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Catholic sprouts

The daily podcast for Catholic kids that strives to plant seeds of faith.

Hey there, Spouts.

Today is Tuesday, April 30th, 2020.

This week on the Catholic Spouts podcast, we are sharing stories of Holy Communion from our new book,

Stories of Holy Communions, to honor and inspire those receiving

Jesus for the first time in their first Holy Communion this spring. Today we will be hearing

the story of Little Nellie of Holy God. But before we hear that story, please join me in our April prayer. God alone suffices. In the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts to be fixed on you,

my words to have you for their theme, my actions to reflect my love

for you, my sufferings to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me

in the way you ask for as long as you ask, because you ask it.

I pray, Lord, that you enlighten my mind, inflame my will, purify my heart, and sanctify my soul, amen.

And so today here is the story of Little Nellie of Holy God, who lived from the years 1903 to 1908.

Ellen Organ, remember today as Little Nellie of Holy God, died of tuberculosis when she was only four and a half years old. Regardless, the remarkable faith of this

young child not only touched the hearts of those who cared for her, but it also inspired the

pope to lower the age of first Holy Communion for the entire church.

Nellie was the fourth child born to a poor Irish family.

Like most Irish Catholic families, Nellie's family prayed the rosary each night.

She was taught to speak God's holy name with respect, and she loved to kiss the crucifix.

Unfortunately, when Nellie was two, her mother fell ill with tuberculosis.

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