Free printable Catholic Advent O Antiphons prayers, crafts count down to Christmas

Advent, a penitential season in Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches, begins four weeks before Christmas. During that time, the faithful pray, give alms, fast and perform acts of sacrifice. It's a lesser Lent. Starting Dec. 17, says Benet Vision, the church counts down the last week till the Octave of Christmas, praying the Magnificat or O Antiphons (names for Jesus) litanyPrintable Catholic Advent O Antiphons prayers, crafts count down to Christmas

Free printable Advent calendars for Christmas countdown

 Advent is the Catholic Christian season leading up to Christmas. For four weeks, prior to Christmas, Catholics practice advent values prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each week focuses on hope, expectation and joy. Here are free printable advent calendars for kids to make, to guide advent to Christmas devotions.Free printable Advent calendars for Christmas countdown

Free printable Thanksgiving greeting cards, invitations, coloring pages children can make

Planning the perfect Thanksgiving dinner and party doesn't need to be costly. You can throw a great Thanksgiving celebration that's green and cheap. Here's one tip: send free printable Thanksgiving greeting cards and invitations. Here are free Christian, religious and secular Thanksgiving cards to print. Free printable Thanksgiving greeting cards, invitations, coloring pages

Bible character Halloween costumes for All Saints Day Pageants

Halloween is celebrated different ways. Some get into the ghoulish. Others trick-or-treat but avoid the spookier aspects. Some celebrate church harvest festivals. Catholics observe All Saint's Day (Halloween means All Hallows Eve, a pre-holy day pagan bacchanalia). Here are Bible, Torah and saints Halloween costume ideas for Jewish, Christian or Catholic All Saints' Day parties.Bible character Halloween costumes for All Saints Day

Free Printable Catholic Saints and Bible Character Coloring Pages

 Catholics celebrate several religious days, referred to as Holy Days. Based on the Bible, these days center around an event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Holy Days are All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (preceded by the holy season of Advent), Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Ash Wednesday (movable feast which kicks of the holy season of Lent and leads up to Easter), Ascension Thursday (movable feast) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15).  Free Printable Catholic Saints and Christian Bible Coloring Pages

Free Printable Day of the Dead Lesson Plans to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, originated as a pagan celebration preceding the Catholic church's observance of All Saints Day (a holy day honoring canonized saints) on November 1. It is followed by All Souls Day on November 2 which remembers the beloved dead.Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Printable Activities to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Free Printable First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Baptism Cards and Invitations

If you're like me, you get invited to a lot of celebrations where gifts are required. There are secular ones--graduation, retirement, birthdays--and religious ones--holidays, first communion, baptism, weddings. Don't get me wrong, I love giving gifts, but costs do add up. So I use free printable greeting cards to save money. Going to a Catholic or Christian special event? Here are printable cards. Throwing a first communion open house, confirmation open house, All Saints Day party? Here are free printable invitations too. You'll find printable holiday, wedding, bridal and baby shower and birthday cards, as well. Frugal mama says save what you'd spend on cards and use on the gift. And don't feel you have to overdo it on presents either. Religious celebrations are supposed to be spiritual events not gift blow-outs. Free Printable First Holy Communion Cards and Invitations (to find cards for individual celebrations, scroll through links or click on "religious.")

Free Printable Catholic Stations of the Cross, Saints and Bible Coloring Pages

Catholics celebrate several religious days, referred to as Holy Days. Based on the Bible, these days center around an event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. We also pray the rosary and stations of the cross. We dedicate October to remember Our Lady. And October 4 is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. Then All Saint's Day is celebrate November 1 and All Souls Day, Nov. 2. Then we approach Advent, the lesser penitential season and the Christmas season. So many ways to celebrate and honor our Lord. To help children learn about our Catholic faith, here are Free Printable Catholic Saints and Christian Bible Coloring Pages

Free Printable Stone Soup Lesson Plans with Bible Applications

The legend of "Stone Soup" is timeless. It's been retold many times, notably by Marcia Brown, Ann McGovern and Jon J. Muth. Stone Soup is sacred text in preschool and elementary classrooms. It has many Bible and catechism applications for Catholic children. It teaches gospel values of honesty, sharing and cooperation.If you are teaching Stone Soup, here are free printable activities. As an educator and homeschooler, I've used "Stone Soup" over the years. The book is commonly read, and soup made, at Thanksgiving. It lends itself to fall harvest science lessons, Here are Free Printable Stone Soup Lesson Plans, Games, Crafts, Worksheets. There are Biblical lesson plans based on Stone Soup, too.

