Monday, March 30, 2020

40 Days Activities for Lent in Quarantine

Welcome Lent!  Time for change

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 26th
A Lenten Walk
Draw a leave with good deeds.
Thursday, February 27th
A praying time
You can pray anywhere.

Friday, February 28
Fasting 
You can fast by cutting out some food or things that distract you from God.

Saturday, February 29
Support your local church charity projects.

How to celebrate LENT and HOLY WEEK at home with your kids? Click the link below the date. 
First Week of Lent
Sunday, March 1st.
Celebrate Jesus
Check your closer church and come to Mass on time. 

Monday, March 2nd.
A pretzel can give you the answer.
Tuesday, March 3 er.
Meditate the Sorrowful Mysteries
Watch and pray with the video the sorrowful mysteries.
Wednesday, March 4th
Alms Giving
You can collect food for the needy, support your local church charity project, or join Operation Rice Bowl.
Thursday, March 5th
Handmade Cross
Create your own cross for Lent.
Find a moment to walk with Jesus Stations of the Cross. Don’t forget to fast!
It’s time to reconcile with Jesus.

Second Week of Lent
Sunday, March 8th
Check your closer church and come to Mass on time. 


Monday, March 9th

Increase your reading time with your favorite author or devotional book.


Tuesday, March 10th
Meditate, pray and color the Sorrowful Mysteries.

Wednesday, March 11th
Give up things you do impulsively without thinking.

Thursday, March 12th
Turn around
Change direction in your life and turn around to God. 

Friday, March 13th
Biblical Sorrowful Mysteries
Pray the sorrowful mysteries in the Rosary with the Bible scriptures.
Saturday, March 14th
Alms Giving
Support your local church charity project or join Operation Rice Bowl.
Third Week of Lent
Sunday, March 15th
Celebrate Jesus
Check your VIRTUAL MASS access. 

 

Monday, March 16th
Practicing Lent at home with scriptures symbols.
Tuesday, March 17th

Today on St. Patrick’s Day, prepare and pray the Breastplate.

Wednesday, March 18th
Alms Giving
Support your local church charity project or join Operation Rice Bowl.
Thursday, March 19th
Today on St. Joseph Day, prepare a Saint Joseph altar.

Friday, March 20th
Stations of the Cross Carousel
Create a Cross Carousel by cutting and pasting the Stations of the Cross. Don’t forget to fast!
Saturday, March 21st
A Desert Day
Spend a day with Jesus in a Desert Day with the scriptures.
Fourth Week of Lent
Sunday, March 22nd
Check your VIRTUAL MASS access. 

Monday, March 23 er
Divine Mercy Chapel
Do the Divine Mercy Chapel 

Tuesday, March 24th
Meditate the Sorrowful Mysteries
Watch and pray with the video the sorrowful mysteries.
Wednesday, March 25th
PRAY the "OUR FATHER" WORLDWIDE 
Day of prayer for World Protection of the Pandemic Virus 
Thursday, March 26th
Tissue Art Cross Craft
Celebrate the life of Christ with a colorful Cross.

Pray and Alms giving to help the Missions. 
Saturday, March 28th
Divine Mercy Chapel
Do the Divine Mercy Chapel or Meditate the Sorrowful Mysteries.

Fifth Week of Lent
Sunday, March 29th
Celebrate Jesus
Check your VIRTUAL MASS access. 
Monday, March 30th
Making Last Supper Craft
Prepare your own Last Supper Scene with recycles materials.
Tuesday, March 31st
Making a Paschal Candle
Prepare your own Paschal Candle.
Wednesday, April 1st.
Watch and pray Pope Francis Five Fingers Prayer.

Thursday, April 2nd.
Change direction in your life and turn around to God. 

Friday, April 3 er.
Stations of the Cross Cards
Play and pray with The Stations of the Cross. Don’t forget to fast!

Saturday, April 4th
Divine Mercy Chapel
Do the Divine Mercy Chapel or Meditate the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 5th
Palm Cross

Make your own Palm Cross. BE CREATIVE -Check your VIRTUAL MASS 
Monday, April 6th
Create your own Holy Week Booklet and pray with it.
Tuesday, April 7th
Making Sorrowful Mysteries Cards
Prepare your own sorrowful mysteries card and more.
Wednesday, April 8th
Holy Week for Families
Understand Holy Week meaning and symbols with the banner.
Thursday, April 9th
Triduum Triptychs
Understanding the symbols of the Paschal Triduum.
Friday, April 10th
Stations of the Cross play
Reflect and pray with the Stations of the Cross play. Don’t forget to fast!

Saturday, April 11th
Resurrection Eggs
Understanding Easter Sunday with Resurrection Eggs activity.


