by Jason Free

Raising terrific, happy Christian kids doesn’t happen by accident.

All too often Christian parents end up raising their kids by default. It just happens while we’re busy trying to survive. We want our kids to be happy and to be good, responsible Christians, “in the world but not of it.” But we don’t know how to help them get there.

In Parenting on Purpose, Jason Free provides you with all you need to develop a personal plan for leading your kids to a clear awareness of their Christian identity, so that Christian values, beliefs and attitudes will become as natural to them as breathing.

This is no dry, philosophical treatise about parenting. It’s a “how-to” book, a straightforward, conversational, “in-your-face” sharing of specific ways to bring joy to your family and raise your children as real Christians. Often funny, sometimes sad, and always engaging, Parenting on Purpose will give you a whole new sense of direction as a parent and help you guide your children to a lasting and fulfilling relationship with God.

About the Author

Jason Free is a popular writer, speaker, and master of ceremonies at conferences and retreats. Former general manager of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA, he has taught Marriage and Family Counseling at the graduate level and has done extensive work with couples and families. He and his wife Colleen are the proud parents of eight children.

You can read more about The Free’s here.

More Information on the New Book!

Parenting on Purpose Now Available!
Read the Forward From Danielle Bean…
Behind the Scenes: The story behind the book
What folks are saying about Parenting on Purpose!

It seemed especially fitting that this man, who had spent a lifetime waging battle against the forces of what he called the “culture of death,” should offer such a fearless, contrasting example of embracing suffering at the end of his life.  John Paul II was the only pope I ever knew. I was just
six years old when white smoke wafted from the chimney in the Sistine Chapel and my mother stood before the television, mesmerized and clutching a dishtowel, as Karol Wojtyla was elected pope decades ago. Though I paid little attention at the time, the famous opening lines of John Paul II’s inaugural sermon came to have more meaning for me as I grew older:

“Be not afraid. Open wide the gates to Christ. Open up to his saving power the confines of the state, open up economic and political systems, the vast empires of culture, civilization and development.  … Be not afraid!”

It can be hard not to fear.  As parents raising the next generation of Christians in a world that often mocks our values and offers all manner of godlessness presented in seductive packages, it can be very hard not to fear.  That day in the hospital, when my unborn son’s heart-beat slowed unexpectedly and became erratic, one nurse ran to the hall and shrieked for the doctor while two others threw me roughly onto my side and forced an oxygen mask onto my face. When my eyes met my pale-faced, stoic husband’s, fear pressed hard against my heart.  Hours later, when I held my healthy, pink-faced new-born son, traced my finger along the gentle curve of his dimpled elbows, and felt his sturdy legs kick hard against the swaddling, I thought of our beloved, dying pope.

I recalled his abiding love for families and unfailing confidence in the next generation.  John Paul II once said, “As the family goes, so goes the
nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”  Sometimes that makes me tremble. We are the families in whom he had such confidence. Ours was the generation he predicted would bring about a “new springtime” in the Catholic Church.

I am no pope. How can I raise up a new generation to wage war against a culture of death that devalues human life, promotes impurity, scorns faith, and forgets its dependence on God?  John Paul II had no patience for such paralyzing fears.  I think this is what he had in mind when he reminded us, “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” He intended that we should establish a culture of life by forgetting our fears, “opening wide the doors to Christ,” and letting Him take care of the more worrisome details.

I am grateful for that reminder.

And Jason Free reminds me too. Parenting On Purpose is an easy read, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity.  Ostensibly, this humble book offers readers “7 Ways to Raise Terrific Christian Kids,” but I think what it really offers is something much greater than that. Here, in straight-forward language, with personal examples, practical wisdom, and honest humility, Jason Free offers every Christian parent real hope for the future and an infectious form of optimism.

You can do this, I hear God’s voice through these pages. I have called you to Christian parenthood, and though it might not always be easy, you are up to this task.  Specifically, Free reminds us to nurture our marriages, bless our children, simplify our lives, celebrate life, speak carefully, protect purity, and create a legacy of love for our families. But the most precious gift in this book is that of parental empowerment. The future of our children’s faith is in our hands, but that is not cause for panic. It is cause for great joy. The encouraging, joy-filled chapters of this book will light your heart afire with renewed gratitude for the awesome gift of our faith, and inspire you with confidence as you take on the task of passing on that gift to future generations.