Catholic Guilt, Overactive Conscience and Scruples

I have struggled all my life with a hyperactive conscience. I feel vague to intense guilt constantly. As a Catholic convert, I hear cradle Catholics talk about Catholic guilt. Like the Church invented it. Well, they're not alone. I grew up Protestant and we spoke fluent "guilt."  Some guilt is healthy, but chronic isn't. That's what the catechism calls "scruples." And in psychological terms, shame. It's crucial, for mental and spiritual health, to know the difference.

What is guilt complex/scruples/shame and how does it differ from healthy guilt? Let me illustrate. Do you remember the T-A--Transactional Analysis--school of psychology? It says the self has three personas--parent, child and adult--similar to Freud's Id, ego and superego. Freud described the id (child) as immature, undisciplined and totally self-serving. The superego or parent in TA is ultra-controlled and highly critical. The ego or adult is whole and balanced. In all of us, the Parent (superego) and child (Id) struggle for control. Neither are healthy, alone. It's only when the healthier adult persona takes control and parent and child take back seat that the person is healthy.

We with guilt complexes and overactive consciences are stuck in superego- parent mode. We don't have more to feel guilty about than anyone else. Less, often. We've done our time, paid our penances, said our Mea Culpaes, received absolution. But we struggle to shake the nagging feeling that we've left something undone.

Our apologies and restitution never satisfy us. No confession is ever good enough, no penance too severe.
We don't have prickings of conscience, we have brutal stabbings. Others aren't necessarily accusing us. We accuse ourselves, sometimes to the point of dreaming up sins. I have a recurrent dream in which I have done something unspeakable, willful murder, violent assault, terrible injury. I have another where everyone is mad at me and I can't figure out what I've done wrong. When I wake, I feel sick and terrified, and it takes conscious effort for me to convince myself that it was just a dream (how's that for Freudian?)

Overactive conscience always second guesses its decisions and actions. Guilt complex causes us to be pathologically self-critical. And like so many other emotional issues, they're fear-driven and deeply subconscious (ergo the dreams). Fear of offending, upsetting others, of our own emotions, of consequences. We will sometimes lie or cheat to defend against irrational or imagined wrongs and prevent imagined consequences.

If you suffer from or love someone with guilt complex and overactive conscience, check my blog www.emotionalhealthhelp.blogspot.com.

Free Printable Bible crafts for Sunday school, VBS Crafts

I've taught a lot of kids in Sunday School, Children's Liturgy of the Word, CCD and Vacation Bible School. I'm also a teacher and former homeschooler. One activity that always went over big was puppetry. Here are free printable finger puppets, stick puppets, paper bag puppets and 3D play sets (to use like puppets). There are Bible characters, animals, people, Disney characters, monster and other puppet themes. Perfect for Vacation Bible School, summer school, daycare and rainy day fun! Free Printable Bible Finger Puppets

Free Printable Crucifix, Body and Blood of Jesus Coloring Pages for Feast of Corpus Christi

After Easter, the Catholic Church celebrates a series of Movable Feasts--holy days which rely on Easter's calendar date for their placement on each year. These feasts revolve around Jesus. Here are the feasts and the dates they are celebrated in the US (typically Sundays). Divine Mercy Sunday, Ascension Thursday, Pentecost, Holy Trinity (June 15, 2014), Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Jesus --June 22, 2014) and Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 27, 2014). The actual dates of Corpus Christi is June. Here are Free Printable Rosary and Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages and Devotional Activities to help children pray the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries of Our Risen Lord. Look for these free printable stations of the cross and crucifix coloring pages to help children understand the feasts of Corpus Christi (Body and Blood) and Sacred Heart of Jesus particularly.

Free Printable Father's Day Greeting Cards and Craft Activities

We Catholics love our family holiday and holy days. But Father's Day can be tricky. It's sometimes hard to know what to get dad. If he's anything like my husband, he'll say, "don't buy me anything. Save your money." And kids may find themselves with little cash to buy something. Here are free printable Father's Day crafts and greeting cards that you can make at home. Dad will love your creativity and thoughtfulness.  Free Printable Father's Day Greeting Cards and Craft Activities

50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10 for Dads, Priests

On Father's Day, don't forget your spiritual leader. He's a father too! As you buy dad, husband, grandfathers gifts, why not pick up a similar gift for your parish priest? But keep it in budget. Don't overspend. Here are 50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10

Free Printable Catholic Christian Bible Bingo Games for VBS, Sunday School

Bingo is the most beloved board games. Bingo games can be converted into different configurations. Games can be personalized for holidays, parties and to teach content. Here are free bingo games with Bible, Catholic, Christian and church themes. Use for CCD, religious education,  Sunday School, acation Bible School, church camp, holiday parties and other religious celebrations. I've included templates to make your own about liturgy, gospel and mass readings, saints, the mass and more. Homeschool parents, you'll love these printables! Free Printable Bingo Games for School, Parties, Holidays 

Free Printable Wedding Planner Guides, Online Organizers

The sacrament of marriage is an essential life decision. It's important to start out on a good foot and one way  to do that is to be debt-free.

