I have so much fun trying to connect saints with treats each year! A few days ago my eleven year old daughter and I went to the store to see what we could find to use for this years jars.
I was also so excited and relieved to finally find wide mouth jars after multiple online orders were cancelled and unsuccessfully searching many local stores! It’s so much more fun for the children to actually get to keep the treats in the jar instead of getting them dumped into a ziplock to take home.
“According to her apochryphal tradition, she was a resident of Caesarea, Cappadocia, who when she refused to sacrifice to the gods during Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians, was tortured by the governor and ordered executed. On the way to the place of execution, she met a young lawyer, Theophilus, who mockingly asked her to send him fruits from “the garden” she had joyously announced she would soon be in. When she knelt for her execution, she prayed, and an angel with a basket of three roses and three apples, which she sent to Theophilus, telling him she would meet him in the garden. Theophilus was converted to Christianity and later was martyred.” – Source
“Saint Ulphia of Amiens is a Christian saint, venerated particularly at Amiens. She was said to be a young girl living on the banks of the Noye in the who became a hermit at what would become Saint-Acheul, near Amiens in the Kingdom of the Franks, under the spiritual direction of Saint Domitius (Domice). At the end of her life, she formed and directed a community of religious women at Amiens.
Legend states that Ulphe placed the frogs in the area around her hermitage (which was built in a swampy area) under interdict as a result of their loud croaking, which kept her awake at nights. Thus, in her iconography, she is depicted as a young nun seated in prayer on a rock with a frog in the pool near her.
A 19th century hagiographer noted that the frogs in the area around the oratory of Saint Ulphe were, indeed, very quiet. However, if these frogs were taken elsewhere, they became boisterous once again.”
York Peppermint Patties work perfectly for St. Margaret Clitherow, the “Pearl of York, as well as for St. William of York!
My children LOVE KitKats and Reese’s… so I picked St. Katharine and St. Thérèse whose names could be nicknamed KitKat and Reese! 😉
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Aren’t these Kodiak Bear Bites great! I included three saints with their bear stories last year, but two more to add this year.
St. Francis of Paola, Blessing the Fish: Goldfish Cookies or Crackers
This year the Alphabet Cookies are getting linked to St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers & journalists. If the kids look closely while counting they will see “PRAY” spelled out around the bottom and top of the jar. 😉
Another random fact I learned this year: In the Maltese language, the Milky Way galaxy is called It-Triq ta’ Sant’Anna, literally “The Way of St. Anne”.
St. Anne: MilkyWay Minis
St. Luigi Scrosoppi, Patron of Footballers: Sport Balls *How many soccer balls are in the jar? 😉
St. Francis de Sales, Patron of Writers & Journalists: Alphabet Cookies
Once again I also made additional guess pages to go along with each of the jars.
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These are just amazing! You are so creative Jessica!!!! Such a fun and festive game for children and they learn about new Saints at the same time. Each Saint's picture and the chosen candy are perfect together.
Jessica, I am the Mom that left you a comment a few years back recommending the Matt Christopher sports books for your Snuggles. I thought of your oldest daughters when I got out my books for Advent this week. I read a book daily during the Advent Season that I would like to recommend to you for your daughters. Is there an email address that I can send the recommendation to you? (Just in case they read or help you with this blog, so I do not spoil your surprise giving you the title of the book here…if you are not aware of the book and would like to get it for them. Thanks so much.
Sincerely, Debbie
SWEET INSPIRATION!How DO you do it?! Thank you so very much for your nonstop help in making our faith accessible, relatable and fun for everyone! Your impact on our grandkids is inestimable. May He bless you for each and every delightful and meaningful contribution you've made to our faith!
Canning jars and lids have been hard to find since May/June 2020. Next time you see them in a store, stock up. Who knows what the supply and demand will be like in the coming year.
I definitely bought extras! It was funny hearing moms joke about playing the game, just for the chance to win a jar. 😉
Thank you, Debbie!
My email address is jessica(dot)showerofroses(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the kind comments! God bless you and your family!