A feast for grandparents!

“...[T]he family is the foundation of society. In it the various generations come together and help one another to grow wise and to harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 52).

Today is the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the names traditionally given to Mary's parents (a.k.a., Jesus grandparents). The Saint of the Day post at St. Anthony Messenger website has a touching and inspiring post about the sort of home life this couple must have nurtured, that produced a young woman of great faith and courage.

Parents of Mary, pray for all parents that they may provide the loving home and faithful teaching that you provided your daughter. Amen

The hows and whys of genuflecting

Do you ever wonder why people drop to their knee before getting in their seat, or how to do it properly, or even WHEN to do it? Well, they are not (hopefully) picking up a dropped set of keys, but making a ritual gesture of respect toward the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle.

Most of us genuflect when entering a church as a matter of habit; some of us don't understand where we are directing this gesture. For instance, some people automatically genuflect when entering a church that has a separate chapel for the tabernacle, when, as you'll read in the article, a bow toward the altar would be the more appropriate gesture. (So, it's not just a matter of knowing what to do, but being conscious of why you are doing it... or not doing it!)

Here is a very short and clear article about genuflecting. I encourage you to read it, then teach your child(ren) before Mass this Sunday.

How's it growing?

The Scripture readings for this coming Sunday talk about rain and seeds and harvests. The natural world can teach us a lot about life and faith, if we take the time to pay attention.

We've been having a lot of storms this week; the dry ground has been getting a lot of rain.  What do you and your children notice happens when it rains? Do the plants and grass like it, does it help them to grow (too quickly, mutters the one who has to mow the lawn!)? That rain is doing its job well then, isn't it? In the first reading we learn that just like rain, God's Word (and we call Jesus the "Word of God") is effective... coming to earth and making a difference, helping us to grow and feel refreshed ... how does Jesus do THAT for you?

And in the Gospel, Jesus is telling a story (a parable is a story with a message) about a farmer and the seeds he sows. Maybe you could do an experiment with your children with a packet of seeds and different types of soil ... good rich stuff, the hard clay, maybe even the concrete on your driveway and a patch of weeds! Throw some seed on each place, push it down lightly if you can and give it a drink of water....  what happens over the next week or two? (the seed on the driveway will probably just get washed away) The translation that I've linked to at the beginning of this post only has the short version of the Gospel, but here you can find the full text, which includes Jesus' explanation of the different places the seed fell. What are ways that you can help your child to grow in his or her faith (plant them in good soil?)?

Post a comment and share your ideas, please!