Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

Dec 8th marks the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This is not the conception of Jesus, it is about the conception of Mary to St. Anne & Joachim (who's feast day is July 26th). She was conceived without sin, she is immaculate! This is a big deal, because this doctrine recognizes the fact that Mary was born pure, without original sin, a perfect vessel for the Christ Child. Here are some simple activities you can do with your family to reflect and celebrate!

We will come to learn that just as God chose Mary for this unique purpose, we are also chosen for a purpose and were created and exist out of pure love of God. We should all look to The Immaculate Conception as a model of living in purity, modesty, and grace.

Mary’s Song of Praise Luke 1:47-55 (The Magnificat)

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

*Attend Mass - it's a Holy Day of Obligation!

Short Articles to Read

{A reflection on the readings today from the Vatican}

{Why Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception of Mary}

{Ascension: The Immaculate Conception Explained,  video}

Sing about Mary

Lourdes Song: Immaculate Mary 

Acts of Charity

Donate to your local prolife organization or women's clinic to help new mothers and their babies. 

Make a meal to bring to a new mother.

> Teach your children their faith while they are young and innocent. Take a look at my Prayer Book for Children

Crafts about Mary

Stitching Saints

Embroider St. Anne and Mary on a dishcloth for your kitchen.

Learn to sew from the book "Sewing with Saint Anne" by Alice Cantrell

Baking Gingerbread

While you're in the kitchen with your new dishtowel, let's get baking! I've read in a few places the idea of making Gingerbread Cookies to recall the sweet fragrance of Mary noted in Scripture. 

Sirach 24:20-21 "I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aromatical balm; I yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh; and I perfumed my dwelling as store, and galbanum, and onyx, and aloes, and as the frankincense not cut, and my odor is as the purest balm."

Color Our Lady of Lourdes 

"I am the Immaculate Conception. " - Our Lady of Lourdes to Saint Bernadette

Other Craft Ideas

>Make an Our Lady of Fatima Diorama

Or make a Marian Grotto,  with so many ideas online. 

>Color the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

Lessons on Modesty and Purity

This is also a great opportunity to talk to your children about modesty, chastity and being pure. I have a long list of ideas on my Pinterest board if you want to look that over {HERE}.

Modest Mandy

Modest Mandy has clothes that are not glued on. They slide on and off for the modest fashion show. She is so much easier to get dressed than all those plastic dolls with arms! This is from a very old post of mine,  but still a favorite. 

Take large craft sticks (tongue depressors, popsicle sticks) and draw/paint characters on them. Decorate with scrapbook paper, decorative tape, stick-on jewels, glitter, etc. 

Think about.... What Would Mary Wear (WWMW)??

Recommended Books on Purity and Virtue:

AGES 4-12

The Princess & The Kiss [guide], or The Squire & The Scroll [guide] by Jennie Bishop

AGES 9-14

Made for Greatness: A Growth Mindset Journal for Courageous Catholic Youth

Be Yourself! A Journal for Catholic Girls

Be Yourself: A Journal for Catholic Boys

Olivia's Gift by Nancy C Belanger (also,  Olivia and the Little Way)

AGES 13-25

You: Life,  Love and Theology of the Body

If You Really Loved Me by Jason Evert

Extreme Makeover: Women Transformed by Christ, not Conformed to the World by Teresa Tomeo

Life Changing Love,  a novel,  by Theresa Linden

Joyful Mysteries

I've heard many times that Iconographers, those who paint or "write" religious icons, do so in a prayerful manner. It was also true for me as I prayerfully drew these Joyful Mysteries for children to color. My skillset is not strong in drawing people from my imagination. However, these images came so naturally from my hand. I found delight in every page, and my insight to this is that it is because these "characters" are as familiar as my own family. This Holy Family is my family. Their story is such an integral part of my very being. My hope is that they are also a part of your family's story.

While in the process, a theme popped up on its own which surprised me and those who've colored it so far. Each image has a dove that mirrors the story. See if you can find it!

These delightful images of The Joyful Mysteries are easy to print and color today! Wonderful for Advent and Christmastime, for reflection during a family rosary, or for a lesson. Just click on the link to my Etsy Shop for the download:

{Etsy Download: The Joyful Mysteries Coloring Pages}

The 11 page, digital PDF file includes images of The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity (Christmas), The Presentation, and The Finding of Jesus. A few bonus pages in the file include a rosary guide and rosary coloring pages. 

