Thursday, May 21, 2015

Book Review: Praying for Vocations


Praying for Vocations: A Meditated Rosary for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life, written by Monsignor Peter Dunne and Vicki Herout, is a book offered for FREE (plus S&H) booklet from Maria Regina Cleri, a Catholic apostolate whose purpose is to pray for the priesthood and consecrated lives. The booklet offers a prayer for vocations and meditation for each mystery of the rosary (including the Luminous mysteries). At the beginning of each decade a scripture passage is presented followed by a prayer for those considering and in various stages of answering the call to holy orders.  This pocket size booklet is easily transportable as well.
  
I enjoyed praying this rosary and the meditative prayers often bring up thoughts about the discerment and holy orders process I never would have thought to pray for of my own volition.  In a time where vocations are in desperate need, this booklet can be a wonderful asset to all Catholics.

Click on the link above to order your copy for free also.

I give it: 4 "Chaotic" stars!
  


Monday, May 18, 2015

Homeschooling: Supplementing Religious Ed with Bible Stories


Ok I know this should be obvious but I think, at least for myself, I know there is SO MUCH to learn about our AMAZING, rich, historic religion that I sometimes focus more on those things (Catechism, 7 sacraments, 10 Commandments, the rosary and other prayers, etc.) and less on the Bible itself.  However, I really wanted my religious education to be as complete as I can possibly make it.  Therefore, I decided to add "Breakfast with the Bible" to our daily lessons.  

As Pickle is still so young I began with what I had readily available to me, Little Golden Book: Bible Favorites.  This is a combination of three books in one:  Bible Heroes, Bible Stories for Boys and Girls, and Miracles of Jesus.


A word of caution when using non-Catholic approved Bible stories:  remember to read through them first prior to educating your children.  Be sure there is nothing contrary to Mother Church's teaching. If you find something contrary, you can make the decision to either present it with the Catholic teachings or choose not to present that story/book at all.  You'll know fairly quickly if you can use that resource or not so trust your gut!

The pros using this book (Little Golden Book: Bible Favorites):  
  • The stories are written in a kid friendly manner.
  • The stories are a VERY simplified version of their bible counterparts and hit on the very basics children would need to know initially about these bible characters.
  • These stories provide, what I think, is a nice, brief, first introduction to these bible characters.
  • This book is found in large commercial stores easily available.
The cons using this book:
  • It cannot possibly fit all bible characters we would want our children to know about.
  • The simplified versions of these stories still are missing some very important pieces of the story.  I find myself simply adding in the extra information as I am talking about each character.
I knew I needed to find something more age-appropriate but also Catholic based for my children so I went searching online and found....


Since beginning "Breakfast with the Bible", I have discovered another FANTASTIC bible resource for children.  The New Catholic Picture Bible offered via Catholic Heritage Curriculum is an wonderful resource!  It provides 74 bible stories presented from a Catholic perspective for children sold for only (are you sitting down) $10!  AMAZING!  Each story has a beautiful illustration followed by a fairly concise synopsis of that particular bible story!


How we do "Breakfast with the Bible":

1.  Read bible story:  I spend one whole school week on each story.  So, the first day of the week, we spend time reading and discussing the bible story during breakfast.  
2.  Coloring Page(s):  The second day of the week, I print out a coloring page (or pages) from a simple search on the internet, representing the bible story.    While Pickle colors in the page(s) we discuss the story once again.  It's a nice way to recap the bible story in order to help commit it to memory. 
3.  Extension activites: (rest of the school week) 
      a.  Discuss the Lesson:  We spend time discussing one lesson (or several) we have learned from this bible story.
      b.  Lesson learning activity:  I will try to take one lesson the bible story teaches and create some very simple type of extension activity for it.  Below is an example of what I used for Cain and Able's story.  

We discussed how Cain was not being a good brother to Able and that there are many, many ways we can be good brothers/sisters to our siblings.  Then I had Pickle color this picture and complete this writing prompt.  How easy it was to target written language and handwriting in this simple activity!


I have to admit, I am liking Breakfast with the Bible and am praying we can make this a family tradition!

