Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!

As the Church and her members prepare for Advent (which starts this Sunday!), I thought you all might enjoy reading this excerpt from the article on Advent at Fish Eaters.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! See you next week. 

The focus of Advent is preparation for the coming of the Lord -- both in commemoration of His Nativity and His coming again at the end of time. Though most Protestants -- and far too many Catholics -- see this time of year as a part of the "Christmas Season," it isn't; the Christmas season does not begin until the first Mass at Christmas Eve, and doesn't end liturgically until the Octave of the Epiphany on January 14. It goes on in the spiritual sense until Candlemas on February 2, when all celebrations of Christ's Childhood give way to Septuagesima and Lent.

The mood of this season is one of somber spiritual preparation that increases in joy with each day, and the gaudy "Christmas" commercialism that surrounds it in the Western world should be overcome as much as possible. The singing of Christmas carols (which comes earlier and earlier each year), the talk of "Christmas" as a present reality, the decorated trees and the parties -- these things are "out of season" for Catholics; we should strive to keep the Seasons of Advent holy and penitential, always remembering, as they say, that "He is the reason for the Season."

To sum up the similarities and differences between Advent and Lent as penitential seasons, there's this, by Fr. Lawrence Smith:

Advent is the time to make ready for Christ to live with us. Lent is the time to make us ready to die with Christ. Advent makes Lent possible. Lent makes salvation possible. Advent is the time when eternity approaches earth. Lent is the time when time reaches consummation in Christ's eternal Sacrifice to the Father. Advent leads to Christ's life in time on earth. Lent leads to Christ's eternal Life in Heaven. The Cross -- through the Mass, penance, and mortification -- is the bridge connecting Advent and Lent, Christ and His Church, man and God.

Each of the Church's penitential seasons is a dying to the world with the goal of attaining new life in Christ.

Catholic apologist Jacob Michael wrote something very interesting about how secular America sees "Christmas" as beginning after Thanksgiving and ending on 25 December, and then makes "New Years Resolutions" at the beginning of the secular year:

...what Christians do (or should be doing!) during Advent and leading up to Christmas is a foreshadowing of what they will do during the days of their lives that lead up to the Second Coming; what non-Christians refuse to do during Advent, and put off until after Christmas, is precisely a foreshadowing of what they will experience at the Second Coming.

We Christians are to prepare for the Coming of Christ before He actually comes -- and that Coming is symbolized and recalled at Christmas. Non-Christians miss this season of preparation, and then scramble for six days after the 25th to make their resolutions. By then, however, it's too late -- Christmas has come and gone, Our Lord has already made His visitation to the earth, and He has found them unprepared. This is precisely what will take place at the Second Coming, when those who have put off for their entire lives the necessary preparations will suddenly be scrambling to put their affairs in order. Unfortunately, by then it will have been too late, and there will be no time for repentance. The Second Coming will be less forgiving than the Incarnation. There will be no four-week warning period before the Second Coming, like we get during Advent. There will be no six-day period of grace after the Second Coming during which to make resolutions and self-examination, like the secular world does from Dec. 26 until Jan. 1.

So please, restore Advent and don't think "Christmas is here" until it truly comes. One way to help focus on the theme of preparation is to read the parables of The Fig Tree, The Man Going on a Long Journey, The Faithful and Wicked Stewards, and The Ten Virgins in the 24th and 25th chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel. Another way to help you do this is to think of the Saint who embodies the spirit of this Season more than any other: the great St. John the Baptist. If you have an icon of him, venerate it especially now. Make special prayers to him and consider the message of this "voice of one crying in the desert": "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." You will note that the readings of the second, third, and fourth Sundays of Advent focus on St. John, the earthly herald of Christ's coming whom St. Ephraem likened to the Star of Bethlehem, the Heavenly herald of His coming.

Art~Week 8

It's hard to believe the first half of our year is almost over! We only have 1 more week of co-op classes before our Winter break begins.

This week in art, we talked a little about Medieval tapestries.

Each student was given a piece of Muslin and to stitch their own picture. I had a variety of free patterns that I located off the Internet. I did mostly cross stitch patterns and a few embroidery patterns. I thought the cross stitch would be easier for the younger students to handle. The students were eager to learn the basics...how to thread a needle, tie a knot, and how to create the stitch. Many students choose a pattern to create to give to a loved one as a present.

Art~ Week 7

This week in art we talked about Bestiary. Bestiary was made popular during the middle ages in the manuscripts that were being produced at this time. The illustrations often depicted animals and birds that were paired with a moral story. A great website that discusses the different animals can be found here.

Source

The students really got the chance to use their imaginations this week. I encouraged them to draw an animal made up of at least different animals.

We were able to see a wide variety of animals being made!

Art~Week 6

This week for art we talked about Christian symbols in art work.

We talked about what symbols like the fish, the lamb, rainbow, dove, the rose, numbers, and colors represent.

