Post by jen51 on Sept 19, 2017 12:58:06 GMT -5
Clotilde has started a couple threads similar to this, but not specifically like. I wasn't sure if I should add to one of those or start a different one, but...
What kind of customs do you have in your home to make the faith alive and tangible to your children? Both my husband and I were raised in completely non-religious homes so we have been trying to pave our own way in this, as we believe it is SO important in the upbringing of children.
I recently bought a book on celebrating name days and we have gained lots of inspiration from it. It's great! She explains how to go about celebrating name days and gives ideas for various saints. Anyone with a little imagination can come up with ideas for different days, but she really helped steer us in the right direction with her book. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ELR9W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We do the advent wreath, and this year we will build the manger scene leading up to Christmas.
Other things we do:
-Say the Rosary every day as a family, after which my husband gives the children and I the fatherly blessing. After that we gather around the piano and sing a hymn or two.
-prayers as part of bedtime routine, and before meals.
-we have a Mary statue sitting on the window sill on the stairway that our daughter kisses and says goodnight to while heading upstairs for bed. One of her first words is Mary.
Once our eldest gets old enough, I'll do morning prayers with the kids, and we would also like to start getting creative with big feast days.
One thing that really hit home with me is what I heard a priest say in a sermon once, that if teaching your kids the faith means primarily telling them what they cannot do and focusing on avoiding sin, your child will likely not remain Catholic. You must teach them positively by accentuating the goodness and richness of the faith.
I would love to hear what kind of customs your family caries out year to year.
What kind of customs do you have in your home to make the faith alive and tangible to your children? Both my husband and I were raised in completely non-religious homes so we have been trying to pave our own way in this, as we believe it is SO important in the upbringing of children.
I recently bought a book on celebrating name days and we have gained lots of inspiration from it. It's great! She explains how to go about celebrating name days and gives ideas for various saints. Anyone with a little imagination can come up with ideas for different days, but she really helped steer us in the right direction with her book. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ELR9W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We do the advent wreath, and this year we will build the manger scene leading up to Christmas.
Other things we do:
-Say the Rosary every day as a family, after which my husband gives the children and I the fatherly blessing. After that we gather around the piano and sing a hymn or two.
-prayers as part of bedtime routine, and before meals.
-we have a Mary statue sitting on the window sill on the stairway that our daughter kisses and says goodnight to while heading upstairs for bed. One of her first words is Mary.
Once our eldest gets old enough, I'll do morning prayers with the kids, and we would also like to start getting creative with big feast days.
One thing that really hit home with me is what I heard a priest say in a sermon once, that if teaching your kids the faith means primarily telling them what they cannot do and focusing on avoiding sin, your child will likely not remain Catholic. You must teach them positively by accentuating the goodness and richness of the faith.
I would love to hear what kind of customs your family caries out year to year.