Washing Feet: An Example of Service or Something More?

Jesus Washing Peter's Feet by Ford Madox Brown 1852-6 So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. - John 13:2-5 Today, in 2024 A.D., we don't give much thought to these few sentences. The impact of the activity of Jesus is lost on us because a) We wear shoes everywhere. Many of us even have "inside shoes" and "outside shoes". b) The Church's liturgy (as popularly practiced) often misses or lessens the importance of this event (pro tip: it's not simply Jesus giving and example of serving others). Contrary to what we see in the movies, the roads in the time of Jesus weren't all covered in perfectly placed cobblestones or silky, fine dust. If r

The 7 Habits of Holy Catholic Families

In 1989 Stephen Covey introduced the world to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  Something must have struck a collective nerve for it to have sold 15 million copies in 38 languages.  In 1998 Stephen's son Sean wrote wrote a teen version which has become my favorite for it's language, style, and readability.

I was introduced to the Seven Habits in 2009 by my brother, Fr. William Hahn, and began studying the habits in depth.  At the time I was working as the Director of Religious Education for a large parish in Columbus, OH and as luck would have it, the school wanted to implement the habits into the curriculum.  It was my task to make them "Catholic".  I spent months of study and meditation and found that just as Stephen Covey says, "these habits are universal and timeless."

However, I did meet with not a little opposition from parents.  Many complained that these didn't belong in a Catholic school because Covey is Mormon.  Others complained that the habits are designed only for business, not for "real life".  I made it a personal mission to help these parents and parishioners see that the habits could be found in everyday "real life" and most especially in our Catholic Faith.

I have since left the parish and school to follow other pursuits but the habits and that work have stuck with me.  Recently I noticed some bad habits rearing their ugly heads in my own children, their school work (we homeschool), and their attitudes.  I decided it was time to introduce them to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Catholic Edition.

Over the next few blog posts I'll share with you the habits, how we've been teaching them to our children, but most especially how we can find them in every aspect of our Catholic Faith.  I invite you to join us on this journey.  I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of either book if you are not already familiar with the habits.  There's also a book for the much younger children.

Here is the list of habits, our little memory device, and how we tie it to the faith.  The blog posts will be more in-depth (blog post available when highlighted):

1. Be Proactive - URNCtrl - Exercise your free will.
2. Begin with the End in Mind - STEPS - The ultimate goal is Heaven.
3. Put First Things First - Prioritize - PWP - Pray, Work, Play
4. Think Win-Win - Pi (an endless Pi(e)) - You can't outdo the generosity of God.
5. Seek 1st to Understand, then to be Understood - L3S (Listen, Listen, Listen, Speak) - JOY (Jesus, Others, You)
6. Synergize - 1+1>2 - Help each other to Heaven
7. Sharpen the Saw - SUNDAY - On the seventh day, God rested.



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VENMO




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God bless you - Jim Hahn


* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

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