We all have children in our lives in some capacity. We are moms, aunts, big sisters, teachers, godmothers, parish volunteers, and foster parents. In our work with children—whatever that looks like—most of us are highly concerned with their physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual wellbeing. As Catholic women tending to the hearts of kids, our greatest question always remains: How can I help them to know, love, and serve the Lord?
This task is at the heart of Blessed is She's first prayer book for kids, Rise Up: Shining with Virtue. We longed for a solid Catholic resource for the kids in our lives, and you all expressed the same desire. So over a dozen of our writers set out to create a prayer book centered on the virtues taught by St. Thomas Aquinas.
What to Expect from Rise Up
Rise Up offers an in-depth, age-appropriate view of virtues, steeped in Catholic tradition, for children ages 8-12 (but we find that the younger kids in our lives love to listen in, too!).
There are 15 chapters, each focusing on a different virtue. The reflections are accompanied by Scripture verses, Saint quotes, and heart-felt prayers designed to plant the seeds of a prayer life and guide it to blossom.
Rise Up has the Nihil Obstat from Rev. Monsignor Peter D. Bui and the Imprimatur from Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted.
It is our prayer that this prayer book helps children learn more about the virtues our beautiful Faith gives us so as to plant seeds that will last a lifetime.
Why We Hope Our Kids Rise Up
We asked each contributor to Rise Up what their hopes are for the reader. For some, they envisioned their own children while writing. Others envisioned their young students in the classroom or the children they encounter on mission.
But what each woman ultimately hopes is that this book will play a role in raising up a new generation of Saints in the Church.
Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm
Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm’s hope for the readers is to have trust in hope in God for every aspect of life and to lean on Him in good times and in tough times, too.
Nell O'Leary
Nell O’Leary's hope for the readers is that they will fall in love with Scripture and Saint quotes, etching them into their minds and hearts.
Gina Fensterer
Gina Fensterer’s hope for the readers is to let nuggets of truth and goodness sink into their hearts to inspire in living a faithful everyday life.
Susanna Spencer
Susanna Spencer’s hope for the readers is that they will be inspired by learning about the virtues to want to be like the Saints in Heaven.
Sister Maria Kim Bui
Sister Maria Kim Bui's hope is that this book will inspire kids and their families to pursue the life of virtue which is the good.
Jenna Guizar
Jenna Guizar’s hope for the readers is to help them learn more about how much God loves them, and how much that love will never, ever end.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement="middle" css=".vc_custom_1544725066302{border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background-color: #f3e5d3 !important;border-left-color: #b88943 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #b88943 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #b88943 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #b88943 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="Get the BIS Blog Posts weekly in your inbox!" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" google_fonts="font_family:Karla%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal"]
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Abbey Davis Dupuy
Abbey Davis Dupuy's hope for the reader is to form a lifelong friendship with Jesus Christ that will be a joy and a comfort no matter what life brings.
Mary Catherine Craig
Mary Catherine Craige’s hope for her readers is that they may know that they are created good and are deeply loved by God Who made them with great care and purpose.
Anna Coyne
Anna Coyne’s hope for the readers is that this book will help them make their Catholic faith all their own.
Jacqui Skemp
Jacqui Skemp’s hope for the readers is that they would find this work to a be source of approachable formation for the Christian life for many years to come.
Blythe Fike
Blythe Fike’s hope for the reader is that each one may be encouraged to begin again, no matter how hard they fall.
Bobbi Rol
Bobbi Rol’s hope for readers is that they develop a natural love of prayer and building a life of virtue.
Joan Geiger
Joan Geiger’s hope for the readers is to learn more about and grow in their unique God-given gifts and talents.
Rose Coleman
Rose Coleman's hope for the readers is that they would learn to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd with greater clarity.
Megan Hjelmsted
Megan Hjelmstad’s hope for her readers is that they become closer friends with Jesus and always know how much God loves them.
Dr. MaryRuth Hackett
Dr. MaryRuth Hackett’s hope for the readers is that the virtues become more applicable to their daily lives.
Olivia Spears
Olivia Spears' hope for the readers is that they encounter Christ in these pages and fall more deeply in love with Him who loves them endlessly.
Helping Our Kids Rise Up
It is a blessed duty to walk alongside the children in our lives and to help them encounter Christ. Handing on the Faith to the next generation is a joyful mission; but it's not always easy. We hope that Rise Up helps you in this mission.
What do you hope the kids in your life will glean from Rise Up? We can't wait to pray with you for them!
Why We Hope Our Kids Rise Up #BISblog //Click to tweet
*headshots by Lexi Popa Photography
THE PERFECT BOOK FOR KIDS
Rise Up will open up beautiful conversations with your children about the virtues.
. This will bring beautiful fruit to your prayer life and to your children's prayer lives.