Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

Saint Padre Pio

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Several years ago I received my first prayer book on Padre Pio.  People in my parish love this guy.  I knew very little about him except that he was given the stigmata.  I struggled with this idea and as I prayed the prayers in the book, I kept thinking that if he lived during my time, I would ask to see his feet, hands, and side.  I know I sound like Thomas, but this isn’t Jesus we are talking about.  This is a Franciscan friar.

Why are we in competition?

One Sunday afternoon, I decided that I would watch the Padre Pio movie on the Formed channel.  But before getting settled with popcorn and PJs, I decided to call my sister.  We had a great conversation, as always.  Then she told me about an old friend that was seeking God.  My brother-in-law was raised in a Pentecostal church.  My sister, like me, was raised Catholic.  But also like me, she drifted.  About five years ago she decided to go back to church but instead of the Catholic Church, she decided to go to the Assembly of God church where her husband grew up.  She boasts about the fact that there are so many former Catholics that go to her church.  Even the pastor, who is my brother-in-law’s cousin, was a cradle Catholic, but then around age 12, his entire family switched to the Assembly of God church.  I listened as she complained about the rules of the Catholic Church and how she didn’t really understand what was going on in Mass. She is now convinced that if it is not in the bible, it is not truth, but doesn’t mention anything about which interpretation should be followed.  On and on she talked about how welcoming her church was to everyone and how she felt like she had an extended family.  Because of her strong feelings for her church, she invited her seeking friend to a church service.  Her friend is now so blown away by the love and openness of her newfound church community.

As I listened to my sister, I found myself getting very offended.  Yes, I too drifted and learned so much from my Protestant brothers and sisters, but there came a time when I realized something was missing.  It was the Eucharist.  When I shared this with my sister, she said that because her pastor was a former Catholic that he insists on Communion once a month.  But when I told her it wasn’t the same Communion, she was silent.  Is it possible that she has forgotten her Catholic school teaching?

Don’t be Afraid to Dig for Answers

When I returned to my Catholic faith, I didn’t understand much about the Mass, so I rolled up my sleeves and started researching about the Mass, about the sacraments, about the Blessed Mother, and all things Catholic.  I walked away early in adulthood, not to go to another church, but to be free.  I hated the rules of Mass every Sunday and holy days.  I hated the obligation.  But the Catholic Church doesn’t teach obligation.  We do that to ourselves.  The Church teaches relationships, with each other and most importantly with the Trinity.  I am now in a Catholic church that has the same loving family environment that my sister talks about.  But it is approached differently.  In my sister’s church, there are greeters at each door that acknowledge you as you enter the church.  At our church, we also have greeters.  Most importantly, the Catholic Church has a tabernacle where the presence of God resides in a very intimate way.  We go to church to worship God and our Mass is a sacrifice to God through Jesus.  From the moment we enter church, we are focused on our Lord.  We bless ourselves with holy water to remind us of our Baptism.  We genuflect or bow before entering the pew as recognition for who is present in the tabernacle.  We then kneel and pray to the One who is present.  Our connection with others in our church family happens outside the church before Mass or immediately after Mass.  A women’s retreat was posted in our bulletin shortly after I began attending my parish.  I signed up for the retreat and a bible study and several other programs.  It was during these events that connections with fellow Catholics were being made.

The Stigmata brings Controversy

What does all this have to do with Saint Padre Pio?  The movie on the Formed channel, shared Saint Pio’s story beginning with his childhood.  He was called by God as a child and experienced things that led him to the priesthood.  The stigmata was one of many things about Padre Pio that intrigued so many.  He had a huge following that concerned his superiors.  The movie also showed how people exploited him by selling prayer cards and statutes of him which he adamantly frowned upon.

Toward the end of his life, a monsignor was given the assignment to visit Padre Pio to get him to tell the truth about the stigmata.  It seems that Padre Pio was told by God not to show the stigmata to anyone and that the stigmata would be with him for 50 years.  Padre Pio’s stigmata was seen by a small inner circle including his physician; however, it was the belief of this monsignor that Padre Pio was a hoax and he was determined to get the Padre to confess.

Here we have two priests in the Catholic Church arguing about what God is doing.  This monsignor has a little more rank than a regular friar so it seems quite intimidating at times.  The monsignor states throughout the movie that God is not in Padre Pio’s charade and yet Padre Pio insists that there is no one else but God in control of his life.  As it turns out, the monsignor comes full circle as Padre Pio reveals to him an incident in his life known only to him.

