Celebrate St. Martin of Tours {Free Martinmas Lantern Printable!}

Today is Martinmas (the feast day of St. Martin of Tours)!  St. Martin was a Roman soldier (and later became a Bishop) born in 316 A.D. He was forced into the military when he was quite young.  He is most well known for the famous story in which he encountered a beggar on a cold wintery day.  Filled with compassion for this shivering man, Martin cut his cloak in half, giving part of it to the beggar.  Later that night he dreamed that the beggar was Jesus himself.

In many countries, Martinmas is celebrated by children processing with paper lanterns at night. They sing songs, receive candy and build bonfires as well.  To honor this tradition, I thought it would be fun to make a paper lantern printable for children to cut, color and light (using an artificial candle, that is!). Today, the feast of St. Martin coincides with Veterans Day, which is nice since he is the patron saint of soldiers.  There is a prayer for soldiers included on one of the panels of the lantern, which would be nice to pray this evening.

Below is the printable.  Simply click on the link and you will be directed to Google Docs:

St. Martin of Tours Printable Lantern

 (The printable is a microsoft word document)

Here is how to assemble your lantern:

1.  After printing (and coloring!) your lantern, cut and discard top section of page along thick black "scalloped" lines.   

2. Fold lantern into 4 vertical sections along dotted lines.  Cut along folded lines from the bottom up to the solid line.  This will create 4 flaps that will become the bottom of your lantern.

3. Fold bottom flaps along solid lines, placing glue on the inner bottom of each flap (I used glue stick).  Place one flap on top of the other, holding in place for a few second to let glue dry.

4. Place tape along the opening of the lantern walls to close remaining gap.  Your lantern is now complete and ready to illuminate!

5.  If you want your lantern to have a handle (nice for children to process with!), simply cut a thin strip of paper, cardstock or ribbon, and tape across any 2 opposite walls of the lantern.

6.  Place a battery-operated artificial tea light candle inside and enjoy the pretty luminary you made!

And remember to say the pray in honor of our soldiers this Veterans Day! 

Happy Martinmas!

Importance of Sunday School

Today I'm happy to share with you a wonderful guest post by freelance writer, Emmy, on the importance of Sunday School.  Many great things to consider!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do:


Growing up in a Catholic home, Sunday school was the highlight of my week. Our teacher was a gentle old lady who taught us how to sing “Jesus Loves Me” and paint Easter eggs. We gathered around her at circle time and listened in awe as she described Joseph’s coat multi-colored coat and how Jesus turned water into wine.

I loved Sunday school as a child and now that I’m an adult, I still feel the same way. This is why it saddens me that attendance is on a steady decline. Not all churches offer catechism classes anymore, and the few that are running may soon stop. I’m glad, however, that the one where my kids go to have no plans of closing down. I believe Sunday school is important when raising little Catholic believers and here are some reasons:


 It helps children make friends. 

This is perhaps the best, safest place for a child to find a friend. It teaches God-centered values, which makes an ideal environment for nurturing friendships that stand the test of time. My twin daughters met their best friends at Sunday school, and I couldn’t wish for better company for them to hang out with.


 It cultivates active participation in church traditions. 

The gospel is taught in creative, age-appropriate ways so that children develop a deeper understanding for the Word of God and have fun at the same time. My friend proudly shared that his ten-year-old son initiated going to confession before Lent. A neighbor’s nine-year-old daughter happily sings along to the praises during mass.


It fosters a deeper relationship with Christ.

Songs taught in Sunday school are more than just children’s rhymes. They relay the message that God’s love is unconditional; it’s their refuge and solace when beset with troubles. When our kids commit mistakes and fall, they know they can rise again because God’s love doesn’t falter. As parents, there’s no greater comfort than knowing our children paths are rooted in God’s protection and favor.


Students are less likely to stray. 

 Studies from several universities and research groups show that regular attendance to a “faith community” yields adults who live longer, happier, and healthier lives. They’re less inclined to experiment with drugs, alcohol, or tobacco and have a higher tendency to value religion, education, and family.


 Students are taught to live together harmoniously. 

Sunday school is a melting pot of races, classes and cultures. Children are taught to respect and appreciate the differences in background and opinion, and live with them in peace and harmony.

 For just an hour every week, you and your family get to enjoy a lifetime of benefits. If all families brought their children to Sunday school and supported the church and lay volunteers, children will grow up to be compassionate, God-centered adults.

 It’s my fervent wish that these classes are made available to all kids around the globe so everyone will experience the wonderful things that we do. And who knows, maybe our dreams of a better world will finally come true.



 Emmy is a freelance writer for Discount Catholic Products, an online retailer of scapulars, patron saint medals, first Communion gift sets, and many more. She never missed a day of Sunday school and has two pages full of stars in her old scrapbook to show for it.