We ask you, urgently: don’t scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources—essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
The memories of children are sacred domain
FREE Catholic Classes
By Mary Regina Morrell
Catholic Online
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little one who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:5-6 NIV
While sitting at dinner with friends recently the conversation turned to what God does in heaven - an anthropomorphic reflection to be sure, but fun to consider none-the-less.
"I wonder if God watches American Idol?" someone queried, followed by another musing, "Do you think Simon has a chance at heaven?"
Silliness reigns with a few glasses of wine, so we found ourselves laughing at the endless variations on this theme. But on the way home I found myself thinking of that TV show in a different vein.
Sadly, for our children, this is what it's all about - American idols of fame, money, power, perfection, having the competitive edge.
Later that night, while rummaging through some book shelves, I found an old children's hymnal that I had purchased in a second hand bookstore a few years ago. I have a fondness for old books and the copyright date on this one is 1895. Flipping it open I came upon the Editors' Preface. It read, in part: "In a Hymnal intended especially for the use of young people, the brightness and happiness of youth should find full expression; hence . . . the Editors have been selected only those hymns and tunes which they know, from personal experience, to be thoroughly singable, enjoyable, inspiring, and worthy to be cherished in the hearts and memories of children."
The last phrase stuck out: "worthy to be cherished in the hearts and memories of children." Thinking back to the media and the proliferation of baseness to which our children are subjected, I reflected on how wonderful it would be if our culture and our adults had as much concern for the welfare of our children.
Later, in the hymnal, was the sentence: "...the bulk of the book is addressed to arouse and express the best aims of the elder youth: reverence, worship, love of the divine, go hand in hand with the spring of youth, joy and happiness."
How things have changed in 110 years! No longer do we recognize that one of the best aims of youth should be reverence, worship or love of God, nor do we seem to understand that each of those aims have an impact on the joy and happiness of our children.
I recently completed a training course on the phenomena of self-injury which is proliferating in our country and, most sadly, in our schools. I learned that the newest group of self-injurers, or cutters as they are often called, are no longer just those suffering from mental illness or trauma of the past, but from the stress of the present.
The workshop presenter highlighted a variety of cultural stressors that affect our children, emphasizing also that families and schools rarely teach the healthy self-soothing skills that would reduce the need for emotional bloodletting.
Yet, within the pages of this 110 year old hymnal was a wisdom we have long ago forgotten. In hymn after hymn the children who were encouraged to raise their voices in song experienced the power of Christ to provide comfort and alleviate fear. One of my favorite hymns, "When Morning Gilds the Skies," included these soothing words: Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praised: Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised. The night becomes as day, When from the heart we say, May Jesus Christ be praised: The powers of darkness fear, When this sweet chant they hear, may Jesus Christ be praised."
When, as adults, we regain the wisdom of replacing our American idols with prayer and praise of the One who loves us most, then perhaps we can begin the healing process for our children by leading them to Christ.
What could be more worthy of being cherished in the hearts and memories of children than to know they are loved by God?
Contact
Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org
NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Educationp, 732 562.1990
mmorrell@diometuchen.org
Keywords
memories, children, domain, idol, hymns
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Day Prayer Left the Classroom: Why It Should Never Have Happened
-
Do Aborted, Stillborn, and Miscarried Babies Go to Heaven?
-
Celebrating St. Juan Diego: The Man Chosen by Our Lady of Guadalupe
-
The Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception: The Virgin Mary Lights The Path To A Fruitful Advent
-
Celebrate Sunday Mass - 12.8.24
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, December 14, 2024
- St. John of the Cross: Saint of the Day for Saturday, December 14, 2024
- The Gloria: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, December 13, 2024
- St. Lucy: Saint of the Day for Friday, December 13, 2024
- Prayer for the Dignity of Human Life: Prayer of the Day for Friday, December 13, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.