• Jan 29, 2025

February Feast Days (The Holy Family, St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Scholastica, Our Lady of Lourdes, + More) and FREE Holy Family Paper Dolls!

Monthly Overview:

  • Monthly Devotion: The Holy Family.

  • February 6: St. Paul Miki and Companions

  • February 7: St. Richard

  • February 8: St. Josephine Bakhita

  • February 10: St. Scholastica

  • February 11: Our Lady of Lourdes

  • February 25: St. Walburga

The Feast of the Holy Family

While the official feast day of the Holy Family is celebrated on the first Sunday following Christmas day, the month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family as a reminder of the sacred bond between Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, serving as the model for all Catholic families. This devotion emphasizes the virtues of love, obedience, and faithfulness that the Holy Family exemplified in their daily lives. February, often associated with themes of love and unity, provides a fitting time for families to seek inspiration from their example, fostering deeper relationships centered on faith and mutual support. Through prayer and reflection, the faithful are encouraged to strengthen their own family life in imitation of the Holy Family’s holiness and devotion to God.

St. Paul Miki and Companions

Feast day: February 6th

Fun Facts:

  1. St. Paul Miki was a Jesuit seminarian and the first Japanese person to be canonized.

  2. The martyrs were crucified on a hill overlooking Nagasaki, singing hymns as they died.

  3. The group included three young boys who inspired many with their bravery.

Ways to Celebrate:

  1. Read stories about the lives of these saints and discuss their courage.

  2. Make a simple Japanese dish as a family and talk about the Catholic faith in Japan.

  3. Create paper crosses to honor the martyrs and reflect on the meaning of sacrifice.

  4. Pray a rosary for persecuted Christians around the world.

  5. Attend or watch a Mass dedicated to the martyrs if possible.

About the Saint: St. Paul Miki and 25 companions, including both laypeople and religious, were martyred in 1597 in Nagasaki, Japan, for their faith. They are celebrated as models of unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution.

St. Richard

Feast day: February 7th

Fun Facts:

  1. St. Richard is remembered for his humility and simplicity.

  2. His shrine in Chichester Cathedral became a popular pilgrimage site.

  3. He is often depicted holding a chalice and a book.

Ways to Celebrate:

  1. Create a family prayer asking for guidance and humility in daily life.

  2. Read about the life of St. Richard and discuss what it means to serve others.

  3. Make a simple "book" craft symbolizing his love for learning and faith.

  4. Visit a local cathedral or church to light a candle for St. Richard’s intercession.

  5. Share stories about saints from England and their impact on the Church.

About the Saint: St. Richard, also known as Richard of Chichester, was a 13th-century English bishop known for his piety and dedication to pastoral care. He is the patron saint of Sussex and coachmen.

St. Josephine Bakhita

Feast day: February 8th

Fun Facts:

  1. Her name, "Bakhita," means "fortunate" in Arabic.

  2. She forgave her captors and prayed for their conversion.

  3. Canonized in 2000, she is the patron saint of Sudan and survivors of human trafficking.

Ways to Celebrate:

  1. Learn about modern efforts to combat human trafficking and pray for victims.

  2. Create a "forgiveness jar" to encourage acts of mercy within the family.

  3. Watch a documentary or read a book about her life.

  4. Make a craft inspired by African culture to honor her heritage.

  5. Pray a novena to St. Josephine Bakhita for those in need of hope.

About the Saint: St. Josephine Bakhita was a Sudanese woman who endured slavery before becoming a nun in Italy. She is a powerful symbol of hope, forgiveness, and human dignity.


St. Scholastica

Feast day: February 10th

Fun Facts:

  1. Legend says her prayers brought a storm to keep her brother from leaving during a visit.

  2. She was known for her deep faith and love for God.

  3. Her feast day often includes blessings for safety from storms.

Ways to Celebrate:

  1. Discuss the importance of prayer and perseverance as a family.

  2. Create a "storm jar" craft using water and glitter to symbolize her intercession.

  3. Read the Rule of St. Benedict together and discuss its teachings.

  4. Bake bread as a nod to monastic life and share it with a neighbor or friend.

  5. Say a prayer for protection against storms and natural disasters.

About the Saint: St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict, founded a religious community for women. She is the patron saint of storms and often depicted in prayer.


Our Lady of Lourdes

Feast day: February 11th

Fun Facts:

  1. The apparition identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.

  2. The Lourdes water is considered a source of miraculous healings.

  3. Millions visit Lourdes annually, seeking physical and spiritual healing.

Ways to Celebrate:

  1. Create a Marian grotto craft with the children.

  2. Read about the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes and discuss their significance.

  3. Pray the rosary together as a family.

  4. Share stories of Marian apparitions worldwide.

  5. Light a candle and pray for healing, both physical and spiritual.

About the Saint: Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 in Lourdes, France. The site has since become a place of healing and pilgrimage.

St. Walburga

Feast Day: February 25th

Fun Facts:

  1. She was born in England but worked as a missionary in Germany.

  2. Her tomb exudes a miraculous oil believed to have healing properties.

  3. She was one of the first women to be officially recognized as a saint.

Ways to Celebrate:

  1. Discuss the importance of missionary work and helping others.

  2. Create a small "healing oil" craft using olive oil and prayer cards.

  3. Learn about Germany and its saints as a family.

  4. Say a special prayer for missionaries around the world.

  5. Read about her life and reflect on her virtues.

About the Saint: St. Walburga was an 8th-century abbess known for her missionary work in Germany. Her relics are associated with miraculous healing oil.

Looking to help foster your child's creativity and teach them about the Holy Family this February? Check out our FREE Holy Family Paper Dolls now in our Catholic Creativity Corner!

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