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What is The Daily Feast? (And Why It Matters)

by Olivia Spears – September 01, 2022

HomeschoolNerding out on Catechesis
What is The Daily Feast? (And Why It Matters) - Into the Deep

Prayer is essential in the life of a disciple. Time together is essential in the life of a family. So why not combine the two? Praying together as a family, in fact, is one of the most effective ways to hand on the Faith to our children. The Daily Feast is the perfect way to make prayer a meaningful habit in our families' lives. 

In the evening, after a hard day’s work, sitting down with our spouse and children and a Rosary or other devotional is one of the best things we could possibly do, not only for ourselves, but for our families. Or start the day out right by gathering at the table, our children’s heads bowed in prayer, little voices stumbling along the prayers we know so well. Prayer brings us together. It gives us that time in the day to step back away from everything and praise the Lord for all the wonderful things He gives to us. 

 

What is The Daily Feast?

 

The Daily Feast is a great way to share prayer time with family. The Daily Feast is a compilation of synthetic prayer and memory work aimed at teaching our children to pray. It is quite literally a “feast” for the mind! The Daily Feast is a system of prayers best incorporated into your morning prayer and/or evenings (or spread throughout both). If encouraged from a young age, this could build to be habitual for your children throughout their lives. This would fit wonderfully into morning time. Before the busy-ness of the day begins, gathering together for prayer and connection is a wonderful day to cultivate connection amongst your family. 

The Daily Feast is comprised of a handful of components that, together, only take about 5-10 minutes to move through. 

 

Free/Heart Prayer 

 

A ‘heart prayer’ is simply a prayer from your own heart. This is a prayer of your own making praising the Lord and presenting our petitions. Demonstrate this to your children, they may need a little help! Thanking the Lord for the day, anything that comes to mind is okay! 

I’ll often ask my children to include what they’re grateful for and what or who they would like to pray for. The answers are typically humorous (how often they are thankful for candy!), but it helps produce a habit of thankfulness and praise first in prayer.

 

Vocal/Rote Prayer  

 

These are the traditional prayers from the Church, such as Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, etc. These are great to incorporate into Morning Time for memorization/recitation. 

As your children get older, they can learn longer prayers such as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate or the Divine Praises. If your family prays the Liturgy of the Hours, it would fit wonderfully here. 

This part of The Daily Feast initiates them firmly into the rich and beautiful depository of prayer that the Catholic Church offers us. 

 

Scripture Memory Verses 

 

This method also emphasizes Scripture memorization, no matter how old the child is. Committing Scripture to memory helps our children fill their storehouses of Truth, setting a firm foundation for their worldview as they grow and encounter various trials and questions. 

Verses such as Psalm 23, Luke 4:47, and Hebrews 4:12 are wonderful places to begin. 

Want more on Scripture? Check out our post Memorizing Scripture Verses with Your Kids (Why + Where to Start). 

 

Bible Story

 

Sharing in the rich text of the Word of God is a wonderful way for your family to connect. Over time, these stories will become more and more familiar, allowing your family to share a treasury of Truth. It is good to add to your morning time basket, but can be explored all the time, weekday or weekend.

Tip: If you use Into the Deep Level One or Level Two, you can rotate Bible stories on days when you are not using Into the Deep, as those resources will be immersing your child in Scripture as well.

 

Hymn Study 

 

Singing is a great memorization tool; once a song is stuck in your head it never really leaves! Catholic hymn study and memorization is a great go-to for connection and beauty.

Some good hymns to start with would be Ave Maria, Holy, Holy, Holy, or the Tantum Ergo.

Our Heaven + Nature Sing Hymn Study is a great way to start diving in the goodness of sacred music as a family.

 

Liturgical Living/Feast Days 

 

A dazzling finale for your daily feast, liturgical living books such as Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family or The Lazy Liturgical are a great fit. A liturgical living book will walk you through the year liturgically and is a great thing to include day to day, not just on school days.

There is a feast day every day of the week, so taking the time to pray to that particular Saint, or perhaps reading about said Saint, is a good habit to get into. 

Want more on Liturgical Living? Check out our post, Our Favorite Liturgical Living Resources.

 

 

Would you like even more information on The Daily Feast and practical ideas to get you started?

Sign up here and receive our free 8-page digital guide!


 

 

A Blessing for the Entire Family

 

The Daily Feast is a beautiful and thoughtful way we can include prayer and worship in our homes. It can be as simple as you’d like, including things like a Saint coloring book. Memorizing a Scripture verse close to your child’s heart can make the whole thing so much more immersive. 

The Daily Feast is good for us in so many ways, too. This method brings our families together at the table through prayer and brings us to the feet of Jesus. It is a meaningful and thoughtful way of including the Lord, the Saints, and Scripture into your life and the life of your family. 

 

Have you begun incorporating the Daily Feast in your family’s rhythm of life? What are the benefits you’ve seen as you draw closer to the Lord together?


 


 

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!

