One of my favorite moments of the Church year is the procession to the font at the Easter Vigil Mass. No matter what setting of the Litany of the Saints you may sing at your parish, there is something wonderful about making our way to the font with those to be baptized as we call upon the saints and angels in song. It is at that point in our Church year when I most physically and spiritually feel that I am part of the Communion of Saints—the communion of pilgrims on Earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in Heaven (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 962). I am always filled with joy as I process with those who are going to enter into this holy communion through the Sacrament of Baptism.

We begin the month of November by celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints and All Souls’ Day. We dress our classroom and family prayer tables with pictures of loved ones who have died, images of favorite saints, candles, and the cross. Many Hispanic families add flowers and skull- and skeleton-shaped candies to their family altars in celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It is a time for family members to offer memories of and prayers for the deceased. It is a time to pray our own litanies.

On October 14 of this year, Pope Francis canonized seven women and men: Pope Paul VI, Óscar Romero, Francesco Spinelli, Vincenzo Romano, Maria Kasper, Nazaria Ignacia, and Nunzio Sulprizio. Their childhoods, education, countries of origin, ministries, ages, and life experiences differ greatly. Yet all are now recognized as saints of the Church. Their stories have now become a part of our collection of saints’ stories at SaintsResource.com, and those stories encourage us to remain strong in faith and hope, to never give up, and to always follow Christ’s way of love.

As we are reminded in the Be My Disciples Grade 5 lesson on All Saints:

[The saints are] holy men and women [who] are models of discipleship. Some are known for their lives of heroic virtue. Other saints are known for the great sacrifices they made for their faith. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the greatest of all the saints.

The saints come from every time, every culture, every race, and from every nation on Earth. They were young and old, poor and wealthy. Some were great scholars, while others never learned to read. Some saints were from royal families; others were peasants. Many of these saints have special feast days on the Church calendar to honor their unique contributions to the Church. When we pray in the Apostles’ Creed that we believe in the Communion of Saints, we profess our belief that we are united as people of faith.

And so, as we begin this month of November, let us lift our voices in prayer and song. Let us call upon the saints—all the faithful followers of Jesus—to pray for us!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Saint Michael, pray for us.
Holy angels of God, pray for us.
Pope Saint Paul VI, pray for us.
Saint Óscar Romero, pray for us.
Saint Francesco Spinelli, pray for us.
Saint Vincenzo Romano, pray for us.
Saint Maria Kasper, pray for us.
Saint Nazaria Ignacia, pray for us.
Saint Nunzio Sulprizio, pray for us.
All holy women and men, pray for us.

Mary Sellars Malloy recently retired from her position as project manager for RCL Benziger. She continues giving presentations and leading parish missions and retreats throughout the country. Her hope is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their faith.

December 2 is the beginning of the season of Advent and the beginning of the new liturgical year. Now is a great time to review the liturgical year section in the back of your Be My Disciples or Blest Are We student, catechist, and teacher editions.

Plan ahead to post a new liturgical year calendar, and celebrate its posting with a Prayer for the New Church Year. Mark upcoming solemnities and feasts with special stickers, push pins, or symbols. Take time to review with your class or family the seasons of the liturgical year and their colors, symbols, feasts, and focuses. The material in the back of your book will help you lead this discussion. 

To encourage families to celebrate Advent in the home, prepare for each family a copy of Rita Burns Senseman’s article, Celebrating Advent at Home: Purple Is for Advent. This article offers an explanation of the season of Advent and practical ways for families to celebrate Advent in the home. 

Place the Advent wreath on your classroom prayer table, and celebrate with the children and youth the Blessing of the Advent Wreath. You may wish to copy and send this home as an Advent prayer resource for families. 

Tell the stories of the women and men who, like John the Baptist, helped prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Create a classroom Jesse Tree, read the Scripture stories, and create ornaments celebrating the ancestry of Jesus. The Jesse Tree is another family-friendly resource you may wish to copy and send home with children and youth.

Celebrate in the classroom or encourage families to pray the O Antiphons each day from December 17 to December 23. The O Antiphons of Advent for Grades 1-4 and The O Antiphons of Advent for Grades 5-8 provide some background on the O Antiphons, a prayer, a verse of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” and patterns for making simple O Antiphon ornaments.

