Penance & Reconciliation: Encountering God’s Endless Mercy - The Family Rosary Way of Grace

  Dear Parents or Guardians, 

Thank you for taking an active role to help prepare your child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, or Confirmation. This is a special time for your family to pause and reflect on where your family is on the path God called you to walk when your child(ren) was baptized. This is also a great time for your family to pray about any changes you may need to make to remain on the path.

Below you will find links to Holy Scripture, information about the Sacrament being studied, and helpful items to gather that will help during the home sessions. 

May your whole family find peace and joy in this Family Rosary Way of Grace!

Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation:

• The Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation is one of two Sacraments of Healing. 
  • The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is the second Sacrament of Healing.
• Reconciliation with God is part of the plan of Salvation.
  • The contrite faithful who seek the sacrament to be reconciled with God, and the Church, are called penitents. 
  • Penitents seek pardon for sins committed since baptism.
• The Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation consists of repentance (including contrition for sins and a firm purpose to sin no more in the future,) confession, absolution, and reparation or satisfaction.
  • The sacrament restores a person’s intimate relationship with God.
  • Regular reception of the sacrament and confession of venial sins helps to strengthen the penitent to avoid sin in the future and helps to form the person’s conscience.
• The bishop and priests are the ministers of the sacrament.
  • The faithful may seek absolution from the minister of their choosing.
• Integral confession of grave (mortal) sins is necessary for absolution.
  • The faithful are obliged to confess all grave (mortal) sins at least once a year after a careful examination of one’s conscience.
  • Grave sins must be confessed before receiving Holy Communion.
  • Grave sins break a person’s relationship with God and require three conditions to be met:
    • The (sinful) action is very grave (serious), and,
    • The person understands that the action is wrong and sinful, and,
    • The person chooses to commit the action anyway.
  • Sins that do not meet all three of the criteria above are called venial sins.
    • Venial sins weaken our relationship with God and affect our ability to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbor as ourselves.
• To receive this sacrament, a person needs to have knowledge of:
  • The person of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message of forgiveness;
  • knowledge of sin and its effects; 
  • And an understanding and experience of sorrow, forgiveness, and conversion.
  • The basic difference between a sin and an accident or mistake.
  • The sacrament may be received by persons whose disability may limit their ability to describe their sin in words as long as the person is capable of understanding what a sinful action is, even if only in a small way, and is capable of being contrite or sorrowful.

Symbols of the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation

• Keys: Jesus told Peter, “I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 16:19
• Purple Stole: Jesus gave the church the authority to forgive sins. The purple stole is a sign of sacramental absolution given through the priest or bishop.
• Raised Hand: to remind us of the priest or bishop’s hand over a penitent’s head as he recites the prayer of absolution.
• Sign of the Cross: The priest or bishop makes the sign of the cross over the penitent while reciting the prayer of absolution.
• Scourging Whip: Reminds us of Jesus being scourged (John 19:1) before he carried his cross, and through his suffering and death, he took away our sins.

Resource Links From the Parish & Home Sessions:

Learning about the Mass is central in preparing to receive First Communion. Here are some helpful links:

• Sin vs Accident Scenarios. To help teach children the difference between a sin and an accident. (From the Parish Session.)
• USCCB Examination of Conscious, How to Celebrate the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation, The 5 Steps of Penance & Reconciliation. (From the Parish Session.)
• Teaching The Daily Examen (to younger children.) (Link in Home Session #1.)
• Guidelines for a Family Prayers Service for Forgiveness & Peace. (Link in Home Session #2.)
• Stations of the Cross for Children (LoyolaPress.com.) (Link in Home Session #3)

Optional Items to Gather to Help with Home Sessions:

• Bible to look up scripture.
• Computer or cellphone to look up suggested resources.

Scripture References:

Here are the scriptural links to the full story for each mystery in these home sessions. Please consider reading and sitting with the bigger story prior to each home session.

• Home Session 1: Sorrowful Mystery - Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
• Home Session 2: Sorrowful Mystery - Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:31-32)
• Home Session 3: Sorrowful Mystery - The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-56)

Gospel Stories that Help Teach about The Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation:

• Parable of the Lost Sheep Matthew 18:10-14
  • Links to help break open this parable:
  • https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2017/01/understanding-reconciliation-lesson-from-the-lost-sheep/
  • https://www.catechist.com/to-seek-and-save-the-lost-unpacking-the-parable-of-the-lost-sheep/ 
• Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son Luke 15:11-32
  • Links to help break open this parable:
  • https://www.catechist.com/prodigal-son-revisited/
  • https://www.saintjames.church/prodigal-son/
• Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Luke 19:1-10
  • Links to help break open this Gospel story:
  • https://ministry-to-children.com/sunday-school-lesson-zacchaeus/
  • https://www.teachingcatholickids.com/november-gospels-questions-to-ask-your-kids/
  • https://catechismangel.com/2020/03/18/zacchaeus-and-reconciliation-lesson-plan/

Other Helpful Resources to Help Prepare Children for the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation:

• Other Helpful Links for Preparing Children for the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation:
  • Celebrating Reconciliation (from TeachingCatholicKids.com.)
  • 10 Ways to Prepare Children for Confession (from ToJesusSincerely.com.)
• Another Link to Help Guide a Family Prayer Service:
  • Create a Family Reconciliation Service (from St. Mary’s Press, SMP.org.)
• Other Helpful Links for Praying the Stations of the Cross at Home:
  • Stations of the Cross with Mary (from Crieghton University.)
  • Stations of the Cross Videos (from Catholic Relief Services, CRSricebowl.org)
  • The Way of the Cross Coloring Pages (English only) (from the University of Dayton, UDayton.edu.)


