The miracle of St. Clare and the Eucharist happened in San Damiano, Italy, in the year 1241. An army of Saracens were about to invade the convent of the Poor Clares. In fact, the attackers were even climbing over the walls! The nuns were terrified. St. Clare (1194-1253), the foundress of the Franciscan order, appeared at the entrance with a Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. She prayed urgently to the Lord:

“Lord, protect your servants!”

He answered: “I will take care of you always!”

Immediately, the advancing army fled from the convent. And the nuns were left in peace.

Copy the patterns below to make the figure of St. Clare and the Eucharist. Note that her arms are cut separately and are taped to the back of the figure. They are folded in front to hold the Monstrance as shown in the photo.

To make a plaque to commemorate this wonderful miracle you can glue the figure of St. Clare to an inverted foam meat tray.

A plastic peanut butter jar with a wide mouth makes a story jar, ideal for children to re-tell the stories about Franciscan saints. The jar is filled with small items and toys associated with St. Francis. Farm animals, birds, and a cross are some examples to help children renew their love for Franciscan saints. The children remove one item at a time (0r more than one) to tell their story. Make a figure of St. Francis from the pattern below to decorate your jar. The friar’s outfit is glued to a wooden ice cream spoon. Facial features are added with felt pen. A beard is glued on.

St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) was a Franciscan priest and missionary who travelled all over Italy preaching about the faith. He is known as “the Apostle of Italy.” He was such a wonderful preacher that he had to preach in the marketplace—no church could hold all the crowds who came to hear him! At times he even had to perch in a tree to make himself seen and heard!

St. Bernardine is made from a wooden ice cream spoon. His brown habit is glued on. The tree trunk is made from a toilet paper roll.

To make the tree use the pattern below for the green foliage. You can add apples if you want! The trunk is made from a toilet paper roll. Cut one layer of green paper to make the foliage. Glue it to the tree trunk as shown in the photo.

To make the saint, use the pattern below to make the friar’s brown outfit. Cut out and glue to an ice cream spoon to form the body. Add felt pen facial features. Cut a slit in the tree and insert the figure. Use the photo as a guide.

Make a cherished momento for a girl who is making her First Communion. It is made from an Altoid tin and can be a perfect holder for a first Rosary and a Scapular.

First paint the tin and line the interior with pretty paper. Using the pattern below decorate the dress and figure to look like the photograph. A plastic Crucifix is glued to the lid. Glue the doll to the tin.

Make a pair of friars from two ice cream spoons! A quick and easy craft to  celebrate our Franciscan heritage. A foam meat tray forms the base for a diorama to display your Franciscan friars.

Make a pair of Franciscan friars from wooden ice cream spoons. Copy out the pattern below for the friar’s robe. Trace twice onto cardstock or paper so that you have a back and a front. Glue the ice cream spoon between the two “robes.” Glue the robes to the spoon, sandwich style, so that the spoon is the “filling”. To insert the figures onto a diorama, tape a toothpick to the back of each friar, having the end protruding so that the toothpick can be stuck into the meat tray, enabling the friars to stand up.

To make the diorama, paint a meat tray green and glue on “grass.” Cut up small strips of green paper and glue on the tray.

Celebrate the miracle of St. Anthony’s preaching to the fish with this craft. The fish are crackers and the sea is a paper plate. St. Anthony is made from a wooden ice cream spoon. His Franciscan robe is glued on.

TO MAKE THE SCENE:

Paint the paper plate as shown in the photograph. Real sand can be glued on to the “beach.” Fish crackers are glued to the plate. Use the pattern below for the Franciscan robe, cut out and colour. Glue to the ice cream spoon, add facial features, and his tonsure with felt pen. To make the figure stand you can use a cardboard stand as shown in the photo below from a piece of cardboard cut to fit the back of the figure.

Make some stick puppets to act out the play, JUAN DIEGO’S MISSION: They are made from popsicle sticks and 1.4″ (3cm) circles for the heads. I used wooden discs but you can also use cardboard circles. The Mexican Mama’s hair is painted on (and a “bun” is glued to the back of the hair). Don’t forget to add a flower! The pattern for the Mexican Papa’s sombrero and moustache are found below. They are glued on to the head.

Make some easy stick puppets to act out the play, ST. JUAN DIEGO’S MISSION: They are quickly made with popsicle sticks and 1.4″ (3cm)circles for heads. I used wooden discs but cardboard ones would work just fine. The bishop is the figure with the tonsure! Juan Diego is also in the group and the Mexican girl has a bow in her hair!

Follow the patterns below to complete your stick puppets.

Make a quick bookmark of Mother Teresa from a wooden stick doll widely available (and inexpensive too!) in craft stores. You should use the boy doll because his arms are longer. The hands extend over the pages forming the bookmark. Cut her habit from the pattern provided. A blue strip of paper or ribbon completes the outfit.