Putting faith into action isn’t as hard as it may seem. We are all called to be holy, to live lives of grace, but how do we put our faith in Jesus Christ into action on a daily basis? Here are some ideas that may help you get started:

1. Receive the Sacraments. As Catholics, we are so blessed to be able to have guaranteed ways to receive grace. That is the gift of the sacraments. Attend Mass and go to confession. These acts not only bring grace, but tend to lighten any burdens you may be carrying.

2. Limit your TV time. Don’t watch TV that portrays the marriage relationship–or any relationship–in a negative light. When you stop to really think about it, most sitcoms, dramas, and reality TV show sin as normal and even preferable to living a holy life. Ask yourself: Does watching this TV show bring glory to God? If it doesn’t, consider giving it up.

3. Pray for someone who has wronged you. And forgive them. It doesn’t really matter if they are sorry for what they did to you or if they even know they hurt you. God shows mercy to us every single minute of our lives, and it is our duty to pray for and forgive others.

4. Don’t gossip, and stand up for someone. When the conversation with your friends starts veering toward bashing others, sharing juicy details of someone else’s troubles, or anything of the sort, either stop the conversation by standing up for the person or just walk away. I know I have friends in my life who tend to gossip and not listen even when I try to defend someone, so sometimes the best option is to just walk away from the conversation.

5. Donate used clothes, toys, kitchen items, canned food, whatever to charity, and do so with a heart for Christ. We live in a world of constant surplus. I know I have a constant need to de-clutter, and “things” can take over if I don’t keep them in check. Our local Ladies of Charity and Salvation Army are always looking for donated items. Check to see if your church has a food pantry or a recommendation on where to donate. If you don’t have extra stuff to donate, maybe you can serve God by giving of your time and volunteering at church or at a charity.

6. Read the Bible. This one may seem kind of obvious, but many Catholics are not as familiar with the bible as most Protestants I know. A good place to start is Proverbs. There are 31, so you can read one each day for a whole month.

7. Stop complaining and start thanking God for your blessings. If you are reading this (on a computer or smartphone, with an internet connection), chances are you are in the top 10% of the world’s wealthiest people. Many people in the world today don’t know where they are getting their next meal, don’t have a bed to sleep in or an extra set of clothes. You are blessed physically and spiritually. Be sure to recognize those blessings and thank God for them.

8. Hold your tongue. A big part of being patient is just shutting up. I get along with my husband and am kinder to my children when I take time to really think before I speak instead of just spouting out whatever comes to mind.

9. Organize your house and your mind so that your family receives the best you. I know when my house is a mess and I have a million things on my to-do list, I get stressed and tend to take it out on my family. They don’t deserve that. If I keep the house clean and organized, keep close track of the calendar, and don’t wait till the last minute to get things done, the entire household seems more peaceful.

10. Pray without ceasing. This one’s from the bible. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” As you may have heard before, prayer four general parts:

• Adoration – Praising God
• Contrition – Confessing your sins
• Thanksgiving – Thanking God for blessings
• Supplication – Asking for things

Adoration is the first because it’s the most important. God is our creator, our savior, our healer, our everything and He deserves to be praised all the time. So don’t just pray, adore Him.

What are some practical ways you have found to put your faith into action?

Bryn writes about her journey of faith, her family, living simply, and recognizing God’s many blessings at Simply Fulfilled.

Ten Practical Ways to Put Your Faith into Action is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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We have a new sonogram law here in Texas and, as expected, it’s come under massive scrutiny in the state and around the country.  Women choosing an abortion must receive written materials about the risks of abortion and then undergo a sonogram.  If in the first trimester, it will usually be done with a vaginal probe, because an “over the belly” sonogram isn’t too helpful in early pregnancy.  To avoid seeing the heartbeat or image, a woman must sign a waiver.  Almost every woman, though, must listen to a detailed description of the physical characteristics of the baby seen via the sonogram.

