So after being quite convinced that praying together as a family, using the prayer table as a focal point, was the best possible idea, the rivalry between my two boys has made that totally untenable.
I'm hoping we can get back to it one day, but in the meantime I'm doing separate prayer times with each of them around bedtime. Which is actually good, because they have quite different religious needs at the moment, one being 5 1/4 and a naturally loving and affectionate child who is all about the Good Shepherd, and the other being 6 3/4 and a naturally rule-orientated fellow with a tendency to ignore the spirit of the Law in favour of the letter (he gets that from me).
So just in case I have given the impression that you're doing it all wrong if you're not using a prayer table or whatever, please ignore said impression. I suspect I overstressed the outward form of the prayer time in a previous post. And the prayer table with all its accompaniments is a wonderful tool. But the really important thing is that you are praying with your children (every day if possible), and that they see you praying, and that you are trying to be aware of the themes most appropriate to their ages and personalities. The best thing about it all? We do our best and God will do the rest. (Thank goodness for that!)
Monday, 13 June 2016
11th Week of Ordinary Time, Tuesday (Cycle II)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
I'm trying a different approach for a little while. My boys are 5 and 6 and have many wonderful ideas to share. I'm going to try just starting with a phrase and exploring it with them - often what I think will help them doesn't seem to hit to spot, so I'm going to try and be guided more by them. I invite you to try the same with your own children.
For younger children for this one, ask them about what they think it means to love as God loves - how He showed that love, and how they can do so in practical ways. See what else they think is important about this snippet. Don't focus on the commandment bit - save that for 6+ when we can talk about how Jesus gives us wonderful rules to help us be close to Him and have a wonderful relationship with Him and others. From 6ish, rules for life are becoming important (kids are focussing on other things before that).
For older children (unsure exactly which age - I wouldn't do it with my 6 3/4 year old and probably not till 8 or 9 at least) you could also look at the Gospel of the day and what Jesus might be trying to get across there: http://universalis.com/20160614/mass.htm
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!"
I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!"
(Gospel Acclamation)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
For younger children for this one, ask them about what they think it means to love as God loves - how He showed that love, and how they can do so in practical ways. See what else they think is important about this snippet. Don't focus on the commandment bit - save that for 6+ when we can talk about how Jesus gives us wonderful rules to help us be close to Him and have a wonderful relationship with Him and others. From 6ish, rules for life are becoming important (kids are focussing on other things before that).
For older children (unsure exactly which age - I wouldn't do it with my 6 3/4 year old and probably not till 8 or 9 at least) you could also look at the Gospel of the day and what Jesus might be trying to get across there: http://universalis.com/20160614/mass.htm
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Sunday, 12 June 2016
11th Week of Ordinary Time, Monday (Cycle II)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
I'm trying a different approach for a little while. My boys are 5 and 6 and have many wonderful ideas to share. I'm going to try just starting with a phrase and exploring it with them - often what I think will help them doesn't seem to hit to spot, so I'm going to try and be guided more by them. I invite you to try the same with your own children.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth."
(Response to the Psalm)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Saturday, 11 June 2016
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
What a beautiful prayer from Jesus.
He asks that we be one with Him, as He is one with the Father.
Can you imagine how Jesus and the Father are one?
What a wonderful thing, that Jesus wants us to be with Him and the Father so very closely. How much He must love us if He wants us to be one with Him!
Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much. Thank you for wanting to share with us the oneness of You and the Father.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"Holy Father, keep in your name those you have given to me,
that they may be one as we are one, says the Lord."
that they may be one as we are one, says the Lord."
(Communion Antiphon)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
He asks that we be one with Him, as He is one with the Father.
Can you imagine how Jesus and the Father are one?
What a wonderful thing, that Jesus wants us to be with Him and the Father so very closely. How much He must love us if He wants us to be one with Him!
Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much. Thank you for wanting to share with us the oneness of You and the Father.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."11
Thursday, 9 June 2016
10th Week of Ordinary Time, Tuesday (Cycle II)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
We have talked before about how Jesus is the light of the world. In today's Gospel He tells us that we are the light of the world!
What can this mean? How can both Jesus and us be the light of the world?
Remember that, when we were baptised, we received the light of Christ? We became part of His family; part of Him.
(For 6/7+: As long as we choose to keep that light shining in us, it is there, shining brightly for the world to see.)
(For 3-6: That light is still shining brightly in us, for all the world to see.)
That is how we are the light of the world, along with Jesus. His light is shining in us.
Thank you, Jesus, for being the light of the world. Thank you for giving us that light so that we can be the light of the world with You.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"you are the light of the world"
(From the Gospel)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
What can this mean? How can both Jesus and us be the light of the world?
