St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin (Feast Day February 26)

October 6, 1888 – October 20, 1922

Maria was born in Italy in 1888. She suffered rejection, ridicule, and disappointment, but these trials only brought her closer to God and made her more determined to serve him. She spent little time in school to spend more time helping at home and working in the fields. Maria showed few talents and was often the butt of jokes. In 1904, she joined the Sisters of St. Dorothy. After some time, Maria received training to be a nurse and began working in a hospital with children suffering from diphtheria. There, the young nun seemed to find her true vocation: nursing very ill and disturbed children. Later, when the military took over the hospital in World War I, she fearlessly cared for patients amidst the threat of constant air raids and bombings. She was canonized in 1961.

·      Why is it hard to love your enemies?

·      Has anyone ever done something so hurtful to you that you really wanted to get even? Share your experience.

·      In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us not to get even but to do good for them and pray for them. What do you think would happen if instead of getting back at someone, you followed Jesus’ advice?

·      In what way can you relate to St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin’s story?

No-Sew Blanket Making

Show your family’s love of neighbor by making a blanket to give to someone in need.

Instructions:

1.         Choose the fabric. Choose a print and a contrasting or matching solid.

2.         Line up the two fabric pieces, right sides out.

3.         Trim to the same size.

4.         Cut out the corners.

5.         Cut the fringe.

6.         Tie knots.

7.         Continue around the blanket.

Contact your local parish to learn where you can donate the blankets you made.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Cook up this easy dish to honor our Italian-born saint of the week!

1 pound spaghetti

1 pound ground beef

1/3 cup breadcrumbs

¼ cup finely chopped parsley

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

1 egg

2 garlic cloves, minced

Kosher salt

½ tsp red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

½ cup onion, finely chopped

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 bay leaf

Freshly ground black pepper

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain.

In a large bowl, combine beef with breadcrumbs, parsley, Parmesan, egg, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix until just combined then form into 16 balls.

In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a plate. Add onion to pot and cook until soft, 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Return meatballs to pot and cover. Simmer until sauce has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve pasta with a healthy scoop of meatballs and sauce. Top with Parmesan before serving.

From: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a55764/best-spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe/

Family Rosary

Recite a rosary together as a family, meditating on the Glorious Mysteries, and offering each decade for someone who has hurt or offended you. If you don’t know how to pray a rosary, visit https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary. The Glorious Mysteries can be accessed here: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/rosaries/a-rosary-for-life-the-glorious-mysteries.cfm.

With how many people did you shake hands (or wave/acknowledge) during the sign of peace this week? How does the sign of peace relate to today’s Gospel?

Invite each family member to pick a person in their life that challenges them or makes their life difficult. Ask each family member to “go the extra mile” to do something kind for them this week.

Ash Wednesday is February 22nd. Think about what you can do for Lent individually and as a family. Check out this great video from Busted Halo: https://bustedhalo.com/video/ash-wednesday-in-two-minutes.