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Confession
Father Justin on Confession
The History of Confession
Read and Discuss
Confession --
Word:
“Go and sin no more.” John 8:11
Worship:
God’s unconditional love for us, our free will to choose, and God willingness to forgive us no matter what we have done.
Way:
Say, “I’m sorry!”
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Parable of the Prodigal Son
Reflection - Confession and the Parable of the Prodigal Son
Jesus frequently taught the people with parables. What is a parable? A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus told 3 parables in this movie. Do you recall what the first 2 they were?
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Lost sheep
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Lost coin.
Why did he tell these two parables? The answer is in the titles! LOST! All three parables are on the subject of recovering the lost. Jesus is eating with sinners because He wants to recover them. They are lost in sin.
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Activity - Comparison of Prodigal Son and the Sacrament of Penance
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O Lord and Master of my life
Take away from me the will to be lazy and nosy;
the desire to get ahead of other people and to boast or brag.
Make a prostration and say: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Give me instead a pure and humble spirit,
the desire to be patient with other people and to love them.
Make a prostration and say: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
O Lord and King, let me realize my own mistakes
and keep me from judging what other people do.
For you are blessed now and forever.
Make a prostration and say: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Bow and make the sing of the cross (metany), 12 times saying each time,
“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Amen
We make choices every day. We choose what to eat, what to wear, what we want to do and whom we want to be with. Sometimes we may choose to do something that is wrong because we think it is fun, because we are angry, or because of some other reason. Sin is when we choose to do something that we know is wrong. It is breaking God’s rules. God gives us a way to live. We sin when we don’t live the way God wants us to live. When we do something wrong, it almost always hurts someone else.
Explain “what is a consequence?”
Consequence is the result of some action – good or bad.
Action Consequence to Self Consequence to Others
Speeding ticket Went against my record Vacation money spent on fine
Activity - Action Vs Consequences Worksheet
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Review the story of the Prodigal Son and complete the worksheet.
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Use the worksheet to let the children give examples of sins and consequences.
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After Confession Prayer of Saint John of Damascus
O my God and Lord Jesus Christ, lead me in Your way that I may walk in Your truth; gladden my heart that I may fear Your name. O Lord so mighty in Your mercy, so gracious in Your might; assist and comfort me; save me, for I put my trust in Your holy name. In Your wrath, do not let me perish, O Lord and Lover of Mankind, but show me Your great mercy and compassion. O Physician and Healer of my soul, O Merciful Savior, blot out all my transgressions, for in the depth of my heart I am sorry for having offended You. Grant me Your grace, that I may avoid my earlier and evil ways; give me strength, O Mighty One, to withstand the temptations before which I am weak. Keep me under Your protection and under the shadow of Your wings, so that I may serve You faithfully, praise You, and glorify Your name all the days of my life.
The Father is my hope, the Son my refuge, and the Holy Spirit my protection. O Holy Trinity, all glory to You.