I plan to attempt something here that is most likely too big, too high, for me, but will allow me to post more often and at the same time grow in my Catholic faith. I do so with some trepidation, as I've often come across triumphalistic in my faith to people dear to me who do not share my Catholic faith; my intention, however, is to be strictly affirmative without being comparative. In other words, I plan to write a positive presentation of Catholicism through the dialogical literary genre (question and answer format) found within the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church without belittling the faith(s) of others (No rubbish like, "When I was a Protestant I thought that, but now I think this"). I have failed in this before, so I will be relying on my reader(s) to keep me gracious and to keep me orthodox and to keep me writing. I am also notoriously bad at not finishing what I begin, and this project may span an entire year or more. It will be a view of the Catholic faith in four parts, following the Catechism: (1) lex credendi (The Profession of Faith), (2) lex celebrandi (The Celebration of the Christian Mystery), (3) lex vivendi (Life in Christ) and (4) lex orandi (Christian Prayer).
If I discover that it is not working out as intended, I will drop it.
I do not intend to quit writing about the quirkiness of my life or quit sharing the wisdom of my children in this place, but am attempting this project as a spiritual discipline and rule for myself. I don't think it will be too boring. But I could be wrong. And I will keep it concise, covering two or three questions each day. I am also interested in using this time and this resource to create a simple q-and-a type of catechism for my children to begin memorizing. So while I will include the text of the Compendium, I will also be attempting to simplify both question and answer (and, in all likelihood, leaving some things out and combining others) for my children while remaining faithful to the text.
Above all, pray for me. And read. Push back or disagree freely - I appreciate your opinions and views, and simply your participation. And if there are resources you know, existing children's catechisms or such, then please let me know what you know.
8 comments:
Making a child-friendly catechism that follows the format of the Compendium/Catechism might be a bit of a poser. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Just a question. What is the work of the heart that will accompany the memorization, the work of the head?
Works of the heart that will accompany the work of the head, memorization: (1) Knowing they have their father's good pleasure, and (2) the fear of a whupping.
Or did you mean something else? : )
Scott -
Don't know if the Catechism for the Catholic faith is different than this, but we have used this book (Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt & ??) twice with our boys. It is a shortened version of the catechism. Each chapter is introduced with 5-7 questions. Then there is a short read-aloud story followed by more discussion questions and a memory verse. I know it may be different than what you are looking for, but our boys have loved it. They can now tell us that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! You can check it out on Amazon. Let me know what you think.
I have that book too, Robin - a gift from the Thompsons one year. I believe it's based on the Westminster Catechism, but it may be based on another. And that catechism is, I believe, a Reformed confession of faith. I was looking for my copy yesterday to see how they did theirs, but I couldn't find it. Apparently it's fallen behind the buffet or into some other blackhole for books and socks.
We started it when Sophie was younger, but never got all the way through it.
Well now, makes me think of that thing I tried to do a few years ago, that CCDBlog thing :) Good on you. Hope it works out.
Pray for me, Owen. It's difficult for me to follow through on longer projects such as this. But at the same time, like the CCDB, it can only be beneficial in my life to learn more about the Church we love.
Hi Scott, follow through...oh boy, do I understand that. May the Lord grant you the kind of wisdom we read about in today's Mass readings and may he add to that purpose. If this is his will for you we trust that the desire will also be borne in you to complete the good work. Peace bro.
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