Rosary box I made.
Praying the Rosary...praying the Jesus Prayer
Someone I admire who prays the Rosary
and looking forward...
During October we focused more on the rosary as a family. It's been difficult to pray a whole rosary as a family...with cooperation of sitting still that long. (sometimes by the mother, sometimes by the children!) But this year we tried praying as we cleaned off the table in October. Many times we were successful!
Thinking about prayer, I was reminded to being praying when we leave the house. Sometimes those first few minutes in the car can be hairy! When we begin praying, it makes the car ride begin smoothly. And by giving the trip into town to Jesus, I know he's watching over us!
Showing posts with label year of faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label year of faith. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Immaculate Heart of Mary
What is this heart all about?
It's the interior heart of Mary which felt the pain of no room in the inn and Crucifixion as well as the joy of the annunciation and the resurrection. It's the true heart of a mother. I would do well to try and have more of the heart of Mary.
On October 13th of this year, the 96th anniversary of Fatima, Pope Francis will consecrate the world to Jesus through Mary's Immaculate Heart. We've done this in our own family. In fact, my first consecration to Jesus through Mary was in 1999. I read St. Louis de Montforts book. A few years ago, my husband and I reconsecrated using 33 days to Morning Glory.
I found this old post of when we celebrated a reconsecration at a local monastery. It coincided with a Fatima celebration.
I think this year we will have a celebration too. It falls on a Sunday. It's a good thing to do during the Year of Faith...we only have about 7 weeks left!
It's the interior heart of Mary which felt the pain of no room in the inn and Crucifixion as well as the joy of the annunciation and the resurrection. It's the true heart of a mother. I would do well to try and have more of the heart of Mary.
On October 13th of this year, the 96th anniversary of Fatima, Pope Francis will consecrate the world to Jesus through Mary's Immaculate Heart. We've done this in our own family. In fact, my first consecration to Jesus through Mary was in 1999. I read St. Louis de Montforts book. A few years ago, my husband and I reconsecrated using 33 days to Morning Glory.
I found this old post of when we celebrated a reconsecration at a local monastery. It coincided with a Fatima celebration.
I think this year we will have a celebration too. It falls on a Sunday. It's a good thing to do during the Year of Faith...we only have about 7 weeks left!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
talk notes...
talk notes from today's presentation to a young moms group at a local parish:
I'd like to encourage you all in living our primary goal as parents, as mothers.
To help those in our home turn their hearts and minds toward God.
What is the avenue in which we connect with our God? Prayer. This prayer is both a preparation and a vehicle for arriving at the great prayer of thanksgiving: The Mass or Eucharist. Pope John Paul II in his 1994 letter to families said that parents are the primary educators of the faith to their children. Already before a child begins school or pre-school, they have begun to have a relationship with God. And we can help nurture that at home. This supports, rather than diminishes, the benefit of taking them to weekly (or daily) Mass.
All peoples of religion offer prayer, but as Christians we pray through Jesus Christ. This mystery of knowing God in prayer is a way of God revealing more of himself to us. "Unless you become like a little child you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3)
How does a child approach prayer?
What is an adult's role in assisting a child into this mystery of prayer?
Prayer, after all, is a personal response to God. We each differ in the ways that we pray. We, as adults, should not presume to teach a child to pray. The only words that Jesus offered us is the Lord's Prayer. And that was in teaching adults!
When the Holy Spirit is indwelt in the child at their baptism, their life of prayer has begun. How can we respect that interior life? By creating the atmosphere for it to flourish.
Matthew 19:13 says " Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said:' Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.' And he laid his hands on them and went on his way."
We do know that there are specific ways to adjust the atmosphere to encourage prayer.
A British educator named Charlotte Mason suggested that learning (and I'm speaking specifically to learning to pray) takes atmosphere, discipline and life. Atmosphere and discipline are the ways we as adults can make the environment for children. Life is their job. We set the foundation and then they take it over as they grow.
Let's take a look at atmosphere. A child is very much capable of silence and contemplation. If you haven't experienced children's adoration, I highly recommend it! It's amazing to see children of 2 or 3 years of age sitting for periods of silence with the Sisters of St. John. Or my own observations in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd where children sit for prayer, for personal work and prayer.
