EXPLORE
Explore
1 Begin
We Grow in Virtue During Ordinary Time
Invite children to name and describe different virtues. Ask: Why is it important to practice the virtues in our lives? (Possible answer: Practicing the virtues helps us follow God’s plan for us.)
During Ordinary Time we are called to grow in faith and to reflect on how Jesus wants us to live. We try to better understand Jesus’ invitation to love God, to serve others, and to avoid sin. We seek the light of God’s grace to help us grow in virtue and to avoid temptation. We thank God for the many opportunities he gives us to serve others.
2 Connect Read aloud the section We Grow in Virtue During Ordinary Time. Ask: What do we try to better understand during this season? (Jesus’ invitation to love God, to serve others, and to avoid sin) What does God’s grace help us do? (grow in virtue and avoid temptation) Point out that virtues are habits we can strengthen through practice. Use the following to define the listed virtues. [honesty: truthfulness; charity: love; patience: waiting for something, even when it is difficult to do so; prudence: being directed toward the good; joy: happiness; hope: trust that God will always be with us; justice: the desire to give to God and to others what is due to them; courage: bravery; faith: belief in something that cannot be seen; temperance: moderation in thought, action, and feeling; and self-control: the ability to control one’s thoughts, actions, and feelings] Read aloud the section Growing Strong. Give children time to complete the activity.
3 Close Direct children’s attention to the feature at the bottom of page 28.
Reading God's Word
Virtues are like good habits. They are behaviors we can strengthen if we practice them. Some of the virtues we can practice in our lives include honesty, charity, patience, prudence, joy, hope, justice, courage, faith, temperance, and self-control.
Growing Strong Write how you can practice and develop the virtues in your life.
Answers will vary.
Reading God’s Word Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what Ephesians 5:8–10 is pleasing to the Lord. 28
UNIT 1 • God, Our Creator and Father
If Time Allows
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Session 5 BLM
Growing in Virtue Have_______ children complete the Session 5 Blackline PDF Signoff: Production Design _______ Editorial _______ Master [T-297] to think about opportunities for practicing virtues.
Seasonal Session: All Saints Day and All Souls Day Work with children through pages 177–180 of the Children’s Book and this guide. This special session can take up to one hour to complete.
Read aloud the Scripture verse. Explain the passage by saying: Jesus shows us how to live. An apple tree cannot grow without sunlight. With light it produces lots of apples. When we live in Jesus’ light by following his teachings, we produce good things, just like an apple tree.
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PDF Signoff: Production _______
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Design _______
Editorial _______
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