LETTERS OF LOVE AND FAITH - WHAT ST PAUL WANTS US TO KNOW

 

Letters of love and faith – what St Paul wants us to know

Hello everyone!

Today, we’re going to talk about some very special letters written by a man named St Paul. He was one of the greatest missionaries in the early Church. But did you know he was also one of the greatest letter writers of all time?

St Paul did not have emails or text messages. He wrote real letters—long ones!—to churches and friends to encourage them, correct them, and most of all, to remind them how much God loves them.

Let's look at a few of these letters and find out what St Paul wanted his friends—and us—to realize.

📜 To the Galatians: You are saved by God's grace, not by rules.

The Galatians were confused. Some people told them they had to follow lots of old rules to be close to God.

But St Paul said, No! You are saved because Jesus loves you and died for you—not because you follow every little rule.

He wanted them to know:

👉 Jesus is enough

👉 God's love is a free gift   

👉 Do not go backwards—keep walking with Christ!

📜 To the Colossians: Jesus is first in everything.

Some people were trying to add strange beliefs to their faith. But St Paul reminded them:

👉 Jesus is the image of the invisible God

👉 God created everything - and holds it all together

👉 Jesus is the Head of the Church.

St Paul’s message to us is:

🧡 Let Jesus be the centre of your life—above all else.

📜 To the Thessalonians: Keep the faith—and never give up!

These were some of St Paul’s earliest letters. The Thessalonians were excited about their faith—but also worried about when Jesus would come again.

St Paul said:

👉 Stay strong

👉 Keep loving one another

👉 Work hard, be patient, and live in hope.

St Paul wanted them—and us—to remember:

🌟 Jesus is coming again—so live like children of the light.

📜 To Saints Timothy and Titus: Be brave leaders and faithful teachers.

Saints Timothy and Titus were young! But St Paul believed in them.

To St Timothy, he said:

🌟 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example in faith, love, and purity.

To St Titus, he said:

🌟 Teach what is right. Show people how to live good and holy lives.

St Paul’s message:

🧒 Even the young can lead, teach, and serve God boldly!

📜 To St Philemon: Love your neighbour—even when it is hard.

This letter is short—but powerful. St Paul writes to Philemon about a man named Onesimus, a runaway slave who had become a Christian.

St Paul asked St Philemon to welcome him back—not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.

St Paul’s message here is clear:

🕊️ The love of Jesus breaks down all barriers—He makes us one family.

Words of encouragement:

Boys and girls, all these letters were written a long time ago—but the messages are still for us today!

• God’s love is a gift—accept it!
• Jesus is everything—trust Him!
• Don’t give up—keep the faith!
• Even if you are young—you can do great things for God!
• Love one another—as brothers and sisters in Christ!

So next time you open your Bible and see one of St Paul’s letters, remember: it’s not just a letter to Galatians or St Timothy… it’s also a letter to you.

Because God still speaks through His Word—and He’s calling each of us to live with faith, hope, and love.

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

BUILDING THE CHURCH, ONE HEART AT A TIME - THE LETTERS OF ST PAUL

 

Building the Church, one heart at a time – the letters of St Paul

Greetings, children!

Today, I want to take you on a little journey—not across countries, but across the early days of the Church, through the powerful letters of a man named Saint Paul.

Now, who was St Paul?

He wasn’t always a friend of Jesus. In fact, at first, he tried to stop Christians! But then something amazing happened. Jesus appeared to him in a bright light, and from that day, Paul’s life changed forever. He became one of the greatest missionaries the Church has ever known.

St Paul didn’t just stay in one place. He travelled from city to city—by boat, by foot, through desert countryside and storms—because he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus. But St Paul did not just visit people. He started communities, founded churches, and then wrote letters to help them grow strong in their faith.

Let’s look at a few of those churches and what St Paul taught them:

1. The Church in Corinth – (Letters to the Corinthians)

Corinth was a big, busy city with people from all over. But there were problems—fighting, pride and confusion. St Paul wrote to the Corinthians in the church saying:

“You are the Body of Christ.” (1 Cor 12:27)

What does that mean? It means we are all important in the Church. Some are teachers, some are helpers, some are encouragers—but together, we are one team in Jesus. Just like in your catechism class, everyone matters!

2. The Church in Philippi – (Letter to the Philippians)

This was one of St Paul’s favourite communities. Even when St Paul was in prison, he wrote to them with joy!

“Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Phil 4:4)

Even in hard times, St Paul reminded them—and us—that Jesus is our joy. We can smile, sing, and share His love no matter what happens.

3. The Church in Ephesus – (Letter to the Ephesians)

Paul taught the people in Ephesus that being a Christian means living with love and unity.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph 4:32)

That’s something we can all do—in our families, schools, and churches. Be kind. Be forgiving. Be like Jesus.

4. The Church in Rome – (Letter to the Romans)

St Paul wrote to the Romans to explain how God's love is for everyone—not just a few people.

“Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” (Rom 8:39)

Isn’t that amazing? No matter what happens—when we feel afraid, or when we make mistakes—God still loves us.

What Can We Learn?

St Paul didn’t just build church buildings—he built communities of faith. He helped people believe, pray, and live like Jesus. And guess what? That work still continues today—in you!

Every time you:

• Pray with your family
• Help a friend
• Come to catechism
• Say something kind…

…you are helping build the Church just like St Paul did!

Words of encouragement:

So, children, remember this: You may not travel across the world like St Paul, but you can still be a missionary. You can still help build the Church—one heart at a time—by sharing the love of Jesus wherever you are.

Let’s ask Jesus to make us brave, joyful, and kind, just like St Paul.

Amen!

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

GOING WHERE GOD SENDS YOU - THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND THE MISSION OF ST PAUL

 

Going Where God Sends You – the life of Saint Paul

Hello boys and girls!

Today, I want to take you on an exciting adventure—one that’s full of ship journeys, new friends, brave speeches, and even a few surprises! This is the story found in the Acts of the Apostles, written by Saint Luke, and it tells us how the followers of Jesus shared His Love with the whole world.

1. What Is the Acts of the Apostles?

The Acts of the Apostles is like the sequel to the story of Jesus. After Jesus rose from the dead and returned to heaven, His friends—the apostles—did not just sit around. They went out to tell everyone the good news: that Jesus is alive and that He loves each one of us.

Saint Luke wrote this book to show us how the Holy Spirit gave the apostles courage, power and wisdom to spread the Gospel.

2. Meet Saint Paul – from persecutor to preacher!

Saint Paul wasn’t always a follower of Jesus. In fact, he used to hurt Christians. But one day, while traveling to a place called Damascus, St Paul saw a bright light and heard Jesus asking, “Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” From that moment on, everything changed. Paul became one of the greatest missionaries in history! 

In the days of Saint Paul, it was common to have two names (also known as dual names). Saint Paul had two names - Saul and Paul. From the moment that Saint Paul converted to Christianity, he was called Paul in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

3. The missionary journeys – spreading the good news everywhere

St Paul went on three major missionary journeys. He walked, sailed, and even got shipwrecked! But he never gave up. Why? Because he knew Jesus was with him.

• First journey: St Paul travelled with St Barnabas. They went to cities like Antioch and Lystra, preaching to both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). Some listened, some did not—but Paul kept going
• Second journey: This time, St Paul had a new friend—St Silas! They visited places like Philippi, where they were thrown in prison. But even in jail, St Paul did not lose courage. He sang songs to God. And guess what? God sent an earthquake that set them free!
• Third journey: St Paul kept teaching in places like Ephesus. He taught people how to love Jesus and live holy lives. Crowds gathered to hear him speak!

4. What Can We Learn from St Paul?

• Be brave: St Paul faced danger, but he trusted God
• Share the good news of Jesus: St Paul talked about Jesus everywhere he went
• Never give up: Even when things got hard, St Paul kept going.

5. We are missionaries too!

You do not need to sail across the sea to be a missionary. You can share Jesus’ Love in your home, at school, and with your friends. When you are kind, when you forgive, when you invite someone to church—that’s being a missionary like St Paul!

Words of encouragement:

So remember, the Acts of the Apostles is not just a book—it’s an invitation! Jesus is calling you to be part of His story. Like S. Paul, let us say “yes” to Jesus and go wherever He sends us—with joy, with courage, and with love!

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

FOUR GOSPELS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD

 

The Four Gospels—Telling the Life of Jesus, the Son of God

Greetings, boys and girls!

Today, I want to take you on a very special journey—one that starts over 2,000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem and which leads us through stories of love, miracles, truth and the greatest gift ever given. 

The greatest gift ever given is God's gift to us of His dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can learn to behave in a beautiful way like Jesus. When we try to behave like Jesus, this means that we are trying to become Christlike. 