Remember that, when we were baptised, we received the light of Christ? We became part of His family; part of Him.
(For 6/7+: As long as we choose to keep that light shining in us, it is there, shining brightly for the world to see.)
(For 3-6: That light is still shining brightly in us, for all the world to see.)
That is how we are the light of the world, along with Jesus. His light is shining in us.
Thank you, Jesus, for being the light of the world. Thank you for giving us that light so that we can be the light of the world with You.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Monday, 6 June 2016
10th Week of Ordinary Time, Friday (Cycle II)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
The other day we talked about how we, along with Jesus, are the light of the world. We have the light of Jesus, given to us as baptism, shining in us.
We "will shine in the world like bright stars" - this must be a very bright light! Imagine if we could see with our eyes the lights of all those who carry Christ's light within them. I wonder how much light we would all make together? Do you think it would be as bright as the sun? Brighter?
I wonder what it is like in Heaven, with so much of Christ's light shining?
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us Your bright light. Thank you that we can shine it in the world for everyone else, so they can find You and love You.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"You will shine in the world like bright stars
because you are offering it the word of life."
because you are offering it the word of life."
(From the Gospel)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
We "will shine in the world like bright stars" - this must be a very bright light! Imagine if we could see with our eyes the lights of all those who carry Christ's light within them. I wonder how much light we would all make together? Do you think it would be as bright as the sun? Brighter?
I wonder what it is like in Heaven, with so much of Christ's light shining?
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us Your bright light. Thank you that we can shine it in the world for everyone else, so they can find You and love You.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Saturday, 4 June 2016
10th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Today we have a beautiful Gospel about how much Jesus cares for His people.
A woman with no other family had lost her only son. Jesus cared for her so much that He brought him back to life, so that she would not be alone.
If Jesus can bring the dead back to life, what can he not do? What would He not do to make sure we have what we need? His love is so very great and His power is too; He can and will do everything we ever need to help us.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much. Thank you for always making sure we have whatever we need.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’"
(From the Psalm)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
A woman with no other family had lost her only son. Jesus cared for her so much that He brought him back to life, so that she would not be alone.
If Jesus can bring the dead back to life, what can he not do? What would He not do to make sure we have what we need? His love is so very great and His power is too; He can and will do everything we ever need to help us.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much. Thank you for always making sure we have whatever we need.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Friday, 3 June 2016
9th Week of Ordinary Time, Saturday (Cycle II)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Today we have a beautiful psalm, all about how wonderful God is and how thankful the psalmist is. (The psalmist is the person who wrote the psalm.)
He says, "My lips are filled with your praise, with your glory all the day long." He is always wanting to say good things about God.
He says he will praise God more and more. God can never be praised enough for all the wonderful things He does.
"O God, you have taught me from my youth" - God has always been with him, looking after him and helping him, even when he was a child.
"I will give thanks on the lyre for your faithful love, my God." A lyre is a kind of stringed musical instrument. God has such faithful love and the psalmist wants to thank Him for it in song.
"To you will I sing with the harp to you, the Holy One of Israel." A harp is another stringed musical instrument. God is the Holy One of Israel.
What things would you say to God if you were praising Him? Would you sing songs of love and praise? Let's praise God for a time, now.
Thank you, Lord, for Your faithful love. We praise you for your glory.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"My lips are filled with your praise,
with your glory all the day long.
I will always hope
and praise you more and more.
O God, you have taught me from my youth
and I proclaim your wonders still.
So I will give thanks on the lyre
for your faithful love, my God.
To you will I sing with the harp
to you, the Holy One of Israel."
with your glory all the day long.
I will always hope
and praise you more and more.
O God, you have taught me from my youth
and I proclaim your wonders still.
So I will give thanks on the lyre
for your faithful love, my God.
To you will I sing with the harp
to you, the Holy One of Israel."
(From the Psalm)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
He says, "My lips are filled with your praise, with your glory all the day long." He is always wanting to say good things about God.
He says he will praise God more and more. God can never be praised enough for all the wonderful things He does.
"O God, you have taught me from my youth" - God has always been with him, looking after him and helping him, even when he was a child.
"I will give thanks on the lyre for your faithful love, my God." A lyre is a kind of stringed musical instrument. God has such faithful love and the psalmist wants to thank Him for it in song.
"To you will I sing with the harp to you, the Holy One of Israel." A harp is another stringed musical instrument. God is the Holy One of Israel.
What things would you say to God if you were praising Him? Would you sing songs of love and praise? Let's praise God for a time, now.
