October is almost at an end, which means now is the time to prepare for All Saints' and All Souls' celebrations. I wish to invite you to incorporate these holy days into your upcoming school lessons and to prepare your hearts and minds with a November devoted to prayer for the dead and dedicated to gratitude to God for all the good things we have. These November spiritual foci of prayer and gratitude may also then inform our Advent season with a joyful anticipation as we surround ourselves with acts of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving before the Adventus Christi.
Let us also use November especially to bathe in the loveliness of Autumn, with all of its fruits and bounty and colors. We can appreciate the hard work of the animals and insects outside preparing for their winter as we prepare for ours. We may admire the hardworking farmer who toils patiently while we sleep. May we study God's creatures and landscape and learn from them the loving care that He gives to them and to us.
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. James 5: 7-8
Ideas to incorporate the season into schooling:
· Have each child choose a favorite saint, which he or she can then learn about in a read-aloud of the saint’s life. Afterwards, the children can give a presentation on their saint, complete with costumes, on All Saint’s Day (November 1st). Read our ALL SAINTS DAY LESSON. Ideas for how to celebrate All Saints!
· Prepare for All Soul’s Day (November 2nd) by making a list of deceased loved ones to pray for at Mass throughout November. Read our ALL SOULS DAY LESSON. Ideas for how to celebrate All Souls Day.
· Enjoy the cooling weather by taking walks to observe the changing scenery. Collecting leaves and taping them into science journals is a fun addition! Use leaves in your household decorations and table arrangements.
· Learn about how animals prepare for winter during autumn months by storing up food or migrating before it gets too cold.
· Make fall pictures using paints and natural objects collected outside to depict an autumnal scene.
· Learn about harvesting: old and new methods, how different types of foods are gathered, and its presence in Scripture. Bonus if this lesson is while picking your own fruits or vegetables! Be THANKFUL!