Week 10: The Beatitudes
Goal: What are virtues and why are they important?
Notes for the Teacher: It is so important for us to lead by example. Our children are always learning from us and oftentimes our actions speak louder than our words. Do our children regularly see us in church? Do we show up on time? Have we prepared for our lesson or are we just winging it last minute? Do they see our love for Christ in our actions? Are we striving to rid ourselves of our passions through confession, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? Are we striving to cultivate the virtues within ourselves?
Early Elementary Lesson
We used the Berenstain Bears Book of Values and Virtues as part of the lesson this week. If you have any children’s picture books that teach virtues, you can use these in place of the book suggested.
Upper Elementary Lesson
We used St. Seraphim’s Beatitudes as part of our lesson this week. You could use other stories as well, especially the lives of the saints. Discuss how the saints weeded out their passions and nurtured the virtues as they strived to grow closer to God.