our Jesus, that is, He that saves us.


THE GREAT ANTIPHON TO JERUSALEM
O Jerusalem! city of the great God: lift up thine eyes round about, and see thy Lord, for he is coming to loose thee from thy chains.

The Liturgical Year - Advent Volume
By: Dom Gueranger Imprimatur 1927


O King of nations! Thou art approaching still nigher to Bethlehem, where Thou art to be born. The journey is almost over, and Thy august Mother, consoled and strengthened by the dear weight she bears, holds an unceasing converse with Thee on the way. She adores Thy divine Majesty; she gives thanks to Thy mercy; she rejoices that she has been chosen for the sublime ministry of being Mother to God. She longs for that happy moment when her eyes shall look upon Thee, and yet she fears it. For, how will she be able to render Thee those services which are due to Thy infinite greatness, she that thinks herself the last of creatures? How will she dare to raise Thee up in her arms, and press Thee to her heart, and feed Thee at her breasts? When she reflects that the hour is now near at hand, in which, tenderness, her heart sinks within her; for, what human heart could bear the intense vehemence of these two affections - the love of such a Mother for her Babe, and the love of such a creature for her God? But Thou supportest her, O Thou the Desired of nations!  for Thou, too, longest for that happy birth, which is to give to the earth its Saviour, and to men that corner-stone, which will unite them all into one family. Dearest King! be Thou blessed for all these wonders of Thy power and goodness! Come speedily, we beseech Thee, come and save us, for we are dear to Thee, as creatures that have been formed by Thy divine hands. Yea, come, for Thy creation has grown degenerate; it is lost; death has taken possession of it: take Thou it again into Thy almighty hands, and give it a new creation; save it; for Thou hast not ceased to take pleasure in and love Thine own work.

THE GREAT ANTIPHON IN HONOUR OF CHRIST
 O King of peace! that wast born before all ages, come by the golden gate; visit them whom thou hast redeemed, and lead them back to the place whence they fell by sin.

The TRANSFIGURATION
of OUR LORD - August 6th

Our divine Redeemer, being in Galilee the summer before His sacred Passion, took with Him Saint Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Saint James and Saint John, and led them to the heights of a solitary mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Tabor, which is exceedingly high and beautiful, and in those days was covered with green trees and shrubs. It rises alone in the midst of a vast plain of Galilee.

It is here that the God-Man appeared in His glory. While Jesus prayed, He permitted the glory which was always due to His sacred humanity — and of which for our sake, not to alarm us, He deprived it — to diffuse its brilliance over His whole body. His face was transfigured and shone as the sun, and His garments became white as snow. Moses and Elias were seen in His company by the three apostles on this occasion, and were heard discoursing with Him of the death which He was to suffer in Jerusalem. The three were wondrously delighted with this glorious vision, and Saint Peter cried out to Christ, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tents, one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias.”

While Saint Peter was speaking, suddenly there came a bright cloud from heaven, emblem of the presence of God’s majesty, and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him.” By these words, God made known that in Christ they must recognize the One He had foretold to Moses, saying: “I will raise up from among them a Prophet like you; I will put My words in His mouth, and He will tell them all I command Him. If anyone does not want to hear the words that this Prophet will speak in My Name, it is to Me that he will have to answer for it.” (Deut. 18:18-19) When the Jews asked John the Baptist if he was the Prophet, this was the Expected One they referred to. The apostles understood perfectly now what these words meant; the prophecy was known to all who listened to the Scriptures read each week in their synagogues. Hearing this voice, they were nonetheless seized with a sudden fear, and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them, and bade them rise. They immediately did so, and saw no one but Jesus standing there in His ordinary state. This vision happened during the night. As they went down the mountain early the next morning, Jesus forbade them to tell anyone what they had seen, before He had risen from the dead.

Reflection: From the contemplation of this glorious mystery we ought to conceive a true idea of future happiness. If this idea enters our souls, we will think nothing of the difficulties or labors we meet with here, but will regard with great indifference all the goods and evils of this life, provided we obtain our portion in the kingdom of God’s glory.

Source: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).

For those of you following with us on the Liturgical Year Bulletin Board, the new July 2012 pieces are up!

July is yet another busy month!

July 1st    Feast of the Most Precious Blood

July 2nd The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin

July 7th SS. Cyril and Methodius, Patrons of the Slavs

July 16th    Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

July 19th    St. Vincent De Paul

July 22nd   St. Mary Magdalen

July 25th   St. James the Apostle

July 26th  St. Anne Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we will have a special feast day post (or two) for this special saint!

July 31st    St. Ignatius