But does prayer only have to be nurtured at church or religious formation? No. You can create an atmosphere for a child's prayer in your own home.
Having a quiet space in the home. Away from the toys. Turn off the TV.
(can you pray with the TV on?)
An environment of prayer begins at birth!
Really? Yes!
How? Here are some ideas to try:
Hang religious images where the child can see them while in your arms, while nursing, when waking from a nap. This can lift their minds to things of above.
Use your own personal gestures of prayer SLOWLY. Make the sign of the cross with purpose (don't be sloppy). Perhaps use three finger tips rather than your whole hand/ all finger tips. Genuflect slowly and deliberately. Spend time on your knees at home.
Give evening blessings with a cross on the children's heads or with holy water. Let the children give you an evening blessing.
Use prayers, hymns/songs that are acquainted with the Liturgical Time of the year. (like Come Holy Spirit around Pentecost, Come Though Expected Jesus during Advent) Let music be heard often in your home.
Have a prayer space for the children or for the whole family. Place simple "prayer helps" in this area such as a rosary, a crucifix, saint peg dolls or other touchable things for children.
Take the child to Mass at a young age and take them often! If one hour is too long for them to sit, then go to daily mass as well. This begins the process to help them attain the habit of sitting still and keeping their attention forward.
Read the daily readings ahead of time for the Mass aloud. (this also helps for the Moms that miss hearing all the readings due to helping the children sit still!)
Practice a Liturgy of the Hours at home. Pray upon rising, and sitting, eating and sleeping!
Rosary. Perhaps a decade with each meal and one with bedtime and teeth brushing.
We reverence the Holy Spirit living in the child when we acknowledge their independence in their choices. We give them two or three great choices and then allow them to choose.
Example: Want to pray sitting down or standing up? Will we pray the Our Father or sing the Hail Mary?
Jesus revealed himself to a little child in the gospels. He reveals himself to us as adults. We need to acknowledge that the child has the Holy Spirit working in their life just like we do!
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd reverences the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the child. You can learn more about CGS here.
In the youngest child's Atrium (a simple, prepared space for the children), you can find liturgy work, geography of the land of Jesus, Infancy Narratives work, Parable work as well as practical life.
The central focus in the youngest child's atrium is the parable of the Good Shepherd found in John 10.
Another focal point is the prayer table. This prayer table is easily replicated in the home.
What is included in a prayer table? A low table such as a coffee table. At the child's level. This is away from the busy parts of the home, but in an easy accessible place.
We have ours in our main living room. (It might be convenient for a child to have a prayer table in their own room?) A prayer cloth that is the liturgical color for the time is appropriate. Green for ordinary time, purple for preparation for Advent or Lent. An icon or a statue that might be appropriate for the time period. I currently have a icon of the Sorrowful Mother for the month of September. Perhaps a candle or a battery operated candle if you have young children with no experience with candles.
How to introduce a prayer table? "This is a special place to develop the habit of prayer. You can come here often during the day to spend some silence and quiet with God. Maybe you'd like to change the cloth, choose a different statue or photo, read a prayer, move figures to remember a parable or a narrative from the gospel." Perhaps a child's bible is close by. Access to the readings from the daily Mass or weekly gospel. An older child might like a copy of the Magnificat or Give us this Day. Perhaps a four volume copy of the Liturgy of Hours.
How else to help the child focus on prayer? Celebrate the holy days in a special way in your home. Besides attending Mass, choose a fun meal or outing to accent the day. Celebrate the Baptism day of each of your children---this is a VERY important day. The day they became a Christian!
Mary's birthday is coming up. Choose some white or blue foods. Decorate the prayer table with blue or a statue. Have a Mary procession. Sing a song to Mary. Visit a Marian shrine nearby. The options are endless.
So there's the atmosphere. Then there's the discipline of habit. Choosing to not miss Mass. To have the rule of prayer. Meal prayers and much more each day. These are simple ways to help your children. This requires even the more of the mother and the father to have a habit, the discipline, of faith.
And then you let go.
And let the Holy Spirit do it's work.
And watch the child respond. They do in their own way. It might not look like the way we approach prayer, but it's theirs.
Practice, as the adult, getting out of the way of the work of God in the child's life.
