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Archdiocese of Cardiff

A Prayer Toolkit for Primary Schools

Archdiocese of CardiffPrayer Toolkit 2018

A Prayer Toolkit for Primary Schools to support the development of prayer in primary schools

Contents PageAcknowledgements 3Introduction – Father Bernard Sixtus 4Aims of the toolkit 5What is prayer? 6Preparation for prayer 7Ways of Praying 9Creating a prayer focus 10Praying with Christian artefacts 11Prayers from our Tradition 12Prayers in Welsh 14Creative ways to pray with children – Foundation Phase 15Creative ways to pray with children – Key Stage 2 16Prayers of Call and Response including Litanies 18Guided Meditation (Visualisation) 19Guided Meditation (Contemplation) 20Christian Meditation 21Praying with a Holy Word or Phrase 22Intercessions 23Spontaneous prayer 24Structuring prayer 24Daily Examen 25Resource/ Reference book list 26

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Acknowledgements

With thanks to: Laura Taylor – St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Penarth Laura Davies – St Philip Evans Catholic Primary School, Cardiff Clare Heathfield – St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Cardiff Sarah Lewis – St Robert’s Catholic Primary School, Aberkenfig Mary McCarthy – Our Lady and St Michael’s Catholic Primary School,

Abergavenny Gemma Carpanini – Ss. Gabriel and Raphael Catholic Primary School,

Tonypandy Nicola Long – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Merthyr Tydfil Rosie O’Donnell – Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary School, Cwmbran

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Introduction

‘Birds fly, fish swim and human beings pray’ (St Ephraim the Syrian): praying to God is ‘natural’ for those who have been made God’s children in Baptism. But even ‘natural’ things are learnt: we learn to walk and run, even though both of these are also ‘natural’ for us.

All being well, we learn to pray at home and in our parishes – but our schools are also ‘places of prayer’ and places where we learn to pray.

This toolkit is designed to help us pray and teach the children in our schools to pray: it is not a ‘Complete Compendium of Prayer’, nor (obviously) the last word on it. But it is a good place to start exploring and experiencing prayer as a place of deep personal communication with the Lord. As such, it contains a variety of resources used in our schools, and some guidance on how to use them well. These resources have been ‘tried and tested’, and I am most grateful to Laura Taylor and her Working Group, Carys and Mared Furnham and Clare Belli for all the effort that has gone into the production and compilation of this toolkit.

May it be a rich source of prayer and for learning to pray, and may it bless both the children in our schools and those who utilise it in leading.

Fr Bernard SixtusDirector of Religious Education (Schools) in the Archdiocese of Cardiff

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Aims of the toolkit

The aims of the resource are to: describe what prayer is. give guidance on how to prepare for prayer. describe different ways of praying give support and guidance on creating prayer foci. provide ideas and exemplify a variety of prayers appropriate for the

Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2. provide a list of appropriate prayers from our tradition for children in the

Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2. suggest a range of published resources effective in developing prayer with

children. encourage children to record their prayers.

Please note, this resource should be used in conjunction with: A Welsh worship resource for Catholic Schools (Canllaw 2012) - Carys Whelan

and Mared Furnham. This includes an audio CD to assist with pronunciation. Planning and Leading Worship - A toolkit to support pupils in planning and

leading a daily act of worship (Gweddïwn revised 2018) – Laura Taylor and a working group of archdiocesan teachers.

Writing prayers with primary children (Let the Sea Roar) - a resource for Key Stage 2 (Clare Belli) Preparing for Mass – a resource prepared by the Archdiocese of Westminster

– used with permission.

Available on request from: Archdiocese of Cardiff Department for RE(Schools), Pastoral Resources Centre, 910 Newport Road, Cardiff CF3 4LL Tel: 029 2036 2599email: [email protected]

The documents can also be found on the archdiocesan website: www.rcadcschools.org in the Primary Resources / Catholic Life and Ethos section

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http://www.rcadcschools.org/

mailto:[email protected]


What is prayer?

Prayer is: being with God. communicating with God. a conversation with God. listening to God. becoming open and attentive to God. a personal journey. time with God. adoration.

Prayer can be: intercessory - for ourselves, the wider world, others in need etc. formal or informal. spontaneous or planned. silent or out loud. reflective or active. communal or alone. inside or outside with nature. a time to share our thoughts, hopes, thanks and plans with God.

