AMERICAN MARTYRS FAMILIES IN FAITH
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Bringing the Sacrament of Penance Home

Parents are themselves living signs of forgiveness and reconciliation.  Ways to express this in your homes includes
  • Distinguishing between who the child is and the child's behavior
  • Permitting mistakes
  • Admitting mistakes
  • Allowing feelings of sorrow
  • Allowing expressions of sorrow
  • Asking for forgiveness
  • Giving forgiveness
  • Permitting change
  • Welcoming change
  • Celebrating the sacrament with your child


Another way to live with signs of forgiveness and reconciliation is to ask "What's your family's forgiveness quotient"?  How readily do you forgive each other and seek the healing blessings of the sacrament of reconciliation?  Because you are the first and best teachers of the faith for your children, there is no better way to encourage your child to seek forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation than by participating in it yourself.  So the most important step in creating a family that faithfully participates in the sacrament is to make sure you go to confession, and make sure your kids know you go.

Your child will quickly catch on to the importance of this healing sacrament when they see you going and reaping the benefits of a grace - and peace-filled life.  Besides celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation yourself, there are other ways you can support and encourage your children to go to confession.
 
  • Show your kids that reconciliation makes a difference in your life.  Tell them how and why you feel more joy and peace after you go to confession.
  • Set-up a family schedule for going to conferssion, whether you all go to church at the same time or individually, or at times convenient for each family member.
  • Help your children prepare for confession by encouraging a regular examination of conscience.  Help younger children raise questions that recall what they've done and what they have failed to do.  "Do I need to be forgiven because I was selfish or rude or unkind?"
  • Hold "forgiveness prayer services" at hoe.  Something as simple as gathering in a circle, holding hands, and praying the Lords Prayer can create a quiet and peaceful time for your children to think about their need for forgiveness.
Your children also need to see how forgiveness applies to their daily lives.  As their parents, you can model this for them, too, by forgiving others and asking for forgiveness when you do something you shouldn't.  Children need to see you owning up to your shortcomings and asking for forgiveness (even from them!) when your temper and selfishness or impatience gets the better of you.  Let them know that it's not always easy to admit our shortcomings or to forgive others, but that a family is healthier and happier when everyone forgives and is forgiven.

Use the language of forgiveness around the house.
"Please forgive me"
"I am sorry I hurt you"
"I was rude"
"What I did was mean"
"I did not act fairly"
These simple and sincere words create an atmosphere where children learn that holding grudges and having hurt feelings is not the way Jesus means for us to live.

Also look for opportunities to teach about forgiveness in common, everyday situations:  with neighbors and friends, at school and work, from newspaper headlines, in situations on telelvision.  Take time to talk to your children about the times when they've hurt others and when they've been hurt, and what it means to forgive.

Ask them "How might things be different if forgiveness could happen in this situation?"

As parents and teachers, we can work together to help children hear Jesus' good news about forgiveness.  Celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation and living in an environment of forgiveness will teach children (and us adults with them) to people of peace.


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  • SRE School of Religious Education
    • Application for SRE
    • 2024-2025 Calendars
    • Parent Student Handbook >
      • Directory
      • Mission Statement & Philosophy
      • Roles of Parents/Students
      • Curriculum
      • Sacraments
      • Attendance
      • Class Cancellations
      • Arrival/Dismissal
      • Campus Rules
      • Parent Participation
      • Child Abuse Prevention
    • Handbook for Catechist
    • Volunteer to Teach
    • Parent Resources
  • First Penance First Holy Communion
    • Welcome to the Sacrament Year
    • What First Penance Means and Guidelines >
      • Bringing the Sacrament of Penance Home
      • Act of Contrition/Prayer of Absolution
    • Preparing to Receive the Eucharist
    • First Communion Workshop
    • First Communion Practices/Mass Assignments
    • Seating for First Communion
    • Altar Server Request Form
    • First Penance/First Communion Dress Code/Photo Policy
    • May Crowning Procession
  • New Parent Orientation
  • Faith Celebrations
  • Safeguarding Children (VIRTUS)
  • Lesson guide: what are we covering this week? Make up work/online course
  • Parent Portal for SRE
  • Parent Checklist for First Penance
  • Teaching Touching Safety
  • Teaching Touching Safety Permission slips
  • First Penance
    • First Penance
  • Religious Education Classtimes
  • New Page
  • About Religious Education
  • VIRTUS Session Information
  • Children's Liturgy