Lectionary: 42
by Thomas Gette
The fire that engulfed the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris on Monday of Holy Week will forever be imprinted on our minds. The world watched in disbelief as this magnificent house of God that took nearly 200 years to build was being destroyed in a single day.
Believer and non-believer alike were struck speechless. Many expressed feelings as if the fire ominously symbolized that the Church and the world were on the eve of apocalyptic destruction. There was darkness, despair, fear, anger, and concern. The sight may have brought to mind the words from John 2:19: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
Now that we are on the other side of Holy Week, with the Alleluias of Easter echoing once again in the Church, we have entered the liturgical season that gives meaning to all the darkness: Jesus, the Light of the World, conquered death and darkness and is risen from the dead!
It was faith in the Resurrection of Christ that inspired the construction of Notre-Dame, and it is that same faith, strengthened and purified by the fire of the Holy Spirit, that will pull us through this dark moment in history.
Even more importantly, it is that same faith that can pull us through the dark moments of our daily lives. Christ’s victory over death stands for us as the sign of God’s power over everything in our lives. Jesus is not just an inspirational historical figure; Jesus is the Son of the Living God who can bring life and meaning to anything and everything we are experiencing.
Lent and Holy Week are reminders that we will often go through times of struggle and suffering, but Easter gives us the hope that God will always overcome and always lead us to joy.
Let us surrender the struggles and suffering to God, and pray with hope that Jesus will bring new life to whatever it is we are facing and give us the strength to embrace a change we may need to make in our lives.
Thomas Gette is a family man with a passion for the domestic Church. He holds master’s degrees from both Franciscan University and the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium.
Lectionary: 27
This past week, LifeTeen (a worldwide Catholic youth ministry organization) shared an interesting thought on social media: “What you post on your feed should be evidence of your deep relationship with Jesus, not the extent of it.” In other words, we shouldn’t limit being a Christian to the one hour we go to church each week or to those times when we pray in private.
Reflecting on how faith affects our priorities reminds us that faith must be a part of our very being and not just a facet of who we are. When it comes to our goals and passions, we would never think to include “being alive” on such a list. Life is just assumed (maybe even taken for granted) as a prerequisite, a necessity, for everything. Our faith should be no different. Our faith should be the prerequisite for everything else.
Thus, we should ask ourselves: Is our faith simply an item on the list of many things that describe who we are and what we do? Or is faith the power that propels us off the page?
Faith is not intended to stifle us. On the contrary. In Galatians 5:1 we read: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Being a Christian is not some burdensome set of rules and regulations intended to zap all the joy out of life. No. Being a Christian helps us discover what it truly means to be alive, what it truly means to be human.
For example, we might be pulled between various commitments and find ourselves once in a while foregoing Mass on Sunday. But faith demands that nothing replace Mass and that all our plans be made around it. If we cut out the source of life of our faith—the Mass—everything else will, in a sense, be in vain. This is similar for family life. God created us for community, and if our job and other commitments (and phones) are causing us to not be present with our families building and strengthening quality relationships, then we need to reconsider how we are spending our time.
Stopping to consider life decisions and priorities in the light of faith might seem daunting, but the more we intentionally do this, the more it will become second nature. It won’t always be the easy thing to do, but it will always be the right and good thing to do. We will find no greater fulfillment.
Thomas Gette is a family man with a passion for the domestic Church. He holds master’s degrees from both Franciscan University and the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium.
Lectionary: 24
Have you ever had the experience of being out to eat and when you go to say grace since you are in public, you find yourself a bit hesitant to pray the Sign of the Cross? I know I have encountered this situation many times. “Are people going to judge me or think I am ‘showing off’ that I’m religious?” are some thoughts that might go through my mind. I have always wondered why this simple act can often be met with trepidation and hesitation. “I should be proud of my faith,” I tell myself. I might even add some guilt by reminding myself that Jesus said, “If you deny me, I will deny you before the Father.” Then, on another day, I will notice someone with a blue mohawk and tons of piercings and tattoos, and I wonder: “If that person is comfortable being in public like that, then I should have no issue praying a simple Sign of the Cross.”
