Following the Call

Every Christian person has the moral responsibility to discern his true vocation.  This concept should be instilled into the Christian child from a very young age, as a vocation is a calling from God which will help provide the grace needed to attain the happiness of Heaven.  The idea of a true vocation is a strong one which often confounds the Christian as he achieves adulthood. Questions of what a vocation is and how to discern that which is right for the soul can inundate the young adult.  These questions are serious and must be answered properly.  Because one’s vocation ultimately assists in the salvation of his soul, it is of vital importance that a person discerns rigorously under the guidance of spiritual director that calling of God which should direct his life. 

When reaching the brink of adulthood, many fall right into the dating world.  Although it might be safe to say that most people are called to the vocation of marriage, this is not true for all people.  Before a young Christian makes a decision that cannot be dissolved, that is to contract a marriage, he should discern religious life first.  As the call of the Church is the nobler calling, the Christian has the obligation to discern vocations of religion before attempting to discern vocations of marriage.  Every person should strive for his vocation to be in line with the Will of Almighty God.   

Before continuing with the discussion of a personal vocation, the word vocation must be defined and the common vocation must be acknowledged.  A vocation is a call, a personal invitation from God to do His Will.  In this way, a vocation is more than a job; it is the life and the defining factor of who a person is supposed to be.  Vocations, because they are truly personal invitations from God and, when legitimately entered into, sources of grace, should be discerned rigorously and thoroughly.  Although it is possible to reach heaven outside of one’s true vocation, it is extremely difficult.  Let the man bemoan entering too quickly into the wrong vocation.   

The common vocation of Christians is to the sainthood.  God wants each of us to gain the happiness of Heaven.  Living and following one’s true vocation and becoming a saint go hand in hand, as one lends to the other.  The saints, those who are members of the Church Triumphant, are traditionally divided into four classes; these are: Bishop, Martyr, Virgin, and Confessor.  One might notice that two of these classes actually also religious vocations as well.  The common vocation of sainthood transcends every other purpose or calling a person might have in his life.  A man might be the greatest doctor or lawyer in the world, but without the achievement of sainthood, it is all for not.  

This common vocation to sainthood is also closely connected to the first shared vocation of all people.  No one who is called to any particular vocation is born directly into that vocation.  Instead, they are born into a state of single life where their only calling is to learn to know, love, and serve God.  This state, as with every state, has charity and chastity as its center.  Man is given ample opportunity when in this state to discern his true calling.  This time should not be squandered on the cares of the world, but instead should be used to embrace that chastity which leads the soul to her God’s call.   

As chastity is at the heart of every vocation, the words of St. Paul are important to note, as he stated, “I would that all men were even as myself; but every one hath his proper gift from God ... But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them if they so continue, even as I.”  Further on, St. Paul also states, “…And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit (1 Corinthians 7:7-8 and 32-35).”  By remaining chaste in each individual vocation, Christians can truly imitate the example of the Blessed Virgin and countless other saints in heaven who gave witness to this importance. The saints provide a strong example for all Christians to follow, for they have encountered temptations and triumphed over concupiscence.  The virgin martyrs provide a striking model as, even though often they were offered a way to live, they embraced death rather than leave the vocation God had called them to.  The Church recognizes this heroism in the collect for the Common of the Virgin Martyrs as she thanks God for allowing the weaker sex to have the strength to endure such trials.   

For many, remaining in a strict state of being single is not their ultimate calling.  As a result, even from a young age, the Christian should seek out that which is his true vocation. This vocation is a matter of great discernment and should be discussed in spiritual direction.  A good spiritual director will tell the Christian to discern those vocations which match his personality.  By personality, it might be better stated as temperament and spirituality combined.  The temperament of a person has a distinct impact on his true vocation. The spirituality of a person can help lead the person into the best situation for remaining in sanctifying grace.  Because of the spiritual battle which rages on, finding one’s personal vocation is difficult in this fallen world.  Receiving good spiritual direction is like going to the doctor and receiving proper care of body.  Just as one must nourish his body well in order to be healthful, one should also nourish his soul.  A good spiritual director is able to help the Christian see beyond the attractions of the world and come into a state of understanding for the Will of God.   

