Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Living Books
I was very unsure about going this way this year, but I tried it. My kids loved reading real books about all different subjects and periods in History and science and life. Okay Maureen here is my plug for you--homeschool connections online has awesome webinars, which help me understand fully about how living books can enhance your homeschool journey. I plan to use alot more next year, especially in History and art. I truly recommend every go to to homeschool connections online to learn more about it.
Language of God and Voyages of English
I was very impressed with the Language of God series. I thought it would not teach the fundamentals but it does in a light way. I owuld have liked more practice in it. I really enjoy this book, but would also recommend using the Voyages of English series to get a good foundational English Grammar program together. Voyages of English has alot of writing that is very important to developing good writing skills. Next year we plan to use Lingua Mater with Voyages of English and supplement with Language of God.
Faith and Life Catechism
This series I love. It goes in depth into scripture and our faith on children's levels and grows with them in the faith. Along with my children I am learning on information I must have either forgotten or never learned at as a child in Catholic School. It develops a strong building block into our Catholic Faith through the hands-on activities and workpages. I recommend this for an homeschooling family who plans to use it. Also remember to use the Baltimore Catechism along with this. This will develop a deep foundation in understanding Our Catholic Faith.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Rejoice and pray
Rejoice and pray always. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. |
Be thankful!
When you think you are having a bad day, be thankful for your children:
God is always walking with us through the hardest times of our lives. Pray for Faith and her family.
Thank You, O Lord
Thank You, O God, for all the graces
Which unceasingly You lavish upon me,
Graces which enlighten me with the brilliance of the sun,
For by them You show me the sure way.
Thank You, O Lord, for creating me,
For calling me into being from nothingness,
For imprinting Your divinity on my soul,
The work of sheer merciful love.
Thank You, O God, for Holy Baptism
Which engrafted me into Your family,
A gift great beyond all thought or expression
Which transforms my soul.
Thank You, O Lord, for Holy Confession,
For that inexhaustible spring of great mercy,
For that inconceivable fountain of graces
In which sin-tainted souls become purified.
Thank You, O Jesus, for Holy Communion
In which You give us Yourself.
I feel Your Heart beating within my breast
As You cause Your divine life to unfold within me.
Thank You, O Holy Spirit, for the Sacrament of Confirmation,
Which dubs me Your knight
And gives strength to my soul at each moment,
Protecting me from evil.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1286a
† Jesus I trust in You †
Which unceasingly You lavish upon me,
Graces which enlighten me with the brilliance of the sun,
For by them You show me the sure way.
Thank You, O Lord, for creating me,
For calling me into being from nothingness,
For imprinting Your divinity on my soul,
The work of sheer merciful love.
Thank You, O God, for Holy Baptism
Which engrafted me into Your family,
A gift great beyond all thought or expression
Which transforms my soul.
Thank You, O Lord, for Holy Confession,
For that inexhaustible spring of great mercy,
For that inconceivable fountain of graces
In which sin-tainted souls become purified.
Thank You, O Jesus, for Holy Communion
In which You give us Yourself.
I feel Your Heart beating within my breast
As You cause Your divine life to unfold within me.
Thank You, O Holy Spirit, for the Sacrament of Confirmation,
Which dubs me Your knight
And gives strength to my soul at each moment,
Protecting me from evil.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1286a
† Jesus I trust in You †
May you be Adored
May You be adored, O merciful God of ours,
O All-powerful Lord and Creator.
In deepest humility, we give You praise,
Plunging ourselves into the ocean of Your Godhead.
But man did not persevere in the hour of trial.
At the instigation of the evil one, he became unfaithful to You.
He lost Your grace and gifts; only misery was left him,
And tears, suffering, sorrow and bitterness, until he would
rest in the grave.
But you, O merciful God, did not let humanity perish,
And gave it the promise of a Redeemer.
You did not let us despair, despite our grave offenses,
And You sent Your prophets to Israel.
Still, day and night, mankind cries out to You,
From the abyss of misery, sin and all pain.
Hear the moaning and the tears, You who reign in heaven,
God of great mercy, God of compassion….
Humanity calls out to You unceasingly, O Lord of Lords,
Calls out to Your unfathomable mercy, to Your compassion.
O great Yahweh, grant that we may make atonement,
Remember Your goodness, and forgive us our sins.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1744
† Jesus I trust in You †
O All-powerful Lord and Creator.
In deepest humility, we give You praise,
Plunging ourselves into the ocean of Your Godhead.