Imagine a married person going about his or her daily routine and being too sheepish to acknowledge his or her spouse to coworkers in a conversation. Any of us would feel deeply hurt if our spouses avoided talking about us with other people. Our faith in Jesus Christ really should be no different. Sharing our faith should come as naturally to us as sharing about our family or our favorite sports team. Having a saving faith in Jesus Christ is not something that we should keep to ourselves. The gift of faith is too precious not to share with others. The reality is that it is not always this easy.
This is a serious call for all of us who believe to take some time to discern and understand what it is that makes it difficult for us to share our faith. Do we feel we are not knowledgeable enough? Not confident? Whatever it might be, this is a good time to explore it and find concrete ways to make some changes. Now that we are in the season of Lent, we can take this opportunity to focus on how we can grow in our faith so that sharing it comes more naturally. Jesus spent three years forming and “training” the apostles to be ready to give a reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15), so it is good for us to become more deeply formed in the faith.
We live in an age and culture that is becoming very hostile to Christianity, so it is understandable that we have reservations about how to express our faith publicly. However, it is of utmost importance that we walk as lights of Christ shining into our everyday lives at the watercooler, the hairdresser, the grocery store, or wherever we may go. Most importantly, this will come in the form of living a good life of virtue and integrity, but we also need to find ways to openly share this great treasure with those around us. Certainly, we begin by taking our faith more seriously in our private lives and at home, but then maybe the next small step is starting to say grace in public. Things will only grow from there.
Thomas Gette is a family man with a passion for the domestic Church. He holds master’s degrees from both Franciscan University and the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium.The Church’s liturgical year continues with the celebration of Lent and Holy Week, the time during which Catholics throughout the world honor the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and the giving of alms. Through the suggestions and resources listed below, RCL Benziger is pleased to partner with you in leading children, youth, and families to a prayerful, meaningful experience of the Lenten journey.
1. Remember to refer to the liturgical year section in the back of your religion textbooks for specific lessons on Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, and Holy Week. Remember, too, that your textbooks contain an outline of the Stations of the Cross and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
2. Help your students continue to learn about and draw inspiration from the stories of the saints whose memorials the Church celebrates this Lenten season. Visit SaintsResource.com for information on these saints. Also included is a listing of where the stories of these saints are told in Be My Disciples and Blest Are We.
3. The Church will celebrate two solemnities during the season of Lent in 2019. They are the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
March 19: The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Prepare ahead of time to celebrate on March 19 the tradition of the Blessing of Saint Joseph’s Table. This custom offers a wonderful opportunity for children and youth to offer gifts of food for the poor. The order of the blessing may be found in both Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers (revised edition, copyright 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) and the Book of Blessings (prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, and copyright 1989 by The Order of Saint Benedict, Inc.).
For a classroom-friendly reproducible outline of this blessing, go to Saint Joseph’s Table.
March 25: The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Take time today to proclaim all or part of Luke 1:26-38, the Gospel reading assigned to this solemnity. In addition, consider praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary (which include the Annunciation), the Angelus, the Litany of Loreto (or Litany of Mary) or the Hail Mary.
4. Your religion textbook contains chapter prayers and liturgical lessons focusing on Lent and its themes of mercy, forgiveness, the poor (almsgiving), and the Cross. Explore these prayers ahead of time as you prepare for Lent. In addition, incorporate the following classroom prayer celebrations.
Pre-Lent/All: Burying the Alleluia
Celebrate this prayer just before Ash Wednesday. Students will have the opportunity to say farewell to the Alleluia, highlighting for them that it will not be spoken or sung in the liturgies of the Church until we celebrate the joyful season of Easter. This prayer is appropriate for all grade levels, and would also be appropriate for an all-school or all-religious education class or family pre-Lent gathering.
Lent/Primary: I Will!
This prayer, adapted from a Be My Disciples classroom prayer suggestion, gives primary-grade students the opportunity to think about how they will work to better live as children of God during the Lenten season.
Lent/Upper Elementary and Junior High: Take Up Your Cross
This prayer is also adapted from a Be My Disciples classroom prayer, and will help students reflect on how they will follow Jesus more closely during the season of Lent.
Holy Week/All/Multicultural: Alfombras
Based on a Holy Week tradition celebrated in Guatemala, this prayer incorporates art, song, and procession. It may be prepared and celebrated in individual classrooms, or prepared in individual classrooms and celebrated as an all-school or all-religious education class or family Holy Week celebration.
