2.  The Mass
 

Sometimes, we say that we are going to celebrate Eucharist when we mean we are going to Mass. This is because we are going to thank God for all of the gifts, and wonderful things that he has given us, especially Jesus! 

Going to Mass is very special and important for a few reasons. We go to church on Sunday because we are doing what God asks us in the Second Commandment:  Remember to keep the Lord's day holy! Mass is the Church’s greatest celebration!    That means that there is nothing else that we can do together that is greater than going to Mass. 

Other things can be fun, like getting together and singing songs to God.   

 Other things are very important and help us to love Jesus and Mary more, and help us grow closer to God, like praying the rosary, doing the stations of the cross, or reading the bible.  

But the Mass is the best! 

 Every Sunday, on special Holy days, and even during the week, we get together as a parish to celebrate Mass.  When we get together, there are a few things that we do:  

We worship God together.  We praise God the Father together and thank him for his love.  We think of Jesus and thank him for everything that He does for us.  And we also remember the
Holy Spirit, and ask him to come and to help us celebrate!  

The Mass is divided into different parts.  In one of them,
the Liturgy of the Word, 
We learn about Jesus when stories from the bible are shared with everyone in the 2 readings,  followed by the Gospel reading.  These are the the lessons that Jesus taught his followers.  He told them stories to teach them, and those stories have been told ever since then. 

We hear Jesus speak to our hearts in scripture. We pray for others and ask God’s blessings for them, and we also ask everyone in the church to pray for us.  Remember that we are part of a very big Catholic family, so many saints are praying for us too! 

 In the Liturgy of the Eucharist,
We bring our prayers and gifts to God.  This is when we offer God our prayers, our thanks, the people we love...whatever we want to give him.   
We remember, at every Mass, what Jesus did and said at the Last Supper, when the priest does those same things and says the same words that Jesus did.  And then something amazing happens!  
Jesus comes to us, hidden in the bread and the wine! 

We share God’s gift of the Eucharist!  

3.  Connect Faith to Daily Life

Which part of the Mass do you love the most?  The singing?  Hearing the Bible stories?  What can you do to take part in the Mass?

Draw a picture of you and your family attending Mass.




4.  Catholic Prayer:   Glory Be

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  
AMEN.



5.  Learn about the Saints:   St John Vianney (1786-1859)

The Church celebrates the feast of St John Vianney on August 4. 

Ever since he was a little boy, John Vianney knew that the only thing he wanted to be when he grew up  was a priest!  Growing up in France during the French Revolution, he knew that it was very dangerous for priests to do God’s work, because if they had been caught by the soldiers, they would be killed.  Because of this, John saw priests as heroes. 

John was taught the faith by two nuns, and received his first communion when he was 13 years old. He then had to prepare for his confirmation in secret.  Because of the war that was going on, John could not always go to school.  This sometimes made it very hard for him to learn, especially when he was studying to be a priest, but John did not give up, and studied harder!

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1815, and was sent to
the town of Ars in 1818, where he spent the rest of his life.  When he got to Ars, he soon realized that not too many people there believed in God anymore, but he started teaching the people, and soon, many were coming back to church!  

John  had a wonderful gift from God of being able to help people who went to him for confession.   It didn’t take long for thousands of people to start coming to is church.  Almost every day, he would spend up to 16 hours hearing people’s confessions! 
St John Vianney is the patron saint of Parish Priests
St John Vianney, pray for us, and especially pray for our priests!
 
 click on the following link for an EWTN movie on the St John Vianne  


6. Catholic Vocabulary : 

The Eucharist :  the Body and Blood of Jesus.  This is one of the
Sacraments that Jesus gave us.

The Mass:  Another name for the celebration of Eucharist

Worship :  Love and devotion we give to God using words, songs,
actions. 
              
Genuflect:  to kneel down on your right knee and then stand up
again.