Two Simple and Free Catechisms for Teaching the Faith
This is the sixth post of a series entitled “Teaching the Catholic Faith at Home Series.” Be sure to subscribe to receive my newsletters filles with tips and encouragement for teaching the Faith! |
When I first started homeschooling, I was bombarded with so many curricula choices I had no idea where to even begin. The consumerist culture wants you to believe that you need MORE, and you should buy and spend MORE.
Recently, I realized the beauty and simplicity of keeping our home and homeschool as simple as possible. I don’t need more curricula, books, crafts, games, or knick knacks. As I prepared our eldest daughter for her First Holy Communion 4 years ago, my prayers for simple religious instruction were answered. Today, I am going to share the best resource available for teaching the nitty gritty details of the Faith, and guess what? It’s available online for FREE!
2 Free and Simple Catechisms for Teaching the Faith: Baltimore Catechism 1 and New St. Joseph First Communion CatechismThe Catechism is a simple and effective tool for learning the faith. It’s not fancy, but I promise you that it gets the job done. There’s a reason why thousands of Catholic children were taught from this simple, little book for decades, and it’s totally making a comeback in homeschool and parish circles. There are two simple versions of the Catechism that I love for children. They are both also FREE in the public domain. My favorite catechisms for reading to and with children are the The New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism and Baltimore Catechism 1. You can read the St. Joseph’s Catechism to very young children and then they can read it to themselves in the early elementary grades. What age should children start studying the Catechism?I start reading the New St. Joseph Catechism to my children as young as 3 years old (just read the bold questions and answers at first). The St. Joseph version has pictures, and the Baltimore Catechism does not. Both are wonderful and both are in current rotation in our home. If you have older children, you can still start with these for a good foundation, and then graduate to the higher levels as they master these. Bonus Tip for ParentsLike many in my generation (any other Millennial moms out there?), I was poorly catechized. I read both of these Catechisms cover to cover on my own, and I immediately leveled up my Catholic knowledge. Highly recommend! Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.Start at the beginning, and simply read each question until memorized. If your children are old enough, you can discuss the meaning. Repetition is key! Little kids are like sponges, and you will be surprised at how fast they memorize! When they finish one level you can move them on to the next. Discuss it with them and quiz them on what they read. Use these Catechism Flashcards to help them learn their faith! You can go over them every night at dinner and discuss them as a family. Why should my kids memorize the Catechism?The Catechism questions and answers are the most basic building blocks of our faith. Children first learn the ABCs and letter sounds before learning to read. They learn numbers and how to count before adding and subtracting. When they can quickly recall the answers to the Catechism questions, they will be able to build on this their whole lives, and, eventually, defend their faith! Keep it simpleThere are so many fancy religious education programs on the market, but I always come back to the Baltimore and New St. Joseph Catechisms. They are free and will provide an excellent foundation to be built upon later. Action Step Purchase one of the catechisms mentioned above or use a public domain version online. Then, schedule a time to read the catechism with your children. Even 5 minutes a day adds up over a long time! Try to fit it in before or after a meal or with our bedtime routine. Free Liturgical Living AlertsPS Have you heard about my new Free Liturgical Living Alerts? I’m like a Liturgical Living personal assistant, and we can pray, celebrate, and fast together! Sign up to receive my reminders with simple and practical ways to celebrate and observe upcoming feasts and fasts. Book of the WeekCatechism of the Seven Sacraments by Kevin and Mary O’Neill This book is a great supplement to your traditional Catechism! |
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