To become Christlike means that we grow in grace and knowledge of God. We try to show the character, attitude and actions of Jesus which we read about in the gospels. 

In order to become Christlike, we need to practice virtues (good behaviour and high moral standards) just as Jesus did. The virtues of Jesus include love, humility, compassion, forgiveness, holiness and obedience to God's Will. 

This journey to learn more about Jesus is found in a very special part of the Bible called the gospels. 

What are the gospels?

The word “gospel” means “good news.” What is the good news? The good news is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth to live with us, teach us, love us and save us.

In the Bible, there are four gospels or books about Jesus' good news. Each gospel or book tells us about the life of Jesus from a different point of view:

• The gospel according to Saint Matthew
• The gospel according to Saint Mark
• The gospel according to Saint Luke
• The gospel according to Saint John.

Think of these four disciples like four friends, each telling you the amazing story of Jesus—what He said, what He did, how He loved us all, and how He gave His life for us.

1. Saint Matthew – Jesus Is the Promised King

Saint Matthew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He wrote the gospel so we would know Who Jesus Christ really is. St Matthew was writing especially for people who knew the old prophecies from the Old Testament—the promises God made to send a Saviour.

Saint Matthew shows us that Jesus is the King that God promised long ago. He tells us about:

• Jesus' family tree
• The visit of the wise men
• Jesus teaching on the mountain (called the Beatitudes),

Saint Matthew wants us to know that Jesus keeps God's promises.

2. Saint Mark – Jesus the Servant in Action

Saint Mark was a close companion and co-worker of St Peter, and the book He wrote about Jesus is believed to be based on St Peter's teachings and experiences. St Mark also accompanied St Paul and St Barnabas on their missionary journeys. During these journeys, Saints Paul, Barnabas and Mark witnessed to many people that Jesus is the Son of God Who came to earth to save us.

St Mark’s Gospel is the shortest—he gets right to the point! St Mark shows us that Jesus didn’t come to be famous. He came to serve others—to heal the sick, feed the hungry and help the hurting. St Mark tells us how:

• Jesus healed a blind man
• Jesus calmed a storm
• Jesus gave His Life on the cross to save us from our sins and to open the way to Heaven for us
• This means that if we try to live good lives, God will be very happy. Then after our time here on earth is complete, we can go to Heaven to be with God
• Jesus also died on the cross to break the power of the naughty fallen angel called the devil.

St Mark reminds us that being great means serving others, just as Jesus did.

3. Saint Luke – Jesus the Friend of everyone

Saint Luke was a doctor, and he loved telling stories about how Jesus cared for everyone—men, women, babies, children, rich, poor, even people others did not like.

St Luke tells us:

• The story of the Good Samaritan
• The story of the Prodigal Son
• How Jesus was born in a manger.

St Luke shows us that Jesus loves all people, no matter who they are.

4. Saint John – Jesus the Son of God

Saint John writes in a special, loving way. He does not just tell us what Jesus did—he helps us understand Who Jesus really is: the Son of God.

St John tells us:

• Jesus is the Word made flesh
• Jesus is the Light of the world
• Jesus is the Good Shepherd
• Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

St John wants us to understand and believe that Jesus is truly God, and by believing, we can have eternal life.

Why are the gospels important for us?

Because through them we:

• See Jesus in action
• Hear His Voice
• Feel Jesus' Love
• Know the way to follow Jesus, the Son of God.

The Gospels help us know Jesus—not just with our minds, but with our hearts.

How can you live the gospel?

You don’t have to wait to be a grown-up to live like Jesus. You can:

• Be kind to others like Jesus
• Tell the truth like Jesus
• Help those in need like Jesus
• Pray and listen to God like Jesus.

Each time you do these things, you are living the Good News.

Words of encouragement:

So, my dear children, when you open your Bible and read the gospels, remember this:

You are meeting the greatest Friend you’ll ever have.

You are reading the story of the One who loves you most—Jesus, the Son of God.

Through these stories, Jesus is calling you to follow Him, love like Him, and share His Light with the world.

Amen.

🌟          ACTIVITY;

Here is a colouring-in page for you. It shows God the Father sending Jesus His dear Son to us. The Holy Spirit is shown in the form of a dove, hovering over the Father. This picture reminds us how Jesus loves us all so much, and wants everyone to be happy and safe with Him in Heaven one day. 

Print out and colour in your picture. You may want to keep this beautiful picture above your bed, to remind you how much God has loved the world, and how blessed we are to have wonderful Jesus to turn to when we are happy, and when we have troubles. 

When you have problems, turn to dear Jesus and pray to Him. He will help you and guide you to make the right decisions.

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

 

READING IS A WAY TO LEARN ABOUT GOD

 

📖 "Reading Is a Way to Learn About God"

Hello boys and girls!

Today, I want to talk to you about something really special—reading. Think about something you like to read. Maybe you enjoy reading exciting journeys, fairy tales or stories about animals. Those are great! Reading helps us go on adventures, learn new things and even learn about heroes without ever leaving our room.

But did you know something even more amazing?

👉 Reading is one of the ways we can learn about God.

That’s right! When we open the Bible or our catechism books, we’re not just reading any ordinary story—we're reading God’s story, and even more than that, we’re learning about who God is, what He wants for us and how much He loves us.

The Bible is like a letter from God to you. Imagine getting a letter from someone who loves you more than anyone else in the world! That’s what the Bible is.

🌟 When you read about how God made the world
🌟 When you read about Moses parting the sea
🌟 When you read about Jesus healing people and teaching love—

You’re getting to know God better.

Guess what? Every time you learn more about God, you grow stronger in your faith. Your heart becomes more like Jesus’ loving Heart. You start to see the world through God’s eyes—with love, kindness and hope.

Let me give you three reasons why reading about God is important:

1. 📚 Reading helps you know God's voice.
   
   When you read God's Word, you begin to understand how He speaks—through love, truth, and peace
2. 🌱 Reading helps your faith grow.
   
   Just like water helps flowers grow, reading about God helps your faith grow strong and beautiful
3. 📚 Reading shows you how to live.
   
   God gives us wisdom in the Bible so we can know what is right, how to treat others and how to stay close to Him.

So what can you do?

• Try to read a little bit of the Bible every day—even one verse!
• Ask your parents or catechism teacher to help you find stories about Jesus
• Talk about what you read. Tell someone your favourite Bible story and what it teaches you about God.

And remember—every time you open a book about God, you are opening a window into His heart. He is always excited to teach you more about His love!

🙏 Let’s end with a short prayer:

"Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us books and stories that help us learn about You. Help us to love reading, especially the Bible, so that we may grow closer to You every day.

Amen."

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

TALKING QUIETLY WITH GOD: THE POWER OF MEDITATION

 

"Talking quietly with God: the power of meditation"

Hi everyone! Today, let’s talk about something very special called meditation. Now, that might sound like a big word, but it’s actually something simple and beautiful. Meditation is a quiet way we can spend time with God.

What Is Meditation?
Meditation is when we quiet our hearts and minds and think deeply about God—His love, His words, and all the good things He’s done. It’s not just thinking hard—it’s listening with your heart.

Why is meditation holy?
When we meditate on God, we are doing something holy because:

• we are giving God our full attention
• we are opening our hearts to hear Him speak
• we are showing Him that we love Him and want to know Him better.

How do we meditate on God?
Here are three easy steps:

1. find a quiet place – it could be your room, a church, or even a quiet place in nature
2. think about something holy – a Bible verse, something Jesus said, or a story from the Gospels
3. be still with God – Talk to God in your heart, and listen for His love in return.

Examples:

• imagine you’re sitting with Jesus and He says, “Let the children come to me.” What would you feel? What would you say?
• think about a moment Jesus helped someone. How does that show His love?

What happens when we meditate?

• we feel peace inside
• we learn to trust God more
• we grow in holiness, because we’re spending time with the Holy One!

Finally:
Meditation isn’t hard—it’s just being with God quietly and lovingly. When we meditate and spend time with God, we grow closer to Him. It’s a beautiful gift that helps us become more like Jesus every day.

Image inspiration ChatGPT and CN Whittle

LISTENING WITH YOUR HEART: HOW CONTEMPLATION BRINGS US CLOSE TO GOD

 

                Listening with your heart: how contemplation

                                brings us close to God

What is contemplation?

Dear children, have you ever just sat outside and watched the clouds or listened to the birds and felt really peaceful? That’s a little bit like what contemplation is! It is peacefully being with God.

Contemplation is when we quiet our hearts to listen to God—not just with our ears, but with our hearts.

It’s more than just saying prayers with words. It’s being still with  God. It’s loving Him silently. It’s letting Him love us back.

Why is contemplation important?

Imagine your best friend is talking to you, but you're always talking too. If you never stop to listen, you’ll miss something important, won't you? In the same way, contemplation is when we stop talking and start listening to God. We don't always need words. We just need to be with God.

