Wisdom of Social Justice: Prudence (moral duty)-doing the good

WISE WORDS FROM THE SAINTS…for Signage or Bulletin Boards
Suggested Morning Prayers for Announcements
ALL SAINTS DAY PRAYER SERVICE
The Wisdom of the Communion of Saints Class and Lesson Resources

	Growing in WISDOM to WORSHIP & WITNESS
November 2012	“The saint is the person who is so fascinated by the beauty of God and by His perfect truth as to be progressively transformed by it.” -Pope Benedict XVI (Homily on World Mission Sunday, 2005)

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

All Saints Day

All Souls Day

Pray for the community of St. Charles School…

3 NCPIC

Annual Conference

…Happy 60^th

Anniversary!

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Take Our Kids To Work Day

NCPIC Meeting

Random Act of Kindness Day

St. Leo the Great

Remembrance

Day

PA Day

Int’l Day of Tolerance

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

18

Bullying Awareness and Prevention

Week begins

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

22

St. Cecilia

NC Spelling Bee, 6pm@DM

Feast of Christ the King

26

St. Catherine of Alexandria

(transferred from

Nov. 25^th)

St. Andrew

WORDS OF WISDOM: The Wisdom of the Communion of Saints

In September, we focused on the wisdom of the Catholic Community, this month we dive deeper into that community with a focus on the communion of Saints. There is so much that we can learn from the lives of the saints. They are holy men and women, now in Heaven, who lived lives just like you and me. They come from different countries and cultures, had different jobs and hobbies, and each have something to teach us about what it means to follow Christ. Some, like St. Augustine, were scholars (teachers) people who worked hard to share their knowledge of the faith. Others, like St. Mark and St. Paul were evangelists who travelled through different communities spreading the Good News. And many others, such as St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Andrew Basset, and St. John Bosco lived simpler lives as members of a religious order taking care of people in need. There is a patron saint for practically everything; from athletes and artists, to students and zoo keepers, even our school and church community has a patron saint. This month let us strive to discover who our patron saint is and what wisdom they can share with us about what it means to truly live our lives for God.

WISE WORDS FROM THE SAINTS…for Signage or Bulletin Boards

God asks little, but He gives much.

-Saint John Chrysostom

We can do no great things, only small things with great love.

-Blessed Mother Teresa

The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made visible.

The poor sick person is Christ again made visible.

-Saint Gerard Majella

I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything,

even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.

- Saint Dominic Savio

We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear.

-Saint Francis de Sales

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.

-Saint Anthony of Padua

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

-Saint Rose of Lima

Suggested Morning Prayers for Announcements

Nov. 1^st

Today is All Saints Day. On All Saints Day, we remember the many saints who serve as examples in our lives. As we honour the saints today in memory, let us also honour them through our actions and reflect the faith for which they stood for.

Almighty and everlasting God,

who kindles the flame of your love in the hearts of the saints,

grant to us the same faith and power of love: that as we rejoice in their triumphs,

we may profit by their examples of faithful service.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord .Amen.

Nov. 2^nd

Today is All Souls Day. Today, we remember those who have passed away. We pray that they are in heaven with God and that those who are experiencing the sadness of death are able to deepen their faith.

Dear Lord Jesus,

you have been through death yourself.

Be near to those that have died and those who are passing away this hour.

Make yourself known to them and may they know your company in closing their eyes. Amen.

Nov. 5^th

In Mark’s gospel, we find we read that faith without action is dead. Therefore, if we have faith, we need to show it in our actions. Today, we pray that God will allow our faith to be visible in our action.

God,

make us worthy to be called your followers,

trusting, and obedient,

and firm in our commitment to serve you to the end. Amen.

Nov. 6^th

Do you have integrity? Integrity means to have morals, to be trustworthy and reliable. If this is something we don’t have, we should pray for it. If we do have it, we should pray for more of it.

Father, even when it brings about hurtful circumstances, help us to do the right thing. Make our integrity abundant and may it honour You, our holy father in heaven. Amen

Nov. 7^th

Integrity is firmness of principle, steadfastness, and being unmovable in one’s decision for the right. It is a commodity very much needed in a world where much is promised and little gained. Today we pray for integrity.

