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I've often heard complaints about the pre-Vatican II approach to catechizing children. Special emphasis is put on the idea that the children are (or were) memorizing things they have no understanding of. What's more, the children don't see the practical use for the knowledge, and it would be better to allow them to learn the stuff as they grow older and have more experience.

Of course, no real argument is needed to rebuke this. Just look what has happened ever since we wandered away from the Baltimore Catechism (something I wish I had been forced to study as a child). People got caught up in the notion of allowing children to ‘think things out instead of memorizing facts' and we now have two generations of people who don't have the slightest understanding of their faith. I would say we (we being the generations who weren't properly catechized in school) got shafted!

Catechism Paragraph 160

Chapter 3

On Freedom And Slave Labor

To be human, "man's response to God by faith must be free, and... therefore nobody is to be forced to embrace the faith against his will. The act of faith is of its very nature a free act." "God calls men to serve him in spirit and in truth. Consequently they are bound to him in conscience, but not coerced... This fact received its fullest manifestation in Christ Jesus." Indeed, Christ invited people to faith and conversion, but never coerced them. "For he bore witness to the truth but refused to use force to impose it on those who spoke against it. His kingdom... grows by the love with which Christ, lifted up on the cross, draws men to himself."

I've never seen more misinformation in the secular world (and even within the Church community) on a subject than on the question of freedom and faith. Do a Google on "the Spanish inquisition" and you're bound to come up with page after page on how the Church imposed it's faith on the faithless. I'm not going to try to set that right-I don't have the time, patience, or even inclination to combat the secular media's war against Catholicism. There are many others fighting this battle, and I won't belittle their efforts with a half-hearted attempt.

Saint Andrew Novena Starts Today

Seasonal

Today marks the official start of the Saint Andrew's unfailing Novena. I, myself, have been saying this for several years now. Some of my prayers have been answered, others are still in the 'spiritual sandbox'.

You're supposed to say the following prayer 15 times a day, from November 30th until Christmas:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Catechism Paragraph 158

Chapter 3

On Keeping Your Faith Alive

"Faith seeks understanding": it is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know better the One in whom he has put his faith, and to understand better what He has revealed; a more penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith, increasingly set afire by love. The grace of faith opens "the eyes of your hearts" to a lively understanding of the contents of Revelation: that is, of the totality of God's plan and the mysteries of faith, of their connection with each other and with Christ, the center of the revealed mystery. "The same Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith by his gifts, so that Revelation may be more and more profoundly understood." In the words of St. Augustine, "I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe."

Here's a tidbit of information on me: I used to be a bit of an expert on raising goats. That's right, goats. My father had them as I was growing up. I had some of my own as a teenager and young adult. Aside from raising the animals, I read about them constantly. Books, magazines, whatever I could find. I also kept in constant contact with other breeders who were willing to share information. I even started to write my own book about the subject.

The Modern Pro-Life Movement

Catholic Today

The Difference Between The 80's and Now

One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was being able to witness the way the pro-life movement has changed over the past two decades. My mom and dad first got involved in the movement during “Project Jericho”. The entire thing (as a matter of fact, the entire pro-life presence in America) was led mostly by Protestants. If you’ve ever seen films of anti-war sit-ins and protests during the 60’s, then you’ve seen how it all went with us in the 80’s.

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