family Archives - Page 2 of 11 - Teaching Catholic Kids

The Beatitudes for families

The Sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew proclaims some of the richest and most familiar teachings of Jesus: the beatitudes. The Beatitudes are: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied; blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy; blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God; blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God; blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. Find help for your Catholic kids to understand them.

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Carrying the light of Easter

Oh, is there no greater joy to be felt than every Easter when we read of the stone being rolled away and the angels declaring, “He has risen!”. As we leave Mass on Easter morning, perhaps the sun is shining on us. Maybe the early birds have returned from their winter away, flitting and calling among the open branches. Some of us may jump over puddles of melted snow on our way to our cars or homes, thankful for warmer days. Maybe you are holding your child’s hand as you walk and wonder how you could make this joyful moment last forever. Talk About It: How do you carry the light of Easter with you throughout the year?

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Sheltering in place: Time to discover the liturgy of domestic church life

The global pandemic is forcing families to focus on their relationships like never before. Whatever else God might be doing at this time, it seems clear that he is calling us to discover the power and importance of the domestic church. With Masses suspended and churches closed, we simply don’t have access to the spiritual resources we normally rely on. We are, quite literally, stuck at home with little choice but to figure out how to encounter God as we shelter in place. Go online to read more about supporting our domestic church life.

catholic, domestic church, family , +3 kids relationship Ritual 1 Comment

Walking through Holy Week as a family

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, Holy Week, is the most sacred time of year. During this special time, we enter into the passion of Christ — his crucifixion, death and resurrection — through liturgical celebration and personal conversion. While the season of Lent is a very important time in the Church, it is helpful to remember that our Lenten practices (prayer, fasting and almsgiving) are meant as preparation for the three days of the Triduum. There’s more help online to help you celebrate Holy Week at home.

activities, Easter, Easter Vigil , +7 families family Good Friday Holy Thursday Holy Week lent tridumm 1 Comment

How to teach about Lenten sacrifice

An important lesson of Lent is sacrifice. So often, this lesson is lost in the cacophony of our consumer world. Sacrifice is not easy. It’s more than giving up a bad habit. It’s about recognizing what distracts you and surrendering that yearning for what you think you want. Sacrifice can be emotionally painful and demands commitment. But doing something difficult helps us understand ourselves in a deeper, more meaningful way. How do we parents find a way back to the lesson of sacrifice? How do we instill the importance of this message when we are bombarded daily with the counter message of consumption and instant gratification? Visit us online for some help in how to explain sacrifice to your Catholic kids.

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