Angels

• Written by Katie Edwards

Do your children know they each have a guardian angel?  Mrs. Eddy says many children come into second grade not knowing this fact.  Perhaps their parents don't know that either.  Well guess what.  They do have an angel.  What better than to teach these little "super hero" loving little people that they each have their own real true super hero who watches over them even if they can't see them?  These little people have lots of fears of monsters and such.  They need to know about the special protection that God has given them from evil. 

The belief in Angels is common to all Christians.  According to the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, the existence of angels is a truth of faith.  They are spiritual, non-corporeal beings (that is they do not have a body) called “angels” by Sacred Scripture.  Scripture is very clear on this and Tradition is unanimous on it. 

According to St. Augustine, the name of their nature is ‘spirit’ and what they do is ‘angel.”  Angel means messenger and they are servants and messengers of God.  According to Jesus, they “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

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Our Creed

• Written by Katie Edwards

Do your children know how to say the Apostle’s Creed?  My seventh graders do not know.  Why do I insist? First of all, it states our beliefs in a nut shell.  It also begins the rosary.  Many students are more familiar with the longer Nicene Creed said after the homily. 

APOSTLES CREED

     I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day He rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.  From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

   The Nicene Creed was written during the 4^th century AD in an attempt to unify the Christian Church under Emperor Constantine.  The Apostles Creed was formulated as a refutation of Gnosticism.  (It is the belief that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god). Gnosticism appeared shortly after the rise of Christianity.  There is a 5^th century legend that each of the apostles dictated part of the Apostles Creed after Pentecost.

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Act of Contrition

• Written by Katie Edwards

More on prayer. Second Graders need to learn the Act of Contrition for the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  It is a good prayer to recite at bedtime.  We need to look at our day and realize the things we could have handled in a more Christian way.  Then, we need to ask God’s forgiveness and express our sorrow.  My students come into 7th grade, not knowing this prayer.

"Oh my God,

I am heartily sorry for having offended you.  I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they have offended you my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen"

I could get into meditative and contemplative prayer but I have a hard time understanding them. I think meditative prayer is purposely considering the triune God in the simple things around us or meditating on the life of Christ. It is deliberate.  Contemplative prayer, according to St. Teresa of Avila, is divinely produced.  She could not bring it on herself.  “Although no sound is heard, the soul is very well aware that it has been called by God.”  This occurs when the person is quite unprepared for it.  I would have to say that I have experienced God seeping into my thoughts when I am alone and working on simple tasks that require no active concentration such as weeding in the garden or cleaning.  Even though contemplation is divinely given and humanly received, St. Teresa says we must prepare ourselves for it.  I think the message is BE STILL. Find quiet time.

The Rosary

• Written by Katie Edwards

   I cannot talk about prayer without talking about the rosary.  This prayer is one of the most powerful outside of the Mass. If you want world peace, pray the rosary daily.  Yes, we do hold the key to world peace in our hot little hands.  We all tend to think the responsibility for world peace belongs to the politicians.  I have pondered this point.  First of all, prayer has the power to convert hearts and change minds.  That is why we pray for our enemies.  Our first reaction when it is suggested to us to pray for our enemies is WHAT?????  ARE YOU KIDDING? NOT THAT EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE !!!!  However, I have seen the power of prayer change the direction of a family feud right before my very eyes.  If any of you are old enough and went to a parochial school, you will remember praying for the conversion of Russia as requested by Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal in 1917.  Because, she warned, communism would spread its errors throughout the world.  Well, the iron curtain between East and West Berlin did fall without a shot being fired.  Communist countries in Europe broke from Russia and as they say, the rest is history. So should we still have to say the rosary?   Satan never rests and neither should we.  My first memories of saying the rosary are as a family in our living room in our basement house on a cement floor covered with tile. I was in first or second grade and this scene included a few younger and couple older siblings. I was not considered too young to kneel with my parents in this prayer in its entirety.  I must confess to my distractions and giggling with a certain brother.  I’m sure he started it.
 

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