After today’s first Family Formation class, a catechist told me about a fun and effective way she used to help her young class remember the prayer we say silently before the Gospel at Mass.  Each child got three small cross stickers – one to place on each of their foreheads, lips, and heart – to remind them exactly where to make the sign, and to remind them that the quick movements they are dashing off with their thumbs is the sign of Christ!

I can think of a couple other uses for this simple activity: small children learning to make the Sign of the Cross might find it helpful and, since this month’s memory verse is also the prayer before the Gospel, kids at home might also find it entertaining to practice with these sticky reminders.

As we are giving glory to God, we are tracing a small cross on our forehead, lips, and heart and silently praying, “Lord, may Your Word always be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.”