And A Belated Happy New Year to You, Too.

Yes, I have changed the title yet again. Sue me. *laughs*

I changed it originally so that I would not compete with THIS site, which needs the hits much more than I ever will. I see it needs updating, but even so, definitely higher priority there.

Then, also, I think it will change as my journey continues to meander. In the last formation session, we were talking about the letters of St Clare, specifically those with Agnes of Bohemia, and talking about the change in the tone and familiarity over the course of the letters left to us 800 years later. "Forma Vivendi" means "form of life," which wasn't a bad idea to convey in a title. However, I was reading the text of Pope Alexander IV's Bull canonizing St Clare at this site, and I was just entranced by the opening text: "CLARA CLARIS PRAECLARA meritis"--Clare outstandingly clear with clear merits. And, in the way things happen sometimes, I knew that I had finally stumbled across the working title for my blathering spot. And it is my site email too... so it worked out perfectly.

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If you look back to my disappointment in Confirmation preparation and materials for my niece last year, you know how I feel about the touchy-feely, politically correct campiness of some programs. I am happy to say that the catechism program I teach in is not anything like the disaster I attended last year.

I was encouraged when skimming through the confirmation workbook this weekend, and noted with much pleasure that there were questions that could have read right out of the Baltimore Catechism. There was also much less fluff. It was still goofy and the artwork is dorky, but hey, I'll take the victories where I can find them.

I am also encouraged by the range of Saints' names that are being chosen by the kids when they turned in their Confirmation saint essays. A Mary, a Cecilia, an Edward, a couple of Johns of various origins, a Margaret, two Ann(e)s that I saw, a Joseph, a Thomas, a Magdalen, a Patrick... unlike the apparent plethora of Francises that happens as it's a constant favorite subject of the pastor in past years. Mind you, I don't mind Francis at all... but it tends to be a default name to pick. There were some great explanations why they picked the saint they did. It's a good group of kids, all 110 or so of them (No, that's not a typo).

This program encourages the kids to pick a saint's name for Confirmation, which I think is a good thing. Yeah, I know about the argument that they should pick their baptismal name to tie back to that sacrament, but in a world increasingly leaning to Jaden/Madison/McKenzie/Neveah and all that crap, well, it's good to have an option, and at this rate, they'll have to make it mandatory. There is no Saint Addison or Blessed Kaden. Besides, it exposes them to the history of the Church, especially when you have about 80 minutes (usually less) to get the point across.

I am fortunate to have a great group of 6th graders. Of course, when you lay down the law from day one, you tend not to have any problems. But they're good kids anyway.

One thing that made me VERY happy about this program is that last week, we had "Excavating the Church Night"--keeping with the theme of the Indiana Jones-ish flavor of the program. Class was in the Church proper. There were 8 stations (not in their order):

1) Altar/Tabernacle: I loved the "expert" who said more than once, "we
always say hello to Jesus by bowing or genuflecting." She won my heart when she
said that anytime you pass a Catholic church anywhere in the world, even if you
pass in a car, to bow as you pass. My mother taught me to bless myself as I
pass, so I *heart* this woman for saying it.
2) Baptistry/Oils - went over the font and the full immersion, the Easter
candle, and the three oils displayed prominently on the wall: chrism oil, oil of
the sick, and oil of catechumens
3) Divine Mercy Shrine - this was the one that involved the kids the least.
The "expert" was the mother of one of my kids, and she read straight from the
paper. They were disengaged and bored. It was unfortunate.
4) the stained glass windows - an eighth grader with quite a presence
presented this, and did wonderfully. I was startled when he said, "It's rude to
cut across pews." I blinked at him.
5) Statues - very well done, the kids got it and appreciated it.
6) Deal or No Deal: Reverence - it was a good talk about how to behave and
dress at Mass.
7) Sacramentals: sign of the cross, genuflecting, etc. This was a little
dull but the kids got it.
8) Confessional - this was a surprising success. It had a good, engaging
"expert," and the kids' knowledge was actually pretty good. I'm certain none of
them have stepped foot in the Confessional since their First Communion though.
*laugh*

I wish that the RCIA program my husband and I had been in had done something like this. Things would have been clearer for TJ and a refresher for me, and definitely a benefit for everyone in the program.

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Christmas was a mixed bag. Christmas Eve was ruined by my older brother's temper tantrum when TJ wouldn't cave in to his bullying. Christmas Day was nice and relaxing--wait, isn't it going against the history of the world to say that I had to go to my in-laws to relax? Ummm...

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Wishing for blessings and all the best in this new year of 2007!