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Thoughts on Literature

From G.K. Chesterton (from Heretics, 1905):

Now, in our time, philosophy or religion, our theory, that is about ultimate things, has been driven out, more or less simultaneously, from two fields which it used to occupy. General ideals used to dominate literature. They have been driven out by the cry of "art for art's sake." General ideals used to dominate politics. They have been driven out by the cry of "efficiency," which may roughly be translated as "politics for politics' sake." Persistently for the last twenty years the ideals of order or liberty have dwindled in our books; the ambitions of wit and eloquence have dwindled in our parliaments. Literature has purposely become less political; politics have purposely become less literary. General theories of the relation of things have thus been extruded from both; and we are in a position to ask, "What have we gained or lost by this extrusion? Is literature better, is politics better, for having discarded the moralist and the philosopher?"

G.K. Chesterton (found in an issue of Gilbert Magazine):

"The highest outcome of an interest in literature is a finer interest in life; and bad literature as well as good may throw a light on life, if we have learnt to know light from darkness."

From C.S. Lewis' Introduction to St. Athanasius "On the Incarnation":

The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction. To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot get at them.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen:

Any book which inspires us to lead a better life is a good book.

From a blogpost entitled "Two Traps for the Pious":

This is almost an accidental, automatic fault. It can be overcome, as Fr. Groeschel points out, by reading good literature and opening your eyes to the plight of the poor and intentionally entering into solidarity with the poor by divesting one's self of some of the incidental benefits of a devout life.

From Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Children Learn by Diana Ravitch:

I began this quest with a strong belief that schools are supposed to lay a foundation for love of literature by exposing children incrementally, based on age appropriateness, to the best writings of our common language and, to the extent possible, to the best writings from other cultures. There are so many superb novels, short stories, poems, plays, and essays to choose from that it is impossible for any student to read them all. But this fact makes it all the more important that teachers make the effort to identify the writers and works that will broaden their students' horizons beyond their own immediate circumstances and reveal to them a world of meanings far beyond their own experiences. Great literature is "relevant" not because it echoes the students' race, gender, or social circumstances, but because it speaks directly to the reader across times and cultures. A child who is suffering because of a death in the family is likely to gain more comfort from reading a poem by John Donne or Ben Jonson or Gerard Manley Hopkins than from reading banal teen fiction about a death in the family.

Virtues of a Homeschool Parent

Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery – the preconditions of all true freedom. … Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them. (The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2223)

What are the “qualifications” of a successful homeschool parent?

We can sum up very quickly what people need to teach their own children. First of all, they have to like them, enjoy their company, their physical presence, their energy, foolishness, and passion. They have to enjoy all their talk and questions, and enjoy equally trying to answer those questions...They have to feel in their own hearts some of their children's wonder, curiosity, and excitement about the world. And they have to have enough confidence in themselves, skepticism about experts, and willingness to be different from most people, to take on themselves the responsibility for their children's learning... [children] need access. They need a chance, sometimes, for honest, serious, unhurried talk; or sometimes, for joking, play, and foolishness; or sometimes, for tenderness, sympathy and comfort." (pg. 28) Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling by Suzie Andres, quoting John Holt

Beware the fallacy of perfection. “Illusions are dangerous people – they have no flaws.” (Sabrina, 1995) Families are human and fallen. Having problems and challenges are a normal part of life. We ask God for the grace to work our way through these challenges and cooperate with his great and boundless love for us.

Support is essential. Supportive people will offer perspective, ideas for problem solving, a sense of hope, encouragement to make tough decisions, etc.- especially when serious academic or “family” problems arise.

Don’t be afraid to need help. Find trustworthy friends, mentors, tutors or professionals as needed and don’t let pride get in the way. Pray for guidance and for God to bring supportive and helpful people into your life. You need to be willing to cooperate with His grace. Help isn’t just for “problems” – working with mentors or “co-oping” with other parents can be very beneficial and motivating for you and your children.

One is entitled to think that the future of humanity is in the hands of those who are capable of providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism. (Gaudium et Spes as quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1917)

Virtues of a Homeschool Parent:

The following are virtues that are not only useful in a practical sense for us to better accomplish our goals as homeschool parents, but also ones which we want to cultivate in our own children; and the power of example is one of the most important ways of doing this.

