Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Favorite Christmas Music

Yesterday I looking over this post from last year.

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When it comes to Christmas tunes, I am a sucker for the classic crooning of Bing Crosby and Nate King Cole. Today, however, I have been in the mood for a change of pace and have been loving Christmas a la Relient K and Sixpense None the Richer. Falalalala!
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This year (2011) I am in love with Michael Buble’s Christmas album. Love it.


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Next, when I am in the mood for a coffee shop Christmas, I listen to A Very She & Him Christmas. I love Zooey’s voice and it makes me think of my little sister J. πŸ™‚ (But it also makes me want to watch Elf. πŸ˜‰
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Lastly, I’ve been enjoying this older album I got from my mom – Third Day’s Christmas Offerings. It’s been re-released as a CD & DVD combo pack of the concert. I really like the lead singer’s gruff voice and their take on Christmas classics.
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What are your favorite Christmas albums?


Holy Heroes’ Advent Adventures

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This morning my sister forwarded me an email from Holy Heroes’ Advent Adventures. It sounded interesting so I signed up. Check it out for yourself. Here is a copy of the email.

If your family life is anything like ours, it seems that Advent comes at the most hectic time of the year. It is easy for our children to get caught up in the commercialism, materialism, and the me-ism of the culture’s pre-Christmas (or should I say “holiday”?) frenzy.
Instead of the frantic activity of “Only XX shopping days left until Christmas!” the Church prescribes something different: prayerful, conscientious, joyful preparation for the days approaching our celebration of birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
But, you’re really busy.
You have a lot to do to prepare for the wonder of Christmas Day.
So, this year, here’s how you can prevent your Advent plans from being overcome by the hub-bub of what the world tells you is the proper way to spend “the Christmas season:”
Take your family on the fun, free, and easy “Holy Heroes Advent Adventure!”
It’s free, it costs you nothing, nada, zilch. And you’ll get almost daily fun, easy, free–and time-saving!–activities for Advent.
You’ll find that we have done all the work for you, so you can also enjoy the Advent Adventure with your family. And you will all–from youngest to oldest–actually learn something during Advent which (we pray) will help you on your way to heaven.
It’s free. Click here to sign up.
Nearly every day during Advent, we will send you an email with a link that takes you to that day’s activities.
You’ll see short videos, listen to short audio selections, download coloring pictures, word searches and games, take quizzes to see what you’ve learned, and more.
NEW IN ADVENT ADVENTURE 2010:
***New Jesse Tree videos and printable, colorable ornaments (complete with Scripture citations) plus–BONUS!–a video and ornament for every “O Antiphon” which we pray the last 7 days of Advent
***More quizzes suitable for all ages and abilities to reinforce what you’ve learned
***New coloring pages and fun based on Glory Stories artwork and audio recordings
***A new discount code for all Adventur-ers which not only gets you discounts on every order, but also some surprise free stuff, too
***Now available for purchase: our year-after-year re-useable Jesse Tree DVD! Yes, ma’am: it can be used EVERY Advent, year-after-year, because we added EXTRA videos and EXTRA printable, colorable ornaments which you won’t see online in our free Advent Adventure…so although Advent changes in length every year, you’ll always have enough content to fill your Jesse Tree (and no excuses for not finishing the tree you started–the kids can pop in the video every day whether you’re too tired or not!)
It’s free, it’s for children of all ages, it’s fun AND educational, and all you have to do every day is open the email we’ll send. Enroll your own family, or forward this email to your grandkids, nieces and nephews, and friends.
May God bless you and yours,
Your Advent Adventure Guides


“Madonna and Child” by Maria Rangel

Congrats to my sis-in-law Maria Rangel for the beautiful Madonna and Child she finished painting! This painting is now available as a high quality printed card. They make great Christmas cards and since they are blank inside they can be used year round. They also make a great gift. Wrap a bundle of cards in a pretty ribbon and add a nice pen to the bow and you have a great unique gift for a hostess, teacher, or Catholic friend.
The “Madonna and Child” cards are blank on the inside and approx 5″x7″ folded with envelopes. The cost is $2.50 each or bulk rate of $1.50 each for 10 or more. Shipping is $3 for orders below 10 cards and $5 for orders of 10 cards or more. Make checks payable to Maria Rangel. Orders can be mailed to 310 S. Jefferson St. #49A, Placentia, CA 92870.

Update: Please email for current availability and pricing. Thanks!
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All Saints Day Costume Ideas

I originally received this list years ago from a homeschooling mom in Santa Cruz, CA. I thought I’d share the ideas with you. πŸ™‚

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MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Blessed Mother – Wear a white dress and a blue shawl over head and shoulders.