But man did not persevere in the hour of trial.
At the instigation of the evil one, he became unfaithful to You.
He lost Your grace and gifts; only misery was left him,
And tears, suffering, sorrow and bitterness, until he would
rest in the grave.
But you, O merciful God, did not let humanity perish,
And gave it the promise of a Redeemer.
You did not let us despair, despite our grave offenses,
And You sent Your prophets to Israel.
Still, day and night, mankind cries out to You,
From the abyss of misery, sin and all pain.
Hear the moaning and the tears, You who reign in heaven,
God of great mercy, God of compassion….
Humanity calls out to You unceasingly, O Lord of Lords,
Calls out to Your unfathomable mercy, to Your compassion.
O great Yahweh, grant that we may make atonement,
Remember Your goodness, and forgive us our sins.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1744
† Jesus I trust in You †
Saints of the Day
JUNE 2
ST. MARCELLINUS AND ST. PETER
These two saints are mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass.
They were widely honored and prayed to by the early Christians. The feast of
these two martyrs was included in the Roman calendar of saints by Pope
Vigilius in 555.
Marcellinus was a priest and Peter assisted Marcellinus in his ministry.
Both were very brave in the practice of their Christian faith. They served
the Christian community with great self-sacrifice. During the persecution of
Diocletian, many Christians were killed. These two men were among them. They
were beheaded. It seems that before they died, however, they were forced to
dig their own graves. They were taken to a hidden location to perform their
difficult task. It was a forest called the Silva Nigra. Some time later,
their graves were discovered in that remote spot. Their executioner
eventually repented of the killings and became a Christian. He led devout
Christians to the remains, which were then buried in the catacomb of St.
Tiberius. Pope Gregory IV sent the relics to Frankfurt, Germany, in 827. He
believed that the relics of these two saints would bring blessings to the
Church in that nation.
Jesus laid down his life for us. We too should lay down our lives. Lord, is
there something I can offer to you today?
ST. MARCELLINUS AND ST. PETER
These two saints are mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass.
They were widely honored and prayed to by the early Christians. The feast of
these two martyrs was included in the Roman calendar of saints by Pope
Vigilius in 555.
Marcellinus was a priest and Peter assisted Marcellinus in his ministry.
Both were very brave in the practice of their Christian faith. They served
the Christian community with great self-sacrifice. During the persecution of
Diocletian, many Christians were killed. These two men were among them. They
were beheaded. It seems that before they died, however, they were forced to
dig their own graves. They were taken to a hidden location to perform their
difficult task. It was a forest called the Silva Nigra. Some time later,
their graves were discovered in that remote spot. Their executioner
eventually repented of the killings and became a Christian. He led devout
Christians to the remains, which were then buried in the catacomb of St.
Tiberius. Pope Gregory IV sent the relics to Frankfurt, Germany, in 827. He
believed that the relics of these two saints would bring blessings to the
Church in that nation.
Jesus laid down his life for us. We too should lay down our lives. Lord, is
there something I can offer to you today?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Meditation for Today
Happy are those who fear the Lord! (Psalm 112:1)
The Book of Tobit tells the story of a Jewish exile living in Nineveh who
was known for his acts of mercy. Specifically, he made sure to give his
fellow Jews who had been killed by persecution a proper burial, even though
doing so put him in danger. The first time he was caught, he was threatened
with death, and his property was confiscated (Tobit 1:17-20). Still, Tobit
continued, until a freak accident caused him to go blind (2:9-14).
If every hero or heroine in the Old Testament reflects some aspect of Jesus
and his mission, where does Tobit fit in? He is not a pioneer like Abraham.
Neither is he a wise ruler like David or a brave prophet like Jeremiah.
Tobit is just a regular guy who gets into tough situations because of his
generosity. Is that really Christlike?
Absolutely. Of course Jesus is the all-holy Son of God who came to defeat
sin and death through his cross. But he was also the son of a modest Jewish
couple from a small town in Galilee. He was a regular tradesman who went to
friends' weddings, ate with ordinary people, and kept a special place in his
heart for his widowed mother.
Both Tobit and Jesus moved beyond their everyday situations because they
heard the cry of the poor and needy. And that's what sets them apart. Tobit
could not bear the thought that some of his brothers and sisters might be
defiled, and he wanted to show his fellow Jews that God still cared for
them. Similarly, Jesus' heart went out to the human race. He wanted to show
us that God wants to care for us as well.
