Sacramental Preparation in the CGS Atrium

At Home

Cultivating a commitment of attending Sunday Mass is the best preparation parents can give their child in preparing them for the sacraments. The Mass calls us to be disciples of Jesus Christ, nourishes us for that task, and then sends us forth to practice our faith.

Sacramental Meditations

The second grade children will participate in five meditations to assist in preparing for their upcoming Sacraments. The meditations begin in Holy Trinity Church with a prayer service that the children actively participate in and lead. They then process back to the atrium to receive one of the Sacramental Meditations; The Parable of the True Vine, The Found Coin and Sheep, and The Forgiving Father [Prodigal Son.] The fifth meditation is offered just before their First Holy Communion. The scriptural words of the Roman Centurion are proclaimed and pondered: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, speak but the word and my servant shall be healed.” We meditate on these words . . . what can they mean? How are they like the words we say at Mass before Holy Communion? Can anyone ever really be worthy? Jesus calls us to come to Communion, He makes our soul worthy to receive Him. It is beautiful to witness the children settling into the atrium and prayerfully preparing their hearts to receive our Lord in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

WHEN YOU GIVE ALMS, DO NOT BLOW A TRUMPET BEFORE YOU. (Mt 6:2a)

Sacramental Preparation

Moral Parable and Maxims

As part of their Sacramental Preparation the children will be presented with Jesus’ moral parables:

The Found Coin, The Found Sheep, The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the Good Samaritan, the Ten Bridesmaids, and the Insistent Friend.

These parables take on new meaning for them as they realize that they do not always choose to follow the Good Shepherd’s call. These scripture readings are paired with the “Maxims”, the moral teachings of Jesus, such as “Love your enemies,” and “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” All this assists the child in preparing their heart for the beautiful sacrament of God’s Love and Mercy, Reconciliation.

True Vine Sacramental Meditation

The parable of The True Vine is the heart of the Level II atrium and our Sacramental Preparation. We read John 15:1-11, which lifts up The True Vine as a image that Jesus gives us of our relationship to Him. Jesus says, “I AM the True Vine and you are the branches.” We think about how we can remain in Jesus as we hear this word 13 times in this passage. "Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me." John 15:4 We discuss what stops us from growing and producing fruit is sin or blocks that get in the way of our relationship with God. They ponder that it is the Father who receives the glory when the plant bears much fruit. "By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." John 15:8 We begin an examination of conscience that guides the children in learning how to remain in the Father's Love. "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love." John 15:10 The children learn that it is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation the blocks or sin are removed and there is much rejoicing. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." John 15:11