Through prayer we: come to know God. deepen our relationship with God. ask for help, support and guidance. thank, praise and say sorry. can be still in God’s presence. unite ourselves with the whole communion of the Church. pray for our loved ones who have died. ask for the intercession of Mary and the saints.

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Preparation for Prayer

It is important to think about the environment when asking children to pray or write prayers. We need to make time and space for children to be open to the Holy Spirit praying within them.

The following elements will help to focus the children and remind them that they are in the presence of God.

PlaceConsider where your prayer will take place. Some suggestions include:

Church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel Quiet room Classroom Hall Outside space

Ensure that your prayer time will not be disturbed. Use signs on the door e.g. ‘Prayer in Progress’ as a visual reminder for others not to enter.

Aids to PrayerPrepare a focal point for prayer. Some suggestions include:

The use of the appropriate liturgical coloured cloth on the floor or on a table.

Images/ painting to reflect upon. Bible/ Scripture. Crucifix. Candle. Flowers. Artefacts reflecting the theme of the prayer. Resources such as sand, feathers, pebbles, water bowls, pictures,

wood, incense, statues, shells, rosary beads etc. Video clips. Use of the interactive whiteboard. Prayer cards. Music. Musical instruments e.g. a cymbal fading away as a call to prayer. The use of silence. Outdoor prayer bags.

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PlanningConsider who will plan and lead the prayer.

Pupil(s) Teacher(s) Clergy/Religious Parishioner(s)/Guest(s)

Consider the following questions: How will the children sit? Do they need cushions or chairs? Is there enough space for the prayer to take place? What will you do to encourage the children to be comfortable?

For example, will children remove their shoes? How long will the prayer last? What music will you use? How will you gather the children and call them to prayer? Do you need resources such as musical instruments? Will you give an opportunity for silence? When? How will you conclude the prayer session?

Preparing for prayerHow will the children and staff prepare to pray? Suggestions include:

encouraging those present to relax and sit comfortably. breathing and stilling exercise. listening to quiet music. imagining their favourite place. relaxation exercises. focussing on an object with our senses. How does it remind you of

God? thinking about a ‘big question’. singing a hymn or suitable contemporary song. repeating a holy word (Christian Meditation)

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Ways of praying

It is important the children experience a variety of ways of praying. Below are some suggestions.

Ways of praying DescriptionBodily prayer and gestures

Raising hands in praise, bowing, dancing, genuflecting, kneeling etc. Gestures including the sign of the cross, the sign of the cross on forehead, lips and chest before the Gospel.

Christian meditation/Prayer with a holy word

A way of praying and experiencing the presence of God by means of repeating a holy word or phrase (e.g. Maranatha, Jesus, my friend).

Use of art and music

Using icons, pictures, objects and music as ways of expressing what we believe - being attentive to God around us and in our lives.

Daily Examen Guided prayer where children reflect on their experience of the day.

Examination of conscience

Children to reflect on how they have acted and ask for forgiveness in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Guided meditation Someone helps us pray by taking us on a journey or telling a story relating to God.

Intercessions Series of petitions where we pray for the church, world, our community, needs of others, especially the suffering, and our own personal petitions.

Litany A prayer of call and response.Psalms and hymns Praying the Psalms e.g. ‘I thank you for the wonder

of my being.’ (Psalm 139)Hymns both traditional and modern.

Spontaneous Not planned for, praying about something right in the moment.

Structured/ planned

Regular and prepared.

Prayers of the Catholic Church

Daily, seasonal and liturgical prayers.

Praise and Adoration

Praise of God for who he is and what he has done.

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Creating a Prayer Focus

Element ChecklistPlace Is the prayer table in a prominent position in the classroom

with space around for the children to pray?Is it accessible for all children at any time?

Theme Does the prayer focus reflect the curriculum topic and the liturgical season?

Cloth Are coloured cloths appropriate to the liturgical season or feast used?

Purple (Lent and Advent). White / Gold (Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Saints) Green (Ordinary Time). Red (Pentecost) Blue (Feasts of Our Lady) Rose (Gaudete and Laetare Sundays)

Bible or Book of the Gospels

Is the Bible or Book of the Gospels prominently displayed?

