St. Verena

OBJECTIVE

This age group enjoys helping and likes to be noticed for their helpfulness We would like to encourage this inherent nature in fifth graders and show them how they are like the great saints that are known for giving. These saints took the Lord's commandment to help the poor as a purpose for their Christian lives. Every week of this module will focus on how the holy saints showed their love for Christ by loving and caring for the poor: week 1 -- St. Abraam, week 2 -- St. Verena, week 3 -- St. Basil, week 4 -- St. Nicholas. Week 5 is the capstone week to review and apply the concept. Please read through all the lessons in this module in preparation for this lesson. Today's lesson will focus on St. Verena.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

After reviewing the previous week's lesson, explain to the students that today we will learn about another generous saint. Just like St. Abraam was generous with others and always gave money and goods, today's saint, St. Verena was very generous in service and dedicated her life to giving her time and efforts to helping others.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
"For God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

LIFE OF THE SAINT - 15 Minutes

St. Verena was born to a noble Christian family in the Theban region (Upper Egypt). Bishop Sheramon baptized her and she grew up loving and fearing God. St. Verena loved to pray, read the Bible and serve in the Church. She made the priests' vestments, and cleaned and swept the church.

During the reign of Emperor Diocletian,an army was sent to Europe under the leadership of St. Maurice. St. Verena accompanied the army to Switzerland as a nurse to help the soldiers who were hurt. Emperor Diocletian wanted St. Maurice to worship idols. St. Maurice refused because he loved the Lord. The Emperor became furious and ordered the soldiers to behead St. Maurice and other soldiers. St. Verena helped the believers stay strong and faithful. When the Theban soldiers were martyred, St. Verena went to live a solitary life in a small town in Switzerland and then later moved to a cave near present-day Zurich. She fasted and prayed continuously.

When the Emperor learned of St. Verena's zealousness, he ordered her to be put into prison. She continued to pray and read the Bible. In the middle of the night, St. Maurice and some angels appeared to her.

While she was in prison, the Roman governor was very sick with a high fever, so his assistants recommended that he should ask St. Verena for help. She prayed for the pagan Roman governor and he became well right away. He was very pleased and to thank her, he asked for her to be released from prison.

When she was released, St. Verena went to live in a house by the church where she taught people, especially younger girls, about the importance of hygiene. She visited the sick, such as those with leprosy, and provided care for them. Many miracles were performed through her, and many were converted to Christianity. At the time of her departure from the world, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Verena to comfort her.

She departed on the 4th of the Coptic month Tout, (September 14th). Her relics were returned to Egypt on September 26, 1986, after 1700 years. On February 22, 1994 the first church bearing her name was established and consecrated.

DISCUSSION - 10 Minutes

Review:

What did St. Verena do to serve? (cared for the soldiers, sick, and young girls)
Where was St. Verena born and then where did she live for the remainder of her life? (Born in Egypt, then left to Switzerland)
Why did St. Verena leave to Switzerland? (To serve as a nurse for sick and wounded soldiers)
Why was she released from jail? (Because she prayed for the sick governor and he became well)

Discuss:

What is one way that you can serve those around you using what God has given you?

LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

Just as St. Verena was watchful of the spiritual and physical wellbeing of those around her, we should too. She brought others to Christ through her faithfulness and her prayerfulness. Just like her, we should care for others and bring others to Christ through praying and through the Holy Spirit.

Some ways we can do this during the week are:

Reach out to a friend who may be sad or going through a hard time
Help take care of younger siblings/cousins
Tutor someone in a younger grade with their homework

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Explain to the students that St. Verena has an entire city in the French part of Switzerland. We also have a Coptic church named after her there. Feel free to show pictures of the church in Switzerland: Verena Minster
Show the students various icons of St. Verena (see attached) and ask them to identify the details they see and how they relate to her story. (She is often depicted with a comb, representative of her service to others and educating them regarding the importance of proper hygiene)
Sacrifice Jar: Collect their charts from last week and add beans to the jar. (Place an empty jar next to a bowl of dried beans.) For every sacrifice, prayer, act of kindness or charity performed, a bean goes into the jar. After 4 weeks, the beans will be replaced with jelly beans and MMs, reminding us that the rewards of Heaven will be sweet Send children home with a chart so that they can keep track of the good and charitable deeds they've done through the week. Next week, add more beans to the jar.

COPTUNES+ VIDEO LINK

STORY:

MELODY:

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Your children love to give and we are encouraging their giving nature in this unit as we delve into the lives of some saints known for their love for the poor. This week we talked about St. Verena. She was a heroic saint by taking care of those who were wounded in the army. She also taught the people in her village how to care for themselves. Encourage your child to help their friends or siblings when they get hurt. Talk with them about what they can do if they see someone who is hurt. Ask them to tell you three things about St. Verena's life.