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Activities to Teach Children About the 7 Sacraments

The seven sacraments of the Catholic church are Baptism, Eucharist Confirmation, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. Catholic babies are typically baptized in infancy, before they have learned the sacraments. Childhood is an ideal time to memorize and learn these holy rites, as the sacrament of the Eucharist and Confirmation are usually completed before Catholics reach adulthood. The Church proclaims that the sacraments are necessary for salvation, even though many Catholics will not receive every one. Because the Catholic Church alone dispenses the sacraments, it calls itself the "universal sacrament of salvation."
  1. Communal Introduction

    • Read a children's book about the seven sacraments. The sacraments may seem complicated at first, especially to young children. Listening to a storybook is an excellent, nonthreatening way for them to be introduced to the holy rites. "Child's Guide to the Seven Sacraments" is an example of a short, fully-illustrated storybook. To emphasize the communal aspect of Catholicism, it can be read aloud to a group of children.

    Private Reflection

    • Assign reading for personal or alone time. Catholicism is both a communal and private practice, and learning about the sacraments should be, too. A longer, slightly more detailed account of the sacraments is ideal for the children to review alone or with a parent's guidance. "70 Sacrament Starters for Children: And Those Who Teach Them" by Patricia Mathson gives a detailed introduction to the holy rites. Arrange a weekly review of personal reading so that the children see that their private study is linked to communal practice.

    Cultural Reinforcement

    • Reinforce the sacraments with media such as video programs and music. "Veggie Tales" is a very popular and entertaining children's program with Christian values. Though none of their episodes directly address the seven sacraments, like Catholicism, they all have undertones of them. Play the show for a group of children and ask them to take mental note any time that one of the sacraments is indirectly relevant to the show. Then ask the group to explain when in the program they were most relevant. Teachers can also perform activity with other Catholic or Christian programming or music.

    Visual Memorization

    • Ask the children to create symbols for each of the sacraments. It's easy for children to memorize the sacraments when they can associate them with images. Tell a group of children to create their own symbol for each of the sacraments. Offer them examples to inspire them. An example of a symbol for the sacrament of matrimony, for example, is two interlinked wedding bands. Display the images one a wall or board and ask the children to explain how their images symbolize the sacraments.

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