Prepare children and youth to hear the Sunday readings of the Advent season by using the Gospel Reflection and Classroom Sessions for each Sunday of Advent, available at RCLBLectionary.com. The Classroom Sessions offer ideas for children and youth in primary, intermediate, and junior high grades, as well as background for the religion teacher and catechist. Encourage families to continue the discussion of the Sunday readings by sending home the Question of the Week, also available at RCLBLectionary.com. Two simple questions, one for adults and one for children, can foster lively and faith-filled conversation.

Don’t forget to celebrate the many saints whose solemnities and feasts are celebrated this Advent season. Many of their stories can be found in your textbook or at SaintsResource.com.

December 3: Saint Francis Xavier, Priest 
Saint Francis Xavier, one of the first Jesuits, longed to preach the Good News to the Chinese, but died before ever reaching China. He is the patron saint of foreign missions.

Today pray for our sisters and brothers in China, and for all missionaries who work to bring the Good News to China and to every corner of the world.

December 6: Saint Nicholas, Bishop 
Saint Nicholas is one of the best known and best loved of the Saints. On his feast day, tangerines are often given as a symbol of the gold he gave in order to save three daughters whose father was going to sell them into slavery. Candy canes are also offered as a reminder of Bishop Nicholas’ crosier, or bishop’s staff. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children.

Today pray for all children who are victims of abuse and violence. In honor of Saint Nicholas’ generosity, make a special effort to give care, kindness, and time to those around you.

December 7: Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 
Saint Ambrose was chosen by the people to become the bishop of Milan even though he was a catechumen, an unbaptized person. He was a friend of Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine, and he baptized Saint Augustine.

Today pray for all catechumens who are preparing to be initiated into the Catholic faith through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

December 8: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
On this day the Church celebrates the dogma that Mary was kept free from Original Sin from the first moment of her conception. Spain celebrates this solemnity with a tradition called Los Seises (the Dance of the Six). As hymns of the solemnity are sung, six boys dance before the Blessed Sacrament. In Paraguay, Our Lady of the Miracles is celebrated. Invite the children and youth to research these two traditions celebrated on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Today pray all or part of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The litany is available at usccb.org (Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

December 11: Saint Damasus I, Pope
As pope, Saint Damasus made the decision to make Latin the official language of the western Church. He gave to Saint Jerome the task of translating the Bible from Hebrew and Greek to Latin. This translation was called the Vulgate. 

Today pray all or part of one of the traditional prayers of the Catholic faith (such as the Sign of the Cross, the Glory Be, the Hail Mary, or the Our Father) in Latin. Pray for Pope Francis, that the Holy Spirit will guide him and all Church leaders to make good decisions for the Church throughout the world.

December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas
This feast is celebrated as a solemnity in Mexico and in many Hispanic countries. Another name for Our Lady of Guadalupe is La Morenita (the little dark one), for Mary appeared to Juan Diego as an Aztec princess, with dark hair and olive skin. In doing so, she restored dignity to the Aztec people after they had suffered many years of cruelty and poverty.

Today copy the Our Lady of Guadalupe prayer for the children and youth and pray it together.

December 13: Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Saint Lucy’s only desire was to serve God and to care for the poor. Her name means light. In Sweden it is custom for the oldest daughter in the family to don a white robe and to place a wreath of lighted candles on her head. The children in the family join her in serving breakfast to their parents.

Today pray for families, especially parents, the first teachers of faith to their children. Sing a hymn or refrain celebrating the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World.

December 14: Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Saint John of the Cross was a mystic who deeply experienced the spiritual presence of God in his life. He writes of the “dark night of the soul,” an expression still used today to describe people’s doubts and challenges in their faith.

Today pray for all those who are struggling with their faith. Pray that they will see and recognize God at work, even in the darkest times of their lives.

December 21: Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Saint Peter Canisius was a Jesuit who spent his life in prayer, study, reflection, writing, and service to the poor. His concern for teaching the faith to the Germans led him to write three catechisms for adults and a simple catechism for children. He is often called the second apostle of Germany.

Today, take time to pray and reflect on the Apostles’ Creed, which states the main beliefs of the Catholic faith. Pray for the Catholic Church in Germany. And pray to be an apostle who shares the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. 

