Magnifikid! is produced by the same people who produce “Magnificat” which we’ve mentioned before. We’ve been subscribing for almost three years and our children love it. In addition to including a guide for Sunday’s Mass, forms for morning and evening prayer, a spotlight on some part of the Mass (explaining what is happening and its significance), articles on the Saints, games, and crafts, it also contains a comic about “Brother Goodventure.” This last feature is what our kids want to read as soon as they receive the latest issue. Is “Magnifikid” a foolproof way to get one’s kids to assist (with heart & mind) at Mass? No, but it can be a good step in that direction. We sit down with our “Magnifikid” on Saturday night or Sunday morning and (after reading “Brother Goodventure”) read and talk about the readings for Mass for that week. They don’t always sit still through it all but in the time we set aside we can communicate both some of content of those readings as well as the value we place upon them. Liturgical catechesis is as important as doctrinal catechesis and “Magnifikid” brings the two together successfully.
(Recommended by S. & E. Harne)

Quite a few families in our parish participate in the “Traveling Chalice” program. Through it, a family brings home a “retired” chalice for two weeks during which time they pray for and discuss vocations. Of course the most pressing vocation at this time is for priests. But these weeks can also be a time to discuss vocations to religious life, marriage, and the chaste single life. In our family, the emphasis is on the fact that everyone has a vocation. It is up to us to prayerfully discern that vocation and then find the courage (through grace) to answer that calling. Most of us have been called to the vocation of the laity (about which John Paul II had much to say). All of us, members of the sacramental priesthood, those in religious life, and the laity are called to live our lives as disciples. Maybe one of our children will be a priest, a brother, or a sister. Even if that is not God’s plan for them, they still have a calling–”Come follow me!”–and we as parents must prepare them to hear that call and respond to it. Committed, life-transforming Christianity is not just for the “professionals” who take religious vows and receive holy orders (as incredible as these things are): it is for everyone, even these “little ones.”

Recently, the parish included a copy of the film “Fishers of Men” (discussed here) along with the chalice. This a great addition. If you would like to learn more about the program, call the parish office.
(Recommended by G. Harne

Christ said that when we feed and clothe one of “the least of these” we are doing these things for him. The Church’s preferential option for the poor cannot be negotiated. One of the best ways to teach our children about this central aspect of our faith is through sponsorship of a child or elderly person. Two Catholic organizations offer this opportunity: Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (through which our parish sponsors a child) and Ave Maria Missions. The children we have sponsored have become like members of our family. We recieve photos and letters and these have helped shape the ways our children learn to see Jesus in the “the least of these.”

Update 1: An excellent interview about Philip Pullman (author of “The Golden Compass”) has been made available as a podcast by the good people at Mars Hill Audio. (Though Mars Hill Audio is not a Catholic periodical, it often features Catholic thinkers and authors. It is ecumenical in the best sense of the word.) This interview (done in 2000) was my introduction to Pullman’s work and remains one of the most substantive treatments that I’ve encountered. To listen to the podcast, click here.

Update 2: InsideCatholic has posted a story from “Crisis” Magazine on The Golden Compass and its sequels.

Update 3: Father Z. has posted the Catholic League’s statement and solicited comments from readers. The latter contain valuable links to other sources.
On Pullman’s commment about “killing God,” see this entry.

In our culture today, our children must give an account of what they believe not only to non-Christians but to non-Catholic Christians as well. Sometimes those who challenge the more distinctively Catholic aspects of our faith will do so in a friendly way, truly wanting to understand what we believe. At other times, these challenges will be aimed at drawing our children away from the Church and the fullness of our faith. How can we help prepare our children for such challenges? Friendly Defenders can help. (I should add that while these cards are designed for kids, I’ve learned a lot from them already. We purchased the first set, and intend to purchase the second.)

Here’s how they are described on the “Friendly Defenders” website:
Introducing Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards

There’s no greater gift a parent or teacher can give to a Catholic child than a firm grounding in the faith. When strengthened by faith, a child can truly soar.

Yet, a good knowledge of (and love for) the Catholic faith won’t come by accident. This knowledge needs to be pursued, nurtured, and put into practice.

With a firm understanding of the Catholic faith, a child will love God above all things (Matt. 22:37), build his or her house on a firm foundation (Matt. 7:24), have a full and abundant life (John 10:10), know what’s right when others say it’s wrong (Romans 12:2), be strong in times of trouble (Psalm 46:2), be at peace in the storms of life (Philippians 4:7) and live a good and holy life (Matt. 5:3-12). What more could a Catholic parent ask for?

As parents, we need to assist teachers in the vitally important task of training our children in the Catholic faith. The book of Proverbs says the rewards will be great: “Train up a child in the right way and when they are old, they will not stray.” (Proverbs 22:6)

The Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards are designed to help you “train up your children” so that they will never stray from God’s love and from the Catholic Church our Lord Jesus established. The 50 cards within feature common questions people have about the Catholic faith as well as short, easy-to-understand answers. The cards help young people to “be always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us.” (1 Peter 3:15)

We hope you enjoy passing on the Catholic faith to your children or students with these helpful and entertaining cards. Who knows, you might even learn something yourself!

Sincerely yours in Christ
Matthew J. Pinto
Creator and Co-Author

We just bought this book for our kids for Christmas this year. Here’s what the editors at Whipper Snapper Books have to say about it.

“I have wondered so often why there aren’t more storybooks published for Catholic children. Well, here’s a wonderful book to change that. Nabisso’s Catholic tale is full of beauty, faith and imagination.

It has a fairy tale beginning (“Once upon a time”) and many features of a fairy tale, including a king and queen, a wedding, and characters – like a snotty baker and a beggar woman – who could have walked right out of Grimm’s. Just as in fairy tales, something is wrong in the kingdom and threatens to spoil the royal wedding. But here the problem isn’t an ogre or old witch – it’s that the people have grown cold in the practice of their faith. Instead of a fairy appearing to set things right with magic, there is a miracle.

Let me tell you, it’s not just any miracle: it’s a delightful one!! That sense of delight fills Nabisso’s writing and Szegedi’s illustrations, which are elegant, funny and loving. This book takes on some tough issues: the baker is not only selfish but tries to humiliate the old woman who begs for a crust of bread and who offers to dedicate her evening mass to him in exchange. The shop is too prosperous, the patrons are too rich, the pastries are too extravagant in the absence of any sign of charity. Kids will love the miracle that sets this all right because it’s fitting and funny and good and redemptive. This one is a keeper.
Gorgeous illustrations. Josephine Nobisso, author; Katalin Szegedi, illustrator; 34 pages”