When I think about the biggest influences in my faith life, they include my maternal grandparents and a cherished children’s Bible they gave me.
I remember thumbing through The Catholic Children’s Bible (The Regina Press) as a child and reading the stories, typically choosing ones from the New Testament. My copy contains an inscription written in my maternal grandmother’s beautiful cursive, with the date of my first Holy Communion, that still looks as loving as it did when I first opened that hardback cover decades ago.
That Bible was one of the initial seeds of faith that my mother’s parents planted in my life. Today my children’s Bible, which I’ve protected and which has moved with me over many years, now sits on my son’s dresser.
Open the pages
In the parable of the sower (see Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8), Jesus gives examples of how we receive the word of God. We should desire to be that “rich soil” (Mark 4:8) that produces bountiful fruit, not only for our own salvation but for others.
It is the mission of Catholic Digest to give you seeds that will grow fruit in your heart and the hearts of your loved ones. And our commitment to be a sound Catholic spiritual resource continues.
Last year, we launched a redesign of the magazine with an intentionally deeper spiritual focus. Happily, we were recently honored to receive two awards from the Catholic Press Association. This September, we introduce a few changes and welcome the return of an old friend. Most notably you’ll see that:
- Amy Ekeh, an excellent Catholic Bible teacher, will provide in each issue easy ways to incorporate the Bible into your prayer life. Her column is called Bible in 5.
- Matt Archbold is back writing his popular His Turn column where he chronicles daily life as a Catholic dad raising five children.
- Since Sean Patrick’s well-deserved retirement, we are continuing to bring back some of his classic columns. You’ll find another installment of Patrick’s Corner in our October issue, as it alternates with Matt’s stories.
82 years and still growing
This November is Catholic Digest’s 82nd anniversary. We’ve grown and changed through the years, including the addition of CatholicDigest.com and a presence on Facebook and Twitter.
Yet one thing has remained constant: our commitment to our Catholic faith and the truth proclaimed by the one true universal and apostolic Church that Christ himself founded 2,000 years ago. Today it is our mission to hand on our faith to the next generation, dropping tiny seeds along the way that will bear lasting fruit.
You are in my prayers,
Paul