Pray and prepare and Easter basket. Hide the eggs inside home and enjoy the day with your family.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 12th
Celebrate Jesus
Check your VIRTUAL MASS access. 
Happy Easter!!!
Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

Monday, March 23, 2020

Perfect Readings for Lent - Libros para Cuaresma

Hazel Eyes, Award-Winning Book and inspirational memoir for teenagers and adults. Each chapter takes the reader on a journey to discover the author’s spiritual experience of faith and teach you how to build resilience.
Comments about this book:
By Author Lisa Waters - March 2016
"Reading Author Maritza Martinez Mejia’s Hazel Eyes is somewhat of a mesmerizing memoir. It’s never very easy to write about one’s life, but the author captures the essence of her life in a way that’s unquestionably an outstanding and unbelievable journey. You’ll discover the young life of the author, her struggles and challenges living in Colombia, growing up and being subjected to worldly influences whereby she began to rebel. The author reveals how God touched her and she underwent a transformation not only in life but her views and behavior. During her early adult life she embarked upon a pilgrimage to Monte Carmelo in central Chile where she witnessed a miraculous apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and you’ll learn how her life progressed. The memoir will leave you in awe, fill you with hope, encourage you to renew your faith, cherish life, believe in the power of the Lord, and most of all bestow the acts of kindness and love upon all mankind."
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2020

I loved this beautiful story about Maritza's Christian journey from her childhood to adulthood. This book really touched my heart because her journey is very similar to my personal Christian journey up to my high school years and beyond! Although my family is not Catholic, we still have the same fundamental Christian beliefs in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It was an honor to read about her journey as an early writer but intriguing to read her statement "I don't consider myself a writer, but I do consider myself the author of several works." I do not agree because I think she is a brilliant writer who has authored several works! I can't wait to read more of her amazing books!
                  Book available: http://www.amazon.com/Maritza-Martinez-Mejia/e/B009DKDXFW 

Ojos Avellana, Ha sido un placer traducir Hazel Eyes al español. Ganador del Latino Book Awards por Mejor traducción del inglés al español. Es mi recorrido y testimonio de fe, legado para futuras generaciones. Te enseña a superar dificultades y construir resilencia.
 Comentario Por autora Rose Marie Tapia R.

"Un testimonio hermoso de fe. Atrapa al lector desde las primeras páginas, ese es el verdadero talento del escritor. Leí el libro de corrido, sin interrumpir para nada.
Hay similitudes en la historia con la mía: la muerte de mis padres, que me hicieron conectarme con la autora. Me emocionó las escenas de la despedida de su madre.
En fin es un testimonio de amor, fe y esperanza. Felicitaciones a la autora".
Saludos desde Panamá
Rose Marie Tapia R.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2016

Ojos avellana describe como una experiencia común de fe en la vida del autor, se transforma en extraordinaria a través de la oración.
Jorge

Libro nomindado al Carmenluisa Pinto 2016
 y ganador del ILBA 2016
Libro Disponible: http://www.amazon.com/Maritza-Martinez-Mejia/e/B009DKDXFW 
                                                  
LuzDelMes Recommended Children's Books

The Good Friday Legend Lives On ​Review By Lisa Waters
"Janet Balletta, created an intriguing story furthering a mermaid legend in her mysterious and magical book titled the Legend of the Colombian Mermaid. It keeps the tradition of this ancient legend going year-after-year occurring on Good Fridays during Easter week. The original legend dating back since 1917 took place in a town called Valledupar in Colombia where a young girl defied her parents and went swimming in the enticing river waters on Good Friday. According to the legend the girl was cursed and turned into a mermaid as she was full of disobedience and did not observe the traditions of Good Friday, a holy day observed by Catholics."  
      Happy a Blessed Lent!
Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

Sunday, March 22, 2020

LuzDelMes Recipes for Lent ~ Recetas para Cuaresma

Take time with your kids during Lent by Cooking 


What is Fasting and Abstinence? 


Most Eastern rites, both Catholic and Orthodox, have laws of fasting and abstinence. Abstinence is obligatory after reaching the age of 14 and fasting becomes obligatory from age 18 until 60th birthday. 
In general, the law of abstinence prohibits eating the flesh, marrow and blood products.  The motives for practicing abstinence are well explained by St. Augustine in his Sermon on Prayer and Fasting: “Abstinence purifies the soul, elevates the mind, and subordinates the flesh to the spirit.” 
The most common food for Lent are fish, soups and eggs. I adopted the Mexican tradition of Tacos, Enchiladas and Fajitas for Fridays with delicious soups like French Onion and Lentil soup, but in my native land, I enjoyed the different recipes with eggs like "Huevos Pericos." 


Let’s benefit from Fasting and Abstinence this Lenten Season
 by cooking and eating together with our kids. 

Fun Cuisine for Lent ...and for Easter too!
Fish Taco
Enchiladas
Red Beans and Rice
¿Qué es el ayuno y la abstinencia?
La Cuaresma para los ritos católicos u ortodoxos, tienen leyes para el ayuno y la abstinencia. En general, la ley de la abstinencia prohíbe comer la carne, productos con sangre y médula ósea. La abstinencia es obligatoria después de alcanzar la edad de 14 y el ayuno se convierte en obligatorio a partir de los 18 años hasta 60 años.

Los motivos para la práctica de abstinencia son bien explicados por San Agustín en su sermón sobre la oración y el ayuno: "la Abstinencia purifica el alma, eleva la mente, subordina la carne al espíritu."
Vamos a aprovechar el ayuno y la abstinencia de la Cuaresma para cocinar y comer con nuestros hijos. 
La comida más común para la Cuaresma son pescados, sopas y huevos. Adopté la tradición mexicana de Tacos, Enchiladas y Fajitas para los viernes con deliciosas sopas como la sopa de cebolla francesa y lentejas, pero en mi tierra natal, disfrutaba los diferentes usos que le damos a recitas con huevos, como los "Huevos Pericos."
Maritza Martínez Mejía
Mother, Author, Educator and Translator
Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com
Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk