May Radiant Roundup: The Papal Conclave, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and May Saints

 

Here are a ton of activities for the month of May! We continue the celebration of the Easter Season for the entire month, and celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will also experience the historic Papal Conclave as Pope Francis' successor is elected. Click below for resources to support your home and classroom all month long!

The Papal Conclave

Activities for before, during, and after the Conclave, which will begin between May 6th and May 11th:

• Coloring page with the Prayer for a Deceased Pontiff with Pope Francis' Coat of Arms 
• Prayer cards with Pope Francis' photo and the Prayer for the Faithful Departed
• Learn about the life and legacy of Pope Francis with this biographical fact page and crossword puzzle:
• Click here for a coloring and info page about Pope Francis' Papal Coat of Arms:
• Read my book We Have a Pope available at the St. Paul Center or on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Listen to Katie read We Have a Pope on the Cuddle Up podcast
• Prayer for the Election of a New Pope (both coloring page and 4 per page)*
• Barque of St. Peter coloring & info page*
• Prayer to the Holy Spirit prayer card (2 per page)*
• Play We Have a Pope Trivia
• "Come Holy Spirit" art print*
• "Any News?" Activity Page*
• Papal Trading Cards*
• Papal Insignia and Vatican City Flag* 
• Make a Papal Miter
• Make a Habemus Papam mini poster or hang up these Papal banners*
• Kid friendly Prayer for the Pope*
• Swiss Guard coloring and info pages*

The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• Marian Idea Collection* (all ages)
• My Book, Through the Year with Mary, and bonus activity pages* (all ages)
• Shareable List of 30 Ideas for Celebrating Mary (all ages)
• Mary and the Saints Idea Board on Pinterest
• Make Your Own Marian Shrine (both color and black/white)* (K-6th)
• Mary Mother of the Eucharist Coloring Page and Shrine* (K-6th)
• Marian Symbols and Marian Monogram* (K-6th)
• Digital Blessed Virgin Mary Scavenger Hunt (6th-8th)
• Mary, Mother of the Church* (K-6th)
• Marian Apparition Investigation* (6th & Up)
• Names of Mary Bookmarks* (all ages)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Block Print* (all ages)
• The Seven Sorrows and Immaculate Heart of Mary Coloring pages and notes* (2nd-6th)
• Seven Sorrows Reflections Mini Book and Script* (4th-8th)
• Preparing Kids to Receive the Brown Scapular* (4th-8th)
• Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue Girls' Retreat* (all ages)
• Take Home Family Marian Shrines* (all ages)
• Miraculous Medal Embroidery Pattern* (5th-adult) and resources (all ages)
• Marian Typology Cards* (5th & up)
• Hail Mary Prayer Cards* (K-2nd)
• Mary Garden Plant Labels* (2nd & up)
• Mary and Discipleship* (6th & up)
• Mary Fact Flipbooks* (4th-8th)
• My Soul Magnifies the Lord Theme (all ages)
• Pop Up Notebook Marian Shrine* (4th-8th)
• Pop Up Marian Shrine in a Lapbook* (4th-8th)
• Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue* (all ages)
• Marian Paper Dolls (2nd & up)
• Mary as the Moon coloring page* (2nd & up)
• Favorite Marian Books (all ages)
• Favorite Marian Songs a playlist (all ages)
• Angelus Mini Book* (2nd-6th)
• Regina Coeli Mini Book* (2nd-6th)
• Memorare Prayer Cards* (2nd-6th)
• Our Lady of Loreto Digital Scavenger Hunt (6th & up)
• Marian Virtues Prayer Card*
• Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary*

The Easter Season (continues until Pentecost on 6/8)

