Celebrating Learn About the Saints

Department: St. BY PATRICIA MATHSON MARCH SAINTS Celebrating Saints 3 St. Katharine Drexel Tag: FEAST DAY: MARCH 9 4 St. Casimir Learn About the Saints St. Dominic lived in with God.” He lived each day that way. 7 Sts. Perpetua and Felicity Author: his family. His mother and father This is a great motto for all of us. taught him about God’s love and Dominic’s life reminds us that all 8 St. John of God BY PATRICIA MATHSON sharing that love with others. St. ages are called to follow Jesus. You 9 St. Frances of Dominic enjoyed going to school don’t have to wait until you are and playing games with his friends. grown-up; you can love God and 17 St. Patrick He loved God and was a person help others right now, right where 18 St. Cyril of Jerusalem of prayer even as a child. He died you are. 19 when he was only 14, but this teen- St. Joseph ager was later canonized a . Was always cheerful 25 Good Friday One thing St. empha- 27 Easter Acted as a peacemaker sized to St. Dominic was to always When St. Dominic was only 12 he be cheerful. St. Dominic took this went to a boarding school run by to heart. He tried to be cheerful Jesus each day of Lent and always St. John Bosco who was also later and kind to others even when like St. Dominic. canonized a saint. There St. Dom- it was a challenge. But Dominic Let’s think of ways to help other inic studied to become a , became sick with tuberculosis and children. Dominic reached out to but that was not to be. At school died in 1857 not long before his other . We can use positive St. Dominic acted as a peacemaker 15th birthday. Even though he was words and not negative ones when when other boys got into argu- so young, he was later canonized talking to others. We can try to be ments. He also helped boys at his a saint because of how he lived his peacemakers when other children school who didn’t have anyone to life each day. disagree. We can stand up for a care about them. child who is being teased. We can What can we do? pray for other children too, even Did everything for God Let’s talk about St. Dominic Sav- those who we do not like. Dominic Savio once said, “I want io’s life. Who did St. Dominic to do everything, even the small- help at his school? What did St. Prayer est things, for the greater glory of John Bosco advise St. Dominic to God of life, help us to be people of do? What did St. Dominic say he prayer in all things like St. Dom- wanted to do for God? What was inic Savio. May we never be too St. Dominic studying to be? Why busy to pray, because that is when did that not happen? How old was we need it most. Help us give glory St. Dominic when he died? Why and praise to you by our words was he canonized a saint? and actions each day. Amen. Let’s make colorful crosses. We celebrate St. Dominic Savio during Patricia Mathson has many years of experience in the season of Lent. We can make faith formation as a DRE and holds a MRE degree from Lent crosses by cutting out squares the University of Dallas. She is the children’s ministry from self-stick foam. Arrange the coordinator at Hope Family Center in Des Moines, IA. squares on crosses cut from card- She is the author of many books including Prayers and stock. Display the colorful cross Activities on Service (Twenty-Third Publications). where you will remember to follow

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