Celebrate St. Rose of Lima's Feast Day

August 23 is the optional Memorial of St. Rose of Lima, the first canonized saint of the Western Hemisphere and the saint whose name a local church bears.  Thus, I plan to sprinkle our week with faith, food, and learning that relates to St. Rose of Lima.

As I brainstorm some S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E + activities and a simple feast day meal, I thought I'd share them in case you, too, would like to weave saint-based learning, food, and fun into your week.


Saint Rose of Lima S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E + Ideas 

{Disclosure:  Some of the links which follow are affiliate ones.}

S - Spell and Learn Words  

My daughter always cheers when we play our spelling word game, so, we'll likely write "Saint Rose of Lima" on mini-white boards and then try to create as many words as we can from the letters within the saints' names within three minutes.  Before beginning our timer, we'll recall that every word has to have a vowel in it and, then, suss out what vowels (and r-controlled vowels) we could use in our words, such as:

/ă/ a /ā/ a, ai, ea, ei /ä/ a /ĕ/ e, ea /ē/ e, ea, ei, i, ie /ĭ/ i /ī/ i, ei /ŏ/ o /ō/ o, oa, oe, oo /ö/ o, oo, oe /ŭ/ u, ou /ū/ u /ü/ u, oo /oi/ oi /ow/ ou Plus, the R-controlled vowels ER, IR,  EAR, AR, and OR.

 
We'll also look for consonant blends might help us form words (like fl, fr, sl, sm, sn, st, and str.) and, perhaps, recall some quick reminders of strategies:

• thinking of rhyming words (i.e. "sat", "rat", and "slat")
• using plural "s" or "es" and 3rd person singular verb "s" or "es" (such as "lot", "lots", "tan" and "tans")
• finding as many words as possible from just one word in the name before moving onto the next (as in finding "a", "an", "tan", "tans", "I", "is", "as", ""in", "sin", "tin", "tins", "it", "nit", "sit", "its", "nits", "ant", "ants", "at", "sat", "nat" and "nats" in "saint" before adding the letters in the word "Rose" to add, "art", "rain", "sane" and so forth)

From, there, it will be time to set our timer, find words, write them down, then compare them with each other when the timer goes off.

K - Keep Reading to Yourself
 
The children, as always, will be able to choose their own reading for "Read to Self" time, including the following saint day selections which I will pull from our home library as well as order from our public library:

 

"St. Rose of Lima" Saints and Angels by Claire Llewellyn

"St. Rose of Lima" in Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children by Bart Tesoriero

"Saint Rose of Lima" in More Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth Sanderson

"Saint Rose of Lima" in In His Likeness

I would love other recommendations of Saint Rose of Lima reads, too, if you have any.

I - Illustrate and Write

For copywork/studied dictation the children may choose from any of these quotes from St. Rose of Lima's writing:

"The gift of grace increases as the struggles increases."

"If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men."

"Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart."

"Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven."

"Let men take care not to stray and be deceived."
 

We might also write brief narrations about St. Rose of Lima's life, and, since she took special care of the poor and is patron to the Philippines, we may also write to a child we sponsor in the Philippines.

L - Listen to Reading

This week, we will begin reading Saint Rose of Lima together.

We will also listen to Knock and It Will be Opened to You!: The Story of Saint Rose of Lima (Glory Stories: Vol X) again.

If you don't have access to any books that include Saint Rose of Lima in them, you might simply read one of the following online pieces:

• St. Rose of Lima and the Fragrant Love Born of Suffering, which considers St. Rose of Lima as a contemplative, apostolic, and charitable daughter of Saint Dominic, who was also a thinker, doer, and lover of Christ
  

• Saint Rose of Lima, which includes the reflection:
  It is easy to dismiss excessive penances of the saints as the expression of a certain culture or temperament. But a woman wearing a crown of thorns may at least prod our consciences. We enjoy the most comfort-oriented life in human history. We eat too much, drink too much, use a million gadgets, fill our eyes and ears with everything imaginable. Commerce thrives on creating useless needs on which to spend our money. It seems that when we have become most like slaves, there is the greatest talk of “freedom.” Are we willing to discipline ourselves in such an atmosphere?

• St. Rose of Lima, which brief and child-friendly.

• Saint Rose of Lima, which has biographies for young families, practiced families, and experienced families.

• SAINT ROSE OF LIMA, VIRGIN—1617, which is more detailed than the aforementioned selections

 
L -Learn and Play with One Another Using Language Arts

Among St. Rose of Lima's symbols are:

• a crown of thorns and roses (symbolizing her purity and beauty and the penances she underwent) 
• a needle and thimble (significant because Saint Rose of Lima worked as a lace maker to help support her family and is patron of embroiderers and needle workers)
• a spiked crown (again, for St. Rose of Lima's suffering)
• an iron chain (because it is said she whipped herself with one as a voluntary penance)
• roses (which represent holiness and purity)
• an anchor (which represents steadfast faith in the face of great suffering)
• the Holy Infant (because she had a great devotion to the Holy Infant and His Blessed Mother)

We might see how many of these symbols we can include in collectively written silly stories or more serious prayers.

T - Think, Read and Write About Math

After reading St. Rose's biography, I may challenge the children with such story problems as:

• St. Rose of Lima was born April 20, 1586 and is said to have begun strong devotions at five years old.  In what year did her strong devotions begin?
• St. Rose of Lima died on August 24, 1617.  How old was she when she passed?
• St. Rose of Lima was beatified 50 years after her death.  In what year did Pope Clement Ix beatify her?
• She was canonized by Pope Clement X four years later.  What year was that?

 
I - Investigate and Problem Solve with Math

It is said, that, St. Rose of Lima and "and her brother Ferdinand built a tiny hermitage in her father's garden. She planned to live there. It was so small that her mother protested. 'It is big enough for Jesus and myself,' said Rose. Here, for the remainder of her life, she was to spend all of her days and part of her nights in contemplation, performing the penances which she devised to punish herself for the sins of the world."

As a challenge, using Brain Builders, a doll figurine (to represent St. Lima, and a Jesus figurine, I may challenge my children to build tiny hermitage models.

Thinking of St. Rose of Lima's quote, "Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven," I may challenge them to build a ladder-like form or tower that has crosses in it and can reach as high as possible toward the heavens.

M - Master Math Skills Together
 
St. Rose of Lima died at the young age of 31.  Thus, we may use this number and our Cuisenaire Rods to review and practice math concepts together, such as:

• Is 31 even or odd?  Prove it using rods.
• How many ways can you make the number 31 using rods?  What addition facts do these bring to mind?
• What are factors? (Numbers you multiply together to get another number.) So, what are the factors of  31? (1, 31)
• What is a prime number?  (A number that can only be divided evenly by one.)  Is 31 a prime number?

E - Exercise Math Skills on My Own

In 31 short years, St. Rose of Lima offered much to our Lord.  With this number in mind, I will challenge my children to use all four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, create 31 math problems that equal 31.

+ Extra Learning and Fun

• Virtues:  We will likely discuss temperance, fortitude, justice, and prudence in relation to St. Rose of Lima. Also, since she was charitable providing for the physical needs of the poor, the sick, orphans, and the elderly, we may chat about how we might serve such people this week, too.
   
• Handiwork:  Among other peoples, St. Rose of Lima is patron of embroiderers and florists.  We may try our hand at some embroidery, sewing, or flower arranging.

• Practical Life:  St. Rose of Lima is also patron of gardeners, so it will be a perfect time to take care of some overdue garden chores.
• Food Fun:  We will likely have a meal or snack of "roses".  We may use GFCF tortilla wraps to try out something similar to these tortilla roses, or I might have the kids experiment with making rose shapes from GFCF bread slices rolled out.  Alternately, I might just serve bread with some other rose-shaped food, maybe having the kids get fancy cutting strawberry roses. (I know I won't make mini apple rose pies this year, but want to save the idea for the future!)  

