Free Advent O Antiphons Activities, Prayers, Printables

The O Antiphons (names for Jesus) begin the last week of Advent on December 17. Sorry I'm a day late with this. Each day a different title for Jesus is the focus. These ancient messianic titles are referenced in the Old Testament of the Bible. They can be found in the hymn "O Come Emmanuel." The titles are Emmanuel God with Us, Wisdom, Dayspring, Lord and Ruler, King of Kings, Root of Jesse, Key of David. These seven titles are listed in Latin and English. Advent tradition of praying the O Antiphons (names for Jesus) began in medieval times. Orthodox and some protestant churches pray them too. Here are printable prayer guides and coloring sheets to help children learn and pray the O Antiphons.   Advent O Antiphons Activities, Prayers, Printables

Free Christmas Clipart and GIFs

I just wanted to share a cool website with free holiday clipart. There's a lot of secular Christmas clipart and .gif images (moving ones). And some religious Advent themed clipart. Not as much as I'd like, but I think there may be some I haven't found. Anyway, hope it helps for your Christmas card-making or decorating. Free Christmas Clipart and GIFs - News - Bubblews

Free Printable Christmas Bible Story Coloring Pages for Advent

Psst--I've got a secret! Jesus is coming soon! Dec. 2, 2012 began the Catholic church new year and Advent. Yes, I know, Jesus was born some 2K years ago. But we Catholics and Orthodox Christians (and many other protestant Christian denominations) relive that most blessed event annually. We commemorate the birthday with a special season called Advent (that means "beginning" or "coming."). We believe that we need to open our hearts to Jesus and let him be born again there. We celebrate with generosity and good deeds. We practice virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We look for Jesus in everyone we meet. We live out Our Lord's command to "love one another as I have love you." To help kids get closer to Jesus and his Holy Family, here are free Christian Christmas printables. Use these to count down to the feast of Christmas. Let kids follow the penitential season advent and the Octave of Christmas and epiphany by coloring one page each night. 

Free Printable Medieval Middle Ages Crafts, Coloring Pages

Some Advent observances date back to medieval times. I read Ellis Peters' "Brother Cadfael" and Susannah Gregory's "Mathew Bartholomew" books as well as some individual books set in the Middle Ages. All of them mention advent. With that in mind, here are free printable Medieval crafts, including castle, bailey, keep and chapel. I have a penchant for history, especially of the medieval period. I'm sure that my idea of the Middle Ages is pretty romanticized, but I can't help thrilling to words like dovecote, kirtle and merlon. If you share my predilection, here are free printable coloring pages from the medieval period. Social studies and history teachers might use these images in lessons on the period. Catholic home school students might use them in church history classes. I suggest assigning students to create a notebook of data, images, maps, timelines, diagrams and pictorial artifacts from the period. Read on

Free Printable Saints Party Games, Saints Scavenger Hunt, Bible Riddle Games

Written for All Saints Day, these free printable games could be used for Advent and birthday parties for Jesus. I've written several variations of an All Saints Scavenger Hunt and Bible Character Riddle Game. Print these clues for your All Saints Party. This can be as easy or as complicated as you'd like. One way is to request adult All Saints party goers to dress as certain saints. Each child is given a list of clues or riddles about the saint. When the child thinks that he can match the clue to the saint, he asks the person representing the saint. If he is correct, the saint signs his scavenger hunt game. This game is best played with 10-15 saints represented. Read on read on

Free Printable Liturgical Calendars for Catholic Advent

Free Printable Catholic Liturgical Calendars and Activities I've been a Catholic mom for 23 years and was a homeschooling parent for 10 years. I received lots of great tutelage from Catholic mommies before me who said, "start your Advent preparations immediately after All Saints Day (November 1). It's an early and long advent for 2011, beginning on November 27, right after Thanksgiving. Along with Advent, we Catholics also have revised mass texts to get used to. Inspired by the proactive thinking of those who went before, here are free printable Catholic goodies to help you prepare for Advent, a little early. My most oft-requested printable is Catholic liturgical calendars. Here are links for those calendars. read on

Free Printable Advent Coloring Book

Hello again, I decided to get back on this Advent blog a little early because it never hurts to get ahead on this most wondrous of seasons. And we do our Christmas shopping early, so why not be thinking about Advent a little early? A word of advice to home school families and Catholic families- I planned my home school curriculum according to weeks of school and I followed the liturgical calendar. The first Sunday in Advent is December 2, 2012. Time flies and soon it's All Saints Day (and Catholic new year) before you know it. Be prepared. That's what Advent is all about. Here's a free printable Advent coloring book to get you started. 

Free Printable Catholic Liturgical Calendars and Activities

Free Printable Catholic Liturgical Calendars and Activities Ordinary time is a great time to research free printable Catholic lesson plans, activities and crafts. Here are free printable Catholic liturgical calendars and church season activities for families, homeschool, Catholic school and CCD. free printable liturgical calendars

Catholic Blogs for Home school families

This is my self-chosen patron saint, Teresa of Avila. I admire and love this doctor of the church and founder of the discalced Carmelites tremendously. I dedicate this blog to her. Thank you for joining me for Advent season. I usually don't publish on this blog until September. May the Lord bless you in this Christmastide and through the entire liturgical year. For more about Catholicism, faith, Holy Days, Sacraments, saints, Jesus, Our Lady, please visit me at Catholic Activities. For lenten devotions, please visit my Lent Activities blog. Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam.

Best Christmas Gifts for Kids Missions, Children's Charities

Top 10 Gift Ideas for Kids Missions, Children's Charities
During Advent, many churches and social organizations sponser toy drives. Here is a list of toys to avoid giving, issues to consider in charitable gift-giving along with age-appropriate gifts for children in any country, climate or culture. Gift suggestions that work well for anonymous giving. Can't afford a gift? The best gift you can give is the gift of yourself--your time and talent. Contact the organizations listed to find out how you can help. Disabled or homebound? There are lots of opportunities for you--blogging, phone calls, mailing, emails and best of all prayer. Read More

Free Printable Christmas Carols Sheet Music, Song Lyrics

Free Printable Christmas Carols One of my favorite parts of the holiday season are the Christmas carols. If you're planning on Christmas caroling here are links for free printable Christmas carol sheet music. Check the links for free printable Christmas carol lyrics, too. printable Christmas carols

Free Printable Advent Wreath Devotions, Craft Projects

Free Printable Advent Wreath Devotions: History, Prayers, Crafts, Traditions Description of Advent Wreath practices, traditions, meaning, history and prayers. Multicultural, cross curricular lesson plans for Christian or catholic school or home school. free printable advent wreath devotions