Blessed Francisco de Paula Victor (Feast Day September 23)

April 12, 1827-September 23, 1905

Francisco was born into slavery in Brazil in 1827. His mother's slave owner baptized Francisco as an infant and was his godmother. At first, Francisco trained to become a tailor. When he expressed that he felt called to become a priest, he was rejected at every turn due to his race and his status as a slave. His godmother went to a local priest who connected them to a bishop who was a passionate abolitionist and fought to allow Francisco to attend seminary.

While studying at the seminary, Francisco continued to face racism and discrimination. Francisco persevered, and his loving and determined demeanor earned him respect and acceptance from many of his classmates and teachers. After his ordination in 1851, parishioners were resistant to having a Black priest at their church. Some even refused to receive Holy Communion from him. Francisco's love for Jesus, his humility, and service to others, once again changed the hearts of the people in his parish and his community. When Francisco died in 1905, the people in his territory called him "the saint of the impossible." Blessed Francisco is the first black male Brazilian to be beatified.

• Peter, James, and John were Jesus' closest friends. Who are your closest friends? Have you ever talked to them about Jesus? Why or why not?

• Based on what you heard in today's Gospel story, imagine for a moment what Jesus looked like in his glory. In your own words, describe him.

• In today's Gospel, God the Father speaks words to Peter, James, and John. Share a time when you felt that God spoke to you.

• Blessed Francisco faced racism and discrimination. What is racism and why is it wrong?

Virtual Tour of Mt. Tabor

Transport your family to Israel to see the very location where the Transfiguration of Christ happened.

Search YouTube for a video of Mt. Tabor. Project the video on a large TV if possible. Invite family members to imagine the scene of the Gospel unfolding as you watch the video.
Search for the title: 
Landscape of Mount Tabor in 4K Jezreel Valley-Israel

Soft Pretzels

For a time, pretzels were only eaten during Lent. Make this treat that is shaped like two arms crossed in prayer. It is also said that the three holes in a pretzel twist represent the Holy Trinity.

1 ½ cups lukewarm water
1 Tbsp sugar (brown sugar or cane)
1 instant dry yeast packet (about 2 ½ tsp)
4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
½ cup baking soda
1 egg, beaten or olive oil for brushing
coarse salt or cinnamon sugar as topping
Additional water for boiling
Additional flour
(optional) 2 Tbsp butter
(optional) ½ cup baking soda

Mix warm water and yeast together in large bowl. Whisk brown sugar, salt, and optional butter until well combined. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes so that yeast foams. Add half the flour to the mix and stir. Add the rest of the flour; stir until combined. Lightly flour a board and move the dough to the board. Knead until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Cover the dough after sprinkling with a bit of flour or cooking spray; let it rest for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Cut the dough into strips. Twist the strips into the desired shape. Bring water to a boil in a pot. Add optional baking soda. Place the dough into the water for 20-30 seconds and remove. Place on a baking sheet. Brush pretzels with olive oil or egg wash (beaten egg mixed with water). Sprinkle salt or any other topping on the pretzels. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes on a cooling rack.

Decade of the Rosary

The fourth luminous mystery of the rosary reflects on the Transfiguration of Jesus. Pray a decade of the rosary to reflect on today's Gospel.

Praying a rosary as a family may seem like a difficult task at first, but it is quite simple, especially if you start with one decade. Here is a step-by-step guide to praying a decade of the rosary while meditating on the Transfiguration of Jesus. Give each family member a rosary. If you don't have a rosary, you can use your fingers to follow along.

• Make the sign of the cross.
• Announce the mystery you will be reflecting on as you pray the decade:
  • "The fourth luminous mystery, The Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light."
• Invite family members to think about the Gospel story as the following prayers are recited. The prayer leader says the bolded text, and the group responds with the rest of the prayer:
  • One Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
  • Ten Hail Mary's: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
  • One Glory Be: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
• Make the sign of the cross.

Locate the altar in your church. At what point of the Mass does the priest move to the altar?
What happens at the altar?

Find a way to practice almsgiving this week. This Lenten observance asks you to give food, goods, or money to help the poor.

The word for pretzel in Latin (bracellae) means "little arms."