The Story of Benedict XVI for Young People

“The Story of Benedict XVI for Young People“

By Claire Jordan Mohan.

Children need to know their new Pope not only as a great man of God but as he was, a child and a teenager like themselves. Growing up in Germany was for Joseph Ratzinger both a peaceful and a dangerous time. He had the inner peace and stability of a devout Catholic family life, but all around this family the evils of Nazism and World War II raged. The family lived under this threat and had to struggle to remain Catholic in an anti-Catholic state. In the midst of this, Joseph found his vocation and suffered persecution because of his decision to become a Catholic priest. Contains quotations from Benedict XVI, chronology, and glossary.”

Dr. Ray: “You’re a better parent than you think.”

We recently watched Dr. Ray’s DVD entitled “You’re a better parent than you think.”  We laughed until we cried.  If you are like me and you don’t watch parenting videos, this should be an exception.   (Recommended by gharne).

Teaching our children about God

  From Pius XI’s “On Christian Marriage” (Casti Connubii)

“16. The blessing of offspring, however, is not completed by the mere begetting of them, but something else must be added, namely the proper education of the offspring. For the most wise God would have failed to make sufficient provision for children that had been born, and so for the whole human race, if He had not given to those to whom He had entrusted the power and right to beget them, the power also and the right to educate them. For no one can fail to see that children are incapable of providing wholly for themselves, even in matters pertaining to their natural life, and much less in those pertaining to the supernatural, but require for many years to be helped, instructed, and educated by others. Now it is certain that both by the law of nature and of God this right and duty of educating their offspring belongs in the first place to those who began the work of nature by giving them birth, and they are indeed forbidden to leave unfinished this work and so expose it to certain ruin. But in matrimony provision has been made in the best possible way for this education of children that is so necessary, for, since the parents are bound together by an indissoluble bond, the care and mutual help of each is always at hand.”

 

REAP Team

What is the REAP Team?

Click on the link above to find out.  (And it’s in our ‘backyard.’)

 

Next Wave Faithful

 NextWave Faithful ”is a new outreach from Family Life Center International. ‘Through an online community, conferences, publications, and radio shows, they seek to encourage and equip the next generation to answer the call of Christ. The site provides in-depth information on all of these avenues of outreach, as well as many online resources. The articles deal with topics important to youth, and the online community is vibrant. Of special note is a detailed list of positive Christian music alternatives to secular artists which is indexed both by type of music and specific artists. This is an excellent outreach from an excellent Catholic organization.” (Description from CatholicCulture.org)

Men’s Conference: “Catholic Men for Christ” in St. Louis

There will be an exciting conference for Catholic men on March 15th 2008 in St. Louis. A group of men from Holy Childhood of Jesus will be attending. Watch for posters around the parish and notices in the bulletin. For details, visit: http://www.catholicmenforchrist.com/site/

Vatican International Exhibition of Eucharistic Miracles of the World

From S. Anderson:
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, 2008. Holy Childhood will be hosting the Vatican International Exhibition of Eucharistic Miracles of the World.

Jesus Christ is present in a ‘unique and incomparable way’ in the Holy Eucharist. This exhibit includes the stories of 126 miracles associated with faith in and worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic miracles inspire in us a deeper awareness and more ardent love of our Lord’s Real Presence.

The exhibition will take place on Saturday, March 8 from 2:00-7:00pm and Sunday, March 9 from 8:00am - 1:00pm in the Parish Center.

Please join us for this museum-style walk through exhibit of Eucharistic miracles. Read it at your own pace.

The Real Presence Association, founded by the late Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., is a nationally focused apostolate promoting perpetual adoration. Archbishop Raymond Burke is a member of the Board of The Real Presence Association and approves of this exhibit.

The Exhibit is hosted by The Body of Christ Outreach, Incorporated of St. Peters, MO. Visit their website at www.bodyofchristoutreach.org

Volunteers are needed to help set-up, tear-down, and to stay with the exhibit during public viewing times for a shift. If interested please contact the parish office or post a comment here.

“Our Faith in Action” for Teens

Through a story in our most recent “Faith & Family” magazine, I found a website featuring a magazine for Catholic teens called “Our Faith in Action: Connecting Faith to Current Events.” Remembering our recent mission by Doug Brummel, who encouraged us to “connect!” our faith with the rest of our lives, it seemed as if this magazine might be just the sort of resource that Doug would recommend. It appears to be a short magazine that focuses on one particular topic from a variety of perspectives and looks as though it could be used within the context of a Catholic Youth Organization or a Parish School of Religion or perhaps even in our parish school itself. A free, sample issue is available online.

Family Prayer

“Only by praying together with their children can a father and mother penetrate the innermost depths of their children’s hearts and leave an impression that the future events in their lives will not be able to effface.” (John Paul the Great, writing in Familiaris Consortio).

Family Rosary

Recently, a number of families in the parish have been getting together to pray the rosary. This usually takes about twenty minutes and then we have some snacks while the children play. Its been good for the kids as well as the adults. We would love to have more families join us. (We have “cheat sheets” with the prayers and can share some of our extra rosaries.) To find out more about where we will be meeting next and when, call the parish office and ask Mickey about the family rosary.

The Weight of a Mass

We just bought this book for our kids for Christmas this year. Here’s what the editors at Whipper Snapper Books have to say about it.

“I have wondered so often why there aren’t more storybooks published for Catholic children. Well, here’s a wonderful book to change that. Nabisso’s Catholic tale is full of beauty, faith and imagination.

It has a fairy tale beginning (“Once upon a time”) and many features of a fairy tale, including a king and queen, a wedding, and characters – like a snotty baker and a beggar woman – who could have walked right out of Grimm’s. Just as in fairy tales, something is wrong in the kingdom and threatens to spoil the royal wedding. But here the problem isn’t an ogre or old witch – it’s that the people have grown cold in the practice of their faith. Instead of a fairy appearing to set things right with magic, there is a miracle.

Let me tell you, it’s not just any miracle: it’s a delightful one!! That sense of delight fills Nabisso’s writing and Szegedi’s illustrations, which are elegant, funny and loving. This book takes on some tough issues: the baker is not only selfish but tries to humiliate the old woman who begs for a crust of bread and who offers to dedicate her evening mass to him in exchange. The shop is too prosperous, the patrons are too rich, the pastries are too extravagant in the absence of any sign of charity. Kids will love the miracle that sets this all right because it’s fitting and funny and good and redemptive. This one is a keeper.
Gorgeous illustrations. Josephine Nobisso, author; Katalin Szegedi, illustrator; 34 pages”

Friendly Defenders

In our culture today, our children must give an account of what they believe not only to non-Christians but to non-Catholic Christians as well. Sometimes those who challenge the more distinctively Catholic aspects of our faith will do so in a friendly way, truly wanting to understand what we believe. At other times, these challenges will be aimed at drawing our children away from the Church and the fullness of our faith. How can we help prepare our children for such challenges? Friendly Defenders can help. (I should add that while these cards are designed for kids, I’ve learned a lot from them already. We purchased the first set, and intend to purchase the second.)

Here’s how they are described on the “Friendly Defenders” website:
Introducing Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards

There’s no greater gift a parent or teacher can give to a Catholic child than a firm grounding in the faith. When strengthened by faith, a child can truly soar.

Yet, a good knowledge of (and love for) the Catholic faith won’t come by accident. This knowledge needs to be pursued, nurtured, and put into practice.

With a firm understanding of the Catholic faith, a child will love God above all things (Matt. 22:37), build his or her house on a firm foundation (Matt. 7:24), have a full and abundant life (John 10:10), know what’s right when others say it’s wrong (Romans 12:2), be strong in times of trouble (Psalm 46:2), be at peace in the storms of life (Philippians 4:7) and live a good and holy life (Matt. 5:3-12). What more could a Catholic parent ask for?

As parents, we need to assist teachers in the vitally important task of training our children in the Catholic faith. The book of Proverbs says the rewards will be great: “Train up a child in the right way and when they are old, they will not stray.” (Proverbs 22:6)

The Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards are designed to help you “train up your children” so that they will never stray from God’s love and from the Catholic Church our Lord Jesus established. The 50 cards within feature common questions people have about the Catholic faith as well as short, easy-to-understand answers. The cards help young people to “be always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us.” (1 Peter 3:15)

We hope you enjoy passing on the Catholic faith to your children or students with these helpful and entertaining cards. Who knows, you might even learn something yourself!

Sincerely yours in Christ
Matthew J. Pinto
Creator and Co-Author

“My books are about killing God” — Philip Pullman, author of “The Golden Compass”

Several readers have suggested that we provide some information about the soon-to-be-released film, “The Golden Compass.” This film is based upon a series of books that is profoundly anti-Christian (in general) and anti-Catholic (in particular). As reviews become available, I will add them to this entry. For now, you might want to visit the Catholic League for some basic information. This film is not, as the advertising for it might suggest, in the spirit of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” and “The Lord of the Rings.”

Update 1: An excellent interview about Philip Pullman (author of “The Golden Compass”) has been made available as a podcast by the good people at Mars Hill Audio. (Though Mars Hill Audio is not a Catholic periodical, it often features Catholic thinkers and authors. It is ecumenical in the best sense of the word.) This interview (done in 2000) was my introduction to Pullman’s work and remains one of the most substantive treatments that I’ve encountered. To listen to the podcast, click here.

Update 2: InsideCatholic has posted a story from “Crisis” Magazine on The Golden Compass and its sequels.

Update 3: Father Z. has posted the Catholic League’s statement and solicited comments from readers. The latter contain valuable links to other sources.
On Pullman’s commment about “killing God,” see this entry.