Lord, we know that possessing integrity is not an accident.

It is the result of self- discipline and self-control.

Help us to surrender to your service and live with integrity through you. Amen.

Nov. 8^th

There are many ways to explain hope. One way to explain hope is to say: Hope means that we wish for good things to come. If our hope is in God, amazing things will happen.

Lord, we know with you all things are possible.

Because of this, our hope is in you.

Today help us to have self control and integrity in all that we do.

Through our actions, we pray that we can give others hope in you.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Nov. 9^th

Today is Random Act of Kindness Day. For us to exercise kindness in our lives requires the gift of prudence. Prudence means that we are careful, cautious and have good judgment.

Lord, give us the gift of prudence. Today on Random Act of Kindness day, give us the qualities of prudence and allow it to help each one of us to do something kind for someone else. Amen

Nov. 12^th

Today is the Feast of St. Josaphat. He was a famous preacher who worked to bring unity among the faithful and bring strayed Christians back into the church. Today, we pray that our faith can bring unity to the faithful and bring fallen away Christians back to church.

God,

please walk beside me.

Help my faith hold strong through the trails and the storms.

Even in the darkest hour, stay with me Lord,

and allow me to show others your way. Amen

Nov. 13^th

Hope if used properly can be a powerful spiritual weapon against darkness and negativity. Today we pray for renewed hope.

Dear Jesus,

Help us to remember the words of St. Paul:

“Eye has not seen nor ear heard…what God has prepared for those who love him.” Jesus, we love you.

Help us to have hope and faith in the plans you have for each of us. Amen

Nov. 14^th

Integrity allows us to be honest, honourable, and good. Having these three qualities in our walk of life allows us to be hopeful, have self-control, and be prudent. Today we pray for integrity.

Awesome God,

we ask you to help us live with integrity.

May we and those in positions of authority and leadership,

seek to serve mankind in love and compassion. Amen.

Nov. 15^th

Having self-control is important for us as Christians. Being a Christian means to be like Christ, and having self-control allows us to reflect Jesus.

God,

Shape us into beings of kindness.

Grant each of us the grace of self control so that we will not lash out in anger.

If we are witnesses of such an outburst, immediately remind those involved of your love and how they need to be a reflection of you. Amen.

Nov. 16^th

Faith is not only important for our own lives but the lives of others. We can use our faith to give others hope and to help those who don’t have a strong faith in God.

Loving Father,

Thank you for the gift of being one of your children.

May how we act, work, and live today bring more people

to have hope and faith in you. Amen.

Nov. 19^th

Sometimes our faith requires us to speak but at other times requires us to keep silent. Knowing when to speak and when to be silent takes great self-control. Today, we pray that as we walk in our faith, we may speak God’s message but also take time to listen to God.

Loving God,

Make us ready to listen as we are to talk,

ready to listen to your voice in our hearts,

ready to listen to other people who need a sympathetic ear.

Lord, help us to know when to be silent and when to speak. Amen.

Nov. 20^th

When our faith is strong, it’s easy to see God all around us. Today we pray that God makes our faith so strong, we see him all around us.

Loving Father,

We praise you for the wonderful things you have given us,

for the beautiful sun,

for the changing seasons,

for cool winds and evergreen trees.

May these things remind us of your beauty and help us to reflect on our faith in you. Amen.

Nov. 21^st

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary’s parents offered her to God in the temple when she was three years-old. This feast reminds us that Mary’s holiness began at the very first moment of her life and continued through early childhood and for the rest of her days. Mary is an amazing example for us that we can only hope to model in our lives.

Lord, plant in our hearts daily reminders to always hope for greater things.

Help us to remember that hope is a spiritual pillar of faith, containing many rewards of its own. Amen

Nov 22^nd (You may choose to share a special song from Rise Up & Sing or have the school choir share their talent over the PA today!)