You want to know what I think?  I think if you’re going to end the life of something you helped create, no matter how hard it is, you have to do it.  You must do it.  And I say that because I’ve been on the end of that sonogram stick hearing devastating news about my own pregnancy.

Nearly three years ago, I was 20 weeks pregnant and of “advanced maternal age”, therefore, I was required to visit a perinatologist to undergo a routine ultrasound.  In that appointment, we learned our baby had many “soft markers” (doctor speak for questionable areas of concern) for a chromosomal abnormality.  I had given birth to four healthy children and suffered one miscarriage in the first trimester.  To receive this news was a shock.  It was devastating.  It quite nearly removed my heart from chest and then laid it on the floor for all to trample.

I’ve never seen abortion as an option.  But I know some people do.  I know that if my son, Luke, had been given to another mom, he might never be alive.  He was given to me.  I believe he was given to me so I could share his profound effect on our family, on the sanctity and beauty of every life and the difficult decisions we had to make as his parents.

You see, we’re a single income family with four children in private school.  We were terrified of what Luke’s condition might do to our family—financially, emotionally, psychologically and physically.  Would he need a lifetime of care?  Would we be planning our infant child’s funeral before he turned one?  In our efforts to help him, would we go bankrupt through therapies, surgeries and specialist visits?  Could our marriage weather this new storm?  And ultimately, what had I done wrong, as his mother, to cause this horrible thing?  Yes, mommy guilt starts early.

I don’t consider myself superhumanly strong.  I’m just a mom who loves her kids, adores her husband and enjoys the vocation of motherhood.  No superhero items of note there.  I do, however, trust and rely on a higher power to get me through the moments of despair, anguish and pain.

When I arrived home from the doctor’s visit that sunny spring day, I stood in front of my mirror, held my belly and sobbed–big, fat, uncontrollable tears.  I knew that I would need a miracle and an army of support to make it through the coming weeks, months and years.  And you know what?  God delivered.  Not because I’m a super fantastic prayer buddy, but because He loved me.  I articulated the words he already knew I had in my heart.  “God, help me.”  That’s all my heart could muster.

So to the woman who sees abortion as her only option, I ask her this.  In ten years, will you regret saying “yes” or saying “no?”  If I’d said no to life, there would be no sweet kisses from our Luke, no funny laughs, no sibling affection.  If I’d said no, we would still have thousands of dollars in the savings account, no dozen specialists to see, no half a dozen surgery expenses or hundreds of therapy appointments.

If I’d said no, I would never have come to realize that I AM strong enough, our love IS enough and road is NEVER certain.  If I’d said no, I’m not sure I could’ve coped with knowing that I ended the life, not God.  If I’d said no, what kind of mom could I be to my children?  Could I really look them in the eye and say, “Oh honey, I can only love you if you fit my definition of perfection?”

You see, the secular world tells us what clothes to wear, what celebrities to venerate, what things we must buy and who is worthy of love.  Some women say they abort out of love, yet I say a woman aborts due to a lack of it.  When one loves with her whole heart and gives it to her Maker, broken and bruised, God never disappoints.  It just takes one look in the eyes of our youngest miracle to know that God had it right all along.

He.  Is.  Love.

Kathryn, author of Team Whitaker, is the mother of five children, ages 11 to 2.  Her youngest, Luke, was born prematurely due to IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and contracted a life-threatening case of necrotizing enterocolitis where he lost several centimeters of bowel and colon.  While life with Luke has its challenges, she has never regretted her to decision to say yes to life.

The Truth about God’s Love is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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This year, Pentecost Sunday is the same weekend as Memorial Day. What a fabulous opportunity to celebrate two of the biggest holidays of the year in both the Church’s liturgical calendar AND the secular calendar!

Pentecost is the second largest feast day in the Church, coming in both literally and in rank, after Easter. Seven weeks after Easter, we celebrate the day that the Holy Spirit filled the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Memorial Day, created to honor those brave souls who sacrificed their lives for our country, is considered the first weekend of summer. Two huge feasts, one big party weekend.

