Prayer
“Our prayer cannot be reduced to an hour on Sundays. It is important to have a daily relationship with God” - Pope Francis.
Prayer is an integral part of our Catholic Faith. Simply, it is a special time where we can talk to God. We encourage the children to pray as often as they can. We say our daily prayers in the morning, before and after lunch and at the end of the day. We encourage the children through class prayer tables, our school prayer table and in prayer services to write and say their own prayers. Building their relationship with God.
Throughout the year, the children have many opportunities to pray. During October and May we pray the Rosary together. During November, we pray for those who have died. The children also take part and some lead the Stations of the Cross. Daily, the children pray in their classrooms and in assemblies. Our mission is to ensure children pray everyday and bring God into their lives.
Illustration by Elizabeth Wang, T-00928-CW, ‘Christ is Really Present in the tabernacle’, copyright © Radiant Light 2006, www.radiantlight.org.uk
Prayer Tables
Each class has a specific part of their classroom devoted to prayer. We encourage the children to take ownership of these by adding their own prayers to the table, offering them to the Lord. The prayers tables reflect the liturgical season and monthly devotion they are in. During ordinary time in the church, our prayer tables are green. During Advent and Lent, our prayer tables are purple and during Christmas and Easter our prayer tables are white. During special months such as; October and May (Month of Mary), June (The sacred heart of Jesus) the prayer tables will reflect this time as well as the liturgical season.
Prayer Bags
Each class has a prayer bag which will be given out throughout the year to each child in the class. This is a lovely opportunity for you to spend time in prayer with your children. Each class has a different theme for their prayer bag. Year 3 and 6 focus particularly on reflecting on the Sacraments they will receive.
Traditional Prayers
Each class has a set of traditional prayers they will be learning throughout the year. We will be saying them in class and ask the children to practice these prayers at home. Each child has a prayer book with these prayers in.
Foundation Stage Prayers
Morning Offering
Father in heaven, you love me, you are with me night and day. I want to love you always in all I do and say. I'll try to please you, Father, bless me through the day. Amen.
Evening Prayer
God our Father, I come to say thank you for your love today. Thank you for my family and all the friends you give to me. Guard me in the dark of night and in the morning send your light. Amen
Key Stage 1 Prayers
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Lower Key Stage 2 Prayers.
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary... Holy Mary...
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word.
Hail Mary... Holy Mary...
And the Word was made flesh: and dwelt among us
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may be brought by his passion and cross to the glory of his resurrection, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Upper Key Stage 2 Prayers
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of that same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Amen
Benedictus
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty saviour, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, as we pray together. Bless the food we eat today. Bless the hands that made the food. Bless us, O Lord. Amen
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Angel sent by God to guide me, be my light and walk beside me; be my guardian and protect me; on the paths of life direct me. Amen.
Act of Contrition
Oh my God,Because you are so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and, with the help of your grace I will not sin again. Amen.
The Rosary
- The Joyful Mysteries
- The Glorious Mysteries
- The Mysteries of Light
- The Sorrowful Mysteries
Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen
Nunc Dimittis
Now, Lord, you have kept your word:
let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Grace After Meals
Thank you, God, for the food we have eaten. Thank you, God, for all our friends. Thank you, God, for everything, Thank you God. Amen
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Eternal Rest
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen
Memorare
Hail, Queen of Heaven, beyond compare, To whom the angels homage pay; Hail, Root of Jesse, Gate of Light
That opened for the world's new Day Rejoice, O Virgin unsurpassed,
In whom our ransom was begun,
Fo all your loving children pray
To Christ, our Saviour, and your Son. Amen
Stations of the Cross
- Pilate condemns Jesus to die
- Jesus accepts his cross
- Jesus falls for the first time
- Jesus meets his mother, Mary
- Simon helps carry the cross
- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- Jesus falls for the second time
- Jesus meets the three women of Jerusalem
- Jesus falls for the third time
- Jesus is stripped of his clothes
- Jesus is nailed to the cross
- Jesus dies on the cross
- Jesus is taken down from the cross
- Jesus is placed in the tomb
The Magnificat
My soul glorifies the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her loneliness; henceforth all ages will call me blessed. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy his name! His mercy is from age to age, on those who fear him. He puts forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted. He casts the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty. He protects Israel, his servant, remembering his mercy, the mercy promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his sons for ever. Amen
