Patronal Feast of St Edward the Confessor
Romans 8:26–30 • Matthew 5:1–12a
For children aged approximately 3–8
Main message: Saint Edward was a king, but what made him a saint was not his crown. He tried to belong to Jesus and become more like Him. God calls us to become saints too.
1. Welcome
Gather the children and say:
Today is a very special day for our church.
This church is named after Saint Edward the Confessor.
That makes Saint Edward our patron saint.
A patron saint is a saint we especially ask to pray for us and whose example can help us follow Jesus.
Ask:
What do kings usually wear?
A crown.
What do kings live in?
A palace or castle.
What makes somebody a saint?
Not a crown.
Not a palace.
Not being famous.
A saint is someone who belongs to God and lets His grace make them holy.
Begin:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus,
thank You for Saint Edward
and for this church which bears his name.
Help us listen to Your Word,
grow in holiness,
and become more like You each day.
Saint Edward, pray for us.
Amen.
2. Crown or Saint?
Say:
Imagine I gave someone a beautiful golden crown.
Would that automatically make them good?
No.
Would it make them kind?
No.
Would it make them holy?
No.
Saint Edward really was a king.
But we do not remember him in church simply because he wore a crown.
We remember him because he tried to live as a Christian.
He prayed.
He cared about justice.
He tried to be peaceful.
He cared for people in need.
Most importantly, he tried to put God first.
His greatest crown was not the one on his head.
It was the crown of holiness he hoped to receive from God in Heaven.
3. The Gospel — The Beatitudes
Say:
Jesus went up a mountain.
His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them.
Jesus said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Blessed are those who know they need God.
“Blessed are the meek.”
Blessed are those who are gentle and do not always have to get their own way.
“Blessed are the merciful.”
Blessed are those who forgive and show kindness.
“Blessed are the pure in heart.”
Blessed are those whose hearts are turned towards God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Blessed are those who help people live together in peace.
Jesus also said that those who remain faithful when following Him is difficult will have a great reward in Heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
4. What Kind of King?
Ask:
If you were a king or queen for one day, what would you do?
Let the children answer.
Perhaps:
Eat lots of cake.
Have a huge castle.
Wear a crown.
Tell everybody what to do.
Then say:
Jesus gives us a very different picture of greatness.
The world often says:
“The greatest person is the strongest.”
Jesus says:
“Blessed are the meek.”
The world sometimes says:
“Get your own way.”
Jesus says:
“Blessed are the merciful.”
The world says:
“Make sure you win.”
Jesus says:
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Saint Edward was a king, but he had to learn that Jesus was the true King.
That is what made his life different.
5. What Is a Beatitude?
Say:
The Beatitudes show us what a person who belongs to Jesus begins to look like.
They are not simply rules.
They describe a heart being changed by God.
If Jesus is changing us, perhaps we begin to become:
more patient,
more forgiving,
more peaceful,
more generous,
more willing to pray.
We will not do all of that perfectly.
Saints are not people who never needed God’s help.
Saints are people who kept turning towards God and letting His grace work in them.
6. Saint Edward
Say:
Saint Edward lived many hundreds of years ago and became King of England.
But today we are not celebrating a history lesson about kings.
We are celebrating a Christian who became a saint.
Saint Edward reminds us that it does not matter whether somebody is a king, a teacher, a parent, a priest or a child.
Everyone has the same great calling:
to become holy.
Ask the children:
Can children become holy?
Yes!
Can you become a saint?
Yes!
God is not asking you to wear a crown.
He is asking you to belong to Jesus.
7. The First Reading — God Is Helping Us
Say:
Saint Paul tells us something very comforting today.
Sometimes we do not even know how to pray properly.
Perhaps we are sad.
Perhaps we are confused.
Perhaps we do not know what to say.
Saint Paul says:
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness.”
That means the Holy Spirit is helping us.
God does not stand far away saying:
“Become holy all by yourself.”
He gives us grace.
He helps us pray.
He helps us forgive.
He helps us choose what is right.
And Saint Paul says God wants us to be:
“conformed to the image of his Son.”
That means:
God wants us to become more like Jesus.
8. Activity — “More Like Jesus”
Say:
I will describe something.
If it sounds like becoming more like Jesus, put your hands over your heart.
If not, gently shake your head.
Helping somebody who is left out.
Hands on heart.
Always having to get your own way.
Shake head.
Saying sorry when you have done something wrong.
Hands on heart.
Laughing when somebody is upset.
Shake head.
Forgiving someone.
Hands on heart.
Praying for someone who is having a difficult time.
Hands on heart.
Trying to make peace after an argument.
Hands on heart.
Finish:
Those may look like small things.
But small acts of love are how holiness grows.
9. Saint Edward’s Church
Say:
Today is not only Saint Edward’s feast.
It is the feast of our church.
