Every year, for the Jewish fast of Yom Kippur, my father‘s family fasts from sundown to sundown. As part of the fast, they ask one another for forgiveness--and grant forgiveness--for any wrongs done that year. My father takes part out of solidarity and love for his family, although he is Catholic, because asking and granting forgiveness is always relevant....
Lately, it seems I’ve been scolding my children a lot.
I scold when they’re sluggish. When they fight, whine or procrastinate. When they distract themselves. When they’re too boisterous. All this seems to require me giving a lecture. Yes, my kids need discipline, but what can I do to build them up in goodness? .....
I don't think it was until my second child turned 2 that I suddenly realized, "Hmm, I haven't been praying much." I tried getting up early to pray, but found myself falling asleep over my prayer book. I tried having prayer time during my two girls’ afternoon naps. That worked until the arrival of baby #3.
I wondered, “Was St. Paul actually serious when he said we should ‘pray without ceasing?’” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) I can't even begin, it seems, so I haven’t even gotten to the ceasing part.
Here's a handy how-to guide on the Jesse Tree Advent devotion! This family prayer tradition begins on the 1st day of Advent and takes some pre-planning, so it's helpful to start thinking about it in November. (The 1st Sunday of Advent in 2017 falls on December 3.) .....
The Jesse Tree presents this family history of Christ in a series of ornaments hung on a small “Jesse Tree.” Children are naturally drawn to these simple representations of the Bible stories, many of which they have heard their whole lives, and now get to see strung together into a single storyline leading up to Jesus’ birth.....