After discussing the different symbols used in many pieces of art, we looked at a few paintings to find the "hidden" symbols.

The students followed up our lesson with creating their own master pieces.

This week we used colored pencils to expose the students to a different type of media.

Religion - Week 7 Chapt. 4/Talking to God

Franciscans talked about the Kyrie and Gloria and Collects.  What they mean in English and Greek/Latin.

Then we focused on one main point the conscience, what it is and how and why to examine it. Why we must examine it regularly in order to be ready to really say this part of the Mass and mean it.

How ignorance of our Faith is not an excuse to a sleeping or dead conscience. 

What is the inner voice of conscience. 

Important to this part of the Mass, because we are begging God's forgiveness in the prayer, Lord Have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy. 

We reviewed the four main types of prayer and which types we use in the Kyrie and Gloria.

We gave some examples of how a bad deed done for a good end is sinful.  This may need some review.

See pg. 90 handout for homework - read and do 4-5 exercises in scriptural examination of conscience.  May have some assistance from parents. 

Latin roots weekly schedule

JMJ

I should have gotten my schedule of root words typed up for you at the beginning of the year, but here it is, almost half way through the year.  Hopefully this will help those of you following along at home and making the cards ahead of time.


week 7: 4 roots, pgs. 33-36
week 8: 4 roots, pgs. 37-40
week 9: 4 roots, pgs. 41-44

week 10: 4 roots, pgs. 64-47, 49-50
week 11: 3 roots, pgs. 52-53, 64
week 12: 3 roots, pgs. 55, 57, 66
week 13: 4 roots, pgs. 60, 68, 70, 72
week 14: 4 roots, pgs. 74, 77, 82, 84
week 15: 3 roots, pgs. 78-80
week 16: 3 roots, pgs. 88, 90-91
week 17: 3 roots, pgs. 92-94
week 18: 4 roots, pgs. 96-98, 100

That's over 60 Latin roots!  If our kids learn all of these in just 18 weeks this year, I'd say they are well on their way to great English vocabulary as well as a solid foundation when learning Latin vocabulary.

Field Trip #2- Blandy Experimental Farm

The kids and I had a wonderful time learning about rocks during our visit to Blandy Experimental Farm. I joined the PreK-2nd grade group, and our teacher did a great job with the young bunch. We first got to look at all different types of rocks, and answer questions about them through our observations. 

Then the group headed outside to look for rocks around the property. It was a bit chilly today, but fall is a great time to visit a tree museum! :)

Lastly, we headed back inside for a simple but fun craft using playdough to discover how mountains are made.

The kids are really enjoying their hands-on learning opportunities this year!

Celebrating All Souls Day

Don't forget to check out our "Monthly Devotions" tab at the beginning of each month. 

November was just added. 

God bless you and your families!

Religion- Week 6

Preparing for Mass/ Confiteor

The older classes are putting together a book that they will be able to bring to Mass. A "how-to" book of sorts. With instructions, steps, and prayers to help them participate in the Traditional Latin Mass.

This week we covered:
-blessing ourselves with holy water when we enter the church
-finding the tabernacle (saying "hello" to Jesus) and genuflecting before sitting down
-kneeling and saying a prayer to help prepare our minds for Mass
-standing up to greet the priest
-Psalm 42 (expressing our joy at being able to attend Mass)
-Confiteor (telling Jesus that we are sorry for the sins that He will be offered up for in the Mass)
-listening for "Mea culpa" and striking our breast
-crossing ourselves when the priest gives absolution
-what "oremus" means
-what propers are, and where we can find them
-what the altar stone is
-why the priest kisses the altar
-the Introit

*Homework: the children are to find out when their baptism took place, and who the priest was that performed it. Fill in this information in your book.  They are also to try and find out which saint's relics are in the altar of their church.

The Benedictines made a craft in honor of All Saint's Day. They each colored a picture of their patron saint, then glued them onto colored paper and added cotton balls for our "clouds of witnesses display" to help aid us during our Litany to the Saints at the end of the day.

A blessed All Saints and All Souls day to you all!

Religion- Week 5

As we begin our journey through the Mass, we stop first to look at Mass as a whole. The Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans learned that:

1. Mass is divided into two parts: Mass of the Catechumens and Mass of the Faithful

2. Mass of the Catechumens involves the "teaching" part of the Mass, where we hear readings from Sacred Scripture and listen to the priest's sermon. The Dominicans and Franciscans drew a bible on their paper to help them remember what happens during this part of the Mass.