There are four types of legitimate vocations within the Church: Priesthood, Matrimony, Religious or Consecrated Life, and Chaste Lay Single Life.  St. Ignatius said, “Pray fervently to discern God's Will for your vocation to the married, single or religious life. Your happiness and that of others depends on it, both in this life and for all eternity.”  In regards to the order of discerning, it is good for a person discerns first the higher vocations of priesthood, if he be a man, and religion.  The calling of the Church is higher and nobler than marriage because when a person enters into such states in life, he offers to God every facet of his being.   Holy Orders is the Sacrament by which men become priests and are given a sacred power (sacra potestas) to act in sacramental identification with Christ (i.e., to act in persona Christi) in order to perform the sacred duties given them by the Church. 

For some, a religious vocation might be his true calling.  It is religion in which knowing one’s spirituality becomes of most prominence.  This is because there are many religious orders, each with unique charisms.  There are three debated classes of orders: Contemplative, Missionaries, and Teachers.  These individuals are called to a deeper life of prayer, fasting, and sacrifice.  Some might be confined to a convent or monastery, while others have to live within the world.  A religious vocation opens up a whole plethora of possibilities for the Christian to choose from.  The prayers of the religious are like the nourishment for the Church, thus their significance cannot be understated.  

Not everyone who is called to consecrated life is called to live in a religious community, some are called to be hermits and others to live within the world.  One, male or female, can take vows of perpetual virginity or continence publicly before a bishop.  If the discerning Christian is a woman, then she can be made hallowed to God as a consecrated virgin, just as our Blessed Mother was – this is a ceremony performed by a bishop, and it is the highest and most noble honor for women in the Church.  This is a vocation primarily for women and there is not much information on it as it fell out of popular favor three centuries ago, although Pope Pius XII, of blessed memory, addressed this issue in his encyclical, Sacra Virginitas.  St. Methodius stated, on behalf of these women, “You, yourself, O Christ, art my all. For you I keep myself chaste, and holding aloft my shining lamp, I run to meet you, my Spouse.”

Although Sacred Virginity is a beautiful calling, not everyone is call to living a life of celibacy. Marriage was instituted by God Himself in the beginning and elevated to a Sacrament by Jesus Christ in the New Covenant.  Marriage is similar to Holy Orders in that once the Sacrament is received, it cannot be set aside; a valid sacramental marriage lasts until the death of one of the spouses.  The primary purpose of marriage is the procreation and education children.  The secondary purpose of marriage is the lawful remedy for concupiscence.  Those entering into marriage must be ready to assist his spouse in the achievement of heaven.   

Not everyone is called to the priesthood, religious or consecrated life, or matrimony.  Some people are called to remain lay singles their entire lives.  These people can make private vows of virginity or continence and they can join Religious Orders as tertiaries, as can every lay person.  These people should regard their singleness as a gift, not a hindrance.  

With the choices laid before him, the Christian should be careful as he discovers what his vocation truly is.  Through the love and grace of the Church, means of proper discernment have been provided.  The discerning Christian should employ these means as he readily finds his true calling.  Sainthood is difficult enough to achieve, without the added burden of finding oneself in the wrong vocation.

What is a niche and how do I find one?

Search "make money online" or "make money quickly" and you will find many blog posts suggesting blogging as a way to make money quickly and efficiently. These posts usually mention the platform that the blogger uses. They may even have information on analytics available for readers to review to prove credibility. One thing these posts usually have in common is the word: niche.

I do not make money blogging. I do make money as a ghost writer and a virtual assistant occasionally. My main job, after being a mother of course, is to be a professional tutor and course instructor. I have read plenty of "how to" guides on the internet on how to make money in a virtual world. The first piece of advice you will find online about making a living from blogging, vlogging, affiliate marketing, direct selling, etc to infinity is "Find Your Niche."

If you were anything like me, you thought, "I don't have a niche! I am a person. I have so many interests. How could I ever possibility narrow it down."

