More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls

More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander, 160 pp. Sophia Institute Press. www.sophiainstitute.com

More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls is not just more of the same ol’ stuff. Each story is unique and a favorite in itself. Because these stories are about believable characters, such as Nickie, who prayed for the grace to be brave when things didn’t go his way, Timmy, who wanted to share his joy with another, Rupert and Osbert, who recognized their sins and regretted their mistakes, children will recognize themselves.

Clever and amusing, these are not just moral stories to teach your children a lesson. While holding our attention to the last word, Houselander has the ability to take a truth and turn it upside down. When Anna goes to church to complain bitterly to the Blessed Mother about all her hardships, she wishes that she could be the Blessed Mother. To her great astonishment, that is exactly what happens. She becomes the Madonna in the picture and soon realizes that the life of the Blessed Mother, as well as those who come to pray to her, is not so glamorous.

In Lumen Gentium, we read “’Christians must be to the world what the soul is to the body’” (38). These stories, about Tommy who sacrifices his honor to bring joy and happiness to another, about Kathleen who offers up candy in the hopes of converting Mr. Oats, or Montague, who finds out that sometimes assumptions about others are just plain wrong, give meaning to the words to act as Christ and see Christ in others.

Although I can summarize the plots or describe the themes of these wonderful stories, their powerful impact is what makes them great. If we put into practice the message of these stories, we will truly “bring the light of Christ to all men” (Lumen Gentium, 1).

Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls

Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander, 160 pp. Sophia Institute Press

As parents, one of our most challenging tasks is to make the faith come alive for our children. We want our children to understand the great mystery and appreciate the great beauty of their Catholic faith. In Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls not only does the Catholic faith come alive, but Catholic truths that may be difficult to understand take on new and richer meanings. Why would Christ become man instead of coming to us in all his glory? Why did Christ offer his life for us? Why should I be nice to someone who is wicked and mean?

Like a large box of delectable fine chocolates, each story in Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls contains its own sweet surprise, not an ooey-gooey sugary explanation of a Catholic truth, but a pleasant surprise that makes sense and causes us to pause and wonder at God’s goodness and mercy. In “Terrible Farmer Timson,” we meet Audrey and Jill, two girls who pray for a mean farmer to become “sensible and gentle,” and in doing so, soften his hardened heart. In “Joseph’s Godfather,” Joseph brings his Godfather, a bristling old gentleman known as the General, back to the sacraments through his simple prayers and sacrifices. In “Jack and Jim,” after a case of mistaken identity, twins, Jack and Jim, find out the real meaning of sacrificing yourself for the one you love.

These are just three of the many stories that remind us to see Christ in others as well as to act as Christ to those around us. Sure, we can lecture our children ad nauseum about being good, but it does not have the same effect as reading a story that touches their hearts or pricks their consciences, hopefully reminding them to imitate Christ, such as the one about Vaslav, a boy who risks his life to bring the Eucharist to a group of nuns in a Siberian prisoner camp. Of course, the best way to read them is together aloud, that way you can discuss them later throughout the day. Inspire your daily words and deeds to be more Christ-like and in turn light the faith of your children by reading Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls.