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8 Ways to Celebrate the Easter Octave with your Kids

by Olivia Spears – March 26, 2025

Liturgical Life
8 Ways to Celebrate the Easter Octave with your Kids - Into the Deep

We prepare with all our heart for the Lord in Lent and we live it with our families as intentionally and prayerfully as we can, but what happens after the recessional hymn is sung at the Easter Sunday Mass and the easter baskets are given away? It is time to celebrate the Easter Octave with our kids and family!

 

How Long Does Easter Actually Last?

Easter, like Christmas, is a season, not just a one-day celebration. It comprises eight days from Easter Sunday to Divine Mercy Sunday. These glorious days after our Lord’s Resurrection are full of meaning and grace. Holy Mother Church invites us to rejoice as one Body in the victory won by Jesus on the Cross. 

Early Christians celebrated the days of Easter week with the same exuberance as on Easter Sunday and we are called to do the same. In fact, the entire Easter season lasts until Pentecost. 

Let’s rediscover with our families the profound meaning of this season directing them to the saving Heart of Jesus. I wrote an Easter Octave unit that will help you do just that, immersing them in the Eastertide through the beauty of Scripture, prayer, sacred art and music.

 

Making Easter Meaningful

We have some activities at home that my children look forward to during the Easter Season. These are only my suggestions. You don’t have to do them all! Let the Holy Spirit be your guide on the path of liturgical living this Easter Octave. Choose those that resonate with you and that speak to your little one's hearts and minds.


1.  Make your own Pascal candle with a DIY kit and lit it up during dinner time.

 

2. Bring back the Christian meaning of the Easter Egg and share it with your children.

 

3. Organize Easter egg hunts with family and friends.

 

4. Prepare a special meal or dessert every day of the Octave (invite friends over if possible).

 

5. Sing an Easter Hymn before dinner every night.

 

6. Easter and poetry read alouds in the backyard.

 

7. Make a pilgrimage to a Basilica or Shrine as a family.

 

8. Visit a nursing home with your family.


Filling your Mom’s Heart with Easter Joy


I like to think that, as moms, we are little Mary Magdalene’s during the Easter season. We are the ones that bring our risen Lord’s joy to our family daily. Remember to nurture your heart specially during these eight days dedicated to Jesus' victorious Resurrection.

Make the most of your Morning Time with our Lectio Divina Journal or embrace the power of the Rosary during the first hours of your day. Plan to go to Eucharistic Adoration once a week, it will fill your heart with the grace you need to serve and share the beauty of this season your family.

 

Do you have any Easter traditions at home? Share them with us in the comments below.

 


Ready to dive deeper? 

Here are 4 ways to fill your nets... 


📖 1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses
🥖 2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how.
🕯️ 3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you.
✏️ 4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!

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*This is a Digital Product*An 8-day Easter study for the whole family.  The Easter Octave is is the 8 days from Easter Sunday-Divine Mercy Sunday. Traditionally, the Church liturgy celebrates each of these days with the solemnity of Easter Day. It's time to rejoice! This study is a doable, beautiful, deep, grab-and-go resource to celebrate these days as a family. This study includes: Simple ideas for setting the atmosphere of your home An Easter picture book list A reflection for each day, highlighting the liturgy of the Church A buffet of traditional prayers, hymns, history, liturgical events, poems, art, picture books, copywork, coloring pages, activities, recipes, and handcrafts for you to pick-and-choose from The ability to reuse the study, year after year!  We hope this resource helps your family build deeply-Catholic Easter traditions for years to come!    Designed and Illustrated by Katelyn Major.

