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Prayer at Regina Angelorum Academy Regina Angelorum Academy is a private, independent Catholic grade school. As a school community, we are faithful to the teachings of the Catholic church. We believe that our primary responsibility is to point children towards Heaven.  This is a sacred trust we have received from the parents of our students, and we make every effort to honor this commitment. Daily prayer is a part of school life at Regina Angelorum Academy and is the anchor of a student’s day.  Through daily prayer, we can help students build a lifelong habit of prayer and devotion that [...]

Catholic Schools Week is January 29 - February 4. This special week allows RAA and other Catholic schools nationwide to celebrate our commitment to faith, excellence, and service. Our faith in Jesus is the foundation for all that we do at RAA. Our faculty helps students develop excellent habits and flourish in virtue by imitating Christ. Our commitment to service allows students to remember that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Christ. Children hunger for real traditions. In that spirit, here are the traditions that we hold dear during Catholic Schools Week at [...]

Church Doctrine and St. Thomas Aquinas Church Doctrine and St. Thomas Aquinas contributed by Eric Maurer, MClass, Director of Classical Education at Regina Angelorum Academy. Source: onepeterfive.com Happy feast of St. Thomas Aquinas!  Today RAA celebrates our church’s premier theologian.  He himself a classical educator leading seminar-style classes in which students would pepper him with questions.  Aquinas defended church doctrine and considered countless heresies in his summation of theology, the Summa Theologica and in his Summa Contra Gentiles, written for non-Catholics.   Using the strongest objections to Catholic doctrine that he could find, Aquinas answered each of them one at [...]

During Advent, from December 17-23, the O Antiphons are sung during Evening Prayer. We recognize them in a modified version as they appear in the Advent hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. From Catholic Online: There are seven short verses sung before the Magnificat during Evening Prayer of the Church on the seven days before the vigil of Christmas. They each begin with the exclamation "O". Each of them ends with a plea for the Messiah to come. As Christmas approaches the cry becomes more urgent. The antiphons were composed in the seventh or eighth century when monks put together texts [...]

Today is the Feast Day of St. Lucy (or Lucia) which means light. It's a great day to celebrate light during these much longer nights and shorter days. Around school on All Saints' Day, you might see some of our students dressed up and carrying a plate with two eyeballs or perhaps a class eating eyeball buns. Why is this?   St. Lucy was born to a wealthy Christian family during a time when the Roman Emperor Diocletian was persecuting Christians. After her father died and her mother became ill, she was promised to a pagan man to ensure that she [...]

Gaudete Means Rejoice Today, Gaudete Sunday, is a joyous occasion, but what does it mean and why is the color rose used? First, the definition. Gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin. Its name is taken from the entrance antiphon of the Mass, which is: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. (from Philippians 4:4-5) The Color Rose There is also the color rose. This is possibly the most recognizable symbol to many, especially when lighting a rose candle on the Advent Wreath. As a liturgical color, rose is a lightened version of the penitential violet [...]

Each December, children are delighted to receive their Advent calendars. As each door is opened, scripture, an image, and sometimes a treat is presented. This tradition has been around since the 4th century, but many of us may not realize its historical significance. Originally, converts to Christianity spent their time during Advent to prepare for their Baptism and eventually it became the season of preparation for Jesus’ birth. Calendars began on December 1st because of the varying dates on which Advent began. Advent---that period of great anticipatory joy---is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ's arrival in Bethlehem as [...]