Wanted: YOUR help in putting together my dd's confirmation present

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mommyof4

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My dear CAF friends, I am in the process of putting together a present for my daughter’s confirmation, and I am looking for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I am putting together a book compiled of spiritual quotes and advice from older, more mature Catholics to help her on her faith journey. She’s an avid reader, so I’m also compiling a list of books for her to read that will help her on her spiritual journey. I would appreciate it if you could help me- please post any personal reflections that you think a 17 year old could benefit from, or if you have any advice for a young person, could you please post it here, and I will take them and put them in the book I’m compiling?

Thank you for your help,
Mary
 
catholicshopper.com/products/books_teenagers.html

Here’s a whole list of actual books that might be appropriate…I really use the book by Matt Pinto…Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons? But I do like your gift…it is extremely personal and I think your child will appreciate the time you are investing in this gift.
 
Written directly to her?

It’ll be hard. Especially with the age you’re entering, it’ll be hard. The world is full of people who want to take your faith, and that’s not just paranoia.

Through it all keep sight of the Three Cardinal Virtues; Faith, Hope, and Love. Do not turn away from that one most overlooked - Hope. Have hope in your faith, and someday you’ll find a strength there you didn’t know you had before. People often remember to pray for faith; we find ourselves lacking it so often we remember to pray for it twice as often. We know to pray for love; when others annoy us or we find ourselves prejudiced or angry we know we must pray for love. It is hope, however, that we forget, and in the moments of despair so common in modern life we pray for deliverence - but forget to pray for hope. The virtues are gifts that must be asked for, so do not forget to ask for them.

Your faith is a gift, as I just said, so remember to treasure it. As devout as you may be now, our enemy goes about as a lion, waiting to attack the faith that is left unguarded for too long. Your defenses are the Sacraments, and your devotions. Build up walls of prayer and adoration of Our Lord and His Saints. Live your life so that when your feet touch the floor each morning, Satan shudders and thinks “Oh no, She’s awake!”

Remember you’re not alone. You have a whole army of brothers and sisters - a “cloud of witnesses” to call upon. The Church Triumphant stands in Heaven storming the Throne with prayers on your behalf. Don’t neglect to ask their help, for “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much”!

If nothing else, remember this: The Rosary is a weapon.
 
Other than the Mass, the Rosary is the most effective prayer Gpd has ever given us. It might seem really long and really boring. It might be hard to focus, hard to remember the mysteries, and hard to find time to say it. It may seem like route recitation. But even if you just recite one decade a day, it will help you more than you can imagine.
If you say the Rosary in the good times, you’ll have the strength to say it in the bad ones. Take time to spend a few minutes contemplating Jesus with Mary - God’s graces will astound you.
 
Hi

hmmmm. 17? Well, the new 17 is the old 30, or so I’ve heard from my step-daughter. If I had to bring One Thing with me to a desert island - along with my Bible, it would be ‘The Imitation of Christ’ by Thomas A’ Kempis. If you can find the one with all three books combined - so much the better…it’s a virtual road-map to Sainthood. But the first one will get you along just fine, and whet your appetite for more.

Peace and Blessings

John
 
"The Confessions of Saint Augustine is a book I hope my son (senior) reads before he goes away to school. Might be one to consider. Tim
 
Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Please feel free to add to this as the next two weeks go buy- the Big Event is on Nov. 1.
 
My Daily Bread is a good meditation. I’m not sure how friendly it would be to a 17 year old, but there is good stuff in it.

Theology of the Body for Teens??

Advice?

I was a “good Catholic” all of my growing up years and through college. Even during my dating years, I continued to go to Mass. I was pregnant with my first child, when I skipped Mass one weekend. It was that much easier to skip a few weeks later. Then when I had a baby to take with me, it was even EASIER to miss Mass. The evil one had his foothold. And when baby #2 came along, it was nearly impossible to attend (or so I thought).

But the door is always open. One cold afternoon 6 or 7 years later, I walked into a church, found the priest, and went to confession. God Himself was in that confessional. What warmth there was in the mercy and love of our Savior! It is never too late. You are never “too far gone”. You can always come home!

Other advice: Daily Mass is a well-kept secret, a valuable treasure.

Adoration. Go as often as you can.
 
mommyof4 said:
Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Please feel free to add to this as the next two weeks go buy- the Big Event is on Nov. 1.
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I’ve been hearing something about purity rings. Maybe you could look into that.

I know that my family, who is Irish, wear claddagh rings that tell of a persons relationship status in how they are worn. Just an idea. Tim
 
I want to recommend anything you can read about St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Also, wearing the brown scapular (your spiritual shield) and praying the Rosary (your spiritual sword). No matter what, remember all of your family in heaven (the Church Triumphant) and on earth (the Church Militant) - we really want to be there for you and help you.:crossrc:
 
I would share the chaplet of Divine Mercy with her. You can learn about it (and order St. Faustina’s Diary and other books) here: thedivinemercy.org/

The message of Divine Mercy is nothing new – it has always been there, and is found throughout the Bible. Jesus revealing its importance to St. Faustina just reinforces what we already know about our Loving God.

St. Faustina’s Diary is long and many have trouble getting through it, but it can be read in little pieces here and there (which helped me when reading it). It has been a huge blessing in my life. Here are a few excerpts from it:
The following are all from the Diary of St. Faustina, which recalls Jesus’ words to St. Faustina for all of us:
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“I desire that priests proclaim this great mercy of Mine towards souls of sinners. Let the sinner not be afraid to approach Me…Distrust on the part of souls is tearing at My insides. The distrust of a chosen soul causes Me even greater pain; despite My inexhaustible love for them they do not trust Me. Even my death is not enough for them. Woe to the soul that abuses these [gifts].”
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“In the evening, Jesus gave me the subject for meditation. At the first moment, my heart was filled with fear and joy. Then I pressed myself close to His Heart, and the fear vanished; only joy remained. I felt entirely like a child of God, and the Lord said… ‘Fear nothing…Before I made the world, I loved you with the love your heart is experiencing today and, throughout the centuries, My love will never change.’”
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“…there is no way to heaven except the way of the cross. I followed it first. You must learn that it is the shortest way… I am giving you a share in those sufferings because of My special love for you and in view of the high degree of holiness I am intending for you in Heaven. A suffering soul is closer to My heart.”
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From the Conversation of the Merciful God with a Despairing Soul:
Jesus: What joy fills My Heart when you return to Me. Because you are weak, I take you in My arms and carry you to the home of My Father.
Soul: (as if awakening, asks fearfully): Is it possible that there is yet mercy for me?
Jesus: There is, My child. You have a special claim on My mercy. Let it act in your poor soul; let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth, and life.
Soul: But fear fills me at the thought of my sins, and this terrible fear moves me to doubt Your goodness.
Jesus: My child, all your sins have not wounded My Heart as painfully as your present lack of trust does - that after so many efforts of My love and mercy, you should still doubt My goodness…Tell Me all, My child, hide nothing from Me because My loving Heart, the Heart of Your Best Friend is listening to you." ❤️
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I think you asked for quotes/Bible verses too right? If you did, here are some of my favorites. If you didn’t, disregard. 😛

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be - and becoming that person.”
~St. Therese the Little Flower

“When it’s God Who is speaking…the proper way to behave is to imitate someone who has an irresistible curiosity and who listens at keyholes. You must listen to everything God says at the keyhole of your heart.”
~ St. John Vianney

“If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.”
~St. Maximilian Kolbe

“He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.” ~St. Augustine

Best wishes to you and your daughter. 🙂 What an awesome gift you are giving her!
 
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