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A Lamp & A Light: A Lectio Divina Journal for Women {PRE - ORDER} - Into the Deep

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Women who soak in Scripture live differently.  God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us forward one step at a time (see Psalm 119:105).  The Saints understood this, and it's why their writings overflow with Bible verses they have contemplated over and over.  The Church invites us to do the same. This journal helps.  Lectio divina is an ancient practice rooted in the early Church. The purpose is to pray with Scripture, allowing the Lord to speak to us through His Word. This is the method of Bible reading employed by Saints throughout the history of the Church! What to Expect: We made this lectio divina journal for all Catholic women. Go at your own pace. Each spread walks you through the four movements of lectio divina: Lectio (Reading) Meditatio (Meditation) Oratio (Prayer) Contemplatio (Contemplation) With intentional, repetitive prompting questions, you will build the habit of prayerful reflection on the Word of God. We provide 40 carefully-selected Scripture passages that engage the imagination and lend themselves well to this prayer. Then, we leave you 40 blank pages where you can select your own Scripture passage with which to pray (the daily Mass readings are a great place to start)! The journal has: Hard, linen cover with gold foil Satin ribbon for marking your place Thick interior pages that stand up to pens and highlighters Our hope is that this journal will help open our minds and hearts even more fully to God and that He will continue to transform our hearts by the light of His Word! Want one for your child, too? Check out our bundle!   Design by Katelyn Major.

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Easter Octave Study - Into the Deep

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*This is a Digital Product*An 8-day Easter study for the whole family.  The Easter Octave is is the 8 days from Easter Sunday-Divine Mercy Sunday. Traditionally, the Church liturgy celebrates each of these days with the solemnity of Easter Day. It's time to rejoice! This study is a doable, beautiful, deep, grab-and-go resource to celebrate these days as a family. This study includes: Simple ideas for setting the atmosphere of your home An Easter picture book list A reflection for each day, highlighting the liturgy of the Church A buffet of traditional prayers, hymns, history, liturgical events, poems, art, picture books, copywork, coloring pages, activities, recipes, and handcrafts for you to pick-and-choose from The ability to reuse the study, year after year!  We hope this resource helps your family build deeply-Catholic Easter traditions for years to come!    Designed and Illustrated by Katelyn Major.

$25.00
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A Lamp & A Light: A Lectio Divina Journal for Women {PRE - ORDER} - Into the Deep

A Lamp & A Light: A Lectio Divina Journal for Women

Women who soak in Scripture live differently.  God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us forward one step at a time (see Psalm 119:105).  The Saints understood this, and it's why their writings overflow with Bible verses they have contemplated over and over.  The Church invites us to do the same. This journal helps.  Lectio divina is an ancient practice rooted in the early Church. The purpose is to pray with Scripture, allowing the Lord to speak to us through His Word. This is the method of Bible reading employed by Saints throughout the history of the Church! What to Expect: We made this lectio divina journal for all Catholic women. Go at your own pace. Each spread walks you through the four movements of lectio divina: Lectio (Reading) Meditatio (Meditation) Oratio (Prayer) Contemplatio (Contemplation) With intentional, repetitive prompting questions, you will build the habit of prayerful reflection on the Word of God. We provide 40 carefully-selected Scripture passages that engage the imagination and lend themselves well to this prayer. Then, we leave you 40 blank pages where you can select your own Scripture passage with which to pray (the daily Mass readings are a great place to start)! The journal has: Hard, linen cover with gold foil Satin ribbon for marking your place Thick interior pages that stand up to pens and highlighters Our hope is that this journal will help open our minds and hearts even more fully to God and that He will continue to transform our hearts by the light of His Word! Want one for your child, too? Check out our bundle!   Design by Katelyn Major.

From $19.00
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Liturgical Life

by Olivia Spears – March 26, 2025

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Character Building I have some perfectionistic students (no idea where they got that 😬), so we are working on growth mindset with Mistakes that Worked.We will also be reading through A Book of Golden Deeds.In the spring semester, we will revisit Connoisseur Kids. We used it this year and it was a roaring success, so the kids want to go through it again! Artist Each year, we study two artists. In the fall we will study Van Eyck and use the picture studies from Simply Charlotte Mason. In the spring, we will deep dive Michelangelo. I'm pumped. We will use SCM's picture studies, along with The Stone Giant, Michelangelo for Kids, Mike Venezia's Michelangelo, and a giant coffee table book of his complete works. Composer As with the artists, I select two composers to study each year. In the fall, we will study Handel and, in the spring, Paganini.I'm an Opal Wheeler fan girl, so I just use her books. Mike Venezia has a book on Handel, too, so we will use that as well. 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Blog – by Olivia Spears