Additional seasonal prayer resources and suggestions are available to you at BeMyDisciples.com, through your login on Flourish, and RCLBLectionary.com.

Plan now to celebrate the start of the new liturgical year AND the beginning of the season of Advent with prayer, story, symbol, and song!

By Mary Regina Morrell

When I was growing up, I noticed how my mom displayed and treasured the many different gifts my dad gave her over the years. Among those gifts were a variety of painted and jeweled eggs. Their beauty shone in the remarkable designs and craftsmanship of their shells.

When I received an exceptionally lovely porcelain egg music box a few years ago, I believed all I needed to know about it was on the outside. To keep it safe, I placed it behind the glass doors of our hutch. For years it stood there with not much more than a casual glance from me.

One day, after a difficult situation caused me to wonder if my guardian angel had put in for a vacation, I stopped in front of the hutch and stared at the gilded egg. Something inside me said, “Open it.” My first thought was sarcastic: “And how I am going to manage that without breaking it?” But upon closer inspection, I realized the egg was formed of two separate halves.

Removing the egg from the hutch, I gently pulled the halves apart. An enchanting guardian angel adorned with rhinestones was revealed. I was stunned. All these years and I didn’t know there was an angel at the heart of this gift. At that point, I moved the egg to my desk as a reminder that even when I do not see or fully appreciate my guardian angel, my guardian angel is always with me.

ANGELS IN SACRED SCRIPTURE

Angels appear often in the Old Testament as God’s messengers to the people of Israel. Abraham offered hospitality to three strangers and discovered he was entertaining angels (see Genesis 18:1-15). Later, an angel stopped Abraham from sacrificing his own son (see Genesis 22:1-19). Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, had a dream of a ladder where angels ascended and descended. He wrestled with an angel and was injured in the process (see Genesis 28:1-15; 32:23-33). Angels saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3) and an angel was sent to close the mouths of the lions when Daniel was cast into the lions’ den (see Daniel 6).

In the New Testament, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God (see Luke 1:26-38). An angel came to strengthen Jesus as he prayed on the Mount of Olives (see Luke 22:39-46) and an angel appeared at the tomb after Jesus’ Resurrection (see John 20:11-13). Angels also appeared to the disciples after Jesus ascended to Heaven (see Acts of the Apostles 1:6-12).

SACRED TRADITION

Catholic doctrine on the guardian angels is rooted in Sacred Scripture, but the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels was not established until the 1600s. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by [the angels’] watchful care and intercession.²⁰² ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him [or her] to life.’ ”²⁰³

Pope Francis, in his 2015 homily for the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, urged Catholics to be more aware of and more dependent on the care of our guardian angels. He invited us to ask ourselves, “How is my relationship with my guardian angel? Do I listen to him? Do I say good morning to him in the morning? Do I ask him: ‘Watch over me when I sleep’? Do I speak with him? Do I ask his advice?” The pope concluded by stating, “We can answer this question today, each of us: How is my relationship with this angel that the Lord has sent to watch over me and accompany me on my journey, and who always sees the face of the Father who is in heaven?”

THE SAINTS SAY …

^{202 Cf. Mt 18:10; Lk 16:22; Ps 34:7;91:10=13; Job 33:22-24; Zech 1:12; Tob 12:12.
203 St. Basil, Adv. Eunomium III, 1: PG 29, 656B.}

^{Images of the saints from Wikimedia Commons, all public domain in the USA.}

Mary Regina Morrell is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.

Join Father Robert Hater on an exploration of what it means to be a modern day missionary disciple of Christ. In this series of essays, Father Hater reflects on the history and importance of Catholic evangelization, how each of us is called by Christ to spread His Good News, and how we can embrace the new evangelization in today’s high-paced contemporary world. 

Father Robert J. Hater is a Cincinnati diocesan priest, a Professor of Theology at the Athenaeum of Ohio, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Dayton. A storyteller and internationally known writer and lecturer in the fields of catechesis, ministry, evangelization, and spirituality; he currently serves as the Theological Advisor for RCL Benziger.

