Dear children…, Ms. Alenton began. “Who can tell me why next year is a special year of grace?”
“Because Pope Francis is coming to visit us!” one of the girls confidently answered.
“Wonderfully, Rebecca!”
“Is he coming to our school, Teacher Sarah?” one of the boys asked.
“I believe he would love to visit every Church, home and school, but I don’t think it’s possible for Pope Francis to do that.”
“Will we see him Teacher Sarah?” another girl asked.
“I think we will all see him on TV and if we all go to Luneta we can even see him in person.” Ms. Alenton tried to hide her excitement as she was herself so eager to see the Pope. All these months, she had made a dramatic journey back into the Catholic Church when the newly elected Pope’s simplicity and candidness gradually banished her prejudices against the Church and its hierarchy.
“Yehey!” All the children cheered.
“Now, who wants to make his or her Pope offering to prepare for the coming of Pope Francis next year?”
All the children raised their hands.
“Very good! Now did you bring a clean sheet of paper and envelop?”
Everyone nodded with excitement.
“Before we begin, let’s ask the help of Mama Mary, Saint Joseph, our Guardian Angels, to guide us to think of what we can do or offer so that the visit of Pope Francis will be safe, cheerful and fruitful!”
Everyone closed their eyes in silent prayer. Then after a few minutes, the pupils silently brought out their paper, envelops and crayons and place these carefully on top of their desks.
A frenzy of intense creative work began. Some students started filling up the borders of the paper, drawing flowers and all sorts of decors. Others immediately wrote their offering in big and bold letters, and then decked the surroundings with different shapes and ornaments.
In the meantime, Ms. Alenton walked around the classroom admiring each student’s artwork offering. The bell rang and she instructed them to fold the paper and slip it into the envelope.
That same evening she opened the envelopes and started reading what the children had offered. She was very moved by what each one wrote. But when she came Daryl’s artwork she was bewildered.
The next day she asked some students to explain what they had done.
Rebecca shared that she was going to offer her chores for the Pope. Sheila was going to say the Rosary, Ethan was going to stop playing his computer games…
When Daryl’s turn came, Ms. Alenton was very interested with what he had to say.
“I was to offer Pope Francis a high five!” He said.
“That’s cool,” one student said. “But will you get close enough?”
Some of Daryl’s classmates started giggling.
“I guess not,” Daryl admitted shyly.
“Then how will you give the Pope a high five?”
Daryl gently shrugged his left shoulder and said, “What I meant by high five is that I will visit the chapel in school every day and pray there for five minutes for the Pope and his visit.”
The classroom suddenly was filled with cheering children, “We will also go with you to give the Pope a high five!”
Ms. Alenton was undoubtedly touched by the boy’s simple and endearing offering. She decided that this was truly a wonderful and concrete way to prepare herself and the children for the visit of Pope Francis.
* * *
Join us in giving Pope Francis a high five of intense graces:
a) Five minutes of prayer time for his visit and intentions.
b) Five minutes of your study or work.
c) Five minutes of not using Facebook or your favorite social network.
d) Five minutes of spending time with a sick friend or relative.
e) Five minutes of reading the Gospel.
f) Five minutes… [*Make up your own!]
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