We really are on the same team! 

Why do we argue with each other about Christianity?  I’m happy that my sister found a place to worship God.  She is closer to God now then she ever has been.  But I resent the inclination that her church is better than the Catholic Church because so many former Catholics now worship there.  I remember the movie in the early 1970’s titled, The Poseidon Adventure.  It wasn’t a true story, but I recall a moment in the movie after the ship encountered a tsunami and was capsized when a small group of characters were heading in one direction while the remaining survivors were convinced that they needed to go the opposite way.  Of course, the small group at the end of the movie was the only survivors.  I wonder if this will happen to us as we choose our church of preference.  We are all Christians and, therefore, God is in this.  Why try and prove ourselves?  The monsignor was so determined to prove Padre Pio’s masquerade while Padre Pio was speaking truth about his experience with God.  I believe our role is to encourage each other.  And I further believe that it is each of our responsibility to do our homework, to research, to seek God in all ways.  Choosing where we are to be should not be decided solely on feelings.  Truth sometimes does not feel good.

I’m grateful to know a little more about Saint Padre Pio.  My skepticism is somewhat calmed.  I find this to be no different than the Marian apparitions of St. Bernadette and the children at Fatima.  I believe that God will do whatever is necessary to get our attention.  I pray that I will cooperate with Him in all things.

 

Class Begins!

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In the best possible scenario, your whole class arrives at the same time, sits down, and you can begin the great lesson you have prepared. In reality, well, that’s not quite what happens. And we all know that the longer you wait to engage your group, the more difficult it is to get their attention when you are ready to begin.

What to do?

This is where some seatwork or something to watch or listen to is helpful. I’ve rounded up a few podcasts and YouTube video channels created for Catholic kids that can be a good start and place to focus.

Podcasts

Saint Stories for Kids: I don’t think new episodes are being added, but there are over 150 past episodes to choose from.

Catholic Sprouts Podcast: Each day a new episode drops with topics ranging from virtues to sacraments to prayers. They are short and focused!

YouTube

Spirit Juice Kids: Lego stories, praying together, saint stories, ABCs – something for everyone on this channel for sure.

Marcam!: Short videos that take kids on a tour of the sacristy, how a church is built, the Mass and more. It has moved to Formed, so you can access it there if you have a subscription. But if not, there are at least 20 videos here.

Engage Them

As soon as your students come in, engage them. If you prefer pencil and paper activities, take a look at these Sunday Gospel activities from Catholic Mom. You can print those out as a review of the past Sunday’s Mass.

Be prepared to start your time together on the right foot.

What do you like to do during that time before class officially begins?

 

Byzantine Catholics – An Interesting Discovery

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What does it mean to be in Full Communion with the Catholic Church?  The bonds of communion through faith, sacraments, and pastoral governance determine Full Communion with the Catholic Church.  Through these bonds, believers receive the life of grace within the Church.  However, the Catholic Church also recognizes Partial Communion with many Protestant denominations where elements of Christian faith are held in common.

Churches in Full Communion

As I continue to research for future writing projects, I discovered an interesting fact about the variety of churches in Full Communion with the Catholic Church.  These churches include the Coptic Catholic Church of the Alexandrian liturgical tradition.

The Maronite Church, the Syrian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church are also in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  A quick google search identified several Byzantine Catholic Churches near my home.  The Byzantine Church is also in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  This was an interesting discovery that led me to visit Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church in New Port Richey, Florida.

A Special Visit

As I entered this beautiful church, I was reminded of the Russian Orthodox Church I visited in Alaska.  But this was not an Orthodox Church.  This was a Catholic Church in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  As I researched for a clearer understanding, I learned new facts about the history of Christianity.

Byzantine History

Around the year 600 AD, there were five major archbishops within the Catholic Church that led five large dioceses.  The cities where these patriarchs resided included Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Rome.

The Roman Empire in the year 300 AD was split into the Western and Eastern Empires.  The capitol of the Eastern Roman Empire was the city of Byzantium, which the emperor Constantine renamed Constantinople.  This city is presently known as Istanbul in Turkey.  The capitol of the Western Roman Empire was Rome.  The language of the Eastern Empire was Greek, while the language of the Western Empire was Latin.