So how can you celebrate them together?

Sight

Decorating for the two holidays should be fairly easy.Doves (white) are the symbol of the Holy Spirit and red is the color of the Holy Spirit. For Memorial Day, people typically decorate in red, white and blue. For easy, dual decorating, use your typical red, white and blue Americana decorations.

To further link the two together, add doves, greenery (symbolic of life, the color green represents hope and life) and decorate in sets of 3, 7 or 12. Three is symbolic of the three theological virtues given to us by the Holy Spirit, seven is symbolic of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and twelve is symbolic of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Taste

The original Jewish celebration of Pentecost was the celebration of the first fruits of the harvest. As such, it is traditional to eat foods made of grains during the feast of Pentecost.  I found a fabulous cherry almond cheese coffee cake at Catholic Cuisine during the Feast of St. Nicholas last year that would be great.It’s a grain base, a white cream cheese & red cherry pie filling. All the symbolism is there and would make a fabulous breakfast before church on Sunday morning.

Here are some other awesome recipes that would be great for your Pentecost and Memorial Day weekend celebration:

• Twelve Fruit Salad
• Pentecost Cake with Strawberry Frosting (I would buy an angel food cake mix myself – I have a bad history with egg whites or alternately, this Pentecost Cake which is much more my speed.
• Flames of Pentecost Cupcakes
• Alton Brown’s Ring of Fire Grilled Chicken

Touch

Attention to those who have died serving our country has fallen by the wayside. Many cemeteries have services for our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. Check your local paper or church bulletin – last year, our bishop held a Memorial Day service in the Catholic Cemetery and I think they even asked for volunteers for people to help put out flags on veterans stones that weekend. you know of someone, you could do a tombstone rubbing.

Smell

Traditionally, columbine is the traditional flower of Pentecost because the petals are shaped likes doves; that is how they got their name. Poppies are the traditional flower of Memorial Day, started in 1915 by Moina Michael and popularized by the VFW. If you can’t find either of those, any red and/or white flower with greenery would be fabulous addition to your celebration. I personally like grocery store bouquets the best!

Sound

For Pentecost, anything about the Holy Spirit would probably be appropriate. My absolute favorite suggestion would be to sing the traditional Come, Holy Spirit. If you enjoy Gregorian Chant, you can find the CD for Pentacost at Angeleus Press. If you would like some more contemporary ideas, GIA has several suggestions.

For Memorial Day, secular patriotic music is in abundance. Classically, you could go with the Marches of Sousa. Other traditional tunes include Stars and Stripes Forever or The Star-Spangled Banner. If you like it, country music has TONS of patriotic music especially after September 11^th. If you search patriotic music on Amazon you will find thousands of choices.

Do you usually celebrate Pentecost?   What are your traditions?

Jen can be found writing at Happy Little Homemaker.

(This post contains affiliate links.)

Photo by bsabarnowl.

Celebrating Pentecost and Memorial Day Together is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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Politics are everywhere. Cliques, power-plays and competition start in preschool and continue throughout the lifespan. They are unavoidable, despite our best efforts. We can limit the amount that we engage in politics, but we can’t completely eliminate our participation.

I work outside the home 15 hours/week, just enough to remind me how much I dislike office politics.  It’s also enough to remind me that corporate games really aren’t any more glamorous than toddler games (in fact, they’re much less productive). The amount of time I currently spend in the office allows the positive aspects of my job to outweigh the negative (i.e. political) ones. For me, this would not be the case if I worked full-time.

When I was working full-time, overwhelmed by office politics and a longing to be home with my son, the concept of playground politics wasn’t even on my radar. I discovered it soon after I returned home (almost) full-time. It was a letdown.

There was the time when an older boy walked up to my two year old, who was just minding his own business, and pushed him down on the floor for no reason. His mother, busy socializing with her friends, barely managed to call out a request for him to “say sorry.”

