|
Showing 1 - 25 of
66 matches in All Departments
THIS book of Preparation for First Communion, which it is my
privilege to introduce to the reader, was originally undertaken at
the suggestion of the late Father John Morris, S.J., who as long as
he lived took the warmest interest in its progress. Unhappily only
a few chapters had been completed at the time of his lamented
death, and in the sense of that great loss the work for a while was
laid aside. It would have been a matter for much regret if the
author had made this decision a final one. The book now completed
has suffered, we cannot doubt, from the lack of Father Morris's
always helpful criticisms, but the originality of its conception
and the knowledge of child nature displayed in it can hardly fail
to justify its publication. In the address "To the Children" which
will be found further on, it is stated that the book is intended to
aid the little ones to prepare themselves for First Communion.
Perhaps it may be well to add a word of explanation here to
anticipate possible misconceptions. It is not in any way the idea
of the author that a child should be presented with a copy of this
work and then cut adrift without further help, in the expectation
that when the proper time comes the needful process of preparation
will have worked itself out automatically. None the less, it is
believed that many children are quite capable, under the
supervision of parents or teachers, of reading for themselves
instructions couched in simple child's language such as this book
offers them, and furthermore the author has assumed that it may be
helpful to some who have to prepare others for First Communion, and
who, while conscious of the importance, are not a little
embarrassed by the difficulty of their task. To cram children's
minds with certain facts of dogmatic knowledge about the Blessed
Eucharist is comparatively easy, to prepare their hearts so that
they may approach this Divine Mystery full not only of faith, but
of love, this is a duty sometimes relegated by teachers to a
secondary place simply from a sense of helplessness and ignorance
of how to set about it. While the method developed in this volume
does not pretend to be better than many others which might be
devised, it will be found, I believe, to possess many advantages of
its own. And here I cannot do better than quote a few sentences
from a Prospectus previously issued, in which the idea of the book
is described in the author's own words: "To make the Life of our
Blessed Saviour enter largely into preparation for First Communion
seems the most natural way of drawing the hearts of the young to
Him. It would be sad to think of children coming to the altar-rails
knowing little or nothing of His Life beyond such facts as the
doctrine of the Holy Eucharist supposes. Yet there is danger of
this. There is so much to be done in the simple teaching of the
Christian doctrine during a child's school life, that the time
devoted to it barely suffices. But in the preparation for First
Communion time might surely be found, and ought to be found. Their
hearts are fresh and tender, and full of an eager longing, that
will never again in their lives be quite the same. If we could tell
them a little more about Him then, His character, His ways of
dealing with us, and so bring them to the altar able to say, in
their own fashion and degree: 'I know Whom I have believed, ' would
there not be solid work for the future done in their souls? Knowing
Him better, they would come to love Him more. Faith, Hope, and
Charity would have a firmer foundation; they would make the acts
more easily and more fervently, for there would be a living picture
of Him in their hearts."
This prayer book strives to instill in young Catholics not only a
love of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist but also a love of prayer
and a practical knowledge of the art of meditation.
As examples of the many ways to pray, this book contains prayers
to pray out loud (vocal prayer) or in the silence of your heart. It
shows how you can talk with God, and more importantly, how you can
love God. It shows how to use pictures and images-like holy cards
and the Stations of the Cross-to help you pray and meditate. This
book also shows you how to use Bible stories to meditate on the
lessons Jesus taught. You will see how you can talk with God
silently in the quiet of your room, in church, outdoors in His
wonderful creation-at all times, in all places.
As you progress through this book-from discovering what prayer
is to reading and reciting simple prayers to understanding
meditation and then to helps for deeper meditation-you will see
that prayer and meditation often go together. Meditation is
described by the big "Catechism of the Catholic Church "as nothing
more than "prayerful reflection" or holy thinking. You can use
books, devotions, pictures, holy cards, and images (such as the
stained glass windows in church) to help you think or meditate on
holy people, events, and ideas.
This book gives many suggestions about how to talk with God so
that each day you can love Him more and become closer friends.
Learn to hear His loving voice and follow His holy will.
This treasure of a book, originally published in 1921, was written
in response to a student s appeal for instructions along with
little stories to help her prepare for Holy Communion. To fulfill
this request, Mother Loyola of the Bar Convent in York, England,
wrote a simple story that illustrates Jesus desire to share an
intimate relationship with each one of His children. Although
written many years ago for a young child, this book remains a
masterpiece of timeless Catholic literature suitable for all ages.
This edition has some updated language, but quite deliberately,
does not contain any pictures. Readers, as they progress through
this story, will form a mental image of their King, one as unique
and personal as their own relationship with Him. The study sections
assist with the allegory, connect to Scripture as well as to the
Catechism, and for parents and older children explore the art of
prayer in the spirit of the three Carmelite Doctors of the Church.
Let us all young and old alike enter into Dilecta s world to ponder
the ways of our King. May the message of this beautiful story
enkindle our love for Jesus, deepen our prayer lives, lead to the
conversion and transformation of hearts, and build up the Kingdom
of God.
|
You may like...
Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
(2)
R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
(2)
R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
|