CHILDREN IN PRAYER — Children
pray near a painting of Mary and the child Jesus
during a Mass at the Schoenstatt Center in Waukesha
last fall. Author Julie McCarty writes that there
are many ways to nurture the prayer life of children.
(Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero)
Spring is a good time to inventory the prayer life of
our children. Do we pray with our kids? How often? Why
or why not?
Unlike soccer or scouting, prayer is more than an extracurricular activity. Just
as nutritious food, sleep, and fresh air are essential for our children’s
physical development, prayer is essential for growing healthy souls.
There are many ways to nurture the prayer life of children. Here are tips from
three families:
Talk about God in positive ways. Granite Bay, Calif., resident, Mary Wurster,
mother of four, suggests bringing up Jesus in ordinary conversation. For example,
a parent can ask a young child, “Did you know that Jesus had a mommy and
daddy just like you?” Jesus, she observes, is easier for most children
to comprehend than the vaguer notion of God.
Catholic
Herald Parenting is a supplement of the Catholic Herald
published eight times annually, September to May. It is
intended to help parents pass on the Catholic faith to
their children.