This makes our friendship with God grow really deep, just like when you sit next to someone you love and you don’t need to say anything at all to feel happy.

What does contemplation look like?

Contemplation can look like this:

• sitting quietly in front of the Blessed Sacrament (the Blessed Sacrament is the tabernacle in the church where the consecrated Bread with the real Presence of Jesus is). So when you sit in front of the tabernacle, you are sitting with beautiful Jesus, the Son of God
• looking at a crucifix or a picture of Jesus and thinking about His love
• reading a Bible verse slowly, then sitting quietly with it
• closing your eyes and whispering in your heart: “Jesus, I’m here. I love You.”

Ask yourself:

Can I be still for a while and think only about Jesus?

What happens when we contemplate?

When we sit still with God, something special happens:

• our hearts get peaceful
• God speaks to us in a gentle way
• we start to feel His love more and more
• we become more like Jesus.

It’s like sitting in the sunlight. You don’t have to do anything. The sun just warms you up. Contemplation is sitting in God’s light and letting His love warm your heart.

Saints who loved contemplation

Saint Teresa of Avila would sit and think about Jesus just loving her—and she became a great saint!

A holy priest named Saint John Vianney once saw a man sitting in church quietly. When asked what he was doing, the man said, ‘I look at Him, and He looks at me.’ That’s contemplation!”

You can practice contemplation too

You don’t have to be a grown-up to do this. You can be a contemplative child!

Here’s how:

1. find a quiet place
2. say, “Jesus, I want to be close to You”
3. be still. Breathe. Imagine Jesus is with you. Because He is.
4. stay with Him for a while!

Challenge:

Can you give some time each day just to be with Jesus?

Closing prayer (short contemplative prayer)

“Jesus, You are here with me. I love You.
I want to listen to You with my heart.
Help me be still, so I can hear You.
Help me love You more each day. Amen.”

Image inspiration ChatGPT and CN Whittle

PRAYER IS TALKING TO GOD: THE SECRET TO BECOMING HOLY

 

Talking to God: The Secret to Becoming Holy

What is prayer?

Hello everyone. Do you know what prayer really is? Prayer is simply talking to God. Just like you talk to your mom, dad, or best friend, God wants you to talk to Him too. And the best part? He's always listening.

Why do we pray?

We pray because we love God and want to be close to Him. Just as talking with someone brings you closer, prayer brings your heart closer to God's heart.

Did you know the saints became holy by praying every day?

Prayer helps us:

• say thank you to God for what God has given and done  (this is the prayer of thanksgiving)
• say sorry when we mess up and ask God for forgiveness (this is the prayer of contrition or repentance)
• ask for help when we need it (this is the prayer of petition or supplication)
• ask for what others need on their behalf (prayer of intercession)
• bless and adore God for being so wonderful (prayer of praise)
• Just tell God what’s on our minds (prayer which is the act of speaking to God privately and deeply. The prayer of talking to God is communication with God, much like a conversation between friends. It can include sharing thoughts, feelings and needs, or simply expressing gratitude and praise. Prayer is spending time with our very best Friend, God.)

 How prayer makes us holy

Have you ever seen a plant grow with water and sunshine? That’s like our soul! Prayer is the sunshine and water for your soul. Without prayer, we dry up and stay small. But with prayer, we grow and grow – into saints!

Every time you pray, you become more like Jesus. The more you become like Jesus, the holier you become. God sent Jesus His Son to earth, so that we could learn how to behave beautifully like wonderful Jesus. Read about Jesus' Life in the four gospels. If we model ourselves on Jesus (that is, try to behave the way He does), we will become saints and able to spend our lives in Heaven with God after our time here on earth has come to an end.

Ways to pray every day

• morning prayers: “Good morning, Jesus! Please help me today”
• before meals: Thank God for your food. One such prayer is the grace before meals: "Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord, Amen." The grace (or prayer) after meals is, "We give Thee thanks, O Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, which we have received through Christ our Lord, Amen."
• at bedtime: tell God what made you happy and what you need help with. Pray for your family and friends, and for everyone in the world, especially for those most in need of Jesus' help
• the rosary: try even just one decade. If possible, pray the rosary with your family 
• silent time: sit quietly for a while and say, “Jesus, I love You.”

 STORIES OF PRAYER

Example of a saint:

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux was just a little girl like some of you. She talked to God with so much love, even in little things. And guess what? She became a saint!

You can become a saint too!

