Feast of Immaculate conception

 Today 8th of December, celebrating the beautiful feast of Immaculate conception, not to  be confused as conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary....Immaculate- spotless/clean /innocent....Conception-conceived. So in other words, the Feast is all about the reminder of Mary is protected from sin even from the very first moments of her conception in her mother's womb..As you look at Liturgical calendar, Mary is conceived in St Anne's womb, following 9 months is Mary's birthday on September 8th.

God prepared Mary's soul to be worthy of being the mother of God.She is often referred as New eve without sin just like Eve was, but Mary was obedient and willing to follow God's will and trusting Him throughout her life.

There are so many beautiful ways to celebrate the day.

1. Attending  Holy Mass and say a small prayer , as this is a Solemnity. Light a candle and pray for someone in need today through Mary our mother too. Or to visit a Marian shrine if nearby.

2. If not,attend the virtual mass and a special day to read out  a book for children on Mary or for yourself....ie..Story of St Bernadette, Fatima children,Our lady of Guadalupe....Probably say an extra decade or a mystery if you can with your children. 

3.Something to do or practice a virtue. Practice learning the word from scriptures...'Rejoice,so highly favoured Lady,..The Lord is with you..'.Luke 1;28.

4. Craft or art can be excellent for this day. Themassbox has a little craft, to make a Marian grotto craft and some word search ,maze....or Catholic icing has a beautiful coloring page explaining Immaculate conception with an amazing illustration.A feltcraft can be made too. 

A Christmas ornament to do on this day to hang on your Christmas tree, make sure you have some old Christmas cards ready to cut and stick it using mod podge. Our kids used it a while ago .

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5.Great day to watch CCC movie titled 'Bernadette-The princess of Lourdes'. This kids version is available in FORMED.

6. Every feast day has something to do with a yummy delicious treat to serve or make. Have fun with some white treats. The feast is reminded of sinless/purity of Mary. Enjoy the day with vanilla ice cream or a desert with a puffy cream...which I gonna try later today.

7.Here is a beautiful resource explaining the doctrine to teach children about the Feast.

 'O Mary who conceived without original sin pray for us who have recourse to you' .

Feast of Archangels

I would love to celebrate name days and obviously someone at home carrying the name. Today is the Feast of Archangels: along with St Michael , St Gabriel and St Raphel is celebrated on 29th of September. It is known as Michaelmas.

Some of the pictures from St Micharl's feast

Here is the roundup of all ideas and resources traditions of this day. Some of the posts from archives ....2018,...2016...2015

BREAKFAST/TEA

As the tradition (and Joanna Bogle in her Book of Feasts and Seasons), St Michael dispelled satan to earth, he fell on to BlackBerry bush , he was cursed and spat on the bush . Blackberries are not good to eat after the feast usually get sour.

However it is an ideal day to have BlackBerry jam, blackberry cobbler, blackberry muffins, angel cake.

    Kids preparing cupcakes

For the breakfast tea, it can be adapted with St Michael's Gauffer or waffles. 

Traditionally goose was eaten in Britain, however chicken roast with carrots are done due to their availability. 

DECORATIONS

The tables can decorated with traditional colours for the feast with orange or golden decors. 

Children can gather some purple daisies (asters) as you see around this feast and place it in a vase with a prayer card attached it.

Make the archangel centrepiece with all children can make today with the crafts.

        Mich in bamboo bushes in the woods

  

      With purple daisies

      

       Plucking raspberries from the brambles

  

PRAYER CARDS / COLOURING PAGES

Waltzing Matilda and catholic icing have beautiful colouring pages, prayer cards, angels mobile craft , paper dali  and various ideas to enjoy the day.

   

        Arts and craft time

           

                Picture by Geo 

DRESS UP

The day for children to dress up in their favourite archangels costumes and could read out stories from Tobit , St Luke..make this day as beautiful as you can..

            Happy Feast of Archangels