Recently, my son Raphael, born into this world just as John Paul II was leaving it, approached me with a hand-hewn wooden sword his older brother whittled for him from a tree branch.  “Can you attach this to my belt?”  As I worked the sword through his belt loops, Raphael wiped his sun-kissed face with a dirty hand and squinted toward the trees.  “Where can I find some bad guys to fight?” he wondered aloud.  I watched Raphael march boldly into our open field with his sword at his side.  Be not afraid, John Paul II once reminded us, and now Jason Free reminds us too. If we raise up soldiers for Christ, and if we place the future of our Church in such capable hands and hearts as these, we will have nothing
to fear.

Danielle Bean
Editorial Director, Faith & Family

More Information on the New Book!

Parenting on Purpose Now Available!
Read the Forward From Danielle Bean…
Behind the Scenes: The story behind the book
What folks are saying about Parenting on Purpose!

At that time, Jason and my daughter Colleen had been married for sixteen years and had seven children. Since then, another child has arrived — and so has the book.

Over the years, I have been so impressed (and, frankly, amazed) at what Jay and Colleen have done with their kids that I’ve often found myself wishing that Donna and I could start over with raising our own seven kids. There are so many things that just never occurred to me, so many little and big things that I never thought about doing— but would gladly have done with excitement and enthusiasm if I had known.

I know I’m not alone in this. Kids just don’t come with instruction manuals, so we’re all pretty much playing it by ear as parents. I’ve often thought about how many good, Christian couples there are who want to do the right things with their kids, want to help them live happy and holy lives, and would really benefit from learning about the simple, creative, and practical things Jay and Colleen have done with their kids.

From time to time, I had casually suggested to Jay that he should put some of these things in a book so he could share them with other couples. But last year, I finally got specific, telling him that I wanted to publish a book on parenting and I wanted him to write it.

I couldn’t be happier with the results. Parenting on Purpose is an extraordinary book — a book you will not be able to put down. I guarantee that you will alternately laugh and cry your way through it and that your mind will be flooded with new ideas and a growing excitement about raising your kids to be happy, holy, terrific Christian people.

I invite you to read the wonderful forward by Danielle Bean, editorial director of Faith & Family magazine, and to browse through the endorsements we have received from so many other great Catholic writers and speakers.

And I encourage you to get a copy of the book. As soon as you start reading it, you will begin thinking of a whole lot of people you’d love to give it to, so you can help them raise terrific Christian kids — on purpose.

More Information on the New Book!

Parenting on Purpose Now Available!
Read the Forward From Danielle Bean…
Behind the Scenes: The story behind the book
What folks are saying about Parenting on Purpose!

“A truly delightful read, this book offers prayerful insights and practical steps to becoming great Christian parents with terrific Christian children. As a priest, I highly recommend this book both to those who are preparing for marriage and those who are already married.”
— Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
Author of No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy

“Dad and Mom, you will not be able to put down this beautifully written book. It will startle you with its fresh and unanticipated wisdom based on the author’s professional training and experience in raising his eight children. You will benefit especially by implementing the practical advice in the ‘ Let’s roll up our sleeves…’ section at the end of every chapter.”
— Bert Ghezzi
Granddad of fourteen and author of Adventures in Daily Prayer

“What a beautifully written book, filled with wisdom, wit and encouragement for Christian parents! Jason Free speaks with candor and compassion about the challenges and rewards of ‘ parenting on purpose.’ As mother of four and grandmother of five, I learned valuable lessons I can still apply to my own parenting. Get ready to be inspired and to enjoy!”
— Patti Mansfield
Author of As By A New Pentecost, International Conference Speaker.
www.ccrno.org

“This is a fantastic book! — a highly readable and practical guidebook on how to raise great Christian kids — on purpose! I highly recommend it!”
— Fr. Larry Richards
Author of Be a Man!: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be
Founder, The Reason for Our Hope Foundation