There’s the mom’s group where the cliques are already established, and many of the mothers won’t even glance at someone new, let alone say hello. This is something that I now encounter with some of the preschool moms, which leads me to another unpleasant situation: comments from moms who assume that preschool is only for moms who want to “ditch their kids” so they can get a break (this is certainly not the case for me; see my previous article on Preschool Ponderings).

So, which is worse: playground politics or corporate politics?

I’m sure that different mothers would answer this question differently. Different work environments, different personalities, different neighborhoods, are all going to influence the amount and type of politics in a given situation.

For me, playground politics are easier to deal with because I have enough control and autonomy in this area of my life to keep it manageable for me. The benefits of being home with my son (almost) full-time far outweigh the negative, political aspects of this role.  So, I continue to plug along, navigating these playground politics, and doing my best to limit their negative influence on my parenting experience.

How do you manage politics on the playground, at work, or elsewhere?

Claire is a regular contributor to Catholic Mothers Online.

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Playground Politics vs Corporate Politics is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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It’s a strange thing, being a Christian. We’re called to be in the world, but not of it. We’re supposed to spread the good news to the world, and yet all too often, when we share our faith, people tune us out. (That first sentence alone will cause half the average readership of a blog post to stop reading–even some Christians.) So how are we supposed to do our job?

Each of us has a cause or issue about which we’re passionate. For me, it’s sexuality. The longer I am involved with natural family planning, the more clearly I see that the lifestyle I took on for religious reasons has far-flung, practical implications for the world at large. Objectification vs. appreciation of women, respect for vs. abuse of the body and the environment–these are philosophical ideas that are almost universally espoused in our society. The same can be said of many of the beliefs we hold as Christians.

So why is it that the message is so widely despised?

G.K. Chesterton gives us a good answer:

“It is no good to tell an atheist that he is an atheist; or to charge a denier of immortality with the infamy of denying it; or to imagine that one can force an opponent to admit he is wrong, by proving that he is wrong on somebody else’s principles, but not on his own. … we must either not argue with a man at all, or we must argue on his grounds and not ours.” (from St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox, by G.K. Chesterton)

We live in a polarized, sound-byte culture, one where the ideal argument is 140 characters and demolishes all possible objections. The trouble is…it doesn’t exist. The world is not black and white; even the clearest moral issues have nuances that must be addressed if we are to make headway with rational people.

In 140 characters, we can be witty, we can be provocative; we can tantalize, even inflame. What we cannot do is nuance. To evangelize with words is to enter into reasoned, respectful discussion with people who don’t believe as we do, on their terms. Because after all, why should they listen otherwise?

Kathleen Basi is a stay-at-home mom, freelance writer, flute and voice teacher, liturgical composer, choir director, natural family planning teacher, scrapbooker, sometime-chef and budding disability rights activist. She puts her juggling skills on display at www.kathleenbasi.com.

In the World, But Not Of It: Evangelizing On Their Terms is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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Today’s list of new additions to the Catholic Mothers Online blog roll is a longer one than usual.  Not only have I not been keeping up with adding new people lately (Sorry!), but I also went through the list of people that sent requests to join but that I hadn’t heard back from that they had added a button and found some people who added the button, but hadn’t contacted me.

So, I’m excited to be able to make several new additions this weekend!  If you have a minute, go visit a couple of these blogs and welcome them to the blog roll:

My Krazy Life with Kids

Life in Every Limb

Life at Le. Rheims

Instinctive Philosophies

IT’S A FULL HOUSE!

Erring on the Side of Love

FaithWorks

Flying in Formation

Gail’s little crafty corner of GOD’s glorious world

baca ohana

Blooms of Joy

The Asperger’s Catholic Mom

Camp Patton

Untrodden Paths

A Living Garden

All for Him

A Family Treehouse

Steady As We Go

New Members of the CMO Blog Roll: April 14, 2012 is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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The Previous Generations of Peanut Butter Promotion

I am the most recent in long line of peanut butter parents. Growing up, my dad relied on peanut butter to get him through the nights when my mom worked at the hospital. Triple-decker pb&j sandwiches complemented peanut butter spoon snacks. There is no smell in this world that reminds me more of my childhood than a toasted slice of homemade sour-dough bread with a thin layer of peanut butter spread across it.

