“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Luke, chapter 23:34

 

 

For Parents To Teach To Their Children

Holy Week leads us to  “The Crucifixion.” “The Sorrowful Mysteries” of the Rosary are, indeed, sad and difficult to comprehend for young children. The Crucifixion is profoundly sad. I have included an excerpt for the youngest children, as well as for older brothers and sisters. My hope is that your children are prepared for Holy Week, knowing in advance what Jesus faces, and be ready to celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, full of joy and hope.

Learn About Jesus Through the Mysteries of the Rosary

Over Lent, read the Bible passage for one of the Sorrowful Mysteries each Sunday. Help your child begin to name them.

“The Sorrowful Mysteries” (These are recited Tuesdays and Fridays)

“The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – Jesus Dies on the Cross”

“Jesus is nailed to the Cross. Lk. 23:33
He prays: ‘Father, forgive them.’ Lk. 23:34
Jesus says to the repentant thief: ‘This day you will be with Me in paradise.’ Lk. 23:43
Looking down at Mary His Mother, He says: ‘Woman, there is your son.’Jn. 19:26
Looking at the beloved disciple, He says: ‘There is your Mother.’ Jn. 19:27
Jesus endures the terrible torture of the Cross for three hours. Mt. 27:45
Nature itself seemed in mourning, for darkness covered the earth. Mt. 27:45
‘There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ Jn. 15:13
Having completed His redeeming mission, Jesus cried out: ‘It is finished.’ Jn. 19:30
‘Father, into Your hands, I commend My spirit.’” Lk. 23:46

Source: “The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery” from Rosary-Center.Org

We Learn Through Reading–For Grown-Ups and Older Children

“The Crucifixion.p USCCB.org Luke, chapter 23:33-43
33
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.q
34
[Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’]* They divided his garments by casting lots.r
35
The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,s ‘He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.’t
36
Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine u
37
they called out, ‘If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.’
38
Above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

39
* Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.’
40
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, ‘Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?
41
And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.’v
42
Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’w
43
He replied to him, ‘Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”x

Note* Letters and numbers are placed by the USCCB for links and footnotes to help the reader.

“The Crucifixion” for Young Readers

 

Source: My First Communion Bible, Page 55

“The Crucifixion”

“At the place called, Golgotha, the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. Two robbers were crucified at the same time. The chief priests came to mock Jesus. ‘He is the Son of God,’ they laughed.’And he cannot even save himself!’ Jesus prayed, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’

The robber next to Jesus rebuked them. He said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus promised, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’ Jesus’ mother, Mary, was near with his apostle John. Jesus said, ‘Woman. here is your son.’ and ‘Son, here is your mother.’

As Jesus hung on the cross, he cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Then he said, ‘Father, into your hands I command my spirit,’ and died.

When the soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear to make sure he was dead, blood and water gushed out.
The centurion said, ‘Truly, this was the son of God.'”

“(Matthew 27:33-56; Mark 15:22-41; Luke 23:33-49; John 19:18-37)”

“The Crucifixion–Mark 15:21-47; John 19:17-41“

Source: The Catholic Bible for Children     Pages 195-195-197

Excerpt:

“Then they made Jesus carry his cross to the place where he would be crucified.His mother, Mary, was there with a few other women and friends. They wept. Jesus died on the cross.

When evening came, a friend named Joseph of Arimathea came to take his body. He wrapped him in a linen sheet and laid him in a tomb carved out of the rock. He rolled a very big stone in front of the entrance and went home in great sadness.”

We Learn Through Song

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
Source: Hymnary.org

1″Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

3 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

4 Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987″

Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord) A Capella by The Peguero Sisters

We Learn Through Art

“The Crucifixion of Jesus” A Watercolor Collage

This week we are remembering the Crucifixion of Jesus, along with two robbers who were also crucified. One robber said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus tells him, “This day you will be with Me in paradise.” Therefore, we have three crosses in our art project.

You’ll need two sheets of watercolor paper, watercolors and brushes, watercolor paints– either dry “cakes” or liquid watercolor– scissors, and liquid school glue.

Invite your child to color one entire sheet of paper with purple, blue, or gray. Have your child paint swirls and lines with brushes or even fingers, for texture and interest. This will be the background for the crosses to be glued onto.

For sheet number two, I used a piece of screen material and painted over the screen on top of the paper in brown or black. (Tule would work, too.) Trace or draw three crosses on the back of the dry brown painting. Cut them out and use the glue to paste down the crosses onto the purple background. (I decided to add a coat of brown tempera over the crosses.) Use the left-over painted paper to cut “steps” to make a path to the cross of Jesus.

Put a non-stick cutting board on top of the crosses and steps to help them lay down flat as they dry, and not curl up. After a couple of hours, remove cutting board and enjoy the artwork. If the glue of the crosses and steps is still a bit wet, air dry. Then your child will have a lovely painting to proudly display.

Our Materials

Suggested Family Activities–Week 36–“Reconciliation”

Please read, “The Parable of The Prodigal Son” with your child. You can read “The Parable of the Lost Son” online at USCCB.Org, or from a Catholic Children’s Bible. Here is an excerpt from My First Communion Bible, Page 28:

“Jesus continued with this parable: ‘A man had two sons. The younger son asked for half of his father’s wealth and then wasted all of it partying. When a famine struck, the son had nothing to eat, not even animal slops. Finally, he decided to go home and humbly beg for his father’s forgiveness. But while he was on the road, his father caught sight of him.

He ran to his son, embraced him, and planned a huge feast. The older brother was angry because he was good all the time and never had a party. His father explained, ‘My son, you are always with me and everything I have is yours. We are celebrating because your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.'” (Luke 15:10-32

Writing Activities for kids and families

1. “Tell about a time when you, too, were sorry for something you did, or express it in a drawing.”
2. “Draw or tell about a time when you were jealous of a present that another person received.”
3. “…draw a picture or tell about a time when you were forgiven, as the father forgave his son and welcomed him back with open arms.”
4. “Write a prayer thanking the Lord for his patience and for welcoming us back to him.”

 

Source: MagnifiKid, Easter Sunday, 2019