Products from the article

Catechetical Picture Study | The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary - Into the Deep

Picture Study | The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love.” -Pope Saint John Paul II This picture study contains everything you need for catechetical art appreciation based around the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary! You’ll find 5 pieces of classic art, each depicting a Mystery of the Rosary, and open-and-go catechesis for each. Want all the Mysteries of the Rosary? Check out our bundle! This picture study includes: 5 high-quality, 8.5"x11" prints of classic sacred art. These are printed on UV-coated card stock, making them sturdy and perfect for framing or displaying. A booklet including information on what the Church has said about sacred art through the centuries and an introduction to picture study catechesis. Inside the booklet, you'll also find a two-page, open-and-go catechesis on each art piece. As always, this includes a suggested Scripture to read based on the Mystery and is permeated with prompting and discussion questions to help the child engage with the painting. Artwork includes: The Agony in the Garden by Blake, The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bouguereau, The Crowning with Thorns by Caravaggio, Christ Carrying the Cross by Jordaens, and Crucifixion with the Virgin, John the Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene by Blessed Fra Angelico If you're looking for art appreciation support that helps cultivate the child's Catholic worldview and prayer life, this study is for you.   Art + design by Mary Claire of 12th and Blossom.

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Catechetical Picture Study | The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary - Into the Deep

Picture Study | The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love.” -Pope Saint John Paul II This picture study contains everything you need for catechetical art appreciation based around the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary! You’ll find 5 pieces of classic art, each depicting a Mystery of the Rosary, and open-and-go catechesis for each. Want all the Mysteries of the Rosary? Check out our bundle! This picture study includes: 5 high-quality, 8.5"x11" prints of classic sacred art. These are printed on UV-coated card stock, making them sturdy and perfect for framing or displaying. A booklet including information on what the Church has said about sacred art through the centuries and an introduction to picture study catechesis. Inside the booklet, you'll also find a two-page, open-and-go catechesis on each art piece. As always, this includes a suggested Scripture to read based on the Mystery and is permeated with prompting and discussion questions to help the child engage with the painting. Artwork includes: The Agony in the Garden by Blake, The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bouguereau, The Crowning with Thorns by Caravaggio, Christ Carrying the Cross by Jordaens, and Crucifixion with the Virgin, John the Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene by Blessed Fra Angelico If you're looking for art appreciation support that helps cultivate the child's Catholic worldview and prayer life, this study is for you.   Art + design by Mary Claire of 12th and Blossom.

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HomeschoolNerding out on Catechesis

by Olivia Spears – September 01, 2022

Comments

5 comments

Hi Suzana! I usually start with the Sign of the Cross. I go from that to heart prayer and then rote prayer. But truly, order doesn’t matter! 💙

Into the Deep

Good morning! We are starting Into the Deep Level 1 for our first year homeschooling with our firstborn (entering kindergarten). I love the idea of incorporating the Daily Feast as our morning prayer; we previously did prayers in the car on the way to preschool, so we needed a new routine to make sure it gets done.
I do have a question, of course it probably doesn’t matter that much what order the different components are prayed in, but I was wondering what order you use on a daily basis or what order you recommend? I ask because the order of components is different in Presentation 1 of Level 1 from what you have here and on your downloadable resource. In the book, it is listed as: Sign of the Cross, Bible Story, heart prayer, vocal prayer, memory verse then hymn. Again, I’m sure the order doesn’t matter that much but was wondering which one your daily routine uses. Thanks, and God bless!
In Christ,
Suzana

Suzana

Good morning! We are starting Into the Deep Level 1 for our first year homeschooling with our firstborn (entering kindergarten). I love the idea of incorporating the Daily Feast as our morning prayer; we previously did prayers in the car on the way to preschool, so we needed a new routine to make sure it gets done.
I do have a question, of course it probably doesn’t matter that much what order the different components are prayed in, but I was wondering what order you use on a daily basis or what order you recommend? I ask because the order of components is different in Presentation 1 of Level 1 from what you have here and on your downloadable resource. In the book, it is listed as: Sign of the Cross, Bible Story, heart prayer, vocal prayer, memory verse then hymn. Again, I’m sure the order doesn’t matter that much but was wondering which one your daily routine uses. Thanks, and God bless!
In Christ,
Suzana

Suzana

Hi Monica! I’m sorry about that error. Can you try again here: https://intothedeep.co/pages/an-introduction-to-the-daily-feast ?

Let me know if that doesn’t work!

God bless you, and thank you for your order!

Into the Deep

Hello, I ordered the planner today and I’m very excited to have this for my kiddo! I was wondering if the free 8 page daily feast digital guide is still available. When I tried the request through your site, it didn’t seem to work.
May God bless you and your family,
Monica Griepsma

Monica

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Ideals are often massacred by toddlers and teenagers.These are further opportunities to exercise self-discipline. We get to discipline our minds. How will we respond? Will we throw up our hands in resentful surrender (I have no idea what that’s about. Never done that before.)? Or will we face pivots with fortitude, doing the best we can and giving the rest to God?   Longevity The last point I’ll make on the topic of self-discipline for mothers is that we must accept the Lord’s grace and realize that we are in a marathon.Sometimes self-discipline looks like true self-care. Maybe it’s going to bed earlier instead of watching one more episode so you’re better rested. Maybe it’s taking a walk outside or reading a book instead of checking Facebook. Maybe it’s making time for dedicated prayer. Maybe it’s eating an actual breakfast so you’re fueled for the day.Remember, the motive of self-discipline must not be self-hatred. 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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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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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