“I truly enjoyed Parenting on Purpose. It is a great read — a true gift to Christian parents young and old. The stories shared within are as moving as they are practical. With every turn of the page I was boldly affirmed and gently challenged in my own parenthood. This is a great gift for any Christian parent who takes their vocation seriously… and a needed gift for any who (sadly) might not.”
— Mark Hart
Best-selling Catholic author and speaker
Executive Vice President, Life Teen International

“Over the past 30 years of a happy marriage and parenting 11 children, my wife and I have been astonished at how a surprisingly large number of Christian parents tend to rely much more on “experts” and much less on common sense than they should. Parenting on Purpose can help tilt things back in the right direction for those who take to heart its simple, time-tested, God-centered, common-sense advice on how to effectively ‘ train up a child in the way he should go.’ No gimmicks, tricks, or empty pop-psychology platitudes here. Just plenty of excellent reminders and encouragements regarding those important things that, deep down, you already know in your heart to be true.”
— Patrick Madrid
Director of the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College
Author of Search and Rescue: How to Bring Your Family and Friends Into (or Back Into) the Catholic Church

“Parenting on Purpose by Jason Free comes right from the heart of a dedicated Christian dad. It is a must-have guide on the essentials for raising Christian kids in today’s challenging world.  This versatile guide is fun to read, chock full of practical ideas, and based on solid biblical principles that will keep moms and dads on track through the lifelong adventure of bringing up terrific Christian kids.”
— David Came
Executive Editor, Marian Helper magazine
Author of Pope Benedict’s Divine Mercy Mandate

“It is refreshing to read a book that not only points you in the right direction but gives you practical ideas on how to get there. Parenting on Purpose is filled with insights on parenting that will change lives for eternity.”
— Jeff Cavins
Speaker and author of The Great Adventure: A Journey through the Bible

“At the beginning of Parenting on Purpose, Jason Free says that his book is not a manual for
Christian parenting. I wholeheartedly disagree. Free gives Christian parents a formula for parenting that will, with God’s grace, produce happy, well-adjusted, faith-filled children.  His warm, personal, easy-going style is engaging and at the same time challenging. He calls readers to greater holiness and fidelity to the Lord and their spouse, all the while forming the reader in biblically based parenting. Parenting on Purpose made me laugh and cry, but more importantly it made me rethink the way I parent my own children. I am a better dad for having read this book.”
— Patrick Novecosky
Editor of Legatus Magazine; correspondent for the National Catholic Register; contributing writer for Faith & Family Magazine

“An easy and enjoyable read, full of great practical advice for Christians of all denominations. The principles Jason presents are so universally true and scripturally-based that this book is a veritable Mere Christianity of Christian parenting and should prove of great value to all who follow Christ. I highly endorse Parenting on Purpose for all parents, and indeed, for grandparents too. In fact, I can hardly think of a more perfect gift for parents and for couples awaiting their first (or next) special arrival.”
— Kevin Vost, Psy.D.
Author of Memorize the Faith!, Fit for Eternal Life, Unearthing Your Ten Talents, and From Atheism to Catholicism

“With Parenting on Purpose, Jason Free has offered parents some of that elusive ‘ magic formula’ we’re all seeking when we become parents, or when life becomes even more complicated as our families grow. Jason’s insights and perspectives will help any parent to do his or her job more intentionally, with greater care and with an increased reliance upon prayer and scripture for guidance. Written from the trenches of family life, this book will uplift you, inspire you, and help you to see the blessings inherent in raising faith-filled kids.  Kudos!”
— Lisa M. Hendey
Founder and editor of www.CatholicMom.com
Author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms

“Parenting on Purpose belongs on every Christian parent’s bookshelf. Culling from his own fathering experiences, Jason Free combines practical tips, theological truths, and good ole’ common sense to give readers a sense of direction and a sense of confidence about their parenting skills. His candor, wit, and wisdom make this an engaging read even as he challenges parents to ‘ roll up their sleeves,’ take stock, and take action. The bottom line —buy it!”
— Johnnette S. Benkovic, EWTN Host, founder of  Women of Grace® and Living His Life Abundantly® International, Inc.