Good news is: Once you find your particular style and brand, you don't have to "limit yourself". If an established marketing blogger wants to share a recipe, then a recipe will be shared.  Just with the flare or twist expected by readers.

Bad news is: you have to find your particular style and brand, aka "niche".

So, what is a niche?

A niche is your "thing"...your passion...your interest...as delivered in the persona that you develop toward the targeted audience you want to reach.  So, for example, if you are a spunky soccer mom who wants to share life hacks, you need to decide the target audience for your life hacks:

• Other moms?

• Single parents?

• Sports fanatics?

• Kids and college students?

• Grandparents, parents?

  
  

Make sure that you keep your target audience broad enough to get you viewers and readers, but narrow enough that you get subscribers.  Easy, right? 

Step one: Decide Your Passion

If you want to run a successful blog/vlog/facebook/pinterest/etc, you need to be passionate about the topic.  You need to decide what topic you could easily talk about all day every day and still have more to say.  You need to be interested and excited about the topic!

I suggest writing down your major hobbies, interests, and expertise.  Then, decide if you are able or willing to write hundreds of words on the topics.  This may limit what you are willing to blog about.  I love gardening, but I am nowhere near an expert.  I also enjoy playing the violin, but that's strictly for my enjoyment.  I am passionate about learning, however, so I share what I learn.  Hence this blog and my other endeavors to come. 

Step two: Determine Your Audience

Although anyone can access your blog, it is important to target your intended audience.  Who do you want reading your blog? Who do you want to connect with? What is your overall goal? Decide which demographics you want to reach and then determine if your topic will interest them.  If you are a horror video gamer, you won't want to target elderly women who spend their time knitting as an audience. Be honest about who you want to reach. 

Step three: Develop a Persona

Online, you can literally be anyone you want.  Your friends and family may know better, but the hundreds of other hits you get on your blog will not have a clue that you aren't really an extravert who loves rock climbing.  Decide on the persona you want - are you an expert or an enthusiast? Are you a philosopher or a advertiser? Will you be in-depth or concise? Decide who you want to be - develop your online presence. 

Step four: Do Your Homework

Once you have determined your persona and your audience, you can start your blog.  It is recommended that you determine a posting schedule (*cough* something I clearly did not do *cough*) and create 3-5 blog posts to get started with before you even create your blog.  This will ensure that you hit the ground running.  You will get more subscribers and readers if you have regularly posted content.

Step five: Review Your Goals, Content, Persona, and Audience

Before launching your blog or endeavor, take a step back and make sure your message and audience is targeted to reflect your persona.  Make adjustments as necessary.

That's it.  You have found your niche AND you have started your journey on the road to a successful internet venture.

For the Love of Math

 In all honesty, fifteen year old me would have never believed that thirty year old me would be teaching mathematics this fall. Fifteen year old me was still suffering the effects of eleven year old me listening to my friends and deciding that it wasn't cool to enjoy math. 

As a young child, I showed a natural inclination toward math. I loved puzzles and patterns. As I grew older, I continued loving math. Until one day, I didn't. 

I am not entirely sure what happened to make me decide what I didn't like math anymore at eleven years old.  After watching Jenny Philip's story about how her daughter was so influenced by the books she was reading, I began reflecting on if maybe there was an influence that caused my sudden change. 

I do think that there was a general preteen attitude which influenced my distaste for math. Although I was homeschooled, I had several friends who did not like math and whined incessantly about math whenever we were together. I also think the young adult literature I read probably influenced my attitude toward mathematics. And, finally, I think the math curriculum contributed to my distaste for mathematics. 

My mother minored in math in college; she majored in nursing. When I was a preteen, I was homeschooled and my mother did not love the math curriculum, but she really did not know much about the mathematic curricula alternatives. We used a traditional all-in-one boxed curricula where the company picked out the books and created the lesson plans. Mom tried to be excited for math, because she loved it, but the format of this particular mathematics curriculum stifled her creativity in educating. She tried to make math interesting and fun - she would put math facts to song and try to make up games. She would even race me to finish tests. 