• 50 Ways to Celebrate the 50 Days with 2022 Update*
• 50 Ways to Celebrate the 50 Days- Easy to share pdf with ideas for the whole Easter Season
• Fifty Days of Easter* Post with collection of ideas for celebrating Easter
• What Easter Looks Like * Coloring Page/Printable
• The Sound of Easter: An Easter Playlist
• Resurrection Eggs*
• The Gospel in an Eggshell*
• Paschal Lamb Printable*
• New Life Seeds*
• The Way of Light Mini Book*
• The Way of Light Easter Sunrise Craft*
• The Way of Light Resurrection Eggs*
• The Way of Light Story-in-a-Bag*
• The Way of Light Shareable Bible Study for Google Classroom
• Way of Light Easter Bible Study
• Regina Coeli Mini Book*
• Debunking Resurrection Theories*
• Fulton Sheen Good Friday & Easter Sunday quote coloring page*
• Easter Scripture Typography Posters
• The Way of Light Adult (or Teen) Seven Part Bible Study*
• Women of the Resurrection Adult (or Teen) Seven Part Bible Study* (with coloring pages!)
• Paschal Candle Craft for Kids
• Divine Mercy Activities*

️️️5/1- St. Joseph the Worker
St. Joseph Idea Collection* (all ages)
St. Joseph Mini Study (junior high & up)
St. Joseph Clickable Activity Menu (all ages)

5/8- Fulton Sheen's Birthday

Teaching with Fulton Sheen Curriculum* (all ages)

5/10- Saint Damien de Veuster of Moloka'i

America the Beautiful Saints Project* (all ages)

American Saints Digital Research Project (6th-8th)

5/11- St. James the Less and St. Philip

5/14- St. Matthias

Apostles Mini Posters*

5/13- Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima Block Print*

Fatima Prayer Card*

5/15- St. Isidore the Farmer
Angelus Print*- use this as a tool for praying for all farmers and agricultural workers!

5/16- St. Simon Stock
St. Simon Stock & Brown Scapular Unit* (4th-6th grade)

5/29 or 6/1- The Ascension
A great day to celebrate the Four Marks of the Church!*

Or to learn about the differences and similarities between the Ascension and the Assumption!

5/31- The Visitation
Magnificat Prayer Card
My Soul Magnifies the Lord Theme (all ages)

Books about Mary for Catholic Kids

Books for May

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Block Print- Feast Day June 27th

The icon Our Lady of Perpetual Help is one of the most recognizable images of Mary. Originating from Greece, it has been housed in Rome for over five hundred years and reproductions of the icon are found all around the world. In the image, Mary carries Jesus close to her heart, comforting and protecting Him, while also holding Him out in front of her for all to see. Through this one image, we can see the role that Mary has to both bring Jesus into the world and also act as a loving Mother, first of Christ and then the Church. The Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is celebrated on June 27th.

My Names of Mary block carving collection actually started with this image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It was the first image I made and then I decided to keep creating! You can see the echo of Mary's posture and face shape from Our Lady of Perpetual Help carried through all 12 images. 

I'd like to share a 5x7 printable from that project with you! This image was originally hand drawn by me, transferred to a rubber block, carved out, and then printed like a stamp. This is a true scan of that print that you are welcome to hang as art in your home or classroom or use as a feast day decoration!

Click here for the print:

And you can also find it included on these Names of Mary Bookmarks:

And if you are interested in more info on Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the devotion has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids!

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Our Lady of Fatima Block Print- Feast Day 5/13

In a field outside of Fatima, Portugal, three young children cared for their families' sheep. As brother and sister Francisco and Jacinta Marto along with their cousin Lucia dos Santos were in the fields watching their flocks, they saw a lady appear in front of a nearby oak tree. The Lady was surrounded with rays of light brighter than the sun and was dressed in a white dress with gold trim. She held a rosary in her hands and told the children not to be afraid.

Mary appeared at the site on the thirteenth of the month for six months spanning from May to October of 1917. She shared many messages with the children, but the main theme was asking for prayer, especially the Rosary, for the conversion of sinners and to bring peace in the world. Mary also asked them to share her Immaculate Heart, both as a devotion for individuals and as a consecration for the whole world.

