Jesus, Help Me to Be Virtuous

To help children to express the presence of the theological virtues in their lives through a group prayer-planning experience

The children will identify the symbols of faith, hope, and charity and reflect on practicing these virtues in their lives.

• Drawing paper or tag board
• Crayons
• Writing paper
• Pencils

• Tell the children that this activity will help them to reflect on the virtues of faith, hope, and charity by sharing their ideas in a group prayer.
• Divide the children into three groups. Give each group a large sheet of drawing paper or tag board, crayons, writing paper, and a pencil.
• Assign one of the virtues to each group. Suggest that some group members work on making a large symbol of the virtue while others brainstorm for ideas and write a short prayer to Jesus about this virtue in their lives, thanking him and telling him what this virtue means to them. Remind children that by being cooperative in their groups, they are practicing the virtue of love.
• When the groups have finished, ask them to clean up and then join you on the floor with their symbols and prayers.
• Invite the children to pray together by taking turns sharing their prayers. Have the faith group stand and display their symbol while praying their prayer aloud. Do the same with the hope and charity groups.
• Conclude by thanking the children for their beautiful thoughts and asking them to remember this prayer as they try to live lives of virtue.

Art/Space Smart, People Smart

Make sure all children have a chance to participate, especially if groups are large.