Teaching Reconciliation
Getting Kids Past the Fear of Confession
The sacrament of reconciliation doesn't have to be a source of anxiety for young people.
Reconciliation is one of the Catholic Church’s greatest offerings. To be wiped free of sin and granted absolution is truly a gift.
At the same time, it’s a source of anxiety for many Catholics. Despite the new rite and a more relaxed attitude in many parishes, “going to confession” remains for many young people an obligation rather than a gift.
How do you teach young Catholics that reconciliation is all about forgiveness?
When teaching children, it’s important to de-emphasize sin, guilt and punishment. Instead hone in on forgiveness, absolution, and the repair of our relationship with God.
Here are some reconciliation exercises you can use with children to teach the importance of the sacrament.
The Smiley Face :)
- Draw a circle on the board.
- Starting at the top write “God” outside the circle. Tell the children that starting out, they are “with God” at baptism.
- At the 2 o’clock mark of the circle, write “Sin.” Tell the children that when they sin, they are moving away from God.
- At the 4 o’clock point write “Guilt.” When we sin, the first step in forgiveness is that we must feel guilty about what we did. We must realize that what we did was wrong.
- At the 8 o’clock point, write “Reconciliation.” When we celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, we’re moving further away from the sin we committed.
- At the 10 o’clock point, write “Penance.” The priest will give you a penance to make up for your sins and show God that you truly are sorry and are willing to work to make up for it.
- Which brings you back to the top – to God! He welcomes you back!
- Now, draw a smiley face inside the circle. It’s a good day!
Red and Blue Magic
Kids as young as second grade “get” this activity, and kids as old as 8th grade will love the novelty of it. Do a test run first, to make sure that your blue markers and red markers work the "magic" for this activity.
You will need:
- Red acetate (see-through red plastic sheets) cut into squares with "RECONCILIATION" written at the top in permanent marker
- White paper cut into squares
- A red marker for each child
- A blue marker for each child
- Using the blue marker on the white paper, have the children write down several good deeds they’ve done.
- Next have the children use the red marker to write down some sins they’ve committed – and write them right on top of the blue good deeds. The writing will become jumbled and you will no longer be able to read what’s printed in blue. Point out that their sins can cover up anything good that they’ve done.
- Now hand each child a red “Reconciliation” square. Have them put the acetate on top of the paper. The red sins will disappear and only the blue will show. Tell them that reconciliation wipes away sin, so good deeds can be seen again.
Stairway to Heaven
- Draw a staircase with 5 steps.
- On the first step write “Contrition,” on the second step write “Confession,” on the third step “Penance,” on the fourth write “Absolution” and on the top step write “God’s Forgiveness.”
- Starting at the bottom, tell the children that in order to get to God’s forgiveness, you need first to have contrition, to feel sorry for what you’ve done. The next step is to go to confession and tell a confessor your sins. Next you step up to penance. When you do the penance that the priest gives you, you're making progress. When you receive absolution, you're almost to the the top! Finally, you reach God's forgiveness - you've made it!
For examinations of conscience for various ages, see:
