Children's Liturgy Series: All Saints Day

Today we celebrate "All Saints Day". Its a day where we celebrate all the people who followed Jesus' teaching on earth and are now in Heaven.  We are also encouraged to remember and pray for all our loved ones who have died and are in Purgatory. In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to be happy. These verses are known as "the Beatitudes". Through the Beatitutes we learn how we can be like the saints and go to Heaven.

Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life.
Amen

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you,
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Ask: What does the word hero mean? (someone who is admired for showing great courage in accomplishing a difficult task to help others)

Say: Heroes are people who “go the extra mile” and selflessly accomplish things that are above and beyond the call of duty.

Brainstorm on some examples of contemporary heroes, such as people who risked their own lives to save another person.

Say: Laws do not require people to be heroic; laws state the minimum requirement. Jesus' message in the Beatitudes challenges us to go beyond the minimum requirements of the Law.

Say: Every year when our Church celebrates the feast of All Saints, we proclaim this Gospel. To be a saint is to live in the spirit of the Beatitudes.