Three Branches of Our Church

The Church has three branches, all waiting for the moment of Parousia:

 

• Church Militant (us here on earth)


• Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory)


• Church Triumphant (those souls who have already attained the Beatific Vision)

Each branch has particular roles and particular responsibilities.

 

A small group of girls discussed this very topic last month.

 

And this month (actually on November 1st and 2nd ;) ), the Church lives it out very consciously.

 

The funny thing is - we Catholics don't fear cemeteries at night - we RELISH them!

 

Not much to see - it was DARK!!!

 

Candles were placed on the headstones or front of them; and each site was blessed with holy water. This work was done by the members of our parish - the Church Militant - the members of the Faithful here on earth. Following All Saints Mass (in thanksgiving for and honor of those who have attained the Beatific Vision and provided us examples here on earth), the cemetery can be visited in honor of All Souls (November 2nd - all those who have gone before us, including those we don't know are in heaven yet or in purgatory (and we pray they are not elsewhere)).

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

Learning Our Faith

As we begin the new year in the Church, my son and I begin a new school year and start to looking to start afresh.

At this time of year, we naturally seem to move towards two things every year without fail and without really thinking about it:

games! (more in another post) - he has re-instituted game-night.

studying our faith with a new format. Each year we do something a bit different: one year it might be lesson plans from Our Lady of Victory; another year it might be a Bible study of some sort; another year something else --- and we do tend to start something new again in Lent as well - so we have a series of "studies" going throughout the year.

This year, in addition to creating a wooden Jesse Tree ornament every day of the season, we are also looking to do one of the two Catechisms (we have done levels 1 and 2 of the original Baltimore Catechism as well as the various First Communion catechisms from these same publishers):

[caption id="attachment_1014" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1013" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="St. Joseph New American Catechism"][/caption]

We won't do both - and we don't do the entire set - but we want to pick just one and can't make up our minds! I hope we decide before Advent starts!

The nice thing about studying not just one catechism, but several, is that the same points are studied in a variety of ways - so if one way doesn't stick, another might. And it gets FAR away from rote memorization and much closer to a true heart-understanding, in which we can enter into true conversations about our faith, without resorting to what happens when I have a door-to-door evangelist at my doorstep. You mention "Eucharist" = a key word - that sets off a particular CANNED response that has nothing to do with what I just said about the Eucharist. This happens all the time, but a particular instance stands out:

Older gentleman at my door.  He is from a local church and looking to invite others to come to church as well. I politely explain that I am Catholic and do not need another church at this time. Oh, he says, CAAAATHOLIC (dragging out the A sound, prononcing a long o and making the last part sound like LICK). And why might I ask are you Cath-oh-lick?

I believe in the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

OH! The YOU-KAH-RIST! I see. Let me tell you about this home for alcoholic priests in the thumb of Michigan (proceeding to show me on the Michigander hand-map).

I asked him what his church taught about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist - and he continued to go on about Jesus not actually turning water into wine at the Wedding at Cana - that their wine wasn't like our wine today, etc. etc.

key words = canned response.

And I know Catholics like that too - so this is NOT picking on any particular denomination.

And I refuse to participate. I want a REAL conversation - NOT canned responses!

Stepping off soap-box now! And off to do a blind pick of which catechism to use this coming season of Advent.

Holy Order, Eucharist and the Child

[caption id="attachment_931" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="At a dear friend's ordination as a priest. Spending time with his godfather and another man special in his life. "][/caption]

Two Dimensional Wooden Figures

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums use 2-D wooden figures to portray parable figures. Why not 3-dimensional? Because 3-dimensional figures represent real people who lived in a real time in a real place - parables represent many situations, while describing one particular situation, they actually have many levels of truth and can be universally applied; so we leave them 2-dimensional without facial details to leave room open for those other layers of reality to shine through.

And we never reveal to the child what those truths are - we may guide them along a path towards proper doctrine, but the child almost always come to a deeper truth than we could have told him or explained to him.

For a limited time only, the 2-dimensional wooden figures of the atrium will be available at 2-Dimensional Wooden Figures. Available additional items include the liturgical calendar, the Cosmic Cross puzzle and more. If you don't see something you'd like to order, send a request and it can be probably be done! :) Figures will need to be painted by you and inserted into their (included) bases.

Divine Mercy for Young Hearts

This DVD is an excellent introduction the Divine Mercy devotion for children and adults of all ages. Overall the presentation is geared for elementary age and with limited exception (noted below), it is entirely appropriate for children even down to age 3. The videography provides a great deal of input without feeling overwhelming or overstimulating. There is some light music, images of the Stations of the Cross, the Shroud of Turin and other visual images, as well as video of the children receiving the presentation.

The main menu offers the options of watching the entire video (57 minutes) or watching in segments. For the youngest children and for anyone new to this devotion (whether in a school, religious education or the home), the segments are best done at separate times with prayer, and review discussion in between to maximize what a child will take away from the presentations at hand.

The video starts out with a brief introduction to the Holy Father (JPII - having been initially presented shortly after his death), dating it a bit, but places emphasis on the reality of the events surrounding this devotion, placing it in a physical place and time.

Because it covers a wide range of children's ages, some topics are meant for older children (some trivia-type information and apologetics that are not necessary for the very young child). Geared for children, there are moments that are most appropriate for adults. While the speaker states the difference between children and adults beforehand, it was disconcerting to hear the specific sins listed in a presentation to children who are still in a state of innocence and hope. Other than this slightly awkward moment, anything directed to the adults was appropriately done for the children. And the items directed towards the older children slip by the younger children.

The main menu offers the options of watching the entire video (57 minutes) or watching in segments. For the youngest children and for anyone new to this devotion, the segments are best done at separate times with prayer, and review discussion in between.

The additional features contain information on the ministries involved, for the edification of the adults.

Overall, this is an excellent video with the caveats mentioned above.


I wrote this review of Divine Mercy For Young Hearts for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, your source for First Communion Gifts. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

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