I’m a Catechist, Not Kim Kardashian

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I’m a catechist, not Kim Kardashian. I have no television shows, brand names or product lines to sell. The things I do and the things I say do not garner headlines, media attention, or hordes of paparazzi. I get to walk downtown without fanfare, bodyguards, or unwanted lustful ogling.

Even better, I get to talk to people about the passionate and relentless love of Jesus Christ… who loved me from the moment I was created in his image and likeness… and he does so even now… oh, so many years later. His love is so true that he’d die to be with me… regardless of my fortune, fashion, fame, or falling in or out of love. Even if no one ever hears of my name or accomplishments.

A catechist’s work is not about echoing their own name but the name of Jesus, and the things that he teaches.

And so, speaking as a catechist, if you ever read this, Kim Kardashian, I can only echo the truth I’ve come to know. I’m staking my life on it. So let me tell you what I know. Not that you asked, but just because it looks like things are kind of rough for you right now.

Every day I get a chance to breath freely, knowing that my heart can love without fear and pretense, and revel in an honest life that follows a purer love that is deeper than any I have ever known. And that, alone, is thrilling. It calls me ever higher toward unchanging truth, deep beauty, and unmistakable goodness. In short, it is everything my heart longs for. It makes me want to eliminate any obstacle that stands in between. And that drives me to a level of sweet intoxication not found by life in the fast lane.

What I’m really talking about is meeting Jesus and hearing him say your name differently than anyone else in the world. Knowing that He really loves you, knows your heart, and that his very own heart is aching for yours.

Kim, Jesus sees your true beauty, and when he sees you, he looks right through to your soul. And He wants to take you to the next level.

And isn’t that what you’ve always been striving for? The next level?

There’s only one kind of attention and over-exposure that leads to happiness… the long-term exposure to a boundless, covenanted, supernatural love that securely embraces the depths of the restlessness you cannot shake on your own.

From the looks of things, you’ve discovered that movement that propels you forward… to keep you hungry, to push the boundaries time and again… but your drive keeps missing the sacred target.

The truth about that pull inside you is that it is meant to lure you… to move your heart toward the One who will remake you into the woman you’ve yet to really dream you might be. The Designer of the Beautiful You had your happiness in mind all along.

Your restlessness is meant to bless you by leading you to Jesus.

But what of messy mistakes we’ve made? Well, from that perspective, you’re not unlike anybody else. The good news is that being rich and famous is irrelevant to the promise of such a love and redemption. It is offered freely to all of us, once we are willing to surrender our own self-centeredness and narcissism… and begin to take a step toward Jesus.

By turning toward Jesus, and admitting your restless heart has led you to places you’d rather not be, and to do things that you surely regret, well, then forgiveness can be yours. Then, a fall from grace can instead become a head first dive into the deeper graces that were destined to give your existence new meaning.

For most of us, this is precisely the moment when heaven breaks through to the hell we’ve managed to make for ourselves. The sense of self-preservation is strong amidst the chaos. The fight-or-flight instinct points to hope: The hope that you were made for more.

There really is more than we see. There really is a man named Jesus who is the healer and keeper of your heart. And he has hoped that you might reach for him. His love is profound and lasting. It never exploits a woman’s curves or nerve, her weaknesses or her strengths, her creativity or her know-how. Her dignity and the genius of her womanhood are far too precious for that.

The heart of Jesus is ready to transform yours, re-modeling your life from the inside out. But you’ve got choose Him. He has already chosen you.

I’m just a catechist. I’m not famous. You don’t have to take my word for it.

But Jesus is famous, and he’s got great credentials for turning the tailspins of life into opportunities for a fresh start. For over 2000 years people have known his name for a reason. What’s even better is that he already knows your name, Kim Kardashian. So you’re already partly there in getting to know him better.

Now, go take the relationship to the next level.

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Catechizing Through Fiction

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Since today is the launch date for my third novel, Stealing Jenny, it might be appropriate this month to write a short article on “Catechizing Through Fiction.”

I’ve been a novelist for ten years.  My second novel, In Name Only, (a Catholic historical romance) was the first Catholic novel to win the Gold Medal in Religious Fiction at the 2010 IPPY Awards and has been an Amazon Top 100 Bestseller for four months.

So what’s different about my novels?

Well, for one thing, they are unabashedly Catholic.  There are many who don’t believe in evangelizing or catechizing through fiction.  But I’m not one of them.  After all, Jesus used parables to teach, didn’t He?

My first novel, Emily’s Hope, is the fictionalized parallel stories of myself and my great-grandmother.  It illustrates the Church’s teachings on sex and marriage and why it is so important to obey these teachings.  One young adult sent me a “fan” letter saying, “Your book has helped me to understand the Church’s teaching on sex and marriage more than any textbook.”

My second novel, In Name Only, is a romance which takes place in the 1870′s in Philadelphia. It is different from secular romances because it does not contain graphic sexuality. However, it does include teaching on the Theology of the Body, so sexual issues like promiscuity and pornography are dealt with tastefully. It was challenging to illustrate the Theology of the Body since that term was not coined by Blessed John Paul II until the early 80′s. However, Church teaching on marriage has remained constant. In Name Only has been my most popular book thus far, and continues to be an Amazon Kindle Top 100 bestseller in Religious Fiction.

With my latest novel, Stealing Jenny, I wanted to illustrate why it is so important to be pro-life, especially in our current culture.

From the back cover of Stealing Jenny: “After three heartbreaking miscarriages, Tom and Jenny Callahan are happily anticipating the birth of their sixth child. A neighbor, however, is hatching a sinister plot which will find Jenny and her unborn baby fighting for their lives.”

Advanced reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.  “Stealing Jenny is a gripping novel filled with engaging characters, a compelling mystery and a message which underscores the precious dignity of life. I literally couldn’t put it down and give Stealing Jenny my highest recommendation,”  says Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.  Author and Blogger Sarah Reinhard writes, “Stealing Jenny will keep you on the edge of your seat and probably destroy your sleep pattern as you stay up to find out what happens. But beyond being a great suspense, it’s also anexcellent example of morals in action and family life redeemed. As a fan of Ellen Gable’s work already, I’m now officially getting a t-shirt!”  Therese Heckenkamp of Traditional Catholic Novels.com says “Stealing Jenny is a smoothly written, chilling tale of gripping suspense. There are terrifying moments and heart-wrenching moments. Catholic faith and hope are tested. Above all, the sacredness and privilege of precious new life is made indisputably evident. I never wanted it to end!”

Stealing Jenny is available via Amazon in print or on Kindle. 

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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Enter to Win New John Paul II Series!

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Dear Readers:

I’ve got an exciting post for you today, which includes a review of a film series you won’t want to miss, and a contest   that will give three winners the opportunity to gift the entire set of films to a friend, FREE!

As the cause for Blessed John Paul II heats up , I am thrilled to be one of ten bloggers chosen by the great folks at CCC of America  to promote the release of a very special ten-part documentary  on his life, “John Paul II: The Man, The Pope, and His Message.”
I’ve been asked to review episode 5, “Let There Be Peace: The Pope and Other Faiths,” which I totally loved.

I’d like to start, however, by giving the whole project a big thumbs-up. I love this series and am enjoying sharing the various episodes with my daughter, because each one shows Blessed John Paul II hard at work, traveling the globe and addressing large crowds in many different languages, but also provides encounters with smaller groups and individuals, children as well as adults.

The man so many called “Papa” loved all human beings with an irresistible affection that drew entire crowds right into his heart, and individuals into the exquisite warmth of his fatherly embrace. By featuring simple, unobtrusive narration, clips of his public talks (with subtitles) and remarkable encounters with groups and individuals, the filmmaker has made an epic story intimate, and this is its greatest strength.

There is, at all times, a sense that one is watching a saint at work; through the particulars of the man himself in action, through the power of his tender but challenging words, and through the overwhelming responses of the people he meets. To see children, young people, and adults, swept away by his presence, teary-eyed and joyful, is to experience the heart of one who has palpably encountered God’s love in His chosen shepherd.

Ten 30-minute episodes cover his encounters with children and youth, his teachings on family life and human rights, his visits to Marian shrines, his responses to historic events and movements, and much more. The final episode features rare footage of his private life of work and recreation.