• Resources on FORMED.org:
  • https://watch.formed.org/forgiven (Helpful videos for parents to better understand and appreciate the Sacrament of Reconciliation)
  • https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace (Quick, informative, fun videos to watch as a family)
  • https://watch.formed.org/brother-francis-1/season:1/videos/forgiven-the-blessings-of-confession (A Brother Francis Cartoon: “Forgiven: The Blessings of Confession”)
• Resources on FORMED.org about The Rosary:
  • https://watch.formed.org/kids-1/videos/walking-with-jesus-the-rosary-prayers-in-song (The Prayers of the Rosary in Song for Children & Families)
• https://watch.formed.org/brother-francis-1/season:1/videos/the-rosary-a-special-way-to-pray (A Brother Francis Cartoon:  “The Rosary: A Special Way to Pray”)  

Parents, please read this aloud with your child(ren):

Holy Scripture: Then [the Roman soldiers] made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand; then they knelt before him and made fun of him. “Long live the King of the Jews!” they said. Matthew 27:29

Prayer: (Sign of the Cross) Heavenly Father, please bless, inspire and guide our family as we grow in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sign of the Cross)

Story: In the third Sorrowful Mystery, Jesus is crowned with thorns the morning after his Last Supper and his arrest. Pontius Pilot wanted to let him go, but the angry crowd chanted louder and louder, “Crucify him!” After the Roman soldiers led him away, they jeered and made fun of him, and put a crown of thorns on his head. What do you think that was like for Jesus? Jesus endured all of this pain and humiliation to save us from our sins and allow us to live in heaven with Jesus forever.

What is a sin, and how does a sin differ from an accident? An accident is when we didn’t choose for something to happen. A sin is when we intentionally choose to do an action that we know is wrong. What do you think would be an example of an accident or a sin? (Pause to explore how sins and accidents differ. For additional examples, here is the “sin vs. accident” handout.) 

There are two kinds of sin, venial and grave (mortal) sin. Venial sins hurt our relationship with God and make it harder to love Him our best. Grave (mortal) sins are very, very serious, and they require three conditions: the sin has to be very grave; you have to know how wrong the action is before you choose it; and you have to deliberately choose to do the action anyway. When a person chooses to commit a grave (mortal) sin, they turn completely away from God. 

Before we can ask God to forgive us of our sins in the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation, we have to prayerfully understand what our sins are. We do this with an Examination of Conscience. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us recognize sin in our lives. Someone who recognizes sin in their life, feels sorry for their sin, and wants to confess and be forgiven, is called a penitent. (Make time to pray the Examination of Conscious from the Parish Session.)

Biblical/Holy Person: St. Ignatius Loyola was born in 1491 in Spain. St. Ignatius became very good at spiritual direction. He developed the Daily Examen as a prayer exercise where people could pray to be closer to God. St. Ignatius also founded a priestly order called the “Jesuits”.

Discussion/Reflection:
     Everyone: How do you feel when you see the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head?

Response: Let’s take a moment to pray through our day as St Ignatius taught. (Pause.) Be still and quiet. (Pause.) Know that God is with you. (Pause.) Think about your day from the beginning until now. (Pause.) Did you make good choices? (Pause.) Did you sin? (Pause.) Think about how much God loves you. (Pause.) Know that God forgives you when you sin. (Pause.) Ask for God’s forgiveness. (Pause.) Thank God for his gifts. (Pause.) Think of ways that God can help you tomorrow. (Pause.) All Glory Be to the Father… (Thank you Joe Paprocki for this simple Examen)

Family Prayer this Week: As a family, please pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and a Glory Be every day this week. Also, on the day your family chooses, please pray 1 decade of the Rosary, meditating on (thinking about) this week’s mystery: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, & 1 Fatima (Oh my Jesus) Prayer. Click here for help with prayers.

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Sorrowful Mystery #3: Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Photo Credit: usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary)

Print-Ready Copy of this Home Session

Parents, please read this aloud with your child(ren):

Holy Scripture: [As the Roman Soldiers led Jesus out to be crucified,] they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Matthew 27:32

Prayer: (Sign of the Cross) Heavenly Father, please bless, inspire and guide our family as we grow in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sign of the Cross)

Story: Jesus had been up all night, whipped, crowned with thorns, and now, in the fourth Sorrowful Mystery, he carries his cross to Calvary. How tired, sore, bruised, and weak Jesus must have felt! Simon the Cyrenian just happened to be walking by at the right moment for the Roman soldiers to grab him and make him help Jesus carry his cross. What do you think it felt like to help carry the cross for Jesus, the Son of God? 