5. There are many age- and grade-appropriate classroom activities available to highlight the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Click on the following four resources for downloadable activity pages for children and youth.
Lent: Praying and Repenting During Lent
This activity will help children reflect on their faith life and make a commitment to strengthen their faith life during Lent.
Lent: Make a Book to Help You Follow Jesus
Activities include a page for primary-age children (“Follow Jesus”) and an adaptation of the activity for upper-grade children (“Make a Discipleship Book for Lent”).
Lent: I Make a Forgiveness Card
In this activity, primary-age children will make a card to ask for forgiveness from someone in their family.
Lent: Exploring the Scrutinies
On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, the Church celebrates the Scrutinies with the elect, those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil.
This activity invites young people to read and reflect on the Gospel stories proclaimed on the Scrutiny Sundays: The Woman at the Well, The Man Born Blind, and The Raising of Lazarus.
Prayer, fasting, and the giving of alms—may the stories, songs, prayers, activities, and disciplines of Lent lead us ever closer to Christ, whose constant invitation is to Be My Disciples.
These lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! How can you inspire and help families keep faith alive during the summer months?
Jacquie Jambor, the author of the original Faith First At Home program once said, “As summer begins, the possibility of families spending more time together can offer some unique opportunities.” You might want to encourage the families in your parish to make a “Summer Resolution” to spend more time having family conversations that do not revolve around schedules, school, and so on.
So what would those conversations sound like? To start, be sure that everyone understands the rules, and there are only three:
Here are some conversation starters about Faith:
And some suggestions for conversations about your family:
In today’s fast-paced, over-scheduled, mobile-ready, text-driven, and socially-connected world, we sometimes miss those priceless moments of connection through face-to-face conversation. My niece and goddaughter, Audrey, gave me a wonderful Christmas present this year. She wants to treat me to dinner one evening because: “I love going out to eat with you and talk about whatever comes to mind.” Audrey and I have been having “Coice Days” (aunt in Polish) since she was in kindergarten. Now as a college graduate, she still desires to have a special time for meaningful conversation. Children of all ages need the gift of time with trusted adult family members. There is no better way to share family history, values, wisdom, faith, and joy!
Another possibility for family conversations is through service projects. Take time to review Mary Beth Jambor’s book, Helping Kids Live Their Faith, Service Projects that Make a Difference, available through RCL Benziger. This updated resource is based on the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching and can provide simple suggestions for practical opportunities for families to both learn about and live out a life of faith. And yes, Mary Beth is Jacquie Jambor’s daughter; keeping it all in the family!
The summer months provide an excellent opportunity for families of all ages and stages to share stories about family and faith. All it takes is a willingness to try and commitment to creating a new routine. Encourage your parish families to make the “Summer Resolution” and begin to enjoy the blessing of being together as a family.
As we prepare for Lent each year, we think about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We want to open our hearts to Jesus on our 40-Days Lenten Journey. This year during Lent let us also help our children focus on silence, prayer, and devotions. Perhaps when we find special ways to help our students deepen their prayer during the Lenten season, those prayerful experiences may become regular methods of prayer throughout the year helping children deepen their relationships with Jesus.
We need time to develop relationships in a way that is positive and loving. Time is necessary to help any friendship grow, whether it is a relative, classmate, or neighbor. Children need to see their relationship with Jesus as a friendship. Giving children time for silence, prayer, and devotions will help their relationship with their friend, Jesus grow.
Pope John Paul II said, “Dear young people, like the first disciples, follow Jesus! Do not be afraid to draw near to him, to speak to him face to face, as you talk with a friend.” Let’s help our children find time to draw near to Jesus. The ideas below can be incorporated into the school day or religious education class.
Time for Silence: to quiet ourselves to hear God
1. At the end of Religious Education or the school day, allow for two whole minutes of silence with all students and adults in the building. Using the PA system, read a daily Lenten reflection for children. At the end of the reading say, “Listen, do you hear God’s voice?” Have the children sit in silence for two minutes thinking about what Jesus is saying to them.
2. Guided Meditation is a beautiful way to slow children down, sit silently, and reflectively as they listen to a story about Jesus. You can find published meditations or write guided meditations where children encounter Jesus through a story. The story will pause and allows children time to think about how they would respond to Jesus.