•  Herb Tasting:  St. Rose of Lima is said to have fasted on bread crusts and bitter herbs at times.  Remembering this, we may have an herb tasting, seeing which herbs in our garden - or at the farm we go to - taste the most bitter.

• Peruvian-Inspired Dishes:  There are so many Peruvian-inspired dishes to choose from for both meals and treats.  Some include Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding), Peruvian Vegetable Soup (as St. Rose was a vegetarian), corn on the cob (since corn is a major food in Peru), potatoes (for which Peru is famous), Solterit, Peruvian Potato-Peanut Soup, and, of course, garden salad, since St. Rose of Lima spent much time tending family gardens. 
  
  
  

• Nature Study and Poetry:  In Mysteries, Marvels and Miracles: In the Lives of the Saints, you can read about how Saint Rose of Lima sang with the birds.  Thus, we may go on a nature walk to spy birds and listen to their song.  We may also study the words of St. Rose of Lima's song as poetry:

 Tiny singer, flit your wings;
Bow before the King of kings.
Let your lovely concert rise
To Him Who gave you songs and skies.
Let your throat, full of carols sweet,
Pour them before the Eternal's feet
That we His praise may magnify
Whom birds and angels glorify.
I shall sing to Him who saved me:
You will sing to Him who made ye.
Both together, we shall bless
The God of love and happiness.
Sing, sing with bursting throat and heart!
In turn our voices will take part
To sing together, you and I,
A canticle of holy joy.
{As the bird flew away:}
The little bird abandons me:
My playmate's wings ascend.
Blessed be my God,
Who faithfully Stays with me to the end.

 

• Art Study:  We may examine paintings of St.Rose of Lima pictured saint books or online, noticing details, color palettes, what we like, etc.  Alternately, as it is said that St. Rose of Lima was drawn to stare at a picture  Christ crowned with thorns, we may study an artwork depiction of Christ like this.

• Geography:  Of course, we will find Peru on maps and globes.

Of course, pending how the week unfolds, some of these ideas may not come to fruition this year and others may pop up, but any which way, with these ideas gathered in one place, we'll be able to dive into St. Rose of Lima faith, food, and fun for years to come. t

As always, I would love to hear your favorite resources, traditions, recipes, and ideas related to St. Rose of Lima as well. 

St. Rose of Lima, pray for us.

Enjoy Faith, Fun, and Food with St. Elizabeth of Portugal

When I turned the calendar page to July and saw that Saint Elizabeth of Portugal's feast day is this week, I decided we'd focus some of our fun and learning on her.

As I brainstorm some S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E + plans - and a simple Saint Tea, I thought I'd share them with you in case you, too, would like to weave saint-based learning, food, and fun unto your week.

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E + Ideas 
{Disclosure:  Some of the links which follow are affiliate ones.}

S - Spell and Learn Words  

My daughter has been asking to play our spelling word game, so, we'll likely write "Saint Elizabeth of Portugal " on mini-white boards and then try to create as many words as we can from the letters within the saints' names within an agreed upon amount of time.  Before beginning our timer, we'll recall that every word has to have a vowel in it and, then, suss out what vowels (and r-controlled vowels) we could use in our words, such as:

/ă/	a
/ā/	a, ai, ea, ei, eigh
/ä/	a, au, augh
/ĕ/	e, ea
/ē/	e, ea, ee, ei, i, ie,
/ĭ/	i
/ī/	i, igh, ei, eigh
/ŏ/	o, ough
/ō/	o, oa, ou, oe, ough, oo
/ö/	o, oo, ou, u, ui, oe, ough
/ŭ/	u, ou
/ū/	u
/ü/	u, oo
/oi/	oi
/ow/	ou, ough

plus: er, ir, ear, ar, or

We'll also look for two-letter phonograms we might use (sh, gn, ng, and th) and, possibly, search out which consonant blends might help us form words (bl, gl, pl, sl, br, gr, pr, tr, sn, sp, st, and str). 

