Helping your kids stay in the faith

By Robert Batch

 

Child at Prayer by Eastman Johnson
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

I have been asked to speak in Illinois next month for a 8th grade Confirmation Retreat, and to put together a workshop for parents on how to keep their kids active in the faith.  Now, I am definitely not a parent, but I do have a mom and dad who both raised me Catholic and did a wonderful job at it!  I would definitely say that if it was not for them, I would not be where I am today.

Some of you may be in the same position, and some of you may be thinking what am I missing?  Or what am I doing wrong?  Lets take a look at Matthew, Chapter 13: The Parable of the Sower.

“A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and devoured them.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they had not much soil, and immediately sprang up since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scored; and since they had no root they withered away.  Other seeds fell upon thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them.  Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear.”


Continue reading at Robert's blog Love is Calling.

To follow God wherever His will leads us

By Barbara A. Schoeneberger

Portrait of John Henry Newman
by John Everett Millais, 1881 via Wikipedia

Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th’encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

 I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on. O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

This profound poem by Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) was written in 1833, a plea for docility to God’s will at a time when he was frustrated by not being able to get back to England and to his work after a sojourn in Italy. Its original title was “Pillar of the Cloud” with a fourth verse added by someone else later.


Continue reading Barb's reflection at Suffering with Joy.