The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is on May 13, but the anniversary of the last apparition and the Miracle of the Sun on October 13 is also widely celebrated.

When I was working on my Names of Mary block carving collection a few years ago, I created an image of Our Lady of Fatima. I'd like to share a 5x7 printable from that project with you! This image was originally hand drawn by me, transferred to a rubber block, carved out, and then printed like a stamp. This is a true scan of that print that you are welcome to hang as art in your home or classroom or use as a feast day decoration!

Click here for the print:

And you can also find it included on these Names of Mary Bookmarks:

And if you are interested in more info on Our Lady of Fatima, the devotion has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids!

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Our Lady of Sorrows Block Print- Feast Day 9/15

The Church dedicates the month of September to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Through this devotion, we remember that even though Mary was without sin, she still experienced suffering and hardship.

At the Presentation in the Temple when Jesus was just a baby, Simeon prophesied that Mary’s own soul would be pierced by a sword. The Seven Sorrows of Mary are stories from the Bible where the Blessed Mother experienced pain and sadness. From losing Jesus in Jerusalem to witnessing His death on the Cross, Mary’s heart understood grief and suffering, but she never lost her faith and trust in God. These moments show us how the Blessed Mother loved Christ and turned to Him when life was hard.

When I was working on my Names of Mary block carving collection a few years ago, I created an image of Our Lady of Sorrows. I'd like to share a 5x7 printable from that project with you! This image was originally hand drawn by me, transferred to a rubber block, carved out, and then printed like a stamp. This is a true scan of that print that you are welcome to hang as art in your home or classroom or use as a feast day decoration!

Click here for the print:

And you can also find it included on these Names of Mary Bookmarks:

And if you are interested in more info on our Lady of Sorrows, the devotion has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids!

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Our Lady of Częstochowa Block Print- Feast Day 8/26

Do you know much about Our Lady of Częstochowa? While it has changed owners and locations many times in its history, the icon has been housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland, since 1384. Exposure to air and the soot of burning candles has darkened the colors of the icon over time, leading it to sometimes be called the Black Madonna.

One of the most recognizable elements of the icon are the scars on Mary’s cheek. Tradition says that during an invasion in 1430, thieves tried to steal the image from the church. They placed it in a wagon, but the horses refused to move. In anger, one thief slashed the painting with his sword, leaving the marks on Mary’s face, and the icon was thrown out of the wagon. Our Lady of Częstochowa's feast is celebrated on August 26.

When I was working on my Names of Mary block carving collection a few years ago, I included my own version of Our Lady of Częstochowa image. I'd like to share a 5x7 printable from that project with you! This image was originally hand drawn by me, transferred to a rubber block, carved out, and then printed like a stamp. This is a true scan of that print that you are welcome to hang as art in your home or classroom or use as a feast day decoration!

Click here for the print:

And you can also find it included on these Names of Mary Bookmarks:

And if you are interested in more info on Our Lady of Częstochowa, the devotion has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids! 

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Stella Maris Block Print- Feast Day 9/27

The Feast of Our Lady, Star of the Sea is celebrated on September 27th. Also called Stella Maris, this devotion to Mary has been around since the 5th century and is especially popular with sailors and coastal towns, but is also just a beautiful symbol of how the Blessed Virgin guides us during the storms of life.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: It is surely fitting that her name is ‘Mary,’ which is akin to the Star of the Sea (‘Maria—maris stella’), for just as sailors are directed to port by the star of the sea, so also Christians are by Mary guided to glory.

When I was working on my Names of Mary block carving collection a few years ago, I knew I wanted to create an image of Stella Maris. I'd like to share a 5x7 printable from that project with you! This image was originally hand drawn by me, transferred to a rubber block, carved out, and then printed like a stamp. This is a true scan of that print that you are welcome to hang as art in your home or classroom or use as a feast day decoration!

