The Prodigal Son/El hijo pródigo
READ Luke 15:11-32. Lee Lucas 15:11-32
IMPORTANT:
Sacrament of Reconciliation for all First Communion candidates, parents, and godparents: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 @6:00 PM at St. Francis Outdoor Sanctuary.
PRACTICE : English
PRACTICE: Espanol
Examination of Conscience
Quietly sit and examine your conscience. Use these questions to help you reflect on your relationship with God and others.
GOD COMES FIRST: Do I pray each day? Do I act with respect in Church? Did I participate at Mass?
GOD’S NAME IS HOLY: Do I always use God’s Name in the right way? Do I treat and talk about holy things properly?
GOD’S DAY IS HOLY: Did I go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days? Did I miss Mass through my own fault?
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER: Did I obey my parents? Did I treat them with respect/. Was I obedient and respectful to my teachers and others in authority?
DO NOT KILL: Have I been kind to my brothers and sisters, friends and people in my classroom? Have I hurt anyone emotionally or physically? Did I harm anyone’s reputation by hurtful, cruel words?
BE PURE: Were my thoughts, words, and actions good and pure? Have I been careful to watch only good movies, shows and things on the computer? Have I been careful in what I have listened to and what I have said? Have I dressed and acted modestly?
DO NOT STEAL: Have I always been honest? Did I take what didn’t belong to me? Did I return what I borrowed or found? If I broke something, did I fix or replace it? Did I cheat on my homework or tests?
DO NOT LIE: Have I always told the truth? Have I said or repeated anything hurtful about anyone that was not necessary to say? Was I quiet about something when I should have spoken up? (sin of omission)
and 10. DO NOT WANT YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE OR THINGS: Have I been satisfied with what I have? Have I been jealous of another’s things, toys, or belongings? Have I begged from my family and friends for what they have and what I want? Am I thankful for what I have?
Conscience: the voice from the Holy Spirit within us that helps us know what is right and what is wrong.
Examen de conciencia
Siéntate en silencio y examina tu conciencia. Usa estas preguntas para ayudarte a
reflexionar sobre tu relación con Dios y con los demás.
DIOS ES PRIMERO: ¿Oro todos los días? ¿Actúo con respeto en la Iglesia? ¿Participé en la misa?
EL NOMBRE DE DIOS ES SANTO: ¿Uso siempre el Nombre de Dios de la manera correcta? ¿Trato y hablo de las cosas santas correctamente?
EL DÍA DE DIOS ES SANTO: ¿Fui a misa los domingos y días festivos? ¿Falté misa por mi propia culpa?
HONRA A TU PADRE YA TU MADRE: ¿Obedecí a mis padres? ¿Los traté con respeto/. ¿Fui obediente y respetuoso con mis maestros y otras personas con autoridad?
NO MATAR: ¿He sido amable con mis hermanos y hermanas, amigos y personas en mi salón de clases? ¿He lastimado a alguien emocional o físicamente? ¿Daño la reputación de alguien con palabras hirientes y crueles?
SÉ PURO: ¿Fueron mis pensamientos, palabras y acciones buenos y puros? ¿He tenido cuidado de ver solo buenas películas, programas y cosas en la computadora? ¿He sido cuidadoso en lo que he escuchado y en lo que he dicho? ¿Me he vestido y actuado con modestia?
NO ROBAR: ¿Siempre he sido honesto? ¿Tomé lo que no me pertenecía? ¿Devolví lo que pedí prestado o encontré? Si rompí algo, ¿lo arreglé o reemplacé? ¿Hice trampa en mis deberes o exámenes?
NO MIENTE: ¿Siempre he dicho la verdad? ¿He dicho o repetido algo hiriente sobre alguien que no era necesario decir? ¿Me quedé callado sobre algo cuando debería haber hablado? (pecado de omisión)
y 10. NO QUIERES LA MUJER NI LAS COSAS DE TU PRÓJIMO: ¿Me he conformado con lo que tengo? ¿He estado celoso de las cosas, juguetes o pertenencias de otra persona? ¿He suplicado a mi familia y amigos por lo que tienen y lo que quiero? ¿Estoy agradecido por lo que tengo?
Conciencia: la voz del Espíritu Santo dentro de nosotros que nos ayuda a saber lo que está bien y lo que está mal.