Thank you, Lord, for Your faithful love. We praise you for your glory.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Thursday, 2 June 2016
Guide your children's prayer part 2: 3-6 themes
In the first post of this series I talked about why it is so important to help children build a strong relationship with Jesus the Good Shepherd, why it's important to do this before the age of 6, if possible, and why you - the parent - are the best person to help them do this.
In this post, I will talk about the themes which Cavalletti and Gobbi, who developed Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, observed were most relevant to children in the 3-6 age group.
I've already talked a lot about the image of the Good Shepherd and how this is the primary image of God presented to children in this age group.
In the atrium, we have a wonderful diorama which we use to help tell the Parable of the Good Shepherd, and which children are subsequently able to use whenever they feel drawn to it, to ponder the parable more deeply.
Most of us are not going to have one of these at home, but it is still possible to help the child "enter the sheepfold" and contemplate the message of the Good Shepherd. (In this blog you will find many reflections with different ways of looking at the image of the Good Shepherd, in bite sized pieces, which pretty much summarise what we present in the atrium, and can be used over a number of days or weeks to explore the topic.)
Another theme we ponder with the children is the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, and we use 5 parables for this: The Precious Pearl, The Mustard Seed, The Hidden Treasure, the Leaven, and the Growing Seed. We marvel at how precious the Kingdom of God must be, and how it can seem so small and inconsequential, yet has so much power.
When we look at Baptism and Easter we focus on images such as the light - Jesus the Light of the World, who fills the darkness. Like with the Good Shepherd, we are showing to the children the loving, safe embrace of God. We talk about how we have that light inside us, and how brightly the light shines when we are together. We also mention how the Light went out of the world for a very short time, but now it is with us forever and will never leave again.
In Advent we present the Infancy Narratives. For the 3-6 year olds we have the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Jesus and Adoration of the Shepherds, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Presentation in the Temple.
In terms of liturgy, most of what we do requires miniature versions of what is used at Mass, but you could use pictures to talk about the different articles used at Mass. (I have made some paper-based works for the vestments and will get to the altar articles - I've also developed a 2D felt set for the vestments, and am working on one for the altar articles. Contact me if you would like more information these, or search etsy for masscatechesis.) There is a focus on the tabernacle/ciborium/paten/chalice, but they also learn the names and functions of all the other articles related to Mass, as well as the vestments and liturgical colours. The purpose of this is to help them understand what is happening at Mass, as well as provide things (items or moments) for them to "latch onto" to keep focussed.
We also present some of the gestures used at Mass - isolated moments of particular importance. The Sign of the Cross, Genuflection, Epiclesis, the Sign of Peace, Lavabo, and the Doxology. The children are also shown how to prepare the mini chalice and cruets.
We try to follow the liturgical year as much as possible. There are processions to change the prayer table cloth at the change of liturgical season, celebrations for Easter, Pentecost, Holy Thursday, the start of Advent, and we use the materials we have whenever is most relevant - for example the Walls of Jerusalem is just before of after Easter, so the children have an idea of how Jerusalem was and where various events happened. This can be easily done at home too, talking about what the big feasts and seasons mean. (With the small ones we talk about white being for the Great Feasts of Jesus, such as His birth and Resurrection; purple is for preparing for those great feasts; green is for growing after the feasts, and red is the colour of the Holy Spirit and great love.)
You can also talk about appropriate saints (by appropriate I mean ones without too much gore - that's best saved till their quite a bit older) such as St Therese of Lisieux, St Joseph, the various Marian feasts. If you're not sure, just ask yourself if this saint's life shows an image of God's loving care, or a life of hardship and suffering. Small children don't need to know about hardship and suffering.
In terms of types of prayer, Gobbi and Cavalletti observed that small children are drawn most to prayer of praise and thanksgiving. As adults we are used to asking God for things for ourselves or others (prayer of petition or intercession), and don't often remember to say thank you afterwards! In the atrium we avoid these types of prayer until age 6 or 7, so that children are able to freely express their joy and thanksgiving. It's all about them and God, and God's love, not about asking for things or thinking about other people yet. That will come in its time.
Next time: 6-9 themes.
In this post, I will talk about the themes which Cavalletti and Gobbi, who developed Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, observed were most relevant to children in the 3-6 age group.
I've already talked a lot about the image of the Good Shepherd and how this is the primary image of God presented to children in this age group.
In the atrium, we have a wonderful diorama which we use to help tell the Parable of the Good Shepherd, and which children are subsequently able to use whenever they feel drawn to it, to ponder the parable more deeply.
Most of us are not going to have one of these at home, but it is still possible to help the child "enter the sheepfold" and contemplate the message of the Good Shepherd. (In this blog you will find many reflections with different ways of looking at the image of the Good Shepherd, in bite sized pieces, which pretty much summarise what we present in the atrium, and can be used over a number of days or weeks to explore the topic.)