My husband and I paid for our own wedding,  We paid everything off, including the honeymoon, beforehand and so we incurred no debt. The total wedding plus reception tab cost less than $1,800. Granted this was 1987, but we could do it again now. We kept costs down, doing many things ourselves, including wedding planning. Brides and grooms, if you're doing your own wedding, here are free printable wedding planners to help. Print organizers, gift registry trackers, checklists, guides, schedules, calendars, budget tools and expense sheets to manage your big day.   Free Printable Wedding Planners, Online Organizers, Checklists, Expense Sheet

Free Printable Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages for Our Lady's Month of May

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is honored on several different Catholic Christian holidays throughout the year. December 8 is the Feast Immaculate Conception, January 1 is Solemnity of Mary and August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here are free printable coloring pages of Our Lady in her different titles and roles.

May and October are dedicated to her as well. Catholics believe that Mary has appeared at different times in history. Some of the better-known apparitions are at Fatima in Portugal; Lourdes, France; Medjugorie , Bosnia-Herzegovina; Mexico City as "Our Lady of Guadalupe:" " Our Lady of Knock " in Ireland and " Our Lady of Czestochowa ," in Poland. There are Marion devotions depending upon the apparition, too.  Free Printable Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages and Activities

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, Latino-Inspired Arts, Crafts, Games, Food for Catholics

Cinco de Mayo--"fifth of May" in Spanish--celebrates the Mexican victory at the Battle of Pueblo. It's not the Mexican independence day though it sounds like the U.S. 4th of July. My Latino friends tell me Cinco de Mayo isn't as big in Mexico as in the U.S. Latinos make up a huge portion of the Catholic church. Our new Pope Francis hails from Argentina (hi @pontifex --love you--from @marilisa616)  Our beloved Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico. Definitely time for us Catholics need to get in touch with our Spanish, Mexican, South and Central American roots. So how about a fiesta? Here's are kid-friendly Cinco de Mayo games, crafts, lesson plans, cultural activities and food! Kid-Friendly Cinco de Mayo Fiesta With Latino-Inspired Games, Crafts, Food

Free Printable Eastertide Crafts, Activities, Decorations

We Catholics and Orthodox have just completed Lent and celebrated Easter. But it's not over in one day for us. As with Christmas, we get to enjoy a season of Easter. As homeschoolers, we were just getting started with Eastertide when the secular world was tossing out the Easter decorations. Here are free printable crafts to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. After the sadness of Good Friday and Holy Thursday, we look forward to newness of life. These activities are good for Earth Day, Memorial Day and spring.   Free Printable Easter Crafts, Activities, Decorations 

Free Printable Holy Week Activities for Palm Sunday to Easter

 Holy Week, the week preceding Easter, begins on Palm Sunday of the liturgical church year. Holy Week is the culmination of Lent. The Easter Triduum, consisting of Maundy or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday bring christians to the highest point in the church year, Easter. Holy Week is also referred to as the Passion or Paschal celebration. Free Printable Holy Week Activities

Catholic Lenten Fasting Ideas for Kids, Corporal and Spiritual Fasts

Giving things up for Lent is about more than just not eating meat. During this 40-day period, we follow Christ's temptation in the desert, ending with Holy Week and passion, death and resurrection at Easter. During Lent we fast in imitation of Christ. Here are tips to teach kids why we give things up and how to sacrifice. Suggestions include corporal and spiritual fasts plus good habits to replace them with. Picture is my Lenten Kitchen vegan chili recipe. Catholic Lenten Fasting Ideas for Kids

Teach Children Generosity With Lent Almsgiving Activities

Catholics around the world enter into the penitential season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. From now till Easter, we practice Lenten virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We give up things in imitation of Jesus's temptation in the desert. We pray to draw closer to God. And we share with those in need. Here are 40 ways kids can give, one for each day of lent. I've included free printable activities, Bible coloring sheets, Catholic crafts and lesson plans.  Teach Kids Generosity With Lenten Almsgiving Activities, Donations

Ban Bossy, We Need to Empower Girls, Not Squash Them

I hate it when Americans pontificate about how bad women have it in other countries, then silence their own women. I know women are abused, kept in slavery, prevented from learning. I'm not deaf to their problems. I pray for them and support empowerment missions, like Amnesty, WAR and Global Girlfriend. It's our hypocrisy I object to. In our supposed enlightened nation, girls have low self-esteem issues 3.5 times more than boys. Girls don't speak up, don't take leadership, don't assert their intelligence. They play dumb and weak. Why? Because we teach them to. Parents, join me in helping our girls find and use their voice. This is what God calls us to do. When He spoke of women as the weaker vessels, it wasn't to shame or silence them. It was to help their realize their essential role.   Ban Bossy, Empower Girls to Speak Out, Not Tell Them to Shut Up

Why Catholics Give Up Things for Lent, Spiritual and Physical Fasts

Today on Ash Wednesday, Catholics begin Lent which follows Christ’s passion, death and resurrection at Easter. Part of our Lenten practice is to fast from vices or luxuries in imitation of Christ’s sufferings. We deny ourselves to get closer to God.



