Bells of St. Mary's Christmas Play

From the mouths of babes, here is a classic first grade version of the story of Christmas.
Doctrine: Incarnation, liturgical year

Matthew's Begat's

As we prepare for the coming of the awaited Messiah, we consider His genealogy to reflect on God's saving plan being prepared through the generations that preceded the Christ.
Doctrine: Incarnation, Liturgical Year, Scripture

Buenos Dias Paloma Blanca

On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, we recall the apparition of our Blessed Mother to St. Juan Diego, which ultimately resulted in the conversion of nine million Native Americans in Mexico. This song, among others, is popular for today's feast. Here is a translation of the lyrics:
Good morning, White Dove,
today I come to greet you,
greeting your beauty
in your celestial kingdom!

You are mother of the Creator
that enchants my heart,
thanks I give you with love.
Good morning, white dove!

Beautiful girl, holy girl,
your sweet name praised,
because you are so blessed,
that I come to greet you.

Resplendent like the dawn,
pure and sensitive and without stain,
what pleasure my soul receives.
Good morning, white dove!
Doctrine: Liturgical Year, Blessed Virgin Mary, America

The Immaculate Conception

Father Barron has illuminated the richness of our Faith through the Catholicism series. In this story of Our Lady of Lourdes, we hear the revelation of Mary as the Immaculate Conception within years of the dogma's promulgation.
Doctrine: Liturgical Year, Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Conception

Advent Calendar

The season of Advent is upon us! During this holy season, we prepare our hearts for the three comings (“advents”) of Jesus Christ: in His birth on Christmas, at the end of time, and each day in the Eucharist. There are several traditions in the Church that assist us in our preparations. The lighting of the Advent wreath marks the four weeks of Advent. A Jesse tree traces Salvation History through Old Testament stories and figures to prepare for its culmination in the birth of the Messiah. Advent calendars are also another way to anticipate the great feast of Christmas. Yet again, some families place the empty Christmas crib out with pieces of straw, allowing family members who perform good deeds to add straw to the manger to prepare a warm bed for the Christ Child.  Any of these external practices is meant to prepare our hearts for the magnificent reality of the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Advent calendar above provides some daily spiritual food for thought during this time of joyful expectation.

Doctrine: liturgical year, Advent, Jesus Christ

Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

One hundred fifty years ago, Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." More than an act of gratitude for a bountiful harvest, the President desired to strengthen bonds of unity in the nation and recommit the people to peace and tranquility. As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, let us not forget the greatest act of Thanksgiving, the Eucharistic Feast.
Doctrine: Eucharistic, patriotism

Christus Vincit!

Christ conquers! Christ rules! Christ reigns! Amen! Alleluia!
Doctrine: Primacy of Christ, Kingship of Christ, Liturgical Year: Solemnity of Christ the King

Candlelight

The Maccabeats offer a lovely summary of the history of the Jewish feast of Hannukah. We hear this story in the readings at Mass during these final days of the liturgical year. Moreover, the Jewish liturgical calendar provided a basis for the development of the Christian liturgical cycle.
Doctrine: Scripture, liturgical year

Wherever You Go

By Audrey Assad
This song speaks of the relentless pursuit of God after those whom He loves. The second verse alludes to the story of Jacob wrestling with the Lord in Genesis 32: "Wrestling angels 'till dawn breaks through/ There's a blessing and a wound."
Doctrine: Old Testament, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, conversion

Blessed Pope John Paul II

Today is the memorial of Blessed Pope John Paul II, who will be canonized April 27, 2014 with Blessed Pope John XXIII. Praise God!
Doctrine: Church hierarchy

Huron Carol

The French missionaries who came to North America in the 17th century worked hard in difficult circumstances to serve those who lived in this land and bring Christ to them. St. Jean de Brebeuf studied the Huron language and strove to bring the Word of God to the Hurons by translating prayers into their own tongue. He also wrote this Christmas carol in their language, which not only puts the words of the story in Huron, but also uses imagery with which the Huron people would be familiar to describe what happened on that holy night. This is an excellent example of inculturation. This version of the song is sung in Wendat (Huron), French, and English.
Doctrine: North American Martyrs, saints, Christmas, inculturation

The Four Witnesses

On the occasion of the feastday of St. Ignatius of Antioch, this book offers thorough and engaging narratives about each of these four Fathers of the Church. Incorporated into the stories are excerpts from the saints' writings. These accounts bring to life these saints of the early Church, for whom we must acknowledge that "the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians" (Tertullian).

Doctrine: saints, martyrdom

Nada Te Turbe

St. Teresa of Avila wrote this prayer about how God alone is enough for us. The prayer has been set to music by Jacques Berthier of the Taize community. This great saint and Doctor of the Church placed her trust in Divine Providence and cooperated with God's grace to bring about the reformation of the Carmelite Order. The feast of St. Teresa of Avila is October 15.
Doctrine: Saints, Trust in Divine Providence

O Sanctissima Anima

As we celebrate the anniversary of the passing of our Holy Father Francis into eternal life, this antiphon recognizes the coming of the great saint into the courts of heaven.

O most holy soul, 
at whose entrance into eternity
the citizens of heaven come forth
the choirs of angels rejoice
and the glorious Trinity exalts, saying
"Abide with us forever."

Doctrine: liturgical year, St. Francis

Archangel Song

Archangel Song on Vimeo

The Feast of the Archangels is September 29. St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and St. Michael are the three great messengers from God mentioned in Scripture. The seminarians who made this video recount each of their stories in this song.
Doctrine: liturgical year, angels

Good King Wenceslaus

Probably the most comprehensive hagiographical account to date. The Feast of St. Wenceslaus is September 28.
Doctrine: liturgical year, saints

Eucharist (How to Receive)

This short informational video could be used with a high school or junior high audience as a thorough reminder of how we appropriately approach and receive the Blessed Sacrament during Holy Communion. It's a good review at the beginning of the school year, during a retreat, or before receiving Confirmation or participating in the celebration of another Sacrament.
Doctrine: Sacraments, Eucharist

Ubi Caritas

Ubi Caritas, Durufle
In honor of the Feast of St. Gregory the Great, here is a bit a Gregorian chant. The Latin words of the refrain translate as "where charity and love prevail, God is there." This song is traditionally an antiphon for the washing of the feet at the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, the beginning of the Easter Triduum.
Doctrine: saints - Gregory the Great, liturgy, Paschal Mystery

Love and Do What You Will

For the Feast of St. Augustine, an excerpt from one of his homilies on love.
Doctrine: virtues - charity

The King's Good Servant...

from A Man for All Seasons
St. Thomas More obeyed the voice of his conscience up to his death. Though he upset many people, even those whom he loved, by his fidelity to the truth, he knew that he could not lie to himself and would one day have to stand before the throne of God and answer the ultimate judge. Thus, he died, "the king's good servant, but God's first."
Doctrine: morality, conscience, law, saints

Be Our Guest

From Beauty and the Beast
Those who serve in the Master's mansion welcome a newcomer to a sumptuous banquet. In heaven, we are welcome to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Doctrine: heaven; Eucharist
Use: Incorporate into a celebration to conclude the Beatitudes or one of the parables on the kingdom of heaven.

The Annunciation - The Virgin and the Hunt of the Unicorn

 

Hunt of the Unicorn Annunciation (ca. 1500) from a Netherlandish Book of Hours Credit: Joseph Zahavi/Morgan Library

Netherlandish Artist, c. 1500

Medieval artwork often depicted the Annunciation with Mary seated in an enclosed garden, a unicorn leaping into her lap. The Angel Garbriel blows a hunting horn and is accompanined by hounds. The Virgin Mary has long been associated with the "enclosed garden" of the Song of Songs (4:12). The hounds chase the unicorn into the lap of the Virgin. Ancient myths about unicorns claimed that only a virgin could tame them. This depiction was popular in the fifteenth century and fell out of use after the Council of Trent.