VIDEOS: The Sacrament of Reconciliation:
YOUNGER CHILDREN
Steps for Reconciliation
The Prodigal Son
YOUTH
THE HEALING POWER of CONFESSION (from CHOSEN for Confirmation)
Preparation for a PENANCE SERVICE and DAILY Self Examination
This session is intended to help you and your children to encounter Jesus Christ and come to a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We hope that you also receive insights about God’s love for us and how He wants us to live.
Sacraments are signs of God’s divine presence, his GRACE that we experience deep within us.
Through the sacraments, we share in the divine life of God. We take part in the Paschal Mystery: his suffering, death and resurrection.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation brings about the HEALING of the wounds of sin to give us NEW life in Christ.
Jesus calls all, young and old, to conversion. It is through Baptism that the first and principle place of conversion occurs through the washing away of our sins and the beginning of our new life in Christ. Yet Jesus does not leave us to our own accord after Baptism. He continually calls us to conversion and His call should resonate in our lives as we grow in holiness with the Holy Spirit guiding us.
To grow in HOLINESS means we open our hearts to the grace Jesus wants to give us. This starts with Baptism and continues through our whole lives when we receive the other sacraments.
This call to conversion after Baptism is as the Catechism calls an “uninterrupted task for the whole church” to gather sinners into her bosom so a‘contrite heart’ may respond to the merciful love of God through the sacrament of Reconciliation. (CCC 1428)
Let us PRAY:
Father, we gather today to prepare our hearts to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Help us to be sorry for offending you, in order that we may grow closer to You and to recognize the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We pray this through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Sacraments: seven main liturgical celebrations of the Church, given to us by Christ, that make us sharers in the life of God, through our participation the Paschal Mystery of Christ;
Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance is a sacrament of HEALING in which we celebrate God's gift of forgiveness and our reconciliation with God through the absolution of the priest.
Conversion means to turn away from sin and willingly choose a path toward God.
Holiness is where we are in communion with God and willingly obeying His will.
Contrite heart is a humble heart, truly sorry for sin, firmly intending not to sin again.
The Sacrament Reconciliation:
Healing and Wholeness for Life in
God’s Kingdom
AT MASS we pray the Act of Penitence as part of the EUCHARIST
Pay special attention to this prayer the next time you attend Mass.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
During the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) we say a similar prayer:
The Act of Contrition
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy. AMEN
penance: the word or action that shows we are truly sorry and trying to make up for our sins.
Before celebrating the Sacrament of Penance, we should prepare ourselves with an examination of conscience, which involves reflecting prayerfully on our thoughts, words, and deeds in order to identify any sins.
There are various types of examinations of conscience but regardless of which one you use to prepare yourself for the Sacrament it should be rooted in Scripture; particularly, the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes.
See the examples of Examinations of Conscience below to help you and your family prepare for the Sacrament.
Examination of Conscience
The Great Commandment
MATTHEW 22:37-39
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second and most important commandment is like it. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. The whole law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.
Sample Questions for Reflection
LOVING GOD
Do I go to God in prayer and read his WORD to know HIS WILL for me every day? (Ask: God what is your will for me today? Then do it.)
Have I used God’s name in disrespectful ways?
Do I prepare my mind and heart and look forward to attending the Eucharist (Mass) every week?
Do I confess when I make bad choices (sin) and ask God and others for forgiveness?
LOVING OTHERS
Do I show respect to and obey my parents and other adults?
Have I been a good and faithful friend (brother/sister)?
Do I keep my promises to God and others?
Do I keep from taking things from others without permission?
Do I tell the truth as God wants me to do?
Am I grateful for what I have? Do I remember to thank God and others for all the blessings in my life?
The answers to these questions will help you to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By taking time to reflect on the questions you will be prepared to speak to the priest when you attend Reconciliation or the Penance Service.
It is a very helpful to do a daily Examination of Conscience by reviewing questions like these. The Holy Spirit will let you know where you might not have been the best version of yourself. With a humble and contrite heart, you can ask God and others for forgiveness and make things right.
SUMMARY
The SACRAMENT of PENANCE and RECONCILIATION is a sacrament of healing.
We attend RECONCILIATION/PENANCE Services to receive the gift of God's forgiveness and reconciliation through the ABSOLUTION of the priest.
IMPORTANT RESOURCES to REVIEW in the coming Weeks
Salvation Story: Creation-Cross & Resurrection-Holy Spirit and the Church-Jesus Coming Again (Coloring-Storytelling Project as a Family)
Prodigal Son Bible Story
Prodigal Son Bible Story (Family Lectio Divina)
Examination of Conscience (Daily Practice )
Practice and Role Play STEPS FOR RECONCILIATION.
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