OTHER POSTS ABOUT THE ROSARY

Praying the Rosary

Nurturing Relationships in Hospitality and Prayer

The Joyful Mysteries for Homeschoolers

{Etsy Download: The Joyful Mysteries Coloring Pages}

Our Lady of Fatima Diorama

 

Our Lady of Fatima Diorama

Every year I enjoy finding a new idea to craft about Our Lady of Fatima and the day the sun danced on October 13, 1917. I think this diorama is our new favorite. It is super simple and I hope you'll try it at least once. Display these all over your home, or give to family and friends this October to remember the miracle, the warning and the blessings of Our Lady of Fatima!

Step 1: Print a free coloring page of Our Lady of Fatima and the children online onto cardstock.

Step 2: On cardstock or watercolor paper, paint a background with a colorful, spinning sun. The sun may or may not be used from the coloring sheet.

Step 3: Paint and Cut Out Mary and the Children.

Step 5: Cut out a Middle Ground grassy hill about an inch narrower than the background, as well as a Foreground frame with trees and hillside. Paint these and let dry.

Step 6: Assemble as shown, glue when you have your layers spread out to desired 3-D look. Layer first the background; next the middle ground with Mary glued on; then add the foreground frame with about a 1/4-1/2 inch of it folded around the background sheet. Glue the children to the frame. This will create a slight curve and layering.

Add straw, cardboard or paper supports if Mary or the children flop over when upright.

Display these all over your home, or give to family and friends this October to remember the miracle, the warning and the blessings of Our Lady of Fatima!

Here are some other favorite resources:

Follow this link to all my Marian Posts:

https://homegrowncatholics.blogspot.com/search/label/Mary

**COMING SOON - MARIAN ACTIVITIES HUGE PRINTABLE FILE**

Nurturing Relationships in Hospitality and Prayer

 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Heb 10:23-24, RSV). 

It is on my heart to share with you why, in a time of being told to distance ourselves, we should nurture our relationships with prayer and hospitality. I’d like to first touch on what our faith has to say about these things. Secondly, I’d like to share with you a wonderful way to put this into action: The Holy Family Prayer Cenacle. A prayer group with leader guide and prayer guides to make it easy to begin.

{LINK TO A PRINTABLE FILE - HOLY FAMILY CENACLE GUIDE}

ABOUT PRAYER & RELATIONSHIPS

“I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I'm supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I'm praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.” - Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

Jesus came to teach us a great many things, including how to pray in love, in manner and in intentions.

“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

“This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:7-15 

The Our Father has been a treasured and most perfect prayer for all Christians. It’s more than a prayer to recite, but also a guide to the order of all prayer. It begins with praise and thanksgiving. It expresses hope in the eternal, and trusting in God each day. It encourages us to show mercy and seek forgiveness. It seeks protection from sinful temptations. Do you notice, it doesn’t include petitions, because they are fulfilled through a trust in God and protection from sin. The verse before states that God the Father already knows our needs before we ask them. Shortly after this verse he reiterates our need to trust and be free of anxieties.

^“Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” Matthew 6:26-34

“Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” ~ Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

This is not to say that prayers of petition and requests for intercession are unnecessary. It’s the next part of the conversation, which we have as we form a relationship with God, and the communion of saints. Would you go to a stranger and tell them all your problems and desires? First you get to know each other. Do you know much about God? Have you been still and listened to him (Ps 46:10)? This relationship with God grows to be valued above all others, all things, all wants, all worries. Someone to lean on, but that He can turn back to rely on you. We let Him love us and we return that love.  It is a most precious friendship.

“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.” ~ Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

When in friendship with Jesus, we learn to express our love and fidelity in a variety of ways.  There are different expressions of prayer:  thanksgiving, offering, contemplative, intercessory, petition, recitation, praise, adoration, and even in the stillness of our hearts our prayer continues. The Rosary is a combination of prayers and reflections that engage us in several expressions of prayer.

"A similar need for commitment and prayer arises in relation to another critical contemporary issue: the family, the primary cell of society, increasingly menaced by forces of disintegration on both the ideological and practical planes, so as to make us fear for the future of this fundamental and indispensable institution and, with it, for the future of society as a whole. The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age." St. Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae 6

Marian Activities for the Family

There are many Marian feasts throughout the year, but I find that the month of May is a time when we focus particularly on crafts and activities to honor Our Lady Mary. I listed as many as I could recall on this post below, and plan to add to this post frequently. I hope you'll share a comment of your personal favorites, and anything that peaked your interest on my list. Bookmark and Pin this one!

ALL MARIAN ACTIVITIES TO PRINT: CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF FILE

MARIAN CONSECRATION

While the Blessed Mother Mary has been a huge part of my entire life, growing up in a very Marian family, it wasn't until I was 40 that I read "33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-it Yourself Retreat" and made an official Consecration to Mary. I highly recommend that book for teens and adults. Afterwards, I really wanted to do the same for my children and found two wonderful books for it. I am reading one to my 0-7 year olds, and the other to my 8-18 year olds. Then we will have a special consecration day utilizing many of our past Marian activities posted on this blog. 