“This is no dry, philosophical treatise about parenting. It’s a ‘ how-to’ book, a straightforward, conversational, ‘ in-your-face’ sharing of specific ways to bring joy to your family and raise your children as real Christians. Often funny, sometimes sad, and always engaging, Parenting on Purpose will give you a whole new sense of direction as a parent and help you guide your children to a lasting and fulfilling relationship with God.”
— Vinny Flynn
Author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist
www.MercySong.com

“Wow! Finally a book offering practical ways to raise your children as Christians. A first-class spiritual trainer, Jason Free challenges you to decide now what legacy you want to leave to your children.”
— Fr. George W. Kosicki, CSB
Speaker and author of John Paul II: The Great Mercy Pope

“Both refreshing and essential for today’s Christian parent — Parenting on Purpose will make your heart soar! Through vivid anecdotes, honest insights, and wisdom gained in the trenches of raising eight children, Jason Free guides us to move closer to the family hearth, pare down on technology, and get serious about family prayer and all that is crucial to raise our kids Christian — on purpose!”
— Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Catholic author and EWTN host of “Everyday Blessings for Catholic Moms”

“Do yourself a favor and spend one short afternoon reading this captivating book. Jason Free first entertains, then provides you with common sense methods to change your child’s eternity — on purpose! It’s never too late to give your children a legacy. … What will it be?”
— Colleen Hammond
Speaker and author of Dressing with Dignity and The Gossip’s Guide

With a warm, conversational tone, Jason Free encourages mothers and fathers to consider seven principles of good Christian parenting. He inspires new parents and veterans alike to thoughtfully, intentionally, and actively love their children well every day. This easily read volume blesses us with practical suggestions for prayerful consideration and sound advice for raising a Christian family that is everything God intended it to be. I highly recommend it!
— Elizabeth Foss
Author Small Steps for Catholic Moms and Real Learning: Education in the Heart of my Home
www.elizabethfoss.com

More Information on the New Book!

Parenting on Purpose Now Available!
Read the Forward From Danielle Bean…
Behind the Scenes: The story behind the book
What folks are saying about Parenting on Purpose!

The presenter’s voice reflects the excitement that hangs over the hall: “The nominees for “2010 Praise & Worship Album of the Year”… The names are read, and the audience waits in quiet anticipation as the envelope is opened: “And the recipient is … ‘Beyond the Veil’ by Brian Flynn!”

Such fun at the Awards show! When we arrived and looked at the schedule for the gala evening of awards and performances, we found that Donna and I were to be the presenters for the first award. Instant stress! I’ve always hated being first (icebreaking just isn’t my strong suit) — plus Brian was one of the finalists for that award, so that really didn’t help the state of our nerves. But after Donna had announced the nominees and I opened the envelope, I sure enjoyed announcing the results:

“And the recipient for the ‘2010 Liturgical/Sacramental Song of the Year’ is … Brian Flynn for ‘Panis Vere.’”

And it got better. Brian’s CD “Beyond the Veil” not only went on to receive the cherished award for “2010 Praise and Worship Album of the Year,” but received a 3rd award as well: “2010 Devotional Song of the Year” for his song “You are a Priest Forever.”

Towards the end of the program, Brian returned to the stage, this time to perform. He began by playing a haunting introduction on tin whistle, and then, as the Celtic echoes lingered in the air, he put the whistle down and accompanied himself on the keyboard as he sang the now award-winning song, “You are a Priest Forever.”

And there was some “icing on the cake,” too, as our 2-CD set, the “Mother of Mercy Scriptural Rosary, received the award for “2010 Spoken Word Recording of the Year.” Alleluia!

But beyond the presentations, awards, and performances, there was something far more significant, emphasizing the reason these are called “Unity Awards.” We were part of an international gathering of Catholic recording artists, producers, and designers representing every music and video genre from classical to rap. There was such a feeling of camaraderie and of shared purpose. We weren’t there just to compete for honors and awards, but to meet and affirm and encourage each other, rejoicing together in the reality that no matter how diverse we were, no matter how different our styles of music, we were all dedicated Catholic artists responding to a single call: to use our talents and gifts to give glory to God and help lead others closer to Him. This became most obvious at the end of the evening when, after a full day of rehearsals, a long evening program, and a gala celebration, we gathered in the quiet hush of a local church at 11:30 at night to celebrate Mass together and say, “Thank you, Lord. It’s all about You!”

