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Dawn
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| Posted: June 16 2006 at 12:10pm | IP Logged
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This is a really long post  , but I had to share an interesting article I read in this week's OSV. I was going to put it on my blog, but wasn't sure about legalities. I couldn't find it online, either; so here it is.
The Reverend's backstory is interesting, but it's his advice I found most inspiring. Each one is an excellent point to discuss and consider!
Guest Column:
Rev. Donald Richmond
Keeping kids Catholic
Model and teach your children the faith, lest they stray and regret it later - just as I did
"I am an Anglican (English Catholic) priest. I love our theological ethos and am committed to the Anglican way. Nevertheless, in spite of my fidelity, there is something tragic about my conviction: I was raised Roman Catholic.
As poor as my mother was, she always insisted that I receive a Catholic upbringing. Consequently, I participated in many age-appropriate parish activities. Although my mother insisted upon my attendance, she did not need to do so. I wanted to attend.
This may appear to be a bit odd. Why would a very active young person be interested in the Church? The answer was quite simple: I knew the presence of Christ in and through Mother Church.
But something happened to my Catholic life along the way. I could blame my defection on a number of personal and cultural issues, but the real reason I defected was that my mother and I moved to a place where there was no Catholic Church. As a result, I began to waver in the practice of my faith. With time I became involved in questionable activities. I needed God, I needed my Catholic faith, but I could not find my way back after many years of backsliding. Eventually, some evangelical Christians shared their faith with me. I became an evangelical, later an Anglican priest.
But there is within me an ache, like a child looking into a candy store (the Roman Catholic Church) through a thick sheet of impenetrable glass. I can "see" it but cannot re-enter. Don't misunderstand me; I've tried to become a Catholic convert. I want to return to Mother Church. However, for certain reasons, I cannot cross the Tiber. Rome is for me a sweet and soulful song that I cannot fully sing. This is sad, and was preventable.
How can you help your children remain Catholic, really Catholic, and not just nominally Catholic? My experience may be helpful:
* Parents must live their faith before their children. For all my mother's shortcomings, she sought to live the life. Catholic parents who actually live their lives as committed Christians will be the greatest deterrent to defection.
* Parents must ensure, to the best of their ability, that their children are consistently involved in Catholic activities. Connect your kids to other Catholics who are excited about being Catholic. Many parents today run around from one sporting or social activity to another. Why not demonstrate the same devotion to Mother Church!
* Educate your children about the glories of Catholic history. Fill their minds with the lives of Catholic saints, martyrs, kings and queens. Catholicism is something to celebrate and share.
* Seek a parish where the priests and nuns are on fire for God. If I had continued to attend the parish where I spent my early years, there is a good chance I would be a Catholic priest, not an Anglican priest.
* Don't fudge your faith. This is vital. I once asked my mother if I should return to Rome. Her answer was an emphatic "No!" When I asked why, she said that I would not keep all the rules.
As a Catholic convert, my mother believed that if you are a Catholic you need to keep the rules of a Catholic. If the Church is against abortion, you are against abortion. If the Church opposes birth control, a good Catholic opposed birth control. Catholic parents cannot pick-and-choose those things that do not suit them. If parents do this, it creates confusion in the mind of a child.
* Finally get your children involved in great Catholic literature and music. Maybe reading a portion of the Bible and the catechism before meals might be useful. Don't forget to pray - and live your prayers! Think about, live and discuss your faith with your children.
I am an Anglican priest who loves God, loves the Church and seeks to live the Christian life with integrity. I sometimes languish for Rome. Don't allow your children to long for the history, heritage and faith that is due inheritance of every Roman Catholic."
I'd love to hear your thoughts on his points!
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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aussieannie
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| Posted: June 16 2006 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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That was a great read, Dawn. It is good to be reminded of the facts that he has listed.
I would like to make a comment over just one of the points:
Educate your children about the glories of Catholic History.
Very important point - when I was a teenager at a Catholic all girls school, they were forever teaching us about the 'weaknesses' of the Church throughout history, and when I went home to research these issues with the help and guidance of my parents we would inevitably discover time and time again that they gave an unfair, incorrect view of these issues.
I have kept in contact with all my six friends from school and they have all lost the faith or became protestant except one. If the subject comes up about the Faith, they have often mentioned these religious history lessons to me, so they have remembered them!
We NEVER had the Church's history presented as something glorious or wonderful and no wonder only 5% keep the faith after they finish Catholic schooling. (I am sure that the 5%, like myself were homeschooled in the Faith by parents)
Today I have just finished reading two small accounts from two different adult Catholic books, "St Lawrence and the Holy Grail" and "The Last Crusader - Isabella of Spain" by William Walsh to my children (I improvise whenever the content is too heavy for them.) My purpose is to 'seep' the children in glorious accounts of our history, these stories have me "cheering from the sides" within my heart. I want my children to feel the same - these moments with them are always one of my favourite times.