“Teach them diligently to your children”

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD; and you you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, RSV-CE)

Advent Wreaths

We began using an advent wreath many years ago and it was the very first thing we did celebrate the liturgical year in our home. We have moved on to our second (and more sturdy wreath) but it remains central to our preparations for Christmas. Some people make their own but others choose to buy one. Our kids love it. It gives us a chance to sing together, read scripture together, and prepare for the first adventus of our savior as we await his second.

Advent: Jesse Tree

A Jesse Tree is a great way to give our kids an overview of salvation history through scripture. We use it along with an advent wreath and an advent calendar. The one we have (pictured above) took a lot of work to prepare but there are many other, less labor-intensive versions out there. (Ours includes a nativity scene that we add to the tree during the twelve days of Christmas.)
(Recommended G. Harne)

Advent Calendars

Advent will soon be upon us. It’s time to start getting ready. If your family doesn’t celebrate the liturgical year, Advent is a great time to begin. I’ll be posting items about Advent calendars, wreaths and Jesse trees. Please share your suggestions for celebrating Advent.

There are lots of great Advent calendars with Christian themes available. If you don’t have one yet and would like to get one, its time to pick one and place an order.

Catholic Child Catalog

For several years we have ordered some of our Christmas and birthday gifts through the “Catholic Child” catalog.

Here is how they describe their work:
“From our Catholic family to yours, we are happy to present our newest
collection of faith-enriching books, games, toys, jewelry, movies, and gifts
for Catholic youth, toddler through teen.

The hundreds of appealing and distinctive choices you’ll find here
reflect our commitment to searching out quality products that will provide
inspiration, guidance, and enjoyment for the young Catholics in your life.
For each product you see here, there are dozens of others that we have
considered. This means that we have read the books, listened to the
audio tapes, watched the movies, and played the games in order to offer only the finest examples of doctrinally sound, faith-filled resources to your
Catholic family.”
(Recommended by G. Harne)

“When I was hungry, you fed me.”

Christ said that when we feed and clothe one of “the least of these” we are doing these things for him. The Church’s preferential option for the poor cannot be negotiated. One of the best ways to teach our children about this central aspect of our faith is through sponsorship of a child or elderly person. Two Catholic organizations offer this opportunity: Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (through which our parish sponsors a child) and Ave Maria Missions. The children we have sponsored have become like members of our family. We recieve photos and letters and these have helped shape the ways our children learn to see Jesus in the “the least of these.”

Traveling Chalice

Quite a few families in our parish participate in the “Traveling Chalice” program. Through it, a family brings home a “retired” chalice for two weeks during which time they pray for and discuss vocations. Of course the most pressing vocation at this time is for priests. But these weeks can also be a time to discuss vocations to religious life, marriage, and the chaste single life. In our family, the emphasis is on the fact that everyone has a vocation. It is up to us to prayerfully discern that vocation and then find the courage (through grace) to answer that calling. Most of us have been called to the vocation of the laity (about which John Paul II had much to say). All of us, members of the sacramental priesthood, those in religious life, and the laity are called to live our lives as disciples. Maybe one of our children will be a priest, a brother, or a sister. Even if that is not God’s plan for them, they still have a calling–”Come follow me!”–and we as parents must prepare them to hear that call and respond to it. Committed, life-transforming Christianity is not just for the “professionals” who take religious vows and receive holy orders (as incredible as these things are): it is for everyone, even these “little ones.”

Recently, the parish included a copy of the film “Fishers of Men” (discussed here) along with the chalice. This a great addition. If you would like to learn more about the program, call the parish office.
(Recommended by G. Harne

Magnifikid!

Magnifikid! is produced by the same people who produce “Magnificat” which we’ve mentioned before. We’ve been subscribing for almost three years and our children love it. In addition to including a guide for Sunday’s Mass, forms for morning and evening prayer, a spotlight on some part of the Mass (explaining what is happening and its significance), articles on the Saints, games, and crafts, it also contains a comic about “Brother Goodventure.” This last feature is what our kids want to read as soon as they receive the latest issue. Is “Magnifikid” a foolproof way to get one’s kids to assist (with heart & mind) at Mass? No, but it can be a good step in that direction. We sit down with our “Magnifikid” on Saturday night or Sunday morning and (after reading “Brother Goodventure”) read and talk about the readings for Mass for that week. They don’t always sit still through it all but in the time we set aside we can communicate both some of content of those readings as well as the value we place upon them. Liturgical catechesis is as important as doctrinal catechesis and “Magnifikid” brings the two together successfully.
(Recommended by S. & E. Harne)

Janus Charity Challenge

One of the challenges of raising our children as Catholics is teaching them to have a heart of compassion in the midst of our materialist, consumer-driven, me-first culture. Another challenge involves teaching them that the Church is indeed Catholic, i.e., Universal. We are intimately connected with other Christians all around the world, both sacramentally and through our generosity toward one another. The Janus Charity Challenge gives us a chance to teach both. Perhaps we could share the work of “Janus” with our kids.

A couple from our parish is working with this charity. Here is what one of them had to say:
“Featured on the website is a picture of my wife Marge with a young man named Gashow. We met him last year on a mission trip to Bahir dar, Ethiopia. He was born with one leg, his left leg comes only to his knee so he walks with a staff for his second leg. He is now 21 years old but when he was 12 his mother died and his father remarried a younger woman who did not want him in the house so she threw him out. So he lived as best he could by begging for food and sleeping where ever he was. A couple from England named Mike and Angie King met him when he was 19 years old and had a great deal of compassion for him and asked the Sisters (Daughters of Charity) who run a grade school there if they could pay his tuition for sewing classes ($100.00) to teach him a skill and they agreed. He graduated and the sisters loaned him the money to buy a treadle sewing machine. He promptly set up shop along side the road and started doing business. Within the year he paid off the sewing machine and now has a apprentice working with him. The sisters are in dire need of a building to teach other adults who live in the area a skill that will enable them to get employment in the city of Bahir dar, about 5 miles away from that area. So here I am shamelessly begging for the people less fortunate then ourselves and giving them a chance in life they would not otherwise get. The sisters will teach sewing and computer skills. The graduates can walk to the city for employment and it will certainly improve there lives.
The reason for the website is that I met a young man in Florida this past May. He is a Captain in the Air Force and he had been to Ethiopia TDY about 6 months before we went. He understands the great need there. He is the one running the iron man marathon and felt he needed an incentive to train, so since the Janus Fund sponsors the event he picked the adult education building fund for his charity so he is my cohort in raising money. I need all the help I can get since the building will end up costing about $43, 000.00. Anyone donating to the cause will not only feel good about it but will get a tax deduction on their tax bill next April. We are planning on leaving on this mission trip in early January and will be gone about 2 weeks.
Any help you can give would be appreciated and thanks for your interest.
–Dick

Teaching Teens: The Risk of Education

I just finished an interesting article in “Crisis” magazine (now part of insidecatholic.com) about helping teens to make the faith they learn from their parents their own. It is entitled “Teaching Teens: The Risk of Education.” Parents of teenagers and teenagers-before-you-know-it might want to take a look. If you do, let us know (in the comments below) what you think about it. While we’re on the subject, you might want to take a look at “Kids these days: What they don’t want from the Church,” a blog post by Fr. Philip, OP, at the University of Dallas who has wise words for all those who work in youth/campus/young adult ministry.
(Recommended by G. Harne)

Merry as a Cricket

(From the Whipper Snapper website)
This volume contains two priceless stories that take place in a Catholic parish called St. Anne’s. In the first story, “Merry as a Cricket,” the kids of St. Anne’s parish begin to understand why Mr. Demski, who is well known to them as the parish grouch, is so very grouchy: he is still mourning the death of his beloved wife, Ana. At the church carnival, loving friends and a mysterious clown help Mr. Demski to rediscover the joy and laughter he has lost. I get weepy every time I read this story, especially when I read it out loud. This is such a real-life situation; adult behaviors resulting from loneliness and loss can be so inexplicable to kids. Kelley does a beautiful job of showing how Mr. Demski’s parish reawakens his loving heart. The closing scenes are wonderfully evocative – and fun, because someone goes in the dunk tank!

The second story, “A Pocketful of Chocolate,” is about how hard it is for kids to make new beginnings and new friends without some help. The Bennett children, Liddy and Mark, are parish regulars and they are celebrating St. Francis’ feast day with their pets, family and friends. Before the celebration, Liddy and Mark meet the new kid in the neighborhood, a lonely boy named Steven. Outgoing to the point of bossiness, Liddy Bennett talks him into coming along to the Blessing of the Animals. What better place for him to make an unexpected new friend!

Judy Jarrett’s illustrations are so unique: quirky, vivid, inventive, naive, luminous. The cover of this book warms my heart whenever I pick it up.

“These stories are sure to be read many times over” -St. Anthony Messenger
Lynn Kelley
Judy Jarrett, illustrator
46 pages
(Recommended by S. & E. Harne)

A Peek into my Church

(From the Whipper Snapper website)
What more could a kid (or parent) ask for in a book? This is an absolutely delightful introduction to being Catholic, beautifully done in every respect.
There is a lot of really good information in this book, both for kids and parents, but we think that what’s truly special about it has something to do with its perfectly balanced tone. The narrator, a little girl named Liddy, is a vibrant and curious kid who loves being Catholic and you can feel her pride on every page of the story. Her joy and curiosity carry us forward into the book to learn more about the church. No wonder parents send us comments like this one about Peek: “I Lovity-Love-Love your wonderful book entitled A Peek Into My Church. The illustrations are delightful, colorful, cheerful, wonderful. The text is excellent. Well done!!”

