Do you read the Gospel? Do you share it with your children or grandchildren? 

Pope Francis has repeatedly suggested that everyone get a small Gospel to carry with them during the day, so they can read it often: «Let me ask you a question: Do you all read a passage from the Gospel every day?  It is important! Do you read the Gospel? » (Angelus, April 6, 2014).
Let us accept Pope Francis’s invitation and keep the Gospel close at hand, so that, for us and our children, it may be like a compass showing us the way to follow. The Gospel, in fact, gives us the strength and courage to walk the paths of life every day and to dream big!

But how can we proclaim the Gospel to the little ones? What language should we use? What is the right age to begin talking about Jesus? The matter is complex and always requires sensitivity toward the child, so that the message is conveyed in the right measure for them and for the stage of development they are experiencing. A wonderful opportunity to help children and young people approach the Gospel could be provided by First Confession, First Communion, and Confirmation: fundamental milestones in their growth in faith!

For this reason, we have thought of a new publication of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles created specifically for First Confession, for First Communion, and for Confirmation, with an illustrated and personalized cover that recalls the sacrament being celebrated. Some elements featured on the cover flaps offer children simple suggestions for prayer.

The easy-to-handle volume contains the complete text of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the Acts of the Apostles, in the official translation of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (2008).  The type is large and makes reading easier.

The inside of the volume is colorful and includes beautiful illustrations. The use of color makes it particularly suitable for children and young people. In addition, the colors make it easy to find the individual books: Gospel of Matthew (green section), Gospel of Mark (red section), Gospel of Luke (light blue section), Gospel of John (orange section), and Acts of the Apostles (blue section).

The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles are preceded by a general introduction and introductions to the individual books, prepared by the Benedictine monk Dom Mariano Grosso. The purpose of the text and illustrations is to bring young readers closer to the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth, highlighting how the Gospel is an invitation that involves them personally, because they too are called to become disciples of Jesus.

We hope that these three publications will help children and young people meaningfully welcome the Lord into their lives, parents to be credible witnesses to him, and our communities to point to the Gospel as the good life and a trustworthy hope.