The Muslim Arabs in 600 AD conquered large parts of the Middle East and North Africa thereby reducing the influence of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.  However, the two remaining Patriarchs in Rome and Constantinople thrived and spread Christianity far and wide.  The churches established by the Eastern Empire from its capitol, Byzantium, were referred to as “Byzantine” or “Greek” Catholic.  Byzantine Catholics in America are the spiritual descendants of Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East who trace their spiritual heritage to the Great Church of Constantinople, known as Hagia Sophia – The Church of Holy Wisdom.

Distinct Differences

Although in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the Byzantine rite retains distinctive features which are evident beginning with the onion-like dome on the outside of the church.  This history helped me to understand why I saw so many similar domes throughout my train trip through Austria.  I knew Austria was predominantly Catholic but couldn’t understand why so many churches had what I assumed were Greek Orthodox domes.  At the time, I didn’t know the rich history of the Byzantine rite and its connection to the Greek culture.

Upon entering the Byzantine church, the differences are even more distinct.  The sanctuary is separated from the congregation by a beautiful screen covered in icons.

Behind this beautiful screen of icons is the altar and tabernacle.

Saint John Chrysostom

As I looked through the books and pamphlets located at my pew, I noticed a prayer book titled, “The Divine Liturgy of Our Holy Father John Chrysostom.”  After further research, I learned that Saint John Chrysostom was an important early Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople.  After his death, he earned the title, “Golden Mouth” because of his eloquent preaching and public speaking.

Other Differences

One of the women I met when first entering this church was raised Roman Catholic from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She loves coming to the Byzantine Church but said it took her a while to get used to the differences.  In addition to the iconic screen separating the altar from the congregation, I also read that Communion is received under both species (Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine) and administered by the priest from a spoon.

The church was filling up quickly when I learned that a baptism would take place during the service.  In the Roman Catholic Church, we call the service the “Mass.”  In the Eastern Rite, the Mass is known as the “Liturgy.”  Infant baptism is part of the Eastern Rite; however, baptism in the Eastern Rite includes Chrismation, which is another term for the sacrament of Confirmation.  Infant baptism in the Eastern Rite also includes the Eucharist.

The child to be baptized was an infant – perhaps no more than one month of age.  I was curious to see how they would administer the Eucharist to an infant.  Unfortunately, there were so many family members surrounding the child that it was difficult to see all that was occurring.  However, I had an opportunity after the Liturgy to speak with Father Oleksiy.

Father Oleksiy is a Catholic priest from Ukraine and the Administrator of Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church.   He came to the United States with his wife and three daughters six years ago.  When he mentioned his family, I was so focused on my other questions that I didn’t think to ask if Byzantine priests were allowed to be married.  As I was preparing this writing, I researched this further and found that Eastern Catholic churches allow married men to be ordained, however, they do not allow marriage after ordination.

The Sign of the Cross

One of my first questions for Father Oleksiy was the difference in making the sign of the cross.  Throughout the service, people in the congregation blessed themselves with the sign of the cross.  Most crossed themselves from right to left.  A few – like me – crossed themselves as do all Roman Catholics from left to right.  I asked Father Oleksiy, “Why the difference?”  He smiled and said that there are many different responses to this question.  Some say it has to do with the importance and significance of the “right hand.”  He shared the obvious that Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father.  He also shared a custom in the Byzantine rite when the bride and groom place their right hands on the Bible during the wedding ceremony.  But then, Father Oleksiy shrugged his shoulders with a smile and said that there are so many different answers to this question – like the reasons for driving on the right or left side of the road.  We both laughed and moved on to my next question.

Infant Baptism and the Eucharist

“So, how do you give an infant the Eucharist?”  Father Oleksiy explained that a very small drop of the Blood of Christ is placed on the lips of the infant during the baptism ceremony.

Communion is also different in the Eastern rite.  The bread is a cube soaked in the wine and given by the priest with a spoon.  I received Communion at this church and was amazed at the difference in presentation.

As I spoke with Father Oleksiy after the Liturgy service, we talked about the tabernacle behind the screen on the altar.  Father Oleksiy confirmed that Jesus in the form of the Eucharist is kept in the tabernacle on the altar.  However, he also shared a lengthy process that he must go through before placing the Eucharist in the tabernacle.  This is because the Eastern rite uses leavened bread rather than unleavened bread as is done in the Roman Catholic Church.