What do kids learn in Peek? Liddy invites children into her church to see what is in a Catholic church, examine a church floor plan, and learn about important rituals and essential objects. Kids are very interested in what things are and Peek takes advantage of their ready curiosity: Liddy is proud to know the names for Catholic rituals and objects and, being very talkative, she’s happy to share this new vocabulary with readers. The book introduces the idea of church community (both local and worldwide), Baptism, the parts of the Mass, Communion, priests and their duties, vestments, and sisters and their many roles in the Church. As if that wasn’t enough, the authors include a picture dictionary with expanded definitions of key words. Parents may appreciate this too!

The text is easy enough for pre-readers to understand so parents should not hesitate to use this title as a read-aloud, but it also offers enough information for young readers to be interested through the 3rd or 4th grade.

Did we mention the illustrations? Ginny Pruitt’s gorgeous watercolors – clear, colorful, whimsical, elegant and fun — just get better with time. Which reminds us: Peek is in its 4th printing since 1998, making it a Catholic favorite. It is one of our favorites!
Wendy Goody and Veronica Kelly
Ginny Pruitt, illustrator
42 pages
(Recommended by S. & E. Harne)

Welborn’s Book of Saints

(from the amazon.com website)
Book Description
Who are the saints, why are they important, and what can today’s children learn from them? In Loyola Kids Book of Saints, the first book in the Loyola Kids series, author Amy Welborn answers these questions with exciting and inspiring stories, real-life applications, and important information about these heroes of the church. This delightful collection of saints’ lives, written in a storybook style for children eight to twelve, explains how saints becomes saints, why we honor them, and how they help us even today.

Divided thematically, the book features more than sixty saints from all over the world and from all across time, including our newest saints, such as St. Katharine Drexel; popular saints, such as St. Anthony of Padua; and Blesseds, such as Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. Each story tells about a saint and encourages readers to consider how they might apply what they learn from the story to their everyday lives.

From the Publisher
Loyola Kids Book of Saints is the first title in a new series of children’s books from Loyola Press. In each chapter, children will find:

*The dates when the saint lived, the saint’s feast day, and an original illustration of the saint
*Stories about the saint’s life and work, written in a conversational, friendly style
*Ways to apply the saints’ stories to their own lives, plus a discussion question based on the story
(Recommended by S. Harne)

Welborn’s Book of Heroes

(from the amazon.com website)
Best-selling children’s author Amy Welborn explains why having heroes is important for children in Loyola Kids Book of Heroes, a companion to her popular Loyola Kids Book of Saints. Welborn tells the stories of devoted Christians, including Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, and John the Baptist, who made significant contributions to people and the world around them.

Welborn introduces Christian role models who exemplify the seven cardinal virtues-faith, hope, charity, temperance, prudence, fortitude, and justice, and leads children on their personal journeys of faith. Colorful illustrations and a delightful storytelling style bring these inspiring stories to life for young readers. Ages 8-12.
(Recommended by S. Harne)

Prove it! You

(From Amy Welborn’s blog)
Prove It: You is essentially a book on discipleship for young people. I begin by exploring the questions - who is God?

The next section is about Jesus and what faith in Christ means.

Followed by, at last, the more practical sections - but everything that’s preceded it is groundwork. I begin this section with a chapter on time - how time is a gift, and how, frankly, it is a sin to waste it, exploring in practical terms, what wasted time means. Then I move on to honesty, not only because this is a fundamental component to the life of a Christian, but because my experience with teens tells me casual, pragmatic dishonesty without a shred of guilt is a huge problem.

Then the book moves onto the usual - love, sex, the body, life issues and issues of justice and charity. As I mentioned before, I begin and end with Pope Benedict. At the beginning of the book I quote something he said in Cologne on World Youth Day:

I know that you as young people have great aspirations, that you want to pledge yourselves to build a better world. Let others see this, let the world see it, since this is exactly the witness that the world expects from the disciples of Jesus Christ; in this way, and through your love above all, the world will be able to discover the star that we follow as believers.

And I end with part of his homily for Midnight Mass, 2006:

Yet now further questions arise: how are we to love God with all our mind, when our intellect can barely reach him? How are we to love him with all our heart and soul, when our heart can only catch a glimpse of him from afar, when there are so many contradictions in the world that would hide his face from us? This is where the two ways in which God has “abbreviated” his Word come together. He is no longer distant. He is no longer unknown. He is no longer beyond the reach of our heart. He has become a child for us, and in so doing he has dispelled all doubt. He has become our neighbour, restoring in this way the image of man, whom we often find so hard to love. For us, God has become a gift. He has given himself. He has entered time for us. He who is the Eternal One, above time, he has assumed our time and raised it to himself on high. Christmas has become the Feast of gifts in imitation of God who has given himself to us. Let us allow our heart, our soul and our mind to be touched by this fact! Among the many gifts that we buy and receive, let us not forget the true gift: to give each other something of ourselves, to give each other something of our time, to open our time to God. In this way anxiety disappears, joy is born, and the feast is created.

