What is my child learning this month?
This month, your child learned about the saints—what does it mean to be a saint, what qualities saints have, and the fact that saints were not perfect people, but imperfect sinners who loved God and strove to follow His teachings. We went over some saints throughout history who, through their own unique circumstances, took up the mantle of virtue and became saints. We spoke of the universal call to holiness of all Christians—that the vocation to holiness is meant not for a privileged few but for all people. Living our lives in pursuit of holiness doesn’t mean we will never fail—that is untrue and unrealistic—but rather, we recognize our need and reliance on God and surrender to His will in order as a first step in becoming holy.
Terms we went over:
Saint: witnesses of the love of Christ who share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were 'put in charge of many things.' (Cf. Mt 25:21.) Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world. (see CCC §2683).
Patron: an individual who supports an organization, cause or activity. A patron saint, therefore, is a holy person in heaven who protects, supports, and prays for certain people, places, or causes. St. Patrick, for example, is the patron saint of Ireland. Patron saints act as companions to our journey of faith; they act as personal witnesses to the transformative love of Christ and examples of how we ought to live our lives in pursuit of Christ and holiness.
Universal Call to Holiness: teaching that all Christians are called through the grace of their baptism to become holy “for this is the will of God, your sanctification” (I Thes. 4:3; df. Eph. 1:4). The call to holiness is not one set path, but is expressed in many different ways in many individuals “who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity, thus causing the edification [sanctification] of others” (LG §39). All people from all walks of life are called to sainthood in their own unique circumstances and with their own gifts and flaws. God calls each individual back to Himself and desires ardently each person’s continual conversion towards the Heart of Christ, whose heart is a “symbol of his boundless love” (Dilexit Nos, §48).
(See Lumen Gentium §39-41 “Chapter 5, The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church”)
BRINGING THIS SESSION HOME
This month, we are asking parents to review the Call to Holiness with their children. Pleaseread this article by Mother Angelica OR watch this video on the Call to Holiness
In one of Mother Angelica's articles she writes, "A Christian is to be a "sign of contradiction"—a light on top of the mountain—a thorn in the side of the world. His entire life is a silent reproach to sinners, a beacon of hope to the oppressed, a ray of sunshine to the saddened, a source of encouragement to the destitute and a visible sign of the invisible reality of grace."
- Share with your child a time in your own life where you experienced someone being "a light on the top of the mountain" for you
- Share with your child a time in your life where you were a "beacon of hope" for someone in need.
- Ask your child to share with you an example from their own lives where they or someone they knew was a "light" or a "beacon".
- Discuss with your child how, as Catholics, we are called to live out these actions each day and strive to be holy, like the Saints.
PRAYING TOGETHER
Together as a family, choose a patron saint that will watch over and intercede for your family. This is a great way to have your Catholic faith remain at the center of your family, and to encourage your children to pray, to cultivate a relationship with God, and to continue to ask God for his help in their lives. This can be a yearly tradition, where you choose a patron saint to watch over your family for that year.
If you need any inspiration, or would like to have your patron saint chosen for you (at random!), take a look at this saint generator. In addition, if you would like to choose a word of the year to guide your family, take a look at this word of the year generator as well:
