” Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
God is our Father who loves us. We honor and love His holy name because we love Him. The name of God has a great meaning in our lives. Jesus is the most sacred of all names. It means Saviour.
It is always a pleasure, children, to hear you talk of God. Tell me again to-day about our Heavenly Father. But first of all you would perhaps tell me about those who are very dear to you. Who are the two people most dear to you on earth? Why do you show so much love and respect for your father and mother? Why do you always speak respectfully of your father and mother? How do you like to hear others speak of your parents? Why would it make you feel sad if some one spoke disrespectfully of your father or mother? How do you like to hear others speak of your brothers and sisters? Why do you always try to mention others’ names with respect? Why do you love others ? Why do you love God? What is God to us all?
Tell me some of the things our Heavenly Father has done for us. See how many good things we have. You have life. You have your parents. You have a beautiful world to live in. You have all that you need for your life. You have many things to make you happy. Mention these things one by one, if necessary, to guide them in telling about God.
Why did God do all this for you? What are you to God? Perhaps you would like to tell me about the angels. You have spoken before of our guardian angels. You also told me how God spoke to us. What does all that show about God ? Why did God send His angels to watch over us? Why did God tell us about Himself, about the angels, and about heaven ? I would be glad if you told me some of the things God intends to do for us. Of course, I know we shall all die some day. Tell me about heaven. Why does God want us to be with Him forever? Why do you always honor God’s name? What did God say in the Second Commandment ?
How does God want us to speak His holy name ? What does it show when we speak God’s name with love and respect? What kind of people always honor God’s name? Why do good people always honor God’s name? What does God’s name make you think about? How does God’s name make you think of love and goodness? Why does God’s name bring good thoughts to your mind? What name makes you think of heaven? What do you call God when you say the Lord’s Prayer? Tell me some of the occasions when you mention God’s name. You talk about this beautiful world. You talk about the birds, the trees, the bees, the flowers, the sun, the moon, the stars.
What name makes you think of God’s goodness and love? Tell me some of the things God’s name brings to your mind. You spoke about the Catholic Church several times. You spoke about the Bible and the Commandments. How does God’s name make you think about these things? Why do you always speak God’s name with reverence? Whom do you thank for all the good things that you have? Whose name do you want everybody to honor?
Tell me about the devils. What happened to them? Tell me how you think they mention God’s name. Who do you think was the first ever to curse and swear? Why do the devils curse and swear? Why do they hate God? Why do the devils try to teach people to curse and swear? How do you think people learned to curse and swear? Who puts curses and oaths in their minds? Why do you think the devils take God’s name in vain? What do they try to make people do with God’s name? How do bad people insult God? Why do you feel sorry for people who take God’s name in vain? Why is it a sin to take God’s name in vain? What can you do for people who curse and swear and take God’s name in vain?
Why do you think people curse and swear and take God’s name in vain? Perhaps they do not stop to think that they are insulting God. They may not stop to think that it is a sin. Some-times you may be able to ask them not to do it. Why would you like to ask them not to curse and swear? Why do you want everybody to respect God’s name? What is God to you? Who helps you keep from cursing and swearing? How does God’s grace help you speak God’s name? Why do the devils hate God’s name? Why do bad people take God’s name in vain? What can you do for those bad people? What did God say in the Second Commandment ? Why do you always try to obey God? Why do bad people disobey God? What is it when any one disobeys God?
What name makes you think of our heavenly home? Why does God’s name make you think of heaven? How do you think the angels speak God’s name? Why do the angels speak God’s name with love and reverence? What do they know about God ? How do you think the Apostles spoke God’s name? How did the saints and martyrs speak God’s name? What is the most sacred of all names ? What name means Saviour? Tell me about our Lord and His blessed mother. Let us imagine that we are in the stable at Bethlehem, when our Lord was a little baby. Tell me what the Blessed Virgin called Him when she held Him in her arms. How do you think the Blessed Virgin spoke the holy name of Jesus? How do you think she spoke to Him when He was a little boy? Why do you think the Blessed Virgin loved the holy name? Tell me about St. Joseph. Of course we know how he loved our Lord and how he worked for Him. How did St. Joseph speak the holy name of Jesus?
You know the Angel Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin that our Lord’s name was to be Jesus. That was before He was born. When our Lord was eight days old, they took Him to the temple to give Him His name. You can read about this in the Gospel of St. Luke, Ch. 2. When did they give you your name? Where did they take you to baptize you? When did you first receive God’s grace ?
They say that the little St. John the Baptist used to play with our Lord when He was a little boy. How do you think St. John spoke our Lord’s name? Why would you like to be with our Lord like that ? When do you have our Lord all to yourself ? How do you whisper our Lord’s name after Holy Communion? Why do you whisper His holy name with love ? Tell me some of the people who have loved our Lord’s holy name very much. Tell me about the Apostles. In whose name did the Apostles teach the people ? Whose name did they teach the people to love?
The Apostles worked miracles in our Lord’s name. Once St. Peter and St. John were going into the temple. At the door there was a poor lame man who couldn’t walk. St. Peter was very sorry for him, so he said : “In the name of Jesus, arise and walk.” Then the man jumped up and ran about. He was entirely cured. You can read about this in the Acts of the Apostles, Ch. 3. Now how would you tell anybody how St. Peter cured the lame man? What did St. Peter say to the lame man ? Where can you read about this miracle? In what part of the Bible are the Acts of the Apostles? Who wrote the Acts of the Apostles?
What name did the martyrs honor most? Whose name did the pagans try to make them deny? Why were the martyrs willing to die? Tell me some of the martyrs you know. Tell me about a girl martyr. Tell me about a boy martyr. Tell me where the martyrs used to hear Mass.
In whose name are we saved from hell? What do you all do when you hear the holy name of Jesus? Why do you always bow your head? What do good men and boys do when they hear the holy name of Jesus? Why do they lift their hats?
Why do they lift their hats when they pass a Catholic church? Who is present there on the altar? Why do good men and boys lift their hats when they meet a priest? What do boys do when they meet a lady whom they know? Why do they lift their hats? Why are you glad to see boys lift their hats to your mother? What do boys do if they are with their mother or sister when somebody lifts his hat to them?
Who is the holiest woman that ever lived in the world? Whose mother is the Blessed Virgin Mary? What woman’s name do you honor most? Why do you honor the name of Mary so much? How can you honor the Blessed Virgin when you see other women? Whom do you honor when you show respect for other women?
How do you speak of the saints and angels? Who made the saints and angels so good and holy? Why do you speak with reverence of all holy things? Tell me how you speak about the Church ; the Mass ; the vestments ; the Sacraments ; the Bible ; the altar. Why do you speak of all these things with reverence? For what are they used? Why do you behave so respect-fully in church? Whose home is the church? Why are you always polite in the homes of others? Why do you always show respect for others? Why do you always try to behave well at home? Why do you always use good manners before others? Who wants you to show respect for others? Why does God want you to show respect for others? How do you show respect for God?
When do you adore God? Why do you kneel and fold your hands when you pray ? Whom do you adore when you kneel before the crucifix? Whom do you honor when you kneel before a statue of the Blessed Virgin? Tell me about some other statues you have seen. Tell me why we have them. Tell me about some holy pictures you know. Tell me about the Stations of the Cross.
Why do you show respect for holy pictures? Why do you show respect for priests and bishops? In whose name do they teach you? Who sent priests and bishops to teach you?
What does the priest do at the altar every clay? For whom does the priest pray at Mass? Why do you always speak of priests with respect? How do good men and boys show respect for the priest when they meet him? Where is the priest helping you to go when you die? Tell me some of the things the priest blesses. Tell me about holy water. You know the priest blesses houses, too, when people ask him to do so. What does the priest bless on Candlemas Day ? Why do you show respect for blessed candles? What does the priest bless on Ash Wednesday? What does the priest bless on Palm Sunday? What does the priest bless on Holy Saturday? Why do you show respect for blessed ashes and palms? In whose name does the priest bless all these things? You know the priest will bless things to eat, fields, animals, machines, and other things if you ask him. Tell me about the rosary, scapulars, and scapular medals. What does the priest do for them? Why do you show respect for them?
How does God’s holy name make you happy?
What does God’s holy name make you think about? When do good people call upon God’s holy name? What name should people call upon when they are sick and suffering? What name should they call upon when they are in trouble? What name should they call upon when they are dying? How long will you love and honor God’s holy name ? Whose name will you love in heaven ? What name puts holy thoughts in your mind? What name will make you happy all your life? How many will love and praise God’s name forever? Why do you say often ? “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.”
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