St. Patrick is a saint who is both widely celebrated and not well-known. Though he is the patron saint of Ireland, he isn’t Irish. Though he was a bishop, he wasn’t always a believer. Though he served the people of Ireland, it wasn’t love at first sight.

St. Patrick’s story is an interesting narrative of contradictions, and a wonderful example of how the road of life, filled with obstacles and what we think are wrong turns, can still lead to fulfilling your God-given purpose.

Patrick was born in Britain to a wealthy family. At the age of 16, he was captured by Irish pirates and taken back to Ireland where he spent six years in forced servitude tending sheep. He was not well-treated, struggled with loneliness, hunger and cold. In his, Confessio, Patrick admitted, “I did not then believe in the living God, not even when I was a child.”

In these difficult times, a young Patrick eventually turned to God. One night, in his dreams, he had a vision of a boat waiting on shore and a voice telling him it was time to go home. Patrick believed the voice to be God’s, so he escaped from his captivity and walked 200 miles to the coast of Ireland where he did find a boat heading back to Britain.

Once home, he again had dreams in which he heard voices calling to him. He understood them to be the voices of the Irish people calling to him to come back. Which he did, after years of preparing for the priesthood and eventually being ordained a bishop at age 43.

St. Patrick made great inroads with the Irish people, as he was totally focused on bringing the Gospel of Jesus to the people he had grown to love. Today he is the patron saint of Ireland, and his feast day, March 17, is celebrated worldwide, and with it the cultural heritage of the Irish people. It is also an optional memorial in the Catholic liturgical calendar.

Like so many holidays with a religious basis, St. Patrick’s Day has become secularized and commercialized in contemporary culture. A celebration of good times and good luck is filled with Images of leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold, corned beef and cabbage dinners, reasons to indulge in frosty mugs of beer, and enjoyable, to be sure.

As educators we can ensure that students enjoy the celebration without losing the spiritual significance of St. Patrick.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as a Catholic holiday:

Discuss the life of St. Patrick – Introduce students to the life of St. Patrick. According to their age, ask students questions they must answer with more than a yes or no. You might begin with “What surprised you about St. Patrick?” “Do you pray to God when you are alone or afraid?” “How did St. Patrick’s love of God make other people’s lives better?”

Teach about the Trinity – Tradition says that St. Patrick taught the Irish to understand three persons in one God by using shamrocks, a small clover-like plant with three leaves on one stem, to illustrate the Holy Trinity as three persons in one God. Like Jesus, who also used images and stories to teach, St. Patrick used the shamrock, now the national emblem of Ireland, to make the mystery of God accessible to the Irish people.

Include a lesson on the role of bishop – Check your curriculum texts for opportunities to discuss the role of bishops in the Church. Images of St. Patrick often portray him with a staff in one hand and shamrocks in the other. Include explanations of a bishop’s mitre, staff, coat of arms, all perfect subjects for an art class. Encourage students to create their own coat of arms, using images from religion classes – doves, flames, wheat, crowns, hearts, crosses or angel wings, as examples.

For teachers – Perhaps the best way to get to know St. Patrick is to read his touching and inspiring Confessio, written by him while in Ireland. We are introduced to St. Patrick as a humble man with unwavering trust in God, who shares many of his trials and tribulations while serving the Irish people. He closed his Confessio with these words:

“I pray for those who believe in and have reverence for God. Some of them may happen to inspect or come upon this writing which Patrick, a sinner without learning, wrote in Ireland. May none of them ever say that whatever little I did or made known to please God was done through ignorance. Instead, you can judge and believe in all truth that it was a gift of God. This is my confession before I die.”

About the Author
Mary Clifford Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to ten, is a Catholic journalist, editor, and author who has served the Dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, Vermont, and RENEW International in the areas of religious education and communication.

 

On Nov. 11, the United States celebrates Veterans Day, a day to honor those who served in military service for their country. As Catholics, we also pray for the repose of the souls of all those who died defending their country. Across the country celebrations include parades and other observances and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Nov. 11 is also the day when Catholics honor St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers, who was a soldier and veteran himself. The celebration of St. Martin’s feast day known as Martinmas originated in France, and spread to many places including Britain, Germany, Scandinavia and Germany. In the United States, celebrations usually take place within communities that share a cultural heritage.

When Martin was a young boy, he learned about Christ and began studying to become a Christian. At 15, however, he was called into the Army and served as a Roman soldier. Tradition recalls that, one day, he met a very poor, shivering beggar with few clothes at the city gate. Martin wanted to help him but had nothing but his own clothes. He decided to divide the heavy cloak he was wearing in half and gave half to the beggar so he could be warm.

That night, Martin had a dream in which Jesus appeared to him wearing Martin’s cloak and told the angels surrounding him that Martin gave him the cloak. Martin went right away to be baptized and became a Christian. He asked to be relieved of duty from the army, telling his commander he was now a soldier of Christ.

