Resources for Family Prayer

“We are used to thinking about prayer especially in terms of what we might call the human part in prayer, which is actually the second moment of prayer when the person responds to God…Prayer is the response to the One who speaks to us first. Prayer is listening to the One who has spoken before we do, to the One who calls each of us by name. Above all prayer is receiving God’s gift.”
-Sofia Cavalletti, The History of the Kingdom of God, Part 2: Liturgy and the Building of the Kingdom

We are called and gifted as parents, to listen to God together with our children, guided by the spirituality and developmental needs of children.

General Resources for Parents

• Resource page from the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
• The Good Shepherd and the Child podcast episode “Praying with Our Children” (Mary Mirrione)
• The New American Bible and Daily Scripture Readings Calendar
• Free daily prayer and readings from Magnificat

Create a Family Prayer Table/Space at Home

• Praying with our Children: a Prayer Corner for Home
• A video from our fellow catechist Micki Hill about praying with our children.
• Enthronement of the Holy Bible
• As you create your sacred space, don’t forget to create intentional sacred time.

Listening to God With Children: Ways to Invite Prayer

• Light a candle. Practice the gift of silence for as long as you can. Children (and adults) might use some of this time of silence to draw about God or about a favorite work from the Atrium.
• Pray a litany of thanks by listing gifts of the day.
• Make an Act of Spiritual Communion anytime, not just while live-streaming the Mass on Sunday. Explanation of Spiritual Communion.
• Make a prayer/scripture card (or set of cards) to use at the prayer table. Children or parents can choose one each day to pray with.
  • Level I: Prayer Cards for Children ages 3 to 6
  • Level II: Prayer Cards for Children ages 6 to 9
  • Level III: Prayer Cards for Children ages 9 to 12
• Make a set of Maxims for your home. These sayings of Jesus from the Scriptures can be memorized, looked up in the bible, used as an examination of conscience, etc. Click here for Level II and Level III maxims.
• Find a place outside where you can sit for 10-15 minutes and write or draw about what you notice. What gifts is God giving you through the beauty of this day?
• Choose one work you remember from the Atrium and describe or draw it. Why do you remember this material? How was it a gift to you? How is it a gift to you today?
• Create a handwritten journal recording the events, activities, emotions, and gifts of each day. What Scripture did you ponder? What Maxim did you work on living well? How did you listen for and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd?
• With your family, gather for silence, to read Scripture, to sing, to pray a decade or more of the Rosary (with artwork depicting the Mystery), or to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
  • Level II and III children can use the Scripture charts from the atrium to help find a well-loved passage for personal or family prayer. (How to find passages in the Bible)
  • How to Pray the Family Rosary (If you’re having trouble, try these 10 tips.)
  • Pray the World Mission Rosary
  • Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet (especially at 3:00)
  • Pray the Angelus (especially at 6:00, 12:00, and 6:00)

Resources for Planning Family/Communal Prayer (Older Children)

• Older children can plan and lead family prayer. Click here or here for the planning sheet (two versions) to guide planning.
• Check back for more resources/ideas for planning your family’s celebration of Holy Week & Easter at home.

Special thanks to Carolyn Kohlhass, Way of the Shepherd Catholic Montessori School, Blaine, MN & the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Questions? Feedback? Ideas to share? Contact us HERE.