So this is what we are using to supplement religious education at this time.

In the future, I am planning on purchasing the below curriculum to expand upon our study of scripture:

 Simon Peter School Scripture Study: This is a VERY affordable scripture study program for 3rd-8th grade. I am hoping to use this as a supplement once Pickle gets to third grade!

Now we all know what God does when we plan but this is what I'm thinking right now.  We shall see over the years how this goes!  Do you use a scripture study program with your children?  Please share!  And remember, even if you are not homeschooling, you can always supplement your child's religious education with whatever resources you feel are appropriate!!!!  It's not an ALL or NOTHING thing! I think that's what I love the most about homeschooling.  It's all about what works for you and your family!

Blessings to you and yours,


Thursday, May 14, 2015

Book Review: Flame of Love



Did you know there was someone who lived into the late 20th century who experienced inner locutions from Jesus and Mary for over 20 years?  Did you know she was an ordinary housewife, mother, and grandmother with very little education who was chosen to share an outporing of graces with the world that will "blind Satan"?

Flame of Love, by Elizabeth Kindelmann, is an abridged version of her personal diaries that she kept for over twenty years.  Elizabeth was an orphan who grew up in communist Hungry.  She was married at 16 and widowed with six children by the age of 33.  Eventhough her family faced poverty and starvation, she never gave up.  Elizabeth worked several jobs at one time for many years to support her children but she was not well-educated.  In the early 1960s she began to have inner locutions, heavenly communications, between our Lord, Jesus and our Blessed Mother, Mary.  This diary was written at Jesus' request in an attempt to spread Mary's Flame of Love to all of humanity, which according to Jesus is "an outpouring of graces so great that they have not existed since the Word became Flesh".

The diary shares the spiritual struggles, sufferings, and ecstacies Elizabeth experienced through her communication with Mary and Jesus during the last two decades of her lifetime prior to her passing in 1985.  There are also a number of ASTOUNDING promises our Lord and Lady make to Elizabeth for ANYONE who performs these actions in the effort to share her Flame of Love.

As this is an abridged translation, the diary itself does seem a bit choppy at times but the true message is maintained.  Our Lady's message is the real reason to read this book!  At the end of the diary, there is a very helpful synposis from the translator, who breaks down the specifics on how we too can receive and share the amazing graces of this Flame of Love through very simple things you and I can do beginning today!

Note: this book is supported and approved by the Catholic church, has received the imprimatur of at least 40 bishops and has spread to countries all over the world.

And here's some really great news:  this book is FREE to anyone who wishes to obtain it through Myconsecration.org, a Catholic apostolate dedicated to teaching others about the joys and riches of consecrating oneself to our Blessed Mother.

The Blessed Virgin asks us to "Take this Flame of Love of my Heart.  Light your own heart and pass it on.  With this flame, enkindle all the hearts in the whole country.  Pass it from heart to heart.  This will be the miracle.  It will become a blaze that blinds Satan."  And how can we say "no"?

I highly recommend you order this book to begin your journey with our Blessed Mother's, Flame of Love!

I give it: 5++ "Chaotic" stars!!!

GO ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Mother's Day 2015: A Tribute to My Own Mother!


How wonderful is it that during the month of May we celebrate our earthly mothers alongside our heavenly mother?!  Now that I am a mother myself, I have a different understanding of what it means to be a mother, the daily, infinite number of sacrifices a mother makes, and the number of times a day a mother holds her tongue.  Yes Mother, I know this will come as a shock to you, but I do actually hold my tongue...sometimes.  Ha!

