September is a month when I frequently pray for assistance from St. Fiacre de Breuil, an Irish-born monk known for spending many years in France working tirelessly in his garden. My family’s vegetable garden provides a beautiful place for work, quiet prayer, and reflection. We all enjoy spending time there. Starting around St. Fiacre’s feast day of September 1st, I find myself asking for his guidance in knowing when the vegetables in my garden are ready. Are they fully mature? Will this tomato’s flavor be at its best if I pick it today? Will the eggplant parmigiana made from these three eggplant be large enough to nourish my whole family as a meal?
This month, I’ve found that St. Fiacre, and perhaps the Holy Spirit, guided my prayers to include my own readiness for the start of the year. Was I ready to start at a new school and meet new people? Was I ready to fail, learn from my mistakes, and improve steadily while on this new adventure? Even more deeply, am I always ready to stand before God and be accountable for my choices, my words, and my actions? Just like the vegetables in my garden, I am always growing. As a student I studied Child and Human Development; I know humans are always developing and changing throughout their earthly lives. As a Catholic, I know I need more spiritual growth and understanding to develop fully into the woman God intends me to be, a reminder echoed in Michelangelo’s life motto, ancora imparo, meaning, “still, I am learning.” As the month of September closes, I am grateful to St. Fiacre for guidance and good growth in my garden, and in my own continued learning.
Fifth grade at St. Benedict Classical Academy includes a beautiful examination of the Apostles’ Creed. This month as my students and I read the truth that God the Father is the “Creator of Heaven and Earth,” we took time to closely examine some specific objects in God’s creation. We examined seashells with a perfect spiral and butterflies with perfect symmetry in their body and wings. We observed a sunflower from my garden with such greatness of mass and volume that we were able to use it in a science lesson on those concepts. All of Creation helps us to see God’s intelligent design, His capacity for beauty, and His plan for all living things. St. Fiacre also knew that God’s creation includes each of us. So again, I ask myself today: Am I growing the way God intended for me? Am I ready for God’s plan? How far have I progressed in being worthy of the promises of Christ? How am I nourishing my prayer life? How am I glorifying God in all that I do – from making choices to helping others to fulfilling what God asks of me? For this, I am grateful that there are so many months ahead!
AUTHOR: Kristin Roberto, Grade 5 Teacher
