I’m providing quick tips for how to pray as a family to help guide you through the new liturgical year! We all know how hard it can be to get the family together to pray and stick to a routine. We have two little ones and our youngest doesn’t sit still and our oldest seems like she isn’t paying attention. We have learned some good techniques along the way that I hope can help your family.
Why should we pray as a family?
We need to pray as a family to teach our children how to pray. Also, remember the Bible verse from John 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” It is also very good practice and humbling to pray with others. It keeps everyone mindful of their sins. As Venerable Patrick Peyton said, “the family that prays together stays together.”
What if I can’t do the same prayer routine daily?
As parents, we aren’t perfect; sometimes that goal to be perfect keeps us from doing anything all. Prayer doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Think of all the ways you can incorporate prayer throughout the day! Include the 5 parts of prayer (praises, thanksgiving, asking for blessings for you and others, begging forgiveness, and help through the intercession of the Saints) in smaller bits during your routines.
Be consistent with your routines as best you can but do not get discouraged when life (sickness, accidents, travel, guests, leaking pipe, etc.) happens. Traditions during the holidays can center around prayers and be something that the children look forward to.
My husband reads Bible stories to the girls each night. During the day we read fiction books so the evening reading slot can be dedicated to learning about the Bible. This routine is expected by our girls and they can absorb more and more information from the stories over time.
How to pray together as a family
Ideally, we pray in our prayer corner. The children are more likely to pay attention in a space in the house that they cannot play in. You can set up icons, candles, pictures, flowers, plants, prayerbooks, statues, and a crucifix in your prayer corner. My older daughter loves to put chairs in the area for us and enjoys performing pretend baptisms.
We are in the process of getting a prie-dieu that will allow our whole family to kneel (more comfortably) during prayer time. Lighting candles or even putting on flameless candles can set a reverent mood and provide great fun for the children with the use of a candle snuffer after prayer time.
Good family prayer ideas
We use seasonal prayer books such as this for Lent/Easter and this for Advent/Christmas to get a small dose of seasonally appropriate prayer. For tips on praying during Advent see my post and for other book ideas read my godchildren gift series. At other times, we use the Monastic Breviary, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Blessed be God booklet.
The Little Office and Divine Office are prayed at 8 times throughout the day, called the “Canonical Hours.” Most of the time slots take less than 15 minutes and usually take less than 30 minutes. You don’t have to pray every Hour (unless you are a cleric or religious, bound by an obligation), but it is an easy way to add in midday or afternoon structured prayer.
The Blessed Be God book contains all of the prayers that truly should be said daily and is an excellent resource.
Short family prayer ideas
You probably pray more throughout the day than you realize. It is imperative to pray upon waking! St John Vianney once said: “We must take great care never to do anything before having said our morning prayers…The Devil once declared that if he could have the first moment of the day, he was sure of all the rest.” Encourage your kids to do the same by praying a morning offering with them. At meal and snack time say grace aloud with the children. Nighttime prayers should also be part of the family routine.
Pray the simple prayer to St. Christopher every time you get in the car/travel.
“O Saint Christopher, hear our prayer keep me in your loving care whatever the perils of the way let me not add to them this day. So to our caution and attention, we add a prayer for your protection, and beg God’s blessing on this car that we may travel safely near and far.”
Add your daily rosary in the car, before bed, as a break from chores or schoolwork, or whenever you can! Remember St Therese de Lisieux beautifully described the rosary as “a long chain that links heaven and earth.” If you include all of this in your day, you already have a great basis!
Remember that you can pray small bits throughout the day. Teach your children to pray frequently throughout the day including for others. Pray for the person who is annoying you. Pray for the people you come across during the day that need help, like the homeless. Keep a list of intentions (which you can easily do in my planner!) for the people that have asked you to pray for them or need your prayers for conversion.
“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” ―
Catholic family prayer distraction ideas
The best way to get children started with prayer is to include them from birth. When our daughter was only 1 year old, she would ask if she could eat by saying “I eat?” after grace! It is second nature for them if it is part of their day from the beginning.
Use a candle and let the little kiddos play with religious items to keep them entertained while you pray with the older children. Have children’s bibles with a lot of pictures, laminated holy cards, cloth books, and rosaries (wooden, chewable, cord, and plastic) for kids to interact with. The St. Joseph book series has small picture books that get greatly loved and aren’t too expensive to replace. Let older children think of prayer intentions–it is good for them to become cognizant of this and it can melt your heart!
Lastly, use songs to mix things up! Some examples of sing-along songs include Ave Maria, Immaculate Mary, O God Beyond All Praising, and Christmas Carols like O Holy Night.
Children will remember the songs into adulthood and hopefully will share this with the next generation.
These quick tips for how to pray with your family show that it doesn’t have to be hard! Use structured and spontaneous prayer to keep the family focused and accustomed to turning to God throughout the day!
Share some of your family prayer ideas in the comments below!