Today is the feast day of St. Cecelia. St. Cecelia loved to sing! Sometimes she used her voice, but often she sang to God in her heart. St. Cecelia is the patron saint of music. St. Augustine tells us that “to sing is to pray twice”. St. Cecelia’s faith was strong. Today, we pray that God makes our faith strong as well.

God, like St. Cecilia, let us never forget to sing our praises to you! Amen

Nov. 23^rd

Today we pray that God fills our hearts with hope.

God, source of hope,

fill us with your joy and peace by means of faith

so that hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Use next week to make sure that all classes have Advent wreaths, candles and matches. All prayer table coverings should be purple. Plans should be in place for your school community Advent prayer services.

Nov. 26^th

Faith is a powerful thing. Jesus tells us that if you say to a mountain, totally believing and with no doubt in your heart, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea”, it will happen! Of course, this can’t physically happen but it is meant to be a symbol. Today, we pray for a faith that moves the things that seem like big mountains and obstacles in our lives today.

God,

Allow us to remember the power of faith.

That it can move mountains, allows us to have hope that never ends,

that it allows miracles to happen, silent prayers be answered,

and broken hearts to become brand new.

Help us to remember that this is what faith can do. Amen

Nov. 27^th

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.” It is difficult to be certain in what we cannot see, so today we pray for God to strengthen our faith.

God, please strengthen our faith.

Today, we pray that our eyes see you in creation, that our ears hear your voice in our friends and family, that our hands do your work, and that our feet walk in your path. Amen.

Nov. 28^th

As Christians, our hope is in Jesus. Today we pray in the spirit of hope that Jesus strengthens our faith, self control and integrity.

Lord Jesus Christ, of unfailing courage and firm hope,

encourage us and strengthen us in self-control and integrity

to always do and say what is good. Amen

Nov. 29^th

God`s grace instructs us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. Today, we pray for the grace of God.

Make us, God, self-controlled and alert.

Help us to develop a habit of praying more consistently

and help it to make us more self-controlled in all areas of our lives.

Amen.

Nov. 30^th

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew. He was Christ’s first disciple. A disciple is someone sent by God to do his work. We are all disciples because we are all created with a purpose and to do God’s work in many different ways that reflect our gifts and talents. Remembering that we are disciples at all times requires great faith and a lot of hard work!

Lord,

enable us to walk in the way of integrity,

faithfully believing your word and doing your commandments,

faithfully serving you and our neighbour

in the name of Your Son and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Possible November School Newsletter Insert

This month, our quest for Wisdom leads us to the saints. Our school community will be learning from the holy men and women of the Catholic Church what it means to live faith filled and virtuous lives directed by love, fortitude, integrity, and prudence. We will take these lessons into our school’s Random Acts of Kindness Day and our Anti-bullying Campaign, and remember how important it is that (name of School) is a safe, caring and inclusive place in which the gifts and talents of students and staff are celebrated. As important partners in Catholic Education, my hope is that you, with your family, spend some time this month learning more about the call to holiness and the joy of regularly celebrating Sunday Eucharist at _________ parish.

ALL SAINTS DAY PRAYER SERVICE

“We Pray with the Saints”

Introduction: On the feast of All Saints, we honour those men and women who—whether they’ve been canonized or not—have led lives of heroic virtue that set an example for all Christians. Saints are big dreamers. They believe that with God on their side, no one and nothing can stop them. Saints are go-getters. They don’t wait for someone else to do good first; they jump right in. Saints are love-bringers. They try to see Christ in every person and every situation. Saints tell us what matters most in life is not what we earn or own, not the job we have or the people we know. What really matters is how much we love God, others, and ourselves, and how well we show that love in all we do.

Opening Prayer +

God of all time and all space, we thank you and we praise you.

Together with all the saints, all good and holy people,

We are joined together by your goodness, truth and wisdom.

We also give thanks for all those holy men and women

Who shine with their living examples of your faith, hope and love.

This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reading: You are God’s Saints (adapted from Colossians 3:12-15)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians

You are God’s chosen people. You are God’s saints. God loves you.

You should be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient.

Be forgiving. Jesus has forgiven you, so now you must do the same.

Over all these things, to keep them together and complete them,

You must show love. And may the peace of Christ live in your hearts, because it is for this that you are called together as parts of one body of Christ Jesus.

Reflection:

Saints are people just like us who had a deep relationship with God. As we heard in the reading from St. Paul, God wants all of us to be kind, caring and forgiving. And God wants us especially to love others the way Jesus and the Saints do. We are all saints when we do our best to follow the ways Jesus teaches us to live. Lives of the Saints are inspirational and teach us about how to be the best persons that God has created us to be.

…… talk about the particular Saint that you School is named after and/ or the patron of your school and how their live can inspire us.

Action:

Depending on whether you are doing this prayer service in your class or with entire school, you may choose an ‘action’ below….

1. Role Play a conversation or an interview with one or more chosen Saints (including your school saint/ patron)

2. Prior to Prayer Service, have students imagine themselves as saints in heaven and then have each ‘saint’ (student” write a letter to someone on earth encouraging them to be good followers of Jesus) These letters could be organized into a binder, perhaps entitled “Pennies from Heaven: Letters from God’s Friends”. Have this presented and perhaps read a few select letters at prayer time.

3. Invite each class to bring forward (with a brief explanation) a symbol from their classroom which reminds them that they are part of the communion of saints – i.e. crucifix, holy picture, candle, poster or drawing of baptismal font etc)

4. Saint Quotes – Before the prayer service, have students use the Internet or other resources to find quotes by saints and then have them make a poster to share this ‘wisdom’. These can be place around your prayer space.

5. God calls all of us to become Saints, to become signs of his love to a world that has special needs. Invite students to think about what they can do to start answering that call…. To become a Saint? Have individuals, small groups or classes prepare a poster to show how they can be more loving, forgiving and caring with those around them. Present at Prayer service or decorate prayer space.

6. Through the CRC, find and show a short video about a Saint.

November 2 - All Souls Day

Catholics believe that death can separate people who they love from them for only a while. We are still united with them in the Communion of Saints. On this feast of All Souls, and throughout the entire month of November, we recall our deceased relatives, friends, and all the faithful departed who may yet be waiting for the full joy of heaven in purgatory. We pray for them, remembering that likewise these people being purified have the power to intercede us too.

In Mexico, All Souls Day is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). Altars are assembled in honour of the departed and decorated with flowers and sugar candy skulls, skeleton toys, candles, photographs, bread, chocolate, and the favourite food and drink of the departed. Families then go to cemeteries and wash the tombstones and decorate them. Modern urban Mexican families usually observe the Day of the Dead with a special family supper featuring the “Bread of the Dead” (pan de muerto). It is good luck to be the one who bites into the plastic toy skeleton hidden by the baker in each rounded loaf.

Activities for All Souls Day:

· Visit the cemetery. Some cemeteries have special sections for infants, and you might wish to pray especially here.

· Go to Mass. Find out the schedule of Masses for the day.

· Pray the following:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them,

with your Saints forever, for you are merciful.

Amen.

*from Loyolapress.com

November 25 - The Solemnity of Christ the King, the last Sunday of ordinary time for this Cycle of Readings

(Note: Advent begins the following Sunday and along with it, a new liturgical year.)

The following lessons were adapted from Loyolapress.com based

on the Sunday Gospel Reading for this Solemnity

For Grades 1, 2, and 3…

Gospel Reading: Luke 23:35-43

Jesus is crucified under the title King of the Jews.

One of the great mysteries of our faith is that in his crucifixion, Jesus is revealed as King and Saviour of all. Today we are all invited to acknowledge Christ as our King and to model our lives accordingly.

Materials Needed

· Three signs as follows: “Do Not Enter,” “Emergency Exit,” and “INRI”

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Make three signs and bring them to the session: “Do Not Enter,” “Emergency Exit,” and “INRI.”

2. Ask the group: Do you believe the signs you see? [Hold up the Do-Not-Enter sign.] If you saw this sign along a road, would you go forward anyway? Some people might. [Discuss some consequences that might result. Do the same for the Emergency-Exit sign.]