Ask:
What should a church named after Saint Edward be like?
Should it only have his name written outside?
No.
A church dedicated to a saint should try to learn from that saint.
So Saint Edward’s should be a place where:
people pray,
people are welcomed,
people forgive,
people help those in need,
people make peace,
and people come together around Jesus.
The best way to honour Saint Edward is not simply to remember him.
It is to become holy ourselves.
10. A Small Story
Say:
Imagine there is a beautiful sign outside a bakery saying:
“Best Bread in Town.”
You go inside.
There are lovely shelves.
Lovely lights.
A beautiful counter.
But there is no bread.
Something important is missing!
The same could happen with a church.
We could have the name St Edward’s outside.
We could have a beautiful building.
But what really matters is what happens inside us.
Does this church help people love Jesus?
Do we become kinder?
Do we pray?
Do we forgive?
Do we become more like Christ?
That is what Saint Edward would want.
11. How Do We Become Holy?
Ask:
What helps us become saints?
Let children answer.
Then say:
We pray.
We come to Mass.
We listen to Jesus.
We receive God’s grace.
When we are old enough and properly prepared, we go to Confession and receive Holy Communion.
We say sorry when we are wrong.
We try again when we fail.
And we ask the Holy Spirit to help us.
Holiness is not becoming famous.
It is becoming more like Jesus.
12. The Mass
Say:
In a few moments we will go back into church.
At Mass, something wonderful happens.
Jesus gives Himself to His people in the Holy Eucharist.
The bread and wine become His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Saint Edward loved Christ.
And every saint has become holy by God’s grace.
The Eucharist is one of Christ’s greatest gifts to help His people grow in holiness.
So when we return, look towards the altar and remember:
Jesus is the true King.
Saint Edward served Him.
And we want to serve Him too.
13. Quiet Prayer
Ask the children to put their hands together.
Say slowly:
Jesus,
You are my King.
Thank You for Saint Edward.
Help me to become more like You.
Make me kind.
Make me merciful.
Make me peaceful.
Help me pray.
Help me do what is right.
And one day,
bring me with Saint Edward
and all the saints
to Heaven.
Amen.
Pause briefly.
14. Children’s Intercessions
Leader:
With Saint Edward praying for us, let us bring our prayers to God.
For the Church: that she may help people everywhere become more like Jesus.
Lord, hear us.
For this parish of Saint Edward: that it may always be a place of prayer, kindness, welcome and peace.
Lord, hear us.
For our families and friends: that God may help us forgive one another and live together in love.
Lord, hear us.
For people who are poor, lonely, sick or sad: that they may receive the care and kindness they need.
Lord, hear us.
For those who have died: that they may join Saint Edward and all the saints in the joy of Heaven.
Lord, hear us.
15. Our Lady and Saint Edward
Say:
Saint Edward is praying with the saints in Heaven.
Our Lady is Queen of all the saints.
Together we ask her prayers:
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee…
Then say:
Saint Edward the Confessor — pray for us.
16. Closing Prayer
God our Father,
thank You for Saint Edward
and for the example of all the saints.
Send Your Holy Spirit to help us.
Make this parish a place
where people love Jesus,
show mercy,
make peace,
and grow in holiness.
Help each of us become
the saint You are calling us to be.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Returning to Mass
Before going back, say:
Today remember one thing:
Saint Edward wore a crown, but the most important thing was that he belonged to Jesus.
When we return to Mass, we return to the true King.
Look towards the altar.
Listen.
Pray.
And ask Jesus:
“Make me more like You.”
Optional Activity Swaps
Option 1 — Crown of Holiness
Ask the children to pretend to place a crown on their heads.
Say:
A crown does not make someone holy.
Then name a Beatitude quality and ask them to pretend to place it into the crown:
Mercy.
Peace.
Kindness.
Prayer.
Love for Jesus.
Finish:
Those are the things that make a life beautiful before God.
Option 2 — Patron Saint
Ask:
Why does our church have Saint Edward’s name?
Answer:
Because he is our patron.
He prays for us and gives us an example.
Say together:
“Saint Edward, help us follow Jesus.”
Option 3 — Beatitude Actions
Call out:
Merciful!
Children pretend to forgive someone.
Peacemaker!
Children pretend to shake hands.
Pure in heart!
Hands over heart.
Poor in spirit!
Hands together in prayer, showing that we need God.
Option 4 — One Small Step
Ask each child to choose one thing they could do this week:
Say sorry.
Help at home.
Pray before bed.
Be kind to somebody left out.
Stop an argument rather than join it.
Come to Mass ready to pray.
Say:
Small acts done with Jesus help us grow in holiness.
Memory Lines
Choose one:
“God wants me to become more like Jesus.”
or
“Saint Edward, pray for us.”
or
“Jesus is the true King.”
or, for older children:
“We are called to be conformed to Christ.”
