How Jesus Comes to Me Helps Children and Parents Prepare for First Confession and First Holy Communion
Jesus Comes to Me: Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion
If you are a Catholic parent who wants to help your child prepare for the sacraments of first confession and first holy communion, you might be looking for a reliable and engaging resource that can guide you through this process. You want your child to understand the meaning and importance of these sacraments, and to experience the joy and grace that they bring. You also want to make this journey of faith together with your child, and grow closer to God and each other.
Jesus Comes to Me: Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion downloads torrent
That's why you should check out this book: Jesus Comes to Me: Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion by Father Benedict Groeschel. This book is a comprehensive and practical guide that covers everything you need to know about preparing your child for these two important milestones in their Catholic life. In this article, we will give you an overview of what this book is about, who is the author, and why it is helpful for children and parents. We will also give you some tips on how to prepare your child for first confession and first holy communion, based on the book's content. Finally, we will tell you how you can download the book and share it with others who might benefit from it.
Introduction
What is the book about?
Jesus Comes to Me: Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion is a book that explains the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist in a simple and clear way that children can understand. It uses colorful illustrations, stories, prayers, activities, and questions to help children learn about God's love, forgiveness, presence, and friendship. It also provides parents with helpful advice on how to support their children's spiritual growth and catechesis.
The book is divided into two parts: one for first confession and one for first holy communion. Each part has six chapters that cover the following topics:
The meaning and purpose of the sacrament
The biblical background and history of the sacrament
The steps and requirements for receiving the sacrament
The effects and benefits of the sacrament
The ways to live out the sacrament in daily life
The prayers and practices related to the sacrament
The book also includes a glossary of terms, a list of references, and an appendix with additional resources.
Who is the author?
The author of this book is Father Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan priest, psychologist, author, speaker, and founder of several religious communities. He was born in 1933 in New Jersey, USA, and entered the Capuchin Order in 1951. He was ordained a priest in 1959, and earned a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University in 1971. He taught at various universities and seminaries, and was a frequent guest on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network).
Father Benedict was known for his deep spirituality, his compassion for the poor and the suffering, his orthodoxy and fidelity to the Church, and his wisdom and humor. He wrote over 30 books on various topics, such as prayer, spirituality, evangelization, social justice, and the saints. He also founded the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, and the Good Counsel Homes for pregnant women in need. He died in 2014 at the age of 81.
Why is this book helpful for children and parents?
This book is helpful for children and parents because it offers a solid and accessible catechesis on the sacraments of first confession and first holy communion. It helps children to appreciate the beauty and richness of these sacraments, and to prepare their hearts and minds to receive them with faith and love. It also helps parents to fulfill their role as the primary educators of their children in the faith, and to accompany them in their journey of becoming disciples of Christ.
Some of the benefits of using this book are:
It teaches children the essential truths of the Catholic faith in a way that they can understand and remember.
It engages children's attention and curiosity with colorful illustrations, stories, activities, and questions.
It fosters children's love for God and the Church with prayers, devotions, and examples of saints.
It encourages children's participation and involvement with practical suggestions and tips.
It supports parents' role and responsibility with clear explanations and guidance.
It strengthens parents' relationship with their children with opportunities for dialogue and sharing.
Main Content
How to prepare for first confession
What is confession and why do we need it?
Confession, also called reconciliation or penance, is a sacrament that God gave us to heal us from our sins and restore us to his friendship. Sin is anything that we think, say, or do that goes against God's law of love. Sin hurts our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. Sin also makes us unhappy and weakens our ability to do good.
We need confession because we are all sinners who need God's mercy and forgiveness. No one is perfect or without fault. We all make mistakes and fail to love God and our neighbor as we should. We all need to say sorry to God and ask for his help to change our lives. Confession is a gift that God gives us to show us his love, compassion, and patience. Confession is also a sign that we love God back, that we are sorry for offending him, and that we want to be faithful to him.
How to examine your conscience and make a good confession
To make a good confession, we need to examine our conscience first. This means that we need to look into our hearts and minds, and review our thoughts, words, actions, and omissions in light of God's commandments and teachings. We need to ask ourselves: What have I done wrong? How have I hurt God or others? How have I failed to do good? We need to be honest, humble, and sincere in recognizing our sins. We can also ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and help us remember our sins.
