Reflect

Scriptural Prayer and Reflection:
Among the many ways to pray, scriptural prayer is one of the best for children. The stories, images, characters, and words of the Bible are an excellent starting point for a child’s prayer. Using Scripture as a foundation for prayer helps children to engage their imagination and, in turn, express their feelings, thoughts, and concerns. When you first start praying with the children, explain that praying is talking and listening to God.

How to find a Bible Passage
The Gospel of Matthew is in the New Testament of the Bible. Let’s look at the first reading Matthew 5: 7.
  • “Matthew” is the book of the Bible. You can use the table of contents to find where the Gospel of Matthew begins.
  • The number ‘5’ stands for the chapter. Look for the bold number ‘5’ in the Gospel of Matthew.
  • The number ‘7’ directs you to read the verses one through three.
Read Aloud Matthew 5: 7 The Beatitudes
In scriptural prayer, we listen to God’s voice by doing the following:
  • Did something in the reading catch my attention? Did someone seem to be talking to me?
  • Did the Scripture story give me an idea or make me think about a particular person or situation in my life?
  • How did the reading make me feel? What do the feelings tell me?

For Parents

Listen to the Penance and Reconciliation from The Catechism in a Year by Fr. Mike Schmitz.

Focus

This week we will focus on the fifth Beatitude.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

What It Means:
God always wants us to forgive and not to hold grudges. This one is simple to understand but difficult to do. We might be upset with our friends or family, but we should not stay mad. We should allow our hearts to forgive. In turn, Jesus will forgive us.

Now Try:
When someone says “I’m sorry” or makes an apology, listen to their words and try to forgive them. It might take time, but if you try really hard, you can do it. Sometimes it helps to draw a picture of what made you angry or sad and then crumple it up and throw it in the trash.

Watch

Watch these videos with your child. They are short! (Click on the [  ] symbol to watch the video in full screen.)
The Lost Sheep
Learn about Saint Charles Borromeo. His feast day is November 4th. Saints devoted their lives to God. They show us how to live holy lives, just as Jesus taught us. St. Charles Borromeo lived a life devoted to prayer, kindness and generosity. He modeled the virtue of holiness. 

Pray

The Act of Contrition
This is the prayer we say at the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is an important prayer to memorize.
Return to First Communion page.