Saints and Feasts of the Spring Season

Things come alive in so many ways in the spring. The death-to-life theme of the Easter season, mirroring the springtime renewal of life in nature in the Northern Hemisphere, is the most obvious way the Church is attuned to the mystery of dying and rising. But the contagious joy and the reverence for life that blossoms in the spring also spills over into other celebrations. The boisterous green of Saint Patrick’s Day in March, the honoring of our earth in April, and the focus on Mary, our Mother, in May are all occasions for helping children to remember and celebrate life.

Saint Patrick’s Day March 17
While Irish people have the most fun on this day, they have never been reluctant to share with others the story of “their” saint. Children enjoy the legends about Saint Patrick (circa 385–461), and they can learn a valuable lesson about faith growing strong through hardship if they look into the history of Ireland. This is a day to make and use lots of green things: shamrocks for talking about the Trinity, the bishop’s miter and cape to discuss Patrick’s importance for the Church, and pastoral, countryside scenes to emphasize taking quiet time for prayer in beautiful settings.

A prayer ritual, using the “Breastplate of Saint Patrick” can be a memorable way to impress on children that Christ is so strongly present to them above, below, behind ,and around them always. An Irish priest and musician, Liam Lawton, has put this prayer to music on his GIA CD, “In the Quiet.” Also see settings of this prayer by OCP’s Bob Halligan, Jr. and Sarah Hart (OCP). Click here for the complete prayer online.

Earth Day April 22
Although this is not a feast on the Church calendar, being attentive to Mother Earth is becoming a moral imperative. If life is to continue on this planet, we need to teach our children to respect and celebrate the gifts the earth provides. Plan an Earth Day celebration that includes songs in praise of creation, stories about native peoples who have honored their land and its creatures, and actions aimed toward cutting down waste, recycling products, and restoring beauty.

A prayer ritual to honor the earth can very effectively include an opportunity for each child to choose an earth-sustaining positive action from among a variety of options. Use posters with pictures for the options and invite children to write their names on a poster of their choice during a song. Give them options, such as not using plastic water bottles anymore; recycling paper, cardboard, and aluminum; adjusting layers of clothing instead of raising or lowering thermostats; using less of everything.

Mary, our Mother, Month of May
There are feast days for Mary throughout the year, but the month of May, in all its flowering beauty and with a national holiday to honor mothers is the perfect time for processions, crowning, praying the rosary, and giving special recognition to Mary. It is the month of Our Lady of Fatima and the feast of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth.

A prayer ritual to honor Mary as our mother could include a procession with a statue of Mary, a tribute of flowers, an intercession litany designed to include children’s needs, the “Hail Mary” prayed or sung, and picture prayer cards distributed to the children.

Celebrating life through heritage, the land, and motherhood, will ground children in enduring values and give them hope and joy during difficult times.

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Sister Karen Berry, a Joliet Franciscan, is the director of a family program of religious education at Saint Frances Cabrini Parish in Tucson, Arizona. She is a freelance writer for Catholic magazines and the Diocese of Tucson’s newspaper. She has recently published a book, Prayer Services for Parishes, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press.