May God richly bless you as you pray alongside your children.
I'd like to encourage you all in living our primary goal as parents, as mothers.
To help those in our home turn their hearts and minds toward God.
What is the avenue in which we connect with our God? Prayer. This prayer is both a preparation and a vehicle for arriving at the great prayer of thanksgiving: The Mass or Eucharist. Pope John Paul II in his 1994 letter to families said that parents are the primary educators of the faith to their children. Already before a child begins school or pre-school, they have begun to have a relationship with God. And we can help nurture that at home. This supports, rather than diminishes, the benefit of taking them to weekly (or daily) Mass.
All peoples of religion offer prayer, but as Christians we pray through Jesus Christ. This mystery of knowing God in prayer is a way of God revealing more of himself to us. "Unless you become like a little child you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3)
How does a child approach prayer?
What is an adult's role in assisting a child into this mystery of prayer?
Prayer, after all, is a personal response to God. We each differ in the ways that we pray. We, as adults, should not presume to teach a child to pray. The only words that Jesus offered us is the Lord's Prayer. And that was in teaching adults!
When the Holy Spirit is indwelt in the child at their baptism, their life of prayer has begun. How can we respect that interior life? By creating the atmosphere for it to flourish.
Matthew 19:13 says " Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said:' Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.' And he laid his hands on them and went on his way."
We do know that there are specific ways to adjust the atmosphere to encourage prayer.
A British educator named Charlotte Mason suggested that learning (and I'm speaking specifically to learning to pray) takes atmosphere, discipline and life. Atmosphere and discipline are the ways we as adults can make the environment for children. Life is their job. We set the foundation and then they take it over as they grow.
Let's take a look at atmosphere. A child is very much capable of silence and contemplation. If you haven't experienced children's adoration, I highly recommend it! It's amazing to see children of 2 or 3 years of age sitting for periods of silence with the Sisters of St. John. Or my own observations in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd where children sit for prayer, for personal work and prayer.
But does prayer only have to be nurtured at church or religious formation? No. You can create an atmosphere for a child's prayer in your own home.
Having a quiet space in the home. Away from the toys. Turn off the TV.
(can you pray with the TV on?)
An environment of prayer begins at birth!
Really? Yes!
How? Here are some ideas to try:
Hang religious images where the child can see them while in your arms, while nursing, when waking from a nap. This can lift their minds to things of above.
Use your own personal gestures of prayer SLOWLY. Make the sign of the cross with purpose (don't be sloppy). Perhaps use three finger tips rather than your whole hand/ all finger tips. Genuflect slowly and deliberately. Spend time on your knees at home.
Give evening blessings with a cross on the children's heads or with holy water. Let the children give you an evening blessing.
Use prayers, hymns/songs that are acquainted with the Liturgical Time of the year. (like Come Holy Spirit around Pentecost, Come Though Expected Jesus during Advent) Let music be heard often in your home.
Have a prayer space for the children or for the whole family. Place simple "prayer helps" in this area such as a rosary, a crucifix, saint peg dolls or other touchable things for children.
Take the child to Mass at a young age and take them often! If one hour is too long for them to sit, then go to daily mass as well. This begins the process to help them attain the habit of sitting still and keeping their attention forward.
Read the daily readings ahead of time for the Mass aloud. (this also helps for the Moms that miss hearing all the readings due to helping the children sit still!)
Practice a Liturgy of the Hours at home. Pray upon rising, and sitting, eating and sleeping!
Rosary. Perhaps a decade with each meal and one with bedtime and teeth brushing.
We reverence the Holy Spirit living in the child when we acknowledge their independence in their choices. We give them two or three great choices and then allow them to choose.
Example: Want to pray sitting down or standing up? Will we pray the Our Father or sing the Hail Mary?
Jesus revealed himself to a little child in the gospels. He reveals himself to us as adults. We need to acknowledge that the child has the Holy Spirit working in their life just like we do!
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd reverences the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the child. You can learn more about CGS here.
In the youngest child's Atrium (a simple, prepared space for the children), you can find liturgy work, geography of the land of Jesus, Infancy Narratives work, Parable work as well as practical life.
The central focus in the youngest child's atrium is the parable of the Good Shepherd found in John 10.
Another focal point is the prayer table. This prayer table is easily replicated in the home.