3. I further explained the Three Means God Uses to Teach Us:
           a. Inspired Men (Apostles and Prophets) speak to us through the Epistle
                      ~ The children drew the keys of St. Peter
           b. Jesus speaks to us through the Gospel
                      ~ The children drew a picture of Jesus
           c. Mother Church speaks to us through her priests during the sermon
                      ~ The children drew a picture of a priest

4. Also the Four Kinds of Prayer:
            a. Reparation (asking God's pardon) during the Kyrie
            b. Adoration and Thanksgiving (adoring and thanking God) during the Gloria
            c. Petition (asking God for His gifts) during the Collects

5. The priest would dismiss the Catechumens by saying:
             "Dominus Vobiscum" which translates to "God be with you"


6. Mass of the Faithful involves the re-offering of the Sacrifice of the Cross, and the receiving of our Lord in Holy Communion. The older students drew a chalice and host to help them remember this part of the Mass.

7. The Mass of the Faithful is divided into three parts:
           a. Offertory- offering of bread and wine to be consecrated
           b. Consecration- Jesus is really present and offered
           c. Communion- through Holy Communion we become united with God.

Our littlest ones, the Benedictines, heard a story about the Good Shepherd and made a Shepherd and sheep of their own, from a craft that you can find here.

Science - Week 4 & 5

J.M.J.

 Week 4  - We learned about the 3 types of rocks - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic



 Week 5 - We talked more about Igneous rock.  The Benedictines and Carmelites completed a matching worksheet and then did a coloring sheet.  The Dominicans and Franciscans started a flap-book which they will work on for the next 3 weeks.

No homework. 

Next week will continue with Sedimentary Rock and have a fun project of opening geodes!

Art~ Week 5

This week in art we made paint!
The Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans made their own paint using dried earth pigments, egg yolks, and water.

After they were done making their paint, the children were able to paint!

The Benedictines created a beautiful cross.

The were given blue and yellow paint to use. The painted over a cross made from painter's tape. While painting with the blue and green paint, they mixed the colors and created green! When their paintings were dry, we peeled the cross off the paper and a beautiful, white cross appeared. The children had a wonderful time painting and their two helpers did a fantastic job helping all of those little hands!

History for the Franciscan Class - Week 5

-Joseph McCarthy gave an oral presentation on the hierarchical nature of the feudal system.
-Review of last 2 homework "Fill in the Blank" worksheets.
-Introduction of Feudalism, including general stratification of the populace and the rights and responsibilities of each class.
-Discussion of what life would generally have been like for each class of persons in the feudal system.
-Students participated in a trivia competition with question topics from the previous subjects taught in class to date.

James Cummings will give next week's oral presentation on the Crusades; what were they and why were they fought.

History - Week 4

Pre K-4th
We discussed the story of Saint Patrick and each class did a Saint Patrick coloring page. The two older classes received a map of Ireland that they may color at home, as well as a book on Saint Patrick, which can be filled in, cut out and stapled. The Benedictines completed a shamrock craft. We also reviewed the maps for CCM.

5th-6th grade
~ review of materials from previous weeks
~ introduction of Saint Benedict of Nursia
~ Discussion of the historical importance of the Rule of Saint Benedict and its lasting influence on western monasticism
~ Discussion of the importance of monasteries in preserving Christianity in Western Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire
~ Introduction to Saint Patrick of Ireland
~ Discussion of St. Patrick's life and influence in converting the people of Ireland to Christianity
~ Discussion of the use of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity
~ Discussion of the impact of Irish monasteries on the art and culture of medieval Europe with a particular focus on the illuminated manuscripts and Book of Kells
~ Introduction to the Norse (Viking) invasions of western Europe and the advent of Western European Feudal society

HOMEWORK:
~ Each student should fill in the blank questions on page 13 of their Medieval Notebook
~ Joseph McCarthy will conduct a presentation in class on October 21. The topic will be on the "hierarchical nature of medieval social structure."

Art~Week 4

This week in art, we tried something new. No paint this week!

This week we learned about the art of making a collage. The children were able to create their own collage based of the middle ages! The used paper, feathers, beads, sequins, buttons, ribbon, fabric, and so much more. Of course, a lot of glue was used too!

The Benedictines and Carmelites worked on creating a collage of a Knight or a Lady.

The Dominicans were given the option of creating a Lady, a castle, or a medieval garden. Since the class was filled with ALL girls that day, we saw a lot of Ladies being created.

The Franciscans were given the option of creating a knight(without a template), a Lady, a castle, or a battle. The boys decided to work on the projects together. They created some amazing pieces of artwork.

A lot of creative juices were flowing that day!

Art~ Week 3

Sorry, I just realized that I never posted on what we did for art during week 3!

This week in art we talked about stained glass. We viewed various stained glass windows found in our local churches.
The Benedictines and Carmelites painted a cross sun catchers. The were thrilled with their crosses and were eager to get them home to hang on their windows!

The Dominicans and Franciscans painted glass candle votives with glass paint. We saw a variety of designs emerge from the students. We saw polk a dots, solar systems, flowers, snowflakes, etc. They enjoyed working with the different type of paint.