Building Their Lives on the Liturgical Year

“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.” - Charlotte Mason  Order is something we all strive to have in our lives. It makes the world go ‘round and helps create a sense of security throughout childhood and adulthood. Maintaining a smooth, rhythmic schedule aids your child in more ways than you can count. Having a rhythmic home life is good for the body, but having a rhythmic liturgical life is good for the soul.  The Faith isn't simply meant to be learned; it's meant to be lived. Things such as reading about the lives of Saints and understanding the seasons of the Church can be done during any time of day, not only during religion class. Leaning on the liturgical year provides a structure in your children's lives that can accompany them into adulthood. How Living the Liturgical Year Now Impacts their Future as Catholics An impactful way to help children as the next generation of Catholics is having structure built within their spiritual life. Helping your child increase attentiveness to their faith will aid them in growing long-lasting habits in their love for the Church and the Lord.  Reading the Bible as a family, attending Mass every Sunday, and praying the rosary are great ways to have a lasting impact. A good liturgical option is to keep up with Saints’ feast days. There is a feast every day and there are multiple ways to celebrate. Reading a summary and then praying to the Saints daily is a fun and mindful way to keep up with the liturgical year. Another great option is considering a liturgical planner for your child. A planner is used to organize the day to day events. Your child can not only keep track of the upcoming week, but also see different religious feast days and holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.  A Structure for Worship The Catholic liturgical year organizes the Church's celebrations and events, providing a structure for worship and reflection. Having a religious structure encourages orderliness in the soul. Order is physical as well as mental. Following the ebb and flow of fasting and feasting within the liturgical year is a physical reminder of the liturgical year.  For example, let's say that, at the beginning of the week, you fill out your planner. You include things like events, birthdays, work schedule, weekend plans, etc. A liturgical planner works the same way as a normal planner, but it has Catholicism filtered into its pages. What a fun way to help your child grow in their faith!  Continuous Contemplation Living the liturgical year allows us to remember the life and teachings of Jesus and to deepen faith through various liturgical seasons and feasts. Remembering the Saints that have lived out the faith serves as an inspiration for Catholics. Contemplating the faith daily helps with spiritual growth.  Catholic Connection The liturgical year helps to create a sense of unity and community among Catholics worldwide. Community is something we as humans need. We usually look for people that we can relate to, sympathize with, similar beliefs, etc. Connecting with other Catholics over your love of the Faith is amazing!  Check Out our Student Planner!  What’s a fun, immersive way to help your child grow in the faith? Consider purchasing our newest product, the Student Liturgical Planner! This is a great option to encourage orderliness and structure in your child's school and home life. Keeping track of events such as sports practices, play-dates, to-do list on chore day can all be done in this planner. Throw in the liturgical year filtered into the calendar and you have the perfectly-curated Catholic Student Planner.  What are some of your favorite ways to build your child's life on the liturgical year? Give us some ideas in the comments below!

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Catholic Books about the Sacraments for Kids - Into the Deep

Blog – by Olivia Spears

Catholic Books about the Sacraments for Kids

Being initiated into the life of Christ through the sacraments is the great gift we can give our children. It is our charge to model a sacramental life for them, witnessing to the grace, peace, and joy found in this kind of union with Christ and His Church.  Wonderfully, we also have a building treasure trove of Catholic picture and chapter books to help form their understanding and love of the Seven Sacraments!  Books about the Sacraments for Kids Sacraments in General Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan Light of the Sacraments by Cory Heimann  Baptism Jesus Speaks to Me about My Baptism by Angela Burrin Chosen by Jenna Guizar Confirmation  The Soldier of Christ by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Home for Good by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Eucharist Jesus Speaks to Me on My First Holy Communion by Angela M. Burrin Jesus Speaks to Me about the Mass by Angela M. Burrin The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass by Gracie Jagla The Weight of a Mass by Josephine Nobisso Receiving Jesus for Little Ones by Kimberly Fries The Treasure of Saint Tarcisius: Hero of the Eucharist by Caroline McDonald  First Communion by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) The King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart (chapter book) Confession Jesus Speaks to Me about Confession by Angela M. Burrin Peter and Jesus by a Charcoal Fire by Maura Roan McKeegan First Confession by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book) Matrimony One Holy Marriage by Katie Warner Holy Orders Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass by Katie Warner Jack Giorgio: Future Priest by Katie Warner   What books would you add to the list?! Ready to dive deeper?  Here are 4 ways to fill your nets...   1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses  2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how.  3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you.  4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!

