The Teaching of Patriotism
The pupils in Catholic Schools are trained to a two-fold service: the service of God and the service of country. Through the lesson in religion, the truths of God are inculcated, this standard of conduct explained and the true motives for perfect living introduced into young lives. Thus does the lesson in religion make for a higher service of country. For the child knows the significance of the words of our Lord, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Here is found the basic principle upon which Catholic education prepares pupils … Continue
“Joan of Arc” by Lepage
I found this painting of Joan of Arc beautiful, before noticing her spiritual guests. See the description by Muther below. “The scene of the picture is a garden of Damvillers, painted exactly from nature, with its gray soil, its apple and pear trees clothed with small leaves, its vegetable beds, and its flowers growing wild. Joan herself is a pious, careworn, dreamy country girl. Every Sunday she has been to church, lost herself in long, mystic reveries before the old sacred pictures, heard the misery of Erance spoken of; and the painted statues of the parish church and its tutelary … Continue
How to Teach Spelling
Every lesson is to some extent a spelling lesson. A decision must be made as to what words must be taught. The teacher will find material in:The words misspelled by the pupils in: their written work the Spelling book A spelling book should be used with judgment, and it should not take the place of the individual and class lists made from the oral and written vocabulary of the children. It is not necessary that a pupil should know how to spell a word which he may seldom have occasion to use in writ- ing. It is sufficient that he … Continue
God Will Reward Our Good Work, Even if Men Don’t
Encouragement from this morning’s Mass reading, on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. “Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing; uselessly spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.” Isaiah 49 We are God’s servants in this world. Our only concern is to do our duty. Results are dependent on many factors not in our control, and we are not responsible for them. God will reward us for the faithful work that IS in our control. Mr. William C. Michael, HeadmasterClassical Liberal Arts Academy
Thinking about the Eucharist
Whenever I attend Mass, I pray that God would help me to understand the sacrament of the Eucharist. Recently, a phrase in St. Thomas Aquinas’ prayer before Mass struck me as being important. It occurred just as the Mass was about to begin, but I knew there was something really important there. The words that struck me were these: Loving Father,as on my earthly pilgrimageI now receive Your beloved Sonunder the veil of a sacrament,may I one day see him face to face in glory,who lives and reigns with You for ever. As I read that prayer (which I read … Continue