The story of Tobit poses a question to us: Have I let the cry of the poor
pierce my heart? Tobit risked much to care for his people, and Jesus gave
everything. What might God be calling you to give for the sake of his
people?
"Lord, give me a generous heart. Help me see the poor with your eyes, and
give me the courage to reach out to them with your love."
The Book of Tobit tells the story of a Jewish exile living in Nineveh who
was known for his acts of mercy. Specifically, he made sure to give his
fellow Jews who had been killed by persecution a proper burial, even though
doing so put him in danger. The first time he was caught, he was threatened
with death, and his property was confiscated (Tobit 1:17-20). Still, Tobit
continued, until a freak accident caused him to go blind (2:9-14).
If every hero or heroine in the Old Testament reflects some aspect of Jesus
and his mission, where does Tobit fit in? He is not a pioneer like Abraham.
Neither is he a wise ruler like David or a brave prophet like Jeremiah.
Tobit is just a regular guy who gets into tough situations because of his
generosity. Is that really Christlike?
Absolutely. Of course Jesus is the all-holy Son of God who came to defeat
sin and death through his cross. But he was also the son of a modest Jewish
couple from a small town in Galilee. He was a regular tradesman who went to
friends' weddings, ate with ordinary people, and kept a special place in his
heart for his widowed mother.
Both Tobit and Jesus moved beyond their everyday situations because they
heard the cry of the poor and needy. And that's what sets them apart. Tobit
could not bear the thought that some of his brothers and sisters might be
defiled, and he wanted to show his fellow Jews that God still cared for
them. Similarly, Jesus' heart went out to the human race. He wanted to show
us that God wants to care for us as well.
The story of Tobit poses a question to us: Have I let the cry of the poor
pierce my heart? Tobit risked much to care for his people, and Jesus gave
everything. What might God be calling you to give for the sake of his
people?
"Lord, give me a generous heart. Help me see the poor with your eyes, and
give me the courage to reach out to them with your love."
Saint of the Day
JUNE 1
ST. JUSTIN
St. Justin was from Samaria. He lived in the second century. His father
brought him up without any belief in God. When he was a boy, Justin read
poetry, history and science. As he grew up, he kept on studying. His main
purpose for studying was to find the truth about God.
One day as he was walking along the shore of the sea, Justin met an old man.
They began to talk together. Since Justin looked troubled, the man asked him
what was on his mind. Justin answered that he was unhappy because he had not
found anything certain about God in all the books he had read. The old man
told him about Jesus, the Savior. He encouraged Justin to pray so that he
would be able to understand the truth about God.
St. Justin began to pray and to read the Word of God, the Bible. He grew to
love it very much. He was also impressed to see how brave the Christians
were who were dying for their belief in and love for Jesus. After learning
more about the Christian religion, Justin became a Christian. Then he used
his great knowledge to explain and defend the faith with many writings.
It was in Rome that St. Justin was arrested for being a Christian. The judge
asked him, "Do you think that by dying you will enter heaven and be
rewarded?" "I don't just think so," the saint answered. "I am sure of it!"
And he died a martyr around the year 166."
How often do I read the Holy Scripture? Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help
us love the word of God and to keep our faith strong. From time to time we
may say this prayer: "My God, I believe in you."
ST. JUSTIN
St. Justin was from Samaria. He lived in the second century. His father
brought him up without any belief in God. When he was a boy, Justin read
poetry, history and science. As he grew up, he kept on studying. His main
purpose for studying was to find the truth about God.
One day as he was walking along the shore of the sea, Justin met an old man.
They began to talk together. Since Justin looked troubled, the man asked him
what was on his mind. Justin answered that he was unhappy because he had not
found anything certain about God in all the books he had read. The old man
told him about Jesus, the Savior. He encouraged Justin to pray so that he
would be able to understand the truth about God.
St. Justin began to pray and to read the Word of God, the Bible. He grew to
love it very much. He was also impressed to see how brave the Christians
were who were dying for their belief in and love for Jesus. After learning
more about the Christian religion, Justin became a Christian. Then he used
his great knowledge to explain and defend the faith with many writings.
It was in Rome that St. Justin was arrested for being a Christian. The judge
asked him, "Do you think that by dying you will enter heaven and be
rewarded?" "I don't just think so," the saint answered. "I am sure of it!"
And he died a martyr around the year 166."
How often do I read the Holy Scripture? Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help
us love the word of God and to keep our faith strong. From time to time we
may say this prayer: "My God, I believe in you."
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