Then, we'll quickly recall some reminders of strategies:

• thinking of rhyming words (i.e. "pot", "lot", "bought", "sought", "tot", "brought", "thought", "fought", "rot", "ought", "taught", and "got)
• using plural "s" or "es" and 3rd person singular verb "s" or "es" (such as "pot", "pots", "brush", "brushes", "leap", "leaps", "go" and "goes")
• finding as many words as possible from just one word in the name before moving onto the next (as in finding "a", "an", "tan", "tans", "I", "is", "as", ""in", "sin", "tin", "tins", "it", "nit", "sit", "its", "nits", "ant", "ants", "at", "sat", "nat" and "nats" in "saint" before adding the letters in the word "Elizabeth)

From, there, it will be time to set the timer and find words.  Then, when the timer buzzes, my youngest will read his list, while the rest of us circle any words he had that we did, too.  Then, my second to youngest will do the same.  Then, my oldest will share, and, finally, I will.  Each of us will shoot for making as many words as we are years old!

K - Keep Reading to Yourself
 
The children, as always, will be able to choose their own reading for "Read to Self" time, including the following saint day selections which I was able to pull out of our home library.

"Saint Elizabeth of Portugal" in Once Upon a Time Saints

  

"Saint Elizabeth of Portugal" in In His Likeness

I would love other recommendations of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal reads, too, if you have any.

I - Illustrate and Write

 For copywork/studied dictation the children may choose from either of these quotes:

"God made me a queen so that I may serve others."

- Saint Elizabeth of Portugal

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

- Matthew 5:9

We might also write our own reflections or stories about being peacemakers and/or write brief narrations about St. Elizabeth of Portugal's life.

L - Listen to Reading


Since not all of my children are at a developed enough reading level to read "Saint Elizabeth of Portugal" in Once Upon a Time Saints, which is mentioned above, on their own, I may read it it to some or all of my children.  I will also likely read "St. Elizabeth of Portugal" along with its accompanying "Meditation: Peacemakers" in Little lessons from the Saints. 

I love the meditations in this book!

I may also read "Elizabeth of Portugal"  from Calling All Saints, which I particularly like because it talks about combining "tough love with a kind heart", something one of my children could do well to think about.

If you don't have access to any books that include Saint Elizabeth of Portugal in them, you might simply read the following online piece:

• St. Elizabeth of Portugal, which thoughtfully helps you imagine the courage, fidelity, generosity, charity, love, faith, patience, and strength of St. Elizabeth.
  

• St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Patroness of Franciscan Tertiaries, which includes the reflection:

  Do we attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with great reverence and awe connected in the spirit of prayer and genuine preparation?
  

• Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, which includes the reflection:
  The work of promoting peace is anything but a calm and quiet endeavor. It takes a clear mind, a steady spirit and a brave soul to intervene between people whose emotions are so aroused that they are ready to destroy one another. This is all the more true of a woman in the early 14th century. But Elizabeth had a deep and sincere love and sympathy for humankind, an almost total lack of concern for herself, and an abiding confidence in God. These were the tools of her success.

• St. Elizabeth or Portugal, which includes the reflection:
  "If you love peace, all will be well."- St. Elizabeth

• ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL: 'FOR, IN HER ISA SPIRIT INTELLIGENT, HOLY, UNIQUE', which is more detailed than the aforementioned selections

 
L -Learn and Play with One Another Using Language Arts

Among St. Elizabeth of Portugal's typical depictions, she is often depicted as a:

nun carrying roses, as in Santa Isabel Reina de Portugal// Museo Colonial de San Francisco. Santiago, Chile

 a woman carrying roses as in "Sancta Isabel Regina" (1893), by Francisco Vilaça

 a woman helping the poor and sick as in Saint Isabel of Portugal Healing the Wounds of a Sick Woman

a woman distributing alms as in Saint Elizabeth of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, distributing alms to the poor

We might choose one of these depictions and use it as inspiration for a pass-along story, where one of us tells or writes the beginning of the story, another the middle, and another the end.

T - Think, Read and Write About Math

The children  and I may create story problems related to Saint Elizabeth of Portugal based on her birthdate, death date, age of marriage, number of children, etc. 

