Piety ~ St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia, pray for us!

This was our sixth meeting in Wreath I, beginning with the prayers in the member's guide: Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love and the prayer to St. Therese.

A brief review from our lesson on the virtue - Obedience:
The fourth commandment tells us to obey.  All of God's commandments are out of love and without obedience we will never have holiness.  When we obey we are imitating Jesus!  We are showing how much we love Him.  This is especially true when we don't feel like doing something and we do it anyways.  (Baltimore Catechism).   We reviewed the different types of obedience - full, immediate, cheerful, trustful and sacrificial and the girls participated to define each.

Together we sang the memory verse from last month and glass beads were put into the vase for assignments completed while each girl shared something memorable that they did to grow in the virtue - Obedience.  Great job once again, 'Little Flowers'!

Virtue ~ Saint ~ Flower of the Month

The memory verse was posted on the marker board, we recited first and then sang together using the Memory Verse CD.

I know You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be hindered.

Job 42:2

The forget-me-not flowers is tiny and plentiful reminding us of the sweet purity of Mary's eyes which longed to gaze only on her Saviour.  So too should we make little acts of piety frequently and with a pure intention.

The girls worked on their notebook pages while they listened to St. Cecilia's story and the lesson on piety.  Using the wonderful material in the Leader's Guide,  I defined piety as 'the virtue by which we give honor and service to whom we own our very being.  If you are truly pious, do everything you have to do as a service done to God.'  We should imitate our Blessed Mother as she was the perfect example of resignation to the will of God:  "Behold the handmaid of the Lord;  be it done to me according to thy word."  We then talked about the 'Robe of Piety' as described in The Catholic Girl's Guide :  as tears are an outward sign of inward grief, true piety and devotion are evident by acts and practices.  It is these acts and practices that make up the colors in the 'Robe of Piety'.  I read what each color represented.  I also talked about the sacraments and staying in the state of Grace to be closer to God and open to His will.

The construction paper was really colorful...like a rainbow!  A few flower embellishments and music notes.  I also read 'Theresa's Prayer Book - A Story of Piety' in the Virtues and Stories book while they worked.  They really seemed to enjoy it.

 ~ Craft ~

I really thought we would have time to make 'Robe of Piety' Ribbon Barrettes but we did not.  I think I will save these for our Mother/Daughter Tea.

The Colors of Piety Rainbow (original document downloaded by permission from Shower of Roses...thank you!) was copied onto watercolor paper.  These took a bit longer to complete than I expected (hence not being able to make barrettes!).

Love it!

 ~ Snack ~

'Robe of Piety' Sherbet with strawberry topping (it needed some red and would have been just perfect with a some fresh blueberries).

~ Closing ~

Badge ceremony for badges earned since our last meeting.

"(Name) may God bless you and help you to grow in the virtue of Obedience."  "Congratulations!"

Our meeting was completed after praying the Hail Mary together and thanking God for bringing us together to grow in virtue.

My hydrangea bush is just lovely this year.  Though it is not bright blue and they are not the flower of the month,  sometimes you just have to use what you have...I would like to plant forget-me-nots in our Mary's Garden next year.

Pray for our members, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as they work towards earning their sixth patche and grow in the Virtue of Piety - and through these small acts, showing their love for your Son, Jesus.