LETTERS OF LOVE AND FAITH , WHICH SHOW WHAT ST PAUL WANTS US TO KNOW

 

Letters of love and faith, which show 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, THROUGH THE LETTERS OF ST PAUL

 

Building the Church, one heart at a time, through 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

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND ST PAUL

 

Going where God sends you

Hello boys and girls!

Today, we will go on an exciting adventure of ship journeys, and new disciples. Brave speeches were made during this adventure. This is the story found in the "Acts of the Apostles" written by Saint Luke. Luke tells us how the followers of Jesus shared the Saviour's Love with the whole world.

What is the Acts of the Apostles?

The "Acts of the Apostles" is 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.

The "Acts of the Apostles" is the fifth book of the New Testament. This book explains the founding of the church and the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ. In this book, Saint Luke shows us how the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the courage and wisdom to spread the gospel.

Who was Saint Paul?

Saint Paul was not always a follower of Jesus. In fact, at first Paul did not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He was upset that Christians were speaking about Jesus, and he tried to stop them. 

This changed when Jesus appeared to St Paul. At that time, Paul was called by the name Saul. One day, Saul was travelling to a city named Damascus, when Jesus appeared in a bright light. Jesus asked,  “Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 

That moment changed Saul's heart forever. He was baptized and took the name of Paul. Paul began to travel everywhere he could, to tell people that Jesus is the Son of God, was resurrected and is alive. St Paul also witnessed that Jesus' Love can change every heart.

St Paul the missionary

St Paul did not stay in one place. He went on long journeys by foot and boat. Paul travelled through deserts, mountains and seas. He did this because he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus. St Paul brought the gospel to new towns and cities.

St Paul also started communities and founded churches. Paul wrote letters to help people in the churches grow strong in their faith.

St Paul started small Christian communities in cities such as Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus and Rome.

Everywhere he went, St Paul:

• Taught people about Jesus
• Encouraged believers to stay strong in their faith
• Helped people to love and forgive each other
• Showed that God's Love is for everyone, not just one group of people. That is why we must love everyone, as all are God's beloved children.

St Paul never gave up preaching the gospel, even when he was tired, imprisoned or shipwrecked. Paul said, "Nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)

That is the heart of a missionary; someone who always shares about the Love of Jesus.

St Paul went on three major missionary journeys. He was shipwrecked during one voyage. Despite difficulties and suffering, Paul stayed faithful to the gospel message. He knew that Jesus was with him.

• First journey: St Paul travelled with St Barnabas. They went to cities such as Antioch and Lystra, preaching to everyone they met. Some people listened and some did not. This did not worry Paul, who just kept preaching the good news
• Second journey: On the first journey, Barnabas had been St Paul's main companion. On this second missionary journey, Paul chose St Silas for that role. Paul and Barnabas had intended to go together, but they disagreed about taking John Mark with them. John had left the first missionary journey early (acts 13:13), apparently to Paul's displeasure. To resolve the matter, Barnabas took John Mark with him, and they sailed to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas with him. 
• St Paul and St Silas visited places like Philippi, where they were thrown into prison. St Paul did not lose courage while he was in jail. He sang songs to God. An earthquake occurred which shook the prison to the foundations. All the prison doors opened, and bands holding the prisoners were loosed. This set Paul and Silas free.
• Third journey: St Paul taught in places such as Ephesus. He taught people to love Jesus and to live holy lives. Crowds gathered to hear Paul speak.

What we learn from St Paul:

• We learn to be brave: St Paul faced danger with trust in God 
• We learn to share the good news: Paul talked about Jesus to everyone he met
• We learn to be faithful: when times were hard, St Paul steadfastly continued ministry.

How can we be missionaries too?

We might not travel across the sea or preach in faraway lands, but we are called to be missionaries too. Christians are missionaries when they bring faith, kindness and love to others. You can share the Love of Jesus in your home, with your friends, at school.

We can be missionaries by:

• Being kind when others are unkind
• Helping someone who feels left out
• Talking about God with joy and confidence
• Praying for people who are suffering
• Living in a way that shows Jesus' Love through our actions
• Inviting someone to church.

Paul reminds us that every word and action can become a message of God's Love.

Words of encouragement:

The "Acts of the Apostles" is not just a book, it is an invitation. Jesus is calling you to be part of His story. Let us say "yes" to Jesus as Saint Paul did. Let us go wherever Christ sends us. Let us journey with courage and joy.

Reflection activity - "My mission map":

Take a blank sheet of paper and draw your own mission map, not of faraway countries, but of your daily world.

Write or draw:

• Who you can share God's Love with (family, friends, classmates)
• Where you can share God's Love (home, school, church, playground)
• How you can share God's Love (kind words, prayer, helping others).

Write at the end of your mission map:

"Like St Paul, I want to be a missionary for Jesus."

