As we prepare for Lent each year, we think about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We want to open our hearts to Jesus on our 40-Days Lenten Journey. This year during Lent let us also help our children focus on silence, prayer, and devotions. Perhaps when we find special ways to help our students deepen their prayer during the Lenten season, those prayerful experiences may become regular methods of prayer throughout the year helping children deepen their relationships with Jesus.
We need time to develop relationships in a way that is positive and loving. Time is necessary to help any friendship grow, whether it is a relative, classmate, or neighbor. Children need to see their relationship with Jesus as a friendship. Giving children time for silence, prayer, and devotions will help their relationship with their friend, Jesus grow.
Pope John Paul II said, “Dear young people, like the first disciples, follow Jesus! Do not be afraid to draw near to him, to speak to him face to face, as you talk with a friend.” Let’s help our children find time to draw near to Jesus. The ideas below can be incorporated into the school day or religious education class.
Time for Silence: to quiet ourselves to hear God
1. At the end of Religious Education or the school day, allow for two whole minutes of silence with all students and adults in the building. Using the PA system, read a daily Lenten reflection for children. At the end of the reading say, “Listen, do you hear God’s voice?” Have the children sit in silence for two minutes thinking about what Jesus is saying to them.
2. Guided Meditation is a beautiful way to slow children down, sit silently, and reflectively as they listen to a story about Jesus. You can find published meditations or write guided meditations where children encounter Jesus through a story. The story will pause and allows children time to think about how they would respond to Jesus.
Time for Prayer: to open our hearts to God
1. Lectio Divina means holy reading. It is a special way to read scripture and reflect on how the Gospel is speaking to one’s heart. During Lent, slowly read the Sunday Gospel to your students. As you read it a second time, children should think of one word from the Gospel that has a special meaning to them at that moment. Go around the room, and have each child say the word that had meaning to them. After everyone has had a turn, perhaps some children would like to share why they chose a particular word and why that word has a significant meaning to them on that day.
2. Offer a scripture reflection group for children. This works well during or after the school day or at a convenient time outside of the religious education class time. If you tie service projects into the group’s mission, this encourages participation. Meet once a week to read the Gospel for the following Sunday. Prepare discussion questions to help children think about how the Gospel is working in their lives. Begin and end each session with prayer. Plan service opportunities for the children. Through service, the children will probably strengthen the bonds of the scripture group but also come to know Jesus in a special way.
3. Teaching your students about the saints can help children feel a connection to Jesus. On the RCL Benziger website under Lent and Holy Week, there is a resource on Saints and Solemnities of the Season. You will find of list of dates and saints. Information is provided on the saints along with suggestions for prayer.
Time for Devotions: to help us worship God
1. Plan Eucharistic Adoration for families. Adoration is the true presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The monstrance is the ornate vessel that holds the consecrated Eucharistic host. Monstrare is Latin for expose. During Adoration we are praying in the actual presence of Jesus. We are reaching out to Jesus while Jesus is simultaneously reaching out to us. Adoration is usually an hour long; however, it is not developmentally appropriate for children to sit silently for an hour. Plan time during the Adoration for guided prayer and spoken prayer on the following: praise, love, thanksgiving, repentance, and prayers for the faithful. Provide a cantor to lead music at the beginning and the end of Adoration.
2. Pray a decade of the rosary with your students either in the classroom or your church. If this will be your students’ first experience praying the rosary, you may want to give each child in your class a diagram of the rosary with the prayers.
3. Prepare Stations of the Cross for families at your church on Good Friday or during Holy week. Tell the story of each station and pray together.
On World Youth Day in Reo 2013, Pope Francis shared the following: “It is your life that Jesus wants to enter with His word, with His presence. Please, let Christ and His word enter your life, blossom and grow.” As teachers, catechists and principals this is what we want to instill in our students.
Aileen Scommegna holds a degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University. She has served as a teacher and DRE for the Archdiocese of Chicago for her entire career. She has written serval books on liturgical catechesis and faith for catechists, children, and parents.