Saint
Andrew Religious Education
2006-2007 Sacramental
Preparation
How Do I Know My Child Is Ready for the Sacrament of Penance?
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Has your child expressed a concept of right and wrong, or fairness and unfairness?
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Does your child understand that she/he is loved even when he/she does something wrong?
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Does your child have a prayer relationship with God?
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Does your child have appropriate loving relationships with others?
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Does your child have a desire to make up with others after disagreements or fights?
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Does your child have a desire to make right his/her wrong doings?
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Does your child seek to improve the quality of her/his relationships with others?
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Has your child demonstrated compassion or empathy for others?
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Has your child demonstrated feeling remorse or guilt?
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Can your child express sorrow?
To celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and the Rite of Reconciliation, a child
must be able to:
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recognize something is wrong, and do it freely and deliberately.
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examine (reflect on) their thoughts, words and deeds and recognize what actions are good and what actions are sinful.
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express sorrow for the wrong doing with the intention never to do it again and to repair to the best of his/her ability the consequences of the wrong doing.
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recognize that God has the power to forgive sin and to love the sinner
desire to love God with his/her whole self and their neighbor as his/her self.