October 7th Lesson Grade 3
Oct. 1 St. Therese of Lisieux:
Welcome:
She learned about God from her
family. How can the members of
your family be strong signs of God’s
love to each other?
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Play gathering music softly.
Prayer:
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Have the children quiet themselves to talk God.
Welcome the children
Ask: When have you placed your trust is someone?
Allow responses.
Read the scripture passage:
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Oct. 2 The Holy Guardian
Angels
Oct. 4 St. Francis of Assisi:
What changes do you think God
might be calling you to make?
Oct. 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
Trust in God with all your heart. He will guide you. He
will help you know and see clearly what he wants you
to do. –Proverbs 3: 5-6
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Ask: Who do we know trusted in God with all her heart and knew to say yes to him? (Mary)
Explain that today we are going to learn more about Mother Mary and how we too, can trust in
God.
Begin the Sign of the Cross
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Mother Mary,
Help us to have faith, hope and love as you did. Amen
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Finish with the Sign of the Cross
Discovering:
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Ask: When have you heard some good news? Allow responses. Share some of your own.
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This is known as The Annunciation. Write the word on the board. Point out that the word
sounds like/looks like announcement. The Annunciation was the announcement the Angel
Gabriel made. Have students use their Bibles (Luke 1:28, 31, 35, 38) to follow. Gabriel said:
Explain that the best news that we all, as children of God, received was when we were told that
God was going to send his Son into our world, and his Son would save us and bring us back to
heaven.
Hail Mary. The Lord is with you. The Holy Spirit will come to you. You shall give
birth to a son and you shall name him Jesus. Your son will be God’s own Son.”
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Because Mary trusted and had great faith in God she responded:
May these things happen as you say.
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Write Visitation and Magnificat on the board
Explain that after the Angel Gabriel met Mary, Mary went to help her cousin Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was going to have a baby. Ask student s if they know who that baby is. (John the
Baptist) Mary’s visit to help Elizabeth is called the Visitation. Have students use their Bibles
(Luke 1:46, 49) to follow. Elizabeth said:
Blessed are you , Mary! Mary answered Elizabeth by praising God. Mary said,
“My soul proclaims the great goodness of God! God has done great things for
me!”
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Mary’s prayer of praise is called the Magnificat. Mary believed in her blessings (trust) and was a
model of faith.
The Holy Spirit helped Mary believe and trust in God. We can call the Holy Spirit to help us.
Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Mary. The Son of God becoming a man and still being
God is called the Incarnation. Write the word on the board. Read the Nativity Story if time
permits. A version can be found in Luke or Matthew, chapters 1 and 2
Explain that the Annunciation, the Visitation and the Nativity are part of the Joyful Mysteries
and prayed during the Rosary. Mary asks us to pray a Rosary daily.
Because Mary is the Mother of God, we pray to her and honor her. Mary can help us and our
prayers.
Mary is the patron saint of our country. Patron saints give us good examples of how to live and
be disciples of Jesus.
We can place statues and images/pictures of Mary in our churches and homes to remind us of
Mary’s trust and faith. Ask students if they have these in their homes. Ask if they have seen the
statue of Mary in our church.
Explain the days our church honors Mary:
January 1 Mary Mother of God (Holy Day)
August 15 The Assumption into Heaven (Holy Day)
December 8 The Immaculate Conception (Holy Day)
September 8 The Birth of Mary
September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
November 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
March 25 The Annunciation
Sat. after Corpus Christi The Immaculate Heart
May 31 The Visitation
August 22 The Queenship of Mary
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If time permits give students a copy of the Hail Mary. Have students (in pairs) rewrite the prayer
using more familiar words i.e. Hail Mary-Hello Mary etc. Have students share their versions.
Sending/close:
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Play music while children clean up and gather the things. As music gets softer they should join
you in prayer space.
Allow children to center themselves.
Explain that it was a wonderful time to meet friends and teachers.
Make the Sign of the Cross. Pray the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you, do we cry
poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping from
this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and
this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O
sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God; that we may be worthy of the
promises of Christ.
Amen
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Complete with the Sign of the Cross.
Pass out any information/ materials/projects needed for families
7:30 Dismiss students at school’s main doors