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Books

Talking About Humility

I noticed that author Jane Knuth (Thrift Store Saints) asked a question about humility yesterday on the People for Others blog. In particular, she mentions the following quote from St. Vincent de Paul and then asks readers to share their understanding of the quote. The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Katie Elwood Teaches How to Spread God’s Word

In this segment of Catechists in Action, 2nd grade catechist Katie Elwood teaches her class about how to spreak God’s Word. Watch as she… transitions by inviting the kids to stand up and give praise to God invites the children to read from their text book relates what they read to a previous discussion about sharing good things with others explains how we are called to spread the good news about the Holy Spirit to […]

Lent

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Last Supper Craft

This activity is called Last Supper Craft and comes to us from a Web site called Catholic Icing. It is ideal preparation for Holy Thursday and is based on Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper Painting. The nice thing is that Lacy, the host of the Web site, is kind enough to share her printables which make this craft possible. She has a nice tutorial that leads you step by step through creating this simple work […]

Lent

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Good Deeds Bracelets for Lent

This activity is called Good Deeds Bracelets for Lent and it comes to us from Arma Dei. They describe it this way: Inspired by St. Therese, this bracelet works similar to other good deed bead bracelets, as the beads slide and stay in place, recording each good deed, extra prayer (foregone opportunity to complain) or sacrifice. Arma Dei sells a craft kit that contains everything you need to create these bracelets. Be sure to take […]

Lent

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Salt Dough Crown of Thorns

Today’s activity – a Salt Dough Crown of Thorns – can be found in many places on the Internet, I am drawing from a  couple of Web sites: Ten Kids and a Dog and Three Sided Wheel (which has an excellent tutorial) Basically, you make a salt dough and then roll out the dough into 3 long rolls/ropes. Next, you braid the rolls/ropes and shape it into a circle. Add toothpicks (loosely) to represent the thorns, asking forgiveness […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Katie Elwood Teaches About the Sacraments

In this segment of Catechists in Action, we once again join 2nd grade catechist Katie Elwood as she prepares her children for their First Holy Communion. Watch as Katie… talks about the Sacrament of Baptism asks the children to name how many sacraments there are asks the children to name the 7 sacraments invites her aide to give a clue about Matrimony saying, “what happens when you’re older….your mom and dad did what?” Incredibly, a […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Katie Elwood Prepares Her 2nd Graders for First Holy Communion

In this segment of Catechists in Action, we observe 2nd grade catechist Katie Elwood as she helps her students prepare to learn about the Mass. Watch as Katie… alerts the children to the fact that they will be going over to the church for a tour by the pastor shows the children a picture in their book of the sanctuary and all of the sacred vessels and furniture and tells them that the pastor will […]

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Miscellaneous

Spiritual Health is More Than the Absence of Sin

For all of the bad press that secularism gets in religious (and particularly Catholic) circles, the fact is, secular culture often provides us with insights that are congruent with the proclamation of the Gospel. Case in point: this brief talk on happiness by Psychologist Shawn Achor is consistent with the approach to a healthy Christian spirituality. In fact, it is just this kind of thinking that inspired me to write my newest book, 7 Keys to […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Meet Katie Elwood

Welcome to another installment of Catechists in Action as we enter the classroom of 2nd grade catechist Katie Elwood (Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Evergreen Park, IL). Thanks Katie for inviting us in at the last moment (without warning!) when my planned filming in another class ran into an obstacle. Katie is so excited to be preparing her children for First Holy Communion. On the evening we filmed, she was introducing them to a new First […]

St. Blaise - Zvonimir Atletic/Shutterstock.com
Mary and the Saints

Celebrating St. Blaise: Getting Beyond Superstition

I remember as a kid being thrilled with the Feast of St. Blaise, because it meant that I wouldn’t get any more sore throats during the remaining weeks of the cruel Chicago winter. So much of my piety back then was bordering (if not totally over the edge!) on superstition. Why? I was never really taught otherwise. I was taught that the blessing of St. Blaise would keep me not only from getting a sore […]