Temperament Chart
Different Temperaments can create harmony.
Sanguine
Melancholy
Choleric
Phlegmatic
The Daily Examen in Steps
St. Ignatius of Loyola helps us break through our over-scheduled life with an introspective prayer at the end of each day. Take 10-15 minutes in the evening and set a timer so you don’t watch your clock; just relax and be with God who loves you!
The Hidden Power of Kindness
The Hidden Power of Kindness
Kindness adds sweetness to everything.
Kindness is an imitation of God. God’s love comes to earth.
Kindness makes life blossom and fills it with fragrance.
Kindness counteracts the unhappiness of sin and makes life more endurable.
Kindness is one of God’s greatest gifts to the world,
and it comes into the world through you.
Become a member of the Fraternity of Kindness.
The rules are simple – three little don’ts and three little do’s.
Crusade for Love ABC’s
Crusade for Love by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski
1. Respect everyone.... Christ resides in everyone. Be sensitive to others- they are your brothers and sisters.
2. Think well of everyone- think ill of no one. Try to find something good even in the worst circumstances.
3. Always speak well of others- do not cast a slur on anyone. Repair any harm resulting from an uttered word. Do not provoke strife between people.
4. Speak to everyone in the language of love. Do not raise your voice. Do not swear. Do not vex others. Do not provoke tears. Reassure others. Show a kind heart.
5. Forgive everyone everything. Do not hold grudges. Always be the first to extend your hand as a sign of reconciliation.
6. Act always to your neighbor's advantage. Do good things to others as you would like them done to you. Never give a thought to what others owe you, but always to what you owe them.
7. Be actively compassionate in time of suffering. Be quick to offer consolation, counsel, assistance, kindness.
8. Work conscientiously- others benefit from the fruits of your labor, just as you benefit from the labor of others.
9. Be active in your community. Be open to the poor and the sick. Share your goods. Try to see the needs of those around you.
10. Pray for everyone, even your enemies.
Cardinal Wyszynski of Poland and was a key figure in the country’s 20th-century history. His heroic resistance to Nazism and communism and his steadfast efforts to protect the Catholic Church when Poland was under communist rule led to his three year imprisonment by the communists. He was a mentor for St. Pope John Paul II. The cause for his beatification is currently open.
Have fun teaching the virtues with these songs!
Virtue and Character
for kids & their teachers, moms & dads, and grandparents
Patience Song
Obedience Cheer
Put the Toys Away
Conscience song
We Are Orderly
Obedience Games
Free Smiles for Cheerfulness
Tell the Truth
Joy, Joy, Joy
The Six M’s for Girls: What do I tell my 10 year old daughter about womanhood?
It's time to build a more intimate woman-to woman relationship with your little girl, at a special talk and many ongoing ones.
The Six M's for pre-puberty girls:
1. Modesty: Dressing with dignity as you grow in womanhood and beauty helps avoid the problem of provoking the eye of disrespectful men. Enhance feminine beauty without drawing attention to your body parts so men will see you as a person rather than a body with parts he likes. The purpose of a bra is to support, protect and cover, not show off. Keep all private parts and covered without slits, short skirts, short shorts or peek-a-boo, tight or see-through clothes. Disrobing is saved for the wedding night. She must work to keep her mind pure from sexy movies, magazines, websites, romance novels and TV shows. Her modesty in dress and speech protects her purity and chastity.
2. Menstrual cycle: Normal process to prepare for motherhood, not a sickness, usually not painful. Happens monthly from puberty to menopause, stops during pregnancy. Purpose of cycle (preparing uterine lining) is fulfilled during pregnancy. How to use sanitary supplies. Celebrate this privilege of womanhood and fertility together. Improve diet to prevent PMS. Discuss fetal growth and development using pro-life materials if you haven't already. Discussion of conception is optional until puberty if she doesn't ask...
Seven C’s for Boys: What do I tell my 10 year-old son about manhood?
Boys at 10 need less physical information, as they are 2-4 years from puberty. But because of the culture, they need more spiritual and emotional discipline that needs to be developed now before the testosterone rolls, to avoid "testosterone RULES." Initial talks with sons should be kept on a high, Godly plane, to avoid the danger of trivializing the sacred and deep mysteries of life. Any further physical details requested before puberty should be answered briefly with constant reference to God.
The Seven C's for Boys:
1. Christ rules as your model of love, kindness, humility, courage and strength. Courtesy and respect for women is important for boys who want to become strong Christian men. Develop the courage to go to the cross to live for Christ. Pray to hear Christ's call to vocation and be prepared to respond to Him.
2. Commandments: Review them together, possibly using the summary pages at the back of the Catechism, explaining what you think he needs at this age. For example, 6th commandment: certain kisses and embraces are allowed by God for married persons, which would be impure for unmarried. 9th commandment: dismiss impure or sinful thoughts by thinking something good. Form a conscience well, and go to Confession regularly (every two to four weeks). Hopefully, Dad is the leader in this. Don't let your soul get wimpy because it's full of venial sins. Seek your confessor's advice on doubts or temptations. Avoid "occasions of sin."
3. Chastity is the ideal virtue for men to develop. This form of purity of mind, words and body will help you live out your vocation, whether you are later called to Christian marriage, priesthood, religious life…