 
I - Investigate and Problem Solve with Math

According to an article on America Needs Fatima, St. Elizabeth "mastered several languages, sang beautifully, and enjoyed a remarkable understanding of engineering and architecture. She herself designed and oversaw the building of several churches, monasteries and hospitals, developing her own 'Elizabethan Style.'"  And, according to the Anchor, " Portuguese churches have displayed replicas of her eight-sided crown in remembrance of her goodness and God’s grace."  With this in mind, I may challenge the children to design an eight-sided crown using our Brain Builders.  I may ask them to design a chapel altar with a cross on it, a hospital bed, or another structure, too.

M - Master Math Skills Together
 
I am sure the children will be surprised to hear that St. Elizabeth was married at the young age of 12.  So, we may use that number and our Cuisenaire Rods to review and practice math concepts, such as:

• Is 12 even or odd?  Prove it using rods.
• How many ways can you make the number 12 using rods?  What addition facts do these bring to mind?
• Can you make a square of 12?  What is 12 squared (144.)
• Let's count to 144 by 12's.  (You can look at your square for help.)
• What are factors? (Numbers you multiply together to get another number.), So, what are the factors of 12? (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12)  That means that (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 can all be divisors, too, since a divisor is a number that divides another number evenly.)
• What is a prime number?  (A number that can only be divided evenly by one.)  Which of the factors or 12 are prime numbers? (1, 2, 3)

Alternately, since legend has it that Saint Elizabeth of Portugal once paid construction workers in flowers which miraculously turned to gold at the end of day's work, we may play a board game with coins in it, such as the Allowance Game.

E - Exercise Math Skills on My Own

I have silk roses and dried straw flowers that we sometimes use when praying the rosary with friends.  I may take these out so the children can use them as manipulatives for routine math work in honor of the miracles of bread turning into roses and flowers turning into coins.


+ Extra Learning and  Fun

• Virtues:  We will likely discuss courage, fidelity, generosity, charity, love, faith, patience, and strength in relation to St. Elizabeth of Portugal. Also, since she was so charitable, we may chat about and act on some form of service we can extend to those around us.
   
• Practical Life:  In honor of the bread-and-roses miracle, we will likely have a meal or snack time with "bread roses".  We may use GFCF tortilla wraps to try out something similar to these tortilla roses or I might have the kids experiment with making rose shapes from GFCF bread slices rolled out.  Alternately, I might just serve bread with some other rose-shaped food, maybe having the kids get fancy cutting strawberry roses. (I know I won't make mini apple rose pies this year, but want to save the idea for the future!)  

• Art Study:  We may examine the art pictured above, noticing details, color palettes, what we like, etc.

• Geography:  Of course, we will find Portugal on maps and globes.

As always, pending how the week unfolds, some of these ideas may not come to fruition this year and others may be substituted, but any which way, I now feel prepared to learn about and remember St.. Elizabeth of Portugal this year and in years to come.  I would, of course, love to hear your favorite resources, traditions, recipes, and ideas related to this kind-hearted saint as well.  Please do take them.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, pray for us.

Enjoy a St. Brigid and St. Verdiana S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E. + and a Luncheon "Tea" Plan

Just a few days away, on February 1, is the feast day of St. Brigid and St. Verdiana, so today, I have been planning our saint-inspired S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E. + in connection to these saints as well as planning details for hosting a small saint luncheon tea with friends.  In case you, too, enjoy weaving saint-based learning, food, and fun into your days, too, I thought I'd share my plans.


Saints Brigid and Verdiana S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E. +

{Disclosure:  Some of the links which follow are affiliate ones.  Should you click through them and make a purchase we may receive small income at no extra cost to you.  Anything we earn goes straight back into training happy hearts and sharing about it here. Thank you.}


  S - Spell and Learn Words  

My children always enjoy find-a-word challenges on saint days, so we will first, talk about how "St." is the abbreviation for the word "Saint" and, likewise, how "Sts." if the one for "Saints".  Then, using our movable printed alphabet, we will "write" "Sts. Brigid and Verdiana" with our printed alphabet letters on the floor, upon which, I will challenge my children (and myself) to create as many words as they can from the letters within the saints' names withing an agreed upon amount of time.  Then, starting with my youngest, we will read the words we created and see if we can each meet the goal of having written as least as many words.