After examining our conscience, we need to make an act of contrition. This means that we need to express our sorrow for our sins and our intention to avoid them in the future. We can say a prayer like this: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen."
Then we need to go to confession with a priest. The priest represents Jesus Christ who forgives us through him. We can follow these steps when we go to confession:
We greet the priest and make the sign of the cross.
We say how long it has been since our last confession.
We confess our sins honestly and sincerely.
We listen to the priest's advice and accept the penance he gives us.
We say the act of contrition again.
We receive absolution from the priest who says: "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
We thank the priest and leave the confessional.
What are the benefits of receiving God's forgiveness?
When we receive God's forgiveness in confession, we experience many benefits and blessings. Some of them are:
We are reconciled with God and the Church. We restore our friendship with God who loves us unconditionally and welcomes us back with open arms. We also restore our communion with the Church, which is the family of God and the body of Christ.
We are healed from the wounds of sin. We receive God's grace, which is his free and undeserved gift that helps us to overcome our weaknesses and to grow in holiness. We also receive peace, joy, and hope in our hearts.
We are strengthened to resist temptation and to do good. We receive the Holy Spirit, who guides us and empowers us to live according to God's will. We also receive the sacramental grace, which is a special help that enables us to live out the sacrament in our daily life.
How to prepare for first holy communion
What is the Eucharist and why is it important?
The Eucharist, also called holy communion or the Lord's Supper, is a sacrament that Jesus instituted at the Last Supper before he died on the cross. It is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is the most important and precious gift that Jesus gave us.
The Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive Jesus himself: his body, blood, soul, and divinity. We also receive his love, his life, and his sacrifice for us.
The Eucharist is important because it nourishes our spiritual life and strengthens our union with God and the Church. It also transforms us into the image and likeness of Christ, and enables us to share in his mission of saving the world.
How to receive Jesus with reverence and love
To receive Jesus with reverence and love in holy communion, we need to prepare ourselves well. We need to do the following things:
We need to be in a state of grace. This means that we need to be free from mortal sin, which is a serious sin that breaks our relationship with God. If we have committed a mortal sin, we need to go to confession before receiving communion.
We need to fast for one hour before receiving communion. This means that we should not eat or drink anything except water or medicine for one hour before receiving communion. This helps us to show respect and hunger for Jesus.
We need to dress modestly and appropriately for Mass. This means that we should wear clothes that are clean, decent, and respectful of God and others. This helps us to show honor and dignity for Jesus.
We need to pray before receiving communion. This means that we should talk to Jesus in our hearts and tell him how much we love him, how much we need him, and how much we want to receive him. We can also ask him to forgive us for our sins, to help us grow in faith, hope, and charity, and to bless us and our loved ones.
We need to receive communion with reverence and gratitude. This means that we should approach the altar with a humble and joyful attitude, make a sign of reverence (such as a bow or a genuflection), say "Amen" when the priest or minister says "The body of Christ" or "The blood of Christ", receive Jesus either on the tongue or in the hand (according to our preference), consume Jesus immediately without breaking or chewing him, make another sign of reverence (such as a cross), return to our seat quietly, kneel down if possible, and thank Jesus for coming into our hearts.
How to live as a friend of Jesus after communion
To live as a friend of Jesus after communion, we need to follow his example and his commandments. We need to do the following things:
We need to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This means that we should worship God regularly by attending Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation, by praying every day (especially the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be), by reading the Bible (especially the Gospels), by adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (especially during exposition or benediction), and by practicing the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
We need to love our neighbor as ourselves. This means that we should respect and care for every person as a child of God, by being kind, generous, forgiving, honest, and helpful. We should also serve those who are in need, such as the poor, the sick, the lonely, and the oppressed, by giving them food, clothing, shelter, medicine, comfort, and friendship. We should also share the good news of Jesus with others, by being a good example, by inviting them to Mass or to catechism classes, by giving them a Bible or a catechism book, or by telling them about Jesus and his love for them.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, we have learned about the book Jesus Comes to Me: Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion by Father Benedict Groeschel. This book is a great resource for children and parents who want to prepare for these two sacraments that are essential for our Catholic life. The book explains the meaning and importance of these sacraments in a simple and clear way that children can understand. It also provides practical tips and activities to help children and parents prepare their hearts and minds to receive these sacraments with faith and love.
We have also learned some basic information and advice on how to prepare for first confession and first holy communion, based on the book's content. We have learned what confession and holy communion are and why we need them. We have learned how to examine our conscience and make a good confession. We have learned how to receive Jesus with reverence and love in holy communion. We have learned how to live as a friend of Jesus after communion.
Call to action: download the book and share it with others
If you are interested in reading this book or using it with your child, you can download it for free from this link: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=10976. You can also buy a hard copy from this link: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Comes-Me-Preparation-Communion/dp/0898707846.
If you have read this book or used it with your child, you can share your feedback and experience with others who might benefit from it. You can write a review on Amazon or on your social media platforms. You can also recommend this book to your friends, family members, or fellow parishioners who have children preparing for these sacraments.
By downloading this book and sharing it with others, you are helping to spread the word of God and his love for us. You are also helping to support the work of Father Benedict Groeschel and his religious communities who serve the poor and the needy in various ways.
Thank you for reading this article and may God bless you and your family!
FAQs
Q: How old should a child be to receive first confession and first holy communion?
A: According to the Code of Canon Law (the official rules of the Catholic Church), a child should receive first confession before receiving first holy communion (canon 914). A child should receive first holy communion when he or she reaches the age of reason (canon 913). The age of reason is usually around seven years old, but it may vary depending on the child's maturity and understanding. The parents, together with the pastor or catechist, are responsible for determining when the child is ready to receive these sacraments.
Q: How often should a child go to confession and holy communion?
A: According to the Code of Canon Law, a child should go to confession at least once a year (canon 989), preferably during Lent (canon 920). A child should go to holy communion at least once a year (canon 920), preferably during Easter (canon 920). However, these are only the minimum requirements. A child can go to confession and holy communion more frequently if he or she wishes. The Church encourages us to go to confession regularly (at least once a month) and to holy communion frequently (at least once a week) as long as we are in a state of grace.
A: There are many books and resources that can help a child prepare for first confession and first holy communion. Some of them are:
A Little Book about Confession for Children by Kendra Tierney. This book is a simple and fun guide that teaches children what confession is, why they need it, and how to do it.
The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith by Josephine Nobisso. This book is a beautiful and inspiring story that shows the power and value of the Mass and the Eucharist.
Blessed First Reconciliation Workbook and Blessed First Communion Workbook by Dynamic Catholic. These books are part of a comprehensive and interactive program that prepares children for these sacraments with engaging videos, activities, and prayers.
The New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism by Bennet Kelley. This book is a classic and reliable catechism that teaches children the basic doctrines and practices of the Catholic faith.
The Mass Book for Children by Donna Piscitelli. This book is a colorful and easy-to-follow guide that helps children understand and participate in the Mass.
Q: How can I help my child grow in faith after receiving first confession and first holy communion?
A: You can help your child grow in faith after receiving first confession and first holy communion by doing the following things:
Pray with your child every day. You can use traditional prayers (such as the Rosary, the Angelus, the Divine Mercy Chaplet) or spontaneous prayers (such as thanking God, asking for his help, praising him). You can also read the Bible or other spiritual books with your child.
Celebrate the sacraments with your child regularly. You can go to Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation, go to confession at least once a month, and go to adoration or benediction whenever possible. You can also celebrate other sacraments (such as confirmation, marriage, or holy orders) when they are available.
Teach your child the Catholic faith. You can enroll your child in a catechism class at your parish or school, or teach your child at home using a catechism book or online course. You can also answer your child's questions and doubts about the faith with patience and clarity.
Encourage your child to practice the works of mercy. You can help your child to perform acts of charity (such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick) and acts of piety (such as praying for the living and the dead, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful). You can also inspire your child with stories of saints and martyrs who lived out their faith heroically.
Set a good example for your child. You can show your child how to live as a faithful Catholic by being honest, humble, generous, forgiving, joyful, and obedient to God and his Church. You can also share your personal testimony and experience of God's love and grace in your life.
Q: Where can I find more information about Father Benedict Groeschel and his religious communities?
A: You can find more information about Father Benedict Groeschel and his religious communities from these websites:
https://franciscanfriars.com/. This is the website of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a community of men who live a life of prayer, poverty, evangelization, and service to the poor.
https://franciscansisterscfr.com/. This is the website of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, a community of women who live a life of prayer, poverty, evangelization, and service to the poor.
https://www.goodcounselho