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Children and The Act of Contrition - Fr. Alexius
A priest whom I went to seminary with called and told me of what he had recently experienced. The story was that he had been to see a dying man near 90 years of age who had been away from the Church since his twenties. Thankfully, the gentleman was able to speak and remember and wished to be reconciled through the Faith. The gratitude that my friend had to God for preserving this man’s life long enough to be reconciled was increased when he asked the gentleman to recite the Act of Contrition. Half-way believing that the man would not remember it, my friend was surprised when he heard, “ Act of Contrition. O my God I am heartily sorry…” and finished the entire prayer. How many times had this man said that prayer in all of the years he had lived apart from the Church? my friend wondered, for he did not hesitate in saying the entire prayer. Surely he would have forgotten it if he had not said it on occasion in the previous 60 something years. Had that prayer moved God to preserve his live until he could be reconciled?
My friend shared his realization of how important our memorized prayers are. We quickly recite them with little thought of their value. But how valuable they become to the person who is on the verge of crossing into a realm we know only through belief. Asking God for eternal life is an awesomely serious moment for the person who will soon leave this earth. Our rote prayers are treasures.
Our rote prayers are also needed for the times when we are not free to contemplate. In our busy lives, the rote prayers – the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and very importantly, the Act of Contrition – are gifts from heaven. They contain in a few words, a crystallization of deep theological truths. The Our Father was given to us by Christ himself. The first stanza of the Hail Mary is completely from scripture. The Glory Be glorifies God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one breath. And very importantly, the Act of Contrition is a prayer of sorrow which says everything that needs to be said. It is the perfect “travel companion” which one can take any where he goes, to be said for any act that has offended God, be it a small offense or a grave offense. It does not take the place of Confession but it is the perfect bridge until we get there.
So, knowing that we all love our children as we love ourselves, should we not make sure our children have what can accompany them through near and future acts which are not pleasing to God, walking them towards the forgiving arms of God as they consider the words of the Act of Contrition. Make sure your children know the prayer. Emphasize its importance. Connect the prayer, for them, with their conscience and how the prayer, will soothe their conscience as it soothes the heart of God who hears spoken, “ …But, most of all because I have offended thee my God who art all good and deserving of all of my love.”
The Act of Contrition deeply plays into the imagination of the child. Do not lose out on the power that the prayer has for the soul of your child and for his or her developing insights into a the time when they too will go forth. Arm your children with that prayer which must move the Heart of God
A priest whom I went to seminary with called and told me of what he had recently experienced. The story was that he had been to see a dying man near 90 years of age who had been away from the Church since his twenties. Thankfully, the gentleman was able to speak and remember and wished to be reconciled through the Faith. The gratitude that my friend had to God for preserving this man’s life long enough to be reconciled was increased when he asked the gentleman to recite the Act of Contrition. Half-way believing that the man would not remember it, my friend was surprised when he heard, “ Act of Contrition. O my God I am heartily sorry…” and finished the entire prayer. How many times had this man said that prayer in all of the years he had lived apart from the Church? my friend wondered, for he did not hesitate in saying the entire prayer. Surely he would have forgotten it if he had not said it on occasion in the previous 60 something years. Had that prayer moved God to preserve his live until he could be reconciled?
My friend shared his realization of how important our memorized prayers are. We quickly recite them with little thought of their value. But how valuable they become to the person who is on the verge of crossing into a realm we know only through belief. Asking God for eternal life is an awesomely serious moment for the person who will soon leave this earth. Our rote prayers are treasures.
Our rote prayers are also needed for the times when we are not free to contemplate. In our busy lives, the rote prayers – the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and very importantly, the Act of Contrition – are gifts from heaven. They contain in a few words, a crystallization of deep theological truths. The Our Father was given to us by Christ himself. The first stanza of the Hail Mary is completely from scripture. The Glory Be glorifies God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one breath. And very importantly, the Act of Contrition is a prayer of sorrow which says everything that needs to be said. It is the perfect “travel companion” which one can take any where he goes, to be said for any act that has offended God, be it a small offense or a grave offense. It does not take the place of Confession but it is the perfect bridge until we get there.
So, knowing that we all love our children as we love ourselves, should we not make sure our children have what can accompany them through near and future acts which are not pleasing to God, walking them towards the forgiving arms of God as they consider the words of the Act of Contrition. Make sure your children know the prayer. Emphasize its importance. Connect the prayer, for them, with their conscience and how the prayer, will soothe their conscience as it soothes the heart of God who hears spoken, “ …But, most of all because I have offended thee my God who art all good and deserving of all of my love.”
The Act of Contrition deeply plays into the imagination of the child. Do not lose out on the power that the prayer has for the soul of your child and for his or her developing insights into a the time when they too will go forth. Arm your children with that prayer which must move the Heart of God
SCHEDULE OF THE HOLY MASS AND CONFESSIONS
SATURDAY (anticipated) 4:30 PM
SUNDAY 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 5:00 PM
DAILY MASS
Tuesday at 5:30 PM
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at Noon
HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION
As Announced
CONFESSION
30 minutes before weekday Masses
1 Hour before weekend Masses
Parish Organizations, Meeting Dates and Contact Information
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