3. Hold up the INRI sign. Say: When Jesus was crucified on the cross, the soldiers hung a sign like this on his cross, which means “The King of the Jews.” They did not believe the sign—they were making fun of Jesus. Yet, some people understood that Jesus was not an earthly king, but instead his Kingdom was found in heaven.

4. Say: Listen to the Gospel to see if you can figure out what will happen to those who believe the sign on Jesus' cross. Read the Gospel, Luke 23:35-43.

5. Ask: Who in the Gospel reading believed the sign that was on Jesus' cross? (the thief) What did Jesus say would happen to him? (He would be with Jesus in paradise.)

6. Invite the group to answer the question posed above: What will happen to those who believe the sign on Jesus' cross? (They will be with Jesus someday in heaven.)

7. Conclude by praying together that we will always believe that Jesus is King, and that we will follow him in all that we say and do. Sing together, “Jesus, Jesus,” or pray together the Lord's Prayer.

For Grades 4, 5, and 6…

Gospel Reading Luke 23:35-43

Jesus is crucified under the title King of the Jews.

We do not have kings or royalty in our culture, but Christ the King is different from all traditional notions of royalty. Christ is King because in his death and resurrection, he brought salvation to all humankind. We show that we are his followers when we live our lives accordingly.

Materials Needed

· Crucifix

· Crown

· Bible

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Prepare a prayer table in your meeting space that includes a crucifix, a crown, and a Bible.

2. Invite the group to gather around the prayer table. Show the group the crucifix. Ask them to look at it carefully and reflect upon what it shows. Ask: How do you feel when you look upon the crucifix?

3. Now show the group the crown. Ask: What does a crown make you think of? (kings, queens, royalty) What does it mean to be a king? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Tell them that after hearing today's Gospel, they will understand why you have asked them to consider both a crucifix and a crown. Tell them to listen carefully as you read the Gospel.

4. Prayerfully read today's Gospel, Luke 23:35-43.

5. Ask for someone from the group to tell in their own words what they heard in today's Gospel. Ask: Why do you think I have asked you to reflect upon a crucifix and a crown? (because Jesus was crucified under a sign that said he was “King of the Jews”) Is Jesus a King in the way we normally understand kings and royalty? Why or why not?

6. Say: This is the last Sunday of the Church's liturgical year: Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.(You may wish to locate the poster of the liturgical year that was given to every library technician last year; it may be hanging up some where in your school and show your students)

7. Ask: Who in today's Gospel recognized that Jesus was King? (the thief) What did Jesus say would happen to him? (He would be with Jesus in paradise.)

8. Ask: What will happen to those who believe the sign on Jesus' cross? (Like the thief, they will be with Jesus someday in heaven.)

For Grades 7 and 8…

Gospel Reading Luke 23:35-43

Jesus is crucified under the title King of the Jews.

Young people at this age can be very competitive, and they understand that a trophy symbolizes strength and triumph. This Sunday's Gospel challenges our understanding of victory and strength.

Materials Needed

· A trophy

· Paper

· Drawing/coloring materials

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Display to the young people a trophy and ask them to describe its purpose. (a symbol of victory, a reward)

2. Ask volunteers to describe trophies or awards that they have won.

3. Tell the young people to imagine that they have been hired to design trophies. Suggest that they begin by designing one for a sport or activity that they wish they could win.

4. Distribute paper and drawing/coloring materials and have them draw pictures of their trophies.

5. When they are done, invite each young person to show his or her drawing and describe the sport or activity he or she chose.

6. When all are finished, remind them that a trophy is a symbol of victory.

7. Say: In this Sunday's Gospel, we learn what the Christian symbol of victory is.

8. Invite volunteers to read aloud Luke 23:35-43.

9. Then ask them what the Christian symbol of victory is. (the cross of Jesus)

10. Explain how unusual it is for a symbol of victory to depict someone in defeat and how Jesus' Resurrection transformed a symbol of shame into a means of reconciliation with God.

11. Tell the young people that the Sign of the Cross is a prayer that proclaims our faith in the cross of Jesus as our symbol of victory. Conclude by inviting the young people to slowly and reverently pray the Sign of the Cross.

November

Wisdom Theme and connection to Virtue Model	CGE	Catholic Social Teaching	Examples of School wide And Professional Look- Fors	Examples of Student of the Month Look- Fors
Communion of Saints Holiness Peace Justice Prudence Fortitude Strength Courage Pursuit of Excellence Integrity Self-control Hope	A Reflective and Creative Thinker	Rights and Responsibilities Call to Family, Community and Participation	Teaching about saints as models of faith, prudence, fortitude and courage, especially the martyrs Selecting read aloud stories with Fortitude & Courage as the big idea Remembrance Day Prayer Service Letter Campaign for those serving in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces Word walls featuring appropriate vocabulary Creating a photo collage of memories from Random Acts of Kindness Day An effective launch for the School-wide Anti-Bullying Campaign	Articulates how he/she is called to holiness Stands up for those being bullied and works to bring peace to his/her world Can define fortitude and prudence, Can shares facts about the lives of particular saint the class has studied Doesn’t take the easy way out of trying and difficult situations both in class and on the playground Eagerly and enthusiastically becomes involved in school justice projects Is a good sport in competitive activities

The Wisdom of the Communion of Saints Class and Lesson Resources

Every year the Church recalls the example, witness, and prayer of the holy women and men who have been identified by the Church as saints. These saints are more than just role models; they are family members with whom we continue to share unity, in a bond of prayer, called the Communion of Saints.

1) For All Saints Day and All Souls Day Black Line Masters, visit: http://www.loyolapress.com/all-saints-day-and-all-souls-day-activities-and-blms.htm#AllSaintsBLM

2) Refer to Religion Teacher’s Manual and identify lessons on Saints.

3) Learn and sing often “Oh when the Saints Go Marching In”

4) Other grade appropriate ideas:

Grade 1

A Cupcake Celebration for the Saints

Favorite Saint and Me Portrait

Grade 2

A Billboard of Saints

Saint Paper Chain

Saint Prayer Circle

A Saint's Story

Grade 3

Interview With a Saint

A Sing-A-Long

Grade 4

The Gift of Eternal Life Prayer Cards

Let's Celebrate

A Saintly News Report

Grade 5

Cookies for Those Who Nourish Us

Get-Out-and-Celebrate Commercials

Hear Our Prayers

Our Loved Ones

Grade 6

How Can We Help?

A Mural of Model Saints

Sharing a Prayer with My Family

5) The following essay/article can be shared with intermediate students. Afterward, ask them to privately reflect in their journals or discuss how they are answering the call to holiness and to be living saints in the world today. Perhaps, older students can be encouraged to read or research the lives of saints they are interested in learning about and perhaps pick a patron saint of his/her own.

SAINTS: What’s So Special About Them Anyways?

By Krista Wood

(As originally published in Catholic ABCs from the D)

“Oh when the saints, go marching in, oh when the saints go marching in. Oh Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!” Whenever I hear this song, I am instantly transported back in time to my days as a high school student at St. Peter’s Secondary School in Peterborough, the home of the Saints! Every day of those four years I woke up and put on a shirt that had the word “SAINTS” written boldly across it. I can even remember a few times while at a school hockey tournament being asked what team I played for and proudly stating, “Oh, I’m a Saint!” That is quite a statement to make, and yet as a teenager I rarely gave it much thought.

Looking back on that experience I am a little embarrassed to say that I really didn’t understand what it meant to be a saint, and yet being a “Saint” was and is something that I am proud of. In fact, God calls you and me to become true living-in- Heaven saints! God calls each and every one of us to holiness —to sainthood. Regardless of our vocation, we are called to serve God to the fullest, living out our baptismal promises as members of the Church. We are not all called to the vocation of priesthood or religious life, and neither were the saints. We become saints by living our life fully for Christ, in whatever form that may take. It is by no means a simple task, but it is something which is attainable, as attested to by the great number of saints the Church has canonized over the years.

