Apologetics Newsletter!

Finally, another newsletter!  Sorry about the delay; I'll try not to be so slow now that school is over. :)
 - Emily

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!

Today, December 6, is the feast of St. Nicholas.  He was the Bishop of Myra and lived around the late fourth/early fifth century.  Now, however, he is commonly known as "Santa Claus".  Many legends surround St. Nicholas and his transformation to our modern-day Santa.  Catholicism.about.com explains how St. Nicholas brought about a few of our modern Christmas traditions:

"The traditional elements of the legend of Saint Nicholas include his becoming an orphan at a very young age. Though his family had been rich, Saint Nicholas decided to distribute all of his possessions to the poor and to dedicate himself to serving Christ. It is said that he would toss little pouches of coins through the windows of the poor, and that sometimes the pouches would land in stockings that had been washed and were hung on the windowsill to dry. Once, finding all the windows in a house shut, Saint Nicholas tossed the pouch up to the roof, where it went down the chimney."

St. Nicholas was known for his kindness to others.  Why don't we try to do a hidden act of kindness for someone today in honor of this holy man?

 - Emily

Silence

"We have forgotten how to be silent; we have grown afraid.  Yet nothing truly great or enduring was ever yet or will ever be achieved without silence.  'While all things were in quiet silence, thy almighty Word, O God, leaped down from Heaven.'  In the singing silences of eternity that Word was begotten in the bosom of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeded as their mutual Love ablaze with silence."*

Today I challenge you to take some time in silence.  Listen to what God is saying to you.  How does He want you to serve Him today?

 - Emily

*This paragraph is from a book called "A Right to Be Merry", by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., about the life of Poor Clare nuns.  I would highly recommend it!

Conference Flyer

Here it is: the sign-up sheet for this years' Blooming Through Fire Conference!  Hope to see you there!
- Emily

Announcing: the 2nd Annual Live Blooming Through Fire Conference!!

Attention all girls in 6-8th grade:
We are planning an amazing day for you! You don't want to miss this year's Blooming Through Fire Conference at the Church of St. Paul in Ham Lake, MN. It will be on Saturday, September 10, from 1-9 pm. Emily will be posting the sign-up sheets soon, so check with your mom and dad and come enjoy a fabulous day of games, talks, prayer, food, mass, and just being girls! If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this post. I hope you can all come! Oh, and please tell all your friends!
Hannah

Happy Feast of the Assumption!

"Just as you accompanied Our Lord in this life and lived and loved and suffered with him, so, at the completion of your life, he takes you body and soul into heaven.

With my whole heart I share in your happiness and pray that the world may enjoy a similar fate."
~Heavenwards, by Fr. Joseph Kentenich

Take some time today to meditate on our Blessed Mother and how she continues to guide us, her children. She is such a caring mother who brings us closer to her Son every day. Trust in her, and she will never disappoint you!
Hannah

The Bridge

A good book idea.....
I would recommend "The Bridge" by Jeri Massi, if you haven't read it. It's a beautiful fictional story about Princess Rosalynn and her escape from her father's kingdom when the evil Lord from across the river conquers her castle and territory. Rosalynn sets out to escape and meets a wise woman who reveals to her the secret of the Bridge- the secret which will either save or destroy the kingdom of Bracken where the princess dwells. Read it to find out what happens!

:) Caroline

This is the first book in the trilogy, so if you read and enjoy this book, try the other two in this series- "Crown and Jewel" and "The Two Collars"!