Collection: September

Through Our Lady of Fatima, God wants to share his message of mercy on the whole world. She will help and guide us, but we need to respond by living Christ-centered lives and fulfilling the requests she made for prayer and penance. Let’s start with this beautiful prayer card!

In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope Saint John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work. . .” Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Reflect on the gift of labor in your own life and how you can pursue it with his help today–and every day!

Rogation comes from the root word rogare, meaning to ask, as does the word litany (litaneo), meaning to ask repeatedly. On this traditional day of prayer, we humbly ask God for protection, forgiveness, and good health through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and all the saints using this guide.

Legend says that St. George slayed a dragon in the name of Jesus Christ. His heroic actions saved a princess, along with all of the city’s inhabitants, who then asked to be baptized in His name. What really happened is. . . St. George spread the Good News (Jesus) during the Middle Ages, saving many from the threat of their pagan beliefs (the dragon). With this in mind, reflect on St. George as a missionary and warrior, and recall your baptismal promises as you recite the prayer on the back of this print!

Honor Saint Paul Miki and his twenty-five companions by trying the traditional Japanese art of folding paper, or origami! As you fold, feel free to talk about the blessing of religious freedom and the persecution many Christians still face today.

Saint Brigid is said to have woven rushes (a grass-like plant) into a cross as she helped convert a pagan man upon his deathbed. If you’ve got access to rushes, weave away! Or, if you’re feeling less outdoorsy, we’ve provided pipe cleaners for you instead!

This silly activity is based on The Donkey of Tarsus, who tells the story of Paul’s conversion from his perspective. You’re sure to laugh as you try to pin Saint Paul to said donkey blindfolded (Jesus did take his sight away for three days). But while you’re at it, don’t also forget to reflect on the goodness of God’s mercy and the miracles he performed while spreading the faith!

The word Agnes means “lamb” in Latin, which is traditionally associated with purity, innocence, and sacrifice in the Bible! Use the included template, yarn, and pompoms, to make a garland to celebrate her feast day, and reflect on this young virgin martyr and her shining example of faith and courage as you DIY. Plus, it works great for Easter, too!

This art print features the icon “Our Lady of the Sign”. The artist in unknown, but it originated in Byzantium and is one of the most revered icons in the Russian Orthodox Church. The icon shows Mary, the Mother of God, with her arms outstretched in an attitude of prayer. In the middle is the Christ Child blessing the world at the moment of his conception.

In Europe the feast of Saint Stephen is known as Boxing Day, when traditionally boxes of food, money, and gifts were given to the servants and delivery workers. Use these gift tags and some ribbon to bring Christmas treats to your neighbors on the feast of St. Stephen this year!

On the feast of the Immaculate Conception we like to pray the Litany of Loreto which honors Our Lady’s many titles. Find some of those titles in this word search then pray the litany together as a family.

The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception! Display this print all month long and don’t forget to pray the prayer on the back for her feast day!

Ring in the Catholic New Year with this fun, bubbly treat! Make it alcohol free by using sparkling grape juice or cider instead of champagne.

What’s better than a charcuterie board for a New Year’s Eve party? One that’s liturgically themed! Put together a fun snack (or dessert!) board that has all the colors of the liturgical year to celebrate a new year. You’ll need foods that are purple, green, red, and white. Bonus points if you add just a couple pink — or, rather, rose — foods!

On a visit to his hometown of Wadowice in 1999, Pope John Paul II casually mentioned how fond he was of the cream cake or kremówka that he and his school friends had often pooled their funds to buy. The next day, he was swimming in gifted cream cakes, already renamed Kremówka Papieska or “Papal Cream Cake” by the residents. This dessert of vanilla pastry cream sandwiched between layers of puff pastry and dusted with powdered sugar is delicious, if a bit messy.

The story goes that after his attempted assassination, Pope John Paul II, while recovering in the hospital, requested pierogis to eat. The doctors tried to persuade him that this was not a wise meal to have after surgery, but the Pope’s persistence wore them down; and it turns out that pierogies are just the thing for recovering from an attempted assassination.

Enjoy a traditional dessert from Spain for Saint Teresa’s feast day. These small orange sweets are named for Saint Teresa, and were invented in her home town of Avila!

Inspired by St. Teresa’s writing on the interior castle, this historical English dessert, traditionally called “Castle Pudding”, is steamed in the microwave for a quick, tasty dessert, perfect for the fall!

Even though angels technically don’t have hair, being pure spirits and all, we still love this delicious and simple pasta dish using Angel Hair noodles to celebrate the feast of the Guardian Angels!

Our Guardian Angels are with us everywhere we go! Find seven in this picture who are keeping a close eye on their charges at the park!

The Month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary! Display this print all month long and don’t forget to pray the prayer on the back too! The art on the front of this print was by Simone Cantarini in the 1640s, and is entitled Madonna of the Rosary.

This is lemonade with a sophisticated herbed twist. Other fruits and herbs can be substituted. Make it a cocktail by adding vodka to the finished drinks. We love this lemonade for the Assumption and also for the feast of the Holy Cross, which is traditionally associated with basil.

While Saint Jerome’s personality was certainly lion-like in many ways, there is also a legend that tells us that Saint Jerome actually befriended a lion! While he was living in the desert, Saint Jerome helped a lion remove thorn in his paw. The lion was so grateful that he became a companion to Saint Jerome for the rest of his life!

Use the scripture references on the banner cards to find the stories of Mary’s sorrows in the Bible; read each story with your family throughout the month! The banner artwork is inspired by the nineteenth-century terracotta sculptures by artist Joris Dunstheimer, a sculptor from Ghent, Belgium.

Display this print throughout the month of September to remember this month’s devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. Don’t forget to pray the prayer on the back for Our Lady’s feast day on September 15th! This painting is by the late Gothic artist Absolon Stumme(d. 1499).

Here’s a fun party game to play on Our Lady’s birthday this year! Gather your family and friends and follow the clues to find Marian items around your home and yard.

Make cupcakes that are fit for a queen’s birthday with these cute toppers and wrappers!

Saint Jerome was responsible for translating the bible from Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek into Latin, the common language at the time. Celebrate his feast day by making these ridiculously easy (and delicious) bible bars!

This Marian blue mocktail made with 7UP calls to mind our Mother in heaven as well as our devotion to her sorrowful heart, particularly her seven sorrows. You can also serve this drink for Our Lady’s birthday on September 8th! Add your favorite liquor to taste for an alcoholic version.

Celebrate Our Lady’s birthday with these delicious and naturally dyed chocolate chip cookies!

“Our life, our sweetness, and our hope . . .” aka Our Lady, who had to endure many sour moments in her life. We love that this recipe calls to mind the love which she shows to us, her children, as well as the love her sorrowful heart holds for her Son.

When you eat these sour gummies with your family, we recommend handing out seven to each person and then eating one gummy as you read about each of Mary’s seven sorrows from the bible.

This devotion goes back to the Middle Ages but has gained new popularity following Our Lady’s apparitions in Kibeho, Rwanda in the 1980s. Our Lady of Kibeho recommended that people pray the Chaplet (or Rosary) of the Seven Sorrows to obtain the favor of repentance.

All you holy men and women, pray for us while we color!

The spookiness comes from cutting a ghost shape out of cheese slices and laying it on top of the macaroni and cheese as soon as it comes out of the oven. Very scary. And meat-free.