Artefacts/ Resources

Are there appropriate resources of artefacts on the prayer focus? Suggestions include:

Crucifix Icon / Statue / Picture Rosary beads Holy Water Flowers Bible Candle Traditional prayer book Class prayer book Picture of a place or event

Interaction Can children interact with the prayer focus?Are there big questions, artefacts, collage materials, prompts or examples of prayers to say?Have you used scripture references to inspire prayer?Are key words displayed appropriately?Is there an opportunity for children to respond?

Responsibility Have children been involved in the design of the prayer focus?Do children take responsibility for ensuring that the prayer focus is tidy and well presented?

Other considerations

Is the prayer focus engaging and inspirational?Is the prayer focus bilingual?Are there opportunities for guided and spontaneous prayer?

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Praying with Christian artefacts

Preparing Holy GroundCreating an environment that encourages prayer is very important.

Prayerful images, words, music, lighting, comfortable seating, a peaceful atmosphere all help to remind us of the presence of God.

Christian ArtefactsBoth word and image have figured in the worshipping life of the followers of Christ from the beginning of the Church.

The Bible, prayer book, words used in a particular Liturgy, coloured cloth that reflects the Liturgical season, a cross/crucifix, statue, rosary, religious picture/icon, baptismal candle, holy water etc. can help the children to use their imagination and to focus in prayer.

These can act as a catalyst for prayer and remind the children of God’s presence.

Christian artefacts are important to help us recall and sometimes to teach about or commemorate certain people or events.

Catholics do not pray to or adore icons but can use them as a ‘window into heaven. In the Eastern tradition, icons bear the name of the saint(s) to help us distinguish between the image and the person depicted.

They pray in their presence and use them to help deepen their knowledge and love of God.

When using them, it is important to focus on the quality of the artefact, to avoid clutter and to treat them with respect.

‘When we do not have the Lord’s Passion in mind and see the image of Christ’s crucifixion, his saving passion is brought back to memory, and we fall down and

worship not the material.....but that which these symbolise......It is just the same in the case of the mother of the Lord....The honour rendered to the image passes over

to the prototype.’

St John of Damascus, eighth century.

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Prayers from our Tradition

Children will become familiar with the prayers by hearing them said and joining in with them, by singing them and by focussing on small phrases. † indicates prayers that children are able to pray together from memory.

Prayers for children in the Foundation PhaseSign of the Cross †Our Father †Hail Mary †Glory be to the Father †Morning Offering †Grace at Meals †Act of Sorrow †Mass responses †Simple responses used at MassSimple litanies of thanks and praisePrayers for the blessing of the Advent wreath and lighting of the Advent candlesSimple examination of conscience / review of the dayPrayer at the beginning and end of the day

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Prayers from our Tradition for children in Key Stage 2All those listed for the Foundation Phase, and:I confess (Confiteor)†Angelus †Benedictus (Luke; 1:67-79)Magnificat (Luke; 1:46-55)Nunc Dimittis (Luke; 2:22-24)Eternal Rest †Act of Contrition †The Mysteries of the RosaryStations of the CrossPrayers used at Mass:

Penitential Rite Gloria Offertory prayers Holy, holy, holy † Lamb of God † Rite of Dismissal

Litany of the SaintsSaints’ Prayers e.g. St Teresa of Avila, St Francis of AssisiSome simple phrases from the psalms. †

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Prayers in Welsh

The following prayers can be found in the Canllaw and/or Gweddïwn resource.

Prayers in WelshBydded i’r Arglwydd ein bendithio May the Lord Bless Us

Gras Bwyd Grace Before MealsGweddi Dydd Gŵyl Dewi St David’s Day prayerGweddi i’r Ysbryd Glân Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Gweddi’r Arglwydd Our FatherGweddi’r Bore A Morning PrayerGweddi’r Hwyr Evening Prayer

Llurig Padrig Christ Be With MeTangnefedd yr Arglwydd The Peace of the Lord

Tryd Ysbryd Glân! Come Holy SpiritY Gogoniant Glory BeYn enw’r Tad The Sign of the Cross

Welsh Words and PhrasesAdfent Advent

Diolch i ti O Dduw Thanks to you, O GodMair Fam Duw Mary, Mother of God

Nadolig ChristmasPasg Hapus Happy Easter

Sulgwyn PentecostTachwedd NovemberY Grawys Lent

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Creative ways of praying with childrenThe following table lists a variety of ideas, which will enhance and enrich prayer experiences with children in the classroom. The ideas have been split into those most appropriate for children in the Foundation Phase and for those in Key Stage 2, but these are suggestions only and many of the ideas can be used across the primary age range. Music, icons, art and suitable objects can be used as aids to prayer.