I truly enjoyed the Liturgy service.  It reminded me of a High Mass from the old Latin days.  Every part of the Liturgy service was chanted including the readings from the Old and New Testament.  I was particularly impressed with the following prayer recited by all in the congregation before processing to the front of the church to receive Holy Communion.

Special Prayer

Prayer Before Holy Communion

O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first.

Accept me today as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief I profess you:

Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.

Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.

Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.

May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgement or condemnation but for the healing of soul and body.

O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly your most precious body and your life-giving blood, which I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting.   Amen.

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.

A Special Challenge

This was such a beautiful experience that I challenge each of you to look for a Byzantine Catholic Church in your area.  I would love to know your thoughts on the Liturgy and the beauty of the icons.

Our Weapon of Mass Conversion

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I’d like to share a fun story with you.

There was a young bride-to-be at her bridal shower.  One of the gifts she opened was a roasting pan.  When she opened it, she looked at her mother and said, “You know, Mom – I’ve been meaning to ask you.  Every time you make a roast you always cut the end off it before putting it in the pan.  Why do you do that?”  Her mother said, “Your grandmother taught be everything I know about cooking, and she always did that, and I never questioned it.”

With that, the young bride turned to the grandmother and asked her the same question.  The grandmother said, “My mother was the best cook in town.  Everyone loved her cooking.  So, when she taught me to do something in the kitchen, I never questioned it.  I always just did it.”

Well, luckily, 92-year-old great-grandma was at the bridal shower.  The young bride went to the great-grandma and asked the infamous question, “Why do you cut the end off of the roast before putting it in the pan?”  The Great-Grandma shrugged her shoulders and said, “Because I never had a pan big enough.”

WHY Questions are IMPORTANT!

I love this story because it helps us realize that “WHY” questions are important. They’re important because they push us to dig to find answers.  When we ask WHY questions concerning the things of God, it brings us closer to God if we are brave enough and persistent enough to get to the answer.

I recently read a book entitled, “Champions of the Rosary” by Father Donald Calloway.  Father Calloway has an amazing conversion story.  I encourage all of you to look him up on YouTube.  He had no religious upbringing and then somehow after a long series of misfortunes, finds himself in a Catholic Church watching five Filipino women pray the Rosary.  He had no idea what they were doing.

For those of you like me raised in the Catholic Church, I’ve seen both my mother and grandmother pray the rosary every day.  But I really didn’t know what they were doing or why they felt it was important to do it every day.  That WHY question led me to Father Calloway’s book.

Saint Dominic and the Rosary!

Saint Dominic is the founder of the Rosary as we know it today – five decades with meditation on mysteries of Jesus’ life.  The Rosary, as stated in Father Calloway’s book, was crafted by God over a span of time.  So, although Saint Dominic is the founder of the Rosary, the development of the Rosary existed decades before Saint Dominic.

The Rosary – Our Spiritual Sword

The Rosary is also a spiritual sword based on scripture which tells us that “the Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword….” and encourages us to “take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17)

The two main elements of the Rosary – the Hail Mary and the Our Father – are prayers found in scripture which is why the Rosary is referred to as a sword.

Prayer Beads were very important – used as early as the third century to keep track of how many prayers were said.  During the first Crusade 1069-1099, monks/priests wore prayer beads – not rosary beads – but prayers beads.  They wore these on the belt to understand the beads as a sword that is worn on the belt.  Many of us remember the nuns and priests – back in the day – that wore the rosary beads on the side.  I never knew why they wore them there – but it was to signify a sword.  These prayers are the Word of God, and the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit.

Our Weapon of Mass Conversion

There is a story of Saint Mother Teresa traveling in India by train when officials boarded the train asking if anyone had weapons.  Saint Mother Teresa reached in her pocket and took out her rosary.  This truly is a weapon – a sword.

In 1208, Saint Dominic is struggling with a heresy in southern France without any success.  His preaching was not effective.  The heresy was teaching that God would never take on human form.  Pope Innocent III initiated a 20-year military campaign to eliminate the heresy.  Finally, Saint Dominic decides to retreat and pray for help.  After three days of prayer and fasting, he receives a vision from the Blessed Mother.

Our Lady instructed Saint Dominic to take the Marian Psalter – the 150 Hail Mary’s – out of the monasteries – infuse it with sacred mysteries and meditation – and take it into the streets to become a weapon of mass conversion.

There are so many wonderful stories and detailed history in Father Calloway’s book about the Rosary.  I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the WHY of the Rosary.

