The Holy Name of Mary

Our first meeting was a huge success and it was fabulous to see all our Buds again!  Our group this year will consist of about 24 girls from the age of five to ten.  And although we lost some of our oldest girls from last year, we have gained some new faces and can't wait to get started with our year...

Many moms and dads were on hand at this first meeting to enjoy High Tea in honor of the feast day: The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin.

Thanks again to my favorite blogger, Jessica, we had a fantastic spread with all the foods representing one of the names that we so affectionately give to our Mother. 

Cheese Tower

"Tower of Ivory"
(terrible picture!)

Goldfish Crackers

"House of Gold"



Fruits and Veggies

"Health of the Sick"

Strawberries with a Crown of Cream

"Queen of Martyrs"

Centerpiece

Roses with Soft Candles and a Mirror

"Mystical Rose"

"Mirror of Justice"

"Quiet Light"

Star Shaped Sandwiches

"Morning Star"

Angel Food Cake

"Queen of Angels"

Dove Chocolates

"Peaceful Dove"

Blue Hawaiian Punch (or rather, the pitcher)

"Vessel of Honor"

To make things a bit more fun, the girls and invited guests had to guess the name of Mary that each food represented.  Everyone was quite insightful!

And then...we ate!

As with all our "teas" of the past, the food was gone in no time and the girls went away full, happy and ready for a fun year!

Keep planting seeds...

Magnificent May Crowning

It's so hard to believe that it's already May and that we find ourselves winding down our second year together.  After a full year of learning our nine core virtues, using Mary as our guide, we ended with a beautiful afternoon dedicated to a May Crowning of the Blessed Mother.

The girls remembered to wear the maiden's wreathes that we created at our April meeting and they all looked absolutely lovely....like the true princesses that they are...in their best dresses. 

We gathered first for our usual coloring page, this one of the Coronation of Mary.

After our opening prayers and discussion on our virtue for the day (piety), we talked about all the virtues we've learned about this year and tried to remember all the different flowers that symbolized those virtues.  Each girls was then given a flower (one of those representing our virtues) which she would add to Mary's crown.

We headed out to the Marian garden on outside the rectory and all the girls awaited a turn to climb the ladder and give a flower to Mary.

The battery to my camera began to flash just as I started to take pictures of each Bud ascending the ladder.  I have to believe that it was Divine Intervention that the battery lasted through entire crowning!  (And we would soon find that this was not the only bit of Divine Intervention for the day,

either!)

So, here they are...each and every one.  Watch Mary's wreath grow as each Bud adds her special touch!

  

 



And at last...the final flower!

We posed for one last group picture around our beautiful Mother...

and then the treats came out!

It was at about this time that our Graces expired!  A huge rain storm hit just as we finished up and got settled back inside.  Not one Bud got wet!

And Mary looked absolutely lovely!

Oh, Mary we crown thee with blossoms today,

Queen of the angels, Queen of the May.

Oh, Mary we crown thee with blossoms today,

Queen of the angels,

Queen of the day.

Blessed Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for Us!

Keep planting seeds...