Diligence:

I used the word "diligent" to describe a student. This word (as a Latin verb) is used by Aquinas in his song Adoro Te devote, and it means "love". In order to succeed at acquiring knowledge, the student must LOVE that subject. And that means it would be best for the teacher to also love it, and communicate that love. (G.K.C.'s Favourite)

To love a subject includes having an appreciation of its purpose in the bigger picture even when it doesn’t “delight” in all its particulars. Remember that all learning is for the sake of knowing Christ!

The efforts of you and your children plus God’s grace equal amazing things. This quote from St. Francis helps with perspective: “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Don’t “close doors” based on perceived limitations – seek other options as necessary – don’t be afraid to go out of ordinary school “conventions” – some of them are created for efficiency in the classroom and are unnecessary in a homeschool setting.

Overcoming “roadblocks” –

  • Parents see the big picture and encourage children to persevere.
  • Keep “road-blocks” to a reasonable size.
  • Overcoming “roadblocks” builds confidence and minimizes frustration.

Rigorous vs. Rigid

A rigorous education challenges the child at an appropriate level and helps them grow in all important areas. It seeks to develop their talents and important skills while encouraging them to “reach higher” and put in good effort.

Being too rigid can throw things off balance. Be more concerned with your child’s needs than meeting your own expectations. (think effective vs. efficient)

Children thrive on challenge and responsibility – when success is within reach.
Conversely, lack of challenge/boredom can hurt every aspect of development and formation.

Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and "a school for human enrichment." Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous - even repeated forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1656-1657)

Humility:

Pride is a weakness in the character; it dries up laughter, it drives up wonder, it dries up chivalry and energy. (G.K. Chesterton, Heretics IX)

Humility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak. - G. K. Chesterton (Father Brown: The Hammer of God)

Be open to God’s providence and seeking God’s will.

Be open to listening to and learning from your children. Children have a fallen nature, but they’re not completely “broken”. One example in our family that always reminds me of this idea happened when my oldest was in 3rd or 4th grade. She found Math very tedious and I tried to help her keep things moving, but it was frustrating for her. One day she came up with an idea. She would take her Math outside, put it on a a folding chair, put on her roller blades and reward herself with a ride up and down the driveway every few problems. It worked, but even if it didn't, it was good to let her try out her very worthwhile idea!

Don’t be afraid to “not know” something. You can set a great example to your children by showing how they can seek answers to their questions. Some of your family’s best learning moments may follow these words: “I don’t know – let’s go find out!”

Enthusiasm

"I myself have little Latin and less Greek. But I know enough Greek to know the meaning of the second syllable of "enthusiasm," and I know it to be the key to this and every other discussion." (G.K. Chesterton The Thing) … The Greek work Theos means "God". "Enthusiasm" literally means "to have God within"! (G.K.C.'s Favourite)

Little ones are the most enthusiastic people in the world.

Take the time to “catch” their enthusiasm and look at the world in a new way.

Appreciate, enjoy and encourage enthusiasm in your children.

Cultivate enthusiasm in yourself.

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4)

Patience

Patience is faith in action. Patience is emotional diligence. It's the willingness to suffer inside so that others can grow. It reveals love. It gives birth to understanding. Even as we become aware of our suffering in love, we learn about ourselves and our own weaknesses and motives. (Stephen Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families)

Expect results to take time.

Allow children to process, explore and even enjoy a topic (“make it their own”) before testing their knowledge or expecting “feedback”.

Related Links:

Love2Learn Moments: Teaching and Learning (#30)
One of the most unique aspects of homeschooling, and even parenting in general, is how much parents learn and grow in the process

Websites on the Saints

Lives of the Saints - Writings of the Saints
Lives of the Saints
Catholic Information Network Saints Page Contains many stories of Saints (including full length books and excerpts) and writings of the Saints.
Patron Saint Index Excellent site with short biographies, pictures and links.
Augustinian Saints and Blesseds
Saint Gianna Saint Gianna Molla was a doctor and mother who gave her life to save the life of her unborn child.
The Christian Catacombs of Rome History, pictures, stories, etc.
St. Maria Goretti Homepage
The Story of Thomas More by John Farrow
Writings of the Saints
The Catechetical Instructions of St. Thomas Aquinas
The Confessions by Saint Augustine
The Confessions of St. Patrick
On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius
The Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola
The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas
Writings of the Fathers of the Church

Why do we read Historical Fiction?

