“The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.”
Source: Saint Patrick on Franciscan Media
For Parents to Teach to Their Children
Note to Parents: For this week, learning about Saint Patrick is a way for children to be inspired by a beloved Irish saint, to think about the Blessed Trinity, and to have some art fun as we journey through Lent.
From Saints and Angels:
“The word “saint” is given to a Christian person who has died and is worthy of great honor and respect. The name comes from the Latin word sanctus, meaning holy.” Page 4
Saint Patrick’s Day–Friday, March 17, 2023
From Saints and Angels:
We Learn About Saint Patrick
“Patrick, first known as Patricius, was born in Roman Great Britain. His father was a Roman citizen, and his grandfather was a Christian priest. Patrick was only a teenager when his life took a dramatic turn. He was captured by pirates, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave. For six years he worked for an Irish chief, taking care of sheep and pigs. Lonely, unhappy and longing to escape, he prayed to God every day and night.” Page 37
“Saint Patrick is now the most popular Irish saint.” Page 37
Saint Patrick on Franciscan Media
(c. 386 – 461)
“Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.”
Excellent Video!– St. Patrick HD From Catholic Online
Saint Patrick’s Breastplate
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Excerpt from ST. PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE on OurCatholicPrayers.com
The Irish Priests Sing Hymns and Songs
Listen To The Priests Sing “Irish Blessings”
Kids Can Read! Saint Patrick’s Day
This easy-to-read book will be interesting to first and second graders. It has a simple text, pictures, and historical facts about the celebration and traditions of Saint Patrick’s Day, including shamrocks. It talks about the ways American celebrate this originally Irish holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day Art and Vocabulary Project
Project Vocabulary–bishop, crozier, mitre, St. Patrick’s “Breastplate,” Gaelic, blessings, and shamrock
We printed “The Gaelic Blessing” onto watercolor paper. Each child needs scissors, Dot-Art, markers, glue sticks, and a couple of “Kwik Stix” (tempera sticks), or whatever you have on hand. I also made pre-painted sponge rainbows (to save time) and lots of stickers. This project can be done easily at home, choosing an Irish Blessing and using the art supplies you have on hand to make a lovely hand-written poster. Here is a blessing from Appleseeds.org that children might like to write themselves:
“May St. Patrick guard you
wherever you go,
and guide you in whatever you do–
and may his loving protection
be a blessing to you always.”
The Gaelic Prayer graphic below was designed by Kim N. Buckley.
Here is my sample:
Children’s Art Work Samples
Click to Enlarge
Painting the Blessed “3 in 1,” Shamrocks, and Rainbows
“I bind unto myself this day the strong
name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the three in
one and the one in three.”
St. Patrick from “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”
A Calendar of Saints, page 54
Saint Patrick taught people about the Blessed Trinity by talking about a common plant, the shamrock, which has three leaves on one plant. Saint Patrick used this example as a symbol for the Blessed Trinity–God in three persons– God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit–“The 3 in 1 and The 1 in 3.”
The following materials were used to make this symbol of Saint Patrick’s teaching of the Blessed Trinity:
Printing Shamrocks
All you need is watercolor paper, green tempera paint, a thin paint brush and a sponge cut into a circle to be used as a stamp. These shamrocks were made by dipping the sponge circle into green paint squirted onto a paper plate, then pressed green side down onto the paper. Put three circles together to form the shamrock, then paint on the stem. You can also cut a fat carrot very evenly and dip the cut part into the paint to make the circles, or use a large marshmallow or a squishy tangerine dipped in the paint and used as a stamp. All of these ways work great!
Printing Sponge Rainbows
You’ll need a new rectangular sponge, six colors of the rainbow in kids’ tempera washable paint–red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Trim one long side of the sponge into an arc with scissors. Starting with the straight side of the sponge squeeze out an arc of purple in the center of the sponge, then blue, on up to red at the top of the arc. Invert onto watercolor paper. Press sponge gently then lift off. There will be enough paint for several rainbow prints. Let dry, the cut out each arc to glue onto another project, such as the Gaelic Blessing above.
Suggested Family Activities–Week 32
The following stories are from, The Catholic Book of Bible Stories. If you have it, please read “Zacchaeus”, pages 165-166 (Luke 19:1-10). Please read page 167, “Faith to Grow” and “Prayer” as we learn more about Jesus’ forgiveness of sinners. If you haven’t already, please also read “The Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37) pages 153-154, and “Faith to Grow” and “Prayer” on page 155.(Or you can read the stories in your own Catholic Children’s Bible, or directly from your family Bible.)
Art Project–“The Sacred Heart of Jesus”
This painting is actually a “drawing” with liquid watercolors and brushes, on watercolor paper. I include the cross, crown of thorns, the heart, rays of light (signifying “Holiness”) and the “sword” that pierced the side of Jesus. If you have young children, the heart and cross are a good place to start.
Materials