"Consecration to Mary for Little Ones" by Kimberly Fries 

This book is perfect for toddlers and young children. Simple daily reading and prayer. Beautiful artwork.

"Marian Consecration for Children" by Carrie Gress 

This book is perfect for children and teens. It integrates lessons from popular children's stories and our whole family really enjoyed the lessons, conversation starter questions, Did You Know section, and prayers. 

MARY'S LITTLE FLOWERS TEA PARTY

Our girls enjoyed a year of Little Flowers club, and it ended with the most beautiful tea party. I think this is a must for anyone with a young girl, but I know my boys would appreciate it also. We played games, drank tea, had a delicious luncheon and prayed together. We have done this on a few occasions with friends, dressing up and putting out all the linens, vases and tea cups. 

We've also simplified it at home for afternoon read aloud time.

This is a perfect time to pick out a short story to read, or perhaps your Marian Consecration reading. The book pictured is "The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories" by William Bennett.

 This is a classic shower game, where one is blindfolded and must find as many safety pins in the rice as they can. The person who finds the most in a minute wins. 

 My daughter and I created this Tea Bag hide and seek game. There are two identical sets of pretend tea bags (brown paper stuffed with a cotton ball and labeled with a kind of tea). You could of course use real tea bags. Two groups are formed and they get a page protector with instructions and a dry erase pen. Tea bags are hidden, and the groups find one of each tea and check it off their list. If they find the double, they must put it back quietly. First to find them all, wins.

*I apologize, I did not save where I got these images from.  I will gladly credit as soon as I know.

Find this and all Marian printables in the PDF linked at the top of the post.

MARY'S LITTLE CROWNS CLASS

My popular blog: Mary's Little Crowns Class includes printables to make a paper Mary Statue, Mother Thrice Admirable rosary to color, Offering Basket, and Marian Princess Crowns. It comes complete with a script and prayer card to print and use for a class.

Click on this image to go to the complete lesson plan for a 

Schoenstatt Mary's Little Crowns lesson plan.

MARIAN CRAFTING

Mary Statue 

Print on 65lb cardstock. Color, cut and staple. Add sticker stars for extra flair.

Find this and all Marian printables in the PDF linked at the top of the post.

Cut dotted lines and slide the cut areas together, or staple or glue.

  

Find this and all Marian printables in the PDF linked at the top of the post.

 Peg Doll Mary

There are so many appearances of Mary around the world, so I suggest you try painting your favorite Mary on a wooden peg doll, or create a whole set. This version I thought was the simplest style that even little girls could do.

Repair a Statue

Have you ever rescued a saint statue from the thrift store? This statue was given to me by my Great Aunt Lolly. It was faded and chipped, so I gave it new life with acrylic paint and several coats of clear spray paint. It's still a favorite in my home.

Sew a Veil or Mantle for your Mary statue.

We haven't done this project yet, but found the idea in "Sewing with St. Anne" by Alice Cantrell

Embroidery (Saint Anne & Mary)

 The Name of Mary (Paper Mosaic)

Our children enjoyed creating this Ave Maria art, using construction paper scraps. It was a great cutting skills project, discussion about color families, Mary's names, crowns and more.

Decorative Kneeler

 Garden Knee Pad w/ Puffy Paint

Mary's Little Crown

Make crowns for girls with a birthday party pack of tiaras and Marian stickers.

Rosary Hangers

These were a fun project. We began with the children carrying their bare cross during Holy Week. Then in Easter, we decoupaged them with tissue paper and added a small hook.

Make a Beaded Rosary

 

Some of these were made with pipe-cleaner craft sticks and pony beads. They can be a little poky over time, but it made for a quick craft. For something long-lasting, I recommend learning how to do a knotted rope rosary. It's more involved, but the children can gain dexterity from beading.

Q is for Queen of the Universe

This is a blue construction paper cut as a "Q" and a child's footprint in white paint. Then her crown of stars is yellow finger prints. Of course, it is not complete without googly eyes.

Marian Door Hanging

We used a foam door hanger, a printed image of Mary, sticker stars, hot glued on silk flowers, and labeled with the letter "V" for Virgin Mary.

Holy Family Hearts, stained glass windows

My daughter and I taped off our windows with painters tape in the outlines of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (with Divine Mercy rays), Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph. The final image is the USA. We painted using tempura paints mixed 1:1 with dish soap.  We used wide brushes in swirls and swipes, and the clouds we used a natural sponge. It's been up for weeks and it's been a real joy to walk past anytime of day. 