I struggled with this question a bit a few years ago - before I had read enough historical fiction to get a sense of its purpose. I wondered why stories about people and events that didn't really take place could be useful for the study of history.

First of all, a great deal of fiction is historical fiction. Whether intended or not, most stories set in a different time and place from our own will teach us something about how people lived in those circumstances. As an example, I thought it interesting when I was reading through the Anne of Green Gables series that one of the later books covers Anne's family dealing with all of the struggles and hardships of World War I. I would imagine that the author hadn't intended to write "historical fiction" when she first started the series, but was probably so affected by World War I that she was moved to include these experiences in one of her stories.

Historical Fiction allows an author to present a certain event or time period from a particular perspective. Now, perspective might seem like an ambiguous consideration for the study of history, but I think it can tell you an awful lot about how people work. Understanding a person's background, upbringing, lifestyle and impressions of the world around him can give you a fairly clear picture about why he made certain decisions or acted in a certain way. When we read history texts, we only see things through our view of what the world is like. We need to understand history through the eyes of the people who were there! I believe that understanding human nature and learning from the experiences of others is a rather important part of the study of history. Perspective fits in very nicely with this too. Perspective also can help explain how two people (or nations), both thinking that they're in the right, can be opposed to each other.

Reading about a particular event from a unique perspective can also help us relate to it better. An example that comes to mind is Abigail and the Widow Mary by Noel Trimming. In this book, several of Jesus' miracles are elaborated on through the eyes of fictitious children who might have been involved in the story. "Abigail" is the younger sister of the bride of the Wedding Feast at Cana. Although the story as told in the Gospels is beautiful and moving, even an adult is assisted in seeing more fully the significance of the miracle by Abigail's concerns about her family's honor and her joy at witnessing Jesus miraculously changing the water to wine. The details of the story give us a more complete understanding of how serious the lack of wine at the Wedding was given the Jewish culture and customs.

Another example is The Song at the Scaffold by Gertrud von de Fort. Through the eyes of a Carmelite convent in France, we "witness" the French Revolution from a Catholic perspective. We see how much the revolutionaries hated God and religion, how Catholics were treated by them and how Catholics reacted to the revolution itself.


Additional Thoughts:
1. History and Literature are the same in some ways -- they both are the study of man. The study of history can increase our wisdom and insight about human nature. By reading about the successes and failures of people in different circumstances, one can learn how to act and how not to act.

2. The study of history allows us to see beyond the circumstances of our own age, and distinguish what is eternal from what is ephemereal. The importance of this is hardly to be over-estimated. As G.K. Chesterton says, the main purpose of education is that we realize that our conventional wisdom is not real wisdom.

3. As to historical fiction as opposed to textbooks -- textbooks have their place, but they are a skeleton version of real history, and should not be mistaken for the living body. Fiction allows history to come alive. I'm also thinking that in past ages history was taught and passed on more in literary works than in textbooks. Think of the Odyssey, the Aeneid, many of Shakespeare's plays, indeed the Bible -- they are all to a greater or lesser extent at least purportedly historical, yet they are unmistakably literature. In my opinion, since history and literature are so closely intertwined in themes and meaning, they are a natural combination. I'd even say that history as the study of human nature can't reach its full potential except by literary means.

4. When I was a child, I read all kinds of fiction, and what I loved most about these stories was that they allowed me to step into others' shoes -- an Indian boy, a pioneer girl, a medieval knight -- and to reflect on choices and dilemmas I would thankfully never have to face in real life. All kinds of fiction serves this purpose, but particularly historical fiction, because the lives portrayed in historical fiction are further outside one's scope. They allow one to "practice" outside the boundaries of one's normal, safe, habitual life. For this reason I think that well-chosen, high-quality historical fiction can be a benefit to a child's character.
Contributed by Willa Ryan
"I have always loved historical fiction and devoured it as a little girl. My favorite times in history are Tudor/Stuart England and Civil War America. I think historical fiction is valuable in the fact that the authors explore the why of a person's motivation in the particular mileau. The history books tell the facts, dates, people, names, places. But why did Henry the VIII go through so many wives? Why did Mary Tudor feel so strongly about her Catholic faith? If we take a minor fictitious character and see the major characters through their fictitious eyes, we can explore these facets of history in an analytic sense. Children in works of historical fictional can help our children relate to the characters in the book and help them to understand why history happened the way it did and ask themselves what would they do in a particular situation. How would they have treated a slave on their daddy's plantation? How would they have reacted to their brother's going off to war? What was the motivation for an important historical figure's actions?"

"Another advantage I have found is that my children, who like historical fiction (gee, really?) are then also interested in re-enactments, antique shops, and historical villages. They see in real life what they read about in books. Most of the time, I would think that a woman taking six children into an antique shop would be nuts, but my children are amazed by the treasures and love to go. Last weekend we found an old cobbler's shoe kit that we bought and are going to learn how they made shoes. My oldest is going to dress up from one of the characters in the Mother Seton book and do the demonstration for homeschool groups and schools. "
Contributed by Joan Stromberg (author of The Orphans Find a Home: A Mother Cabrini Story)

Why do we Study Greek?

Sometimes you will hear Protestants say that "if only the Catholics knew the truth, they would no longer remain in the Church." I believe that if you were interested or "called" to minister to Protestants who had studied Greek it would be to your advantage to study it also.

I have heard one of the famous converts (can't remember which now) say [that some Protestants] argue about whether Jesus was talking about a big rock or a little rock when he was calling Simon Peter the rock upon which he would build his Church. He discussed what it was in Greek and made the point that this was important. So I believe that for evangelization purposes it would be important.

Also, in another group, someone mentioned that it makes learning Russian easier. The icons of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (my favorite!) have Greek letters at the top. (or so I was told)

And then anytime you learn a new language you make it easier to learn another.

Contributed by Dorothy O'Neil

Homer, Aristophanes and Demosthenes spring to mind...

But even if one never gets as far as being able to read Homer in the original, Greek is just as useful to a speaker of English, and a scholar, as Latin. Many of our words (especially in scientific spheres) come from Greek. Also, knowledge of elementary Greek means when your children decide to take an English course at university they won't be lost when the books by respected critics of old use Greek (with no translations in the footnotes, because every educated person was assumed to know Greek, and they never foresaw the time when scholars would not know even Latin, much less Greek).

And also, it is very valuable to be able to read the NT in the original--for the same reasons as it is valuable to read Virgil in Latin, or Herman Hesse in German. Of course, if you study Greek to that purpose, then you ought to also study Hebrew. And naturally, once you have Greek, you can read the Septuagint too--an important source for Jerome's translations.
...
I can't believe I forgot to mention Aristotle. I knew some Thomistic philosophers who called him "St. Aristotle"!

In my department (Classical Studies) at university we had a poster made, that said: "Be Really Educated: Learn Latin." My Greek professor added this to his own on his office door: "Be an Educated Roman: Learn Greek."

As for studying both, I would begin with Latin, and once you had reached a fairly comfortable level (being able to translate easy original texts like Caesar or the Missal/Breviary) I would begin Greek. Greek is more complex grammatically than Latin. Kolbe Academy has both at the same time, but I think that would be too much for most children. Some very language-oriented children might be able to learn both at the same time, or start Latin one year and Greek the next.

A programme like English From the Roots Up is a good starting point for both Greek and Latin study. Maybe once you decided to add Greek, you can begin by teaching the alphabet using the now familiar roots, written in the Greek alphabet. For many children, the new alphabet is a real stumbling block, so getting that down first will help. No one should have any trouble with several languages so long as you stick to roots and vocabulary alone.

Contributed by Désirée Caron

Why do we Study Latin?

On a Practical Level: There are two main reasons why Latin can be useful on a practical level. The first is, because the Latin language is so well ordered and lacks all the complications and exceptions of the English Language, its study can be very helpful in understanding concepts of Grammar. Because it is an inflected language (meaning that the endings change based on how the word is used), it is very easy to identify what place the word holds in the sentence (subject, object, indirect object, etc.). The second (and most obvious reason) is that studying Latin will enhance a student's vocabulary and spelling skills since many English words (70-80 percent) find their roots in Latin. I can also tell you from experience that it can be very helpful on the verbal part of the SAT!

As Catholics: Part of why Catholics study Latin is to help instill in our children a love for the traditions of our faith. The exquisite traditional prayers and hymns of the Church, such as St. Thomas Aquinas' Adoro te Devote and the Salve Regina are treasures as important to us as the fine paintings of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Additionally, for those who attend a Latin Mass (whether Tridentine or Novus Ordo), familiarity with the language will be very helpful in following along and understanding the Mass.

Related Articles: (from the Memoria Press website)

The Language that Rose from the Dead by Rev. Randall Payne

Latin is the Next Step After Phonics by Cheryl Lowe, author of Latina Christiana

Taking Latin Seriously by Cheryl Lowe, author of Latina Christiana

Additional Thoughts:

I would add another reason for studying Latin: That continued study of Latin will enable a child to read Classical Latin authors in the original. Virgil, Cicero, Catullus, et al. can only be truly appreciated in Latin. And also, the ability to read the originals is invaluble to those going on to study Western literature, as many Classically trained homeschoolers go on to a Liberal Arts programme do. I know that my knowledge of Latin (and Greek) gave me an advantage in my University English courses. Most scholars of the past (until just recently, in fact) knew the Classical languages,and so quotes in books, articles and commentary are in the original.

contributed by Désirée Caron

Why Study History?

Studying history gives us a certain amount of perspective when considering happenings today. Those who don't study history can tend to conclude that things used to be great and we're now living in the worst of times and things are continuing to go downhill. This can give them a sense of hopelessness and complacency with regard to the world today and a very pessimistic attitude about trying to do anything about the problems of today. The truth is that mankind has battled with (and sometimes lost to) great evil since the beginning of time. The perspective we gain from studying history, of course, also inspires us with the stories of people in other times who have acted heroically in the face of great obstacles.

We know that life experience tends to develop wisdom. We value the input of older relatives and friends who contribute wisdom and insight to our questions and problems. To a certain extent, studying history allows us to tap into some of that "life experience" for ourselves.

Probably the most famous quote about the study of history is "Those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it." We can learn from the errors of others and see certain things from a perspective other than our own. While certain errors of our own day loom very large to us, the dangers of taking other ideas to an extreme may be more subtle. For example, learning about the Albigensian Heresy (from sources such as St. Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe) holds a warning for our time about the dangers of taking conservative views too far.

We see how God raises up Saints and Heroes to combat every great evil faced by our Civilization. We see how even "ordinary" people (such as Oskar Schindler) can "rise to the occasion" when faced with great evil. We see examples and inspirations in historical figures for the difficult tasks that we need to face today.

As Catholics we are interested in seeing the role our Catholic faith played in history and recognizing the contributions of Catholics who have gone before us. We search for materials which include this point of view, but don't neglect other important aspects of History that aren't as directly related to our Catholic faith. A book which presents only the good side of Catholic history may not really be as Catholic as one which is more honest in its approach.

Also See: Why do we Read Historical Fiction?

Related Links:
Teaching History and Science - the Who's and Why's by Dr. Anne Carroll

Light to the Nations: Reclaiming the Catholic Historical Imagination by Rollin A. Lasseter

Why Study Shakespeare?

Since I was homeschooled for my high school years, my introduction to Shakespeare was somewhat different than the average American's today. I read my first Shakespeare play in a 9th grade Catholic reader. The book was an older text with some brief notes for each Act and some black and white photos from a stage production featuring Katherine Hepburn. The play was A Merchant of Venice. Since I had no previous experience with Shakespeare and was working through it on my own, I found the notes quite helpful and after that play I was hooked. Although in grade school I was quite a good student and an avid reader (having gone through The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lord of the Rings and The Little House on the Prairie), I had never tried anything as classic as Shakespeare (and certainly not read any of the children's versions), but still found the transition rather easy. Much of Shakespeare's "wit and wisdom" are commonly known today because he still is (by the grace of God!) read widely in high schools of America today.

I don't see the need to wait till high school for Shakespeare, particularly with the nice children's versions available. Although I'm not a big proponent of reading children's versions of every classic novel available, William Shakespeare's influence is so good and so widespread, that I believe an earlier introduction can be an excellent thing.

