A Quick Beginner’s Guide to Learning About the Saints
Today is the last post in ​our series for teaching your children the faith​!
Teaching About the Saints to Teach the Faith
Our last post will focus on learning about the Saints, and celebrating them in your domestic church.
The Saints are our friends in heaven who intercede for us! ​A person becomes a canonized Saint when miracles can be attributed to their intercession.​ We ask the Saints to pray for us because they are now in heaven as close to God as possible! They are like a direct line for our prayers to The Father. The Saints are also true models of virtue and holiness.
Feast Days and Novenas
You can learn about the Saints throughout the liturgical year. ​Butler’s Lives of Saints​ is in the public domain, and you can read about a Saint everyday of the year. Some favorite Saint Podcasts are:
​Holy Heroes Glory Stories are amazing audio dramas about the Saints!​ They are great for car rides, or for listening to on a snowy or rainy day.
When you read about the Saints and teach your child about them, be sure to point out their virtues, as well as their weaknesses and faults.
For example, St. Augustine lived a life of deep sin and debauchery. While studying in school and hearing St. Ambrose preach, he had a miraculous conversion, and, eventually, became a Doctor of the Church! His mother, St. Monica, prayed her whole life for his conversion, and her prayers were answered in a big way. Every year, I always pray the novena to St. Monica, and ask her to intercede for my family and friends who have fallen away from the faith.
You can also pray novenas when you have a specific intention! For example, during pregnancy, many moms-to-be pray to St. Gerard – the patron of expectant mothers. Praying novenas gives me such peace and strength – especially during a hard time. They allow me to spend extra time with God in prayer, and truly place my worries and struggles in the palm of His hand.
Special Family Patrons
Another way to bring the Saints into your domestic church is to find out what Saints share birthdays with your family members, and learn about them. For example, my birthday is on the Feast of St. Don Bosco. ​He is the patron of school children​. I have been an educator in a private school and Catholic Education for many years (and, I also homeschool my own children!), so I couldn’t think of a better patron for myself!
Or, if your child is named after a Saint, be sure to learn about his or her special friend. I bet you’ll find connections you didn’t even realize! God is so good to plan these little surprises for us!
Action Step
Do some research as a family to learn about and celebrate a saint this month. Some Feast Days coming up are:
St. Mother Teresa – September 5
​St. Hildegard – September 17​
St. Padre Pio – September 23
The Feast of the Archangels – September 29th
​8 Catholic Feasts and Holy Days to Celebrate this Fall
Want gentle reminders for celebrating upcoming Saint Feast Days and other Holy Days? Be sure to sign up for my Liturgical Living Alerts to stay in the loop!