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The Role of Grandparents in Faith Formation

by Olivia Spears – December 16, 2025

Catechesis
The Role of Grandparents in Faith Formation - Into the Deep

You know we are passionate about parents as primary catechists of their children, but what role do grandparents play in the faith formation of their grandchildren?

This question wades into more delicate waters, but since we have many grandparents in our community, let's dive in together.

What does the Church say about the role of grandparents?

The important role elders play in their communities is emphasized throughout the entire Bible. What we would call "grandparents" are seen as sources of wisdom, patience, encouragement, and stability.

Grandparents are meant to be examples in their families of a faithful life that produces the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Particularly, our last 4 pontiffs have placed special emphasis on the irreplaceable of role grandparents (and all others considered "elders") in their families and in society as a whole.

I don't believe this emphasis is the result of new ideas; on the contrary, I believe up until recent decades, it has simply been a given. Previous generations understood that of course grandparents should play an active role in the lives of their grandchildren. Of course they are honored. Of course they are cared for. Of course they are referred to. Of course they are needed. Of course their witness to the Lord Jesus carries weight.

These realities are no longer a given (as many of you have and are experiencing).

How grandparents can support faith formation

*With this I not seek to address the various psychological considerations of family systems and any resulting boundaries set by any party. This is why the waters are delicate. So the first consideration is to live in the context of what boundaries exist. God is not limited as to be unable to work within those.*

But there are a few (fairly) universal ways grandparents can support the faith formation of their grandchildren no matter what that looks like in their own homes:

1️⃣ Bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit | As mentioned above, your witness remains paramount in the life of your family! When you remain in the Heart of Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit overflow into your life and interactions with your family, that will influence the grandchildren of your children (even your children that are most hostile toward the Faith).

2️⃣ Talk with them about your life with Christ | Tell them age-appropriate stories from your own life and walk with God! Have you experienced miracles? What was your First Communion day like? What's your favorite way to pray? Kids LOVE learning this about you!

3️⃣ Live the liturgical year with them | We are blessed to live in a time with so many incredible ideas for celebrating feast days and holy days in our Church's calendar. And your kids? They might be too exhausted from having and raising the grandbabies to carry these out. This means that you can be a source for all the liturgical living fun! Lean into your natural strengths and interests (cooking? baking? crafting? activities?) and you'll make lasting memories with your grandchildren that are rooted in the Catholic Faith.

4️⃣ Supply resources | If you discover some fantastic catechetical resources, pass them along! Especially if it makes the task easier on your child/in-law. Resources like our Paintings + Prayers Cards, A Lamp & a Light Journal, the Mass unit study, or the Beatitudes unit study are a perfect fit for this!

Grandparents' examples can reverberate through generations. Your role looks different now, but you are still important in the faith formation of your grandchildren.

Thank you, thank you for your faithfulness, your goodness, and your selflessness!

Praise God for grandparents!

 

 

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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Paintings + Prayers | Catholic Prayer Cards for Kids - Into the Deep
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A Lamp & A Light: A Lectio Divina Journal for Kids - Into the Deep

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

Teach your children how to pray with Scripture the way the Church has done for centuries. 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 employed by saints throughout the history of the Church!  We made this lectio divina journal for kids ages 8-18. Each spread walks the child through the four movements of lectio divina: Lectio (Reading) Meditatio (Meditation) Oratio (Prayer) Contemplatio (Contemplation) With intentional, repetitive prompting questions, the child will build the habit of prayerful reflection on the Word of God. What to Expect: We provide 40 carefully-selected Scripture passages for them that engage the imagination and lend themselves well to this prayer. Then, we leave them 20 blank pages for them to select their own Scripture passage with which to pray!  The journal is meant for boys and girls. It has a dark navy, vegan leather cover, thick interior pages that stand up to pens and highlighters, and a satin gold ribbon for place holding. It is the perfect meaningful Christmas, birthday, or Confirmation gift!   Want one for yourself, too?! Check out our bundle with the women's journal!

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Unveil the wonder of our worship.  You want to build a legacy of faith in your home. You plant seeds with the hope of lasting fruit being born in the lives of your kids. This legacy begins in the liturgy. As Catholic parents, we have the great responsibility of catechizing our children, teaching them about the beauty of the Mass and our dependence upon the sacraments. This study is perfect for First Communion prep and a refresher for teens. Let's evangelize a generation! What You'll Love: This study can be used in whole-family catechesis, during Morning Time, or family devotional time. Ideal ages are 7-15! This study includes: 100+ pages of open-and-go, rich content that explores the what's, why's, and how's of the Catholic Mass. You could complete the study in a semester. Church history, geography and map work, etymology, philosophy and more Games and activities for kids of all ages to learn the rhythm and elements of the Mass With your purchase of one unit study, we will email you a PDF containing all the consumable pages (like coloring pages, copywork, activities, etc.) so you can print as many as you need for your children.   Art + design by Mary Claire of 12th and Blossom.

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The Beatitudes Unit Study - Into the Deep

The Beatitudes Unit Study

"The Beatitudes are not only a map for Christian life, but are the secret to Jesus' heart itself." -Jean-Claude Sagne At the heart of Jesus' most important sermon lies the Beatitudes. In this unit study, you'll deep dive each Beatitude with your child(ren). Ages 7-17 will enjoy the content, yet it can engage younger and older children, too.  This study on the Beatitudes for children and teens teaches from beauty like sacred art, music, nature study, poetry, and story. Geography, etymology, and philosophy are woven throughout, and there is a constant emphasis on prayer and the sacramental life. What to Expect: 20 total lessons that can be done in 15 minutes each Flexible schedule—you set the pace (many parents like to do 2 lessons/week) A few introductory lessons about the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes 2 lessons per Beatitude A Saint profile for each Beatitude, looking to Saints of various times, vocations, and locations who exemplified that Beatitude  Copywork of different levels in print and cursive for each Beatitude Content that engages the mind, compels the heart, and bonds the family in Christ With your purchase of one unit study, we will email you a PDF containing all the consumable pages (like coloring pages, copywork, activities, etc.) so you can print as many as you need for your children.   Art + design by Mary Claire of 12th and Blossom.

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Paintings + Prayers | Catholic Prayer Cards for Kids - Into the Deep
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A Lamp & A Light: A Lectio Divina Journal for Kids - Into the Deep

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

Teach your children how to pray with Scripture the way the Church has done for centuries. 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 employed by saints throughout the history of the Church!  We made this lectio divina journal for kids ages 8-18. Each spread walks the child through the four movements of lectio divina: Lectio (Reading) Meditatio (Meditation) Oratio (Prayer) Contemplatio (Contemplation) With intentional, repetitive prompting questions, the child will build the habit of prayerful reflection on the Word of God. What to Expect: We provide 40 carefully-selected Scripture passages for them that engage the imagination and lend themselves well to this prayer. Then, we leave them 20 blank pages for them to select their own Scripture passage with which to pray!  The journal is meant for boys and girls. It has a dark navy, vegan leather cover, thick interior pages that stand up to pens and highlighters, and a satin gold ribbon for place holding. It is the perfect meaningful Christmas, birthday, or Confirmation gift!   Want one for yourself, too?! Check out our bundle with the women's journal!

From $15.00
From $15.00
View product
The Mass Unit Study - Into the Deep

The Mass Unit Study

Unveil the wonder of our worship.  You want to build a legacy of faith in your home. You plant seeds with the hope of lasting fruit being born in the lives of your kids. This legacy begins in the liturgy. As Catholic parents, we have the great responsibility of catechizing our children, teaching them about the beauty of the Mass and our dependence upon the sacraments. This study is perfect for First Communion prep and a refresher for teens. Let's evangelize a generation! What You'll Love: This study can be used in whole-family catechesis, during Morning Time, or family devotional time. Ideal ages are 7-15! This study includes: 100+ pages of open-and-go, rich content that explores the what's, why's, and how's of the Catholic Mass. You could complete the study in a semester. Church history, geography and map work, etymology, philosophy and more Games and activities for kids of all ages to learn the rhythm and elements of the Mass With your purchase of one unit study, we will email you a PDF containing all the consumable pages (like coloring pages, copywork, activities, etc.) so you can print as many as you need for your children.   Art + design by Mary Claire of 12th and Blossom.

From $30.00
From $30.00
View product
The Beatitudes Unit Study - Into the Deep

The Beatitudes Unit Study

"The Beatitudes are not only a map for Christian life, but are the secret to Jesus' heart itself." -Jean-Claude Sagne At the heart of Jesus' most important sermon lies the Beatitudes. In this unit study, you'll deep dive each Beatitude with your child(ren). Ages 7-17 will enjoy the content, yet it can engage younger and older children, too.  This study on the Beatitudes for children and teens teaches from beauty like sacred art, music, nature study, poetry, and story. Geography, etymology, and philosophy are woven throughout, and there is a constant emphasis on prayer and the sacramental life. What to Expect: 20 total lessons that can be done in 15 minutes each Flexible schedule—you set the pace (many parents like to do 2 lessons/week) A few introductory lessons about the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes 2 lessons per Beatitude A Saint profile for each Beatitude, looking to Saints of various times, vocations, and locations who exemplified that Beatitude  Copywork of different levels in print and cursive for each Beatitude Content that engages the mind, compels the heart, and bonds the family in Christ With your purchase of one unit study, we will email you a PDF containing all the consumable pages (like coloring pages, copywork, activities, etc.) so you can print as many as you need for your children.   Art + design by Mary Claire of 12th and Blossom.