And then I really end with Pope John Paul II:

“Be not afraid!“

Free Catholic Audio

There are several sources for free CDs containing Catholic teaching.

One is “Embrace the grace” and another is “Catholicity.” (T. Wright recommends Catholicity’s cds: “They helped get my faith back on track.”)

Inside the Domestic Church No. 3

We experienced many unanticipated blessings by becoming Catholic. One was that we have been introduced to a treasure trove of prayers and times for prayer. We learned that Catholics not only pray before meals but often pray after them as well. We found the following prayer at the back of our Bible.

We give Thee thanks for all thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

We particularly like this prayer because it teaches our kids to pray for those who have died. This was once a more common practice than it is today.

Since the kids are often ready to leave the table before the adults, we let the one who is ready to “be excused” first, say the prayer.

Truth in Advertising?

It is not a secret that there are many Catholic colleges and universities that are Catholic in name only. Some have “sold the store” while others are fighting to hold on to what little remains of their Catholic patrimony. One local institution recently obtained public funding to build a new stadium by proving in court (against the claims of the Masons) that they are not really Catholic.

So how are parents to know where they can send their kids so that their faith will be strengthened rather than overthrown? (A good case could be made that in some cases, a purely secular university would be better for a Catholic undergraduate than one that markets itself as Catholic but is not faithful to the magisterium.) One source for parents and future college students is the new guide to be published on November 1st (2007) by the Cardinal Newman Society. A short list that is available now is the “Catholic Identity Guide 2006-07” from the National Catholic Register. (As an aside, it was great to see that the National Catholic Register was available through this year’s magazine drive for the school.) For a thorough analysis of the problem, see this piece at “insidecatholic.com“.

It would be great to hear from some parishioners about how their experiences at college (either Catholic or non-Catholic) shaped their faith.

Inside the Domestic Church No. 2

As, I mentioned in a previous post (”Inside the Domestic Church – 1″), last week I asked a few families to tell us a bit about how they pass their faith on to their children. In particular, what are the principles that guide this process and what practices flow from them? Here is the second response that I received:

“As for ideas regarding how we share our faith with our children . . . I have a few ideas. Bedtime prayers are a must. The big girls each have a daily devotion that we read out of each night and then wrap up with prayers at the end. We pray together at meals, but have each of the girls add something at the end of the meal prayer (something they’re thankful for or maybe a special intention). As for communicating our faith in the house, we try to drive home the idea of acting as Jesus would want us to act. Our girls fight as much as any, so we try to encourage them to treat each other as they would want to be treated. It doesn’t always work, but we’re on the right track.”
(from T. Schneider)

Thanks to those who have responded thus far. We would very much like to hear from all of the families in the parish. Please contact us at gaharne at gmail.com.

Inside the Domestic Church No. 1

Last week I asked a few families to tell us a bit about how they pass their faith on to their children: what are the principles that guide this process and what practices flow from them? I don’t expect these to be exhaustive accounts (after all, most of us are exhausted) but they will open a window on some of the things that families in our parish are doing. I received the first two responses this morning. The first one is below. I’ll post the second tomorrow.

“Praying as a family is so important for the growth of our children’s faith, as well as our own. Our family prays the Rosary on Friday nights, and that is one of my favorite times together. Praying the Rosary usually takes us about 30 minutes (40, depending on how many times the little one asks which bead we’re on). Our Friday night ritual started when we joined a family Rosary group in Maryland. Now, the kids pile up on our bed (it’s the biggest and the most comfortable) and everyone takes a turn saying a decade. Since there are five of us, it works out just fine.”
(from T. Wright)

We would very much like to hear from other families. Please contact us at gaharne at gmail.com.

A Family Litany

Several months ago we put together and began using a family litany. It incorporates some of the saints that our children love best, the saints after whom they are named, the saints we selected for our own confirmation, and saints whose work or spirituality contribute in some direct way to the spiritual life our family. What we didn’t expect was the enthusiasm that this litany would inspire in our children. We pray it each Wednesday night and they love to “cheer” their saints after we say their names (usually with a “woo-hoo!”). Our three-year-old son loves to shout the invocation of St. Michael: “Fight for us!” Perhaps others might consider writing a litany for their family. If you do, please share it with us. For now, here is ours:

When we have failed to love you with our whole heart, mind, and strength,
forgive us O Lord.

When we have failed to love our neighbors—including the members of our family—as ourselves,
forgive us O Lord.

St. Francis of Assisi,
pray for us

St. Martin de Porres
pray for us

St. Therese of Liseaux
pray for us

St. Josemaria
pray for us

St. Elizabeth of Hungary
pray for us

St. George
pray for us

St. Catherine of Sienna
pray for us

St. Monica
pray for us

St. Athanasius
pray for us

St. Thomas Aquinas
pray for us

Venerable John Henry Newman
pray for us

May the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and our guardian angels
pray for us

St. Michael,
fight for us

O God, for your love, mercy, and forgiveness,
we give you thanks

For the communion of saints, the holy angels, and all their prayers and assistance,
we give you thanks,

Conclude with the Lord’s prayer.

