Do you remember that little Confession Booklet I made for my daughter in the fall? It’s been looking a little dog-eared lately. So I decided to make her a real printed version. Now it’s available on Amazon.
Category: Raising Saints (or at least trying to!)
The Three Magnets of God
Conversion stories — don’t you just love them? I find it both fascinating and inspiring to hear how Our Lord takes a soul and draws a person lovingly and compellingly towards Him. As parents, it’s useful to know how Our Lord does this so we can fully cooperate with Him in drawing our children to Christ.
First Communion Gifts
Once again, it’s a First Holy Communion Year for us, which makes spring an even more joyful time. Probably, many of you will be attending First Communion Masses, too. So, here’s a list of books and gifts I think your first communicants will appreciate:
12 Confirmation Gifts for Teens
Last spring my daughter recieved her Confirmation. It was a beautiful Mass and ceremony, and she was just glowing with joy. I also remember how I racked my poor brain trying to think of suitable gifts. Of course, in a teenager’s mind, cash is always a suitable gift. But if you want to give something that will help your confirmandi grow in his/her faith, here is a list of 12 confirmation gifts:
A Free Confession Prayer Book
A few years ago, I made this little booklet to help my daughter prepare for her first confession. I thought it would be beneficial if she had all the prayers she needed and an examination of conscience all in one little booklet — with beautiful art work, of course.
Here are some sample pages:
Continue reading “A Free Confession Prayer Book”
Screwtape Intercepted: An Angelic Letter for a Homeschool Mom #2
I hope you enjoyed last week’s Screwtape Letter for a Homeschool Mom #2. Screwtape is a nasty one, isn’t he? You’ll be glad to know that Bitterwench never did get the letter because, just like last time, Martha’s vigilant Guardian Angel intercepted it. Here is Archangel Gabriel’s advice to Angel Fairlight:
Continue reading “Screwtape Intercepted: An Angelic Letter for a Homeschool Mom #2”
Screwtape Letter for a Homeschool Mom, no. 2
Two years ago, I posted a Screwtape Letter for a Homechool Mom. Well, guess what? He’s baaack! Nasty ol’ Screwtape has another letter of advice for his protegé Bitterwench, the devil assigned to a homeschooling mom.
Continue reading “Screwtape Letter for a Homeschool Mom, no. 2”
How Catholic Parents Can Reform the Church
It’s been a tough summer for Catholics this year, and I would not be surprised if by now you’re tired of hearing and reading about church scandals, church politics, and maybe even church in general. As we wait for our bishops, cardinals, and the Pope to shed light on how they will address these problems and “clean house”, we lay people can feel rather helpless. Especially as we watch our beloved Church get attacked from the outside and ripped apart from within.
But I have news for you… well not quite news, but an important reminder:
Continue reading “How Catholic Parents Can Reform the Church”
Church Scandals – What’s a Parent to Do?
How have you been coping with all the recent news of church scandals and clergy abuse of minors? All this news makes me sick to my stomach. Part of me doesn’t want to think about it, much less talk about it. But that’s part of the problem, isn’t it? The silence, the covering-up, the pretense that sexual abuse by clergy isn’t really real.
But it is.
And while church officials talk about accountability and processes to protect youth and reform the system, we parents need to take the bull by the horns and talk about it with our kids (at least middle schoolers and older). If we don’t, they will catch wind of it somewhere else and feel confused and scandalized (as they should), and their faith may be seriously compromised. Here are three points to think about and possibly talk about with your kids:
Discipline, Decision-Making, and the Four Cardinal Virtues
Do you ever feel as if there are days when your are too often taking disciplinary action with your kids? Do you ever feel as if you have morphed into The Punisher, doling out “consequences” to one child after another? Do you ever feel as if you are frequently scolding and reprimanding your children — and getting nowhere?
I’ve been there. With my younger ones sometimes I’m still there. But I have a little secret about discipline that I’d like to share:
Continue reading “Discipline, Decision-Making, and the Four Cardinal Virtues”
Mercy for Marthas 