Monday, October 19, 2015
What's Left
Our family has had a pretty good string of mornings lately where we have had some good breakfast Bible time. When our family routine works out, we'll eat breafast together and read the daily readings for Mass that day.
When our children were younger, we would just read the Gospel of the day, but now we will go through the day's readings with me reading the first reading and psalm, a (usually) lovely rendition of the Alleluia verse led by our 4 and 8 year olds, and Dad reading the Gospel. Then we'll often go around the table and just say one word or phrase that stuck out to us. Most of the time, it ends there and we finish up our breakfast, but sometimes something amazing happens.
In last week's readings, Jesus was being especially tough on the Pharisees. After reading about how that generation would be "charged with the blood of all the prophets from the foundation of the world..." there was a heavy silence at the table. Our oldest stated honestly, "I don't think that Jesus sounded very merciful to the Pharisees."
Matt and I exchanged glances and were about to join in the conversation, when our 8 year old surprised us by jumping to Jesus' defense.
"I think he was merciful," she offered between bites of cereal, "but they rejected his mercy. Then, all that was left was his justice."
We were speechless, and honestly, there wasn't much else to say anyway. I thought a lot that day and in the days that followed about how important it is to accept God's mercy in my life (and to offer it to others). I definitely don't want what's left over!
Such wisdom "from the mouths of babes" was also a humbling example of how God the Father speaks to his children through the living Word. It was a poignant reminder to my husband and I of just how important it is to our family to give God the firstfruits of our day in reflection, and not just what's left at the end!
Monday, October 12, 2015
Prayer Table in the Home
Prominent in every Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium is a corner where the children gather (and sometimes go alone) for quiet and prayer. As I was talking with veteran parents in our program this year about how CGS has affected their family, several parents told me that the biggest change for them has been the addition of a prayer table in their home.
What is a prayer table?
Inez, our parish housekeeper, often shares stories of her mother and grandmothers who would have a small table that was always decorated with religious items like rosaries, a bible, pretty flowers, and even beautiful wrapping paper that was saved from birthdays or Christmas. She told me how her grandmother made it a priority to always have enough "candle money" to keep a vigil candle there.
The prayer table in the atrium is a lot like this, yet simpler, so that the young child can prepare it on his or her own. On a shelf or in a basket next to a low table, we have 4 different colored cloths (purple, green, red, and white)--one for each liturgical season. The child will make sure that the prayer table cloth matches the color he or she sees Father wearing at Mass.
There is also a bible stand, a beautiful, yet small, bible (to which the children show tender and awed reverence), a small candle, and a few options for little statues that the child may place. There is also a basket of prayer cards with simple (for the youngest children) and then more complex prayers and psalms written on them (at home we have many saint cards and holy cards, too). There are also options for beautiful art and often the table will be decorated by the children with flowers.
One parent in particular told me how her 5 year old son will bring her to the prayer table in their home throughout the day, just to offer quick prayers for people he loves. Having a holy place prepared in our homes is a great reminder of the sacred that is all around us, and more importantly it is a call to prayer!
Prayer Cloths Available!
Shepherd's Staff is the regional board that serves Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechists in Iowa, and they have put together this beautiful collection of prayer cloths for the atrium and for home! BONUS: proceeds from the sale of the cloths helps to provide scholarships for CGS trainings!
The cloths are $30 with shipping, but to save on shipping, we have a dozen or so sets available at All Saints for $25. First come, first served! If there is high demand, we'll put in another order.
What is a prayer table?
Inez, our parish housekeeper, often shares stories of her mother and grandmothers who would have a small table that was always decorated with religious items like rosaries, a bible, pretty flowers, and even beautiful wrapping paper that was saved from birthdays or Christmas. She told me how her grandmother made it a priority to always have enough "candle money" to keep a vigil candle there.
The prayer table in the atrium is a lot like this, yet simpler, so that the young child can prepare it on his or her own. On a shelf or in a basket next to a low table, we have 4 different colored cloths (purple, green, red, and white)--one for each liturgical season. The child will make sure that the prayer table cloth matches the color he or she sees Father wearing at Mass.
There is also a bible stand, a beautiful, yet small, bible (to which the children show tender and awed reverence), a small candle, and a few options for little statues that the child may place. There is also a basket of prayer cards with simple (for the youngest children) and then more complex prayers and psalms written on them (at home we have many saint cards and holy cards, too). There are also options for beautiful art and often the table will be decorated by the children with flowers.
One parent in particular told me how her 5 year old son will bring her to the prayer table in their home throughout the day, just to offer quick prayers for people he loves. Having a holy place prepared in our homes is a great reminder of the sacred that is all around us, and more importantly it is a call to prayer!
Prayer Cloths Available!
Shepherd's Staff is the regional board that serves Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechists in Iowa, and they have put together this beautiful collection of prayer cloths for the atrium and for home! BONUS: proceeds from the sale of the cloths helps to provide scholarships for CGS trainings!
The cloths are $30 with shipping, but to save on shipping, we have a dozen or so sets available at All Saints for $25. First come, first served! If there is high demand, we'll put in another order.
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