He has authored more than 20 books and countless articles. Some books of note include: Catholic Evangelization: The Heart of Ministry (Harcourt), The Catholic Parish: Hope for a Changing World (Paulist Press), and Tell Me a Story: The Role of Narrative in the Faith Life of Catholics (Twenty-Third Publications). His book, When a Catholic Marries a Non-Catholic (St. Anthony Messenger Press), won a Catholic Press Association Award in 2007.

He lives and ministers at St. Clare Parish (Cincinnati, OH).

View Reflections - Missionary Discipleship

“Once upon a time” … when we hear these words we know what’s coming – a story.

Our ears perk up, our brains snap to attention, and our expectation, even if it is subconscious, is an experience of connection, meaning, and imagination.

The need to share stories is part of human nature and is documented from earliest times of human existence in ancient cave paintings and engravings from all over the world.

The stories expressed by our ancient ancestors were meant, not just as a lesson for those who would read them, but as an expression of who the artists were, as a people and as individuals. These pictographs reveal, ‘This is how we live, this is what we value, these are the things that bring us to action and to rest.’

Whether stories are told through art, the written word, music, dance, or some other creative expression, the effect on those who experience them is the same.

Neuroscientists and psychologists explain that a compelling story can cause the release of the neurochemical oxytocin in the brain, affecting our beliefs, behavior, and attitudes. Basically, the release of oxytocin makes us feel good, safe, and social.

Today, in our era of extreme marketing, the most effective story-telling is treasured as a means of product branding. Advertising, including commercials, are mini-stories meant not just to move viewers emotionally, but to move them to action – to buy whatever product is being sold.

Take for example an explanation by a marketing firm of how a relatively new, young company has grabbed a several billion dollar share of the market for their product by using story: “Using short vignettes of a man having more time to cook breakfast because he cut down on shaving time or a man spending a weekend alone at a lake house, they have captured moments that make viewers connect and feel things. They keep their story simple – the picture of a simple guy with a rich life.”

Jesus clearly understood the power of story. His method of teaching with parables planted the seeds for a faith that would become the largest in the world, even though the message he was trying to impart was often contrary to the status quo of his time. He used parables filled with familiar images and characters to whom listeners could relate.

Jesus told his stories to help his listeners understand his transformative message and to enable them to follow his way to his Father – to love God above all things and to love others.

We can imagine him sitting around the campfire on a chilly night in Galilee, perhaps eating figs, bread, and honey, and relaxing after a long day of preaching when the disciples ask him, “Lord, what is the kingdom of heaven like?” He thinks about it for a minute and then replies, “Once upon a time, there was a mustard seed. It was the tiniest of seeds that God ever created. But one day, a man planted the tiny mustard seed in the soil, and it grew into the greatest of shrubs and became a great tree so that the birds of the air could take shelter in its branches and make nests in its shade.” (ref. Mark 4:30-32 or Luke 13:18-19)

Of course, Jesus didn’t use the words, “Once upon a time.” But, he did speak of something all the disciples were familiar with, the mustard seed. His simple stories resonated with the disciples and with those who listened to him preach.

It’s unlikely that most people who are listening to Jesus’ story ever thought of the mustard seed as anything more than something to plant and grow. But, through the use of story, Jesus used familiar images to help people see things in a new, richer light.

His stories were meant to nurture “Aha” moments and to deepen understanding of challenging spiritual and moral principles. He was able to foster this learning in his disciples because he was brilliant at knowing his audience. He understood that not all people are at the same level of faith, maturity, or intellect.

Our young people are being inundated with stories daily, many of which are not in their best interest spiritually, morally, or emotionally, but which can have a profound effect on their way of thinking and behaving. We need to counteract those stories with stories of our own; stories of our faith, stories of love, forgiveness, hope, and resurrection.

So, how can we follow in the storyteller footsteps of Jesus, particularly in our classrooms? In addition to using resources like RCL Benziger’s Stories of God’s Love, Blest Are We, or Be My Disciples, we can learn to be storytellers and help our children to be storytellers, as well.