Peanut butter is a staple in our own family life. I’m so grateful that neither of my children have a peanut allergy because I rely on peanut butter as a crutch for everything from food to entertainment. While I often supplement our supply with the crunchy variety and a few other nut butters, you can be assured that a commercial-sized jar of creamy peanut butter is available in my pantry.

I’ve noted below some of my favorite uses for peanut butter in no particular order, but I do suggest trying them all in due time!

Peanut Butter Play Dough, edible

- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cups powdered sugar

Mix until smooth and store in a large ziptop bag with no air.

Peanut Butter Pasta

This is so comforting and so addicting. It’s an easy weeknight supper for any mom, but especially one who doesn’t have much prep time. I serve it with pork, chicken, or without meat. It would make an awesome Lenten Friday meal.

Peanut Butter Song

A fun song to teach you kiddos about how peanut butter and jelly come to be! Great for the upcoming planting season. I remember the year my dad made homemade jelly from a grapevine on our fence inNorth Minneapolis. I can even picture the clear diamond textured tall water glasses with the smooth rim that he used for storage. It is so amazing to help your kiddos understand where their food comes from – even greater when we can connect it to the Lord’s vision of the vine and the branches.

Peanut Butter Smoothies

Add a spoonful of peanut butter to your favorite smoothie recipe! Not only does it add a smooth depth of flavor, but the boost of protein is good for energy.

Here’s a favorite of mine and I just add a spoonful of peanut butter. Oatmeal is another great trick for smoothies. I run regular oats through the blender or food processor to come up with a finer oat flour of sorts.

Ginger-Oat Smoothies

Peanut Butter Fast

Try fasting from peanut butter for just one week. When you’ve completed your one week fast from peanut butter, buy a jar of peanut butter to donate as a family. On a normal basis a malnourished child inHaitireceives 1 jar of peanut butter per week; your fast from peanut butter counts!

Peanut Butter Power Bites

These seemed to me like a modern day, but much less messy, version of my dad’s peanut butter spoon concept. A perfect little snack for when I hear, “Mama, my tummy hurts!” 30 minutes before dinner is to be served.

A Vision of a Hazelnut, St. Julian of Norwich

And in this vision he showed me a little thing, the size of a hazel-nut, lying in the palm of my hand, and to my mind’s eye it was as round as any ball. I looked at it and thought, “What can this be?” And the answer came to me, “It is all that is made”. I wondered how it could last, for it was so small I thought it might suddenly disappear. And the answer in my mind was, “It lasts and will last for ever because God loves it; and in the same way everything exists through the love of God”. In this little thing I saw three attributes: the first is that God made it, the second is that he loves it, the third is that God cares for it. But what does this mean to me? Truly, the maker, the lover, the carer: for until I become one substance with him, I can never have love, rest or true bliss; that is to say, until I am bound to him that there may be no created thing between my God and me….

Then God brought our Lady into my mind. I saw her spiritually in bodily likeness, a meek and simple maid, young of age, in the same bodily form as when she conceived. God also showed me part of the wisdom and truth of her soul so that I understood with what reverence she beheld her God who is her maker, and how reverently she marveled that he chose to be born of her, a simple creature of his own making. For what made her marvel was that he who was her Maker chose to be born of the creature he had made… With this sight I really understood that she is greater in worthiness and fullness of grace than all that God made below her; for nothing that is made is above her except the blessed Manhood of Christ. This little thing that is made that is below our Lady Saint Mary, God showed it to me as small as if it had been a hazel-nut. It was so small I thought it might have disappeared.

