How awesome it is to see these girls so happy about being together and sharing this special club. I love that they are forming friendships. They were able to play the Saint's Concentration Game together as everyone arrived for our meeting.
Our third meeting was moved forward a week because I didn't realize that it was initially scheduled during Holy Week. It was nice to have the joyousness of the season coincide with the exuberance of our 'Little Flowers'. It worked out well and we even shouted out an "Alleluia" together.
We began again with the prayers in the member's guide: Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love and the prayer to St. Therese; and then reviewed the lesson learned last month. We recalled what we learned about St. Monica, reviewed the definition of hope and sang the memory Bible verse.
The virtue of Love of God and St. Agnes were introduced, discussed briefly and then we read the Bible verse/Psalm 18:1-2 together, sang the verse together with the CD and practiced individually with group support using the marker board as we did last month.
"I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!"
Psalm 18:2-3
"I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!"
Psalm 18:2-3
I spent more time talking about the virtue - Love of God while the girls worked on their notebook page and read St. Agnes' biography also. We used simple silk flowers that could be put together to somewhat resemble a peony (a tiny brad punched through the paper to attach).
The lesson focused on the first three commandments and lessons from the Baltimore Catechism. Briefly defining the theological virtues (how to be brief is the real challenge here!!). Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God - this pleases God. I tried to tie in what it is we need to do to be happy with God in heaven - to know Him, love Him and serve Him - explaining that the first three commandments are all for love of God. Love is first from God and it must be returned to God. I read aloud the quote from the Catholic Girl's Guide: "Holy Mass is, indeed, the the love of Jesus on the altar."
Craft
I want to give a special thanks to one of the Mom's for taking over the craft this month. They created tissue paper peonies and placed them in a beautiful ruffled edge vase, adding sparkling pink crystals for the final touch. I thought these bouquets were especially lovely. The girls were so proud of their vases and flowers.
How pretty it looks with the light from the window. I mentioned that it would be great to have them bring these to decorate the tables for our Mother Daughter Tea.
We talked about the huge size of the peony blossom reminding us just how much God loves us!
Snack
Simple and fun...create your own 'lamb' cupcake. Reminding the girls that the name Agnes in Latin (Agnus) means lamb, and Jesus is the 'Lamb of God'. They had fun decorating their snack and treats make for a 'sweet' closing :)!
Our Second Badge Ceremony
Like last month, we had a small badge ceremony to complete our third meeting.
Each girl added the same number of glass beads to the jar based upon assignments completed from last month. The girls reminded me that they wanted to share something they accomplished to help them grow in the virtue of Hope but unfortunately, we had to end the meeting because it had gotten so late. I think I am spending too much time on review from the previous month. There is just so much to talk about...so little time!! I need to remember that these virtues will be studied throughout the girls lives and it doesn't all need to be covered in one two hour period. I read on the LFGC Yahoo blog that some groups meet every two weeks and the lesson is broken up over that period. Sounds like a great idea - perhaps for the next wreath.
Individually, each girl was called to stand up and as they were presented with their second badge/flower petal of Wreath I, this was repeated:
"(Name), May God bless you and help you to grow in the virtue of Hope!"
We ended the meeting with a the Hail Mary and then hastily said our goodnights and goodbyes amidst hugs and smiles!
Another "thank you" is in order for the Mom who made each girl a beautiful peony pony tail scrunchie. So pretty! I love that it is the trend today to have silk flowers on head bands and scrunchies and clips...so perfectly 'Little Flowers'!!