(Recommended by G. Harne)

Playing with Lions?

“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, RSV-Catholic Edition)

In our family, it is becoming increasingly clear that we must be culturally informed and prepared to answer the lies that many in the larger culture are telling/selling to our children. (Providing food, shelter, clothing, and taking them to Sunday Mass are not enough). These lies will (if they are accepted as truth) lead our kids to forsake their faith, the Church, and will lead them to harm themselves and others in countless ways through the choices they make. (At the very least these lies will lull them into a spiritual slumber: their faith will be lukewarm and their worldview–if not also their behavior–will be indistinguishable from that of non-Christians.) Salvo can help us be prepared to refute the lies and can help us to become aware of the subtle means by which these lies are communcated (in schools, through magazines, films, music, advertising, etc.). In many ways, thanks to television, radio, and the internet, our children (living in small-town, middle-America) face many of the same issues as those in Trenton, New Jersey or New York City.

Though our family has no intention of building a bunker in the backyard, we also refuse to let our children become cultural sponges. We want them to be smart and discerning about the culture in which we live, but we have to lead the way by engaging the culture critically and asking the hard questions. Among the most basic questions we could ask would be: “Are the messages of this film, song, tv show, magazine, book, or fashion, consistent with what we believe as Christians and the life to which we are called in Christ?” “Would I dress this way, watch this movie, read this magazine, or listen to this song if Jesus were sitting beside me? Why or why not?”

Engaging the culture takes time, energy, and resources. If you would like to borrow our copies of Salvo before deciding to subscribe, we would be happy to loan them to you. Salvo is an invaluable resource for parents, ideal for college students (particularly in the way in which they are designed), and would be great for parents and older highschool students to read and discuss together. (We do, however, keep them out of the reach of our younger children.)

(From the Salvo website)
“Blasting holes in scientific naturalism, marveling at the intricate design of the universe, and promoting life in a culture of death;

Critiquing art, music, film, television, and literature, interrupting mass media influence, and questioning the sanity of our consumerist lifestyle;

Countering destructive ideologies, replacing revisionist fictions with undeniable facts, and paring away political correctness;

Debunking the cultural myths that have undercut human dignity, all but destroyed the notions of virtue and morality, and slowly eroded our appetite for transcendence;

Recovering the one worldview that actually works.”

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, RSV-Catholic Edition)
(Recommended by G. Harne)

Raising Teens?

I just finished listening to a talk by Jason Evert entitled “Instruction Manual for Raising Teens.” I intended to recommend the talk and provide a link through which you could request the cd. Unfortunately, it appears to be unavailable. If you would like to borrow, feel free. (Or, since the cd was originally distributed at no cost, we could make a copy for you.) I did find his website and it looks like he has produced some great resources. Take a few moments and look around. Perhaps we could have him speak at our parish.

Families and Missionary Vocations

(From the Encyclical “Redemptoris Missio: On the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate“)
(section 80) “As I think of this serious problem (i.e., the need for missionary vocations), I appeal with great confidence and affection to families and to young people. Families, especially parents, should be conscious that they ought to ‘offer a special contribution to the missionary cause of the Church by fostering missionary vocations among their sons and daughters.’

An intense prayer life, a genuine sense of service to one’s neighbor and a generous participation in Church activities provide families with conditions that favor vocations among young people. When parents are ready to allow one of their children to leave for the missions, when they have sought this grace from the Lord, he will repay them, in joy, on the day that their son or daughter hears his call.”

A Rosary for Little Ones

After our son destroyed his second rosary (accidentally, of course), we knew that we needed to find an alternative to the ones we’d been buying. After a bit of searching, we found this one and it has survived two family rosaries thus far. He is very excited about it and shows it off to visitors.
(Recommended by E. Harne)

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

(Recommended by J. Kordick)
You’ve probably been to the Way of Lights at Christmas time. But have you ever been here during the daylight? Visit The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL and you will be surprised at this small, serene Catholic oasis amidst our bustling Metro-East area. Here, our children enjoy a fabulous playground based on the seven days of God’s creation. Welcoming all to the Children’s Memorial Garden is a beautiful life-size statue of the Lord as He embraces little children. The bookstore inside the main complex stocks Catholic reading/study materials, gift ideas, rosaries, statues and more. I have purchased a lot of stuff here - from children’s books to sturdy kid-friendly rosaries to Bible study books. It is very convenient and there is also a small chapel just inside the entrance. The many special events and exhibits throughout the year provide opportunities to teach our children about our living faith as well as for great family fun. Hungry? A tasty, filling meal at the Shrine restaurant awaits at fairly reasonable prices. Need a little peace and quiet? Check out the many devotional areas throughout the Shrine complex. The Lourdes Grotto, my personal favorite, provides a perfect place for prayer and meditation – as do any of the other outdoor areas here. When I worked in St. Louis, I often stopped here either on my way to or from the city – and some days gained much needed perspective.