1. Examine your day. Did anything happen that might make a good story? Was there a conflict, a transformation, a lesson learned? Write it down. Keep a story journal.
2. Help your students identify a story in their day. Did something happen in school? At home? While they were playing? Did they make a discovery that they could share to help others learn a lesson? Did they learn something about God?
3. Don’t underestimate the insight of children. It’s not enough to just tell the story. Encourage them to talk about any stories shared with them. What did they learn? How did the story make them feel?
4. Depending on the age of your students, spend a class letting them write or draw a parable of their own creation. Give the students the opportunity to share the parable with the class, helping them to identify the lesson the parable is meant to teach.
5. Familiarize yourself with the parables of Jesus (there are more than 40) so when students talk about a challenge they are having in their lives, you may be able to share a parable that will help them understand how they are to respond to a difficult situation (The parable of the Prodigal Son, also known as The Merciful Father, is a great story to use with teens who are at the age of wanting to break away from parents and authority figures, who often make unwise decisions, and who would benefit from a deeper understanding of forgiveness).
6. Check out the lives of the saints at RCL Benziger’s Saints Resource website. You will find a wealth of stories here.

As you enter the big box retail stores, you see the “back to school” displays filled with pencils, notebooks, crayons, and everything that is needed to return to school. I remember when I was young, the excitement of getting new crayons, a brand new pink eraser, and other new school supplies.

Growing up in the Midwest we finished the school year around Memorial Day and did not resume until after Labor Day—giving us a wonderfully long summer vacation. But our learning never actually stopped.  Daily chores and other labors and activities provided us life lessons and experiences well beyond classroom learning.

Our faith experience is similar. Young people might not be in a formal Catholic school or religious education sessions during the summer months, but whether they—or we—realize it or not, they are still engaged in the formation of their faith. We hope they are using what they learned during the year to live as young disciples over the summer.

In a few weeks, they will be returning to school days and formal faith formation sessions. Now is our opportunity to “check in” with them and help them to remember their summer, with a twist. Using some form of reflection, ask them to journal, reflect, or discuss things like:

1. Their summer stories – did they go on a mission trip, help with VBS, help neighbors or relatives with a yard or other work? How were they Christ-like to others?
2. How did they experience God this summer? In the beauty of nature, a grateful smile of a child? A tearful goodbye to a friend? Were they able to recognize that moment?
3. Did they face any challenges? Did they feel the presence of God in a special way as they visited relatives? Or a loved one in the hospital or another facility?
4. How have they been the light of Christ to others this summer?

(A selection of these activities were taken from the new Blest Are We Faith in Action.)

Encourage them to continue to reflect upon their daily experiences throughout the rest of the year. RCL Benziger’s “basal” resources, such as Blest Are We, Be My Disciples, Stories of God’s Love, and sacramental preparation programs, can help you quickly accomplish this. Our prayer books and bibles can also assist you in the ongoing formation of your children/teens or yourself. Find your local sales representative to discuss how we can best serve you.

We hope your summer has included time for rest and reflection.

Click to read full article

These lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! How can you inspire and help families keep faith alive during the summer months?

Jacquie Jambor, the author of the original Faith First At Home program once said, “As summer begins, the possibility of families spending more time together can offer some unique opportunities.” You might want to encourage the families in your parish to make a “Summer Resolution” to spend more time having family conversations that do not revolve around schedules, school, and so on.

So what would those conversations sound like? To start, be sure that everyone understands the rules, and there are only three:

• Everyone must take a turn responding to the question or completing the statement, children and adults alike.
• When someone is speaking, everyone else listens, and no one may disagree. Respect everyone’s right to express and share his or her own thoughts.
• If the speaker says something nice about you, don’t feel embarrassed or think you need to disagree; simply appreciate it and say thank you.

Here are some conversation starters about Faith:

• What is one time in my life when I felt as if God really cares for me?
• I know God listens to my prayers because _____.
• My favorite Bible story is _____ because _____.
• If I was the pope and I could name someone a saint, I would name_____, because _____.
• The best thing about being Catholic is _____.

And some suggestions for conversations about your family:

• The best thing about being a member of this family is _____.
• My favorite family story is _____.
• What is your favorite family holiday and why?
• What is your favorite family activity to do with a family relative and why?
• The most fun we have ever had as a family was the time when _____.