 

Champions of the Rosary

Champions of the Rosary – EXCELLENT book by Father Donald Calloway!

St. Paul the Apostle

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Where would we be without St. Paul?  We all know the story of his conversion.  He was thrown off his horse and blinded by the light of Christ.  Many times, God does the same to us – He throws us off our horse.  God redirected Paul’s loyalty toward truth.  Paul held the robes of those who stoned St. Stephen.  Paul was loyal to Judaism.  God opened his eyes to the fullness of truth.  Because of this, Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles and I for one am grateful.

When planning my trip to Italy in 2021, my itinerary included five days in Rome.  Many YouTube videos and even my friends said five days in Rome was too long.  However, I had an extensive list of places I wanted to see in Rome and knew I needed at least five days to complete the list.

St. Paul Outside the Walls

One of the places on my list was the Catholic Church dedicated to St. Paul known as – St. Paul Outside the Walls.  Like many of the churches in Rome, the structure was massive, and the architecture was stunning.

As I approached the outside of the church, I could see a statue of St. Paul.

Differences between St. Paul and St. Peter

Earlier in my trip, during my tour of the Vatican, I learned of the differences between the statues of St. Paul and St. Peter.  St. Peter is always holding two keys – one is gold, and the other is silver.  The first key represents the power to bind and loose in heaven which indicates spiritual authority.  The second key represents the power to bind and loose on earth, indicating temporal authority.

St. Paul is always holding a book and a sword.  The book represents the epistles written by St. Paul in the New Testament.  The sword depicts the way he was martyred.  He was a Roman citizen and, therefore, could not be crucified.  He was beheaded by the sword in Rome in 67AD.

The beauty of this church is beyond words.  There are so many beautiful churches in Italy – it is difficult to pick one over another.

As I walked through the front doors of this amazing basilica, my eyes canvassed the building from right to left and then up and down.  I didn’t want to miss anything.  As I slowly walked down the massive corridors of this beautiful basilica, I thought of St. Paul and all that he did for us.  But I also thought of the people who built this beautiful building.

One of four major papal basilicas

St. Paul Outside the Walls is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas.  The three other major papal basilicas are Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter’s, and Saint Mary Major.  I visited all of them and so much more – which is why I needed five days in Rome!

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I over the burial place of St. Paul.

A National Monument

The first basilica was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324.  In 386, Emperor Theodosius I erected a much larger basilica with a nave and four aisles – which is what we see today.  The basilica was built outside the Aurelian Walls as indicated in its name.  The Aurelian Walls were city walls built between 271AD and 275AD during the reign of Roman Emperor Aurelian.  The basilica endured many renovations due to fire, lightning, and seize by the Saracen raid in 846.  Massive reconstruction began in 1825 as instructed by Pope Leo XII.  The transept is the part of the basilica that extends on either side of the nave to form the arms of the cross.  This was added to the basilica during the 1825 renovation.  The transept and high altar were consecrated in 1840 and opened to the public.  The entire basilica was reconsecrated in 1854 in the presence of Pope Pius IX and fifty cardinals.  The basilica has been declared a national monument by the Italian government.

Side Altars & Chapels

Like many of the other basilicas visited, there were several side altars and chapels.

The Chapel of St. Benedict was dedicated to the patriarch of western monasticism and was built by the architect Luigi Poletti, director of the reconstruction of the basilica after the fire of 1823.

The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament was built to house the venerated wooden crucifix of the 14th century.

As I continued to walk around this basilica, I was amazed to see a chapel dedicated to St. Stephen.  Before the fire of 1823, there was an altar dedicated to St. Stephen near the tomb of St. Paul.  After the fire, reconstruction included the Chapel of St. Stephen.  The statue of St. Stephen is the focal point of this chapel.  This work of art was carved by Rinaldo Rinaldi from white marble and depicts an adolescent Stephen with his eyes lifted up as described in the Acts of the Apostles.

I can’t say enough about the beauty of Catholicism and the dedication and devotion of those who built these magnificent structures.

Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy

Examination of Conscience for Kids

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freekidLike us adults, in order for children to experience the freedom only found in Jesus Christ, they need the sacrament of Reconciliation. But they need our help to prepare for this precious, soul-cleansing meeting with their loving Lord.

I received this superb Examination of Conscience for kids from a colleague–educator and popular speaker Barbara Falk.