In episode 5, “Let There Be Peace: The Pope and Other Faiths,” we find the Holy Father sprinting across the globe in a passion of ecumenism. Sounding the call of sincere religious devotion to people of many backgrounds and faiths, he seeks common ground while stating his unapologetic fealty to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

So much more than just a campaign to make friends with those of different beliefs, His Holiness challenged audiences of every conceivable background, including indigenous tribal people, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Christians, to fight against the global onslaught of violence and atheism by deepening their own religious practice. It only takes two or three people to start a war, he told them, but many, many prayerful people to bring peace.

Responding to the second Vatican Council’s impetus to foster unification of all Christians, the narrator tells us, John Paul II has taken “the strongest and most far-reaching actions aimed at the deplorable 1,000-year split between the Christians in the east and those in the west, and the 500-year split with protestants.”

“The importance of the things which separate,” the Holy Father told Icelandic Protestants in 1989, “fades when they are considered in the light of those which unite. Unity among Christians, however, would be a gift from God at His time of grace. Now all Churches must rigorously testify their faith.”

At Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome in 1987, he addressed a gathering of Orthodox Christians, emphasizing courage and forgiveness as the possibility of full communion between East and West was approached and prayerfully explored.

To his Eastern European guests he declared, “At the close of this dramatic century, Peter’s question takes on particular significance: ‘How often must I forgive?’ The reply that Christ gives in the parable is also expressed in the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy.’” In a particularly moving segment, the Holy Father recited the Nicene Creed in the original Greek with Demetrius the First, then Patriarch of the Orthodox Church.

Originally sold in the 1990’s on VHS, this beautiful series created by Italian filmmaker, Alberto Michelini, has been repackaged for distribution by CCC of America in a 4-DVD set with bonus materials, including free online access to downloadable educational materials for use in homes, schools, and parishes.

Click here  to enter to win a copy of “John Paul II: The Man, The Pope, and His Message.” It only takes a few moments to take part in this exciting opportunity to “gift” the series to a priest, a catechist, a parent or grandparent, a new convert, or anyone else who would cherish owning this exquisite and compelling 10-part series on the life of one of our greatest popes.

This would make an wonderful gift for a family, school, parish or homeschool group. To order, click here .

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A Holy Week Feast

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A blessed and peaceful Holy Week to you, and a very happy Easter!

We’ve got eight superb new columns up, and to make it easier for you to find them, here are the direct links with a short introduction to each:

Christian LeBlanc is our most prolific contributor, and really deserves your attention, regardless of what level of religion you’re teaching. I always learn something from his columns, because they are a synthesis of what he teaches in his classrooms, week after week – the Catholic faith as found in Sacred Scripture.

Christian loves his Bible and loves the Church, and his enthusiasm and great good humor light up his classes with the kind of enthusiasm we really need to ignite in our students. His style is quirky and very high-energy. Check out his latest, “Sing Along with King David.” If you have time, read a few more. They’re so rich and entertaining you’ll want to try them out in your own classes.

We have a real treasure, here at Amazing Catechists, by the name of Ellen Gable Hrkach. You may have heard of her. She’s an award-winning Catholic novelist, speaker and teacher of NFP and chastity training. We are very blessed to have her writing for us in her typically clear, common-sense way. She’s a real pro at making the Church’s transcendent and beautiful teachings on human sexuality accessible and practical for everyday Catholics like us. Here’s her latest, on whether or not NFP is really effective.

Mary Lou Rosien is one of my favorite writers because she can take a complex subject and break it down into something you can read in just a few minutes and spend a lifetime using, adapting and learning from. With seven children of her own, this Master Catechist knows how to make lessons work for every child. An author and columnist with Our Sunday Visitor, she’s a powerhouse, and we are very blessed to have her with us at Amazing Catechists. Here’s her latest column, in which she shares about an innovative program she discovered in another parish.

One of the great gifts of this past year, was our newest columnist, Monsignor Robert Batule, a wonderful priest, writer and theology professor at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York. Monsignor Batule has given us permission to reprint a selection of his homilies throughout the liturgical year and we are delighted to share these gems of scriptural exegesis with you! Here’s his Easter homily .

We have a wonderful variety of contributors here at AC, and Marc Cardaronella is a very special one; a guy who can take aim at a catechetical challenge and hit the target with great precision. His writing style is crisp and entertaining, and concise enough for your busy schedule. A former Navy pilot, he holds an M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry with a Specialization in Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Check out his newest entry  on the importance of penance.