What is included in a prayer table? A low table such as a coffee table. At the child's level. This is away from the busy parts of the home, but in an easy accessible place.
We have ours in our main living room. (It might be convenient for a child to have a prayer table in their own room?) A prayer cloth that is the liturgical color for the time is appropriate. Green for ordinary time, purple for preparation for Advent or Lent. An icon or a statue that might be appropriate for the time period. I currently have a icon of the Sorrowful Mother for the month of September. Perhaps a candle or a battery operated candle if you have young children with no experience with candles.
How to introduce a prayer table? "This is a special place to develop the habit of prayer. You can come here often during the day to spend some silence and quiet with God. Maybe you'd like to change the cloth, choose a different statue or photo, read a prayer, move figures to remember a parable or a narrative from the gospel." Perhaps a child's bible is close by. Access to the readings from the daily Mass or weekly gospel. An older child might like a copy of the Magnificat or Give us this Day. Perhaps a four volume copy of the Liturgy of Hours.
How else to help the child focus on prayer? Celebrate the holy days in a special way in your home. Besides attending Mass, choose a fun meal or outing to accent the day. Celebrate the Baptism day of each of your children---this is a VERY important day. The day they became a Christian!
Mary's birthday is coming up. Choose some white or blue foods. Decorate the prayer table with blue or a statue. Have a Mary procession. Sing a song to Mary. Visit a Marian shrine nearby. The options are endless.
So there's the atmosphere. Then there's the discipline of habit. Choosing to not miss Mass. To have the rule of prayer. Meal prayers and much more each day. These are simple ways to help your children. This requires even the more of the mother and the father to have a habit, the discipline, of faith.
And then you let go.
And let the Holy Spirit do it's work.
And watch the child respond. They do in their own way. It might not look like the way we approach prayer, but it's theirs.
Practice, as the adult, getting out of the way of the work of God in the child's life.
May God richly bless you as you pray alongside your children.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
A house blessing
There's nothing magical about comitting your house for God's use. Choosing to have a house be a blessing to others is a yearly commitment we make at Epiphany.
But then we moved!
So after we moved we asked our priest to come and help us bless this house for God's use.
Here are the photos (long overdue!) from the blessing in July.
But then we moved!
So after we moved we asked our priest to come and help us bless this house for God's use.
Here are the photos (long overdue!) from the blessing in July.
May God take this little abode and turn it into a blessing for others.
(and thanks to a God mother who took all these photos!)
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Prayer without ceasing
I've come away from a little slice of heaven. I spent five days and four nights at a monestary grounds with other moms and daughters.
Our nights were spent in tents.
Our days were spent praying, and working, and playing.
What I enjoyed the most was the prayer.
We followed the rule of the monastery of their liturgy of hours. I've been praying (mostly) the LoH with my own copy for several years. When with other Catholics that also embrace this rule, I can pray with them. My husband and I pray the morning together. Often we meet again the evening with the children for evening prayer.
Punctuating the whole day with prayer when toting an 11 month old was hard work, but it was so enriching to have prayer before and after every activity. The sung psalms were a great way to lift our hearts.
If only there was a way to continue this at home. I've read of others who keep the LoH throughout the day in their home with their children...so I'm pondering...and praying.
Our nights were spent in tents.
Our days were spent praying, and working, and playing.
What I enjoyed the most was the prayer.
We followed the rule of the monastery of their liturgy of hours. I've been praying (mostly) the LoH with my own copy for several years. When with other Catholics that also embrace this rule, I can pray with them. My husband and I pray the morning together. Often we meet again the evening with the children for evening prayer.
Punctuating the whole day with prayer when toting an 11 month old was hard work, but it was so enriching to have prayer before and after every activity. The sung psalms were a great way to lift our hearts.
If only there was a way to continue this at home. I've read of others who keep the LoH throughout the day in their home with their children...so I'm pondering...and praying.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Parable work
I've been pondering different parables for years.
Today I wondered what I might make for myself to think more about today's parable.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Perhaps I will make myself a treasure box.
Today I wondered what I might make for myself to think more about today's parable.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Perhaps I will make myself a treasure box.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Lectio Divina
Today's readings were from Sirach and the Gospel story of Blind Bartimaus from Mark. I have spent much time with the Gospel story. But less time with the Sirach reading.