There are many excellent children’s resources available online, but I thought this one was particularly good for use with young children. Barbara holds the copyright–so please do not sell it–but she gave me permission to share it widely for everyone’s use.

Here it is!

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE FOR CHILDREN

1.    I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. YOU SHALL NOT HAVE OTHER GODS BESIDE ME.
–    Do I speak ( PRAY ) to God every day? :  when I wake up, before meals, before going to sleep.
–    As  soon as I wake up, do I give ( OFFER  ) Him my school work and all my day?
–    Do I remember to THANK God for the good things I have done or received?
–    Do I put my trust in good luck charms, palm reading and superstitions, rather than God alone?

2.    YOU SHALL NOT USE GOD’S NAME IN VAIN.
–    Have I used the words “God” or “Jesus” in anger or with lack of respect?
–    Have I used ugly words or language?
–    Have I wished evil on another?

3.    REMEMBER TO KEEP GOD’S DAY HOLY.
–    Do I go to Mass on Sunday unless I had a good reason ?  (lack of transportation, sickness)
–    Do I do all I can to make Sunday a day of rest and joy for my family?
–    Do I pay attention to Mass, or do I tease or distract others by talking or playing?
–    Do I arrive late at Mass or leave early?

4.    HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.
–    Do I respect and obey my parents?
–    Have I treated them badly by word or deed?
–    Am I willing to help round the house or must I be nagged a hundred times?
–    Do I try to get along with my brothers and sisters? Am I a tattletale or bully?
–    Do I try to give good example, especially to younger siblings?
–    Do I respect others in authority: baby-sitters, old people, teachers, priests, nuns?

5.    YOU SHALL NOT KILL.
–    Do I beat up others or hurt their bodies?
–    Do I say mean things, or make fun of others to hurt their feelings?
–    Am I willing to play with everyone? Have I stopped speaking to anyone?
–    Do I encourage others to do bad things?
–    Do I take care of my health such as eating the right food and taking care of the body God has given me?
–    Are there kids I will not play with or be mean to because they look different?

6.    YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
–    Do I treat my body and other people’s bodies with respect and purity?
–    Do I look at television shows, movies, or pictures that are bad and hurt my soul and mind?
–    Am I modest in the clothes I wear and in my speech, remembering that I truly am a daughter/son of God?

7.    YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.
–    Have I taken things that were not mine from a store or another person?
–    Have I broken or misused another person’s property on purpose?
–    Do I return things that I borrow? In good condition?

8.    YOU SHALL NOT LIE (YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR).
–    Do I tell the truth? Do I say things about other people that are not true?
–    Did I cheat in class or in a game?
–    Do I tell lies to make myself look good?
–    Do I tell lies to protect myself from being punished?
–    Do I tell lies to make another person look bad or get them in trouble?
–    Am I a tattletale?

9.    YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE.
–    Do I get mad when I have to share my friends?
–    Am I jealous of my siblings and do I want my parent’s attention for myself constantly?
–    Am I willing to share my things and my time with others?

10.    YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S GOODS.
–    Am I thankful to God and my parents for what they have given me?
–    Do I share the things I have with my family, friends and poor people?
–    Am I jealous or envious of the things others have?
–    Am I jealous or envious of the abilities others have?

THE ACT OF CONTRITION
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you.  I detest all my sins
because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God,
who are all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve with the help of your grace,
to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.  Amen.

Encountering Signs of Faith – The Miraculous Medal

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Sacramentals Defined

First, let’s clarify what a sacramental is:

Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man. In accordance with bishops’ pastoral decisions, they can also respond to the needs, culture, and special history of the Christian people of a particular region or time (Catechism Catholic Church, 1668). 

Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church’s prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. (CCC, 1670).

The Draw of the Miraculous Medal

During a particularly difficult time in my life, a friend introduced me to the Miraculous Medal, originally called the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, especially the promise that comes with wearing it, which really helped restore peace to my heart. During Mary’s apparition with St. Catherine Laboure, she explained, “Those who wear [this medal] will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,” with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”  

Miraculous Medal Activities 

  • Each element of this medal came directly from the Blessed Mother—the image on both the front and the back, the words; even how it should be worn. That is remarkable in itself, but then coupled with the countless blessings and, yes, even miracles attributed to it, makes this sacramental worth investigating further.  Click here to learn more about the medal.
  • A fun Miraculous Medal craft for families. This craft is made from aluminum foil with no drawing skills needed—a traceable template of the Miraculous Medal is available as a free download. Learn more on CatholicIcing.com.
  • Seeking creative ways to build a child’s devotion to the Blessed Mother? The Miraculous Medal Shrine offers a plethora of resources, including ten very creative ways to help your family deepen your devotion to Mary while having fun.  Click here to get started!

