One of my goals for youth ministry is to develop a “spiritual toolbox.” The “tools” would be knowledge and skills that could equip teens for life as a Catholic young adults in college or where ever.
To me, Catholicism is a roadmap for life. It gives guidance on how to live in a way that is truly satisfying and fulfilling. There are so many choices that young adults face…many of them destructive. These choices can put kids on a terrible foundation for the future. I want to equip them to face life as a Catholic. I wish someone had been around to give me this roadmap when I was a teen. I think I would have made different choices and wouldn’t suffer from the effects of those choices today. The spiritual toolbox is a training program for providing teens with a Catholic worldview. For equipping them to handle problems and approach life in a specifically Catholic way.
I got the idea of a spiritual toolbox from a friend who helped me formulate some strategies for the youth group. At one time, he developed training programs for technicians in a nuclear power plant. To do this, he would start with a vision for what the ideal technician in a particular job would look like. What knowledge was needed to work in the shop? What skills were required to run this machinery? Once he figured this out, he would backward map a training program that incorporated these “tools” into the worker. This is sort of what I want to do with youth ministry.
Let’s face it, it requires training to know how to live life well. This is just not something we know innately. Teenagers need to use this time to lay foundations for the future. They do it in academics, why not in life…Catholic life. There is no better roadmap for life than the Catholic Faith. St. Paul said this, “Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim 4:7-8). That’s what I want to do, provide training in godliness.
So, the question is, what would a fully prepared teenager look like? What skills do they need to have? What knowledge do they need to learn? What experiences need to be their own? I need to answer these questions and then backward map a training program that includes these elements.
In my next post on youth ministry, I want to talk about what to include in the spiritual toolbox.
What do you think? What should a spiritual toolbox for a teen look like? What do you think it should include? I would love to know.
I like introducing Fr. Rohlheiser’s “Four Non-Negotiables” with my students. They come from his book The Holy Longing:nn1. A personal relationship with Jesus, fostered by personal prayer and personal moral responsibilityn2. Belonging to a worshiping community, participating in Eucharist and other sacramentsn3. Works of charityn4. Mellowness of heart, fostered by fasting and leading to gratitudennI also use Matthew Kelly’s The Rhythm of Life with them, especially the idea that all God wants of them is to become “the best version of themselves,” physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.
These are good points Nick. Very similar to what I was thinking about. I’ll take a look at that book for ideas. Thanks! Prayer and personal relationship are definitely at the top of the list. I like that Matthew Kelly quote as well. It’s very easy to remember too.
Love–LOVE that book Nick. His concept of “mellowness of heart” deeply impressed me. From H.L. and his many other writings I always understood it to be something that, like a good wine, needed years to acquire. I’m very interested in how you would present that to young people. Love your four points!
I’m looking forward to your “toolbox.” With this generation, there is a huge need for training in prayer, particularly silent prayer. No cell phones, no computers, no TV, no video games. Take five minutes to listen to God in prayer.
I agree. I think silent prayer is the first and most important thing. In “The Interior Castle,” St. Teresa of Avila said that prayer was the entryway into the mansions. The first step in the spiritual life. I love all the ideas you always have on your site for leading the kids to pray. Thanks for the comment.
I agree with Nick and Jared–all essential elements in the “toolbox.” nnI would like to offer my two cents about the toolbox itselfu2026 nnAs a new homeowner I learned that all the great tools in the world were too heavy to carry around in a plastic grocery bag. So I invested in a quality tool box. I think the same is needed for these awesome tools. I believe that the container that can hold these things mentioned above is a truly c/Catholic imagination. nnI worry that we are not devoting enough energy toward teaching teaching our youth to THINK c/Catholic. So much catechesis today seems oriented toward amassing a lot of knowledge with little attention given to teaching youth how to think like the men and women who passed on to us that rich deposit of faith. nnThe greatest gift of my u201cc/Catholicu201d education was not the information (which today can be retrieved online) but was learning how approach issues in a disciplined, philosophical and theological manner. If our world needs anything, it doesnu2019t need more learned men and women. It needs more THINKERSu2014who view knowledge acquisition not as an end in and of itself but as a foundation to support a life of creativity, prayer and service. These will be the voices, minds, and souls strong enough, grounded enough to respond meaningfully to new challenges that face humanity, the faith and our Church.n
Roy, you’re getting to the heart of what I’m thinking about but perhaps saying it better. I want them to be able to THINK Catholic, choose Catholic, approach the world and life as a Catholic. I want them to understand doctrine, but not as amassed knowledge. I’m interested in teaching them spirituality as “lived theology.” The doctrines of the Church form our understanding of God, but how we live them out, is the goal, and what matters in the end. nnI LOVE this idea of “Catholic imagination.” Of forming “THINKERS” who can respond to future challenges in a truly Catholic way. That will form the future leaders of our Church.