You don’t have to do big miracles or be super famous. You just have to love Jesus with your whole heart—and talk to Him every day.

Do you want to be holy like the saints? Then read about the saints, and learn to follow Jesus with great love in your heart, as they did. What will you say to Jesus when you get home today? That is prayer!

Closing prayer

Let us pray together:

“Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me. Help me to talk to You every day. I want to be holy and close to You, just like the saints. Amen.”

Image inspiration courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle

THINKING ABOUT GOD: A HOLY PRACTICE CALLED MEDITATION

 

Thinking about God: a holy practice called meditation

Hi everyone! Today I want to talk to you about something very special we can do with our hearts and minds. It’s called meditation. That might sound like a big word, but it’s really simple. Meditation is just thinking deeply about God—who He is, what He’s done, and how much He loves us.

What is meditation on God?

Meditation means we take some quiet time to think about God and talk to Him in our hearts. It’s different from just saying prayers quickly. It’s like sitting quietly with God, like you would sit with your best friend and really listen and share.

• Have you ever thought about how great God’s Love is— bigger than the sky?
• Or how Jesus gave His Life for us on the cross?
• Or how the Holy Spirit helps you be brave and kind?

When we take time to think about these things, we are meditating—and that’s a holy practice!

Why is meditation important?

• It helps us feel close to God in our hearts
• It helps us listen to what God is saying to us
• It helps us grow in love, peace, and faith.

The Bible Says So!
The Bible talks about meditation too! In Psalm 1, it says:

“Blessed is the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.”

That means people who think about God’s Word are happy and blessed!

How can we meditate on God?

1. find a quiet place – maybe your room, or a peaceful spot at church
2. choose something to think about – such as a Bible verse, a story about Jesus, or something you learned in class
3. close your eyes and be still – and let your heart talk to God
4. ask Jesus to be with you – and just be with Him quietly
5. end with a prayer – thanking God for being close to you.

Meditation:

Let’s try it now! Close your eyes… and think about Jesus calming the storm on the sea. Imagine being in that boat. The wind is strong. You're scared. But then Jesus says, “Peace, be still!” and everything is calm. How do you feel? That’s meditation.

Finally:

So remember: Meditation is thinking deeply about God. It’s not hard—and it’s holy! The more we meditate, the more our hearts grow in love for God. Just as you spend time with your best friend, spend time with Jesus in your heart.

Challenge for the Week:
Each day this week, take 2 minutes to sit quietly and think about one thing: maybe Jesus, a Bible story, or something you're thankful for. Then say, “Jesus, I love You.”

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle

SPIRITUAL READING IS A WAY TO LEARN ABOUT GOD

 

Getting to Know God Through Spiritual Reading

Hi everyone! Today, I want to talk to you about something really special—how we can get to know God better. Just as we get to know our friends by talking to them and spending time with them, we can get to know God too. And one great way to do that is through something called spiritual reading.

What Is Spiritual Reading?
Spiritual reading is when we read books that help us grow closer to God. These can be:

• The Bible – God’s Word, full of stories, lessons, and love letters from God to us!
• Books about saints – people who lived holy lives and loved God with all their hearts
• Books that teach us about our faith – like catechism books or devotionals for kids.

Why is spiritual reading important?
Imagine you had a best friend but never learned anything about them. Would you really know them well? Probably not! It’s the same with God. Spiritual reading helps us learn:

• Who God is – His love, His mercy, and His power
• what God has done – God the Father sent Jesus to save us
• how we can live for God – by being kind, praying, forgiving others, and trusting Him.

How does spiritual reading help us?
Spiritual reading helps us:

1. grow in faith – we learn to trust God more
2. make better choices – we learn right from wrong
3. feel close to God – We realise that God is walking with us in our lives, every day.

Examples of spiritual reading:

• when we read about Daniel and the lions, we learn that God helps us be brave
• when we read about St. Francis, we learn to care for people and animals
• when we read the Psalms, we learn how to talk to God in every kind of feeling—happy, sad, scared, or thankful!

How can we start with spiritual reading?

• read a little bit of the Bible each day, maybe with your parents or someone who can help you with your reading
• ask your teacher for a good saint story to read.
• keep a catechism notebook to write down what you learn about God.

Finally;
So remember, reading isn’t just for school—it can also help us grow closer to the most important person of all: God. When we read about Him, we come to love Him more. And the more we love Him, the happier we’ll be!

Image inspiration ChatGPT and CN Whittle