Time for Prayer: to open our hearts to God
1. Lectio Divina means holy reading. It is a special way to read scripture and reflect on how the Gospel is speaking to one’s heart. During Lent, slowly read the Sunday Gospel to your students. As you read it a second time, children should think of one word from the Gospel that has a special meaning to them at that moment. Go around the room, and have each child say the word that had meaning to them. After everyone has had a turn, perhaps some children would like to share why they chose a particular word and why that word has a significant meaning to them on that day.
2. Offer a scripture reflection group for children. This works well during or after the school day or at a convenient time outside of the religious education class time. If you tie service projects into the group’s mission, this encourages participation. Meet once a week to read the Gospel for the following Sunday. Prepare discussion questions to help children think about how the Gospel is working in their lives. Begin and end each session with prayer. Plan service opportunities for the children. Through service, the children will probably strengthen the bonds of the scripture group but also come to know Jesus in a special way.
3. Teaching your students about the saints can help children feel a connection to Jesus. On the RCL Benziger website under Lent and Holy Week, there is a resource on Saints and Solemnities of the Season. You will find of list of dates and saints. Information is provided on the saints along with suggestions for prayer.
Time for Devotions: to help us worship God
1. Plan Eucharistic Adoration for families. Adoration is the true presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The monstrance is the ornate vessel that holds the consecrated Eucharistic host. Monstrare is Latin for expose. During Adoration we are praying in the actual presence of Jesus. We are reaching out to Jesus while Jesus is simultaneously reaching out to us. Adoration is usually an hour long; however, it is not developmentally appropriate for children to sit silently for an hour. Plan time during the Adoration for guided prayer and spoken prayer on the following: praise, love, thanksgiving, repentance, and prayers for the faithful. Provide a cantor to lead music at the beginning and the end of Adoration.
2. Pray a decade of the rosary with your students either in the classroom or your church. If this will be your students’ first experience praying the rosary, you may want to give each child in your class a diagram of the rosary with the prayers.
3. Prepare Stations of the Cross for families at your church on Good Friday or during Holy week. Tell the story of each station and pray together.
On World Youth Day in Reo 2013, Pope Francis shared the following: “It is your life that Jesus wants to enter with His word, with His presence. Please, let Christ and His word enter your life, blossom and grow.” As teachers, catechists and principals this is what we want to instill in our students.
Aileen Scommegna holds a degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University. She has served as a teacher and DRE for the Archdiocese of Chicago for her entire career. She has written serval books on liturgical catechesis and faith for catechists, children, and parents.
It is just about that time again. Soon it will be Lent, and it will be time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I do not know about anyone else, but when I reflect on my attempts to grow spiritually during Lent, I probably have had more misses than hits.
As a child, I would always try to convince my parents that I would fast by giving up watermelon. Unfortunately, my parents were quite aware that watermelon was not readily available in Wisconsin during the late winter and early spring months. They also knew that I did not like watermelon.
One year I decided to give up money! That lasted until my grandfather gave me a shiny silver dollar. When my mother asked what happened to my promise to give up money, I informed her that my fast did not include “big money.”
As an adult, I dutifully abstained from eating meat on Friday. I would give up beef, pork and poultry for seafood and, of course, the Milwaukee fish fry! I was very excited when I finally reached the age where I was no longer obligated to fast. After all, it was such a sacrifice!
My attempts at improving my prayer life have been a series of “ups and downs.” Praying at bedtime resulted in my tired mind wandering. Morning prayer: who has the time? Rote prayer: boring! However, the prayer style that I was most faithful to started with asking God to help me give me what I wanted, or forgive me. I knew that prayer was meant to be a conversation, but much of my prayer was very one-sided – my side!
Almsgiving has always been easier for me. As children, we learned to save our treasures in “mite boxes.” I can still remember how excited I was to bring my little box forward during the presentation of gifts on Easter Sunday. I was confident that my contribution would save all the poor people in the world. I still get excited being able to share my wealth with others.
Don’t get me wrong; almsgiving is not always easy. When a food drive comes up, I can easily use it as an opportunity to rid the pantry of food that is far from our favorite. When I hear the collection bells at Christmas or see veterans selling poppies, I have found it easy to avoid eye contact and just keep walking. Moreover, of course, I know the church understands when I do not put anything in the collection basket because all I have is “big money.”