Our Lady of Guadalupe – She appeared looking like an Aztec princess. Wear a white flowery dress, a black sash(sign of pregnancy) & a blue veil with stars on it. She could carry the miraculous roses.

APOSTLES/FRIARS/MONK

For any saint that was an apostle or a friar or monk, get a man’s T-shirt, put a rope around the waist, maybe sandals, and there is your costume! Or buy brown, gray, or black material, cut a hole in the top & tie a rope or strip of material around the waist. Use face paint for a beard.

St. Peter – He could have keys hanging at his waist. (Because Jesus gave him the keys to heaven, Mt. 16:19) He could also have a net.

St. Francis – You can cut out a bird and pin it on his shoulder, or bring some stuffed animals.

St.’s Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John – For one of the gospel writers you can bring a bible.

St. Constantine and St. Benedict and St. Anthony the Abbot (from Egypt) were monks (a rosary in belt).

Great St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus. He was a carpenter by trade, so have him carry a tool or hang on his belt.

St. John the Baptist – Wear fake fur or leather & sandals. Perhaps tie a strip of cloth around the forehead. Could carry a shell for baptizing or some locusts (grasshoppers) & honey.(This is what he ate.)

KING/QUEEN/PRINCESS

For any saint that was a king or queen, you can buy a crown for a boy, or a princess outfit for a girl. Crowns can be bought online at Oriental Trading Company, or a local craft/toy store. Princess outfits are everywhere!

GIRLS:

St. Queen Elizabeth of Hungary – She can carry a basket of bread or flowers. She took bread to the poor. She built a hospital and cared for the sick.

St. Margaret – Queen of Scotland, would actually have Scottish plaid clothing.

St. Bathildis – Queen of France

St. Adelaide – Queen of Germany and Italy

Queen Ester – Old Testament

St. Helena – Married Constantius Chlorus, co-regent of the western Roman empire. At the age of 80 she led a group to the Holy Land to search for the True Cross. (326AD) She built a church on the spot where the cross was found, the feast of the Holy Cross on Sept.14 celebrates the event.

St.Helena – First Christian queen of Ukraine (relics found to be incorrupt)- lived 879-969

St.Yolanda – Princess. Daughter of Bela IV King of Hungary (13th century)

BOYS:

King Casimir of Poland – 15th century, add a lily.

Good King Wenceslas of Bohemia – He could also wear armor along with his crown.

King Solomon and King David – Old Testament

King Louis IX of France (13th century was crowned at age 12.) Representation: crown of thorns; king holding a cross or crown of thorns; nails.

Henry II (Good King Henry)-king of Pavia in year 1004. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII; he was the last of the Saxon dynasty of emperors.

Humbert III- Count of Savoy from age 13. Eventually assumed a Cistercian habit. (12th century)

INDIAN

For Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Lily of the Mohawks), a little girl can dress as an Indian. Maybe add a cross around her neck, carrying a lily or cross.

KNIGHT/ARMOR

For St. Joan of Arc, St. George and the Dragon, St. Gengulphus, or St. Michael the Archangel, they can wear plastic “Armor of God” from Catholic Child. For St. Michael you can buy *feather wings online at Oriental Trading Company or make some with cardboard with tin foil over them, staple elastic to put them over the shoulders.

SOLDIERS

St.Sebastian was officer of the Imperial Roman army, and captain of the guard.

Acacius was centurion in the imperial Roman army.

Adrian was an officer at the court of Nicomedia.

Martin joined the Roman imperial army at age 15. Encountering a beggar he cut his heavy officer’s cloak in half, and gave it to him. Later he had a vision of Christ wearing the cloak.

Maurice- (3rd century) Officer in a legion of Christian soldiers from Upper Egypt

Theodore- Roman general and covert Christian during a time of persecution

Eustachius- Pagan Roman general in the army of the emperor Trajan. Converted to Christianity following a hunting trip during which he saw a glowing cross between the antlers of a stag.

ANGEL

For an angel costume wear a man’s T-shirt. For wings see above. *Often you can find angel costumes at party stores or in catalogs such as Lillian Vernon. (The archangel Gabriel with a horn. Cherubim or Seraphim carrying instruments)

SPANISH FARMER

St. Isidore the Farmer from Spain, a boy can dress up like a farmer with a hoe, maybe a plastic sand shovel or rake.

NUNS

Buy black material, cut a hole at the top for the neck or use a man’s black T-shirt. Where a white turtleneck underneath, use a square of black material over the head as a veil, and wear a crucifix or cross.