Amberly Boerschinger is the Woman at the Inkwell. Her weeks in family and parish life play out kind of like peanut butter: some are smooth, some are crunchy, bumpy, and hard to swallow, and some just have her melting all over the place. However, there is nothing more wonderful than the peanut butter fingers of her children John Ross and Clara just so long as she doesn’t discover it streaked across her pants in the middle of a staff meeting.

Peanut Butter Blast is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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When I converted to Catholicism in 2005, I was thrilled.  I loved knowing that I had found THE Church, and I loved everything about being Catholic.  I attended Mass at the Neuman Center on campus, listened to a guy rock out some songs on the guitar, and happily received Holy Communion in the palm of my hand.

A few months later, my husband asked if we could try attending a Latin Mass.  Having absolutely no idea what that meant, I was all for it.  On the way to the church, he asked if I would wear a veil while we attended the Mass.

Newly married, all I could think of was, “Um, who are you, and what happened to that nice guy I married who would NEVER suggest what I wear?!”

Blinking back tears of frustration, hurt, and confusion, I agreed to wear the veil.

I quickly realized I was not the only woman there with a veil on.  There weren’t many people in that small church that day, but the women that were there were all wearing a mantilla.  I was still irritated about wearing the veil, yet I had no idea why.

It was after reading Colleen Hammond’s book, Dressing with Dignity, that I started thinking about femininity and modesty more seriously.  Those thoughts led me to thinking about veiling at Mass.

WHY did women cover their heads for centuries in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament?

WHEN did this custom die out?  And why?

After doing some research, I found the answers to my questions. 

St. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:4-10.

“Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered disgraceth his head.  But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head: for it is all one as if she were shaven.  For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head.  The man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.  For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.  For the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man.  Therefore ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.”

I then started looking toward the best role model available:  Mary.  I have yet to see a picture or statue of her that does not show her covering her head.  And what a great model for modesty, humility, and femininity!

And as my husband tried explaining to me:  “If you saw a man walk into a church with a hat on, would you be shocked if he did not take his hat off?”

“Yes!”  I said.

“Men take their hats off when they enter a church for the same reason that a woman COVERS her head when she enters a church–out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament.”

Why did the custom die out?  Because modernism took a front seat in our society, and women suddenly decided that they just didn’t want/need to veil anymore at Mass.

That’s it.  It wasn’t anything the Pope ever said.  It was just because they didn’t want to.  And it caught on.  Forty to fifty years later, here we are.  Most women don’t even know the history behind covering their heads in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  They don’t realize that women covering their heads was the norm for CENTURIES…until forty years ago.

I often think back to that day in the car when my husband asked me to wear a veil.  I think about how irritated and offended I felt.  I can’t help but wonder why.  I didn’t even know why at the time!

But after much thought, research, and prayer, I finally realized why I wanted to veil:  it was the custom for centuries within the Church, St. Paul talks of the importance of veiling in the new testament,and the main reason is out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament.

If Christ could allow Himself to be scourged, mocked, ridiculed, beaten, and crucified for ME, surely I can find the humility to cover my head in the presence of Him for love of Him.

When Delena isn’t reading up on veiling at Mass, she keeps busy making headcoverings for women in her ETSY shop, Regina Coeli Creations.  She is the mother of three energetic children with another one due in June.  She blogs about her adventures in motherhood at It’s On My To Do List.

Under Mary’s Mantle is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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“First World Problem” is a term I’ve been hearing a lot lately. When I hear it, my gut reaction is to feel embarrassed, guilty, superficial, you name it. By first-world standards, I live a fairly modest life. But by third-world standards I’m wealthy and don’t have much to complain about.

I acknowledge that relatively speaking, it is a privilege to have first-world problems. There are people in third-world countries whose daily mission is to get enough calories to make it through another day. Issues like spirituality, promoting high self-esteem in children, and carving out time for date-nights are not on their radar. Decluttering to prepare for an influx of Christmas presents certainly isn’t on their radar. In our world, it’s easy to lose sight of this.

