FOR CHILDREN AGE 12 AND UP
FOR CHILDREN OF ANY AGE
SANCTIFY EVERY DAY----EVERY ACTION FOR GOD AND WITH GOD
GOD YOUR ONLY GOOD----CONFORMITY WITH THE WILL OF GOD
Sanctify Every Day:
An Excerpt from St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church
[There is a] devotional practice which will render all your daily actions pleasing to God. When you awake in the morning, your first thought should be to raise your mind to God and offer Him all the actions of that day, asking Him to help you by His grace. Then make the other morning Christian acts of thanksgiving, love, petition, and the firm resolve of living during that day as if it were the last day of your life. Father St.-Jure teaches that one should, in the morning, make an agreement with the Divine Saviour:
namely, that whenever you make certain signs, such as putting your hand on your heart, lifting your eyes heavenward or to the Crucifix, or similar things, it is your intention to make an act of love, an act of desire to see Him loved by all, an act of self-offering, and the like.
After you have made the preceding acts, place your soul in the side of Jesus and under the mantle of Mary, and pray the Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, to preserve you during the day. Then, before any other action, make at once at least half an hour of mental prayer or meditation; and the principal topic of your meditation should be the sufferings and contempt that our Blessed Lord endured in His Passion. This is the subject which is most precious to devout souls and which most inflames them with Divine love.
There are three devotions which you must treasure above all the others if you want to grow in holiness: devotion to the Passion, to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and to the Blessed Virgin. In your meditations make frequent acts of contrition, love of God and self-oblation. The Venerable Father Charles Caraffa, founder of the Pious Workers, used to say that one fervent act of love in the morning meditation is sufficient to keep the soul fervent throughout the remainder of the day.
Every Action with God And for God
Ibid.
ESPECIALLY, then, in your other acts of devotion, such as Confession, Communion, etc., when engaged in external occupations such as study or the duties of your state of life, do not neglect, at the beginning of every action, to offer it to God and to ask for His help to perform it well.
Acquire the habit of retiring often into the cell of your heart, there to be united with God, as St. Catherine of Siena was wont to do. In short, whatever you do, do it with God and for God.
When you leave your room or your house and when you return, recommend yourself to the Blessed Mother by saying a Hail Mary. When going to table for your meals, offer to God whatever pleasure or displeasure you may feel in eating or drinking; and after the meal, thank Him by saying: "What benefits, O Lord, You bestow on one who has so greatly offended You!"
Sometime during the day, make a spiritual reading and a visit to the Blessed Sacrament [if a church is open] and to the Blessed Virgin; and in the evening, recite the Rosary and make an examination of conscience together with the Christian Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity, Contrition and firm purpose of amendment, as well as resolutions to receive the Holy Sacraments during life and at the moment of your death, and to gain all the indulgences attached to these acts. Upon going to bed, reflect that you ought to be in the fire of Hell; [See NOTE below.] and go to sleep with the Crucifix in your arms and with these words on your lips: "In peace in the self-same I will sleep, and I will rest: For Thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope." (Ps. 4:9-10).
God Your Only Good
Ibid.
WHEN you look at rivers and brooks, think that just as the waters run to the sea without ever stopping, so you too must always run to God, Who is your only good. If you happen to be in a vehicle drawn by beasts of burden, say to yourself: "How these animals toil to be of service to me; and how much trouble do I take to serve and please God?" A little dog is faithful to its master for the bit of bread which it receives from him. How much more are you bound to be faithful to God, who has created you and is ever preserving you, who provides you with all goods and lavishes so many blessings on you! When you hear the singing of birds, say: "O my soul, listen to these little creatures praising their Creator. But what do you do?" And then make acts of love. On the other hand, when you hear the cock crow, remember that, like St. Peter, at one time you too denied your Master; and renew your sorrow and your tears. Again, when you see a place where you committed sin, turn to God and say: "The sins of my youth and my ignorance do not remember:" (Ps. 24:7-8).