Reflection

St Paul shows us that one person - with courage and faith - can change the world. We become part of Christ's great mission, when we let Jesus guide us. We help to being hope, light and peace to others.

We do not need to be perfect or travel far. We just need hearts that say:

"Yes, Lord, I am ready to share Your Love." 

Closing prayer

"Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for calling St Paul to be a missionary of Your Love. Help us to be brave and joyful like him. Show us how to share Your good news in our home, friendships and school. May our words and actions help others to know and love You.

Amen."  

Image designed by Chatgpt

THE FOUR GOSPELS WRITTEN BY ST MATTHEW, ST MARK, ST LUKE AND ST JOHN

 

The four gospels tell us about the Life of Jesus, the Son of God

Greetings, boys and girls!

Today, I want to take you on a very special journey which began over 2,000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem. This journey leads us through stories of love, miracles,  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. We try to become Christ-like when we behave in ways that Jesus did. 

Imitation of Christ

When we try to become Christ-like, we imitate the qualities and characteristics of Jesus. Christ-like qualities and characteristics include the Saviour's compassion, forgiveness, humility, love, kindness and mercy. Imitation of Christ involves living in a way which reflects the Saviour's teachings and actions. These include selfless service of others and courageously standing up for justice. 

Practise virtues:

We practise the virtues (good behaviour and high moral standards) of Jesus. The virtues of Jesus include compassion, forgiveness, humility, love, mercy and obedience to God's Will. 

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

What are the four 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.

These four disciples like four friends, each telling you the amazing story of Jesus. The four evangelists (writers of the four gospels) tell us what Jesus said and did. They explain how Jesus loves us all, and gave His life for us.

Saint Matthew  tells us that 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 prophecies explained the promises God made to send a Saviour.

Saint Matthew shows us that Jesus is the King Whom 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.

Saint Mark  explains that Jesus is 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 as he gets right to the point. St Mark shows us that Jesus did not come to be famous. The Son of God came to serve others, 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. After our time here on earth is complete, we will be able to Heaven to go to Heaven to be with God
• Lord Jesus 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.

Saint Luke explains to us that Jesus is the Friend of everyone:

Saint Luke was a doctor. He loved telling stories about how Jesus cared for everyone, whether they were men, women, babies, children, rich, or poor. St Luke shows us that Jesus loves all people, no matter who they are.

St Luke tells us:

• The story of the Good Samaritan
• The story of the Prodigal Son
• The events of the Nativity.  Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Saint John explains that Jesus is the Son of God:

Saint John writes in a special, loving way. John helps us understand that Jesus is the Son of God.

St John tells us:

• Jesus is the Word made flesh (God incarnated as a human)
• 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. John wants us to know that by believing in Jesus, we can have eternal life.

Why are the gospels important for us?

The gospels are important for us as they show us how to:

• 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. 

At any age, 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:

Dear friends, when you open your Bible and read the gospels, remember that you are meeting the greatest Friend you will ever have. You are reading the story of the One who loves you the most: Jesus, the Son of God.

Jesus is calling you through the four gospels to follow Him, The Master calls you to 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, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God is One God in Three Persons, known as the Blessed Trinity.

God the Father sent Jesus His beloved Son to us. Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus came to save us from our sins, and open the way to Heaven for us. In this picture, Jesus is holding you in His loving Arms.

The Holy Spirit is shown in the form of a dove, hovering over the Father, Jesus and you. This picture reminds us how Jesus loves us all. Jesus our Redeemer 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 have troubles, and when we are happy.

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

Images designed by Chatgpt

 

SPIRITUAL READING IS A WAY TO LEARN ABOUT GOD - PART TWO

 

Spiritual reading is a way to learn about God

Hello boys and girls!

Today, I want to talk to you about something really special: spiritual reading. Think about something you like to read. Maybe you enjoy reading exciting journeys, or stories about animals. Reading helps us go on adventures, learn new things and find out 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.

When we open the Bible or our catechism books, we are not just reading an ordinary story. We are reading God’s story. Even more than that, we are 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 is 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 are getting to know God better.

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.

Why is reading about God so important?

Spiritual reading helps you know God's Voice: when you read God's Word, you begin to understand how He speaks. God speaks through love, peace and truth

Spiritual reading helps your faith to grow: just as water helps flowers to grow, reading about God helps your faith to grow strong and beautiful

Spiritual reading shows you how to live:  God gives us wisdom in the Bible so that we can know what is right and how to treat others. God also shows us 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.

Remember that 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 us 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

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION IS A SPECIAL WAY OF BEING QUIET WITH GOD: PART TWO

 

Talking quietly with God: the power of meditation

Hi everyone! Today, let us talk about something very special called meditation. Now, that might sound like a big word, but it is 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. We think about God's  Love and His words. We ponder all the good things God has done. It is not just thinking hard. Meditation is listening with your heart.