Doctrine: Blessed Virgin Mary - Annunciation, Liturgical Year - March 25

Les Misérables - Passover

The Maccabeats
Who knew that Les Mis fit so splendidly with the Passover story? This medley provides a nice overview of the Exodus account, complete with the final note of hope that leads the Chosen People to re-present this historic event every year.
Doctrine: Scripture - Moses, Exodus; Liturgical Year - Holy Week, Passover

The Ball and the Cross

By G.K. Chesterton
This novel follows a Catholic and an atheist across the British countryside as they duel in the name of beliefs they hold to the point of death. In a landscape of apathy and indifference, each man finds that their greatest enemy is not the other, but a tolerant society that considers martyrdom absolutely intolerable.

Excerpt:
“At least,” said Turnbull, savagely, “it was your Jesus Christ who started all this bosh about being God.”
For one instant MacIan opened the eyes of battle; then his tightened lips took a crooked smile and he said, quite calmly:
“No, the idea is older; it was Satan who first said that he was God.”
“Then, what,” asked Turnbull, very slowly, as he softly picked a flower, “what is the difference between Christ and Satan?”
“It is quite simple,” replied the Highlander.  “Christ descended into hell; Satan fell into it.”
“Does it make much odds?” asked the free-thinker.
“It makes all the odds,” said the other.  “One of them wanted to go up and went down; the other wanted to go down and went up.  A god can be humble, a devil can only be humbled.”
p. 147

Doctrine: God's existence, faith and reason, natural law, absolute truth

Nothing But the Blood of Jesus

sung by Sarah Hart Pearsons
The Most Precious Blood of Jesus redeems us from sin. The Church is born from the pierced side of Christ (cf. CCC 766). The month of July is traditionally dedicated to the Most Precious Blood.
Doctrine: Passion, Liturgical Year, Redemption

Non Nobis

from Henry V
This setting of Psalm 115 is sung after the battle, serving as a reminder that any victory belongs to God - "not to us, O Lord, but to Your name give the glory." Even in times of seeming defeat, it is important to thank God for those blessings which He does bestow upon us.
Doctrine: gratitude, worship, humility

How You Will Enchant the Angels

from Babette's Feast
This movie is replete with sacramental and Eucharistic imagery. However, the final scene offers a beautiful example of the greatness of art and its use by man as a reflection of the Creator. While a person's artwork - in any form - may go unacknowledged by others on earth, in heaven we will "enchant the angels!" Start this clip at 9:10 to see the final scene.
Doctrine: Art (Eighth Commandment), Vocation, Eternal Life

The Cave

By Mumford & Sons
With allusions to Plato's cave and the journey of Odysseus, this song speaks of awakening to the reality of truth. Understanding his nature as creature allows the speaker to have hope in the freedom of a life lived "as it's meant to be" when he responds to the call of his name.
Doctrine: discernment, vocation, philosophy, freedom, hope

Buddy and Jovie's Date

From the movie Elf
Although a grown man, Buddy the Elf maintains a childlike spirit as he takes Jovie on a date. Spending time with him, she realizes that he brings out the same childlike spirit in her.
Doctrine: Beatitudes - "Blessed are the pure in heart"
Buddy's pure heart enables him to live simply and love purely. This singleheartedness is different from immaturity.

Stars

from Les Miserables; performed by Philip Quast
This song portrays the philosophy of Javert, the policeman who devotes years of his life to tracking down the ex-convict Jean Valjean. While Valjean has discovered redemption through mercy, Javert knows only the justice of the law. He acts according to his conscience, but he cannot comprehend the possibility what he perceives as evil becoming good.
Doctrine: Morality - law and conscience; Church history - Jansenism

Litany for the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart

Poem by Gertrud von Le Fort

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Litany

For the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart

Your voice speaks:

Now I will pray the ardour of the soul as a great litany is prayed. 

