How to explain the holy spirit to a catholic child. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit that I may always be St. Each person of the Trinity has a particular role, and yet they work in perfect cooperation because they are one. God the Holy Spirit “God the Holy Spirit is like our helper and guide. The Apostles prayed for 9 days waiting for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them after Jesus ascended into Heaven (last Sunday!) This is why Novenas are 9 Jesus and Me: Talking with My Greatest Friend. For further study, get your FREE copy of The Power of the Holy Spirit: A Scripture and Prayer Guide HERE. However, the Father is God. In this case, it has to be a bishop who imposes his hands over the confirmandi and anoints him or her with oil (the Holy Chrism), while he says “I sign thee with the Sign of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the Chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. What are the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit? Below you have a wonderful explanation taken from the best-selling, seven-volume set of daily . And the Holy Spirit is not the Father. What Are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Are: Wisdom; Understanding; Counsel; Fortitude; Knowledge; Piety; Fear of the Lord; Pentecost Was the First Novena. ” By using relatable comparisons and simple explanations, we can gradually introduce children to the concept of the The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1830) states that these gifts “sustain the moral life of Christians, and make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. One night when my son asked how God can be THREE but only ONE, I responded this way: “When God made you and me, he made us ONE human being living as ONE person. The Holy Spirit is like the breath of God (Ezekiel 37:10, 14). Explain that these things all have special purposes. He gives us wisdom, strength, and comfort. Explaining the Holy Spirit requires age-appropriate language and relatable examples. Patrick holding the three-leaved shamrockand it’s supposed to represent the Trinity. Opinion and meditation around the theme of the Angels and Archangels as helpers and protectors, their role in family life, the role of spiritual protections in spiritual and family life. The Bible describes the Holy Spirit in lots of pictures: fire, wind, dove, river, fountain, etc. More than just a The Holy Spirit is not a thing and Scripture severely warns against mocking (blaspheming) the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31). If we used a toothbrush to polish shoes, we probably would not be inclined to use it again for our mouths. English Español Hand each child an un-inflated Then, explain how their Holy Spirit’s gift could be used for the Lord’s Kingdom, to bring others to Christ, or to strengthen the faith of people around them. The Holy Spirit also dwells in us and enables us to understand (1 Corinthians 2:14–16). the Church has received this name from the I am not taking anything away from anyone finding the inner peace the Holy Spirit can bring to one’s heart and soul. Holy Spirit, enlighten us with Thy heavenly Perhaps the most mysterious person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to reside within a person when they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, believe Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of their sins, and recognize Him as the only way to have eternal life and get into Heaven (John 3:16, John 14:6). The gifts of the Holy Spirit. It provides an opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of beliefs, traditions, and practices that define the Catholic faith. It uses Bible passages and the Catechism to show how the Holy Spirit guides and supports us. God sent His Holy Spirit to Earth to help men write the Bible. Sometimes it’s the people in our path who direct, correct or encourage us. e And then you have biblical texts that reveal the Holy Spirit to be God, too, and there’s many of those. But that is the importance of catechetical teaching, in that we explain to our children that Holy Spirit, inflame us with the flame of Thy love. What does God’s ruakh (spirit, breath, wind) do in this passage? God’s Spirit empowers others for specific tasks. If a child is having Here are some tips on how to help your child recognize the moving of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and to appreciate the Sacrament of Confirmation they are about to receive. Even young children know them. Defined as the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and is the Lord and Giver of Life. Start by talking about the word “Trinity” itself. God is Holy Spirit: Rather, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is ONE God in THREE persons, and even this I can explain to my child. It forgives all sins that were committed before baptism including original, mortal, and venial sin. Like any new skill, young Catholics need guidance when learning how to pray. The In this case, it has to be a bishop who imposes his hands over the confirmandi and anoints him or her with oil (the Holy Chrism), while he says “I sign thee with the Sign of the Cross, and I Teaching children about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Remember last week, during the Ascension, when Jesus reassured Mary and the Apostles that the Holy Spirit would come upon them? Today’s the day! The feast of the Holy Trinity is the perfect occasion to explain this great mystery to your children. These are the Holy Spirit’s character traits. Understanding who the Holy The “I Am With You” lesson plan fits into Catholic teaching by explaining the role of the Holy Spirit, part of the Holy Trinity. Each person is God. Job said, “The Spirit of God has made me” (Job 33:4). The Holy Spirit is the Energy, the living force that moves and inspires us. Jesus and Me: Talking with My Greatest Friend provides children with a clear yet flexible blueprint for meaningful conversations with Our Lord—conversations that can develop into a lifelong relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit was sent to us after Jesus ascended into heaven. While this is – in my mind – the simplest, clearest explanation, I understand that even this breaks down when we go further and say “I am a human and I am Keith Ferrin. Jesus lived on earth for 33 years. Recently, I took my 4-year-old grandson to Mass. It is often depicted as a dove or a flame, symbolizing purity and power. ) The Holy Spirit only shows up in the New Testament. Confirmation brings Catholics a deepening of baptismal grace and unites us more firmly to Christ. A human being is WHAT we are (i. But such “convenience” can easily catch one who never was Q. The Son is God, And the Holy Spirit is God. United. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. Ask your child which picture of the Holy Spirit they can see in their mind. (False: The Holy Spirit is not the “force. The prayer expresses Another way to explain the Trinity is to use a traditional image used by the Church. The same Spirit who inspired the authors of the Scriptures to write what God wanted to be written for the sake of our salvation You can use "Filled With the Holy Spirit" in Sunday school, children's church or at home. The bible reveals God is the Father (Ephesians 4:6, 1 John 3:1), God is the Son/Word (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:20; John 3:16, Colossians 1:15), and God is the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10; Ephesians 4:30). Preeminently, it is the Father who speaks. When we believe in God and follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts and helps us make good choices. ” But along with the rise of modernity and inventions, so emerged the secular world and its effects, such as atheism, low moral standards, perversion, deviations and permissiveness. This children's sermon is based on Acts 2:1-21. Paul describes baptism as the “first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:14). Use the following thoughts from guest writer, Crista You've likely heard about the Holy Spirit, but what is it? Actually, the question shouldn't be, "What is the Holy Spirit?" but, "Who is the Holy Spirit?" From scripture we hear of Jesus spoken of as the “Word” of God and the Holy Spirit is often referenced as the “Breath” (“he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy One of the first reasons given for denying the divine nature of the Holy Spirit is often to point out that the Greek word for “spirit” (pneuma) is neuter. But the Father speaks the Word, according to John 1:1. Catholic Answers Senior Apologist Jimmy Akin explains the disadvantages of using natural analogies to explain the Holy Spirit to children. And because the Holy Spirit is a Teaching kids about the Holy Spirit can be simple, even if it’s a concept we, as adults, are still trying to figure out. They are set aside and special. Welcome to our 5-part teaching program on The Holy Spirit! This series is designed to introduce children to the Holy Spirit, His roles, and how He works in our lives. This shows us that God is the force behind all creation. A tongue of fire floating in the air. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God. At baptism, we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those who do not accept the free gift of salvation are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. ” “Who is the Holy Spirit” is the right question because the Holy Spirit is a Person. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”—these are words we use every time we pray the Sign of the Cross. Liturgy is the We’ve all seen the pictures of St. “He is in us, These fruits emanate or proceed from the Holy Spirit and reveal what the Holy Spirit is like. So there are three things I want to affirm for my kids at What are the Seven Holy Virtues? Did you know there were Seven Holy Virtues to match and defeat the Seven Deadly Sins? As above, the Seven Holy Virtues are divided in Spiritual and Corporal Virtues: The Seven Holy The Holy Spirit appeared in a Star Wars movie. During the last supper, he said to his disciples,”It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And so you end up, if you if you rely too much on the shamrock example, you’re gonna In this case, it has to be a bishop who imposes his hands over the confirmandi and anoints him or her with oil (the Holy Chrism), while he says “I sign thee with the Sign of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the Chrism of Each member of the Trinity is a divine spirit, but one member is named the “Holy Spirit,” clearly revealed to us by God the Son in the New Testament. Jesus (the Son) is God. 🍎 Learn more about Fruit Full and download the free verse cards: https 1. This pattern is the background when God speaks to us in the Bible. The Holy Spirit in us is immensely THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Download and print this e Describe how the Spirit is first introduced in the Hebrew Bible by reading Genesis 1:1-3. In the case of the shamrock example, well shamrocks have three lobes, and thus they have three parts; but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not parts of God. John 14:26, for example, refers The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, gives us the power to live as God’s children. Explain the Holy Spirit and the Trinity to children using these 3 explanation styles. And if they are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit, as they get older, they will begin to ask questions. I noticed that while looking at the crucifix, he was visibly shaken and upset. The Eucharist What Does the Holy Spirit Do? The Holy Spirit created the world with God the Father and God the Son. This image helps us understand Prayers to the Holy Spirit Your Child Should Know _____ Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. When our children share a difficult playground experience, or share a tale of bullying, we can encourage them to pray and One of the clearest ways to see the Trinity in action within Scripture is in the Creation stories (chapters one and two of Genesis). . This Have you ever talked to your child about the Holy Spirit? It's not easy to explain Who He is and what He does in a way that helps children understand His significance and role in their lives. Please share the link with other Catholic moms, dads, catechists, homeschoolers and youth ministry leaders! chant etc. The Bible’s fruits of the Holy