...who never fails to inspire me is today. Here are some of my favorite quotes by this wonderful educator:
"Young people often need convincing that we have confidence in their ability to improve, and feel there is a kindly hand to help them. You can get more with a friendly look, with a word of encouragement that gives his heart new courage, than you can with repeated blame, which serves only to upset, and weaken enthusiasm. Using this system, I have seen real conversions among those one would otherwise have believed impossible. All youngsters have their off-days - you have had them yourselves! Heaven help us if we do not try to help them to get through them without trouble. Sometimes simply having them understand you do not think they acted from malice is enough to ensure they do not fall again into the same fault."
"Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better. This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized and still others to hope for God's mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart."
"Remember that education is a matter of the heart, of which God is the sole master, and we will be unable to achieve anything unless God teaches us, and puts the key in our hands. Let us strive to make ourselves loved, and we will see the doors of many hearts open with great ease, and join with us in singing praises and blessing of Him who wished to make himself our model, our way, our example in everything, but especially in the education of the young."
"Do good while you still have the time."
"Walk with your feet on earth, but in your heart be in Heaven."
Do you have a favorite?
~ Beate
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Pope Francis Reminds Us:
"...baptism gives us new birth in Christ, makes us sharers in the mystery of his death and resurrection, grants the forgiveness of sin and brings us new freedom as God’s children and members of his Church. Let us not forget the great gift we have received. Our baptism has changed us, given us a new and glorious hope, and empowered us to bring God’s redeeming love to all, particularly the poor, in whom we see the face of Christ... As we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, let us ask him to renew in us the grace of our baptism and to make us, with all our brothers and sisters, true children of God and living members of his body, the Church." ~ Pope Francis
In our homes, we celebrate birthdays. Yet Pope Francis rightly reminds us not to forget the gift of Baptism that most of us received as infants. How do we remember, celebrate and honor that day when we were first invited to the table of Our Lord? I confess to not even knowing all my children's baptism dates! However, for Sunday's Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, I plan on printing out a baptismal photo for each of them, writing the date on the back, and laying it on the prayer table along with a shell which signifies baptism to the children who have been in the atrium. We'll light a white candle and recall each of their special days, perhaps bringing out our family's baptismal gown.
Perhaps that will be an impetus for me to celebrate their baptismal dates, along with those of myself and my husband, by Mass attendance and lighting a candle during dinner time.
How do you honor this day in your family?
~ Beate
3 of the 7 gifts of Baptism - water, the oils and light:
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Happy Feast of the Epiphany!
Hello families! Here we are at the culmination of the Christmas season - the 12th day of Christmas. We tried to read a different Christmas book each of the past evenings since Christmas, but the season would have to last longer so we could get to all our favorites!
It's a good time to ponder on the theme of light we find throughout scripture - the light that can always dispel and conquer darkness!
"a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise from Israel..." (Nm 24,17).
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.... And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Is 60,1.3).
"I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (Jn 8,12).
"The true light that enlightens every man came into the world" (Jn 1,9).
Several years ago during our Epiphany celebration a catechist pondered with the children - "I wonder how long the Magi would have followed the light?" and later "How long would we follow the light?" One child, who is now 13, said pensively "Forever. Even when I get to Heaven!"
With the older children today we compared the response of Herod and "all of Jerusalem" with that of the shepherds and "all who heard of it." We pondered hearing with ears of faith and seeing with eyes of faith. Sharing scripure with children is a true gift to all of the catechists at St. Thomas, and it propels me to do more of that in my home.
I'll set out our Epiphany display once I'm home and bake a Bundt cake, which we probably will have for tea time tomorrow. Tomorrow evening, we will also bless our home using the following blessing:
All make the Sign of the Cross.
Head of Household: "Peace be to this house and: to all who dwell here, in the name of the Lord.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Reader: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things cme to be through him, and without him nothing came to be..... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Fahter's only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3.14)
Using chalk, write on the outside of your house, above or next to an entrance:
20+C+M+B+14
These words stand for Christus, Mansionem Benedicat, which mean "May Christ bless this house".
All: Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of your law. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our love for each other may go out to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
There is a longer version found at the USCCB, just choose one you that speaks to you :-) After doing this, we will sprinkle the individual rooms with Holy Water.
You can check out last year's Epiphany post for photos and other ideas if you'd like
May the peace of the Good Shepherd reign in your homes!
~ Beate
"We need to ‘set out anew from Christ,’ with the zeal of Pentecost, with renewed enthusiasm. To set out from him above all in a daily commitment to holiness, with an attitude of prayer and of listening to his word. To set out from him in order to testify to his Love by living a Christian life marked by communion, charity, and witness before the world." ~ JP II homily on the Feast of the Epiphany 2001
It's a good time to ponder on the theme of light we find throughout scripture - the light that can always dispel and conquer darkness!
"a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise from Israel..." (Nm 24,17).
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.... And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Is 60,1.3).
"I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (Jn 8,12).
"The true light that enlightens every man came into the world" (Jn 1,9).
Several years ago during our Epiphany celebration a catechist pondered with the children - "I wonder how long the Magi would have followed the light?" and later "How long would we follow the light?" One child, who is now 13, said pensively "Forever. Even when I get to Heaven!"
With the older children today we compared the response of Herod and "all of Jerusalem" with that of the shepherds and "all who heard of it." We pondered hearing with ears of faith and seeing with eyes of faith. Sharing scripure with children is a true gift to all of the catechists at St. Thomas, and it propels me to do more of that in my home.
I'll set out our Epiphany display once I'm home and bake a Bundt cake, which we probably will have for tea time tomorrow. Tomorrow evening, we will also bless our home using the following blessing:
All make the Sign of the Cross.
Head of Household: "Peace be to this house and: to all who dwell here, in the name of the Lord.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Reader: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things cme to be through him, and without him nothing came to be..... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Fahter's only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3.14)
Using chalk, write on the outside of your house, above or next to an entrance:
20+C+M+B+14
All: Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of your law. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our love for each other may go out to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
There is a longer version found at the USCCB, just choose one you that speaks to you :-) After doing this, we will sprinkle the individual rooms with Holy Water.
You can check out last year's Epiphany post for photos and other ideas if you'd like
May the peace of the Good Shepherd reign in your homes!
~ Beate
"We need to ‘set out anew from Christ,’ with the zeal of Pentecost, with renewed enthusiasm. To set out from him above all in a daily commitment to holiness, with an attitude of prayer and of listening to his word. To set out from him in order to testify to his Love by living a Christian life marked by communion, charity, and witness before the world." ~ JP II homily on the Feast of the Epiphany 2001
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