PRINTABLE PRAYERS

Memorare Prayer

Find this and all Marian printables in the PDF linked at the top of the post.

Morning Offering

 

This and more printable daily prayers found at my post "Commitment to Daily Prayer"

Print this rosary to color, or put on candies to eat, as they follow.

Find this and all Marian printables in the PDF linked at the top of the post.

A Holy Rosary Guide

 

This guide and more on my post "Praying the Rosary"

Hail Holy Queen

Find this and all Marian printables in the PDF linked at the top of the post.

MARIAN GARDENS

 Read about gardening, especially Mary Gardens at this link. In our garden, Mary is surrounded by these perennials and more. This picture is from 2015 at it's peak bloom.

There is a website about Mary Gardens called: Mary Garden of Virginal Consecration, complete with poems and drawings that I think would be a great children's project. It is very through and perfect if you want specific names of plants and their Marian association.

"Snow Angel" Coral Bells,

Pansies or "Our Lady's Delight,"

"Mary's Mantle" [Alchemilla vulgaris]

Bleeding Hearts or "Sacred Heart of Mary."

May Day Baskets

May is the month of Mary, so May Day is a wonderful tradition to share about her with your friends. One year we made single potted flowers in decorated cups. They are also a good Mother's Day gift.

Painted Mary Garden

While we made this floral ring for a candle, it would be a perfect fit around a Mary statue. The base is a round cardboard from a frozen pizza, painted green. The flowers are paper egg cartons cut up, painted and hot glued in place. My daughters created this all on their own as a gift. It still amazes me how beautiful it turned out.

Mary Floral Crown

Chenille Craft Stick (Pipecleaner)

Floral wreath, crown or bracelet

This is an easy to make floral bracelet that you could make large enough to fit at the base of your indoor Mary Statue, or smaller for a crown. We used a stretchy cord for a comfortable fit. Perhaps add a Miraculous Medal to it.

Magnatile Marian Grotto

Another fun idea for those indoor Mary statues. Don't forget a snow grotto for the outdoor statue this winter!

MARIAN TREATS

Edible Marian Grotto

 

A marshmallow and krispy rice grotto is a fun snack project for toddlers! We used the multicolored rice cereal and toddler star puff snacks.

Cupcake Rosary (or Cookies)

MARIAN MEDALS & SCAPULARS
Each member of my family wears a Scapular and Miraculous Medal, or a 4-way Cross Medal. We wear them as a holy shield, a sacramental that reminds us of our consecration to Mary and her protection over her children.

Embroidery (Homemade Scapular)

While I've seen these sold on Etsy, I really enjoyed making it myself for my son's 1st Holy Communion. I stitched onto brown wool the white felt background and some felt hearts, then embroidered the symbols, flames and flowers to create the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. A labor of love.

VEILING

Wearing our veils, we feel a little more like humble and holy Mary. Veiling at Mass and in Adoration has been increasing in our diocese and parish. All ages have interest, but I am seeing a beautiful trend in teenagers embracing the tradition. We are doing what we can to encourage it. This is me and one of my three daughters. After we began veiling, my sons asked what they could do, which inspired them to make an effort to dress up for Mass every time. There are days that little girls aren't fond of the long veil, so I did buy wide lace headbands to switch out and spare a scene in the pew.

I asked God what's something simple I could do to honor His True Presence... and He asked me to donate veils to our church. A friend and I pitched in, and have donated about 65 inexpensive veils found on eBay. I also included hair clips that have helped hold them in place very well. We also put out the information cards about veiling from Veils by Lily.

 

*I shared this with message with my church Mom's Group: For any lady, young or older, who has been thinking of veiling but unsure where to start or not ready to invest in the $30+ veils. Bonus hair-clip gets sewn in spot you need it to be, holds in place really nice. FREE as a gift.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

"Praying the Rosary Like Never Before" by Edward Sri

"33 Days to Morning Glory" by Fr Michael Gaitley

"The Seven Sorrows of Mary: A Meditative Guide"

"Consecration to Mary for Little Ones" by Kimberly Fries 

"Marian Consecration for Children" by Carrie Gress 

PREVIOUSLY POSTED
Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe with ideas from my OLG Post
Celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with these ideas or more on my SIC Post

*DISCLAIMER: This blog contains affiliated links to products I recommend. This creates a small fund towards my efforts of offering all these free activity posts. It costs my readers nothing. If you decide to purchase anything I have recommended, I hope you'll use the links. I also have a few items for sale on my Homegrown Catholics Etsy shop. Thank you for your patronage.