The question is: how do we handle our first-world problems while increasing our awareness of third-world problems? Unless we drastically change our lifestyle, which I don’t believe that everyone is called to do, our first-world problems aren’t going anywhere even if we make great strides in becoming more grateful and doing more to help people who face third-world problems.

I’ve noticed that some bloggers have started to address this issue by occasionally prefacing their columns with disclaimers that the upcoming post is about a first-world issue. This is certainly a valid approach, one that promotes awareness and gratitude. But it’s probably not realistic to include this type of disclaimer in every blog post.

Another option would be to dispense with blog posts about first-world problems. But as I said earlier, ignoring the first-world problems isn’t going to make them go away. I’m thankful that I don’t have to worry about where my son’s next meal is coming from, but I don’t think that makes me completely superficial for worrying about the possibility of him being bullied at school.

So what is the answer? The best I’ve been able to come up with is to be mindful of our blessings every time we seek solutions for first-world problems. We need to constantly assess which problems really are too superficial to waste time pursuing. And, we need to be aware of what more we as individuals can do to help people who are facing third-world problems. The process is going to look different for everyone, since everything is relative.

Does anyone else have any suggestions on how to handle this? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Claire is a regular writer on Catholic Mothers Online.

First World Problems is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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Pray.  Fast.  Give.  Party!

This may not seem like the most conventional motto for making a meaningful Lenten journey, but it is a reality in our home.  For while I appreciate the more traditional, reflective and reverent aspects of the season, my children’s hearts respond best to joy and celebration.  Thus, I tend to punctuate our observance of Lent with – don’t judge me, please – partying!

Now, I am not referring to out-and-out irreverent festivities.  Nor am I suggesting that we forgo “waiting” altogether during this season in order to indulge in Easter joy before it is time.  Rather, I am talking about recognizing feast days with such things as a St. Patrick’s Day Play Date or games and activities related to Joseph, which can be enjoyed both during Lent and, again, on St Joseph the Worker’s Day.  I am also all for the idea of a Pretzel Play Date.

A Pretzel Play Date?

Just what is a Pretzel Play Date, you might ask?

In adult-speak, it is an effective and enjoyable way for children to learn about Lent alongside their friends, while also reinforcing the concepts of prayer, fasting and giving. In kiddo-talk, it’s a great way to have fun with faith.

Hosting a Pretzel Play Date

Like any successful themed play date, a Pretzel Play Date is as simple as one, two, three:

1. Select an array of themed activities.
2. Invite friends over.
3. Enjoy!

The only twist (pun intended) is that a Pretzel Play Date centers on the traditional Lenten practice of praying, fasting and giving.  So, whether you choose to do arts and crafts, play games, enjoy music, gather for read alouds or snack on treats, all planned activities should connect – even if only loosely – to these Lenten practices.

Prayer

• Pretzel Prayers:First and foremost, at the beginning of a Pretzel Play Date, it is a good idea to hold a pretzel up the opposite way as might be intuitive – with the two bumps facing down, like elbows and the one larger bump at the top – and to ask the children what it looks .  Then, paraphrase the history of the pretzel (which can be found succinctly explained by Fr. William Saunders at the Catholic Education Resource Center.)   After sharing this history, have children cross their arms and say a private prayer.  Or, teach them a Pretzel Prayer, such as the one at Catholic Culture

Arts and Crafts

• Pretzel Constructions:  Offer children a variety of stick and twisted pretzels, along with some mini-marshmallows or bits of playdough or clay.  Challenge them to make free form constructions with these to give to someone else as a centerpiece to remind them to say extra prayers throughout Lent.  With older children, suggest that the constructions connect to Lent – such as crosses, people praying, figures bringing alms, etc.