One of my favorite people in the world is also one of the most talented and erudite. And one of the funniest. Pat Gohn, the well-known host of the popular podcast, “Among Women” also holds an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University and can unpack the Catechism of the Catholic Church like nobody I know. Her style is always friendly and fun and packs a powerful scriptural punch. Stop in and enjoy Pat’s latest , which will help you understand and remember the four parts of the Catechism.

I met Steve McVey at the Catholic New Media Celebration last year, and he immediately struck me as an evangelist of great integrity, grounded in a love for others made powerful through a strong personal faith in Jesus Christ. His work continues to be a source of encouragement to me and to our readers here at AC, and we are just delighted to have him on board. This month, Steve’s column  shares a very cool FREE online resource for helping kids to learn the faith with enthusiasm.

Christine Capolino is somebody I actually see on a regular basis, and I have to say that aside from being a very poetic and engaging writer, she is one of those human beings with a gift for seeing the beauty and tenderness of our God in everyday life experiences. This month, Chris proposes  that a failed Lent can actually be seen as a success. As always, she looks at something ordinary and perhaps even frustrating from her own life and finds the shining lesson that has the potential to bring us all closer to Jesus Christ. Thank God for Chris!

That’s it for this month’s new columns, so far. Please do check in regularly at our Facebook fan page  for updates. Many of our columnists publish at other websites, too (Patheos, CatholicMom, Catholic Exchange and Catholic Online, to name a few) and write blogs of their own. We feature many of their links that relate to catechetics at our fan page, as well.

May God keep you in His tender peace, the power of His mercy, and the joy of His forgiveness.

In Christ,

Lisa Mladinich
Founder, Amazing Catechists TM
Author, “Be An Amazing Catechist: Inspire the Faith of Children”
Columnist, “Be An Amazing Catechist” at Patheos.com  

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The Rite vs. Wrong: Protecting Children from the Occult

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… (Ephesians 6:10-13)

There’s an exciting new film in wide release here in the U.S. based on the real-life experiences of Father Gary Thomas, whose training as an exorcist in Rome prepared him for active ministry in his California diocese. “The Rite,” starring Anthony Hopkins, does something rare in the media – it gets a lot of the story right. Here’s what a Catholic friend had to say about it:
…It started out with a quote across the big screen from Pope John Paul II about the devil and Christ. The movie takes place in Rome near the Vatican with lots of priests, nuns, rosary beads, crucifixes, holy water, statues, pictures of Our Lady, and a little boy praying the Hail Mary. On the negative side, the language was harsh at times, and Hollywood leads you to think that the devil can enter you if he wants, but that isn’t true. He can only take possession of you if you invite him, or dabble in his world. Saint Padre Pio said, ‘God has the devil chained up like a dog, he can only bite you if you try to pet him.’ –Tracey Bellucci
Tracey makes a great point about inviting the devil into our lives. Modern day exorcists, like Father Thomas Euteneuer , have been trying to teach us about this for years. The devil can’t enter us when we are faithful to God’s laws, when we practice our faith and confess our sins. But he can enter, with disastrous consequences, if we open the door by exposing ourselves or our children to the occult through movies, books, games and superstitious practices.
I was going to say a few (more) words about the dangers of popular occult influences, but a colleague of mine right here at Amazing Catechists has already said it so well that I’m featuring her latest column here for you to enjoy:
By Mary Ellen Barrett
On a recent trip to a big name bookstore, while Christmas shopping,  I saw in the “Teen Vampire Romance” section there were vampire kits, in the “Wizardology” section there were tarot cards and wizard kits and on a “Family Game Table” were the Oujia boards. Nothing says “happy birthday Jesus” like a bunch of occult items, right?
Of all of this nonsense the Ouija boards were by far the most dangerous items.  While a wizard kit may encourage a child to explore the occult and make them familiar with the lingo, a Ouija board actually has the power to introduce your child to the devil himself.
I do not exaggerate.  I realize it sounds overly dramatic and smacks of unnecessary panic but I assure you that myself and the few Catholics out there who are trying to educate people about the use of these and other occult items have done the research and know how damaging these things can be. They can rob your children, quite easily, of their chance at eternal salvation.
A Ouija board is a flat board marked with letters, numbers, and pagan-like symbols used to communicate with spirits. It uses a small triangular piece of wood called a planchette to spell out a message communicated by the “spirit.”  The premise is that those seated around the board will receive messages that will connect them to people who have died and enlighten them as to the afterlife. There is also the belief that the spirit you summon can help you with obtaining information.
It’s complete idiocy but an idiocy that the devil has taken advantage of.  To call upon a spirit is to invite demons to prey upon you and there is no way anyone, particularly a teenager, is going to be able to control them.
All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others – even if this were for the sake of restoring their health – are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2117)
The Church takes these things very seriously. Many good Catholics will “play” with the board claiming that it is a harmless toy and that they don’t believe in it, but disbelief in the spirits that use the board does not mean that they don’t exist. How many people do not believe in God yet we know that He exists? These demons prey on people’s ignorance and can use the board to easily possess people. Fr. Thomas Euteneurer, exorcist and author of Exorcism and the Church Militant, has said many times and in many interviews that as many as ninety percent of the cases of possession he encounters began with a Ouija board. This makes the pink one available on Amazon marketed to six-year old girls one of the scariest things you could possibly have available to children.
In the Bible, the Lord often condemns any and all occult practices, including divination, which is the purpose of the Ouija board. A good summary of the teachings of Christ is to be found in Deuteronomy:
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. (Deut. 18:10–12, NIV).
Occult demons, those that are summoned by a person’s participation in occult practices are, according to Fr. Euteneuer, the most difficult to expel since the devil “disguises himself as an angel of light” and deceives the afflicted into thinking he is there for their good.
And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light… (2 Cor 11:14, NAB)
It is imperative that those in possession of these boards burn them and seek help through confession and penance. Having the home blessed would also help to dispel any lingering evil.
Evil exists in the world. It is real and present in the form of the devil and it seeks to ruin the Kingdom of God. We know that the gates of heaven shall prevail but rather than assist the devil in his fruitless quest by handing over our children in the form of a game purchased for less than $20, why not prepare them for the possibility of encountering these items in their lives by teaching them of the harm it can and surely will do to them. Then buy them a game of UNO. It’s fun and totally harmless.
***