As a mother, I now understand what it means when moms say "I can't afford to be sick" or "There is no such thing as a day off."  I know how necessary it is to be organized, to have a calendar of events, to know work schedules and plan around big events.  I know what it means to bake a birthday cake after the kids go to bed and frost it at 10 pm.  I know what it's like hiding Christmas presents and secretly spending all night wrapping them while they snooze soundly in the next room.  I know what it means to check on the kids before I head to bed and to run into their rooms at night when they cry out or scream.  I know what it means to rock babies to sleep in my arms, only to have them wake up screaming when I try to put them down.  I know what it means to stay up all night cuddling a sick baby on the couch just to have to stay awake the next day to take care of another child.  I know what it means, to sob on the other side of the door while the baby is trying to cry himself to sleep.  I know what it means to make sure everyone is fed and bathed, all the clothes are washed, folded, put away, the dishes cleaned up after dinner, the ironing done (and you KNOW how I dislike ironing!), and the grocery shopping complete.  I know what it means to plan our weekly and monthly meals in the most economical way possible. I know what it means to try and sneak leftovers and veggies into meals then try to trick the kids (or in my case my husband) into eating them.  I know what it's like to be so tired after a day with the kids, that my eyes are closed the moment my head hits the pillow.  I know what it means when moms say "Your body is no longer yours".  I know what it's like to NEVER have PRIVACY again! Ha!!!!  I know what it's like to hear "mom" hundreds of times a day and I know what it means to time manage! I know what it feels like when my child tells me "I'm mean" or that he doesn't like me.  I know how awful it feels when my child is ungrateful for gifts or sacrifices I make, and I now know how small one can possibly feel when my child recalls all of my faults.  I know the worry moms have over their children's futures and the doubts we have in our own parenting skills.  I know what it's like to question all the decisions I am making for my children.  I know what it means to "get out of bed" for my children on those days when all I want to do is sleep.  All of these things I now know.

What I can't figure out, Mom, is how you did this for eight children and countless grandchildren, with little or no money for the last (almost) 40 years, all while staying with the same man and showing us what it means to honor our marriage vows?!  You may not have been the most emotionally accessible mother or the most affectionate.  You still have problems with saying those three crazy words "I love you" (gasp!) but then again, that's not your love language.  You show love by serving others and I know the life of service you have lived and continue to live today.  I cannot image the number of times one of us has disappointed you or the number of times we were ungrateful for you and to you.  I do not want to imagine the many times a day you thought about "running away from it all" or how many times you asked God if this was all there was to life.  And I can never imagine all the sacrifices you have made for each and every one of us.

So for all that is often left unsaid, for all that you did and still do that goes unnoticed, I (pathetically) say the only two words I can...Thank you!  Thank you, mom for all that I know you have done and all that I'll never know or understand.  Thanks for being consistent and for being you!  God blessed this crazy family with you as the mother and I hope one day you will know what a blessing you have been to us.  I hope one day you know how your humility, generosity, perseverance and quite strength mirrors our Blessed Mother's and that through this life of service our Lord is "well pleased" with you (He would just like you to say "hi" every once in a while.  He misses you, ya know.)!!!  And since I have NO problems with those simple words, let me just add...
..."I love you, mom"

Happy Mother's Day 2015! 



Your favorite daughter (in my very "humble" opinion...wink, wink),

Monday, May 11, 2015

Homeschooling: Here We Go!


I know this might be a strange time to share this post since it is the spring and not the fall but my husband and I have just begun our homeschooling journey.  We had decided long before this season to homeschool and you can read about that decision and why we chose this curriculum in these previous posts.  We recently decided that now was the time to begin our homeschooling journey.

My oldest son, Pickle, turned 5 last month and he has always been interested in learning so when I told him we were beginning Kindergarten he was very excited about it.  After researching a number of Catholic homeschool options, my husband and I decided upon enrolling Pickle into Seton Home Study.  




Here's what we have decided to do for our K curriculum with Pickle: 

Religion: Seton's Curriculum + Additional supplements (see next week's post)
Phonics/Reading: Seton's Curriculum + CHC's Little Stories for Little Folks
Math: Seton's curriculum
Handwriting: Seton's curriculum
Science: Seton's curriculum + CHC's Behold and See 1 + Non-fiction books 
Art: Seton's curriculum + art projects from Catholic Icing and Catholic Inspired
Music: Seton's curriculum + Piggyback Songs (Praise God and Praise Jesus)







So far it has only been a month but we are enjoying ourselves.  Pickle wakes up excited and ready to learn and I LOVE being here with him along the way!  How blessed I am that I get to be part of such an important time in my child's life!  It's not always easy but it is always worthwhile.