Growing in Grace

Do you own a Miraculous Medal? Do you wear it daily around your neck? Do you have experiences or examples from your own life with the promised outpouring of graces Mary promised? If you don’t wear one, what holds you back? Have your learned anything from your Miraculous Medal investigation that might inspire you to adopt this devotion?

Learn more about the traditions and devotions of the Catholic Church (including sacramentals) as well as my incredible God-driven adoption story in my new book, Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God (Ave Maria Press, 2022).

 

 

Feature Image Credit: Allison Gingras/CanvaPro

FREE Online Conference This Week on Developing Your Spiritual Gifts!

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My friends! I know it’s been awhile–life has been BUSY!
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This week, I’m appearing at a wonderful, FREE Catholic conference online, and I’d love to have you all join in the fun.
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The MC is the dynamic and inspiring Sonja Corbitt, one of my favorite Catholic speakers, who has an amazing charism for healing. In fact, reading her book, “Just Rest,” has brought me remarkable healings in the area of past wounds, as well as powerful new insights that have become a rich part of my walk with God.
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Register Now, so you’ll get notified, as the live talks go live (many are recorded already), and enjoy this opportunity to learn about your own unique spiritual gifts from people such as Sonja, Jeff Cavins, Danielle Bean, Kelly Wahlquist, Sarah Cristmeyer, and many more!!
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Oh–and me!
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I’ll be talking on The Spirit of Trust.
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There’s a fun quiz to take and a fantastic array of topics to watch! There are freebies and live, interactive sessions with some of the speakers… oh happy spring!
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FREE FABULOUS Stocking Stuffers from Chris Stefanick

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Ho Ho Ho, my Friends! 

Click the Stocking!

If you’re like me, you probably can’t get enough of Chris Stefanick’s one-to-two minute inspirational videos, every one of them a holy shot in the arm that can take a dull day and make it vibrant.

The past few months, Chris has been knocking it out of the park every Friday with bite-sized, powerhouse snippets called, “Real Life Minutes,” that truly put handles on some critically-important concepts to help you ramp up your life of faith.

And now, his wonderful team has made this delightful FREE series available for easy sharing!

Unwrap them slowly over time, or empty the whole thing on the floor and BINGE.

Why wait? Get started!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Love,

Lisa

Interview with Bear Wosnick on Surfing, the Spiritual Life, and His New Book!

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My Friends, You haven’t lived ’til you’ve listened to Bear Wosnick describe what it is to surf a big wave and experience powerful connections with your spiritual life!

We’re also talking about romance, holy masculinity, and his new book, “Deep Adventure: The Way of Heroic Virtue”!

Just click the book cover to join our super-fun conversation!

BEAR WOZNICK is the Host of the Motorcycle-Based Reality TV show, “Long Ride Home with Bear Woznick,” which is distributed worldwide on EWTN and Armed Forces Network to more than two hundred million homes and Amazon Prime. He is also the Host of EWTN’s “The Bear Woznick Adventure” Radio Show heard by millions each week on over 500 radio stations in nearly all 50 states, as well as Sirius FM, and Video version on most podcast apps. Bear also Hosts the fifteen-minute Ocean Sunrise Catechism, seen weekdays on Facebook live. He is the author of the books, “Deep in the Wave – A Surfing Guide to the Soul” (an Amazon best seller) and “Deep Adventure – The Way of Heroic Virtue.” He leads pilgrimages to Europe, Greece, and Israel, and speaks globally, with an emphasis on Men’s Conferences. He’s a Benedictine Oblate at the Mary Spouse of the Holy Spirit Monastery on North Shore of O’ahu. Bear is Married to Cindy Woznick, lives in Waikiki, and has four adult children. He’s a CPA with a Masters Degree in Tax, and he’s pursuing a Masters of Theology from Franciscan University at Steubenville. Bear Wosnick is also a World Champion surfer.

Find Bear Wosnick and his books and other resources at https://www.bearschoolofmanliness.com

Check out his “Store” for books and more. Here’s the direct link! https://my-site-100622-104377.square.site