Wolf Paw Cookies

For celebrating St. Francis of Assisi...

You can do this with any cookie. 

I used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (which may or may not be attributed to Nestle).

Dip in melted almond bark or candy melts and stick on the chocolate chips!

At the last minute I tried to make it more "paw-like" by piping on some of the almond bark (just glop it in a plastic bag and cut off the tippy, tippy end). 

It's not elegant by any means. But the kids liked it. ;)

Thanks to Catholic Cuisine for the inspiration!

"Above all the graces and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ grants to his friends, is the grace of overcoming oneself, and accepting willingly, out of love for Christ, all suffering, injury, discomfort and contempt."
- The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi

Our feast for St. Therese

"I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. 
To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul."
St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux is such a charming saint in my mind largely due to the virtue of her simplicity. She was wise beyond her years and yet her example is accessible to even the youngest child.

My children and I find great inspiration in her, and so we try to make this day a special one.

St. Therese lived in France, so we had a French-themed dinner in her honor.

The Menu: Chicken Francese (with capers, which I think technically makes it the Italian counterpart - Chicken Picatta - but just ignore that...), Roasted Lemon Garlic Broccoli, Lemon Pasta & Herb soup and a French Baguette with cheese.

For dessert the kids shared a Chocolate Eclair, which was one of St. Therese's favorite treats.

I highly recommend watching Therese (available online with a Netflix subscription) as part of the feast day festivities!

Additional Resources:
- Coloring pages
- Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux
- Feast of St. Therese Recipes
- Novena to St. Therese beginning on her feast day
- Sacrifice Bead Tutorial

God, Our Father,

You promised Your Kingdom

to the little ones

and the humble of heart

Give us the grace

to walk confidently in the way

of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus,

so that helped by her prayers,

we may see Your glory

and share in Your Kingdom.

Amen.

Fulton Sheen on the spirit of the age

"To think clearly, one must remember that to marry the spirit of an age is to become a widow in the next one."

-- Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Fulton Sheen on Purgatory

"Belief in Purgatory has declined in just the proportion that the modern mind forgot the two most important things in the world: the Purity of God and the heinousness of sin."

-- Archbishop Fulton Sheen

The last words of St. Padre Pio

Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall: The last words of Saint Padre Pio: "Saint Pio of Pietreclina, died 1968 The most famous quote of Padre Pio is probably 'Pray, hope, and don't worry.' However, what were the la..."

Click above for full post.

St. Josemaria Escriva on purity

"To defend his purity, Saint Francis of Assisi rolled in the snow, Saint Benedict threw himself into a thorn bush, Saint Bernard plunged into an icy pond... You..., what have you done?"

-- St. Josemaria Escriva

Fulton Sheen on enemies of love

"Infidelity, planned un-parenthood, invalid marriages are so many travesties and heresies against love - and whatever is the enemy of love is the enemy of life and happiness."

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Early Christians on 'the Church'

(Repost from previous WordPress blog.)



"Who's who":

St. Irenaeus, a Bishop in Lyons, was taught and influenced by St. Polycarp, the Bishop in Smyrna, who himself was the personal disciple of the Apostle John.

St. Ignatius was the personal disciple of the Apostle John, and was appointed to his post as Bishop of Antioch by the Apostle Peter himself. He was martyred for the faith.

St. Cyprian was an adult convert and became Bishop in Carthage. He was martyred for the faith.

St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, was so influential that he is known today as the "Father of Western Christianity."

St. Padre Pio on the Eucharist

 

The surest means of remaining immune to the pestiferous disease that surrounds us is to fortify ourselves with Eucharistic food.

St. Padre Pio