February's First Friday Activities

I led the February First Friday activities again this year. We discussed heroes and saints, which are holy heroes of the faith, and emphasized the importance of practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The kids did one of each. They decorated Kleenex boxes to give the residents at the nursing home and prayed a decade of the rosary for the living and the deceased residents (spiritual work). Afterward, we delivered the boxes to the residents and visited with them (corporal work). I made sure to emphasize the passage about storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21) by doing good works here on earth, just as the saints did.

As a little foretaste of that heavenly reward after performing two works of mercy, I surprised the kids with cookies. Of course, the cookies were part of the lesson, too. As they decorated them, I explained the symbolism of each part. The two connected hearts symbolize our union with God when we reach heaven and that our will should be conformed perfectly to God's Will to ensure entrance into heaven. The three red candies symbolize the Trinity, because if our will is in union with God's Will, He will be with us even here on earth. Last, but not least, they were sugar cookies, which are very sweet. I don't think I even need to say that this was a symbol of life in heaven being "Sweeeeeet!". LOL!