I may slide a gentle grammar lesson in as well, chatting about why we capitalize the word "saint" sometimes and not others, what a common noun is and what a proper noun is.

I will also, of course, highlight phonograms my children have been working on and ones that come up as they create words and may discuss strategies we each used in creating our word lists, such as thinking of rhyming words, finding as many words as we can from the letters in just one word (Sts., Brigid, or Verdiana) before moving on to the next, or thinking about 1-letter words, then 2-letter ones, then 3-letter ones, and so forth.

K - Keep Reading to Yourself
The children, as always, will be able to choose their own reading for "Read to Self" time, including the following saint day selections and, maybe books about Ireland, Italy, snakes, foxes, as well as other creatures and things related to the lives and legends that have been recorded about St. Brigid and St. Verdiana.

Some of the books they might dip into are:

St. Brigid of Ireland (The Story Library of the Saints), which we own

 

Saint Bridget and the Fox and Saint Verdiana and the Snakes (Amazing Saints & their Awesome Animals), which we own

St. Brigid's Cloak, which we have borrowed from our library system

Saint Brigid (Saints Lives and Illuminations), which we have borrowed from our library system and which is on my "buy" list

Brigid's Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story, which is in at our local library for us and which I have now put on my buy list after so many years of borrowing it

 

I - Illustrate and Write

I was hoping to make a free printable copywork/studied dictation sheet today to share using the quote:

"I would like an abundance of peace. I would like full vessels of charity. I would like rich treasures of mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all."

- St. Brigid of Kildare (451 - 523)

Time ran out on me as I attended to other needs, but we may still use the quote without a printable.  (Or, if I find the time within the next couple days, I may make a simple sheet and share it here later.)

The children may also be encouraged to color the Saint Bridget and the Fox and Saint Verdiana and the Snakes  images in our Amazing Saints & their Awesome Animals Coloring Book and, then, to write their own version of the tales, if they wish.


Or, perhaps I will have them write letters to people we know which include this blessing:

May Brigid bless the house wherein you dwell. Bless every fireside, every wall and door. Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof. Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy. Bless every foot that walks its portals through. May Brigid bless the house that shelters you.

St. Brigid of Ireland, Pray for us!

L - Listen to Reading
Along with reading some of the books listed above, we will likely read or listen to one or more of the following together:

I would love to own Life of Saint Brigid: Abbess of Kildare, but copies of it seem to be found only at crazy-high price right now.  Luckily, the book is offered free as an audio online at Ancient Faith Minisitries along with other St. Brigid day audios, so we may listen to it while we do chores, color, or craft.

We also have these stories on hold at our library, which I hope come in in time:

Saint Brigid and the Cows (Brother Wolf, Sister Sparrow)

Twenty Tales of Irish Saints

Plus, of course, I have plenty of online excerpts bookmarked on my laptop should we have time to read more, including some from this goldmine of St. Brigid tales and this archived reading on St. Verdiana or this more modern one from the Catholic Herald.

L -Learn and Play with One Another Using Language Arts

Although I sometimes comes up with fun games for saint days, this week, I want to stick with the children and my typical 1:1 routine, which includes them reading to me and then us playing a 3-in-a-row game on whiteboards with challenge words.  We'll likely do this with St. Brigid or St. Verdiana readings.

T - Think, Read and Write About Math

The children  and I will create story problems related to the saints as we read about them.  I may also have the children draw what 13 portions of something might look like, with the 13th portion extra big, for it is said the Brigid used to apportion the butter she churned into 13 portions to remember Jesus and his 12 apostles, and that she would always set the larger "Jesus" portion aside to offer to those in need.

 
I - Investigate and Problem Solve with Math

St. Brigid and St. Verdiana are associated through stories with all manner of  animals and objects.  Thus, we might use our Tangram Race Game pieces to challenge ourselves to make swords, dogs snakes, cows, and foxes.  Perhaps, I will read the children the different tales as they make the shapes.

