Forming Our Youth continued: Catholic Dating

Each month we've been highlighting a virtue related to the Forming Our Youth marriage-building parish building block.  We must form young people in the beliefs and virtues necessary for healthy relationships.  A recent article "A Parent's Guide to Courtship: Tips for Holy Catholic Dating" by Lori Hadacek Chaplin was featured in the June 2-15 edition of the National Catholic Register.

Chaplin writes that "From personal experience, I don’t regard the kind of dating where some guy comes by to take my daughter out for several hours on a Friday or Saturday night conducive to her earthly happiness and well-being — or the happiness of her eternal soul."

Chaplin further outlines:

• The Problem with Dating: "The modern dating scene sets our sons and daughters up for repeated emotional pain, all in the name of casual fun or entertainment."
• Dating vs. Courtship: "Before the advent of the car, couples got to know each other in the context of their family circles, otherwise known as courting. There was a measure of seriousness involved because couples were trying to discern marriage."
• Marriage in Mind: "Begin a relationship with the end in mind."

Chaplin's closing advice suggests that "Parents once again need to take an active role in helping their children choose a suitable spouse and to provide safeguards to protect their children’s virtue and their future happiness."  > Read the full article

What do you think?  Share your thoughts and links to other articles on the same topic.  

Forming Our Youth: Moderation

Forming Our Youth:
a Marriage-Building Parish Building Block

We must form young people in the beliefs and virtues necessary for healthy relationships. > Read more about this building block

As part of the Marriage Building Parish initiative, the Catholic Family Institute, with permission from Four Court Press LTD, will feature excerpts from Mr. Isaac’s book each month in the bulletin and on this blog.


Character Building: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by David Isaacs

In his book, Mr. Isaacs explores twenty-four virtues we should develop to have more “self-mastery and better serve others,” abilities we all hope our children will have.  Recognizing that the example we set leaves a more lasting impression on our children than the words we say, each chapter includes a description of a virtue and a series of questions that help assess how well you are living that virtue and how well you are helping to develop the virtue in children/students.

This month's featured virtue is Moderation.

People who are Moderate distinguish between what is reasonable and what is self-indulgent. They are able to enjoy life, and the good things in life, but they do not live for pleasure alone. They use their senses, time, money, and efforts in service to God and others. A moderate person recognizes that true, deep satisfaction is gained by pursuing high ideals and a Godly life, and that the pleasures of the flesh and the world are superficial and will always leave one wanting more. Moderation should be lived with joy, keeping one’s spirit lifted always to God.

Answer the following questions and discuss your reflections with a spouse/friend.

Am I Moderate?

• Am I conscious of the fact that as a Christian I should put all that I own– my time, my possessions, my efforts, my money and my senses– to the best use, to help others and to serve God?
• When I eat or drink or spend time on a hobby, do I always try to finish wanting a bit more?
• Do I find a harmonious way for spending my time on family, on my work, with my friends, on my duties as a citizen and as a child of God, without exaggeration and without falling short?
• Am I tied to one particular possession, or any particular routine, or any specific activity? Do I get upset when I can’t use that possession, or the routine is broken or when I cannot do that activity?

Do I Teach Others to Be Moderate?

• Do I help the children distinguish between what is necessary and what is superfluous; between what is reasonable and what is just a whim?
• Do I teach children what money is worth? Do I teach them how to earn, save and spend their money? Do I help the children have good taste, not necessarily buying the cheapest thing, but to spend money wisely, and to enjoy their possessions reasonably?
• Do I try to get the children to control their basic appetites? Do I insist on self-control?
• Do I teach the children to harmoniously distribute their time and make good use of it? Or, do I allow them to have a disproportionate amount of time watching television, playing video games or pursuing some other hobby?

Please share your thoughts and comments.

Couple Prayer: In Defense of Marriage

http://www.marriageuniqueforareason.org/

USCCB: Prayer in Defense of Marriage

God our Father,
we give you thanks for the gift of marriage:
the bond of life and love, and the font of the family.

The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children,
fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service,
and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church.

The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother.
May your Son, through the intercession of Mary,
pour out upon us a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
as we join with all people of good will
to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage.

May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society
to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife,
and guide our leaders to sustain and protect
the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children.

Father, we ask that our prayers be joined to those of the Virgin Mary,
that your Word may transform our service
so as to safeguard the incomparable splendor of marriage.
We ask all these things through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.

En Español

Upcoming:
2013 Fortnight for Freedom: June 21 to July 4
The U.S. bishops have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer and action, to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate; Supreme Court rulings that could redefine marriage in June, and religious liberty concerns in areas such as immigration and humanitarian services.