I think it relates well to my reasoning behind this blog. Perhaps the author of this book of Wisdom can be my patron?
Today's reading:
Sirach 42:15-25
Now will I recall God’s works;
I think it relates well to my reasoning behind this blog. Perhaps the author of this book of Wisdom can be my patron?
Today's reading:
Sirach 42:15-25
Now will I recall God’s works;
what I have seen, I will describe.
At God’s word were his works brought into being;
they do his will as he has ordained for them.
As the rising sun is clear to all,
so the glory of the LORD fills all his works;
Yet even God’s holy ones must fail
in recounting the wonders of the LORD,
Though God has given these, his hosts, the strength
to stand firm before his glory.
He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart;
their innermost being he understands.
The Most High possesses all knowledge,
and sees from of old the things that are to come:
He makes known the past and the future,
and reveals the deepest secrets.
No understanding does he lack;
no single thing escapes him.
Perennial is his almighty wisdom;
he is from all eternity one and the same,
With nothing added, nothing taken away;
no need of a counselor for him!
How beautiful are all his works!
even to the spark and fleeting vision!
The universe lives and abides forever;
to meet each need, each creature is preserved.
All of them differ, one from another,
yet none of them has he made in vain,
For each in turn, as it comes, is good;
can one ever see enough of their splendor?
At God’s word were his works brought into being;
they do his will as he has ordained for them.
As the rising sun is clear to all,
so the glory of the LORD fills all his works;
Yet even God’s holy ones must fail
in recounting the wonders of the LORD,
Though God has given these, his hosts, the strength
to stand firm before his glory.
He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart;
their innermost being he understands.
The Most High possesses all knowledge,
and sees from of old the things that are to come:
He makes known the past and the future,
and reveals the deepest secrets.
No understanding does he lack;
no single thing escapes him.
Perennial is his almighty wisdom;
he is from all eternity one and the same,
With nothing added, nothing taken away;
no need of a counselor for him!
How beautiful are all his works!
even to the spark and fleeting vision!
The universe lives and abides forever;
to meet each need, each creature is preserved.
All of them differ, one from another,
yet none of them has he made in vain,
For each in turn, as it comes, is good;
can one ever see enough of their splendor?
And if you have time to spend reflecting with a meditation check out my favorite iphone app for when driving! Lectio Divina for the traveler.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
What makes a home?
I've been packing and packing and packing. It's a daunting task to have so much accumulated in a home with a large family.
As I've packed the pictures on the walls (I had help with that) and the books on the shelves (I had help with that too), I have reflected on the sadness I feel.
It's not so much a sadness of loss, but a sadness of missing.
This 1868 home has been a blessing to us. I've been perusing old posts about the updates we did on the house. And came across one from our previous house! It, too, had some beautiful details. It was built in the 1930's.
Now we move to a "modern home". Built in 1964. It has so many exciting prospects, but I also see a lot of work in the years to come.
It won't be the setting or the renovations we do (although now I have a teenager to help propose ideas).
This new place will be a home in which we:
live the faith and the liturgical year
learn more about the Natural World and God
What makes your house a home?
Monday, May 13, 2013
St Meinrad Indiana
Have you ever visited a monastery?
How about St. Meinrad in Indiana?
The ornate doors beg to be photographed.
And the views create a peaceful feeling.
The gardens are lovely, but the chapter room is what creates the most awe in us.
Here is daddy talking to his favorite Monk. The one that taught him Greek at the Gregorian and now offers spiritual direction.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Life is moving too fast.
It's sad that all I have make time for are quick snip-its of our week.
But that's how it goes. I wonder why I can't get a 52 hour day some time...
We welcomed a new cousin. What a doll she is!
Tiny, sweet feet.
Highschool Band Concert.
Proud of herself and thankful a friend came to listen.
The biggest rainfall in years and the swollen ditches to play in.
When life gives you lemons water, play in it.
Daddy making sure all wetness is gone in the cellar.
A beautiful day at the Community of St. John for a family day.
The six year olds gift at the altar.
Enjoying time with the Contemplative sisters.
Chilly, but perfect sun.
Eucharistic Procession.