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The Best Catholic Bible for Children - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

The Best Catholic Bible for Children

Telling our children the Story of Salvation History helps them understand God’s movement in the world since the beginning. Hearing the stories of God’s faithfulness from long ago reminds them that He is faithful to them now. Learning about the men and women God raised up to serve Him points to their call to be saints.   Blessedly, many people have completed the task of making these stories accessible for kids of all ages. There is a variety of Catholic children’s Bibles on the market today, so how do we know which one(s) to choose?   Should We Even Use a Catholic Children’s Bible?   A preliminary consideration is whether or not we should even use a Children’s Bible.   In short, yes… if it’s worthy.   However, the actual Bible holds primacy always. Sacred Scripture is the actual Word of God, and our kids need to hear it. It is this Word that is living and effective, it is this Word that does not return to the Father void. Reading Sacred Scripture to our children plants the seeds deeply in their hearts. (This is why we always encourage reading from the actual Bible throughout our resources).   Of course, our children hear the actual words of Sacred Scripture at every Mass, and they’ll hear them if your family plays the Liturgy of the Hours or a scriptural Rosary.   I like to read from the actual Bible for our formal catechesis, and a Catholic Bible for children on our “off” days when we’re not doing Into the Deep. And of course, these are the Bibles that are pulled up on laps alongside toddlers, and the ones that get brought to Mass.   Criteria I Use When Selecting a Catholic Bible for Children   When combing through the options for Catholic children’s Bibles, I have a few criteria: It must be authentically Catholic. It must be beautifully-illustrated. It must engage the imagination.   My Favorite Catholic Children’s Bibles   My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories   This ranks as our favorite Catholic children’s Bible. Although its title implies that it is a collection of Bible stories, I find this to be a much more thorough and complete presentation of Scripture than other smaller collections of Bible stories (see more on those below). What we love: It includes the actual text of Scripture. It uses the NRSV-CE translation. Each story begins with a small blurb providing context of the story before the actual biblical text begins. The illustrations are beautiful. There are closing prayers, Catechism references, and fun facts.   When I found this Bible, I thought it was a perfect companion to our full-year resources!   The Catholic Bible for Children   I am continually impressed with what Magnificat is putting out for children. This Bible is another thorough presentation of the Old and New Testaments. What we love: It is divided into chapters, which helps give some context and framework. The illustrations are engaging. It is written in a more narrative format rather than the exact Bible verses. The quality of the pages is high.   With the Bible Through the Church Year   I found this while thrifting one day and I hit the jackpot. I absolutely love this children’s Bible written by Father Richard Beron, OSB in 1953. We will begin using this one in the Fall.   What we love: It is tied to the liturgical year. Beginning in Autumn, it walks through Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Septuagesima, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi. Each section ends with a corresponding psalm, weaving the Psalms in much like the Mass. There are short descriptions of each liturgical season as you enter it. It is written in a very engaging narrative style. It’s the closest style I’ve found to The Jesus Storybook Bible (more on that below).   This is an older book that is out of print. If you can’t find it on Amazon, check no Thriftbooks or Ebay!   Catholic Bible Story Collections   The following are not full children’s Bibles, but cover the major highlights of the Story of Salvation History.   Read-Aloud Book of Bible Stories   Another favorite in our household, these stories are beautifully-written and engaging.   What we love: It is written in narrative format. The black and white sketches and artwork are more lifelike. It is a wonderful companion to the Advent calendar from Little Liturgy Press (a beloved tradition in our family each Advent).   The Bible Story   Written in 1957, this anthology of Bible stories reads like an epic.   What we love: It is perfect for older readers and teens as it reads like a chapter book. There are not many illustrations, but the sketches are lovely.   This is one I’ll have my kids read as they approach Confirmation as another review of the story God has been writing in the world since the beginning.   My Catholic Picture Bible Stories   From Ascension, this collection of Bible stories is great for younger kids.   What we love: The illustrations are historically accurate. The stories are short (1 page), making it a great read for toddlers and younger children.   While the illustration style is not my favorite, the hardcover is sturdy and thus gets brought to Mass with us.   Tomie dePaola’s Book of Bible Stories   If you love dePaola’s other work, you’ll love this.   What we love: The hardcover version is less expensive and such high quality. Truly, this book is beautiful. Naturally, the illustrations are delightful and deep. The text is written in dePaola’s prose.   I treat this like we do with any collection of stories (like Winnie the Pooh or Beatrix Potter)—I select a season in which we will read one story at a time during tea time or afternoon quiet time. It takes us a long time to move through that way since those are less frequent than Morning Time, but it’s a delight for all!   What about the Jesus Storybook Bible?   I really wish I could broadly recommend this Bible. The writing is beautiful and lyrical. It’s a favorite among Christians, and for good reason. What I particularly love about this Bible is that it shows how the New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and how the Old is fulfilled in the New. Jesus is the through-thread in this book, and it makes clear God’s plan for salvation since the Fall. However, I cannot broadly recommend this title because there are some inclusions that contradict Catholic Church teaching. I can remember two off the top of my head: During the Last Supper, the words read something like, “This is like my body…” Obviously, this is contrary to the doctrine on the Blessed Sacrament. In the narrative on the crucifixion, the author is clearly presenting the teaching of penal substitution. This is the belief that God’s wrath was poured out upon Jesus during His Passion and Death. That God the Father took all His fiery anger and directed it at Jesus. This belief is not the only view even among Protestants about the atonement but is particularly common in Calvinistic circles. This is not the teaching of the Catholic Church.   When we read through this Bible, I self-edited these sections; however, because these subtleties can be easily missed, I cannot broadly recommend it for Catholic families.   The Whole Point   What matters most is that we share the Word of God with our children. Let the Word dwell in them richly, forming their consciences and inspiring them to the greatness for which they were created!   What’s your favorite Catholic children’s Bible? Let us know in the comments!   Ready to dive deeper?  Here are 4 ways to fill your nets...   1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses  2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how.  3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you.  4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!