Another theme we ponder with the children is the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, and we use 5 parables for this: The Precious Pearl, The Mustard Seed, The Hidden Treasure, the Leaven, and the Growing Seed. We marvel at how precious the Kingdom of God must be, and how it can seem so small and inconsequential, yet has so much power.
When we look at Baptism and Easter we focus on images such as the light - Jesus the Light of the World, who fills the darkness. Like with the Good Shepherd, we are showing to the children the loving, safe embrace of God. We talk about how we have that light inside us, and how brightly the light shines when we are together. We also mention how the Light went out of the world for a very short time, but now it is with us forever and will never leave again.
In Advent we present the Infancy Narratives. For the 3-6 year olds we have the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Jesus and Adoration of the Shepherds, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Presentation in the Temple.
In terms of liturgy, most of what we do requires miniature versions of what is used at Mass, but you could use pictures to talk about the different articles used at Mass. (I have made some paper-based works for the vestments and will get to the altar articles - I've also developed a 2D felt set for the vestments, and am working on one for the altar articles. Contact me if you would like more information these, or search etsy for masscatechesis.) There is a focus on the tabernacle/ciborium/paten/chalice, but they also learn the names and functions of all the other articles related to Mass, as well as the vestments and liturgical colours. The purpose of this is to help them understand what is happening at Mass, as well as provide things (items or moments) for them to "latch onto" to keep focussed.
We also present some of the gestures used at Mass - isolated moments of particular importance. The Sign of the Cross, Genuflection, Epiclesis, the Sign of Peace, Lavabo, and the Doxology. The children are also shown how to prepare the mini chalice and cruets.
We try to follow the liturgical year as much as possible. There are processions to change the prayer table cloth at the change of liturgical season, celebrations for Easter, Pentecost, Holy Thursday, the start of Advent, and we use the materials we have whenever is most relevant - for example the Walls of Jerusalem is just before of after Easter, so the children have an idea of how Jerusalem was and where various events happened. This can be easily done at home too, talking about what the big feasts and seasons mean. (With the small ones we talk about white being for the Great Feasts of Jesus, such as His birth and Resurrection; purple is for preparing for those great feasts; green is for growing after the feasts, and red is the colour of the Holy Spirit and great love.)
You can also talk about appropriate saints (by appropriate I mean ones without too much gore - that's best saved till their quite a bit older) such as St Therese of Lisieux, St Joseph, the various Marian feasts. If you're not sure, just ask yourself if this saint's life shows an image of God's loving care, or a life of hardship and suffering. Small children don't need to know about hardship and suffering.
In terms of types of prayer, Gobbi and Cavalletti observed that small children are drawn most to prayer of praise and thanksgiving. As adults we are used to asking God for things for ourselves or others (prayer of petition or intercession), and don't often remember to say thank you afterwards! In the atrium we avoid these types of prayer until age 6 or 7, so that children are able to freely express their joy and thanksgiving. It's all about them and God, and God's love, not about asking for things or thinking about other people yet. That will come in its time.
Next time: 6-9 themes.
9th Week of Ordinary Time, Friday (Cycle II)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Do you remember where we find the words of the Lord? Do you remember the name of the very special book that has so many of these words?
Yes, the Bible. God wanted to make sure we wouldn't forget His wonderful words, so He got people to write them down in the many books of the Bible, and gave us the Church to make sure we always understood His words properly.
"Your words gladden the heart". "Gladden" means to make happy. God's words make us happy.
"They give light to the eyes." God's words help us see. What do they help us see?
Perhaps they help us see the wonder of life, the best way to live, the wonder of the life to come. No wonder they "gladden the heart"!
Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your words, which give light to our eyes and gladden our hearts. Thank you for making sure we are always able to understand what you want us to know.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"Your words gladden the heart, O Lord, they give light to the eyes."
(Gospel Acclamation)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)
Yes, the Bible. God wanted to make sure we wouldn't forget His wonderful words, so He got people to write them down in the many books of the Bible, and gave us the Church to make sure we always understood His words properly.
"Your words gladden the heart". "Gladden" means to make happy. God's words make us happy.
"They give light to the eyes." God's words help us see. What do they help us see?
Perhaps they help us see the wonder of life, the best way to live, the wonder of the life to come. No wonder they "gladden the heart"!
Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your words, which give light to our eyes and gladden our hearts. Thank you for making sure we are always able to understand what you want us to know.
Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)
(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Apologies
Just a quick apology for the lack of posts the last week. I was sick and my laptop died. No longer sick, and no dead laptop, so back online! Was a frustrating week!
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