“The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees in this garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die.”
Source: USCCB.org, “GENESIS”, Chapter 2:16-17
For Parents To Teach To Their Children
“Each one of us is heir to Adam and Eve. Their sin shattered God’s created harmony, not only for them but also for us. We experience the effects of Original Sin in our daily life. This explains why it is so difficult to do good or to do what we should.”
Source: USCCB.org “Men and Women in the Beginning”
Click Here for More Information on Original Sin and Adam and Eve
Our Art Gallery
Adam, Eve, and The Fall
Source: USCCB.org, Genesis, Chapter 3:19
Our Readings #1
Gospel–“The Memorial of the Guardian Angels, October 2, 2021
“The disciples approached Jesus and said,
‘Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?’
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
‘See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
Excerpt from Catechism of the Catholic Church
Parents, please paraphrase the material below for easier comprehension of young students.
1. “THE ANGELS”
“The existence of angels – a truth of faith”
“328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. the witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.
Who are they?
329 St. Augustine says: “‘Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.'”188 With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word”.189
330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendour of their glory bears witness.190
Christ “with all his angels”
331 Christ is the centre of the angelic world. They are his angels: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. . “191 They belong to him because they were created through and for him: “for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.”192 They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?”193
332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples.194 Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.195
333 From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God “brings the firstborn into the world, he says: ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.'”196 Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church’s praise: “Glory to God in the highest!”197 They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been.198 Again, it is the angels who “evangelize” by proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s Incarnation and Resurrection.199 They will be present at Christ’s return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgement.200
The angels in the life of the Church
334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.201
335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the Roman Canon’s Supplices te rogamus. . .[“Almighty God, we pray that your angel…”]; in the funeral liturgy’s In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .[“May the angels lead you into Paradise. . .”]). Moreover, in the “Cherubic Hymn” of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).
336 From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.”
Our Readings #2: Excerpts from Charming Children’s Bibles
“Original Sin–Temptation, Sin, and Grace”
“The Garden of Eden”
“Adam and Eve, our first parents, lived in the garden God had made for them. It was called the Garden of Eden. In that garden was everything they needed. They were free to eat the fruit of any tree in the garden: the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God warned them that eating from this tree would lead to death.”
“A serpent came to Eve and pointed out that tree. Eve told the serpent what God had said. But this is what the serpent said: ‘You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.'”
Source: Book of Bible Stories By Amy Welborn, Loyola Press A Jesuit Ministry, “The Garden of Eden” Page 135
“Adam and Eve” (From “The Jesus Speaks to Me” Series)
“Now Adam and Eve could eat whatever they liked in the Garden–except one thing. My Father told them not to eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden. Satan wanted to tempt them to disobey my father, so he aid to them, ‘That fruit is very good.’ Adam and Eve had made a bad choice; they ate the fruit.”
“Adam and Eve had disobeyed their heavenly Father. They knew they had done wrong. They had to leave the Garden of Eden. Their sin separated them and all their descendants from out family of love. But my Father promised, ‘I will send my only Son. He will bring my children back into our family of love.”
Source: Jesus Speaks to Me On My First Holy Communion By Angela M. Burrin, Illustrated By Maria Cristina Lo Cascio the WORD among us Press, Page 10
“Who Committed the First Sin?” (From “The Jesus Speaks to Me” Series)
“Do you know why you go to confession? It’s because sin entered the world. When my Father created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, he gave them a beautiful place to live–the Garden of Eden. There was only one very important rule. My Father said, ‘Because I love you, do not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It will hurt our friendship.
“Satan knew this rule. He tempted Adam and Eve, saying, ‘If you eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you will be like God.’ Adam and Eve liked what Satan said–it made them feel important. They disobeyed their heavenly Father and chose to eat the forbidden fruit.”
“Although Adam and Eve had sinned, my Father still loved them. But now they had to leave the Garden of Eden. He placed an angel with a fiery sword to guard the entrance to the Garden.”
“Because of this first sin, called ‘original sin,’ everyone is tempted to make wrong choices. Only my mother, Mary, was born without original sin. Ask her to help you avoid the people, places and things that Satan could use to tempt you.”
Source: Jesus Speaks to Me About Confession By Angela M. Burrin, Illustrated By Maria Cristina Lo Cascio, the WORD among us Press, Page 11
Our Art Project–Adam and Eve In the Garden of Eden
This is a colorful art project. Invite your children to imagine what the Garden of Eden looked like. They can use whatever art supplies you have on hand. I love painting with watercolors on strong watercolor paper. I also use water soluble crayons to make designs on my paper, then I paint over the designs with liquid watercolor. Sometimes I use a tiny brush to make designs on the dry paint using black ink. The ink should be for older kids (My hands always get ink on them!) Younger kids can get the same effect using a fine tip Sharpie pen in black. Have fun!
Adam and Eve Art Projects–Scripture from USCCB.org “Genesis” Chapters 1, 2, & 3
Our Materials–Here are some samples of supplies that I use.
Week Six–Suggested Homework Activities
“Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.”
Psalms 103, Number 20
Please work on memorizing the “Guardian Angel Prayer.”
“Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here,
Ever this day, be at my side,
To light, to guard, to rule, and guide.”
Amen