As we begin the work to get ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation, we can think about how much Jesus loves us, and we can offer our work to prepare as prayers to help carry Jesus’ cross, too.

The Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation has five steps - a step for each finger on one hand: 

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you know your sins by praying an Examination of Conscience.
2. As you understand your sins, feel contrite, feel sorry for having hurt your relationship with God, and have a strong desire not to sin again.
3. (In the confessional) Confess your sins to Jesus through a priest or bishop, and pray an Act of Contrition to express your sorrow and determination to not sin again.
4. Receive absolution and forgiveness from Jesus through the priest or bishop.
5. (On your own) Do the penance the priest or bishop gives to you to help repair the effects of your sin in the world.

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation repairs our friendship with God and the Church that we damaged with our sins, it reconciles us with God. Jesus is the one who forgives us in this Sacrament, and the priest or bishop is the visible presence of Jesus for us. Only priests and bishops are allowed to hear confessions in the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation. The priest or bishop will give us a penance, prayers or an action, to help repair the damage our sin caused in the world. We are required to celebrate this Sacrament of Healing at least once a year, and we are encouraged to celebrate monthly. Grave sin must be confessed before a person can receive the Holy Eucharist again. After celebrating this sacrament, our souls are as clean as after baptism!

Biblical/Holy Person: Simon the Cyrenian helped Jesus carry his cross. We don't know if Simon knew Jesus; we can imagine he had probably heard about him. We each have little crosses we carry each day: studying, chores, and being good and kind toward others. God gives us other people, like our parents and teachers, to help us carry our crosses. Sometimes, God asks us to help others carry their crosses with our prayers and kind deeds.

Discussion/Reflection:
     Everyone: When has someone helped you carry your cross? How did that make you feel?

Response: Celebrate a Family Prayer Service of Peace & Forgiveness.

Family Prayer this Week: As a family, please pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and a Glory Be every day this week. Also, on the day your family chooses, please pray 1 decade of the Rosary, meditating on (thinking about) this week’s mystery: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, & 1 Fatima (Oh my Jesus) Prayer. Click here for help with prayers.

Property of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker

Sorrowful Mystery #4: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Photo Credit: usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary)

Print-Ready Copy of this Home Session

Parents, please read this aloud with your child(ren):

Holy Scripture: They crucified him and then divided his clothes among them by throwing dice. Above his head they put the written notice of the accusation against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Matthew 27:35,37

Prayer: (Sign of the Cross) Heavenly Father, please bless, inspire and guide our family as we grow in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sign of the Cross)

Story: When we love someone we often try to show it by giving them a gift. Sometimes we don’t have enough money to show how much we love them, so we do something nice for them like offering to do an extra chore. Moms and dads love this! By the sacrifice of our time and energy, we are sharing our love. In the final Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, we meditate on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and the greatest gift of love to us. 

When we sin, we offend God, who is eternal and worthy of all of our love. There is no way that we, on our own, could ever make up for these times we turn away from God. So, God found a way! Jesus, who is fully human and fully God, chose to pay the ultimate price for our sins so that we would not be punished for our bad choices and instead we could live forever with him in heaven. God is totally just and totally merciful! As he died on the cross he gave the greatest thing anyone could ever give - the gift of his very life! And we receive the greatest thing anyone could ever receive - the gift of eternal life!  

As we receive this amazing gift from the King of Kings we begin to realize that we are called to live differently because of it. Jesus shows us how we are to live. Jesus shows us how to live IN GOD’S LOVE. To live IN God’s love is to allow God to love us, to love God in return, and to love ourselves and others as God loves us. This sounds easy enough. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in God’s love perfectly. And this hurts our relationship with God, others, and our family, the Church. Thank God for the gift of mercy we are offered through Jesus’ death and resurrection! We are so blessed to have a God who asks us to try our best and when we mess up, to simply ask for forgiveness and receive his amazing mercy! The gift of the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation helps us to experience the merciful love of God and to have the strength to live in God’s love more fully each day. This gift sets us free to live amazing lives. 

Biblical/Holy Person: As Catholic Christians, we are blessed to have relatives and role models we call Saints. Although we trust they are in heaven praying with and for us, we know they weren’t always perfect. Even though Saint Peter, our first pope, loved Jesus and promised to always follow him, when things were scary, he ran away. When Jesus was taken prisoner Peter denied even knowing him. After his death and resurrection, Jesus poured out his mercy on Peter, forgave him, continued to call him to lead the Church, and even blessed Peter with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Discussion/Reflection:
     Everyone: How have you experienced forgiveness & mercy, from God or others, in your life?

Response: The next time you are at church as a family, find and meditate on, the stations of the cross. Here is a simple guide to help with your family's time of prayer.

Family Prayer this Week: As a family, please pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and a Glory Be every day this week. Also, on the day your family chooses, please pray 1 decade of the Rosary, meditating on (thinking about) this week’s mystery: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, & 1 Fatima (Oh my Jesus) Prayer. Click here for help with prayers.

 Property of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker

Sorrowful Mystery #5: The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Photo Credit: usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary)

Print-Ready Copy of this Home Session