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Picture Books about the Bible - Into the Deep

Blog – by Olivia Spears

Picture Books about the Bible

Telling the Story of Salvation History as lived through Sacred Scripture is one of the most fantastic ways we can capture the holy imaginations of our children. An added layer of of illustration comes through picture books about the Bible.  Looking for solid Catholic children's Bibles? Check out this post. Picture Books about the Bible Many authors throughout the years have presented Bible stories through sketches and stories, paintings and prose. We've gathered some of our favorites below, broken into the Old and New Testaments. Old Testament Creation + the Fall Creation by Gennady Spirin Paradise by Fiona French The End of the Fiery Sword by Maura Roan McKeegan Noah's Ark Noah's Ark by Peter Spier Noah's Ark by Jerry Pinkney The Tower of Babel The Tower of Babel by William Wiesner  The Patriarchs Sarah Laughs by Jacqueline Jules Moses + the Exodus Jacob and Esau by Mary Auld Joseph by Brian Wildsmith The Coat of Many Colors by Jenny Koralek Benjamin and the Silver Goblet by Jacqueline Jules Moses + the Exodus Moses by Margaret Hodges Moses: The Long Road to Freedom by Ann Keay Beneduce Exodus by Brian Wildsmith The Prophets Jonah and the Whale by Rosemary Lanning The Book of Jonah by Peter Spier Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb by Maura Roan McKeegan Daniel and the Lord of the Lions by Gloria Jean Pinkney The Story of the Call of Samuel by Bryn J. Brock and Karin A. Childs The Story of Ruth by Maxine Rose Schur  The Angel & the Donkey by Katherine Paterson  Kings + Queens David and Goliath by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers The Lord is My Shepherd by Gennady Spirin The Wisest Man in the World: A Legend of Ancient Israel by Benjamin ElkinNew Testament To Everything There is a Season by Diane and Leo Dillon Kings and Queens of the Bible by Mary Hoffman Queen Esther Saves Her People by Rita Golden Gelman  The Story of Esther by Eric A. Kimmel New Testament Mary by Brian Wildsmith St. Joseph's Story by Geraldine Guadagno Jesus by Brian Wildsmith The Twelve Apostles by Marianna Mayer St. Peter's Story by Marion Thomas The Miracles of Jesus by Tomie dePaola Loaves and Fishes by Helen Caswell The Parables The Parables of Jesus by Tomie dePaola Parable of the Good Samaritan by Helen Caswell Parable of the Vineyard by Helen Caswell Parable of the Sower by Helen Caswell Parable of the Bridesmaids by Helen Caswell The Paschal Mystery The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith The Way of the Cross by Inos Biffi The Thornbush by Michael Laughlin Easter by Fiona French     Do you or your children have favorite children's books about the Bible? Let us know in the comments!   