This year I have decided to take a different approach to my Lenten practices. This year I intend to focus on:
L – listening
Some people tell me that I am a good listener. However, I am not sure that my family or God would necessarily agree. This Lent, I intend to begin my prayer by being silent and listening for God’s voice. I also intend to truly listen to my family, instead of trying to multitask when they are speaking. (Did you know the brain is not wired to multitask?) Is there any one to whom you need to really listen?
E – engagement
I am usually generous with my treasure but am much more reluctant to give of my time and my talent. This Lent, I intend to engage in one project for the betterment of others. As of yet, I do not know what that project will be, but I am sure that God will lead me where He wants me to go. Is there somewhere or somehow that you are being called to more fully engage?
N – nurturing
There are two people that I intend to nurture more fully this Lent. One is our toddler granddaughter Olivia. I want to be more present to her during this important developmental time of her life. I am the other person whom I need to nurture. With multiple serious health issues, I need to provide myself with the self-nurturing that is needed. Who needs your nurturing?
T – trusting
Finally, I intend to trust more fully. This is not easy for me. So, I will focus on deepening my trust in God. By listening and engaging in His plan for me, I hope that I will grow in trust of Him, others and myself. Whom do you need to trust?
Hopefully, my words will give you something to reflect upon as you enter this holy, challenging season of Lent. Maybe we can share our Lenten success stories sometime!
Lenten blessings,
Dr. Kathleen Beuscher, Ed.D.
Dr. Beuscher received her Doctor of Education degree from Cardinal Stritch University. Her dissertation was on the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Kathleen was involved in parish catechesis for over 30 years within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Kathleen currently serves as a Consultant for RCL Benziger, along with her husband, Jim.
Nos acercamos de nuevo a ese momento. Pronto llegará la Cuaresma y será tiempo para rezar, ayunar y dar limosna. No sé cómo se sentirán los demás, pero cuando reflexiono sobre mis intentos de crecer espiritualmente durante la Cuaresma, probablemente encuentro más errores que aciertos.
Cuando era niña, siempre trataba de convencer a mis padres de que ayunaba absteniéndome de comer sandía. Lamentablemente, mis padres sabían bien que las sandías no abundan en Wisconsin durante los meses del final del invierno y del principio de la primavera. También sabían que no me gustaba la sandía.
¡Un año decidí renunciar al dinero! Duró hasta que mi abuelo me dio un dólar plateado brillante. Cuando mi madre me preguntó qué sucedió con mi promesa de renunciar al dinero, le informé que mi ayuno no incluía “mucho dinero”.
Ya adulta, obedientemente me abstenía de comer carne los viernes. Renunciaba a comer carne de vaca, de cerdo y de ave para comer mariscos y por supuesto, ¡el pescado frito de Milwaukee! Estaba muy emocionada por llegar finalmente a la edad donde ya no tenía la obligación de ayunar. ¡Después de todo, era un gran sacrificio!
Mis intentos de mejorar mi vida de oración han consistido en una serie de altibajos. No conseguía rezar a la hora de ir a dormir porque en general mi mente cansada vagaba. Oración de la mañana: ¿quién tiene tiempo? Oración repetitiva: ¡aburrida! Sin embargo, el estilo de oración al que era más fiel solía comenzar con pedir a Dios que me ayudara, que me diera lo que quería o que me perdonara. Sabía que la oración tenía que ser una conversación, pero gran parte de mi oración estaba muy inclinada hacia un lado. ¡Mi lado!
Dar limosna siempre ha sido mucho más fácil para mí. Cuando éramos niños, aprendimos a guardar nuestros tesoros en “alcancías para caridad”. Aún puedo recordar lo emocionada que estaba al llevar mi pequeña alcancía durante la presentación de dones el Domingo de Pascua. Estaba segura de que mi contribución salvaría a todos los pobres del mundo. Aún me emociona poder compartir mis riquezas con los demás.