• Pretzel Smiles:  As a gift to give for an elderly friend or someone else whose spirits might be lifted with a smile, have everyone bring a smiley snapshot to the play date.  Then, at the beginning of the play date, lay a circle of twisted pretzels out onto a sheet of wax paper in the shape of a wreath.  Pour glue over the edges and let it dry while you do other activities.  Then, layers a second ring of pretzels atop this, alternating the pretzels so they sit over the joints of the first ones.  Pour more glue on and let it dry.  Finally, peel the wreath off the wax paper and weave ribbon in and out of the pretzels, tying a bow at the top, before gluing the whole thing to a snapshot, with edges trimmed.

• Pretzel Prayer Cards:  Using chenille strips, create colorful pretzel shapes.  Tuck these onto the edges of pre-made cards that contain a Pretzel Prayer or the history of a pretzel.  Give these to others as a reminder to pray during Lent.

Games and Activities

• Pretzel Pass:  To reinforce the idea of waiting (and fasting, to a degree), before any pretzels get eaten at the play date, have children sit in a circle.  Give each child a stick pretzel, but tell them they must wait before eating it.  For now, they may simply put one end of into their mouths.  Then, give one child a twisted pretzel to balance on the end of his or her stick pretzel.  This child must pass the twisted pretzel to the next child, who will, in turn, pass it on, until the pretzel makes it all the way around the circle.  No one may eat a pretzel until a twisted pretzel has made it all the way around the circle.

• Pretzel Playdough:  Ask young children how their hands, heads and bodies are when they pray.   Give them playdough and let them make their own pretzel formations.

• Pretzel Twists:  Print our some body part cards, such as the ones at this round-up.  Divide them into two piles – one for upper body parts (such as hand, face, shoulder, nose, elbow, finger, etc.) and one for lower body parts (such as leg, knee, toe, hip, foot, etc.)  Have a child choose one card from each pile and show them to the group.  Ask volunteers to say a prayer of thanks related to the parts, such as, “Thank you, God, for giving me a nose to smell delicious treats baking and feet to walk over to my neighbor’s house to share them.” Then, have everyone turn their bodies into creative pretzel shapes by trying to touch the two pictured body parts together.  (This can also be played as a dance freeze game, where when the music goes off, children must twist their bodies into pretzels with the two parts touching. )

Read Alouds

•  Walter the Baker by Eric Carle has no obvious faith connection besides a brief note at its close.  However, it is a delightful themed picture book in which a baker is challenged to make a roll through which the rising sun can shine three times.  The roll he makes is a pretzel.  And, with the idea from the book of the sun shining three times, the concept of Jesus rising on the third day can be discussed.  Plus, the three parts of the pretzel can be likened to the three person of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

• Pretzels By the Dozen by Angela Elwell Hunt (who also wrote The Tale of Three Trees, a classic Lenten folktale), shares the history of the pretzel, including the compelling story of its Christian symbolism.  With both rhyme and counting, plus a tasty pretzel recipe, it is chock full of connections for a Pretzel Play Date.

Snacks

• Pretzels:  Of course, snacks will be pretzels – hard, soft, big, small, homemade, GFCF – whatever suits your play date crowd.  To reinforce Lenten traditions before eating snack, pray a special grace, such as the one that follows.  Then, to encourage children to lift each pretzel up in the air before eating it, at the same time lifting a special intention up in prayer.  And, to promote giving, have children serve one another before serving themselves.

Dear God, please bless these pretzels which we are about to eat. Every time we eat pretzels, may we be reminded of Lent and how it offers us a special time to pray.  Let us also to remember to pray all year round for those who need our prayers each day. Keep all of us in your loving arms, O God.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

Whatever activities you choose for your Pretzel Play Date, may they honor your child’s heart and our collective Lenten journey.

In the spirit of giving, I encourage you to share comments and links to your favorite pretzel crafts, activities and ideas so all can benefit from them!

Martianne writes about faith, family and homeschooling at Training Happy Hearts, where she hosts a link-up for raising young ones in the faith, beginning on Sunday each week.

Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons (oskay)

Host a Pretzel Play Date: 10 Ideas for Speaking to Children’s Hearts During Lent is a post from: Catholic Mothers Online

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