Author | |
aussieannie Forum All-Star
Joined: May 21 2006 Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 7251
|
Posted: June 13 2006 at 12:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Had to quote this Elizabeth - it was such inspirational reading - so tremendously expressed, the reason why Mosaic is needed in the lives of Catholic families - this is something that should/will be very BIG in the culture of Catholic families, it is obviously a mighty contribution to the formation of the future church.
I say all this not seeing a copy with my own eyes yet. (bit bold, I know!) - but owning many of the books already, I know how they have greatly influenced and deepened my children's lives and my life - the echoes of the picture books read and seen by myself in childhood are still resonating to this day, (so I know personally how they should, God willing, effect my children's lives) and these inspirational picture books are still touching the child in me.
I have seen the sample page from the Catholic Mosaic of The Holy Twins, one that I own already, yet I know that when it finally arrives here in Australia and I receive my copy I am sure it will still overwhelm me with surprise and delight.
Saying all that I really just wanted to quote Elizabeth from her own site on the 9th of June, it was just so good I thought that it was a statement worth seeing on the new exclusive Mosaic forum area:
elizabeth from her website wrote:
When a child learns the faith within the context of the Liturgical Year, "religion" becomes a living, breathing part of the rhythm of life. It is integrated into her being as fundamentally as a heartbeat. In early December, she just knows it is Advent; that's the way it's always been. She thinks, "Our color is purple because we are waiting, preparing." She looks forward to celebrating the feasts that are nestled in among the fast. St. Nicholas, Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucy--all her favorite, familiar friends are met with joy. And when she is older, she will not merely turn the calendar to the last month of the year inside a dry, secular cubicle, she will instead continue to live the richness of the first season of the Church year. And if, for some sad reason, she does not, something will seem terribly out of sync, for that will not be the normal, habitual beating of her heart from the beginning when she was a child in the Domestic Church of her parents.
When the faith is taught within the context of living books a lyrical song is sung, a beautiful image embossed upon a child's soul. Those carefully chosen books become family traditions. "This is the book we read for St. Brigid's feast; this for John Paul the Great's birthday; this for Pentecost." Children learn the stories of the saints and they develop real, living relationships with those holy men and women who cheer them from heaven and intercede on their behalf. The saints of those stories are faithful friends for small children who grow into spiritual giants and guides for well-formed adults. The books Cay has chosen are of the highest quality--living, breathing books that will infuse children and the adults who share them with the breath of the Holy Spirit.
When notebooking is introduced to the teaching of religion and academia meets theology in the context of the rhythm of the household, you have real learning. No one can tell where "school" stops and "church" begins, where "church" stops and family life begins. Instead, there is a lifestyle of learning within the heart of the Domestic Church. It is education within the bosom of the family, just as the Creator intended. Catholic Mosaic offers a plethora of ideas for organizing just such an education. It's all tied together and keyed to the calendar. We can do this! We can have an environment in our homes that is this rich and meaningful!
There will be no used copies of this resource available. Mothers who forego home education to send their children to school will hold on to this book in order to read the stories at bedtime and do the crafts on rainy Saturdays. Mothers whose children have grown and gone will pass the book to their daughters and daughters-in-law. It is a resource destined to become dog-eared and jelly smeared.
At 4Real, we've embraced this resource with great zeal. We are talking about it. We are adding more books and more ideas and we archiving the success stories. Come join us. We are piecing together a life in our homes that is reminiscent of a mosaic in a fine cathedral-- something truly rich and beautiful for our Lord. |
|
|
__________________ Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Lisa R Forum All-Star
Joined: May 29 2005 Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline Posts: 789
|
Posted: June 13 2006 at 10:13am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Simply incredible post Elizabeth!!!
__________________ God Bless!
Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5595
|
Posted: June 13 2006 at 11:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks . Here's the whole thing.
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Donna Marie Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2530
|
Posted: June 13 2006 at 11:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh Elizabeth...this is sooo beautiful....you write so well! What a gift you have for the kind of eloquent words that nourish any reader that ponders them! BRAVO!
__________________ God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Meredith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2355
|
Posted: June 14 2006 at 9:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I heartily agree and had to write about it myself although not even remotely as eloquently as Elizabeth I just don't know how anyone will be able to do without a Catholic Mosaicin their lives!!
Thanks again Cay!!
__________________ Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|