Foundation PhaseSongs – rewrite lyrics to songs based on your prayer.

Prayer sticks – add prayers to a stick.

Prayer Weaving – weave ribbons through a ‘prayer wall’ to weave prayers together. Each ribbon could represent different themes.

Snow ball activity – write a prayer on a piece of paper. Scrunch the paper into a ‘snowball’ and throw into the middle of the circle. Each child picks up another snowball, adds to the prayer, and the process starts again.

Prayer Net – take a bead, place it on the net saying a prayer for someone who needs God’s help.

Mirror – Give the children a mirror and allow them to look at themselves. Tell them they are God’s work of art.

Planting Prayers – Plant a seed or bulb, say a thankful prayer to God for the miracle of new life.

Sensory Bags –Touch - fill with different materials and objects – be thankful for our sense of touch.Smell – have different objects with different smells – be thankful for our sense of smell.

Wordle – use words from your prayer to create a Wordle.

Back-to-back drawing – children stand back-to-back. One child describes the picture for their partner to draw it without seeing the picture.

Seed Prayer (a good prayer to use at the end of a topic) - Give each child some seeds. It can be adapted to be used in any context or each participant can write in the appropriate ending:God of the soil... (e.g. speak in the hearts of those present today that your message of love and grace is firmly planted to nurture and support...)God of the seeds ... (inspire our words, our thoughts, our hearts, to grow into...)God of the sower (strengthen us with your spirit in the easy and difficult times that we...)God of the sun and rain ... (pour down upon us all that we need to be Christ like to...)Be in us, be with us, be above us, be beside us.

Skittle Sweet Prayer– take a skittle sweet and think about what you want to pray about. Place them onto a plate and pour warm water onto the plate. Watch the skittle sweets – as the colours leave the skittle sweets watch how our prayers join together.Example of how colours could be used.Green – name something you love about your family.Yellow – pray for people who help us.Orange – pray for the church.Purple – pray for creation.Red – pray for people who need help.

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Key Stage 2Post-it cross - On a big sheet of newspaper draw a cross or use a wooden cross. Give each child a post it note to write a post it with their prayer concern. Children could use pins to attach their concerns to the wooden cross.

Prayers for all nations- At Pentecost or other times of the year ask those who speak a language to offer a prayer in that language.

Prayer Walk- Walk around a specific location praying for the needs of those associated with the sites or communities.Indoor prayer walk. Put up pictures/posters/newspaper

cuttings intended to provoke a response - around the hall/along corridors/around a classroom.

Children can stop at each and pray for the needs/ give thanks for the beauty of creation or “collect” the feelings produced by the images and have a shared prayer in the classroom.

Go on a prayer walk around the school grounds. Sights – trees, birds, insects, plants,

grass – can be used to reflect on the wonder of Creation

Sounds – nature – God’s world; traffic – people’s busy lives; voices – friends, family

Smells – pleasant/unpleasant – what are we thankful for/what is not so good about our lives?

Textures – rough, smooth, soft, hard – how do they make us feel? What do they make us think about?

Prayer calendar- before the beginning of each month fill in a blank calendar with at least one prayer concern for each day. Encourage the class to remember their own class, members of the congregation, local community, family and friends, etc.

Prayer chatterbox- children to create chatterboxes with different prayer prompts- these could include different countries, intentions, prayers from our tradition, holy words, lines of scripture

What’s that I hear prayer? This prayer works best outdoors in a variety of settings. Begin in silence and ask the children to listen to the surrounding sounds. After a few minutes allow time for each person to offer a prayer guided by what they hear, such as birds, the wind, the trees, other people, etc.

Envelopes - Put three large envelopes around the classroom – thank you, sorry, please. The children write their own prayers and when they are ready place them in the appropriate envelopes. The children can share them if they want to.

Paper Chain - Give each member of the group a strip of coloured paper. Encourage the children to write a one line prayer (this could be for praise, for forgiveness or a prayer of thanks). The children then join their prayers as a paper chain.

Praise Poster - Give each group a line from scripture reference on A3 paper. Children look it up in the Bible and write their phrase in different colour pens. Children to use the phrases to finish the sentence ‘We can praise God because...’

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Prayer Consequences- Children to work in groups of 5 or 6 for this activity. Give each child a piece of A4 paper and ask them to write an opening line of prayer. They then fold their line over and pass to the next child in the group. Each child to then continue the prayer without knowing what has been written previously. The last child then reads the collaborative prayers aloud. Invite each child to spend a few moments silently offering their prayers to God.

TSP Prayer - Use the three words - thank you, sorry and please as a recipe for prayer.

Lego Prayers- one Lego or Duplo brick per child. Children to pray for a different person or intention for each lump on their Lego brick. Swap brick with someone else and thank God for the person you’ve swapped your brick with.

Prints For Prayer- ‘We know that we are children of God’ (1 John 5:19)Our fingerprints are special to us, and no one anywhere has a finger print like yours! As we put our fingerprint onto the shape of a child we recognise that we, and all people, are precious to God. Use this as a holy phrase to repeat.

Preparing for the Sacrament of ReconciliationThe activities below are acts of worship which can be used in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to illustrate what happens during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At no time must the impression be given that during these ‘illustrative’ acts of worship themselves that our sins are forgiven – they are not. Instead, these acts of worship show what happens during the Sacrament of Reconciliation.In The Bin - Romans 4:7-8 ‘Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned! Happy is the person whose sins the Lord will not keep account of!’Each child writes a short sorry prayer on a piece of paper. Children then write some of their sins on a post it note separate to their prayer and fold it in half. Passing around a bin, children tear up their post it note which signifies them freeing themselves from sin. Explain to them that when we say sorry to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God takes away all our wrong doings and gives us a chance to make a fresh start.

Wash Away Wrongs - To gather and create a prayerful atmosphere children to repeat, ‘I’m really sorry Lord, please wipe away my sins.’ On a whiteboard invite children to list things, which they are sorry about. Explain that God wants to forgive for all our wrong doings and give us the opportunity to make a fresh start. This happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All we have to do is say sorry to God and really mean it. Read Psalm 51 and say a simple act of contrition. Children to then ‘wipe away their sins.’

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Prayers of Call and Response

LitaniesLitanies can combine elements of prayer – blessing, adoration, petition, intercession for others, praise and thanksgiving. We find examples of litanies in scripture in Psalm 136 and the Canticle in the Book of Daniel. The Litany of the Saints, Litany of Our Lady and other standard litanies can be found in Missals and Prayer books as well as online. ‘A Little Book of Litanies’ is published by the CTS.Examples of responsesLord, hear us. AmenPray for us. AlleluiaPray for them. We thank You.Thank you Lord. We praise You, we bless You we

thank You.Come Lord Jesus Come Diolch i ti O Dduw (Thanks be to

God)Mae’n flin da fi. (I am sorry) Gweddia drosom ni. (Pray for us)

Creative prayer using call and responseSnowballing activity- split the children into a group of 6. Ask them to decide on a repetitive phrase that will be repeated throughout. Children to write a line each and pass around the group until the litany is complete.

Spontaneous in threes. Children to decide on a repetitive phrase and theme.

Children to take it in turns to say a line of the litany until the litany is complete. Similar to ‘ping pong’.

Children could use images to create their own litany.

Children could perform their litany to music.

Children could perform their litany in parts and in rounds to the rest of the class.

Children could use a painting or image as a stimulus to write their own litany for praise.

Children could create their own word splash with the lines of the litany organised in a creative way.

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Guided Meditation (Visualisation)Preparation: Get comfortable in your own space and use relaxation exercises to allow children to calm down.Concentrate on breathing and use music to set the atmosphere.When going through the meditation – allow time for questions to be answered silently or actions to be completed within the meditation.When creating your own scripts – ensure that you use the senses to engage the children.One example below is about flying. This could be adapted for walking along a beach, lake, orchard, being on a boat, waterfall, forest, galaxy, river etc.Other resources could be linked, e.g. Footprints Poem, Parables, Prayers, Artwork, Music etc. Music example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzrHvwWjXEsChildren could work in small groups to write their own guided meditations and guide the rest of the class through their examples – Children could have different roles within the group.

Script/music/introduction/conclusion modelled examples on You Tube – children could make their own versions using iMovie or Photostory – Be Still Biblical medications- You Tube /Hot Air Balloon Ride- A guided meditation for children -Use You Tube at teacher discretion as some videos would not be suitable.

Jane Reehorst- Guided Meditation for Children- Children to choose a guided meditation linked to scripture from the book to focus on using child voice session

Children could create their own response to the guided meditation as the teacher guides them through. This could take the form of a piece of art work focusing on what they see or a word cloud where they write some phrases which come to their mind. They could also write their own prayer of thanks in response to the meditation.

Guided Meditation (Visualisation) Example - FlyingClose your eyes, and listen to the sounds you can hear in the room. What can you see and hear? Imagine that you a floating into the air. You can feel your body lifting off the floor and you can see the classroom below you. (Describe some of the things in the classroom the children may see.) Imagine that you float out through the door and up into the sky. Look down at God’s earth at all the things that you can see. As you look down – you see a group of people in a field sitting and listening to somebody. You float down to see what’s happening. When you get there you see that the person is Jesus and He welcomes you. As His arms open he asks you to come and sit beside him. You float down next to Him and look at His smiling face. You look into His kind eyes and feel so safe and happier than you have ever felt before. Take this time and have a chat with Him. Tell Jesus what you are happy / worried / sad / angry etc. about. Listen to what Jesus says. You really enjoyed listening to Jesus, but it’s time to leave Him. After you say goodbye you begin to float up and fly back into the school. As you come back into the classroom think about how you felt when you were sitting with Jesus. As you sit on the carpet you can feel the hardness of the floor and you can hear the classroom sounds. You had a lovely time talking and listening to Jesus. Remember that moment between you and Jesus. When you are ready slowly open your eyes.

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Guided Meditation (Contemplation)This form of prayer is especially useful for praying with a passage from the Gospels. It involves reading a passage and then imagining the scene as though it was happening at this moment, and the person praying was an active participant. Approaching the passage, believing God can address us through it here and now in a loving encounter, the person praying the imagines the scene as depicted by the Evangelist: what can I hear; what can I (see, taste, smell); who else is there; what are they doing, (saying etc…)This method of prayer lets the imagination lead, but it is focussed on Christ, not on self.

Guided Meditation (Imaginative Contemplation) Example – Feeding the 5000Close your eyes, and listen to the sounds you can hear in the room. We are going somewhere else today. We are going to see Jesus. Jesus is sitting in a very hot country on the side of a mountain, near a lake. You are sitting with him. You can hear the water hitting the rocks near you. You are sitting with him, talking to him and his friends. What are you all talking about? Jesus smiles at you as you talk to him. What does Jesus say? You are one of Jesus’ friends. He wants you to do something for him. Will you help him? Jesus tells you all that you can help sick people and make them better. You need to go and find these people and help them. You leave and find the people Jesus told you about. Who do you see? What help do they need? What do you say to them? When you go back to be with Jesus, you see all the people you helped following you. There are lots and lots of people with you, 5000 people. More people that are in this school, (give more examples of how many). Everyone wants to meet Jesus. Jesus loves these people and is so happy to see them. He talks to everyone. What does he say? You can see the love in Jesus and see how kind he is. How can you be more like him? You notice the sun is setting and start to feel hungry. You tell Jesus that it’s getting late and there’s not enough food for everyone. Jesus tells you to give them something to eat. You don’t understand because there is not enough food for all the people there. All you can find is five small loaves of bread and two small fish. Jesus tells you to share these with the crowd. You trust Jesus so you do as he says. As you are giving out the food, the basket doesn’t get empty. People took as much as they wanted. This is what we call one of Jesus’ miracles. How does that make you feel? What do the other friends of Jesus think?It is now time to say goodbye to Jesus. As the crowd slowly walk away you say goodbye to Jesus and come back to the classroom. When you are ready, open your eyes.

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Christian MeditationChristian Meditation is a way of being in the presence of God. In leading pupils to meditation, it is important to remember that we are on a journey with the pupils. We are pilgrims along with them on the journey toward God. We share our faith with them and offer them the opportunity to pray in silence. The pupils are to discover God’s love for themselves.

Facilitating meditation in the classroom1. Create the environment or sacred space (Bible, icon, special corner/circle in a

room, reflective music) – this should be different to other prayer foci in the room.

2. Explain to the pupils that the time of meditation is a ‘gift’ to them and they need to respect other people’s space.

3. Put the ‘Quiet please- we are meditating’ sign on the door.4. Prepare the pupils - play quiet music before beginning meditation to help

pupils to enter into stillness and silence; introduce a quietening exercise, relaxing each part of the body in turn and focusing on their breathing.

5. Stop the music before the meditation is about to start.6. Begin with 1 minute and work up to the pupils’ chronological age i.e. 5 years

old = 5 minutes of meditationElements of meditation

Posture Ask the pupils to sit in a comfortable position- sit still, sit upright, with a straight back.Ask the pupils to close their eyes gently, listen to the noises outside the room, listen to the sounds inside the room, accept the noises and let them go.

Ask pupils to quiet their bodies. Then quiet the mind. Become aware that you are in God’s presence. God is around you now in this room. God is also inside of you.

Breath Teach the pupils to become aware of their breath going in and going out, breathe in, breathe out, calm and regular.

Sound – a call to prayer

When the pupils have become quiet, ring a bell or a chime and simply say, “We begin our meditation now.”

Praying with a Holy Word

The pupils are to repeat the prayer word MA-RA-NA-THA (Come Lord - in Aramaic, the language Christ used) throughout the meditation period.- Say it quietly in your mind, say it lovingly within your heart, listen to yourself saying it.- If the pupils sound restless during the meditation, gently remind them to say the prayer word MA-RA-NA-THA in their hearts throughout.

Reflect Remind the pupils that they can pray silently with a holy word whenever they want to throughout the day or at home on their own.

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Praying with a Holy Word or Holy PhraseThe purpose of using a Holy Word or phrase is to focus on God.

A word or phrase which is repeated often can provide a precious moment of prayer.As you introduce this form of prayer, choose a word or phrase for the whole class e.g. Come, Lord Jesus.Invite everyone to close their eyes and repeat the words over and over in their minds. As they become more experienced and comfortable, they can choose their own.

The class could build the volume of the holy word by asking each group to join in once the holy word is repeated twice until the whole class is saying it together.

Come Lord Jesus, come MaranathaLight of the world Peace

Rest in me. AbbaJesus, remember me Jesus my friend

Jesus my helper Jesus my guideJesus, my Lord, Prince of Peace. O Dduw ein Tad.

Spirit of God, come to me. You are the light of the World.Jesus, I love you. Ein TadJesus my Saviour King of love, king of my heart.

God our Father, we love you.Each child within a group to say one word of a holy phrase - go around the group and repeat

Children to use a line of scripture to write their own prayer word or phrase individually

Children to create their own personal prayer word or phrase which relates to their lives and is personal to them

Children to create class prayer words or phrases to use throughout the academic year – could be used to signify prayer time throughout the school day

Children could use ‘rainbow writing’ to write a holy word or phrase repeatedly

Intercessions

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There is a distinction between the Intercessions (Bidding Prayers / Prayers of the Faithful) used at Mass and intercessions used as part of class prayer or a school assembly. Information about and guidance in writing Bidding Prayers for Mass will be found in the ‘Preparing for Mass’ resource.

In the classroom: We need to remember that these biddings are addressed to the

community to ask them to pray. For example, intercessions may begin with: We pray for… Let us pray for… We pray that… For the… For those who…

Prayer intentions should be short and simple. It is important to pause, to allow time for individual prayer. There are many ways to end the intercessions and we ask God to hear our

prayers. Examples of endings include: Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer. We pray to the Lord… Lord, hear our prayer. Let us pray to the Lord… Lord, hear our prayer. We ask you, Lord… Listen to our prayer.

Creative use of IntercessionsEach class to have an intercession box where the children write personal intercessions praying for their own intentions

Use the prayer writing toolkit in the ‘Prayers of the Faithful’ section from Let the Sea Roar, to guide the children through writing their own prayers of intercession

Class prayer wall where children can contribute prayers with their intentions

Create an intercession rota for the school where each class is given a different prayer intention

Create some lollipop sticks with different intentions for the children to choose and pray – use jars or flower pots for the children to decorate and create their own ‘prayer cards’

Use the hand to guide the children through prayers of the faithful.Thumb- those closest to you- family and close friendsFinger 1 - Those who teach usFinger 2 - LeadersFinger 3 - Sick and the weakestFinger 4 - For yourself

Use the children’s newspaper ‘First News’ and ‘Newsround’ to allow the children to find countries or specific groups which would need our prayers.

Map Prayer- Use a map or a globe. Choose a child to spin around, point to a place on the map and the children will lift up that particular place and people in prayer. www.prayandyouth.com

Spontaneous Prayer

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This is an unplanned prayer where children say a short prayer in the moment. They can pray within a theme, or it can be more open. The prayer could be silent or out loud. Prayers could also be written down and added to a class prayer journal. Aids to prayer include:

Candle Stone / rocks/ pebblesRosary Bean bag

Template for writing Prayer cardsPictures / artwork Beads

Water Use of litany structureBible Shells

Ribbons Prayer stickStatue ScriptureIcon Wood

Some ways of structuring prayerThese are some possible ways for structuring prayer

Praise God Say what you have done wrong Say you are sorry Ask for forgiveness Promise to make a fresh start Thank God for his love Thank God for his love Say how you feel Say what you need Ask for God’s help Tell God he is wonderful Tell God what he has done for you Thank him for what he has given you Tell him you love him Praise God Say sorry to him Ask him for his help Make him a promise Thank him for his love

Daily ExamenThe Examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s actually

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an attitude more than a method; a time set aside for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life. The Examen has five steps, which most people take more or less in order, and it usually takes 15 to 20 minutes per day.This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced

1. Ask God for light - I want to look at my day with God’s eyes, not merely my own.

2. Give thanks - The day I have just lived is a gift from God. Be grateful for it.3. Review the day - I carefully look back on the day just completed, being guided

by the Holy Spirit.4. Face your shortcomings - I face up to what is wrong—in my life and in me.5. Look toward the day to come - I ask where I need God in the day to come.

1. We begin by using a ‘stilling exercise’ to help us place ourselves in God’s presence Place your hands in your lap. Close your eyes (Caewch ein llygaid). Concentrate on your breathing. Feel yourself gently breathing. (Breathe in slowly through your nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth) As you inhale, say the words ‘Help me to become attentive and discerning’. As you exhale, say the words, ‘Thank-you’. Ask God to guide your Examen.

(Play some gentle music)

2. Look back on your day and notice the things that you are grateful for and that made you happy. Picture them in your mind. Give thanks to God!

3. Look back on the day and notice the things that make you sad and sorry. Picture them in your mind. These are the times you did not do God’s will. Tell God you are sorry.

4. Face up to the things that went wrong and ask God’s help for the future.

5. Once more, give thanks to God for his love and look forward to walking with confidence in his presence in the future.

Resource/ Reference book list

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Resource Suggested resourcesResources used throughout the Cardiff Archdiocese

Canllaw (2012) – A Welsh worship resource for Catholic Schools (Carys Whelan, Mared Furnham)

Gweddïwn (2018) – A toolkit to support pupils in planning and leading a daily act of worship (Laura Taylor)

Let the Sea Roar – Writing prayers with primary children – a resource for Key stage 2 (Clare Belli)

Pause for Reflection (resources such as prayer chairs - published by Jumping Fish)

Christian Meditation scheme www.christianmeditation.org.uk The Daily Examen:https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen Guided Meditation for Children (Jane Reehorst) – A simple

process that teaches children how to pray through meditation on the Scriptures. This process leads children into the Scripture scene, where they meet Jesus personally and are encouraged to talk and listen to him - which is prayer.

Prayer bags – a collection of resources used to support prayer in the class or at home.

Other published resources

The Way of the Cross (CTS)The Rosary (CTS)Prayers to Mary (CTS)Prayers around the Crib (CTS)First Prayers for Little Children (CTS)Pray Together (Kevin Mayhew)Blessings and Prayers through the Year (Elizabeth McMahon Jeep)Stories and Songs of Jesus – CD (Paule Freeburg; Christopher Walker)Knowing God Better – Music to help you pray (CJM Music)We Shall Praise your Name (Paule Freeburg; Christopher Walker)Children’s Daily Prayer (LTP - McCrimmons)Praying with Children: Some ways and means (Jenny Pate)

Further useful resources

If you use any resources including websites, please let us know. A list will be added to the website later in the term.

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http://www.christianmeditation.org.uk/

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