Homeschooling families reading this, what curriculum are you using?  Do you have any favorite supplements or subjects you purchased from other companies?  I'd love to hear your input as well!

Blessings to you and yours,











Saturday, May 9, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 7!


Why do we LOVE Mary?  Mary "distributes to whom she wills, as she wills and when she wills, all His gifts and graces."  That's so important, I felt I needed to say this twice!!!!

So what can we do this month of May to honor Mary?  How about consecrate (or re-consecrate) ourselves to our Blessed Mother!  Go here to find out how you can do that!

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. (You can purchase a hard copy online) Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over.

Check out:



Friday, May 8, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 6!


Why do we LOVE Mary?  Jesus LOVED her!  He confided in her!  And she is the route in which all graces flow!

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (you can purchase a hard copy online).  Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over.

Check out:



Thursday, May 7, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 5!


Why do we LOVE Mary?  She is the vessel in which Our Lord, the Holy Spirit, houses ALL OF HIS GRACES!!!!

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (you can purchase a hard copy online).  Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over.

Check out:




Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 4!


Why love Mary?  Because the Holy Spirit chose her!!!  
Why did the Holy Spirit choose Mary?  It's a divine mystery and I couldn't solve it even if I wanted to!  Ok.  Fine with me. I trust the Holy Spirit knows more than I do with my limited understanding of the eternal life.

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (you can purchase a hard copy online).  Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over.

Check out:


Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 3!


Why do we love our Lady?  Why not?  The Holy Spirit loved her so much He became espoused to her through the incarnation!  And the MORE He finds Mary in us, the more willing He is to grace us with Jesus Christ!  That's good enough for me! :)

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (you can purchase a hard copy online).  Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over. 

Check out:


Monday, May 4, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 2!


Why we love Mary?  It is only through her that we have been blessed with Jesus Christ!

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (you can purchase a hard copy online).  Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over.  

Check out Part 1




Celebrating Mary with 10 FREE Children's Activities


It's May, the month to celebrate our Blessed Mother!  In an effort to teach my own children about the beautiful, perfectly humble, perfectly serving, perfectly compassionate mother of Christ, I came up with this simple list of activities.

1. Coloring pages of Mary: You can find a number of beautiful coloring pages of our Blessed Lady here.

2.  "Many Titles of Mary" Memory game:  I found this beautiful pinterest board and this one with so many wonderful pictures of our Blessed Mother with her many titles.  Simply copy and paste the pictures of your choice into a powerpoint document, keeping the pictures small enough to play memory.  Print out two copies of the page and voila', you have a memory game for the various titles of our Blessed Mother.  Remember to discuss the symbolism behind each of these pictures (you can look these up on the internet with a quick easy search if needed).

Here's an example of our memory game for you.  I do not have permission to distribute these pictures from the internet so I can only share our example with you.  I hope this helps. I chose 8 different pictures, including some of the most well known pictures of Mary as well as a few unknown to my son.  His favorite is Our Lady of Guadalupe so I had to add that one! :)


3.  Explain how Mary's power of Satan: To me, this is the MOST important activity you could do with your children this May. Here you will find the theological explanation of Mary's immaculate conception (i.e. no original sin) and her power over the devil written by St. John Paul II.  This is something you as a parent should read prior to presenting this information to your children.  Have your children look up each of the bible verses referred to in this work and explain what they mean.  This will be a GREAT way to explain why we, as Catholics, are devout to Mary and why we pray for her intercession.  Also it's a fantastic reminder for us as adults! ;)

4.  Tradition of the Origin of the Rosary:  Legend has it that St. Dominic shared the devotion of the rosary after seeing a vision of Mary.  Of course this is but a legend and is suspect, we do know he preached devotion to the Blessed Mother via the rosary.  Read more about the origins of the rosary here and find a coloring page here!

Why is it important for our children to learn about the origin of the rosary if we don't really know where it came from, you ask.  I promise you, there will be a time in your child's life where someone will say, "Why do you pray to Mary?" or "Why do you pray the rosary?" and your child will be able to say that this tradition of prayer took hundreds of years to develop into the beautiful prayer it is today.