In today’s fast-paced, over-scheduled, mobile-ready, text-driven, and socially-connected world, we sometimes miss those priceless moments of connection through face-to-face conversation. My niece and goddaughter, Audrey, gave me a wonderful Christmas present this year. She wants to treat me to dinner one evening because: “I love going out to eat with you and talk about whatever comes to mind.” Audrey and I have been having “Coice Days” (aunt in Polish) since she was in kindergarten. Now as a college graduate, she still desires to have a special time for meaningful conversation. Children of all ages need the gift of time with trusted adult family members. There is no better way to share family history, values, wisdom, faith, and joy!

Another possibility for family conversations is through service projects. Take time to review Mary Beth Jambor’s book, Helping Kids Live Their Faith, Service Projects that Make a Difference, available through RCL Benziger. This updated resource is based on the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching and can provide simple suggestions for practical opportunities for families to both learn about and live out a life of faith. And yes, Mary Beth is Jacquie Jambor’s daughter; keeping it all in the family!

The summer months provide an excellent opportunity for families of all ages and stages to share stories about family and faith. All it takes is a willingness to try and commitment to creating a new routine. Encourage your parish families to make the “Summer Resolution” and begin to enjoy the blessing of being together as a family.

Many years ago, as a young child, my husband sat at his small desk and listened to his teacher tell his classmates and him not everyone receives God’s Grace. Given his often unruly behavior and the fact the teacher’s eyes were intent on his uneasy face, he was certain those words were meant for him.

It wasn’t until many, many years later, as a married man and father, that my husband shared this experience with me. He admitted the teacher’s words had taken root in his young heart and soul and, from that moment on, he believed that Grace, and God, had passed him by.

I sighed deeply when I heard this story, and my heart broke for a little boy who felt God didn’t love him enough to share his Grace – whatever that was. And while he wasn’t sure what Grace really meant, he knew, at least, it was a gift from God. A gift God chose not to give him.

As religious educators – whether parent, teacher, religious, or clergy – we must always be mindful of the power of our words. And therefore, realize the importance of having a real knowledge of what we are teaching, especially something as important and challenging to understand as the Grace of God.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is often used with adult students, teaches us that Grace is a unmerited favor; the help we need as we strive toward our vocation to become children of God. It is, “the gratuitous gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it” (CCC 1999). And, as with any gift, we can choose to accept it or not. God never interferes with our freedom.

As we worked through the material, I found the very insightful questions the adults asked about Grace were not answered simply by the text, or by any definition in any book we used. It helped me realize that, as future catechists, they would need assistance in teaching their young students about something they didn’t fully understand themselves.

Then I came across a small book entitled,My Way of Life: the Summa Simplified for Everyone. It was a pocket edition of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ masterpiece, Summa Theologica that had been summarized to reach any person who wished to understand more of the truths of the Catholic faith. Within its pages, I read the following: “The Mystery of Grace is a part of the greater mystery that is God's love. Grace is God's perfect gift to us, a gift that makes us God's friends and adopted children. Grace leads to happiness and glory.” The words were simple and meaningful and were a perfect beginning to an understanding of Grace for children and adults, alike.

This little pocketbook also offered some sound catechetical advice: "Since Grace is the effect of God's love in [humankind], and since it is a share in God's own divine nature, we cannot find any exact parallel to Grace in the world of nature. But it might be of some help to try to compare the mystery of Grace to something within the bounds of human experience."

I imagine making this suggestion the heart of a catechist workshop and then reaping the benefit of years of shared experience, formation, and creativity.

In his book, Being Catholic, Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk stresses the need for our response, “…grace is not a bus ticket to heaven, an object or thing which God gives us and which we have to hang onto if we want to be saved. Grace is the life and holiness of Christ given to us by the Holy Spirit. It calls for response and development from us. We are called to live out the life of Christ, not merely to possess it.”

Today, I remind adults that our understanding of the many aspects of Grace will grow as we become more and more aware of our own limitations and sinfulness. We grow in our awareness that only through God’s Grace can we respond to God’s love with our own, and accomplish all God expects from us.

Additional Resources:
• Being Catholic. By: Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: Grace and Justification
• My Way of Life: the Summa Simplified for Everyone. By: Fr. Walter Farrell and Fr. Martin J. Healy
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Sacraments and Sacramentals

Mary Regina Morrell is a syndicated Catholic columnist, freelance writer, and author who has served the Church for more than 25 years. She is a former associate director of religious education for the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey; associate editor and catechetical consultant for RENEW International; and managing editor of The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey. Find her at mary.wellspring@yahoo.com, Twitter@mreginam6, and her blogs, God Talk, and Tea and My Mother's Bread.