I didn't regain my love of mathematics until I took Trigonometry in college. I started realizing that my distaste for mathematics laid in the fact that I started viewing math as uninteresting work to be done, rather than the amazing patterns and puzzles that it could unlock. Mathematics was too proscripted - every lesson was the same. It did not have to be that way. Math could be amazing again. 

I have been teaching mathematics in private courses through Schole Academy this spring, primarily to the age that the wonder of mathematics began to fade for myself. I enjoy this level of mathematics today, and it is hard to believe that I ever disliked math.  I hope that I can help unlock the wonder of mathematics for my students. 

This fall, I will be teaching Fundamentals of Mathematics and Pre-Algebra for Schole Academy.  I am incredibly excited for this opportunity. One of the marks of Schole Academy is restful learning - which is probably the most exciting, and challenging, part of this - the balance between active course instruction and instilling a sense of wonder. 

In addition to the two math courses, I will be teaching a grammar course and a science course.  Yes - I will have four preps. This will be be a busy year!

Why Some Catholic Women Veil

 I have a friend who likes to call me a rad trad because I exclusively attend the Traditional Latin Mass at a FSSP parish. I disagree with that statement "rad trad" because, to me at least, most "rad trads" are reactionaries. I do not define myself as a reactionary - I am not here in reaction. I am here because this is how I can worship God in a way that reflects His glory. 

But, I digress.  My friend likes to ask me questions that a "rad trad" might know the answer to. Such as, "what are your opinions on the chapel veil?" 

When I received that text, I hesitated. I was not in the mood to have this conversation today. I have three little kids (5, 3, and almost 2). My 3 year old has dropped her nap, so I have lost my middle of the day moment of peace. I did not want to have this conversation. So I answered, "They are lovely, but I find them impractical with little kids and prefer to wear a snood. Plus, a snood is culturally appropriate for my heritage." 

I knew very well that she wanted a philosophical answer, but I gave her a practical answer with the hope that she would get on tangent - even if for a moment. 

She didn't take my hint, and clarified, "I meant, do you veil as an act of submission?" And, reading her text, I sighed. Six years ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity to share why I veil, but today, I am just trying to survive toddlerhood. I pondered. I paused. I checked my sources. Then, I started my long, long text message answer. 

For context, my friend is a Catholic convert from a fundamentalist Christian background. She knows the New Testament from that perspective well. And, this is not always beneficial because fundamentalist sometimes overlook the literary perspective. Many will look into the niche historical context for areas of dissent in their communities. I am not against interpreting the Bible from a literal perspective when it is appropriate, but I caution here: Our Lord taught in signs and parables and the Faith He gave to the apostles is rich in signs and parables. 

So, my text message answer included most of the following, developed here in paragraph form with the addition of important context, such as the passage from 1 Corinthians, for clarity. 

Often the question of veiling is met with a passage from 1 Corinthians, 11:1-15, from the Knox translation: 

1

 

Follow my example, then, as I follow the example of Christ.

2

 

I must needs praise you for your constant memory of me, for upholding your traditions just as I handed them on to you.

3

 

And here is something you must know. The head to which a wife is united is her husband, just as the head to which every man is united is Christ; so, too, the head to which Christ is united is God.

4

 

And whereas any man who keeps his head covered when he prays or utters prophecy brings shame upon his head,

5

 

a woman brings shame upon her head if she uncovers it to pray or prophesy; she is no better than the woman who has her head shaved.*

6

 

If a woman would go without a veil, why does she not cut her hair short too? If she admits that a woman is disgraced when her hair is cut short or shaved, then let her go veiled.

7

 

A man has no need to veil his head; he is God’s image, the pride of his creation, whereas the wife is the pride of her husband.

8

 

(The woman takes her origin from the man, not the man from the woman;

9

 

and indeed, it was not man that was created for woman’s sake, but woman for man’s.)

10

 

And for that reason the woman ought to have authority over her head, for the angels’ sake.

11

 

(Not that, in the Lord’s service, man has his place apart from woman, or woman hers apart from man;

12

 

if woman takes her origin from man, man equally comes to birth through woman. And indeed all things have their origin in God.)