When he was finally relieved from duty, Martin became a monk, preaching and serving the poor and needy. His holiness became legendary and, as he founded monasteries, many new monks and converts joined him. This humble and gentle servant of God was so loved, the people of Tours demanded he serve as their bishop.

In his humbleness, Martin declined, so they tricked him into coming to the church for consecration by telling him he was needed to heal a sick woman. When he realized what had happened, Martin hid in a barn, but a large gaggle of geese made so much noise they gave him away.

Martin agreed to become bishop and serve God’s people. He built many churches, fought heresies, and continued to care for the sick, poor and needy. He also worked to save the lives of prisoners, especially heretics who were usually executed.

Martin was also known as Martin the Merciful, which makes him a perfect saint for the coming season of Advent when we are reminded of the importance of the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

Some of St. Martin’s decisions based on his faith in God were: studying to become a Christian, leaving military service in the Roman army, becoming a monk, sharing his cloak with a beggar, being baptized and overcoming his reluctance to become Bishop.

St. Martin’s example is a strong one for youth, too, because though Martin became a saint, he was also a normal human being like them. He was faced with many decisions each day. Helping students look at their decisions in the light of faith is an important aspect of faith formation.

Given the many sources of information and experiences youth today face, all of which have an influence on both their conscience and decision-making abilities, the religious education classroom is a powerful place for children to learn good decision making. Prayer, Scripture, Gospel readings, stories of saints and discussions about shared experiences help students to develop their conscience in-line with their faith.

Read more about St. Martin of Tours in Saints Resource.

About the Author
Mary Clifford Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to ten, is a Catholic journalist, editor, and author who has served the Dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, Vermont, and RENEW International in the areas of religious education and communication.

 

 

In your classroom, you see children from a rich diversity of cultures. Your students may speak several languages, and they may even belong to different faith traditions. Culture is the way one sees and understands the world. Culture is like an invisible set of glasses that I put on that helps me to see and interpret the world. For us, culture is the water in which we swim, which means that we are often unaware of how we are shaped by our culture.

At Mass, we pray, “You never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting, a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.” Our Catholic Church is present all over the world, and Catholic people bring the beauty of their traditional art, food, music, and languages to their lives. In each expression of the Catholic faith, we find the unity of love for Christ, the Blessed Mother, and the Saints. If we wish to work across cultures as one Church, we must become aware of our own culture and the cultures that shaped us.

Out of my family's cultural experiences, I have woven a tapestry of faith and life. I’m an American, but I usually say that my ancestors were Scottish and Italian. My Catholic faith comes to me through my Italian heritage, but I credit my Protestant Scottish mother for instilling in me a love of the Bible. I can make both scones and cannoli, and I know how to dance the Highland fling and Tarantella. My Christmas tree has plaid ribbons and dainty angels. I am enriched by both cultures.

Celebrating Our Roots. Help your students to appreciate the strengths of the cultural traditions of their own families. Ask them to share one food, piece of art, song, or holiday custom that their family practices because they learned it from their elders.

Learn How Other Catholics Celebrate. Invite young people to explore how the Catholic faith is celebrated in cultures that are not their own. For information about the role of Catholicism in dozens of other countries, check out the colorful book from RCL Benziger Our Family Devotions.

This book celebrates the many ways people of different cultures express the Catholic faith in their churches, neighborhoods, and homes. As the Good News of Jesus spread around the world, people in every culture found special ways to express their faith in God.

Learn More About Saints’ Cultures. A different saint is featured in every chapter of your Blest Are We Faith in Action series. Many saints were missionaries who brought their own cultures to new lands, and they were also enriched by the customs of the people with whom they ministered. For example, go deeper into the cultural backgrounds of Fr. Damien of Molokai (born in Belgium) or Blessed Miquel Pro of Mexico using the Catholics and Cultures website and the free RCL Benziger Saints Resource website.
 

About the Author Dr. Lauri Przybysz specializes in equipping families to live their vocation to be domestic churches and signs of God’s love. Lauri received the Doctor of Ministry from the Catholic University of America, and she has been both a Catholic middle school religion teacher and a faith formation coordinator at the archdiocesan and parish levels. She is the mother of six children and grandmother of 21.

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Our Family Devotions

It is our prayer that through this book, your family will experience God in new ways in their everyday lives. May the diverse and rich traditions of families and the Church from around the world lead you to find new ways of living out your faith. May the beauty of these devotions remind us that we are one family in Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love in our homes, churches, and communities.

LEARN MORE!

There is something remarkable about a mother’s love. It is unconditional, eternal and sacrificial, tender, generous, strong, and wise at its best. It is a refuge, something to trust, treasure, and celebrate.