What we give up may not be bad. But preoccupation with it takes focus from God. Common fasts are sweets, TV, video games. This may seem immature. But we’re called to approach the kingdom of heaven like children. I know plenty adults (raises hand) who let worldly things distract us from Godly.   Why Catholics Give Up Things for Lent, Spiritual and Physical Fasting

Free Printable Bible Easter Coloring Pages, Graphics, Clipart

This posts shares links to free anmated graphics. But if you look on the sidebar you can find religious holiday coloring pages. Or type "Bible" in the search bar. You'll find over 100 Bible coloring pages for Catholic Chrisitan Easter and Lent and Christmas. Free Personalized Clipart, Sparkle Graphics, Animated Gifs

Heart Burn, the Agony and Ecstasy (poem)

 This poem is for our baby daughters who died in utero. Resquiescat in pace, Mary and Isobella. Keep each other company till mama and daddy can join you. I called this painful poem "ecstasy" because it's not a term for bliss. In fact, ecstasy is nothing like blissful calm of bliss. It's intense, searing spiritual awakening, bitter-sweet. The mystics St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila (who elected herself my patroness) experienced this. Our Lady felt the seven dolores (Sorrows) piercing her heart. Any parent, especially a mother, who has lost a child knows heart burn. The Heavenly Father knows it, too.  Heart Burn, the Agony and Ecstasy (poem) 

Printable Catholic Saint Valentine Lesson Plans, Activities

The story of St. Valentine has zero to do with schmaltzy flowers and candy and little with romance as we think of it. But Valentine's story is spiritually romantic. Valentinius was a Roman Christian priest. In those days, this was not popular. In fact, it was illegal. Here are free printable activities to explore this saint. Catholic Saint Valentine Lesson Plans, Activities

Free Printable St Valentines Activities for Children

Can we just agree, my dear Catholic friends, that this winter is getting really old? I know, offer up sufferings, etc. But I have chilblains on my feet and permanent chafing! I don't know how you moms of 10 kids do it, especially in this crazy cold weather. I know a lot of you homeschool. Did I tell you I was an early homeschool pioneer back in 1993? I feel for ya, sisters. But I digress. How about some St. Valentines Day crafts and cards to keep those bored little one occupied? Free (Yes Free!) Valentines to Print, Perfect for Snowbound Kids 

Jim Crow, Black History From Rosa Parks' Bus Seat

Social justice a huge part, maybe the biggest, in our Catholic Christian life. We have to take up the crosses of those in bondage. So that's why I don't get complaints about Black History Month infuriate me. If you have to ask, you clearly don't get American history period. We who teach it aren't the revisionists. They're the ones who wrote it out in the first place. Slavery, segregation, Jim Crow stole an entire peoples' past. Black History Month can't replace that. But it can renew the future. It can revive traditions, restore voices and reinvest in the heritage that was denied. I've always felt intense solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized. But recently, I experienced it in a new way. I sat in Rosa Parks' bus seat. Here are lessons written from that perspective.
For Black History Month, Learn Jim Crow Lessons From Rosa Parks' Bus Seat

Should Religious Posts Be Banned on Social Networking Sites?

Should religious posts be banned online? They cause so much furor, or can, when narrow-minded bigots engage. But wait, before you scream "NOOO! Free Speech! Freedom of Religion." or Yes! Separation of Church and State" hear me out. I don't look to gag religion or any other topic. I present considerations for interacting in healthy ways online and in real life. Engaging in holy wars is not healthy. Read on about how this played out on a couple of sites I write for.   Should Religious Posts Be Banned on Bubblews?

Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Resources for Families

 January 27 marks the International Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Holocaust remembered on this day because it is the day which the Russians liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland. An estimated 6 million Jewish people died in what Heinrich Himmler of Hitler's third Reich called the Final Solution to the 'Jewish Problem'. Catholics, Christians and all religious groups should join Jews in honoring the dead. Use for country Yom HaShoah remembrance days.
Jewish Holocaust Memorial Lesson Plans and Web Help