St Brigid of Ireland- often pictured holding a lamp or candle – She began life as a slave & heard St. Patrick preach)

Gertrude the Great-raised in a Cistercian abbey in Germany from the age of 5. Often pictured with a crown or lily.

St. Scholastica- The twin sister of St. Benedict often pictured with a crosier.(like a shepherd’s crook) If your girl is still little she can use a wooden walking cane.

St.Therese of Lisieux, France- (the little flower/ of the child Jesus) A Carmelite at age 15. At age 8, she was healed from an illness when a statue of the Virgin Mary smiled at her. She could hand out roses to people. She promised to shower the earth with roses from heaven. Her habit would be brown.

St.Colette-A Poor Clare from France, that restored the rules of St.Clare. Pictured with a crucifix and a hook. She was named after St. Nicholas.

PRIESTS

St. John Bosco- He wore a black cassock. Perhaps use a large black T-shirt, with a white turtleneck underneath. He entertained boys with slight of hand and juggling etc., and would then repeat the homily he heard at church. He founded the Salesians to work with and educate boys. (We have a relic of him in our altar in the church.)

St. John Mary Vianney (or Cure of Ars)- A known confessor and preacher from France. He’s pictured in white with 2 black strips below his neck and a red stole. Please see his incorrupt body and other images on the web site I list below. It’s amazing!

St Philip Neri: Born in France, founded the Oratorians (like Fr. Peter Sanders) wear a black T-shirt or sweater with a white collared shirt underneath. (make sure the collar sticks out) He wore a 3(?) pointed black hat you could make out of black paper.

MEXICAN INDIAN

Saint Juan Diego saw our Lady of Guadalupe, wore a tilma. Buy rough material such as canvas or burlap and tie it around his neck. Perhaps attach a picture of Our Lady on it.

ASIAN MONK

St. Theophylact- 8th century- He established hospices and was imprisoned the last 35 yrs. of his life.

PRISONER

St. Maximillian Kolbe wearing a blue striped prison uniform and glasses. (A priest that died at Auschwitz during WWII.)

PEASANTS

The little children of Fatima, Portugal, who saw the Blessed Mother, could carry rosaries.

Blessed Francisco (9 yrs. old) He wears trousers, white shirt, cap, and perhaps a jacket.

Blessed Jacinta (7 yrs. old) and Blessed Lucia (10 yrs. old) The girls wore dark skirts, usually with aprons over them, white blouses and veils over their hair.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes, France, who saw Our Lady, would also be dressed the same way.

SHEPHARDESS

Germaine’s right hand was deformed. Once in winter her stepmother, Hortense, accused her of stealing bread, and threatened to beat her with a stick. Germaine opened her apron, and summer flowers tumbled out. Her body was found incorrupt in 1644. (skirt, shawl, head kerchief, crook, carrying a lamb) FRANCE

HOLY MEN & WOMEN

SAINT MARTIN de PORRES was born in Peru, his father was a Spanish Knight and his mother was a black freed-woman from Panama. He was a Dominican brother who helped the sick and poor and is the patron saint of interracial justice. He wore a white robe with black on top, like a T. You can see his and many other saints at the web site below. Seen with a rosary, crucifix, and a dog.

ST. DOMINIC SAVIO: Born in Italy. Died at age 15. He was studying to be a priest. He is the patron saint of boys, altar boys, and choirboys. He was a protΓ©gΓ© of St. John Bosco. He is pictured in a white dress shirt, bow tie, vest, and jacket or as an altar boy.

ST.VERONICA: (Who wiped the face of Jesus.) Wear a dress or man’s T-shirt tied at the waist, sandals, and carrying her veil. ( Attach, perhaps with glue, a picture of Jesus.)

ST. HELENA was Caesar’s wife. You can dress up in toga.

ST. GALL was a fisherman from Ireland. Use a fishing pole.

CRAFT IDEAS:

HALO: Use gold pipe cleaners to bend into halos to put on any saint! Or gold, star, bendable wrapping ribbon wire. These are available from craft stores. Party and toy stores sometimes carry halos too.

HOLY CARDS: Buy holy cards of your child’s saint for him/her to pass out to others. The kids can be trading holy cards!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd or Instagram. πŸ˜‰

 


Religious Icons

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Brian and I love icons and have many in our home. One of our favorite suppliers is the Not of This World Bookstore in Santa Rosa, CA. We live too far to go there in person but fortunately, you can order any of the icons online at http://www.notofthisworldicons.com/index.html. The next time you are looking for a religious gift or an icon for yourself, be sure to check them out.