With the Young at Heart theme this month, The Catholic Telegraph team thought it fitting and fun to interview a panel of very young Catholics. So, I met with a group of seven second- grade students at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Anderson after their all-school Mass to ask them a few questions about their faith. While their answers were often simplistic, you can find profound wisdom in their words. I was struck by their deep faith and joy.

My first question was, “Why is it important to pray?”

Hannah: It calms your mind.

Charlie: It’s good to spend time with Jesus.

Gabby: I pray with my grandma almost every night.

As they were excited to tell me about having recently received their first Holy Communion, I asked why it was important to them.

Hannah: When you receive the Eucharist, you get closer to Jesus, and you say, “Thank you Jesus for letting me receive your body.” Now, I feel closer to God.

Gabby: We now have Jesus in our heart. You can feel more Christ-like and holy, and you can do the right thing.

At that point, I realized I needed to ask an even- more basic question: “Who is Jesus?”

Nora: He’s the Son of God.

Troy: The Lord. He helped people learn more about God.

Charlie: He died so that we wouldn’t have sin and death. He healed the sick and suffering.

Louis: He healed our wounds.

Penny: He’s the Messiah and He forgives us when we sin.

Gabby: He’s the Holy One and helps us make good decisions.

Hannah: He brought the dead into life, and He is the King of the world!

I then asked, “What does Jesus ask all of us to do?”

Hannah: He asks us to pray and help others get closer to God.

Gabby: He also wants us to be a good leader.

My next question was: “Why is it important to have faith, to believe in Jesus?”

Louis: To help us not sin.

Penny: It helps us because [Jesus] is not on earth and if we didn’t have faith we wouldn’t believe in Him.

Gabby: We should have faith so that we can believe in Jesus and help people to do the right thing, teach other people about Jesus, and help other people.

Charlie: So that we can make right decisions and stand up for other people.

Now, I turned to their “faith in action” and asked, “Can you think of a time when you told somebody about Jesus?”

Penny: One time I told a Bible story to one of my cousins. … It was the Last Supper.

Gabby: When my brother was a baby, I taught him about Jesus and how he died on the Cross.

Louis: I have an Action Bible and I read it to my little brother.

Troy: I told one of my cousins a Bible story; I think it was Daniel in the Lions’ Den.

Nora: That’s my favorite Bible story—I like lions.

Troy: Daniel prayed so the lions didn’t eat him.

Penny: He had so much faith that God saved him.

I then asked, “What advice would you give to someone who is having a difficult time in their life right now; if they are sad or worried about something?”

Gabby: Just believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, you’ll get things right and you’ll eventually have a good time.

Penny: Pray to God and He’ll help you.

Hannah: I’d probably say a prayer for those who are sick because they might be suffering in body. Whenever I hear a siren, I say a prayer for the people in trouble.

Louis: I prayed for my brother because he fell on the driveway.

Hannah: I think it’s important to have faith because it helps you do things when things are really hard, and it helps you not to give up.

Finally, I asked the question so many youth ask their parents, “Why is it important for us to go to Mass every Sunday?”

Gabby: When you receive the Body of Christ He goes into your heart, and He stays there for the rest of the day and for as long as you want Him to.

Nora: It helps you to grow closer to God.

Hannah: God really helps you to stay happy and to help other people get closer to God. He wants you to be happy and to treat others just how you want to be treated.

It’s amazing how much these students understand at only eight years old. Yet, I know that as time goes on life gets more complicated, and the answers don’t always seem so simple. However, we adults have the tendency to make things more complicated than they really are, and it doesn’t take much for our pride to get in the way. It’s important to remind ourselves often of the fundamental tenets of our faith. We must remember that we are all beloved children of God and we need to take care of each other.

This article appeared in the July 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.