Great topic! I look forward to future posts!
Thanks Jonathan! I look forward to hearing your ideas on the subject.
I’d like a Kitchen Air Stand Mixer, preferably in a fun color like pink or yellow… Oh wait, a “spiritual” toolbox. Sorry, Honey.
That could actually be a good tool for youth group. It could help teach them how to cook. Valuable life skill!
You are a good sport! Seriously (as you know we’ve been turning this around for days) I think it comes down to prayer, good formation (could I possibly be more broad), and a personal relationship with Christ. nnHere is a quote I found at http://catholicism.org/talk-mentalprayer.html: nHowever, Saint Alphonsus teaches that u201cIt is morally impossible for him who neglects meditation to live without sin.u201d He even says that over and above the Rosary, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, and fasting, mental prayer is more effective because of its incompatibility with sin. The reason for this, he said, is that those in mortal sin can persevere in these other practices, but nobody can continue the practice of mental prayer in the state of mortal sin. He will either repent or quit the practice of mental prayer. These thoughts should not be taken lightly from the Churchu2019s Doctor of Moral theology, especially since he was a very experienced physician of souls.nnThis mirrors what Sr. Susan used to tell us, and I have found it to be true. nnAlso, with the prayer and the personal relationship with Jesus, one can discern one’s own “way” through the world. Some are called to religious life. Some of us are called to sacrifice the world to raise our families. But others are called to rock the business world and be a model to others.nnLove you!
Hey, that’s an awesome quote! I’m glad you found that. I saw part of that in “The Soul of the Apostolate” too. Yeah, that’s exactly what Sr. Susan used to tell us. Even over the Rosary…wow! nnDiscerning one’s way is part of being a thinker like Roy was talking about too.
“knowledge and skills”rnrnA reasonable understanding of the relationship between the Bible and the Church, although this opinion inevitably refects on Catholic life in the Bible Belt and may be less critical elsewhere.
Yeah, I definitely believe that the Bible weighs in as a huge factor in the toolbox. One of the biggest. An understanding of the relationship between the Bible and the Church is very important too. If you understand that, you understand everything. I bet that one is really important where you come from isn’t it?
I agree–Scriptures are a HUGE tool. It is so important though that catechists, YM’s etc know how to USE the tool first! As a young person I had so many scripture classes that merely obfuscated the meaning of God’s Word and confused more than clarified. As we use this tool we should work diligently to entice others, to whet their appetite for more such that they’ll continue learning, praying and savoring God’s Word on their own when we’re no longer there.
I agree. You know, I remember seeing a 7th grade CCD textbook that was all about Scripture and it was only an academic treatment talking about dating and authors and composition. It was like reading an English literature book. And, on top of that, it talked about how perhaps some of the authors weren’t really who they say there were like perhaps John was written much later by disciples of John. How does that develop the faith of these kids? It only serves to put doubt in their minds. There was nothing about the power of the Bible, how it could change our lives, how to read it and use it for prayer…nothing! What a waste that is! Those kids don’t need that stuff. They need to understand how to use it and how it can change their lives! They something that entices them and makes them hungry for more!
Two tools to add to the list that have come up recently in my ministry:
(a) A working knowledge of how to read the Bible on their own. I was doing a little Bible Study the other day and was surprised how much difficulty the guys in my group had in understanding what I thought were simple images and analogies in the Gospels (the house built on sand, pearl of great price, etc.) I believe having someone walk them through the Gospels, learning to interpret what is in there, will empower them to take up Scripture on their own. I’ll let you know how it goes for me!
(b) A practical guide to decision-making. I think in ministry we spend a lot of time exhorting people to do things without telling them how. We tell them to pray, but don’t teach them how to pray. Just so, we might encourage our teens to make good decisions, but they need practical guidance on how to go about that. Step-by-step, it looks something like:
(1) Is it compatible with revealed will of God through the Commandments and moral teaching of the Church? No? Don’t do it. Yes? Continue to step 2.
(2) Is it compatible with my responsibilities and obligations? Reading your Bible is a good thing, but if your two hours of reading a day causes you to fail three classes, then it’s not God’s will. If it’s compatible with your responsibilities, continue to step 3.
(3) Is God calling ME to THIS? Take it to prayer and see if God gives you peace about moving forward with that decision. Should I try out for the school play, even though I won’t be able to go to youth group because of rehearsals? Maybe, maybe not – but see what God has to say about it!
These are two of the things I see as very important as well. The Bible is definitely fundamental knowledge and absolutely needs to be known. I think urging them to regular reading of the Bible and prayer with it could take care of some of what you’re talking about. It would definitely give them a familiarity with it over time.
Decision making is high on the priority list. These are very good practical steps. I like them a lot! Did you make those up?
Thanks for the additional comments Jim!