Little Rosie is struggling to make the sign of the cross right now. She either puts both hands up on her forehead or puts them on her shoulders or on her tummy. She knows about where her hand should go, but she can’t remember which one to use, so she uses both of them! She can’t remember everywhere the hand should go either, but she figures she’ll hit at least one of them. The rest of the children delight in how she tries so hard to do it right and they all take turns trying to teach her.
The sign of the cross IS the very first prayer that my children learn. It is a powerful symbol of their Catholic faith and one they will see their Catholic friends, family and associates use throughout their lifetimes.
The next prayer Rosie is probably learning without even trying is the grace before meals! She eats three times a day, so she is hearing that prayer with the most frequency. She is even starting to move her lips and say some of the words like “bounty” and “Amen!”
By the time we start kindergarten I hope Rosie will be able to recite
The Lord’s Prayer
The Hail Mary
Glory Be
Guardian Angel
In grade school, we recite those prayers every morning as well as the Morning Offering. Additionally by second grade I am making a strong push for them to learn the Act of Contrition so that they can recite it if need be for their first confession.
I also want them to know:
Hail Holy Queen
Memorare
Apostles Creed
Prayer to St. Michael
Fatima Prayer
and of course how to do a proper rosary and pray a novena.
There were some things I did not have in my own upbringing that I am trying to learn and incorporate for my children. We are slowly learning all of the rosary prayers in Latin. I also want to start the Angelus every noon and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 (although that’s the time their friends get home from school so that one is a little tricker!).
I would also like Sam to learn these prayers in high school.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer of St. Francis
Act of Surrender
Magnificat
Regina Coeli
I was very fortunate to be able to find two of Father Lovasik’s books to help me!
The Treasury of Prayer has all of the usual Catholic Prayers as well as some that I think Father might have written himself. This month we have been praying for the souls in purgatory with a different prayer for each day. There are also litanies and examinations. It really is an amazing little book.
Father Lovasik’s Pocket Book of Prayer is also a handy one to have and to use when teaching young children their prayers. This is the one that I use for copy work and dictation after the child is already reading and learning to spell.
I think the best example though is the one my mom set for me, and that is letting my kids see me in prayer. I am very private that way, but I am starting to make more of an effort to pray the rosary in a corner in the living room. It’s not a matter even of having them join me, but rather letting the see that prayer, just like reading, exercise,and eating is something to be worked into everyday life.
Some sources for these prayers on the web.
Prayers Every Catholic Should Know (From the diocese of Brooklyn)
Prayers all Catholics Should Know
Catholic Prayers in English and Latin
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thanks for the great post Elena!! I need to work on these more with Alex, I waited so long with my older three that they learned them more at Catholic school than at home from me.
Our little Miss C hasn’t gotten the sign of the cross yet. She wrings her hands like Lady Macbeth instead!
It’s so cute at night when we say our prayers, she always starts “Our Fadder…”, so far the only part she knows.
I love the act of contrition and I had my children memorize it very young. I think it is the perfect prayer for safety. I say it every time I travel- and try to remember to do it everytime I get into the car.
Oh- yes- it is the “old one”- not he one that they try to have the kids say for reconciliation these days.
That and the Hail Mary as a blessing – got us through many date nights…..