ischmalzried

"Wide-eyed and mystified, may we be just like a child, staring at the beauty of the King…may we never lose our wonder.” This line is from a song that a friend of mine would often sing as we prayed with Christ’s words in Matthew 18, where He is instructing us to become like little children. While I think Jesus says this to call us to a deep and simple humility, child-like trust, and dependence on God, I also think about how little children are especially close to Him because they live in the present, fully alive and fully themselves, just simply [...]

In 1917, the children of Fatima - ten, eight, and six years old - were called to sacrifice themselves for the reparation of sins and consecrate their hearts to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They were chosen to model this act of faith and consecration for generations to come, catching thousands of souls in their nets. Mother Mary asked the children to visit her on the thirteenth day of each month for six months and entrusted them to spread her message to the whole world. It is truly incredible that the messages of Our Lady of Fatima were given to three [...]

Coming out of the Carlo Acutis movie recently, I was reminded again of how essential silence is in deepening a life of prayer and relationship with the Lord. Carlo, the first millennial saint, lived in a world full of noise and distractions that make it hard to be present to ourselves, to others, and especially to God. Yet he made time for silence and prayer every day. We all need to practice silence and to allow space for the contemplation of the mysteries of God, so that, filled with awe and wonder, we can joyfully proclaim God’s love to the world. [...]

St. Catherine of Siena’s feast day is celebrated on April 29. St. Catherine was a strong advocate for the Catholic Church in fourteenth-century Italy. She constantly reminded Church leaders that their power was a responsibility given by God, not a tool for personal ambition. Her spirituality was rooted in the Eucharist and a deep love for Christ crucified. It is often difficult to live for Jesus in this world; it seems easier to create a “bubble” around yourself and those who share in your faith. Jesus called St. Catherine to step out of her “bubble” and re-enter the world as an [...]

Despite the return of some freezing temperatures these past two weeks, the signs of spring are abundant. The birds are back and singing their lively songs each morning. The southwest wind has swept away the ice and snow. And perhaps most notably, green and growing things have once again returned: grass is sprouting, trees are budding (though not yet in the full green glory of their foliage), and wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Bright spots of white, yellow, purple, and blue dot lawns everywhere.   These physical signs of the changing season also speak to a deeper supernatural reality: we have entered [...]

Developing the art of writing can pose a difficult task, particularly in knowing where to begin. This difficulty is further compounded when teaching the skill to young minds who often believe writing to be taxing and more tedious than enjoyable. However, writing is one of the most human and celebrated forms of expression. Everyone enjoys a good story so it seems problematic that despite our natural inclination towards writing, so many are at a loss as to how to write themselves. Today, I often hear teachers trying to foster creativity by doing away with boundaries and parameters. These are said to [...]

A typical first-grade morning begins with a prayer and a story. Virtue education is at the very center of the culture of St. Benedict Classical Academy. The curriculum is imbued with examples and opportunities for virtue. Perhaps the most compelling means of teaching virtue is through literature. Living stories offer a valuable opportunity of modeling virtue to our students in order to form the moral imagination. Great stories allow children to enter into the world of the characters, to identify with their motivations, strengths, and struggles in a way that they will wish to acquire the qualities they admire in these [...]

Growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I was part of a Catholic community, went to church, and received the Sacraments, all while attending public school. As a child, I remember enjoying my time at school each day. I liked my classes, learned a lot, had some of the best friends you could ask for, and spent plenty of time playing outside with my friends. After graduating high school and attending Bloomsburg University, I pursued the other part of my happy childhood equation and became a school teacher.   My first job after graduating was as a fifth-grade teacher in a Fairfax County public [...]

One of my most prized possessions is a dainty Celtic cross necklace given to me by my great-grandparents. This necklace was something I was very proud of growing up; I didn’t know of anyone else my age who owned something so special. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that this special gift is more than just a necklace. My great-grandparents were very faithful Catholics who immigrated to America from Ireland in their early 20s. Although they never had much, they held close to their faith and made it a priority in their lives setting a strong example for their [...]

Have you ever wondered how you will survive something difficult, or why God permits suffering in your life, or in the life of someone you care about? When you face something disappointing, worrisome, or difficult, and wonder how you will endure it, I invite you to find meaning and purpose in my favorite mystery of the rosary. Our faith gives us the beautiful tradition of the Holy Rosary, a series of repeating, familiar prayers that form the background for contemplation of twenty great mysteries from the lives of Jesus and Mary. These mysteries of faith are full of meaning and [...]