Click here for the print:

And you can also find it included on these Names of Mary Bookmarks:

And if you are interested in more info on Stella Maris, the devotion has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids!

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Our Lady Undoer of Knots Block Print- Feast Day 9/28

You have probably seen this painting of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots before, but do you know the story of its origin? Around four hundred years ago, a couple from Germany named Wolfgang and Sophie Langenmante were experiencing struggles in their marriage. Wolfgang went to his parish priest, Fr. Jakob Lem, and asked his advice for how to help their marriage.

Fr. Lem was inspired to to tell the Langenmantes to ask Mary to untie the knots in their relationship. Through Mary’s intercession, they went on to have a happy and holy marriage. Years later, in gratitude for his grandparents’ faithful marriage, their grandson commissioned a painting of Mary untying a tangled ribbon of knots. In addition to the untangled ribbon, the artist also showed Mary stepping on a knotted-up snake, demonstrating that Satan twists and tangles and misleads us. The painting was donated to their local church, where you can still see it today.

The Feast of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots is celebrated on September 28th. We can ask Mary to help us face little problems and also to aid us in untangling big challenges.

St. Irenaeus wrote: The knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.

When I was working on my Names of Mary block carving collection a few years ago, I included my own version of the Undoer of Knots image. I'd like to share a 5x7 printable from that project with you! This image was originally hand drawn by me, transferred to a rubber block, carved out, and then printed like a stamp. This is a true scan of that print that you are welcome to hang as art in your home or classroom or use as a feast day decoration!

Click here for the print:

And you can also find it included on these Names of Mary Bookmarks:

And if you are interested in more info on Our Lady Undoer of Knots, the devotion has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids! Fun fact- the block carving image I created actually ended up in my book! Even though all of the other art (around 50 full color images!) are all classic sacred art or photos of statues/stained glass, we couldn't find a high enough resolution image of the original Undoer of Knots painting. So my artwork is full page and the original painting is a smaller image include in the info on the next page. Not something that was planned, but my editor and team were grateful I had something on hand that was ready to be used!

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Miraculous Medal Embroidery Pattern (and other resources!)

 

After sharing this Miraculous Medal inspired embroidery project (which was part of my Through the Year with Mary giveaways), lots of people asked about offering a pattern. I am a make-it-up-as-I-go embroiderer, and also a very-very-rudimentary-pattern-maker, but I have it ready to share with you today! The pattern contains a color photos of my hoop, a supply list, suggested steps, a key to the stitches I used, patterns to print and trace, and a few ideas for other options when using the design.

If you aren't familiar with basic embroidery stitches (I often use the straight stitch, backstitch, lazy daisy, spiderweb roses, satin stitch, and French knots) I totally recommend watching youtube videos to get the hang of them.  The beauty of this pattern is that you can make it your own, with your unique style, colors, and details.

If you decide to make your own Miraculous Medal embroidery, I'd love to see it!  Email me at looktohimandberadiant (at) gmail (dot) com, or if you post it on Instagram tag me @katherine.bogner and use #miraculousmedalembroidery.  I can't wait to see what you create!

Click here for the free printable pattern:

P.S.- If you love the Miraculous Medal like I do, you might be interested in the resources that the Association of the Miraculous Medal offers. In addition to other items available in their online gift shop, they send free Miraculous Medals out around the globe! They sent me a generous box with resources for all of my students, including cards with a blessed Miraculous Medal attached (top) and the Marian easel (right). I used the Miraculous Medal reflection from my book Through the Year with Mary (affiliate link) for the lesson in my classroom before I gave out the medals! It was the perfect summary and also helped introduce/review the purpose and use of sacramentals. The coloring page I found here. If you'd like to get your own Miraculous Medals for your family or students, you can order up to 25 on their website, or can call 1.800.264.6279 for more than 25. My students were thrilled to have their own, and I was so happy to be able to share this devotion with them!