13

 

Judge for yourselves; is it fitting that a woman should offer prayer to God unveiled?

14

 

Does not nature itself teach you that, whereas it is a disgrace to a man to wear his hair long,

15

 

when a woman grows her hair long, it is an added grace to her? That is because her hair has been given her to take the place of a veil.

*I know that it is popular among some to discredit this admonishment because of the practices of prostitution at the time. We should be careful not to overly rely on such explanations. Addressing specifically this passage, I have heard fundamentalist Christian arguments for and against veiling that focused in on the culture in Corinth. I think it is important to note that St. Paul is talking about how the worship of God, what is know as liturgy, is to be conducted. He is not only speaking about the Corinthians, but of all. 

The passage above is not talking about the relationship between spouses or demeaning the place of women. The passage is talking about divine worship in general. The liturgy, and the faith, is all about signs - remember, the Church celebrates mysteries and sacraments. Veiling is not about submission to the authority of man, but to subdue the glory of man. 

Men are the glory of God. God created man out of his desire to show his Goodness. When man fell from grace, God became Man. The God-Man offered Himself as a sacrificial victim for the remission of sins. The God-Man established the True Faith and divine worship which he passed to men to safeguard. When much is given, much is expected. Men are called to reflect Jesus Christ in this duty and responsibility, even if they are called to lay down their lives. In the liturgy, it is God's glory which is being acknowledged. 

Woman was created for man. Woman is the most precious reflection of man, though having souls sharing in the image and likeness of God. Woman is the glory of man; man is the glory of God. All women are called to be physically or spiritually brides. They were created as brides, and fulfill their nature as brides. Veiling does twofold: 1) it subdues the glory of man; while, 2) serving as a reminder of the relationship between God and the Church, the Bridegroom and the Bride, and the communion of the soul with God. 

It should be noted that the “rules” for veiling is that women and girls should be veiled in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, regardless of if there is/will be Mass. This has very little to do with being submissive to a man or under the authority of a man. It has more to do with the visual of Christ as the Bridegroom. 

But, also:

-There are thousands of years of recorded history across cultures especially related to worship, even pagan women veiled
-A practice in modesty and humility as these virtues are defined by the Church (not colloquial usage). That is related to your state in life and focused toward God (rather than man). 
-Veiling is part of the larger liturgical tradition of the Church for 2000+ years. Other things, aside from women, are also veiled during the liturgy. 
-Veiling, like MANY other things in the Catholic tradition, is more about an outward sign of a spiritual reality or internal disposition.
-Veiling also recognizes that men and women are different by supernatural design, and we have different roles, challenges, and opportunities for merit. 
-Some contemplative nuns use veils as a way to reduce distractions. They wear veils to create their own little world where they can pray without something distracting them from just beyond their field of vision. This is not as practical for mothers. 

And a fun bonus:

-If you haven’t gotten a chance to do your hair because you just got a bazillion people ready for church, a hat or scarf or something is a life saver. 

Ascension Thursday

 The feast of the Ascension is celebrated forty days after the Resurrection.  The Ascension took place on the Mount of Olives with the Apostles and many of the Disciples present. Our Lord ascended into Heaven, body and soul, in full glory. 

	Theme	Lessons	Scripture	Craft	Ideas
In Ascensione Domini	The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven	My Catholic Faith Book: Lesson 37 (pg. 74-75) The Ascension	Mark 16:14-20	The Ascension Pull Craft from the Catholic Playground	Around the Liturgical Year with the Von Trapp Family (pg. 120-122) describes what the Von Trapp Family did in the Novena, or Nine Days, between the Ascension and Pentecost.

The Ascension is remembered in the sixth article of the Apostles' Creed. Christ ascended into heaven to enter into His Glory, to send the Holy Ghost upon His Church, to serve as the intercessor with the Father, and to prepare a place for us in Heaven (My Catholic Faith, pg. 75). After the ascension took place, the first novena, or nine days of prayer, was completed by the Apostles. While waiting for the descent of the Holy Ghost, the apostles prayed.  We can imitate their prayers by living a novena of prayer of study. 

