Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Today we celebrated the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.

This feast day "marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to fourteen-year-old Marie Bernade (St. Bernadette) Soubirous. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared eighteen times, and showed herself to St. Bernadette in the hollow of the rock at Lourdes. On March 25 she said to the little shepherdess who was only fourteen years of age: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Since then Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place. The message of Lourdes is a call to personal conversion, prayer, and charity." ~ Catholic Culture

Our Lady of Lourdes is dear to my heart because my grandfather was healed in Lourdes. While he was stationed in Germany, he visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, and was healed of his stuttering. So we wanted to do some special things today to celebrate her.



Our craft today was holy water fonts. The kids had a good time making them. We also read Our Lady of Lourdes by Fr. Lovasik, and we watched Bernadette, Princess of Lourdes.




Based on some ideas from different blogs, I decided to serve an all white and blue menu today. The color blue is often associated with Our Lady, and the white is for her purity from conception.

We started our day with these muffins, which were beautiful and delicious. However, my children are not used to fresh blueberries in there muffins (I usually buy the box mix), so they wouldn't eat them. I will admit they tasted different, but in a very good way! Nevertheless, it was a bust for the kids. There are plenty of leftovers, though, so come on over and get one. Snacks were mozzarella string cheese and ice cream (a HUGE hit). Lunch was cheese pizza with olive oil instead of tomato sauce, another big hit.



For dinner we had chicken and pasta with Alfredo sauce and cauliflower. We actually had a a very nice table setting for once, which was nice. For dessert, the kids were delighted with mini jello "springs"--foil cupcake liners with blue jello--since Our Lady told St. Bernadette to drink from the miraculous spring. Phil and I like them, too!



Here's a shot of our table, and Ava enjoying her "spring". I love how the jello matches her eyes.






We have really enjoyed celebrating the feasts of the Church this year. We look forward to more!

Celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Thomas family hosted a lovely fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We truly did feast! Each family brought a Mexican dish to share. More than 40 children did the craft! And that's just those that did it. There were lots of children too small to do it, and some of the big kids opted out.

We are so blessed to be surrounded by families who cherish life. Families who will say no to the world, and accept children lovingly from God....LOTS of children.


A shot of part of the crowd. The kids were hard at work on their tilmas.

Mary-Grace colors Our Lady.
The finished product. Mary-Grace was too busy playing to glue her rose petals on.