No me entiendan mal, dar limosna no es siempre fácil. Cuando llega una campaña para colectar alimentos, fácilmente la puedo usar como oportunidad para deshacerme de los alimentos que no son nuestros preferidos. Cuando escucho el repique de las campanas en Navidad o veo veteranos que venden amapolas, me resulta fácil evitar el contacto visual y seguir caminando. Y por supuesto, sé que la Iglesia entiende cuando no pongo nada en la canasta de la colecta porque todo lo que tengo es “dinero grande”.
Este año decidí tomar un enfoque diferente de mis prácticas de Cuaresma. Este año me enfoco en:
CU idar
Hay dos personas a las que quiero cuidar más plenamente en esta Cuaresma. Una es nuestra pequeña nieta Olivia. Quiero estar más presente para ella durante este tiempo importante de desarrollo en su vida. Yo soy la otra persona que necesito cuidar. Con múltiples problemas de salud graves, necesito proporcionarme el cuidado que necesito. ¿Quién necesita tu cuidado?
AR riesgar
Por lo general soy generosa con lo que tengo pero soy mucho más reacia a dar de mi tiempo y de mi talento. En esta Cuaresma, me arriesgaré a participar en un proyecto que mejore a otros. Hasta ahora, no sé cuál será el proyecto, pero estoy segura de que Dios me guiará a donde Él quiera que yo vaya. ¿Hay algún lugar o alguna manera en la que te están llamando a participar más plenamente?
ES cuchar
Algunas personas me dicen que sé escuchar. Sin embargo, no estoy segura de que mi familia o Dios necesariamente piensen lo mismo. En esta Cuaresma, tengo la intención de comenzar mi oración haciendo silencio y escuchando la voz de Dios. También tengo la intención de escuchar verdaderamente a mi familia, en lugar de tratar de hacer muchas tareas cuando están hablando. (¿Sabías que el cerebro no está conectado para hacer varias tareas a la vez?) ¿Hay alguien a quién necesitas escuchar realmente? compromiso
MA-ntener la confianza
Finalmente, mi intención es confiar más plenamente. No me resulta fácil. Tendré que esforzarme en mantener mi confianza en Dios. Al escuchar y arriesgarme a salir de mi zona de confort para cumplir Su plan para mí, espero que crezca mi confianza en Él, en los demás y en mí. ¿En quién necesitas confiar?
Ojalá, mis palabras te den algo para reflexionar al entrar en este tiempo santo y exigente de Cuaresma. ¡Tal vez podamos compartir nuestras historias exitosas de Cuaresma alguna vez!
Bendiciones de Cuaresma,
Dr. Kathleen Beuscher, Ed. D.
La Dra. Beuscher recibió su Doctorado en Educación en la Universidad Cardinal Stritch. Su tesis doctoral fue sobre el Sacramento de la Penitencia y Reconciliación. Kathleen participó en catequesis parroquial durante más de 30 años dentro de la Arquidiócesis de Milwaukee. Actualmente se desempeña como consultora para RCL Benziger, junto con su esposo, Jim.
“Almsgiving” is a word that most of us rarely hear in normal, everyday conversation, yet the concept is an ancient one. It is deeply rooted in the Christian, Judaic, and Islamic Faith Traditions, and is most often associated with the concept of justice and charity.
Within the Christian Tradition, almsgiving is viewed as an act of love and justice. A look at the worldwide view of almsgiving shows that Muslims approach almsgiving as a necessary action of Faith; (one of the five pillars of their tradition) and in Judaism it is looked upon as “righteousness” – the recognition that all we have is “gift” and the obligation to reach out to others as a form of justice and accountability.
Fostering a sense of justice and love and gratitude within the people of faith in a Catholic parish setting is more necessary now than ever before. We live in an age when wealth and prosperity are mistakenly linked with a sense of self-redemption. We don’t often think of the play, A Christmas Carol, this time of year, but it illustrates a common attitude about money and wealth. Scrooge’s character announces, “I have wealth and power and success because of my own deeds, my own efforts.” However, Charles Dickens reminds Scrooge not only of the need for gratitude to God for all that he has been given but of his intimate connection to all humanity, especially in the relationship he has between himself and Bob Cratchit, his woefully underpaid and overworked employee.
Christians are taught, by Christ, himself, of the necessity to reach out to others, in charity, not merely from our “excess” but from the deepest part of our soul. Think of Mark 12: 41-44 when he commends the generosity of the “poor widow” who gave from her heart, not just from her excess.