Check it out! You may be surprised at this hidden gem right in our backyard.

That Catholic Show

(From Catholic.online)”The Internet’s most popular portal for Catholic podcasts has teamed up with another apostolate known for their dedication to spreading the Catholic faith to produce “That Catholic Show,” a fun and different way of looking at Catholicism. “That Catholic Show,” a different and often surprising view of Catholicism, is a 5 minute video series available for free download via the Internet.”For the full story about “That Catholic Show” visit Catholic.online. One of my personal favorites thus far is Episode #3: “Night of the Living Catechism”(recommended by S. Anderson and G. Harne)

Glory

Glory is a visual hymn that echoes what we sing each week at Mass (except during Lent and Avent). It also captures the spirit of St. Francis’ “Canticle of the Sun.”
(from the amazon.com site)
“Glory be to God for fluttering wings,/ for chickadees and butterflies/ that dot the skies/ like words,/ dragonflies and hummingbirds.” So begins Carlstrom’s (the Jesse Bear books) . . . song of praise, which never falters in its timing and flow. Jenkins’s (I Wanted to Know All About God) inventively conceived illustrations, meanwhile, create a narrative that easily engages readers. Against a buttery gold background, a thick, red, wavy brush stroke begins on the title page and ends on the back cover. On that red wave travels an extravagantly colorful parade of animals: a pink giraffe, blue elephants, a green zebra. An early spread introduces a girl in a black leotard, first seen creating her own pictures. In graceful transitions, she dons varying costumes butterfly, ladybug, lion and dances beside the creatures. Swept along by the music of the song, readers will find a contagious energy in these exultant pages. “All creatures large,/ all creatures small,/ that dance and leap/ and curl and crawl,/ the wild, the tame / All creatures by their being/ praise their Creator’s name.” The creators of this illustrated hymn provide a joyful opportunity for their readers to participate in praising God’s name as well. Ages 3-8.”
(Recommended by S. and E. Harne)

St. Martin de Porres: The Pied Piper of Peru

(from the WhipperSnapper books site)
“Tompert’s charming book The Pied Piper of Peru is about Saint Martin de Porres, a Dominican brother who lived in 16th century Peru and was sainted in 1962, the first black American saint. This is an enchanting book for young children, who will love Martin’s gentleness and compassion. And good news for young animal lovers – like Saint Francis, Saint Martin loved animals and could talk to them.

Tompert’s story is based on a well-known legend about how Brother Martin rids his priory of some pesky mice. Instructed by his Prior to trap or poison the mice, Martin instead persuades the mice to move into the barn with the promise that he will bring them food every day. One of the mice, Juana, narrates the story. This comes as a surprise to some adults, but kids immediately embrace the perspective of someone tiny who gets under foot.
The illustrations by Kestutis Kasparavicius are beautifully detailed in earth tones. Tompert provides a helpful biography of Saint Martin at the back of the book.”
(recommended by S. and E. Harne)

National Fellowship of Catholic Men: Podcasts

The NFCM is now sponsoring podcasts of brief homilies on the readings for Mass. These consider the readings for the upcoming Mass in light of the issues faced by men and are given by excellent speakers. The most recent, for Sunday, September 9th, is by Deacon Alex Jones and lasts a mere 9 minutes. You can listen from any computer.
(Recommended by G. Harne)

Catholic Encyclopedia for Children

About the Catholic Encyclopedia for Children (from the amazon.com website):
Book Description
Fascinating stories and whimsical illustrations delight children as they discover the basics of the Catholic Church! Here are:
• The great people and events of the Bible
• The life and message of Jesus
• The history of the early Church
• The stories of the saints
• Fundamental Catholic beliefs and practices
• And more

This child-friendly resource is the ideal read-aloud text for preschool through second-grade. It’s one that “I-can-read-it-myself!” third- and fourth-graders will love.

The format is similar to a storybook, with information presented in a topical style, rather than alphabetically. Whether they’re listening or reading, youngsters will keep an eye out for “Icthus,” the friendly fish who acts as their guide all through the book.

Parents, grandparents, and godparents: This is a perfect First Holy Communion, Christmas, or birthday gift. Librarians, catechists, classroom and homeschool teachers: This is the solid, Catholic — entertaining! — resource you’ve been looking for.

From the Author
“Hello, kids! Welcome! This book was written just for you. It will answer some of your questions and help you learn more about our wonderful Catholic Faith…. We hope you enjoy these stories and drawings, and discover how great God’s love is. So follow Icthus as we dive right in!” — Ann, Julianne, and Kevin, the writers and the Artist, From the Introduction to Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia for Children”
(Recommended by G. Harne)

Pope John Paul II: In Photos and Words

For the Children: Words of Love and Inspiration from His Holiness P