Language - Studying Shakespeare's plays gives us an understanding of the origin and meaning of many words and phrases commonly used today which have their origins in Shakespeare's works.

The challenging language stimulates the mind and the imagination. This challenge can be very satisfying challenge because the stories are creative, enjoyable and sometimes very funny. The stories are meaty and can really make you think. They are rich with discussion material and "learning opportunities". Shakespeare had an amazing understanding of human nature and so his stories can give us a great deal of perspective on life in general.

Catholic perspective - rooted in Catholic philosophy (stories mention Purgatory, etc. e.g. Hamlet) - moral problems and questions wrestled with in the stories....most especially the consequences of sin.

Specific examples from parts of MacBeth...How justifying and committing one sin (in this case a very serious one) usually leads to more and more problems. MacBeth kills the king in order to gain power but finds himself committing more murders and other atrocities in order to cover up his actions. We also see the dangers of "the occult" by how his ambitions were amplified by consulting with the witches. I noticed when reading MacBeth in college (which was probably my third time through this particular play) that MacBeth commits (in order) the crimes punishable in the innermost rings of Hell according to Dante's Inferno (Book One of the Divine Comedy).

Common Experience - Given the wide-spread study of Shakespeare in America's high schools and colleges, his plays form a "common experience" for many people. Examples from Shakespeare can readily illuminate discussions about politics, the faith, various moral topics, etc.

Ideas for Making Shakespeare Accessible:

Shakespeare Readings: Our family has offered Shakespeare nights several times now to a number of local families. We pick a play, assign parts ahead of time and read an entire play over the course of an evening. The parts are assigned a little ahead of time so readers can have a chance to review their parts ahead of time. There is a wide mix of talent within the group, so we try to shuffle the parts around a bit - adults and kids participate together (this has been a nice way to encourage dramatic reading). People show up with a few small props and a little bit of acting goes on (death scenes seem to be a favorite!) but the atmosphere is fairly casual (one reader has to bring her own braille text!). This format, which has run two or three hours with some light refreshments afterwards (little ones - except nursing babies - stay home with babysitters) has turned out to be a really big hit - from grandparents all the way down to the nine and ten year olds!!! It has worked well for us to offer this every 2 or 3 months.

Related Links:

The Bard of Avon from Ye Hedge School

Article: "Shakespeare Scholars Say the Bard was ... Catholic?" from The Catholic Educator's Resource Center

Interesting example of Shakespeare as a tool of "common experience" from a Fox News article

Shakespeare for Children by Charles and Mary Lamb

"The Shop of Ghosts"

Book cover: '"The Shop of Ghosts"'
Author(s): 
G.K. Chesterton
Subject(s): 
Advent and Christmas Stories
Copyright: 
1906
Review: 

Found on pages 82-86 of G.K. Chesterton Collected Works Volume XIV, 1993, Ignatius Press, 802 pages, softcover, Catholic perspective

This is a charming and humorous story about the spirit of Christmas through the ages. Good for a chuckle and a little perspective.

The volume in which this story can be found is available from Ignatius Press
You can also read this story online by clicking here

Review Date: 
12-5-05
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
TitleSort: 
"The Shop of Ghosts"

100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Book cover: '100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church'
Author(s): 
Ellen Rossini
Subject(s): 
Living the Faith
Resource Type: 
Supplement
Book(s)
Copyright: 
1996
Review: 

This book is first divided into three categories based on age or grade level (Primary - grades 1-3; Intermediate - grades 3-5; and Advanced - grades 6-8). Each of these is subdivided into four segments based on the major parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

  • "The Profession of Faith"
  • "The Celebration of the Christian Mystery"
  • "Life in Christ"
  • "Christian Prayer"

Each of these 12 sections offer as many as 25 activities, puzzles, games, skits, essays etc. All worksheets are reproducible. An excellent and cost-effective supplement to your religion curriculum.

The format is particularly nice for homeschoolers since children at different grade levels can be studying complementary materials.

A complete answer key is included in the back of the book.

Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Perspective: 
Catholic
Number of pages: 
121 pages
Review Date: 
1-3-05
Sample Pages
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
TitleSort: 
100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church