During Lent, Catholic Christians are encouraged to “pray, fast, and to give alms” – but praying, fasting, and giving alms does not need to be limited to only one Liturgical Season. We are told to “pray always” (Luke 18:1); we are taught to expand our understanding of fasting from merely “dieting” to discipline and action (Fast from judging others, Feast on the Christ indwelling them) [William Arthur Ward, 1921-1994] and giving alms equates to a growing awareness that we are part of a Community of Believers who respond from their hearts, out of love and a sense of justice, to the needs of others. (Think stewardship – the gift of time, talent, and treasure).
How do we foster a sense of Almsgiving as a faith response? Within schools and parishes, we can encourage people to respond, year round, to the expressed needs of others:
Some people become very anxious when it comes to giving alms – they are concerned that there will always be some cause, some need that will be calling upon them to give and give and give. They express a strong concern of the necessity of protecting themselves and their families from the unending call to help those who cannot help themselves. But the truth is that when they reach out to others, with a sense of justice and love, we are protecting ourselves and our families because we are letting the roots of faith grow deeper and stronger. Yes, it is true that (“The poor you will have with you always” – Matt. 26: 11), but it is also true that when we see the Face of Christ within the lives of those who are hungry and needy, we are becoming the Body of Christ on earth right now.
Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to consider an Option for the Poor and Vulnerable and to live in Solidarity as one human family. We are all children of God. When we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we respond as disciples and give to those who have less. This has been a hallmark of Christian identity from the time of the early church until now. And, Almsgiving is just as important now, as ever. It is good for our hearts, our society, and for our brothers and sisters living in poverty who need our help today.
June Wessa, MAPS – June Wessa is a married mother & grandmother who serves the Church. She has been an elementary classroom teacher, a DRE, and, most recently, a Pastoral Associate. She is a writer, retreat director, and spiritual director.
When I was a child, I grew up in a home with both my parents and grandparents. I shared a bedroom with my sister and each night, as I drifted off to sleep, I heard my grandparents praying the rosary together. Every time we set out in the car on a family vacation, my parents led us in a prayer asking God to grant us a safe journey. Other devotions surrounded me as I grew in my Catholic faith. Our family went to Stations of the Cross on the Friday nights of Lent, and we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. We participated in our parish May crowning and attended Eucharistic Adoration and parish missions. Throughout my life, Catholic prayers and practices have been an essential part of my journey of faith.
As faith formation leaders, it is important to help catechists and parents realize the importance of sharing with our children and young people the rich tradition of the prayers and devotions of our Church. Catechetical leaders should identify strategies whereby this vital dimension of our Catholic faith can be shared and experienced by our young believers.
It is important to encourage catechists to utilize the prayer resources contained in their basal religion books to help children learn our treasured prayers and practices. Highlight the importance of allotting time during their lesson to engage the children in the prayer service provided in each chapter of their faith formation book. These weekly prayer experiences help students learn the many forms and styles of the Church’s prayer life. If your community is culturally diverse, provide catechists with prayer and devotional ideas that respect the heritage of their families.
Offering opportunities to celebrate devotions in a community setting is a great way to bring families together. For example, host an Advent event when families come together to create an Advent wreath for use in their home. During Lent, gather families together in church to walk and pray the Stations of the Cross. Sponsor a “Mary Day” in May to celebrate our Blessed Mother as a woman of faith; include the praying of a decade of the rosary during the experience.
Our Catholic community is blessed with a richness of treasured prayers and practices that can support a deepening of faith within all believers. Let us continue to share and experience them in our parish and school communities.
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Anita M. Foley is a senior sales representative for RCL Benziger, serving the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Metuchen and Paterson, New Jersey.
Anita holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Religious Education from Seton Hall University. She has also attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange for continuing post-graduate education and formation. Before joining RCL Benziger, Anita taught in Catholic elementary and high schools. She also served in ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark and in parish ministry as a: Director of Religious Education, Pre-K Religious Education Program Coordinator, and Director of RCIA and Adult Faith Formation. Articles written by Anita have been published in Today’s Parish, Catechist Magazine, and Word on Worship. She is currently a workshop and retreat facilitator, and serves as a member of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Newark.