March 4th we covered Sacraments and Virtus boundaries. Pat Vanderpool talked about Sacraments with a focus on Penance and Eucharist. The art icon used represents all 7 sacraments in one icon. The 3-5th grade met with seminarian David Pinto. The 6th-8th grade talked about the matter and form present in each Sacrament. At the end of the night, we sat down together and brainstormed ways to stay safe and keep our boundaries as our Virtus lesson was also this night. Parents will continue to use the March guide on Sacraments including the beautiful art-icons. Also included in the guide is a bingo like chart which lists out the matter and form of each of the 7 Sacraments. This 26 page March Sacrament guide is available at https://stannaugusta.org/family-resources
February 5th we covered Christian Prayer. Bobby Kinkela talked about Christian meditation as we did the “Act of Divine Presence” to clear our minds from vanity and focus on the glory of the Divine majesty. We should recognize the consolation and desolation we experience during our life always encourages us forward and continue to pray. The main curriculum focus on prayer for children is to understand and practice how faith, hope, and love come from God alone and are developed through prayer. At the end of the night, we sat down together and worked on the Sunday Scripture readings as families taught each other Scripture as parents used a variety of techniques to teach. Sometimes we think Scripture interpretation is only for priests, but each of us by our Baptism can read Scripture and learn what God is trying to tell us as a child of God. Parents will continue to use the 23 page guide including the art-icons which are available at https://stannaugusta.org/documents/2020/2/StAnnWFCGuide2_20.pdf
January 8th we covered the Blessed Trinity. Pat Vanderpool covered the classic icon “Trinity” by Andrei Rublev and how it reveals the unity of persons in one God...
Dear Friends, St Augustine guides us in our continued reflection on the Incarnation: Now this Word, whose flesh was so real that he could be touched by human hands, began to be flesh in the Virgin Mary’s womb; but he did not begin to exist at that moment. We know this from what John says: What existed from the beginning. Notice how John’s letter bears witness to his Gospel, which you just heard a moment ago: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.
Dear Friends, The wonderful preacher and teacher Fr. James Schall, S.J. presents us with another beautiful reflection on this season of Christmas: What is "growing" at Christmas? In his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Benedict XVI often repeated his central theme. The world is not particularly different if Jesus of Nazareth was simply another Jew born at a certain time.
Dear Friends, (continued from last week’s The Four Last Things by Fr. Martin Von Cochem) The ascension into Heaven will next take place. Can one venture to describe this also? The sweetest strains of music will fill the air. St. Michael will head the glorious procession, carrying the cross whereon Christ died. For the cross and all the other instruments of the Passion will be preserved in Heaven at least such is the opinion of several learned theologians.
Dear Friends, (continued from last week’s The Four Last Things by Fr. Martin Von Cochem) It appears to me that judgment will be passed upon the good somewhat after this manner: The guardian Angels will lead those who have been committed to their charge to the judgment-seat of God, and then the just will fall before Him in lowly adoration.
Dear Friends, During Advent, we contemplate not only the coming of Christ Incarnate at Christmas (His First Coming), but also His Second Coming at the end of the world, in glory. Over the next few weeks, I’d like to provide reflections on those things which concern the Second Coming. The reflections are taken from The Four Last Things by Fr. Martin Von Cochem:
As we bring the liturgical year to a close on this Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, we reflect on how (or if) Christ’s Kingship has affected me over the last year; and, if not, how I might be a more loyal subject in the coming year. Read below the reflection of Msgr. Charles Pope:
"At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.”
