As Catholics, we have been given an incredible treasury of spiritual resources to enable us to know, love and serve God.  This, however, is also the problem.  There is so much available to us that we often fail to make profitable use of it.  To do so, we must have a daily plan that allows these resources to be organized in a way that allows us to make consistent use of them.  The CLAA Religion program was created to do just that.

I.  Sacramental Life

Oredering our household to live in harmony with the Church throughout the world begins with being conscious of the liturgical calendar of the Church.  The liturgy of the Mass is itself the interface where heaven and earth meet, and through which all of the sacrifices of the Old Covenant are joined into one. Our participation in liturgy is the most important school of religion available to us.  The sacramental life that points to and is supplied by the Eucharist orders our entire lives--from birth to death.  

II.  Liturgy of the Hours

The Church, as our spiritual mother, has not only provided for the ordering of our lives and years, but also the hours of our days.  The Liturgy of the Hours unites the prayers of Catholics throughout the world, so that "from the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord may be praised" by the bosy of Christ in unison.  We join our voice to those of bishops, priests, monks, nuns and laymen everywhere by praying the Liturgy of the Hours, or part of it, daily.  

III.  Catechesis

The Lord, when He established His Church did not leave it to wander in darkness, but appointed for it apostles, prophets and teachers capable of arranging and explaining the truth in a way that even little children can understand.  From ancient times, we have been supplied by the Church with creeds and catechisms to guide our religious education.  In recent times, Catholics in America have been supplied with the Baltimore Catechism (1885) and all Catholics with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994).  Sound catechesis should pursue mastery of both.

IV.  Lectio Divina

The writings of the prophets, apostles and saints are sacred writings, to be appraised spiritually.  We should not expect that the writings of inspired men should be as any other book on our shelves.  Sacred reading, or lectio divina, is the ancient practice of reading sacred writings prayerfully with due reflection.  In the CLAA Religion Program, we read through all of Sacred Scripture annually, and provide students with questions to allow God's word to direct our daily meditations (Ps. 1).

V.  Sacred Art

As God has furnished us with five senses, through which our minds and hearts engage with the created world, so has the Church also provided us with food for them.  The sacred art and music of the Church is the climax of human invention and, again, the biggest problem with it is that there is so much of it.  In the CLAA Religion program, we bring order to the Church's treasury of resources and allow students to make good practical use of them.  

Christian Prayers for Home & School
by William Michael

A manual of prayers for CLAA students.  Parent version includes Scripture reading schedule.   This booklet provides Catholic children with an inexpensive prayer book that can be used on a daily basis, instead of an expensive missal.  Includes morning and bedtime prayers, acts of faith, hope, love, charity and contrition; litanies of the BVM, Holy Name, St. Joseph, Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary and more.  Glossy paperback.

Buy Now:
Parent:  $10.00
Child:       $7.50

MANAGING DAILY HOUSEHOLD RELIGION

The CLAA Religion program is designed to work with the CLAA's Homeschool Management System (HMS) to bring daily religion, academics and household management into one coordinated system of family life.  While the development of this system may seem a bit awkward or mechanical for many people, it really is nothing more than the installation of a culture upon a family.  As that installation becomes more and more routine, habit will replace the need for much of the artificial management of the schedule and a real, living culture will slowly be established.  To learn more about the CLAA's Homeschool Management System, click here.