As we prepare for Lent each year, we think about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We want to open our hearts to Jesus on our 40-Days Lenten Journey. This year during Lent let us also help our children focus on silence, prayer, and devotions. Perhaps when we find special ways to help our students deepen their prayer during the Lenten season, those prayerful experiences may become regular methods of prayer throughout the year helping children deepen their relationships with Jesus.

We need time to develop relationships in a way that is positive and loving. Time is necessary to help any friendship grow, whether it is a relative, classmate, or neighbor. Children need to see their relationship with Jesus as a friendship. Giving children time for silence, prayer, and devotions will help their relationship with their friend, Jesus grow.

Pope John Paul II said, “Dear young people, like the first disciples, follow Jesus! Do not be afraid to draw near to him, to speak to him face to face, as you talk with a friend.” Let’s help our children find time to draw near to Jesus. The ideas below can be incorporated into the school day or religious education class.

Time for Silence: to quiet ourselves to hear God

1. At the end of Religious Education or the school day, allow for two whole minutes of silence with all students and adults in the building. Using the PA system, read a daily Lenten reflection for children. At the end of the reading say, “Listen, do you hear God’s voice?” Have the children sit in silence for two minutes thinking about what Jesus is saying to them.

2. Guided Meditation is a beautiful way to slow children down, sit silently, and reflectively as they listen to a story about Jesus. You can find published meditations or write guided meditations where children encounter Jesus through a story. The story will pause and allows children time to think about how they would respond to Jesus.

Time for Prayer: to open our hearts to God

1. Lectio Divina means holy reading. It is a special way to read scripture and reflect on how the Gospel is speaking to one’s heart. During Lent, slowly read the Sunday Gospel to your students. As you read it a second time, children should think of one word from the Gospel that has a special meaning to them at that moment. Go around the room, and have each child say the word that had meaning to them. After everyone has had a turn, perhaps some children would like to share why they chose a particular word and why that word has a significant meaning to them on that day.

2. Offer a scripture reflection group for children. This works well during or after the school day or at a convenient time outside of the religious education class time. If you tie service projects into the group’s mission, this encourages participation. Meet once a week to read the Gospel for the following Sunday. Prepare discussion questions to help children think about how the Gospel is working in their lives. Begin and end each session with prayer. Plan service opportunities for the children. Through service, the children will probably strengthen the bonds of the scripture group but also come to know Jesus in a special way.

3. Teaching your students about the saints can help children feel a connection to Jesus. On the RCL Benziger website under Lent and Holy Week, there is a resource on Saints and Solemnities of the Season. You will find of list of dates and saints. Information is provided on the saints along with suggestions for prayer.

Time for Devotions: to help us worship God

1. Plan Eucharistic Adoration for families. Adoration is the true presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The monstrance is the ornate vessel that holds the consecrated Eucharistic host. Monstrare is Latin for expose. During Adoration we are praying in the actual presence of Jesus. We are reaching out to Jesus while Jesus is simultaneously reaching out to us. Adoration is usually an hour long; however, it is not developmentally appropriate for children to sit silently for an hour. Plan time during the Adoration for guided prayer and spoken prayer on the following: praise, love, thanksgiving, repentance, and prayers for the faithful. Provide a cantor to lead music at the beginning and the end of Adoration.

2. Pray a decade of the rosary with your students either in the classroom or your church. If this will be your students’ first experience praying the rosary, you may want to give each child in your class a diagram of the rosary with the prayers.

3. Prepare Stations of the Cross for families at your church on Good Friday or during Holy week. Tell the story of each station and pray together.

On World Youth Day in Reo 2013, Pope Francis shared the following: “It is your life that Jesus wants to enter with His word, with His presence. Please, let Christ and His word enter your life, blossom and grow.” As teachers, catechists and principals this is what we want to instill in our students.

Aileen Scommegna holds a degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University. She has served as a teacher and DRE for the Archdiocese of Chicago for her entire career. She has written serval books on liturgical catechesis and faith for catechists, children, and parents.