P.P.S.- If you are looking for more embroidery ideas, I also have a free pattern for the Holy Family Hearts available here:

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Our Lady of Guadalupe {Free Block Print!}

 Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! (and Gaudete Sunday!)

“Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need

anything more? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.”

—Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, December 12, 1531

Our Lady of Guadalupe one of my favorite Marian apparitions, and one of my favorite images that I created in my block carving Names of Mary series last year.

Today on Instagram, Stephanie Weinert shared a beautiful reflection on her sweet son Beckett and OLG's connection to care for the unborn. In honor of Beckett and to encourage prayers for Our Lady's intercession, I'd like to share a free print of my OLG carving with you. I hope that you display it in your home and when you see it are reminded of the dignity and worth of each individual person made in the image and likeness of God.

Click here to download the pdf so you can print your own 5x7" image:

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe:

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the holy Church, protect the sovereign Pontiff , help all those who invoke you in their necessities, and since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life of burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us!

And if you are interested in more info on Our Lady of Guadalupe, the apparition has a whole chapter in my book Through the Year with Mary! Complete with a kid friendly explanation, full color artwork with discussion prompts, reflection questions, a prayer, and a connection to Jesus, the goal of the book is to help you have good conversations with your kids! 

Click here to find in from my publisher the St. Paul Center or here to find it on Amazon!

Through the Year with Mary Giveaways!

It's launch week for Through the Year with Mary! I'm so excited that my new book will be arriving in time for Christmas and so you can use it to walk through the new year with your kiddos! You can read more about the book, including what early reviews said about it, back in this post. You can order your own copy from my publisher or on Amazon (affiliate link).

I'd like to celebrate with you by offering a set of Marian themed giveaways. You can enter here on this blog post simply by leaving a comment with the item you'd be most excited to receive and your email address. You can also gain more entries over on Instagram!

Giveaway #1 

This giveaway features items all made by me! :)
-A signed copy of Through the Year with Mary
-An original Miraculous Medal inspired embroidery hoop 
-Set of seven original 5x7" block prints featuring titles of Mary
-New Eve block printed canvas zipper pouch
(Winner chosen and contacted 12/8/21, US addresses only)

 

Giveaway # 2

This giveaway features a collection of lovely Marian goods for both adults and kids to help you celebrate Mary all year long. Some of these items were sent to me by their creators and some I've purchased, but regardless I'd love for you to go visit their websites or shops and follow them on social media.

-A signed copy of Through the Year with Mary

-Five prints of different Marian titles from Jordan Avery Art

-Set of Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary Blocks from Almond Rod Toys 

-Hand painted Immaculate Heart of Mary Wood Slice and Mary's Garden Statue from In The Loft of Sue Dow 

-Two sets of Marian temporary tattoos from Just Love Prints 

-Holy Family Print from Providential Co  

-Marian stickers from Studio Senn 

-Hail Mary Print from Sweet Little Ones 

-Marian Titles vinyl sticker from The Simple Saints 

(Winner chosen and contacted 12/10/21, US addresses only)

Giveaway #3

-Winner can choose from a signed hardcover copy or an ebook version of Through the Year with Mary

-A set of 31 Marian coloring pages from Catholic Paper Goods. This digital download is perfect for using as a companion to the Marian Feast Day stories in TTYWM. I provide the stories, prayers, and art, and Shari gives you a coloring page for kids complete while or after listening! Along with the picture, they include the title and Feast Day date right on the coloring page.

(Winner chosen and contacted 12/12/21, Open to international winners if ebook chosen)

Bonus Activity Book

And while the preorder window is closing, I'm leaving this awesome activity book open for you to download for free. Just click on this image and fill out the form to get your download.

Thank you for your support of my writing projects! I hope and pray that both Through the Year with Mary and Through the Year with Jesus are a blessing to your homes and classrooms for many years to come.

Remember, you can enter here on this blog post simply by leaving a comment with the item you'd be most excited to receive and your email address. You can also gain more entries over on Instagram!