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WATCH BROTHER FRANCIS: FORGIVEN - THE BLESSINGS OF CONFESSION
Login to your Formed account, and search for "brother francis blessings of confession " to watch Forgiven: The Blessings of Confession.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR YOU & YOUR CHILD
Depending on your child's attention span, you may need to break the video into two parts. After the first half (around the 12:00 minute mark), take a minute to chat together:
- In what ways does God show us how he loves us?
- What does the word confession mean to you?
- What is a sin?
- What were those rules that Brother Francis was talking about? How many were there?
- What did Br. Francis mean about “washing the windows of your heart”?
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-10 COMMANDMENTS -
GOD's RULES TO AVOID EVIL AND DO GOOD!Read over the 10 Commandments below. How easy are these to do?Which ones are more difficult? When we go to confession, it helps to reflect on the 10 Commandments and where we could have done better. Our Daily Examen (see last lesson) also helps.
1. You shall honour no other god but me:
There is only one God who made us - only He should be honored above all. Think about God every day, put Him first in everything you do. Remember to say your prayers.
2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God:
God’s name is Holy. Use His name in giving thanks and giving praise. Don't use His name or the names of Holy things because you are mad.
3. Remember to keep the Lord's day Holy:
Go to Mass in-person on the Lord's day - Sunday (or watch online during a pandemic!), and let God know how much you love Him and are thankful for all you have. Keep this day free from hard work, spend it with your family.
4. Honour your father and your mother:
Obey your parents, right away and with as much of a smile as you can muster! Help out at home, always use kind words when speaking to your parents and be thankful for all they do for you.
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5. You shall not kill:
Treat people with respect. Keep an eye on your anger. Explaining your feelings is fine, acting out in violence is not. Everyone is a child of God and deserving of respect from the moment of creation (in their mother's womb) to the day they take their last breath.
6. You shall not commit adultery:
(Parents: Here is the part where your kid asks what adultery is. The easiest way to answer is to say that adultery is a word adults use when two people who are married break their promises to each other. You can elaborate on chasity when they are older.) Respect your family, remember, your family is Holy.
7. You shall not steal:
Don’t take things that belong to others. Return things you borrow and treat them with respect. Go out of your way to share.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour:
Don’t tell lies or make up stories about other people. Don’t gossip or tell stories about other people behind their back. Always use kind words to describe others and give people the benefit of the doubt.
9. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife:
Don’t be jealous of other people's friendships. Choose to be happy for another person's happiness. Each person is wonderful in their own way. Be glad that we have many friends to share our love and friendship with.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods:
Don’t be jealous of what other people have. Be thankful for what God has given you. Jealousy is a sadness that someone else has something good. Instead be grateful for what God has given another person, and grateful for what you have.
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WHAT IS SIN EXACTLY?
Remember a sin is not an accident or a mistake. A sin is when we hurt our relationship with God our loving Father by choosing to do wrong or choosing not to do a good thing we ought to. What do you think? Is the following an accident, mistake or sin?
1. You study hard for a math test, but when you get it back you notice you got some answers wrong. Mistake
2. You reach across the table to pass your brother/sister the milk. You bump your own glass full of milk while you are reaching. Now there is milk all over the table. Accident.
3. Your parents ask if you cleaned your room as you run out the door to play with a friend. You say "yes I did" while you think (oh I'll just clean in when I get home). Sin (lying specifically)
4. You are at recess and you notice some classmates making fun of another student who isn't considered "cool". You choose to do nothing but watch. Sin (of omission - not doing what you ought to do in Christian charity.)
5. What could you have done different in example 3 and 4? Would it be hard to do those things? Would you be proud of yourself even if it was hard?
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FEELINGS VS SINS:
A feeling is not the same thing as a sin. A feeling might give us information about our actions and choices - like when we do something good (we feel proud) or something bad (we feel guilty) but sometimes our feelings get mixed up. We feel good about doing something wrong or guilty over something like a mistake - even if it is not our fault.
Sometimes we get angry. Feeling angry is not a sin... hitting our brother or sister because we feel angry is a sin. We cannot sin "by accident". When you do an examination of conscience / reflection on your actions - remember, we are confessing our sins, not our feelings. Our feelings are a part of who we are as humans. God made them and they are good. It is our choices and actions that are either good or bad, a virtue or a sin. For a choice to be sinful we need to know that we are choosing to do wrong. Again - because we can't sin by accident.
IF YOU ARE EVER UNSURE IF SOMETHING IS A SIN, JUST ASK A PRIEST IN CONFESSION. HE IS AVAILABLE TO BE GOD's LOVING HEART NOT A JUDGE.
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Prayers to know and practice everyday!
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OUR FATHER
Our Father,
who are in heaven,
hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Amen.
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HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you
among women,
And blessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.Amen.
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GLORY BE
Glory to the Father
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever.
Amen.
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ACT OF CONTRITION
My God,
I love you with all my heart
and I am sorry for my sins.
Please forgive me.
I promise not to sin again.
Help me always to be like you.
Amen.
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Dear God,
I am sorry for doing wrong. Please forgive me all my sins.
I know you love me very much. Help me to love you in return
and care for others as you do.
Amen.
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