One such novena is discussed in the book, Around the Liturgical Year with the Von Trapp Family, where the family studied the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost. The links below will lead you to sections of the Summa or other sources for further study. 

Day 1. Knowledge

Day 2. Understanding

Day 3. Counsel

Day 4. Fortitude 

Day 5. Piety

Day 6. Fear of the Lord

Day 7. Wisdom

Day 8. Love, Peace, Joy (see Gal. 5:22-23)

Day 9. Meditation on the Veni, Sancte Spiritus and the Veni, Creator Spiritus

An Appeal of Unity

 Some may attempt to reduce the alleged attachment of the faithful to the older liturgies, including the liturgy according to the 1962 Missal and the Unreformed Holy Week in the pre-1955 books, as being purely preference or sentimentality. This can be a dangerously unpastoral and unfair basis for an argument. This can also be vastly inaccurate. 

For argument’s sake, let us say it is merely a strong preference. As a general rule, in educated and polite society, legitimate preferences should be respected. As people, we are full of likes and dislikes. We have a plentitude of preferences that we would prefer to have respected. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, there are preferences. Should not our preference in liturgy be respected and even celebrated?

There is a claim that the reason for these restrictions and instructions on the Latin Mass and older forms of the Roman Liturgy is to promote unity within the Church. This, again, seems to be a dangerous precedent. The Church has members of every nation, culture, nationality, and ethnicity. The Church, by the commission of her Divine Head, is diverse. The Body is diverse, but unified under one head, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The legitimate diversity in the Church should be amplified, as the legitimate diversity of the organs in a human body. Even within the Roman Church, there should be legitimate diversity in the use of the traditional rites of the Church, the traditional religious rites of the Church, and local customs. 

There are different people who have different needs. It can be hard to recognize the needs of others when we are so contented within our own lives, or so focused on meeting our own needs. The Church has historically recognized the diverse spiritual needs of the flock, and therefore allowed for legitimate diversity in spiritual practices. The Novus Ordo Missae is often compared to a banquet feast where everyone is welcome at the table. This is a lovely description of the Mass, to be sure, but it is not suited to the needs of all people. The Mass is more than a banquet, but the focus on the Last and Eternal Supper is appealing to some people.  It may not be as appealing to others.  There are others who may yearn for the silence and somber reality of being placed at the foot of the Cross. There are still others who desire to be part of something that doesn’t require them, yet draws them in. 

There are different kinds of museums. There are the museums where people can touch and manipulate the exhibits. These museums are delightful, but they rely on the ingenuity of the viewer for full appreciation of the exhibits. The Novus Ordo Missae is like these interactive museums. Then, there are museums which hold exhibits not to be touched. These museums are carefully curated and hold pieces with objectivity. They do not require interaction to be beautiful, they simply require witness. The older forms of the Roman liturgy are like these museums. 

The Mass is often compared to a marriage feast. There are different kinds of weddings. There are the weddings where the guests are included in an integral manner throughout the ceremony and reception. They are encouraged to show their love and support for the new union in a very public way. The focus is on the community with the new couple. The Novus Ordo Missae is like a wedding where all the guests have a role in making the wedding special. There are also those weddings where the guests are called upon to bear witness to the union of the couple in a more solemn way. The couple exchange vows and the wedding is focused on them, rather than on the community with them. The guests are legal witnesses that can attest that the wedding did, indeed, take place. And, they witness the beautiful ceremonies that the couple has chosen to participate. This is like the older liturgies of the Roman Church. 

These analogies serve as examples for legitimate variance. It is hard to argue that one kind of museum should not exist in favor of the other. It is hard to argue that one kind wedding should exist in favor of another. The Novus Ordo Missae is welcoming by design. The older ceremonies are alluring, but not welcoming in the same sense. The Novus Ordo Missae needs the active participation of the people in a way that the older forms of the Liturgy do not. The Novus Ordo Missae can be prayed beautifully. The older forms of the Roman eliminate the human error to some degree. As long as the priest follows the rubrics and the perennial customs of the Church, it is done beautiful. Where the Novus Ordo Missae invites, the older forms allure. Where the Novus Ordo Missae draws up the sentiments of the people, the older forms transcend human sentiments. Where the Novus Ordo Missae focuses on the unity of the Church praying together, the older forms focus on the unifying blood of Christ, split for the salvation of souls. 

