St. Paesia

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to teach sixth graders about the life of repentance through the lives of the saints. In week 1, students will learn about St. Moses the Strong; week 2 St. Mary of Egypt; week 3; St. Paẽsia and week 4: St. Augustine. In week 5, students will complete a capstone project.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

St. Paẽsia's life teaches us the meaning of true repentance.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10

LIFE OF THE SAINT - 15 Minutes

Tell the general description of the saint's life (found below in appendix).

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 5 Minutes

3 Lessons to learn from this story:

  1. Be willing to help others
  2. Be compassionate
  3. Expect temptation no matter how spiritual you are

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 15 Minutes

Questions:

  1. What are some practical ways you can help someone who is far from Christ?
  2. Do you remember any situation where someone was compassionate to you? What did they do and why do you still remember it?
  3. Have you ever had a friend that you wanted to help but you weren't sure what you should do?
  4. No matter how spiritually stable you think you are -- expect temptation at all times. Why and how is this true?
  5. Remember the story of St. Mary of Egypt? What are some similarities between her and St. Paesia?
  6. How did the monks want to help St. Paẽsia?
  7. What do you think made St. Paẽsia's repentance so different than anyone else's?

APPLICATION (Action) - 5 Minutes

If one of our loved ones, friends, or acquaintances strays away from the church, we need not to take it upon ourselves to play the hero, but to bring it to a responsible priest's attention and follow their guidance.

ACTIVITY- 10 Minutes

Watch a video summarizing her story:

CONCLUSION - 2 Minutes

Sometimes you may not be strong enough to help yourself up, but that's why it's important to let your loved ones in to help you when you are struggling.

It's never too late for repentance, and Christ is always reaching out.

RESOURCES

Story of St. Paesia & Illustrations

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Introduce prostrations, otherwise known in Greek as "metanyas". If the child has never done them or only seen people in church do them, this would be a good time to teach them how to do them and make them a habit. Closing the fist, pointing the thumb (symbolic for keeping the devil out), bend down all the way on their knees asking God for His mercy. You can decide how many to do with them. Emphasize that it's a great way to always have a repentant heart. You can also have them discuss with their father of confession how many they can do.

APPENDIX

Saint Paẽsia

Paẽsia was left as an orphan as a young girl when her parents died. She decided to make her house a hospice for the use of the Fathers of Scetis. But over time, her resources were exhausted and she began to be in want. Some wicked men came to see her and lead her away from a righteous life. She began to live an evil life, even going so far as becoming a prostitute. The fathers, learning this, were deeply grieved and they called St. John the Dwarf and said to him, "We have learned that this sister is living an evil life. While she could she gave us charity, so now it is our turn to offer her charity and to go to her assistance. Go to see her then and according to the wisdom that God has given you, put things right for her." So Abba John went to see her and said to the old doorkeeper, "Tell your mistress I am here." But she sent him away saying, "From the start, you ate her goods and see how poor she is now." Abba John said, "Tell her I have something that will be very helpful to her." The doorkeeper's children mocked him saying, "What have you to give her that you want to meet her?" He replied, "How do you know what I am going to give her?" The old woman went up and spoke to her mistress about him. Paẽsia said to her, "Those monks are always going about around the Red Sea and finding pearls." Then she got ready and said to the doorkeeper, "Please bring him to me." As he was coming up, she got ready for him and lay down on the bed. Abba John entered and sat beside her. Looking into her eyes, he said, "What have you got against Jesus

that you behave like this?" When she heard this she became completely rigid. Then Abba John bent his head and began to weep copiously. She asked him, "Why are you crying, Father?" He raised his head, then lowered it again weeping and said to her, "I see Satan playing in your face, how should I not weep?" Hearing this she said, "Father, is it possible to repent?" He replied, "Yes." She said, "Take me wherever you wish." "Let us go," he said and she got up and went with him. Abba John noticed that she did not make any arrangements about her house; he said nothing but he was surprised. When they reached the desert the evening was drawing on. He made a little pillow in the sand and marked it with the sign of the cross, saying, "Sleep here." Then he did the same for himself a little further on, said his prayers and lay down. Waking in the middle of the night, he saw a shining path reaching from heaven to her and he saw the angels of God bearing away her soul. When he saw that she was dead, he threw himself downward on the ground praying to God and he heard this: "One single hour of repentance has brought her more than the penance of many who continue without showing such fervor in repentance."