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Catholic Picture Books for April - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

Catholic Picture Books for April

April showers bring May flowers! With Easter and warm weather just around the corner, 'spring' into spring with these Catholic picture books for April! This month celebrates Saints such as Saint Bernadette and Saint George.   Catholic Picture Books for April   This I Know by Clay Anderson Based on the beloved children's song Jesus Loves Me, this book has playful rhymes and colorful illustrations that your children will love.   Saint Bernadette and the Miracle of Lourdes by Demi Packed full of beautiful illustrations, this book serves as an excellent introduction to the life of Saint Bernadette.   'Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys Nellist "'Twas the morning of Easter, before the sun rose, Two guards on a hillside were trying to doze. Now Jesus had died, only three days before, A huge stone was in place, sealed over the door." Written with a catchy rhythm, 'Twas the Morning of Easter is the perfect Easter basket gift.   God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren This board book is a sweet read while still providing thoughtful insight. Follow Papa Bear and Little Bear as they discuss Easter.   Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges Saint George and the Dragon is a Caldecott Medal Winner and on top of that an altogether beautiful read.   Cloud of Witnesses: A Child's First Book of Saints by Katie Warner With simple, short quotes from each saint and an illustration to accompany it, Cloud of Witnesses is the perfect book for introducing saints to littles.   Queen Esther by Tomie dePaola This book tells of a Jewish queen who not only loved her people and the Lord but stood by her Faith in times of distress.   Pascual and the Kitchen Angels by Tomie dePaola Pascual, patron saint of kitchens, would not cook. But he trusted in the Lord and when he prayed, the angels cooked.   That Grand Easter Day! by Jill Roman Lord That Grand Easter Day! takes us to that day Mary came to the tomb and Jesus was nowhere to be seen.   Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan Written by renowned author Scott Hahn and children's author Maura McKeegan, Seven Clues follows three children on their treasure hunt that aids in deepening their Catholic Faith. A great read during Sacraments season!   Bernadette: The Little Girl from Lourdes by Sophie Maraval-Hutin  Born in France, Bernadette was a young girl who had a miraculous encounter with Our Lady of Lourdes.    Saint George and the Dragon by Jim Forest  Saint George was one of the first martyrs of the early Church. He is usually regarded as almost a mythical man. Jim Forest writes of the legend of Saint George, a brave Christian soldier who staunchly defends the princess and the villagers, while also addressing the symbolism behind the legend.    What are YOUR favorite picture books for the Easter season? Drop in the comments!     

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Help! My Kids are Bored at Mass! - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

Help! My Kids are Bored at Mass!

Bringing kids to Mass is often a sacrifice of praise in and of itself. Even when tantrums and bathroom breaks are avoided, there's the threat of "boredom." Children have a relatively short attention span as it is, but when they’re bored… Prepare for the whispering, “Are we almost done?”  to repeat steadily until the end of Mass. This is natural and understandable. It also offers us an opportunity to train their attention, patience, and understanding of the importance of being at Mass (even when we're bored).

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What Made Scott Hahn Become Catholic - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

What Made Scott Hahn Become Catholic

What made Scott Hahn became Catholic? Two words: the Liturgy. Of course, there was more to it than that, but in The Lamb's Supper, he reveals why attending his first Catholic Mass was a major step toward communion with Rome. Scott Hahn walked into that parish as an interested but a slightly critical, casual observer. He left as a convert. Granted, he didn’t immediately drop everything and say “I want to be a Catholic!” But his conversion was largely founded upon his understanding of the biblical roots of the Mass.

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