5.  Compose a Prayer to Mary:  Either in writing or verbally, your child can compose their own prayer to Mary and place on your family's alter or in front of a picture of the Blessed Mother.  My child can't talk yet?  No problem, have them draw or color a picture of our holy Mother and give that to our Blessed Lady.  How this simple act will fill her heart with joy!

6.   Say a family Rosary:  When explaining each mystery ask your children how they think Mary felt.

7.  Dissect the "Hail Mary":  Use this page  or any other Hail Mary printable and take apart each section of the Hail Mary.  Show your children where in Luke's gospel many of these words come from and why we say them today.  Discuss the Annunciation!

8.   Read about Our Lady's Most Famous Apparitions:

      a. Our Lady of Lourdes:  Here is a very good account of the story of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Be sure to discuss St. Bernadette's life and how her body is incorrupt and can still be seen today!

      b. Our Lady of Fatima:  Here you can find the full story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherd children.  Remember to note the political unrest and the fact that WWI was taking place, and within 13 months of this apparition, the war was over!  This shows the amazing work of our Blessed Mother and why our devotion to her is so important!

      c.  How about some "not-so-famous" apparitions?:  Looking for some Marian apparitions that are not as well known yet still approved by Mother Church? Check out this link!  You didn't know there have been so many did you? Don't worry. I was pleasantly surprised as well!

9.  Decorate your alter cloth:  Grab a cheap white sheet and use markers, glitter glue or fabric paint and have your children decorate it with beautiful symbols of Our Blessed Mother.  Once dry, you can hand it on your family alter for the month of May.

10.  Mary diorama:  You can use any of the Mary coloring pictures above and a box of any kind (we prefer tissue boxes in this house b/c we always have them, but shoe boxes or even postal boxes will work as well) and make a beautiful Mary diorama.  Place it on your family alter or in your child's room so he/she can say special prayers to Mary this month.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Why Catholics LOVE Mary: Part 1

All parts of this series are quotations from St. Louis De Montfort's amazing written work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (you can purchase a hard copy online).  Now there is NO way to do this work justice with a few simple clips and quotes but I wanted to share just a few fantastic things he wrote via divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His work has been hailed by Mother Church and I highly recommend you purchasing your own copy to prayerfully read and re-read over and over.  

So why do we crazy Catholics love our Blessed Mother so much?  Simple answer...Because God willed it!  He CHOSE Mary to bring the WORD made flesh into our world.  It was part of HIS plan and our Lord is constant.  He was, He is, He always will be.  Our Lord doesn't change and He chose her!  He chose to do his GREATEST work through her when she was here on earth.  Why would be think He wouldn't want to do his GREATEST work through her in heaven as well.  Isn't that reason enough?


Come back for Part 2 on 5/4/15.



Friday, May 1, 2015

Catholic Tidbit: Divine Mercy Chaplet at the Moment of Death


Did you know there is something you can do for your loved ones at the hour of their death to incite the Lord's mercy for them?  Yep, that's right!

Through her visions of Jesus, Sr. Faustina Kowlaska experienced, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy was given to our world.  It is a beautiful prayer, one that can be prayed daily, and numerous times a day.  It can be prayed for both the living and the dead.  Maybe even more importanly, it can be prayered for those who are at death's door.

In her diary, Sr. Faustina recalls Jesus' words: "My daughter, encourage souls to say  the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. ... Write that when they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior" (Diary, 1541).

Jesus also promised:  "At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same" (Diary, 811).  It is important to note that one does NOT have to be in the physical presence of the dying person for this indulgence to take place.

So you see the power you have to incite mercy for your loved ones (and yourself) at the moment of death?  In fact Jesus employs us to offer our chaplets up for sinners and for the dying by saying:  "Pray as much as you can for the dying. By your entreaties [that is, insistent prayers] obtain for them trust in My mercy, because they have most need of trust, and have it the least. Be assured that the grace of eternal salvation for certain souls in their final moment depends on your prayer. You know the whole abyss of My mercy, so draw upon it for yourself and especially for poor sinners. Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul" (Diary, 1777).

All quotes in this blog post are reposted from here.


Blessings to you and yours,