In the Queen Isabella book, starting on page 326 there is a incrediable story about the courageous defence of Our Lady's name by Isabella's soliders against the Moors and a particular Goliath-type character, my children's eyes were shining, they could hardly contain themselves, my oldest boy was jumping around at the end with his pretend sword and shield!
Then in the reading of Chapter One of the Holy Grail book, they were captivated over the different stories throughout christendom of how the Grail had been nearly destroyed, discovered etc. except for the courageous efforts of those protecting this holy relic. The children were laughing with glee at the near misses with evil, the relic has had and how evil had been thwarted in it's evil intent. I was telling the children how in heaven all the defenders, starting with Pope Sixtus II and St Lawrence all the way down to a simple woman during the Spanish Civil War, would be recognisable in someway with a particular attribute of glory for this remarkable defence - they were all chattering about what they think they would see.
It is all about setting them 'on fire' for the love of God and His Church and it's history.
__________________
Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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Dawn
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| Posted: June 17 2006 at 4:51am | IP Logged
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aussieannie wrote:
| That was a great read, Dawn. It is good to be reminded of the facts that he has listed. |
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Anne, I'm glad you enjoyed the article too. And thank you for your thoughts on presenting Catholic history and how you received it yourself. How blessed you were to have such wonderful parents! Your points are right on and I love the sound of those books you are reading to your children!
I'm laughing a bit at myself for posting this, because the points the Reverend made are all obvious to those of us here. Nothing earth-shaking or new in those bits of advice, but I still love to see them in print for *other* eyes to see.  This is why I considered posting the article on my blog, as I have had some conversations lately with family and friends along these lines and I liked how well he made these points.
God bless!
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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aussieannie
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| Posted: June 18 2006 at 2:42am | IP Logged
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Dawn, with your three boys, they would definately love the story from the Queen Isabella book, I'll send you a pm about it with more info.
dawn wrote:
| I'm laughing a bit at myself for posting this, because the points the Reverend made are all obvious to those of us here. Nothing earth-shaking or new in those bits of advice, but I still love to see them in print for *other* eyes to see. This is why I considered posting the article on my blog, as I have had some conversations lately with family and friends along these lines and I liked how well he made these points. |
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Well maybe Dawn, you were inspired to because I have just been thinking - this man needs prayers. I wonder what is holding him back - family maybe? Or other issues that make the journey over far too taxing on some personal level? I have read with relish all the different American, protestant converts stories - Scott Hahn, Marcus Grodi, Stephen Ray and others over the years, they have helped me understand the Catholic faith through 'protestant eyes' and it has broadened my ability to defend my faith - I have alot to thank them for in that sense. They have talked about the sacrifices made, some that were well rewarded in time, others - like family never understanding, can still be a constant source of pain.
One of my school friends, one of the friends that I mentioned in my post above became protestant when she married a baptist. She left mainly because she could not agree with Mary's role and praying to saints, her husband influenced her greatly in this area. That was 10 years ago or so, my husband and I had a long talk with them back then but they very sure in their ideas and were not very open to calm discussion.
She had a very strange experience over a year ago now, she felt some strange, urgent, compelling desire to say a Hail Mary! She rang me quite beside herself and has since then decided, along with her husband, to explore the Catholic Church with a more open mind. They have hit snags though, and felt the need to 'put it down for a while' as it becomes too compelling and scary for them. They are so happy with the latest church they attend at present and I think that takes the pressure off them to keep searching and exploring all this.
I tell you a frightening thing, I remember telling her that she would come back to the Church when she re-discovers that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and she replied that she never knew that, even when she was Catholic! I nearly fell off the chair!!   This dear friend had always had such a love for God, but her Catholic parents or schools had never taught her this fundamental truth.
I have remind myself too, that it must be unthinkable to have your world rocked like this, I couldn't imagine it!
__________________
Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: June 18 2006 at 11:04am | IP Logged
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We live in an area where there are very few Catholics, so keeping them Catholic is on my mind alot.
The one thing I tell my kids (when they ask about protestant churches ) that seems to resonate most with them is this: Why would you join a church founded by some guy with an ax to grind? If you want to call yourself a Christian, then you should be a member of the church founded by Christ Himself. Christ said to Peter "You are the rock upon which I will build my church." He did not say that to any other man. How can we call ourselves Christian and deny this truth?
My kids all seem to understand this and feel very proud (in a good way) that their church is Christ's own.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Topic: "Keeping kids Catholic"