Mary Ellen Barrett is a home educating mother of seven children. She writes a column for The Long Island Catholic  called “Our Domestic Church” and speaks at conferences about homeschooling and raising a special needs child. Mary Ellen writes about the daily life and happenings in her Catholic home on her weblog, Tales from the Bonny Blue House and about a Catholic celebration of Christmas at O Night Divine. She is currently at work on a book about life as a mom of a large family and an Advent Book of Days.
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Hey! Look at Me!

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We live in a culture that constantly begs for attention. Our mass media churns out the sensational to ensnare our time and our money, using reality shows, bizarre advertisements, shocking fashions, and celebrity gossip to outshout each other and grab their share of the market. Look at me! they cry in unison.

Heck, I’ve been spending a lot of my time promoting this new website and researching a whole slew of “look at me” concepts – public relations, key words, search engine optimization – all for the purpose of getting more catechists to LOOK AT US!

Now, I’m not equating our little volunteer operation of catechists sharing teaching methodologies to all the spam and junk that clogs our airwaves and inboxes. We’re trying to do what Mother Theresa advised, “Something beautiful for God…small things with great love!” But our efforts won’t make a difference if no one knows what we’re up to. So we beat our little drums and pray. Our community is growing and we are so grateful.

In this season of Lent, there is a special Someone at the center of it all Who also says, “Look at Me.” But He doesn’t shout or advertise or optimize His keywords. He whispers so gently that we have to be silent and still to hear Him speak. We persevere in the practice of our faith and try to live in a state of grace so we can discern His quiet message, see His signs, and open to His healing.

This month, as we do every month, Amazing Catechists features truly beautiful columns about sharing Jesus’ message with those in our homes and classrooms. While you’re here, take a few minutes to read our newest entries: Alex Basile’s “Can’t Wait for Friday,” Christine Capolino’s “Catholic Boot Camp?” Alice Gunther’s “A Lenten Tea,” Christian LeBlanc’s “Two-Minute Cadre,” and “Off The Reservation,” Ellen Gable Hrkach’s “NFP: The Long List,” Mary Lou Rosien’s “Adapting to the Special Needs Student,” and more.

And please do pass along our website address to your friends. Our columnists are hardworking catechists and parents, just like you – and like you, they have something beautiful to share for the glory of Our Lord. Come on in and look at us! But remember that at the center of it all, we are all…

…looking at Him.

God bless you and yours for a truly holy and peaceful Lenten season!

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Lisa Mladinich

Founder, AmazingCatechistsTM

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Global Warming

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I was thinking, at Mass today, of changing our website to the Global Warming website instead of Amazing CatechistsTM. With so much talk and scandal surrounding the issue, I figured our new name would put us on the map very quickly. But more importantly, I think the term “global warming” can be consecrated to our purposes. I believe that Catholics can make revolution over the entire face of the earth if we start a little global warming of our own, here and now.

Here’s how it would work: 1] If every Catholic attended Mass faithfully [along with your children, whether they like it or not], went to confession regularly, and took time for a little daily prayer, we would find ourselves in a state of grace; our souls warmed by the fire of God’s love through the incalculable gift of sacramental life. 2] If, with the help of all that inexpressibly sweet and powerful sacramental grace, each of us attended to his or her prevailing faults [you know what I’m talking about!], we would find ourselves both humbled and refreshed, joyful in our repentance and more attractive to those around us. 3] If, in this state of spiritual and social attractiveness we resolved to open ourselves to every grace and blessing offered to us by God through His Blessed Mother, we would be lifted to new heights of insight, healed and strengthened in new ways, and encouraged by little signs and wonders all around us. Our family lives would be renewed, our apostolates made fruitful. We would be soul-shined, strong, and filled to the brim with trust, hope and the love of Christ. We would be armed to the teeth, battle-ready, fired-up and peaceful – living paradoxes lighting up the world with His warmth, His Word, His power.

And what would be the effect of this global warming trend? The ice of our woundedness would melt and the waters of His Mercy would rise over the earth, sweeping away evil, washing away sin, watering the seeds of faith, slaking the thirst of countless souls, and bringing a new springtime to God’s Kingdom on earth.

Do you doubt it? Look inward. As a Christian, you are called to place your trust in miracles! So how about it my fellow sinners – ye noble and persevering combatants in the Church Militant? Shall we spit in the eye of despair and set this world on fire one small, broken, persnickety Christian soul at a time, and leave the rest to Almighty God?

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…

Humbly yours in Christ through Mary,

Lisa

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We Need You!

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Dear Readers,

Happy Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima!

Welcome to AmazingCatechists.com! In this space I’ll be updating you as we grow, alerting you to our newest features. So check out this section every month!

Our mission is to help you teach the Faith thrillingly, memorably and effectively. You can do this no matter how little you start out knowing about the Faith, as long as you are willing to pray, devote yourself to the sacraments and study as you go. To teach the Faith you must have faith. To teach anything, you must be willing to learn.

But we really need YOUR help. This little site is focused on Methodology; the how-to, hands-on, here’s-what-worked-for-me stuff that will help our readers to bring their faith and morality lessons profoundly to life for all age groups, from kindergarten through confirmation, youth ministry and adult formation programs like RCIA, Pre-Cana and NFP training. To do that, we need your input. Here’s how:

Reader Suggestions: We post all the great ideas people like you send in, including teaching tips, lesson plans, craft ideas, favorite resources, activities, inspiring or amusing stories and more.

Columns: Follow our volunteer catechists monthly, as they unpack techniques and ideas that have been effective in their ministries.

Let’s do this together. While remaining faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, we hope to do no less than revolutionize the teaching of the Faith. Together, we can bring the Faith to life and engage our students at every level of age and understanding. So join in the fun and place your trust in the Lord. For He will do all that you can not do; taking the little seeds you plant and watering them, shining the light of His love to help them grow. Again, welcome!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Lisa Mladinich
Founder

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In Each of Us, Christ: “Christ in you, the hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)”

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The truth about you, my dear Christian friend, is that by virtue of your baptism a remarkable thing occurred. The Lord of Life, the King of Heaven, the Almighty God has taken up residence where you might least expect. In you.

St. Paul identifies it over and over again in his letters, but he states it most distinctly when he writes that the mystery God has hidden for the ages has now been made manifest to his saints…“which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:27.)

Indeed Christ came to earth for our redemption, but at the same time, Christ came to restore to us the hope of glory. That is, one day we will live with him, in the glory of the Trinity forever.