You can check out the two award-winning CDs here!

[View with PicLens]

In addition to helping you keep your mind on the mysteries, each scripture passage also adds the power of God’s Word. As Pope John Paul II explains, when we use scripture to help us contemplate and “remember” with Mary the great mysteries of her Son, we are not merely “recalling information but allowing God to speak” (RVM, #30).

The Mother of Mercy Scriptural Rosary booklet can be used in two ways:

• As a companion to the 2-cd set by the same title
• As a stand-alone booklet for private or group recitation of the Rosary

4 x 6 Softcover 96 pages $6.95 each

BULK RATE!
Mother of Mercy Scriptural Rosary Booklet-10 copies

Mother of Mercy Scriptural Rosary and Booklet Combo
1 Copy each of the 2 CD set and Booklet

A perfect companion to 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, this chapter-by-chapter study guide is a great resource for individual use, discussion groups, CCD classes, or RCIA formation. You’ll learn how to personalize each “secret,” gain fresh insights into its relevance to your daily life, and find new ways to respond to Christ’s Eucharistic presence. Each chapter offers:

• thought-provoking ideas for personal reflection
• down-to-earth questions for discussion or journaling
• meaningful challenges for daily life
• additional readings from Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Diary of St. Faustina
• the author’s own personal insights, which will invite and inspire you to make a similar
• personal response to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

About the Author
Mary Flynn is currently in her junior year at Franciscan University of Steubenville, pursuing a major in theology. A talented writer and musician, she has long been involved in music and youth ministry and is an active member of the MercySong parish mission team.

6 x 9 Softcover, 88 pages
Price: $6.95

BULK ORDERS: 10 Copies
Save 20%
Price: $55.50

Combo Offer: Book and Study Guide
Price: $13.50

Today the final phrase really hit me, and I was flooded with the reality of it: “You are divinely and eternally loved.”

Here’s the reality: You are not an accident. You didn’t just happen, no matter what the circumstances of your birth. You were not merely born; not merely created. You were fathered — lovingly, personally formed in your mother’s womb by God, who wanted you to be born, wanted you as His child.

There were millions of other human persons who could have been conceived through the union of your mother and father, each with his or her own completely unique DNA. Your parents, of course, couldn’t see all the possibilities and choose the one they wanted. But God could — and did.

Quite simply, you exist because God choose you, from all the millions of others who could have been born. You are — at the very least — “one in a million.” As Pope John Paul II wrote in his “Letter to Families,” “Parents, as you beget children, never forget that God wanted them born.”

That’s why abortion is always wrong, even in cases of rape and incest. No matter how unexpected, inconvenient, dangerous, tragic, or even violent the circumstances may be, one reality is always the same: from all the millions of possibilities, God chooses the child He wants born. And when God chooses to give life to a child, He also chooses to love that child forever, one-on-one, in a different way than He has ever loved any other child.

I have 7 children and (at last count) 23 grandchildren; and I do not love them all the same. I love each one differently and have a different relationship with each one. The more I get to know each one, the more unique that relationship becomes, and I can truthfully say to each, “I love you differently than I have ever loved anyone else.”

This is the way God loves you. When you can put aside all distractions and concerns and focus exclusively on God — in other words, when you become present to Him who is present to you — you will find yourself loved in an entirely unique way. It’s as if no one else exists at that moment — just you and God. You are His entire focus, the delight of His heart.

This then, is what it means, first of all, to be “divinely and eternally loved: to be chosen and set apart from all others in the heart of God.

What else does “divinely loved” mean? It means you are “thrice” loved. There is no separation in the Trinity. As St. Faustina expresses it, “Whoever is in communion with One of the Three Persons is thereby united to the whole Blessed Trinity, for this Oneness is indivisible” (Diary, 472). At every moment of your life, you are being held in the loving embrace of three divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

How do divine persons love? Unconditionally. Not based on behavior, but on relationship. God doesn’t give or withhold love depending on how you act. There is nothing you have ever done or could ever do that can make God stop loving you. You don’t have that power. You can’t change God. He is always loving you, always wanting the best for you. The things you think and say and do don’t change Him; they change you. They either draw you closer to Him and His love, or they pull you away from Him so that you can’t feel or respond to His love.