The Church has embraced that treasure and the entire month of May to honor and celebrate the remarkable love of Mary, the Mother of God, who is also our mother. It is a centuries-old tradition, appropriately taking place during spring’s beauty and time of rebirth, reminding us that Mary gave new life to the world when she said “Yes,” to God and became the mother of Jesus.

Children may not fully understand the religious teachings behind Catholic beliefs, but they understand the importance of a mother’s love. Embracing the month of May as a time to help children get to know Mary, as a mother, as a comforter, and as a saint, will help them develop a life-long relationship with the Mother of God.

Our Catholic textbooks, like Blest Are We Faith in Action series, and Be My Disciples, offer important lessons about Mary and a reminder that Catholics do not worship Mary, but, rather, honor her as the Mother of Jesus, Mother of the Church, and our best model of faith.

During May, consider adding some of these Mary moments to your classroom and discussions, and help children get to know Mary better.

Portray Mary as the mother of us all. Most pictures and statues of Mary are crafted in a European style of light skin and hair. Add some images of Mary that reflect her Middle Eastern heritage and others that reflect images of our multi-cultural mother. There is a wonderful collection for review in an article by Aleteia – 10 Stunning images of the Madonna and Child from around the world.

Have a classroom May crowning. Many parishes have May Crownings, but having a crowning of a Mary statue, or even a wreath of flowers around a Mary picture in a classroom, is something that all students may be a part of and then see every day. If possible, include a Marian hymn children can sing. If the statue is on the classroom prayer table, consider adding a box or jar for the student’s prayer intentions to Mary.

Pray for a decade of the Rosary. The Rosary is a prayer that honors Mary and helps us meditate on the life of Christ. Religion textbooks like Blest Are We and Be My Disciples include an explanation of how to pray the Rosary. Check with a parish Altar Rosary Society if Rosary beads are needed for the students. They often have extras on hand.

Share Mary in Scripture stories. Scripture doesn’t include a lot about Mary but there are enough stories to show snippets of Mary’s life and her unwavering presence throughout Jesus’ ministry. Read these stories to, or with, your students and encourage them to talk about what they learned about Mary from them:   The Annunciation, Visitation, Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Finding of Jesus in the Temple, Wedding Feast at Cana, Crucifixion, and Pentecost.

About the Author

Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, 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.

When I was a child, I grew up in a home with both my parents and grandparents. I shared a bedroom with my sister and each night, as I drifted off to sleep, I heard my grandparents praying the rosary together. Every time we set out in the car on a family vacation, my parents led us in a prayer asking God to grant us a safe journey. Other devotions surrounded me as I grew in my Catholic faith. Our family went to Stations of the Cross on the Friday nights of Lent, and we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. We participated in our parish May crowning and attended Eucharistic Adoration and parish missions. Throughout my life, Catholic prayers and practices have been an essential part of my journey of faith.

As faith formation leaders, it is important to help catechists and parents realize the importance of sharing with our children and young people the rich tradition of the prayers and devotions of our Church. Catechetical leaders should identify strategies whereby this vital dimension of our Catholic faith can be shared and experienced by our young believers.

It is important to encourage catechists to utilize the prayer resources contained in their basal religion books to help children learn our treasured prayers and practices. Highlight the importance of allotting time during their lesson to engage the children in the prayer service provided in each chapter of their faith formation book. These weekly prayer experiences help students learn the many forms and styles of the Church’s prayer life. If your community is culturally diverse, provide catechists with prayer and devotional ideas that respect the heritage of their families.

Offering opportunities to celebrate devotions in a community setting is a great way to bring families together. For example, host an Advent event when families come together to create an Advent wreath for use in their home. During Lent, gather families together in church to walk and pray the Stations of the Cross. Sponsor a “Mary Day” in May to celebrate our Blessed Mother as a woman of faith; include the praying of a decade of the rosary during the experience.

Our Catholic community is blessed with a richness of treasured prayers and practices that can support a deepening of faith within all believers. Let us continue to share and experience them in our parish and school communities.

Related resources:

• View sample of Catholic Prayers and Practices for Young Disciples
• Visit our Family Life website
• Learn more about Mary on USCCB website
• Shop RCL Benziger’s store for Catholic prayers and practices resources

Anita M. Foley is a senior sales representative for RCL Benziger, serving the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Metuchen and Paterson, New Jersey.

Anita holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Religious Education from Seton Hall University. She has also attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange for continuing post-graduate education and formation. Before joining RCL Benziger, Anita taught in Catholic elementary and high schools. She also served in ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark and in parish ministry as a: Director of Religious Education, Pre-K Religious Education Program Coordinator, and Director of RCIA and Adult Faith Formation. Articles written by Anita have been published in Today’s Parish, Catechist Magazine, and Word on Worship. She is currently a workshop and retreat facilitator, and serves as a member of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Newark.

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