No, Catholics do not worship or adore Mary. Catholics hold Mary in a special place of honor and venerate her with special devotions such as the Rosary. The first point of confusion related to this issue is terminology. So let’s clarify a few words: worship, adoration, veneration, and devotion. If you look them up, they…
Saints
Saint Thomas Aquinas Prayer Before Study
January 28 is the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of students, schools, and learning. In honor of his feast day, share this prayer before study below with your students. Copy and paste it into a word document and distribute copies for them all to use before big tests and exams. Saint Thomas…
The Patron Saint of Catechists: Saint Charles Borromeo and Saint Robert Bellarmine
Patron Saint of Catechists: Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) Feast Day: November 4 Patron Saint of Catechists: St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) Feast Day: September 17 St. Charles Borromeo and St. Robert Bellarmine are the patron saints of catechists. These two men were instrumental in the many reforms of the Catholic Church during the 16th century Reformation….
Teaching the Mysteries of Rosary to Elementary Students
The Challenges of Teaching the Rosary Teaching the Rosary to little ones is no easy task. It is not simply teaching the prayers, but decoding the new vocabulary in the prayers so that children are able to understand them. It is not simply exposing children to the mysteries of the Rosary but enabling children to…
Pope Benedict XVI’s Catechesis on Saint Augustine of Hippo
Pope Benedict XVI dedicated five Wednesday audiences to St. Augustine of Hippo in February of 2008. It was a part of an ongoing meditation on the lives of the saints of the Catholic Church that he began in 2006 with the saints of the New Testament. In 2007 Pope Benedict moved from New Testament heroes…
Prayers of St. Augustine of Hippo
In preparation for his feast day on August 28th, here are some prayers attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo. As a teacher or catechist, you might share them with your students or use them in your own personal prayers for the day: From the introduction of The Confessions (Chapter 1): “Great are You, O Lord,…
Resources on the Web: History of St. Patrick’s Day
http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/ St. Patty’s Day is just around the corner and many of you have been preparing your lesson plans and your green outfit for this special day. The history channel has some good online resources about St. Patrick’s Day and a lot of info on Irish culture. Saint Patrick’s Day Video – Short 1-3 minute…
