10. In the third place, it may be shown to the child, by pointing with the finger to heaven, that God is there, who made all things, from whom we have food, drink, and clothing. Then, that the child may understand why we, during prayer, look up to heaven, this little prayer may be added: “O my God, grant me a heart fearing Thee, obedient to father and mother, and everywhere in everything pleasing Thee. Impart to me Thy Holy Spirit to teach and enlighten me, through Jesus Christ Thy beloved Son. Amen.”
11. Afterwards the Apostle’s Creed should be taught in little portions,[1] so that the child may completely know it before the end of the third year; of the fourth year, however, with slower children. This may easily be done by reciting morning and evening, and before and after food, in the first month the first portion only; in the second month, the second portion with the first; in the third month, the third portion with the second and first, and so in succession. When a new portion is learned, it may be repeated until the child has completely mastered the words. It may also be permitted to children, when prayer is concluded, to rise from their knees and recite the confession standing, that thus they may be accustomed to distinguish between what is and what is not prayer.
12. This will be the proper time to speak occasionally of God, so that, when He is mentioned, children may be accus-
- ↑ Miss Elizabeth Harrison, who has written at length on this subject, in her Letters on the Elementary Principles of Education (London, 1808), takes another view of such instruction. She says: “I believe the recollections of most people who have been educated by pious parents will furnish them with numerous instances of the inutility of loading the memory at an early period with creeds and catechisms which are totally beyond the comprehension. Even those which are best adapted to childhood lose all their meaning when detached into the small and broken portions, by the repetition of which they are committed to memory.”
