Catholic Lenten fasting: Vegan pretzel recipes, pretzels object lessons for Lent

Pretzels date back almost 14 centuries to an Italian monk, who, while baking bread for Lent, twisted a roll of dough to resemble the sign of the cross. To genuflect or make the sign of the cross is a prayer posture of Catholic Christians. Pretzels have become a traditional Lenten fasting food as they are made without sugar, fat, meat or dairy. In traditional Catholic homes, all fat, dairy and sweeteners are used up on Shrove Tuesday (also called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) in anticipation of the "vegan" Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lenten fasting. Shrove Tuesday is also sometimes called Pancake Day because these ingredients were made into pancakes for the pre Lenten Mardi Gras feast. During Lent, Catholic Christians observe meatless Lenten fasting on Fridays. They may refrain from eating fats, oil, butter, sugar, sweets and dairy products as a spiritual Lenten fasting.   Catholic Lenten fasting: Vegan pretzel recipes, pretzels object lessons for Lent | Examiner.com

Free printable Catholic liturgical calendars with 2016 holidays and holy days

Liturgical calendars guide the Catholic and Orthodox Christian church year. They show when holidays, holy days, saints' feast days, movable feasts and seasons occur. Parents and teachers can use them plan devotions and activities, Homeschool families can follow the calendar at home. Here are free printable Catholic liturgical calendars and church season activities.   Free printable Catholic liturgical calendars with 2016 holidays and holy days | Examiner.com

Teach kids awareness of poverty, curb selfishness, entitlement, develop empathy | Examiner.com

 Ever get tired of seeing entitlement and selfishness in kids? It is annoying, but so are people who complain about insensitive, lazy, unappreciative "kids today." Like entitlement was never a problem before this generation and all who came before were models of selflessness. They weren't--selfishness has been a problem since time began. Where do these self-righteous folks think children learned selfishness? By watching adults! If kids lack sensitivity, it's because adults have fail ed to model it. Parents and all of society must demonstrate compassion or it has no right to complain. Children learn empathy, especially with those in need. Here are ways to break children's selfishness and entitlement attitude and develop empathy, awareness of poverty, sensitivity, compassion and generosity.  Teach kids awareness of poverty, curb selfishness, entitlement, develop empathy | Examiner.com