With our rascals in public school, we have an increased consciousness about different ways to keep the Lord close to their hearts. I mean this both physically and spiritually.
We notice that if we engage their senses with our faith in day to day routines then they understand and experience the Lord in a deeper way. If they can feel, see and hear the Lord then they are more likely to call on him whether in need or in thanksgiving.
Do you recall I mentioned The Rosary House for its jackpot of oxidized saints medals? We like to add them to rosaries but we also LOVE to wear them and in abundance. We “jangle” everywhere we go. I can hear them in the middle of the night when they are trying to creep in my bed, and their teachers told me they know when one of our kids is coming down the hall: “Here comes she jingling to lunch.”
There is no sneaking around when you have the communion of saints on a ball chain around your neck. Wearing medals allows for very cool conversation starters for Catholics who are just curious about who is weighing them down as well as non-Catholics who wonder what the collection means. It is wonderful for nonintimidating evangelization. We love to talk about our friends, the saints and what they mean to us as our patrons and as examples of living a Christ-like life.
We change them out as different seasons call for different intercessions. When playing sports we add St. Sebastian. When the girls need courage, they add St Joan of Arc, when taking the LEAP, let’s wear the entire Holy Family.
My son’s patron saint is St. John the Evangelist but recently he has decided he needs “all the Johns” so his chain is heavy with a tiny John army. Good thing he is a strong swimmer or I would be nervous at the pool.
We never exchange the Miraculous Medal. She drags us to Jesus so we always stay chained to the Blessed Mother.
I cannot take credit for this idea. I know many Catholics do this but for me, it is a dear practice. My sweet momma used to safety pin medals to my Peter Pan collar so that I wouldn’t be afraid to ask the sisters to let me use the restroom at school. I now do the same for our bebes so they can feel protected and loved at all times when they are away from us.
We also try our best to create a peaceful environment in our home. There is a very real evil that does not celebrate families or anyone who tries to live a life pleasing to God. Due to this dark reality, we had our house blessed. My husband blesses all of us every night with holy water while reciting Numbers 6:24-26, and then our oldest daughter blesses him.
For additional peace we wear scapulars along with our normal “jangle” and believe it or not we attach more medals to it too. Sacramentals protect us and allow us certain graces when we wear them with integrity. We do not wear them as fashion or ornamentally. We wear them as an outward sign of love and admission to the fact that we cannot walk this path alone. We wear them so everyone knows to whom we belong and to whom all glory should go.
Another way that not only helps keep the kids but also mom and dad aware of the Lord’s presence in our life is to have visual reminders everywhere we look. We are weak and we need to have our beloved “Jesus pieces” on every wall, on our sun visors in the car, on homework folders, hanging from backpacks and from our work bags. If someone asked me, “Ellen, in what style is your house decorated?” I would quickly reply, “hand me down furniture and Roman Catholic art.” It provokes prayer and also serves as gentle accountability. As a bonus, it is beautiful.
And now to the idea of hearing the Lord. We all want to hear him clearly but we all are not as gifted as St. Faustina. We can hear him in other ways. A very effective way in our family is through praise and worship music. We listen to music constantly. We have playlists named, “Jesus Love,” “Morning Jesus” and “Getting right with Jesus.” Music touches people in ways other things cannot.
We love all types of Christian music. My middles and husband love the newer contemporary stuff like Zack Williams and Matt Maher. My eldest and I, on the other hand, love Gospel music, both new and old. We found gems in Mahalia Jackson, Dorothy Norwood and Hezekiah Walker. The variety of styles within our playlists speak to all of us.
I think I will write more about this topic in another column because music used for praise and worship is so special to the Lord and deserves more time.
For us, the daily routine of feeling our faith, seeing our faith and hearing our faith, support us in ultimately trying to live it out in a secular world. This month I pray that you try different ways to expose your rascals to the love of the Lord.
The columnist is a Catholic mom living in the Diocese of Baton Rouge facing the same challenges all families face.