The sight of valleys made fertile by the waters running down from the mountains above should remind you that, in a similar manner, the grace of God is poured out on humble souls, but abandons the proud. When you see a beautiful church all decorated, consider the beauty of a soul in the state of grace---a real temple of God. The sea reminds us of the immensity and greatness of God. When you see a fire, or candles burning on an altar, say: "How many years I should have been burning in Hell! But since, O Lord, You have preserved me from it, grant that my heart may burn with love for You as that fire, or those candles." When you gaze at the starlit skies, say with St. Andrew Avellino: "O my feet, one day you will tread over those stars."
Conformity with the Will of God
Ibid.
IN order often to call to mind the loving mysteries of our Saviour's life: when you see some hay, or a manger or a cave, think of the Infant Jesus in the stable of Bethlehem. A saw, a hammer, a plane or an axe should remind you of Jesus working like an ordinary lad in the workshop of Nazareth. Ropes, thorns, nails and wood should recall the sufferings and death of your Redeemer. The mere sight of a lamb made St. Francis of Assisi weep. "My Lord," he would say, "was led to death like a lamb for me." Altars, chalices and patens should make you remember the great love Jesus Christ had for us in giving us the Most Blessed Sacrament.
During the day make frequent offerings of yourself to God, as St. Teresa of Avila was wont to do, by saying: "Here I am, O Lord; do with me what You please. Tell me what You wish me to do for You, and I will do it all." Repeat acts of love for God as often as you can. St. Teresa used to say that acts of love are like wood maintaining the fire of Divine love kindled in our hearts.
One day the Venerable Sister Seraphina of Carpi was considering the fact that the mule of the convent was incapable of loving God, and she began to compassionate it by saying: "Poor beast, you do not know God; neither can you love Him"---and the mule acted as though it would give expression to its grief by shedding abundant tears. Thus you who can love God should be incited to make frequent acts of love when you see animals that are unable to know and love Him.
If you fall into some sin, humble yourself at once and rise again with a more fervent act of love. When something you do not want happens to you, offer it to God immediately by an act of conformity with His holy Will, and acquire the habit of always repeating in all adverse situations the words: "Such is God's Will and such also is mine." Acts of resignation are acts of love most dear and pleasing to the Heart of God.
O God, Thou art all-powerful; make me a Saint.
---St. Alphonsus Liguori
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day [or night] to keep us free from sin.
O Lord, remember not our iniquities, and be merciful to our sins, for Thy Name's sake.
All through Thee, with Thee, and in Thee, O my God!
Thy will be done!
THE CATHOLIC CHILD AND ITS PARENTS
AN EXCEPT FROM JESUS MAKE ME WORTHY
My Child:
Your parents take the place of God in your regard. They brought you into this world, they feed you, clothe you, work for you, suffer for you and, if necessary, will die for you.
You should respect them, love them obey them, if you wish to please God.
Never speak unkindly to them: never refuse to obey them. If you listen to them, and do what they tell you, God will bless you and reward you.
Many children think it smart to talk back to their parents, to despise them, to laugh at them, to disobey them. Such a child is very foolish and ignorant. Your parents are your best friends on earth. You can always trust your good father's or your good mother's love. They are far wiser than you are. Be grateful to them; do not grieve them. God will forgive you much if you are good to your parents.
Every day of your life you should pray for them.
A Prayer for Parents
O MY God! I beg of Thee to bless my good parents. I ask Thee to reward them for all they have done and suffered for me. Help them in their labors, console them in their sorrows.
Help me to be kind to them, to respect them, and always to do their will. Bring both them and me to Thy blessed home in Heaven, that we may always be truly happy together with Thee. Amen.
O Jesus, the friend of little children, bless the little children, bless the little children of the whole world.
St. Alphonsus' meaning is that if a person has ever in his life committed a mortal sin---and this, unfortunately, would seem to be true of most persons---he has done an act that was deserving of Hell, even if that sin were later forgiven and its everlasting punishment remitted.
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