DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER
It is important to provide children with the opportunity to experience different expressions of
prayer. They need the different experience so that they might discover the type of prayer that
best suits their individual needs and personality type. Just as we choose different ways in which
to communicate with others, so it is with prayer.
Vocal Prayer
Vocal prayer is usually the first type of prayer we encounter. When we pray vocally we put
words on our experiences of God in our lives. We need to express in words what we feel and
believe. This is part of our human condition. Through vocal prayer we can both express and
understand better our relationship with God. Vocal prayer takes many forms, all of which can be
introduced to children at a very young age. We introduce children to prayers such as the Our
Father, Hail Mary, Night Prayer, Morning Prayer etc. Children are also encouraged to pray
spontaneously in the class.
Meditative Prayer
“Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion and desire.” CCC, 2708
Meditation involves the whole person. Children can be introduced in a simple way to meditation
at a very young age. A meditative prayer might, for example, lead children to imagine
themselves in a space where they can talk to God about whatever they wish. Or they may be led
to imagine themselves in a Gospel story, where they are encouraged to take on the role of one of
the characters in the story. As such, they can meet with Jesus. They can tell him in their
imagination what they are thinking or feeling. They can imagine his response. Children have
very little difficulty with this type of prayer since they have little difficulty entering the world of
the imagination. All they need are suggestions and guidance and a context within which to
meditate.
Contemplative Prayer
When we communicate with others we usually use words and gestures. Communication with
God is no different. There are times, when we can communicate with God in the silence and
depth of our own heart. To do this we need to acquire the ability to still the mind of its racing
thoughts and to still the body to a level of peace and quiet.
To help the children to begin to learn a level of stillness, we continue to teach them to pray by
repeating a short phrase – like “Jesus, I love you,” or “Come Lord Jesus,” is repeated silently,
over and over again. The repetition helps to keep the focus of prayer, while at the same time it
quietens the mind and stills the body. It is important to practise the repetition of the prayerphrase with the children out loud before encouraging them to say it with their inner voice that no
one else can hear. This form of prayer takes time and practise.
Prayer through Movement
Children learn best through active involvement in whatever they are doing. As movement and
dance involve the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – it is appropriate to use rhythm and
spirit to help the children to express the fullness of life that is within them and to give thanks to
the Creator and source of all life. Movement, such as processing, making the sign of the cross,
genuflecting, bowing etc. can all be part of reverent worship. Some hymns have actions to
accompany them. Children really engage with these. Likewise a circle dance is enjoyed by
children as they move around singing.
Praying with Colour
A valuable prayer tool for children is colour. It suits children who enjoy colour and colouring. It
suits children who have a short attention span and a restless body. It also helps children who
find expressing themselves difficult. With colour words will cease to be of prime importance.
Praying with colour is childlike and not childish. We encourage quiet but not all children can be
quiet for long. So praying with colour invites them to engage with prayer in another way.
Permitting the body to move a finger or a hand, and the muscles become content. Some children
find working with colour helps them to relax and become calm enough to pay attention and move
to inner stillness. In general it is not the body that needs to be stilled; but the mind. Our hands,
our feet, our eyes can become ports of entry for the Holy Spirit. Another childlike characteristic
of praying in colour is that it is visual.