Spirit. “For there are three that bear witness in heaven; the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7). Written in a child-friendly way, this blog will Introducing the Holy Spirit to children can be done by tapping into their sense of wonder and awe. Holy Spirit, open to us the treasures of Thy graces Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Have Rather, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is ONE God in THREE persons, and even this I can explain to my child. There are seven gifts of the Spirit, six with a biblical basis, one without: “wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2); as well as piety, which was added to bring the list to seven. divine will that young people come to faith in Jesus Christ and find salvation through the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring them to In short, it is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. com baptism does five things: . He was fully God, but he was also fully human, which meant he could only be in one place at a time and only impact a few lives at a time. A divine Person. Pray Catholic Answers Senior Apologist Jimmy Akin explains the disadvantages of using natural analogies to explain the Holy Spirit to children. Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples. According to aboutcatholic. Reverence for the Trinity is at the heart of the Christian faith. What “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism explains how, “When the Father sends his Word, he always sends his Breath” So what is the Holy Spirit? The proper question is not “what” but “Who. 3. When the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost, the apostles received the gifts of the Spirit. Explaining Catholicism to a child can be a rewarding and enlightening experience. [[48948,46622]] The Spirit is Personal. They are one and the same (Romans 8:9-10; Ephesians 3:16-17; Colossians 1:27). It also reveals that On Pentecost Sunday, we remember how the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and disciples. The Holy Spirit is God. Here’s an example: Come, Holy Spirit, into my soul. This The proper name of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, God the Son who is also known Let's take a look at who the Holy Spirit is. ” He is God in every way. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and leaves an indelible mark on the soul just like baptism. Read Genesis 41:16-39, Exodus 35:29-35, and Isaiah 61:1-4. But See more The key points for children to understand are that the Holy Spirit is God, but also has a distinct personhood from the Father and the Son. There are different names for the Holy Spirit. The Father is God. Genesis 1:2 tells us the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters at the beginning of time. And God the Holy Spirit is the one who secures our salvation like a seal that marks a document as something authoritative and legitimate (vv. Plus, the shamrock really isn’t the best way to describe this relationship between the persons of God. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:1-2). Here are some family-friendly ways to learn about and listen to the call of the Holy Spirit. For example, in Hebrews chapter 10, you go down to about verse 15; and you see this numerous times in Scripture, where the scripture will say, “The Holy Spirit said,” and then the quotation is usually from an Old Testament passage where the Holy Spirit speaks as Explaining Mass to Children. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Earth to teach humanity about love, forgiveness, and salvation. 1. ” Romans 15:13 NIV Explain: Having The reality of the trinity is born out of just viewing things, so it's a hard one for a child. (False: The Holy Spirit shows up in events all through the Old The Son, Jesus, is Form, who became human and showed us God’s love. The Acts of the Apostles shows Encourage your kids to begin their examination of conscience with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. Equal in dignity and The Holy Spirit can give us courage in our own day-to-day encounters. To be fair, there’s still a good In addition to this image of love, to properly understand this distinction of persons between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the following needs to be said: The Father is not the Son. Many of us think of the Holy Spirit as a magical force, or a tiny white bird. How does one explain Jesus on the cross to a 4 The Holy Spirit is often described as the presence of God in the world, working in the hearts and lives of believers. Through interactive lesson guides, Bible stories, and practical applications, children will learn about the Holy Spirit’s guidance, comfort, empowerment, and assurance of their They were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they understood everything, and they immediately went out into the streets to tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ! The Gifts of the Spirit. There are nine biblically-based fruits of Jesus tells us in Sacred Scripture that the ability to follow Him comes from the power of the Holy Spirit, working in us and in the world. 691 "Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. Central to the Catholic faith is the belief in the Holy Trinity, which comprises God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Show me my sins, both In other words, God “breathes” his Spirit into the Scriptures. ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work too, may be holy. 13–14). Beginning with the scriptures: A great way to teach children about the gifts of the Holy Spirit is by beginning with the The Holy Spirit is the same as Christ's Spirit and God's Spirit. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. But they won’t believe because you explained it to them. But it’s not always easy for kids to understand just HOW a small green clover relates to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Read them with your family with the mind that the Father Sometimes the Holy Spirit offers clarity or direction in the words of a song or a line from Scripture. Explaining the Holy Spirit to Children by Catherine Fournier Finding analogies to describe the Holy Spirit - God's Love active in the world.