M - Master Math Skills Together

We may measure out a space that is 10 ft. x 4 ft., the size the St. Verdiana's cell is purported to be, and then figure out its perimeter and area.  I might even have each child spend part of the day in the measured space and imagine what it would be like to live there for 3 years, alongside two huge snakes, to boot!

Also, 34 years in a cell for St. Verdiana. Thirteen portions of churned butter from St. Brigid.  The numbers in tales of St. Verdiana and St. Brigid are plenty.  With them, we can create addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems with ease.  We can also figure how long each saint was said to have lived, how many years apart they lived, etc.

Plus, playing on the idea of the two snakes that tested St. Verdiana's patience (by her own request), we can work with counting by two's.

E - Exercise Math Skills on My Own

I may have each of my children pick a number from the saint stories and write that number in as many forms as they can think of - as a Roman numeral, as coins, as an addition/subtraction/multiplication/division problem, as a date or month (of possible), in word-form, in tally marks, etc.

+ Extra Learning and  Fun

• Virtues:  We will likely discuss piety, generosity, patience, and mortification in reference to St. Verdiana and piety, generosity, perseverance, joy, hospitality, and morein relation to St. Brigid.
   
• Practical Life:  We will likely have Irish-oatmeal for breakfast, which the kids can help make.  For dinner, if we are feeling ambitious, I may enlist the children to help make slow cooker GFCF Irish Stew or One Hour Vegan Shepherd's Pie for dinner in celebration of St. Brigid's Irish heritage.  If we are not up for that, I will have the children help me make Irish and Italian "flags" out of produce and whatnot to celebrate both St. Brigid's and St. Verdiana's countries of origin.

• Crafting:  We may make St. Brigid's Crosses as directed in the brief St. Brigid section of Catholic Traditions in the Home and Classroom.  (There are directions in various places online, too.) .

• Art Study:  We will examine illustrations in various books.  I also would like to do a quick art study of Saint Brigid Milking Her Cows to Feed the Local Bishops, which I found on artnet.  I think my children will find the warm colors and composition interesting.  We may also look at the paintings of Saint Verdiana Carrying Food to the Poor and Saint Verdiani Healing the Child, which are at Harvard Art Museum's site.

• Culture/Geography:  Of course, we will find Ireland and Italy on maps and globes, and we may also chat about Irish and Italian culture, as well as traditions connected directly to the saints, such as hanging out a piece of cloth or ribbon to become a piece of St. Brigid's mantle.

• Survival Skills:  It is said, among other things, that St. Brigid kept a fire perpetually burning.  Depending on how the day goes, perhaps we will make an outdoor fire and try to cook some potatoes in it.

• Music Appreciation and Song:  Youtube has a wide variety of songs about St. Brigid as well as plenty of Irish music, so music should be no problem.

• Art:  Obviously, with so many possibilities for learning and fun on this day, there will be more plans than putting into practice (which is okay by me, since the plans we don't get to can be used in future years!)  Among those plans are painting peg dolls, creating mixed media art, and otherwise diving into arts and crafts in regards to these saints.

Faith through Food and Fun

This year, we'll be hosting a luncheon "tea" for some friends we've been trying to get together with for some time.  We had actually planned to have them over to share in our annual Our Lady of Altagracia celebration,  but Nana's passing canceled that.  So, this week, we'll be celebrating a triple-saint "tea", honoring Our Lady of Altagracia, Saint Brigid, and Saint Verdiana.

Decoration

With so many saints to celebrate at once, our decorations will be simple.

• the table will be covered a white table cloth layered with a blue fabric with golden "stars" on it since Our Lady of Altagracia's veil and St. Brigid's mantle are both sometimes depicted as blue with stars.

• a green candle will remind us we are in Ordinary Time again (though some, traditionally consider the seasons Christmastide straight through Candlemas on February 2) and a white candle will remind us of the purity of the saints' love for God.

