Homilies about children

How to Keep Your Kids Catholic: A Father of 11 Shares His Secrets

Tom Britain shares a deeply personal and practical roadmap for raising children who remain active in the Catholic faith, drawing from his experience as a father of eleven. He identifies modern challenges like unprecedented freedom and material comfort while offering five specific pillars: personal parental conversion, intentional Catholic friendships, family unity through shared non-religious passions, simple non-negotiable rules, and the importance of faithful higher education.

Untie Him: Finding Hope After the Loss of a Child

The preacher reflects on the raising of Lazarus, connecting the command to 'untie him' with the Lenten call to be freed from the burdens of sin. He shares a deeply personal story about purchasing family cemetery plots years before the unexpected illness and death of his young daughter, Mary, offering a witness of hope in the face of grief.

El Dolor de Perder un Hijo: Una Reflexión sobre el Bullying y la Esperanza

Salvador Añen Nuevo

Reflecting on the resurrection of Lazarus, the priest addresses the painful 'contradiction' of parents having to bury their children. He specifically commemorates a local youth who died by suicide due to bullying, calling on parents, teachers, and students to take active responsibility in protecting children's lives.

Fr. Fritzner: Why Doing Good Can Sometimes Get You Burned

Fr. Fritzner

In this school Mass homily, the priest uses a dialogue with students to explore Jesus' identity as the Son of God and our shared identity as God's children. He uses the analogy of getting burned while cooking to explain that doing good works does not exempt us from suffering or opposition, but we must persevere in our mission regardless. He emphasizes that because we are followers of Christ, we should expect to face the same challenges He did while remaining proud of our divine heritage.

El Rol Esencial del Padre en la Formación Afectiva y Espiritual de los Hijos

This is not a homily from a Mass, but rather a talk or conference titled "The Role of the Father in the Affective Formation of Children" by Dr. Marcos Randle. The speaker, a psychologist, shares insights on the crucial role of fathers in their children's identity, security, autonomy, sexual development, and faith transmission. He emphasizes the importance of a father's active presence, moral authority, and loving example, particularly through his relationship with his wife.

Padre Gerardo: Cómo Liberar a Nuestros Jóvenes de la 'Cultura de la Muerte'

Padre Gerardo

Father Gerardo uses the raising of Lazarus to challenge the congregation on whether they truly believe in Christ's power to give new life. He utilizes a visual demonstration with youth to contrast the 'culture of death' with the Church's mission to liberate those enslaved by isolation and digital addiction.

When a Life is Too Short: Finding Hope in the 'Why'

The priest addresses the profound shock and 'why' of a young, vibrant life cut short, validating that even Jesus and King David questioned God in times of trouble. He emphasizes that for a child of God like Amanda, death is a passage to being held in God's hands rather than a conclusion. The message focuses on the 'childlike faith' Amanda embodied and the promise that love is stronger than death.

Dr. Marcos Randle: Positive Education for Raising Holy Children

Dr. Marcos Randle

This is not a homily from a Mass, but rather a lecture on "Positive Education" for parents, delivered by Dr. Marcos Randle. The speaker emphasizes that the ultimate goal of Catholic parenting is to lead children to holiness, focusing on three key areas: affections, will, and intelligence. He highlights the importance of a strong marital bond (conyugalidad), setting clear educational goals, fostering optimism, teaching children to handle suffering and mistakes, and cultivating virtues through faith and sacramental life within the domestic church.

Jesús Llora Contigo: El Dios que Siente tu Dolor

The priest shares a touching personal story about his young niece's first confession to illustrate that God is never too distant to hear us. He connects the raising of Lazarus to the reality of human suffering, emphasizing that because Jesus wept, we can be certain that God intimately understands and shares in our pain.

Cracking the Shell of Death: Fr. Ethan on Who Jesus Really Is

Father Ethan

Fr. Ethan engages the students by using the school's new chicks and Easter eggs as metaphors for Christ cracking the shell of death to bring new life. Through an interactive Q&A with the children, he explores the identity of Jesus as both human and the eternal 'I Am' who understands every stage of their lives.

What Does God See When He Looks at You?

The priest reflects on the Gospel of John, emphasizing that God's ultimate desire is to share His divine life with humanity, effectively 'making us gods' through grace. He addresses the modern crisis of self-worth among young people, sharing his practice of assigning a penance where they must sit in silence and ask God what He sees when He looks at them.

You Are Never Too Young to Be a Saint

Fr. Grant

Fr. Grant uses a childhood story about his broad bedtime prayers to connect with the children in the congregation, highlighting the purity of childlike faith. He explains that Mary was only 14 years old at the Annunciation, illustrating how God consistently chooses the young and innocent to restore humanity to glory.

The Miracle on the Hudson and Keeping Jesus' Word

Father John

Using the 'Miracle on the Hudson' as a central metaphor, the priest explains that keeping God's word is a matter of safety and trust, much like a pilot's commitment to his passengers. He engages the children in a dialogue about accountability and obedience, concluding that Jesus' love is the ultimate guarantee of our safety for all time.

A New Saint in Heaven: Finding Hope After the Loss of a Baby

This homily addresses the profound grief of losing an infant, 'Baby Delton,' while offering the theological consolation that he is a 'new saint in heaven.' The priest emphasizes that because the child was baptized and incapable of personal sin, the Mass is less about purification and more about thanking God for a life that was 'truly and perfectly just.'

A 4th Grader's Sacrifice and the Love of Christ

Fr. Joseph Brickner

Fr. Joseph Brickner contrasts the two responses to Jesus in the Gospel: those who pick up stones to kill him and those who open themselves to salvation. He illustrates the radical, self-sacrificial love of Christ through a moving story of a fourth-grade boy who was willing to die to give his sister a blood transfusion.

God’s Plan Unfolds Slowly: Lessons from a Fifth Grade Classroom

Using the growth of school children and the construction of a new rectory as metaphors, the priest illustrates how God's promises unfold gradually over time. He emphasizes that even when things seem dark or 'covered up' like the Lenten statues, Christ remains present as Emmanuel, 'God with us.'

Is God's Name Actually 'Harold'?

Fr. Eugene William Schaefer III

Fr. Gene Schaefer uses a humorous childhood story about his mother using his full name to illustrate the power of naming and identity. He explains the significance of Jesus claiming the divine name 'I AM,' showing that Jesus is not just a teacher but the same God who created the world and knows each person by name.

The Five-Year-Old Who Was Ready to Die for His Sister

The priest emphasizes the reciprocal nature of God's kingdom, where the mercy and love we extend to others are what we receive in return. He illustrates this through a moving story of a five-year-old boy who was willing to die to give his sister a life-saving blood transfusion, modeling the sacrificial love Christ demands.

One, Two, Three: Helping Jesus Up with Msgr. Dan Mayall

Msgr. Dan Mayall

Msgr. Dan Mayall shares a touching account of leading preschool and kindergarten students through the Stations of the Cross, translating the Passion into simple concepts like 'helping Jesus up' and 'giving him a coat.' He encourages the congregation to find similar child-like simplicity in their own Lenten devotions as Good Friday approaches.

Fr. Jeff: God Didn't Make Pancakes to Show His Love

Fr. Jeff

Addressing a school community, the priest uses a humorous story about a failed attempt to make Mother's Day pancakes to illustrate how we show love through actions. He transitions to the upcoming Holy Week, explaining that the Crucifixion is God's ultimate 'work' to show His love for humanity, far surpassing any earthly gift.