The word “saint” comes from the Latin sanctus which means “holy” or “set apart.” Luckily for us we are not called to be holy or set apart on our own, we are called to become members of the communion of saints. Though now in Heaven, the saints lived, breathed, and walked the earth just as you and I. And in his writings, St. Paul used the word to speak of people still alive because we are already called to be holy and set apart from the common crowd. The word is used today to refer more specifically to the ones who have gone on to eternal life with God. They had different life experiences and thus can witness to us the many ways by which we too can live our lives for God. This is one of the reasons the Church canonizes saints; to provide role models for holiness. The Church has officially canonized over 10,000 saints with the hope that amongst that very large and diverse group, there is someone we can look up to.

Now, just because someone is not officially canonized a saint by the Church does not mean he or she isn’t a saint. We become a saint when we are in full communion with God, when we get to Heaven, whether the Church publicly recognizes it or not! When the Church canonizes someone, it is making an official statement that we believe this person is in Heaven, and that his or her life is a witness for all of us, demonstrating a way by which we too can share in eternal life with God.

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When I was confirmed I was told I needed to choose a saint as my patron, a name I would take on as a reminder of the kind of life I hoped to live. In my wisdom as a 10 year old, I chose what I thought was the prettiest name, Anastasia. I had no idea who St. Anastasia was, but it sounded cool so I went with it. Looking back on that decision, whether I realized it at the time or not, it was likely one of the best choices I could have made. St. Anastasia was a young missionary woman who evangelized prisoners in the fourth century. During this time there was great persecution of Christians and when the emperor discovered what she was doing, he immediately demanded that she stop. She was given three days to deny her faith or be punished by death, to which she responded, “It is three days too many. I am ready and willing to die for my God!” Long story short, after several attempts she was killed and is now celebrated as a martyr of the Church.

Now, I don’t look to St. Anastasia as a role model because she died for the faith, but rather for the fact that she stood up and lived for her faith despite what others thought of her. This is something I strive to do every day when I get up in front of a class of students and talk about God, often greeted by blank stares or confusion. Even some of my friends think I am crazy! Why would I choose a career for myself, as a chaplaincy leader, which is challenged for its importance and relevance on a daily basis by society? Well, for the same reason I wore my “SAINTS” shirt to school every day, because I am proud to be set apart by God, to accept the challenge of holiness and to strive to become a real saint!

It is my hope, and indeed my prayer, that one day we too can join in the march of the

saints in Heaven, but until then we must march along the path to holiness simply singing the song!

Krista served as Diocesan Youth Coordinator at VEYO from 2007-2009. In 2011 she

graduated from Saint Paul University (Ottawa) with an Honours Baccalaureate of Theology (B.Th). Krista currently works as an Elementary Chaplaincy Leader for

the Niagara Catholic District School Board.

5) Recommended websites:

www.randomactsofkindness.org

www.thereligionteacher.com/st.cecilia-patron-saint-of-music

Name ___________________

November 21

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mother Mary, help me to become holy like you!

___________________________________________

Supporting Catholicity within the Library Visits

Consult your Library Technician for other books and teacher resources that will help you teach about saints, holiness and peace/nonviolence and integrate it into your grades ON curriculum.

Month

Wisdom Theme

Books that directly relate to Catholicity

Other Read Aloud books that could support

			Fiction	Non-Fiction
November	sainthood holiness peace/non-violence wisdom faith	Picture books on a particular saint: Blessed Kateri by Anne Neuberger St. Francis and the Wolf by Richard Egielski These are Friends of Jesus by Shirley Neitzel 25 Questions About Catholic Saints and Heroes by: Les Miller Can you find SAINTS? Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women by Philip D. Gallery (available for loan from CRC)	Riding the Tiger by Eve Bunting (A NC Mentor Text Lesson book) Peace begins with you by Katherine Scholes The Peace Book by Todd Parr A Chair for Mother by Vera B. Williams Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin Brave Irene by William Steig The English Roses: Too Good to be True by Maddona	Loyola Kids Book of Heroes Ablaze – Stories of Daring Teen Saints by Colleen Swaim