• several of the aforementioned picture books and/or printed images of the saints will adorn the head of the table.

• my Our Lady of Altagracia peg doll (from the lovely collection I have form a local Marian peg doll swap), a St. Brigid cross (if I have time to fashion one), and some dry beans to remind us of St. Verdiana's charitable heart will also adorn the table.

• a globe, so we can locate Ireland (for St. Brigid), Italy (for St. Verdiana), and the Dominican Republic (for Our Lady of Altagracia)

Tea Time Fare 

Our menu will be eclectic, since we are celebrating three saints and accommodating multiple food allergies, intolerance, and preferences between our two families which preclude things like Irish bread, Irish stew, and popular St. Brigid Day fare.  However, somehow we have managed to plan a gluten-free, casein-free, menu without rice, soy, corn, grains, legumes, and added sugar, while still including some meat for our meat lovers.

• The children will be able to choose from Irish Tea (for Saint Brigid's homeland), water (for St. Brigid's Holy Well), orange juice (for Our Lady of Altagracia), or chocolate almond milk (because two of my three children love that!)

• A small bowl of oranges and clementines will remind us of the story A Gift of Gracias about Our Lady of Altagracia.

•  To add some vegetables and some meat to our table, I will make our now-traditional "orange grove" in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia using nitrite and nitrate-free cold cuts, baby greens, and carrot slices. 

• My friend said she is going to bring a delicious gluten-free, casein, free, paleo orange cake she experimented with (also in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia).

• She is also bring GFCF biscuits and jam, as we have read that eating blueberry jam on St. Brigid's day is becoming customary in Ireland.  (I will add Earth Balance spread and peach jelly "marmalade" since those are one of my child's preferred spread)

• Homemade crockpot applesauce (which my children love!) with optional So Delicious Cocowhip, will remind us of St. Brigid's generosity and the purity of her love and kindness as it  is said that St. Brigid gave away gifts of apples to lepers.  (See Bethu Brigte for more details.)

•  Although part of my friend's family does not do legumes, since it is an intolerance, not an allergy, I will put out some chickpeas and cannellini beans to remind us of St. Verdiana and to get some protein into my one vegetarian.

Prayer

• We will, of course, pray Grace and spontaneous prayers.

• Then, we'll add a Hail Mary in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia.

• We may also pray one or more of the St. Brigid day prayers my children and I used last year when we celebrated with simple stories and notebooking.

• We also will add a spontaneous prayer related to St. Verdiana. 

Activities

• We will likely read one or more selection from the books I mentioned under S.K.I.L.L. T.I.M.E. + and, possibly, A Gift of Gracias, which I have previously shared a book study for.

• The Great Giveaway:  Although the Year of Mercy has ended, every year is a year to focus on mercy and virtue as far as I am concerned.  Thus, I thought we might read The Giveaway poem (as shared in my 2012 St. Brigid Day post) and, then, read a bit about St. Verdiana's generosity before making My Great Giveaway charts.  What I am envisioning is that each child can make a 12-month chart decorated with images of, and, perhaps, notes about, Sts. Brigid and Verdiana.  Then, they can use it to remind themselves to give something away by the first of each month (the monthly anniversary of both St. Brigid and Verdiana.

Revisit Past Celebrations and Ideas

Our family has celebrated St. Brigid's Day in one way or another almost every year since 2010, and I've written up descriptions with photographs and links for several of those years.  Enjoy clicking through to find more ideas and inspiration if you wish.

• Celebrating St. Brigid's Feast Day (2010)

• Plans for a Simple Saint Brigid Feast Day (2012)

• Celebrate St. Brigid with Simple Stories and Notebooking (2015)

 As always, I pray that the sharing I offer here blesses your family's life and learning.  

I would also love to hear about your favorite resources, recipes, prayers, and ideas related to Sts. Brigid and Verdiana (and Our Lady of Altagracia, too!). Links and comments about descriptions of your devotions, studies, and celebrations are always most welcome.

 
  St. Brigid, St. Verdiana, and Our Lady of Altagracia and pray for us!