February 2013 Page 2
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(Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from
the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible.)
To help parents raise faithful Catholic children
© Copyright 2013 Success Publishing & Media, LLC
Luke 9:28-36,
Transfiguration of the Lord
Make suffering count
February 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
(1858).
A heavenly “lady” appeared to
St. Bernadette Soubirous, a poor girl
from a village in France. Soon a spring
with miraculous, healing waters
emerged from a nearby cave. The “lady”
revealed herself as the “Immaculate
Conception,” the Blessed Virgin Mary.
People still visit Lourdes today.
February 13 – Ash Wednesday.
The
first day of Lent. Ashes from the burnt
palms of the previous Passion Sunday
are blessed and placed on the forehead
as a sign of penance.
February 21 – St. Peter Damian
(1072).
Childhood deprivation may
have created a desire for an austere
life. St. Peter Damian became a
disciplined monk but was called to
service as a bishop for many years and
served as advisor to seven popes. He
retired to monastic life and died in the
care of his brother monks.
February 22 —
St. Peter’s Chair.
Marking St.
Peter’s
establishment
of the Holy
See, today we
thank God for
his Church
and pray for
its
preservation.
It can be hard to teach the value of suffering to
children but even minor suffering as penance during
Lent can be helpful. Try these suggestions for
introducing penitential habits to children:
Self-denial.
Giving up something we
enjoy helps us to say “no” to our selfish
desires. Suggest skipping a favorite TV
show, foregoing an hour of video games, or
passing up dessert. Then suggest that the
resulting discomfort can be offered to God
as an apology for things done wrong.
Acts of kindness.
Our sin affects others, so doing
penance that helps other people is a good way to
compensate. Shoveling a neighbor’s walk, doing an
extra chore, or showing kindness to someone at
school can all be offered to God as penance, too.
“Do I have to?”
When you ask your child to do
something he doesn’t have to do and may not
enjoy, remind him that it can be offered as
penance, too. Visiting elderly relatives or
playing patiently with younger siblings help
atone for wrongs.
Kara came home from Catholic school
upset, “Mom, the kids at school said we
are allowed to eat meat on Fridays after
Lent. I said they
were wrong.” “Well,
yes and no,” I
answered. “Fridays are
penitential days
throughout the year,” I
said. “We give up meat
during Lent but
during the year
the Church says
we can choose our own penance. We still
abstain from meat.” Kara was surprised.
“Okay, I’ll tell them I was wrong.”
The next day Kara reported, “Some
kids said that they give up desserts or
television on Fridays. But other kids
didn’t even know they had to give up
anything.”
I told Kara that when the U.S. Bishops
decided we could choose our own
penance to honor Jesus’ Crucifixion,
some people mistakenly thought the
guideline was lifted. Friday is still a day
of penance, it’s just up to us what we do.
(For details:
www.infaithpublishing.com
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The Transfiguration of the Lord is one
of the most spectacular events in the
Gospel. Jesus took Peter, John and
James up a mountain to pray.
Jesus became a radiant figure
and began to talk with Elijah
and Moses. The three
discussed Jesus’ coming
journey to Jerusalem and
what awaited him there - his
death and Resurrection. A
cloud came over them and a voice said,
“This is my chosen Son, listen to him.”
This Gospel shows that Jesus was a
man of prayer. He often went off by
himself to pray. In fact, some think this
was Jesus allowing his disciples a
glimpse into his prayer. It was
at such a high level that
he could converse with
prophets and hear God’s voice.
Praying is not only for times
of trouble or danger. Prayer is
something for us to learn
and to do regularly. By
listening we learn to hear
God’s voice in us.
What can a parent do?
Reinforce the importance of
prayer to children by joining them in
prayer at bedtime and any other
occasion that arises.
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