1. Catholic Teachings
2. Sacraments
3. Children and Reconciliation

Children and Reconciliation

Comments

• Peggie ClappApril 18, 2012

  I am Co-ordinator for our parish youth faith formation classes and read with great interest this essay, as I am doing sacramental preparation for First Eucharist now. We will have a family retreat at the conclusion of the classes and all will again have an oppourtunity for Reconciliation. What Scripture passages do you suggest we read prior to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

• RTJ's Creative Catechist April 18, 2012

  Hi Peggie, The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15: 1-7) is a great place to start. This is a story about how much Jesus cares for us and protects us. In his book, The Sacraments: Thoughtful Reflections for catechists by Fr. Halbert Weidner (Twenty-Third Publications), he suggests an activity and says "The whole experience of the sacrament of reconciliation is that God is a powerful searcher for the lost. God loves that solitary one who is all alone and lost. Children get frightened when they sin, when they "mess" up. They think they must hide, or hide their offense or deny it. The sacrament is a wonderfully safe, warm place where they can find out how much God loves them."

• Jean BrunerApril 18, 2012

  As a DRE for the past 3 decades, I am always amazed at the moral development that takes place between grade 2 and the end of grade 3. A second grader understands asking for forgiveness, to make peace but does not fully understand "sin." At the end of grade 3, the child starts to know "intent," the idea of deliberately doing what you know is wrong and more. What wonderful creatures our God has created/ We often use the parable of "The Lost Sheep" from a movie that features a school bus on trip to the zoo and the bus driver, like God, has to search for some lost children when they do not appear with the rest of the class to return to school. Children understand this concept well.