Years ago we initiated the annual hunt in Brelinskyville on Easter morning. Under cover of darkness a 5’4″ bunny distributes brightly colored plastic eggs beneath bushes and daffodils beds, in outdoor work boots and under porch stairs. Come morning’s light our eager basket-toting scavengers set out to collect their treasures.The eggs have always contained sweet treats and sometimes a bit of shiny silver coins, but at one point in time I decided they needed something more. That’s when I began to include a scriptural verse, inspirational note or saintly quotation inside. My kids like to call them “fortune eggs” since the notes come on thin strips of folded paper.
A fun and simple way to evangelize, we’ve include these notes in eggs that we donate to community egg hunts and we make up small baskets with a few goodies for our neighbors and include a few “fortune eggs.” One year my boys decided to keep the notes in a bowl after Easter so they could pick out one each evening to read aloud. Some of the quotes need to be explained to little ones, but that’s a great way to begin a deeper conversation.
If you’d like to add a little extra surprise to your eggs this year, feel free to copy and print what I have come up with for this year.
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God is so good and merciful, that to obtain Heaven it is sufficient to ask it of Him form our hearts.
-St. Benedict Joseph Labre
Patient endurance is the perfection of charity. -St. Ambrose
God is good.
God is love.
Jesus loves you.
There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God’s. -St. Teresa Avila
The saints were so completely dead to themselves that they cared very little whether others agreed with them or not. – St. John Vianney
Jesus, I trust in You.
The world would have peace if the men of politic would only follow the Gospels.
-St. Brigitta of Sweden
Maintain a spirit of peace and you’ll save a thousand souls. -St. Seraphim of Sarov
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweths them that trust in him.
-Nahum 1:7
Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. -St. John of the Cross
Never rebuke while you are still indignant about a fault committed- wait until the next day, or even longer. And then calmly, and with purer intention, make your reprimand. You will gain more by a friendly word than by a three hour quarrel. -St. Jose Escriva
If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. -St. Ignatius of Loyola
Thank the good God for having visited you through suffering; if we knew the value of suffering, we would ask for it. -Blessed Brother Andre
I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of God. -St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
-Psalm 27:14
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love.
Every child is a gift from God.
Love of man leads to the love of God. -Indian Proverb
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and rely not on thine own understanding. -Proverbs 3:5
Other books were given for our information, the Bible was given for our transformation. -Anonymous
He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands. -Bernard of Clairvaux
Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. -Oswald Chambers
Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself. -St. Anthony of Padua
Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family. -St. Angela Merici
Never utter in your neighbor’s absence what you would not say in their presence.
-St. Mary Magdalene dei Pazzi
Christ make my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve. -St. Anges
When you seek truth you seek God whether you know it or not. -Edith Stein
As sailors are guided by a star to the port, so are Christians guided to Heaven by Mary.
-St. Thomas Aquinas
Be not anxious about what you have, but about what you are. -St. Gregory the Great
Do something good for someone you like least, today. – St. Anthony of Padua
Let us love God, but with the strength of our arms, in the sweat of our brow. -St. Vincent de Paul
Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.
-St. Therese of Lisieux
Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love. -St. Clare of Assisi
At the end of our life, we shall be judged by love. -St. John of the Cross
True charity means returning good for evil-always. -St. Mary Mazzarello
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society. -St. Francis of Assisi
Make up your mind to become a saint. -St. Mary Mazzarello
You cannot be a half a saint. You must be a whole saint or no saint at all. -St. Therese of Lisieux
Laugh and play and dash about as much as you like, only be careful not to say or do anything that would be displeasing to God. – St. Mary Mazzarello
The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it. -St. Elizabeth Seton
The whole science of the saints consists in knowing and following the will of God.
-St. Isidore of Seville
God loves obedience better than sacrifice. -Blessed Jan Van Ruysbroeck
Hate the sin, love the sinner. -St. Augustine
No one heals himself by wounding another. -St. Ambrose
No one is really happy merely because he has what he wants, but only if he wants things he ought to want. -St. Augustine
The soul of one who loves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing. -St. John of the Cross
It is such a joy when I awaken to salute God by singing. -Blessed Teresa of the Andes
In everything ask yourself what the Master would have done, and do that. -Ven. Charles de Foucauld
Never make a decision without stopping to consider the matter in the presence of God. -St. Jose Escriva