 Now I will raise the song of praise that is not sung but loved. 

 Blood-red secret of all that is:

Holy Heart, divine Heart, almighty Heart.

Be loved, Love, eternal Love, be thou eternally loved.

Hearth in the dark of the frozen world,

Be loved, Love!

Flame-shadow over all the false brightness of the world,

Be loved, Love!

Burning sign in all the false rest of the world;

Lonely Heart, flaming Heart, unquenchable Heart:

Be loved, everlasting Love.

Heart deep as the nights that have no face:

Be loved!

Heart strong as the waves that have no shores:

Be loved!

Heart tender as little children that have no bitterness:

Be everlastingly loved!

Rose from the flower-beds of the invisible,

Rose from the chalice of the humble maiden,

Blossoming rose-bush, in which heaven and earth are entwined,

Be loved, everlasting Love!

Royal Heart in the flowing mantle of Thy blood:

Be loved!

Brother-Heart in the wild mockery of the thorny crown:

Be loved!

Breaking Heart in the stark ornament of Thy death wounds:

Heart dethroned, Heart betrayed, Heart cruelly martyred:

Be loved, everlasting Love, be everlastingly loved.

Heart before whom the mighty find their knees,

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Heart before whom the careless find their tears:

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Herat in whom thieves and murderers yet find forgiveness,

Great Heart, Heart of mercy, Heart of glory, 

We ask Thee for Thy love!

Red-thorn of our gladness,

Sorrow-thorn of our repentance,

Fair evening glow of our own setting,

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Crimson cloth that turns sin pale as death:

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Ruby stream after which the sick souls thirst:

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Whispering nearness in which parted friends may meet:

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Comforting lamp of the distressed,

Lighthouse of the persecuted and the disgraced,

Hidden chamber in which the gentle dead may yet breathe;

All-knowing Heart, all-guiding Heart, ultimate Heart:

We ask Thee for Thy love!

Heart that takes us all to itself,

Heart that strikes the center of all our hearts,

Heart that breaks the proud hearts of us all:

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Heart that makes solitude into a great people:

We ask Thee for Thy Love.

Heart that makes discord into a united people:

We ask Thee for Thy love.

Heart in which the whole world becomes Thy people:

We consecrate ourselves to Thy love.

Overflowing Heart, overflaming Heart, overstorming Heart:

Be loved, Love, everlasting Love, be everlastingly loved.

That Thy Dawn may break with kindling light,

We consecrate ourselves to Thy love.

That Thy day may bring fire to our hearts,

We consecrate ourselves to Thy love.

That Thy day may burn all our hearts into Thine,

We consecrate ourselves to Thy love,

Mighty Heart, ineluctable Heart, all-consuming Heart.

Fire! Fire! The angels' wings are burning, the swords of the seraphim are aflame!

The lights of heaven are burning, the depths of earth are burning rocks and yesterdays are all aflame!

The expectation of all creatures burns – the spirit burns in the darkness of high thought.

All has been taken from love, all must become love; sing "Holy, Holy, Holy!" rustling flames of the Seraphim!

Heart from which the heavens draw their glory,

Heart from which suns and constellations draw their beginning and their end,

Heart from which the souls of the blessed draw their blessedness.

World-ordering Heart, world-conquering Heart, Thou only Heart of hearts:

Amen. Amen. May the day of Thine infinite love come quickly.

While the traditional Litany of the Sacred  Heart contains beautiful imagery, this poem also offers enchanting meditations on the "Heart which has so loved men."
Doctrine: Sacred Heart
Use: If the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart (Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost) falls after school ends, which it often does, Valentine's Day may provide another opportunity to teach students about the greatest love story.