Many are in planning mode or unknown territory, discerning education options due to the current times.
Years ago, two wonderful priests suggested that we (homeschoolers of the parish) pray a novena to St. Ignatius before our school year. St. Ignatius of Loyola is a patron of educators and education.
You are invited to join my family and many others in praying this novena for the discernment of God’s Will in our families, that we are able, as much as God will allow, to know which choices to make in all areas of our lives that will reflect His Holy Will and work always for His greater glory for this upcoming school year.
This novena is intended to help us discern God’s will for our vocation and education of our children, to form a communion of prayer, and to glorify God.
The novena starts July 22 and ends on July 30, the eve of the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN US!
Below are words shared from a Catholic mom of nine who homeschooled all of her children (from start to finish) for 30+ years. Her words serve as an invitation for all the mothers/families out there, whether you’re a veteran home educator, a novice, or you’re discerning to homeschool.
Dear Homeschooling Families,
It seems that no matter, how many years one has been at this, the balancing of interests and needs of our families, while ever-changing never gets any clearer or even any easier. Each year we are faced with decisions about our children’s education, what grade, what subjects, what books along with trying to fit into a 24 hour day all the other things we do that are necessary to keeping our homes, like laundry, dishes, etc. We wonder how many outside activities we can reasonably take on, what to make sure we include and what we may have to omit. In the end each of us desires to do the Will of God, for ourselves and for our families, each and every member. The desire to do His Will does not necessarily always translate though into a clear understanding at all times what exactly His Will may be and so we try very hard to balance all the decisions that our multi-faceted vocation entails and discern what He is really asking us to do. ~G.M.
You can find more homeschool encouragement in the sermons shared below.
Let us form a communion of prayer to discern God’s will for our vocation & education of our children, Glorify God, and raise one another up.
Prayer for Christian Families
Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.,
Lord Jesus, Mary, Mother of the Holy Family, obtain for all Catholic parents the grace to raise their children for a heavenly eternity. Teach us parents to do everything which your Divine Son tells us to do. If we do, we shall be reunited not only as families. We shall join the Holy Family of the Most Holy Trinity.
Make us parents courageous and firm and clear: that we are the primary teachers of our children to prepare them for that final graduation on the first day of a heavenly eternity.
Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Holy Family, obtain from your divine Son the graces which home teaching Catholic parents so desperately need in our day; The grace to see themselves as channels of grace for their children, and the grace to serve as the channels of grace, even at the cost of a living martyrdom in our day.
Amen. ✠
Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola
V. In the Name (✠) of the Father…
R. Amen.
Suscipe (Prayer by St. Ignatius)
V. Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty,
R. My memory, my understanding * and my entire will * All I have and call my own. * Thou hast given all to me, * To Thee, O Lord, I return it. * Everything belongs to Thee; * do with it as Thou wilt. * Give me only Thy love and Thy grace, * That is enough for me. Amen.
Anima Christi (Prayer by St. Ignatius)
V. Soul of Christ, R. Sanctify me.
V. Body of Christ, R. Save me.
V. Blood of Christ, R. Inebriate me.
V. Water from the side of Christ, R. Wash me.
V. Passion of Christ, R. Strengthen me.
V. O Good Jesus (☨), R. Hear me.
V. Within Thy wounds, R. Shelter me.
V. Separated from Thee, R. Let me never be.
V. From the evil one, R. Protect me.
V. At the hour of my death, R. Call me.
V. Into Thy presence, R. Lead me.
V. That I may praise Thee, R. With all Thy angels and saints, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for Generosity (by St. Ignatius)
V. Lord, do Thou teach me to be generous.
R. Teach me to serve Thee as Thou deserves: * To give and not to count the cost, * To fight and not to heed the wounds, * to toil and not to seek for rest, * to labor and not to ask for reward, * save that of knowing * that I do Thy divine and holy Will. Amen. *
Novena Prayer
V. O glorious Patriarch, St. Ignatius of Loyola,
R. We humbly beseech thee to obtain for us from Almighty God, * above all things else, * deliverance from sin, * which is the greatest of evils, * and next, from those scourges * wherewith the Lord chastises the sins of His people.
V. And by thy glorious merits we beseech thy benevolent intercession before the throne of Almighty God, that He may grant us:
(Pause and state your intentions)
V. May thine example, O Loyal Knight of Our Lady, enkindle in our hearts an effectual desire,
R. To employ ourselves continually in laboring for the greater glory of God * and the good of our fellowmen; * obtain for us, likewise, from the loving Heart of Jesus (☨) Our Lord, * that grace which is the crown of all graces, * that is to say, the grace of final perseverance and everlasting happiness. * Amen.
V. Laudetur Jesus (☨) Christus! (Praise be Jesus Christ)
R. Nunc et in æternum. Amen. (Now and forever)
V. In the Name (✠) of the Father…
R. Amen.
Download Home Education Novena
St. Ignatius, ora pro nobis
HOMESCHOOLING MEDITATIONS:
- The Most Holy Rosary: A Spiritual Weapon for Homeschool Families in These Difficult Times
- Homeschoolers Come Out of Egypt
- Homeschooling and Restoration or here
- School System: Where Are Those Whom I Have Entrusted to You?
- Saint Michael and Homeschooling
- The Seven Sorrows of Homeschooling Mothers
- Sloth: The Vice of Homeschoolers – Audio
- Why Homeschool?
- Catechetical Nightmares: What Religious Books Should I Use?
DAILY MEDITATIONS: a prayer each day for mothers, adapted from “Mother Love, A Manual for Christian Mothers” by Pius Franciscus OFM, Cap (1888).