Remarkably, that reality started for you on earth the day you were baptized. You became “a new creation” in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).

Baptism is both your identity and your destiny.  It tells you who you are, where you came from, and where you are going.  It defines where “home” is and where you belong.  It sets the course for the rest of your life – and eternity – if you embrace it.

But you don’t have to take my word for it.  I make that claim standing on 2000 years of Christian Tradition found in the Catholic Church, and spelled out in no uncertain terms in the Scriptures and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

A few words about that identity are found in CCC 1265 and 1266:

Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte “a new creature,” an adopted son of God, who has become a “partaker of the divine nature,” [2 Cor 5:17; 2 Pet 1:4; cf. Gal 4:5-7],
a member of Christ and co-heir with him,[Cf. 1 Cor 6:15; 12:27; Rom 8:17],
and a temple of the Holy Spirit [Cf. 1 Cor 6:19].

The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification:

- enabling them to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him through the theological virtues;

- giving them the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;

- allowing them to grow in goodness through the moral virtues. 
Thus the whole organism of the Christian’s supernatural life has its roots in Baptism.

Try to take this in: our sonship and daughtership in God is our truest identity – it means that we participate in the divine life of the Trinity, thanks to grace.

Many of us were baptized as infants. Naturally, in that case, we probably have no recollection of our baptism. Therefore some of the power of this truth may elude our consciousness.  Not only that, in growing up, many of us missed out on strong faith formation. So for the sake of those who may not have fully embraced their own baptism, let’s pause and talk about what our baptism looks like from this perspective of Christ being “in” us.

It all began with God’s love for us (See Jn 3:16). Maybe you’ve heard that before, and while its still very true, perhaps it just sounds like a nice platitude you may have heard as a child. If so, listen up: it’s time to understand the depth of our baptism, and all it implies, as an adult.

God’s attachment to us in baptism is intentional, deep, and permanent, indeed, like a lover who brands his or her beloved’s name on their arm as a tattoo. So, too, our God has branded us. God placed his loving yet indelible mark on our souls, like a soul tattoo.

(You could also say that the scars on the Risen Lord’s hands, feet, and side, are the permanent, inerasable marks of his love for us. But I digress.)

CCC 1272 and 1274 continue:

Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation…

The Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord (“Dominicus character”) “for the day of redemption.” [Eph 4:30; cf. 1:13-14; 2 Cor 1:21-22].  Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life. The faithful Christian who has “kept the seal” until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life “marked with the sign of faith,”[see Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer I] with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God – the consummation of faith – and in the hope of resurrection.

If you read those biblical references in the text above, you’d find St. Paul explaining that this seal of the Holy Spirit is the sign of our salvation… “the seal of eternal life.”

Baptism is the sacrament of faith. It is not something to be received passively since it brings changes with it. Its grace conforms us to Christ. That means there is an added dimension – a supernatural one! – to the soul and body and personality and DNA that makes us unique persons.

We have the potential to take the shape of Christ, or to imitate him more perfectly than if we did not have such a grace. Why? Because Christ’s very life is in us. The glory of God has taken up residence in us.  Not only that, we strengthen and grow that living supernatural “Christ-in-us” whenever we receive the Eucharist: the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, he recognizes and greets the Christ in us!

Are you getting the big picture? We. Were. Made. For. This.

We were made to be in this intimate, loving, and profound relationship with a God who sees Himself in us.

It’s somewhat like the joy a parent feels when they see a son or daughter who resembles them in eye color or has their freckles, or shares their love of music, or their taste for cheesecake. While the parent see themselves in their child, the child remains their own unique person.  It’s a love thing.

So, we in turn, must live for this love.  The Christ-in-us is an invitation to glory, both now, and in the future. This is our hope and our destiny. But we must choose to live the glory of our baptism, our true identity.

It is possible to waste our life by ignoring who we really are in Christ.

We must become, in full adult measure and stature, our truest selves. Our baptism invites us to become a saint, in the sense that a saint is someone who truly resembles Christ while maintaining his or her unique personhood and distinctive qualities.

The living out of our baptism, or some could call it “the task” of conversion, becomes not just a one-time “coming to” Christ, but a life-long on-going transformation of “becoming” Christ.  Baptism gave us the grace of a head start. It sets us on the path of sanctity – which is another way of saying – this is a journey of a lifetime. That is why we have the Church, and the life of grace that we find there in the sacraments and in the Christian community.

CCC 1992:

[Baptism] conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life.

So now we have come full circle. For via baptism, Jesus sees, and now I can see, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27.)

May we have the eyes to see in each of us: Christ.

 

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Wanted: Good Story Tellers

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Have you ever heard a good story teller?  I mean the kind that grabs you from the beginning and holds you throughout and sometimes long after the tale is told.

The Bible has some amazing stories in it.  But there are so few of us laity that can relay the stories in the way that captures the imagination of those around us. Yet, the lessons they teach can provide a great springboard for catechesis.

Do you remember the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:13-32)?  Now picture yourself standing with them.  They are walking along, conversing and debating. 

The story goes that Jesus himself drew near and walked with them. At first, they were prevented from recognizing him. Although they were followers of Christ, they did not see that it was Him.

Jesus asked them “What are you discussing as you walk along?”.  They must have been surprised because they said, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 

Now a good story teller would weave some interesting questions into the story to draw the listener in.  For example, wouldn’t the followers have seen the marks in Jesus’ hands?  A good story teller will have fun with that. 

But to become a good story teller, we need to really appreciate the Word of God.  We need to soak in the stories. That ties right in with the Bishops plan for evangelization[1].  Objective 93 encourages us to “To foster an appreciation of God’s Word in the lives of all Catholics”. One of the strategies cited states “more frequent individual reading of the Bible among Catholics”.   

Put your creative hat on.  How can we help people to find ways to engage those busy Catholics in more frequent Bible reading so we can bring scripture into our daily lives.   

Beep Beep Beep cshhhhh:  We interrupt this article to bring you a message from the Emergency Evangelization System.   

Nearly everyone in the country has a large object in their homes suitable for evangelizing the youngest to the oldest.  It is called a “refrigerator” and almost everyone goes by it at least once a day. We now resume our regularly scheduled article.”  

I recommend a very simple technique that I will refer to as “refrigerator evangelization”.  Move those magnets you got on that vacation to your local aquarium to the side and make room for some spiritually nourishing bible magnets.  I am sure you can find some at your local Catholic bookstore. If you prefer to make some yourself and have a yearning to let your creative side loose, I recommend making your own.   

Using royalty free images from some clipart/image company, you can create your own designs. There are magnet making companies out on the web that will make the magnets based on your designs.  At the website below, you will see an example of two magnets I made. I made a set of 44. (Note: Make sure you create your own images or purchase royalty free images before creating your  magnets.)     

http://www.theessentialmission.com/Individuals.html 

Create a set of them yourself with favorite bible stories and watch the awareness of Bible stories grow in your very own home.  When someone asks about the story, that is your cue to practice your “story telling”.  Don’t worry if you stumble a bit.  Over time, you will refine that story telling ability!  

Here is another method that I have used in my parish “To foster an appreciation of God’s Word in the lives of all Catholics”. Take a look at Marcus Grodi’s Coming Home Network website where you’ll find a free download entitled “Read the Bible and the Catechism in a Year”. 

http://www.chnetwork.org/readguide04.pdf 

You can print this out and place a copy on your evangerator… I mean refrigerator.  Make people in your parish aware of this as well. It provides a systematic way to follow a path through the Bible with corresponding readings from the Catechism.  Its handy “check box” allows you to track your progress.  If you forget a day or two, just pick up with the next in the sequence when the time allows.  Although you can print these out for free, I purchased the beautiful brochures for a very reasonable price and put them in an existing brochure stand in my parish.  If you get a group of people doing the same thing, you have the basis for a study group.   

Now that you are equipped to build that Biblical foundation, take one story as a starting point and spend time thinking about it.  Not the whole Bible.  Not a whole book. Just one story. Become an expert. 

Back to our story: So there were those two followers.  They had reached their home and had that awkward moment.  Do they invite this man in for some supper who had shared the greatest scripture study in the history of the world.  What do you do?  Well they decided to invite him in. 

They did not realize it but there was Jesus, the Savior of the world sitting at table with them.  He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them.  And do you know what happened? 

Well, you’ll just have to read it for yourself!

[1]Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/goandmake/eng.shtml
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