From $29.00
From $29.00
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Catechesis

by Olivia Spears – December 16, 2025

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Our 2023-2024 School Lineup | Booklists + Resources

August is upon us, which means it is nearly time to begin another school year in our home. I have been in planning prep for a couple of months (I take it slow!) and I'm happy to share our booklists with you here! How I Plan a New Homeschool Year My planning process typically follows three movements: Pray (you can learn more about that here) Make booklists (jot down all my ideas and resources, then heavily edit) Put it all together in a rhythm First, I'll share our booklists. Then, I'll share a loose idea of our rhythm! The Groundwork... My oldest kids are entering the 4th and 1st grades, and my youngest two are 3 years and ten months old. While each child does their own level of phonics, math, copywork, and logic, most of our subjects are done family style in a loop rotation (more on that later). This fits our family best in this season and we all really enjoy this setup. My three-year-old will not do any formal preschool work; however, he likes feeling "big" and has asked for his own school work this year. I've picked up A is for Art to go through with him as interest dictates. My main priority each morning is to snuggle him and read picture books to fill his cup before our school day begins. Our Homeschool "Curriculum" | The Booklists ***Unless otherwise linked, all books can be found on this Amazon list!*** Like I mentioned, we have family subjects and individual subjects. Only the older two have individual work. These children have different learning styles, so we use different resources for each. Family Subjects Morning Basket Our Morning Time will consist of The Daily Feast + any memory work (like poetry, Mass parts, and longer dictations for my oldest).P.S. already using my Daily Feast notepad and it's a game changer for organization!We will also do our fun read alouds during this time. I don't have a final list yet, but I've shared some definites in the Amazon shop! Catechesis We will be using Into the Deep Level Two this year, taking pauses to do the picture studies on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary during Advent, the Luminous + Sorrowful during Lent, and the Glorious during Easter. History We used The Story of the World last year and it was a family favorite all around! We are moving to Volume 2 this year. I use the student guide for extra reading, map work, and projects.Additionally, I'll be reading one story each week from American Tall Tales so they have a touch point with their national history. Geography We use the geography prompts in the SOTW above.I'll also pepper in Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography. Nature Study/Science It's a water year for us! I'll be using Among the Pond People in the fall semester and Ocean Anatomy and Watercolor with Me in the spring. I picked up The Good and the Beautiful's Wind + Waves. We used their Little Hearts and Hands last year and it was a great resource to have on hand for days when I needed extra support (like when a kid was sick or the baby didn't sleep). Excited to have that in my back pocket again this year. Literature My fave! Well, alongside catechesis and history. We will ease into the first semester by revisiting A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young. Aligned with our history studies, we will also read some Norse Myths!In the second semester, we will read a couple of Shakespeare plays (the kids have loved these—not yet sure if we will revisit old favorites, read new, or a combination of both).Our main focus this spring semester will be fairy tales. I've snagged some fairy tale picture books from Will Moses, and I have a couple of collections here at home I will pull from. (A note on finding books on fairy tales: be sure they are the original text, not adaptations!) 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. Language I don't stress about this much yet. My energy is focused more on reading fluency at this stage and, with a toddler and baby, I don't have much overflow to devote to foreign language. I have Prima Latina and we will use those DVDs each week in "car school" when we drive a small distance to pick up our farm food and dairy. On Rhythms... Our family functions best with a rhythm rather than a strict schedule. But we typically begin around 9 a.m. (this gives us time for personal prayer, breakfast, morning chores, and getting ready).Typically, we school Monday-Thursday, as Fridays are set aside for errands, Mass, and cleaning. Weekly Loops With that, here are the family subjects we will loop throughout the week: Mondays || catechesis, character building, history, nature study, and composer Wednesdays || catechesis, character building, history, literature, and nature study Thursdays || catechesis, history, literature, and artist/drawing Like I mentioned, all of this will be tested by actually living it, and we will adjust as needed! I always enjoy reading other people's homeschool plans, so I hope this has brought you some entertainment and solidarity! God bless your new school year!

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Building Their Lives on the Liturgical Year - Into the Deep

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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