The attachment that some have to the older forms of the Mass are more than mere preference to bells and incense. There is not an inordinate love of Latin that brings us into the Mass. It is not a distaste for the Novus Ordo. It is not a decisive or subverted intention. It is an expression of legitimate spirituality where we bear witness to the august majesty of God. We worship not as King David dancing before the tabernacle, but as St. John at the foot of the Cross. To deny us the ability to worship God in this way, which has been a historically proper way to worship for over a millennia, is to deny the Church part of her patrimony and part of her rich heritage. To deny us the wholeness and richness of the unreformed liturgies during Holy Week does not promote unity in the Church. It suppresses the very expression of unity we wish to contribute to the Church. 

Please do not deny us of our heritage. Please do not deny us of our liturgical expression of our spirituality. Please do not say this is for the unity of the Church. Please do not say it is for our own good. We simply wish to serve as a witness at the foot of the Cross, as did our fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers, for generations before us. We want to be unified with the whole Church, past and present and future. Please, allow us to lift up our hearts in this way. And, remember, we will continue to pray for you. 

Impiety and Modern Education

Among our niche traditional Catholic parish, most children are homeschooled either independently or in a co-op. Some families send their children to a private school or a classical charter school. Very few children attend the public school. Education of children is something taken seriously in these circles. Where a child attends school is a topic which dominates the thoughts and conversations for parents as they navigate educating their children well. 

Out of the families, many of the parents were sent to the public school. And, sadly, one or both have reasons from their own school experiences that they do not want to send their own children to public school. That, paired with the news of education as a place of experimentation for concepts such as critical race theory or sexual education without proper parental consent, and parents do not trust public schools. 

The experimentation in school systems is why my parents pulled me from school nearly twenty-five years ago. The school gained consent from my parents to show a puppet show during the red ribbon week specials. What was not disclosed in the permission slip was a presentation on sexual abuse. 

Teachers and schools have children for a good portion of the day and they influence the thoughts and behaviors of children. This hesitation of parents to allow a stranger to influence the mind and heart of their children is not misplaced. We should never simply trust someone. Children are vulnerable and need their parents to protect them from people and situations that could harm them. 

We homeschool our children in order to keep them as innocent as possible for as long as possible. And, to help guide them once they become aware of the greater world around them. We hope to prepare them with the tools so that someday, when they are old enough, they can make moral decisions on their own. 

Some people are surprised, then, that my husband is a public school teacher. The fact that we homeschool. The fact that we live a quiet, conservative life. The fact that I am a stay at home mother. All these things seem strange when paired with my husband teaching public school. Some ask how he can stand working for the liberals with their agendas. Something he says is that his bosses are not educators. They are administrators. And, most of them do not care what he teaches in his classes as long as benchmarks are being met. This is good for him, but not as great on a whole. Other teachers enjoy the same privilege and other teachers may not be as disciplined as my husband. 

Today, I was reading The Liberal Arts Tradition by Kevin Wayne Clark and Ravi Scott Jain. I only just began reading this book, and in the first part I identified the problem with education today that many of our peers have trouble articulating. Modern education is impious. In the book, Clark and Jain define piety broadly to include the rightful orderliness of sentiment, love, and respect for God and man. They define this by means of examples from ancient practices. Piety encapsulated the love and respect for man and culture. 

For the most part, the education system involves attempts at relevance for today's culture. It is not the attempt to provide the torch of tradition. There are some schools and some teachers who still teach history and culture in a way to pass on the torch, sure. But, much of the instruction in our schools today is aimed at being relevant, increasing test scores on a national and international level, and creating students able to enter the workforce. Education in the education is more about skill building than wonder. It is more about relevance than tradition. It is more about exposure than mastery.