“Eternally love?” It means that this personal, one-on-one, unchanging love of God for you is not bound by time. He knew you and loved you before He formed you in your mother’s womb, and His love for you will never end.

You are divinely loved — forever!

On this particular day I was praying for a family member, and I found myself mentally placing him in the rays, asking the Lord to let him stay there all day to be soaked and saturated with grace in this outpouring of God’s mercy. Looking for a way to remember this intention throughout the day, I dug up a photo of him and stuck it in the corner of the frame so that it was right below the rays – a visual reminder that would prompt me to renew my prayer each time I looked up and noticed it.

It made my prayer seem so much more real that I soon purchased a much larger, unframed image. I glued it to a thick piece of cardboard and, within a few weeks, there were pictures tacked all over it: my wife and children, other family members, the Pope, special friends, anyone I wanted to remember to pray for.

A variation of this photo prayer soon emerged. My wife and I decided to assign a specific day of the week to pray in a special way for each of our children (very easy to do since there are 7 of them). So we gathered photos of each and set up a little “prayer table” on which we could display a different photo each day. This became especially powerful during Lent, as it prompted me to also give up something specific for each child on his or her prayer day.

But as meaningful as these two types of prayer were, the next variation that evolved proved to be the most fruitful for me and has become a permanent part of my daily prayer life. Years earlier I had learned that praying the Liturgy of the Hours (the 4-volume set of prayers known also as the Divine Office) is not reserved exclusively for priests and religious, but can be a fruitful practice of daily prayer for laity as well. I especially love to “pray the Office” in front of the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic adoration. One day, concerned about a friend who was in need of prayer, I found a photo of her and put it in my breviary so I would remember to pray for her the next morning at adoration. It was the first of many photos that I now keep in my breviary.(It doesn’t have to be a breviary; any prayer book or prayer journal would serve the purpose just as well.)

How do I pray using the photos?

I just look at them. “Prayer,” wrote St. Therese, “is a surge of the heart.” I just look at the pictures, one by one, and let my heart surge to God for each person. A photo captures much of the essence of a person. As I gaze at each photo, the person it represents becomes present to me, complete with personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, memories, conversations, specific needs, etc. Sometimes actual words of prayer come to mind and are offered; sometimes there are no words. Essentially I am simply lifting each person up to God in whatever way and for whatever period of time seems called for. It varies from day to day. Sometimes a brief glance and momentary entrustment of the person to God is sufficient. At other times, the same photo may bring a flood of thoughts and a longer period of prayer. I just let it happen, trusting that the Holy Spirit is directing it all.

I am now in the habit of carrying a small digital camera with me when I travel; and when someone asks for prayer, I say, “Sure! Say “cheese.”

Ever notice that in this prayer God is referred to first of all as “Father” and only then as “creator”? There’s a whole teaching here. Pope John Paul II, in Rich in Mercy, explains that God is not just the creator, but “He is also Father,” and He is linked to us “by a bond still more intimate than that of creation. It is love, which not only creates the good but also grants participation in the very life of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For he who loves desires to give himself” (#7).

God doesn’t create as an all-powerful but distant artisan with no real interest in His creations. He “fathers-forth” from His heart, not just creating beings, but begetting children who are to be His own. Lovingly and tenderly he forms each of us in our mothers’ wombs, fashioning us in His own image and likeness, and breathing His Spirit into us, so that one day we may return to Him “holy and spotless” to live like Him and with Him forever. For “such is the ‘plan of his loving kindness,’ conceived by the Father before the foundation of the world” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #257).

What should our response be to such a gift? To simply live as His children, trusting that His love never changes, His fathering never ends. In the midst of life’s busyness, we can rest in His heart, trusting and rejoicing and giving thanks, letting our daily lives form an endless song of praise.

“He fathers-forth whose beauty is beyond change. Praise Him”(Hopkins, Pied Beauty).