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

• We give God our full attention
• We open our hearts to hear God speak
• We show God that we love Him and want to know Him better.

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

• We find a quiet place: this could be your room, a church, or a quiet place in nature
• We think about something holy: such as a Bible verse, something Jesus said, or a story from the Gospels
• We spend time in stillness with God: talk to God in your heart, and listen for His love in return.

Examples of meditation topics:

• Imagine that you are sitting with Jesus and He says, “Let the children come to me.” (Matthew 9:14) 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
• We learn to trust God
• We grow in holiness, because we are spending time with the Holy One.

Meditation is a beautiful gift:

Meditation is not hard. Mediation is just being with God quietly and lovingly. When we meditate and spend time with God, we grow closer to Him. Meditation is a beautiful gift that helps us become more like Jesus every day.

Let us end with a prayer:

"When we are still and quiet inside,

we let God's Love in our hearts abide.

We think of Jesus, gentle and true,

and learn what He wants us to do.

Meditation helps us see His way,

it makes us stronger every day.

Meditation plants God's Peace deep in hearts,

a gift only God's Love imparts.

When we sit with God so near,

His gentle Voice we start to hear.

God fills our hearts with love and light,

He helps us choose His way so right."

Image designed by Chatgpt

LISTENING WITH YOUR HEART IN CONTEMPLATION

 

                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, guardian or best friend, God wants you to talk to Him too. The best part is that God always listens.

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.

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 make a mistake and when we need to 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, request or supplication
• Ask for what others need on their behalf. This is the prayer of intercession
• Bless and adore God for being so wonderful. This is the prayer of praise
• Just tell God what is on your mind. This is  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. This form of prayer 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 is like our soul. Prayer is the sunshine and water for your soul. Without prayer, we dry up and stay small. With prayer, we 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 prayer: “Good morning, Jesus! Please help me today”
• Prayer 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."
• Prayer 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 holy rosary: Pray even just one decade. If possible, pray the rosary with your family 
• Silent prayer: 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? This helped St Thérèse to become a saint.

You can become a saint too:

You do not have to do big miracles or be very famous. You just need to love Jesus with your whole heart and talk to Him every day.

Do you want to be holy like the saints? 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 designed by Chatgpt

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION IS A SPECIAL WAY OF BEING QUIET WITH GOD: PART ONE

 

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Thinking about God in meditation

Hello, boys and girls.  Today I want to talk to you about something very special we can do with our hearts and minds. It is called meditation. That might sound like a big word, but it is really simple. Meditation is just thinking deeply about God. We think about Who God is, what He has done, and how much God loves us.

What is meditation on God?

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

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

When we take time to think about these things, we are meditating. Meditation is a holy practice. 

Why is meditation important?

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

The Bible tells us about meditation

In Psalm 1 verse 2, the Bible tells us: “Blessed is the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.”

This means that people who think about God’s Word are happy and blessed.

How can we meditate on God?

• Find a quiet place: this could be your room, the church or a peaceful spot in nature
• Choose something to think about: such as a Bible verse, a story about Jesus, or something you learned in the last week
• Close your eyes and be still: let your heart talk to God
• Ask Jesus to be with you: just be with Him quietly
• End with a prayer: thank God for being close to you.

Meditation:

Let us try it now! Close your eyes… and think about Jesus calming the storm on the sea. (Matthew 8:23-27) Imagine being in that boat. The wind is strong. You are scared. Then Jesus says, “Peace, be still!” and everything is calm. How do you feel? That is meditation.

Meditation is thinking about God:

So remember: meditation is thinking deeply about God. Meditation is not hard. Meditation is a holy practice. 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 through meditation.

Take time to meditate:

Each day this week, take 10 minutes to sit quietly and think in meditation. You may want to think about something Jesus said or did, a Bible story, or something you are thankful for. Then say, “Jesus, I love You.” 

Eventually you may want to meditate for a longer time. Some people meditate regularly for 30 minutes.

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SPIRITUAL READING IS A WAY TO LEARN ABOUT GOD : PART ONE

 

Getting to Know God Through Spiritual Reading

Greetings, children. 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. One good 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: such as catechism books or devotionals.

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 is 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:

• Grow in faith: we learn to trust God more
• Make better choices: we learn right from wrong
• 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 prophet Daniel and the lions, we learn that God helps us be brave
• When we read about St. Francis of Assisi, 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. We can talk to God when we are happy, sad, scared, or thankful.

How do we start with spiritual reading?

• Read a little bit of the Bible each day, perhaps 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.

So remember, reading is not just for school. Reading can also help us grow closer to God. When we read about God, we come to love Him more. The more we love Him, the happier we are.

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