Free Catholic saints activities for homeschooling lesson plans

So you know that November 1 is Catholic All Saints' Day. But I say why wait till fall to get to know the saints? As Catholic homeschooling mum, I followed the liturgical calendar and tailored lessons around feast days. And you can too, using these free printable Catholic saints coloring pages, crafts and activities. Explore the lives of saints and use them to frame lesson plans. 

* Catholic Mom's All Saint's Day activities page has printable crafts and coloring pages specific to that holy day, plus tips for celebrating a Catholic holidays. Visit the Catholic Kids home page for free printable liturgical lesson plans for CCD and religious education lesson plan. Each week's gospel is discussed and age-appropriate activities linked: free printable puzzles, word searches, study sheets, crafts, Bible verses, games and activities. 

* ABCatholic has a free printable Catholic alphabet coloring book with images of saints, Bible stories and sacraments.  

* Waltzing Matilda features handmade free printable Catholic saints coloring pages. The blog moderator has drawn images for sacraments and liturgical use also. 

* Paper Dali is another mom blog with homemade free printable saints coloring pages. Some are free and some must be purchased.free her Etsy shop. Scroll around for the freebies. All are very attractive and well worth the nominal fee. 

* Catholic Icing offers handmade All Saints' Day printables and crafts. Read through the blog posts and sidebar menu for crafts, games and printables. 

* JClub has free printable Bible and Catholic saints coloring pages. 

* EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Kids offers free mass readings, prayer activities, crafts and coloring pages for children. Users must create a free account with user name and password. 

Lenten fasting: Catholic diet hacks and social justice weight loss tips

Are you having trouble losing weight no matter what you try? It could be because you're missing a few basic ingredients to weight loss. I know from personal experience struggling. I call these my "Catholic diet hacks" for social justice weight loss because they are based on the church's teaching on Lent. Use them to gear up your Lenten fasting.  These tips are part of how I lost 100 pounds without drugs or weight loss surgery. 

Mardi Gras is a Catholic festival season that culminates on Fat Tuesday and takes the faithful into Ash

Wednesday and the penitential season of Lent, The commonly known practice is Lenten fasting or

choosing something to give up for Lent and it's not just for the Catholic. Everyone, Catholic or not,

should quit feasting on Fat Tuesday and pick an addiction to give up for Lent. Don't worry, that's no

religious agenda, just common sense. Lenten fasting is healthy for everyone! Give up junk food for

Lent and you might lose weight, illness, debt, and depression! You don't have to fast for religious

reasons but a spiritual fast can be very healing.

And spiritual fasting isn't necessarily religious, it's a mind-body connection, an examination of

conscience, a personal reflection that frees the mind and soul of earthly trappings. Fasting is a very

Zen experience. Lent, Ramadan and Yom Kippur are ritual purgative fasts. Fasts such as the Buddhist

nyungne bring the elements of the self into focus and unity. Abstaining from mindless indulgences

and addictions, at least for a time, helps to align thoughts, actions, words and feelings. Lenten fasting

helps get priorities straight. Whatever addictions you give up for Lent will have less hold over you.

You find it easier to diet and lose weight as cravings aren't so intense and you are more easily

satisfied.

The Tao of Lenten fasting is inner cleansing through outward deprivation. On Shrove Tuesday and

Ash Wednesday a Catholic is "shriven" or purified and readied for prayer, meditation and almsgiving

and taking up the cross and following Jesus. Think of something negative that has a hold on you to

give up for Lent. Lenten fasting helps you concentrate on essentials. Beat depression and gain

confidence and strength knowing you're stronger than your cravings. If you offer your Lenten fasting

for particular intentions, you develop awareness of, sensitivity to and solidarity with the needs of

others. So you lose weight but also selfishness. 

Being less focused on things can help you get out of

debt. You have more money to help those in poverty. This is the best medicine for depression!

Fasting is positive for health reasons. Abstaining from meat, alcohol, fats, sugar, sodium, junk carbs,

candy and dairy can help you lose weight and illness. In times past, people refrained from eating all

of these things during Lent. Now, a Catholic will generally choose one thing to fast from. If you have

trouble deciding? Pick meat or sweets to give up for Lent. You can lower bad cholesterol without

medication just by eating more fish and less meat and dairy. Drinking less alcohol helps cleanse the

liver which helps you lose weight. Try fasting on bread and water twice a week, You may shed 20

pounds during a Lenten fast, making no other lifestyle changes. Refraining from eating sweets and

caffeine, and practicing emotional health exercises can help you wean from an antidepressant and

beat depression naturally. A Lenten fast can heal obesity, depression, save you money and find your

inner joy!