Loree and an Ignatian Prayer for Children

When a person does the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, they are done as an adult alone, over 30 intense days, or over 30 weeks, or 4 week-long silent retreats. That doesn't give much room for children, does it? As I was pondering some of Ignatius' teaching on prayer today, I thought of how many people are home, trying to work as best they can, create some routine of learning for their children, and all the other things that happen in family life. Ignatian prayer seems like the last thing a parent would want to do right now.

Last week I introduced you to the prayer of the five senses. What do you see, hear, feel, taste, touch as you put yourself in the scripture reading? This is actually a wonderful prayer to do with children as a guided meditation. Read the story, shortened to perhaps one part that children might relate to. Or have a child or young person read it, or read it more than once. Then guide the children to choose how they fit into the story. Ask, now that you're in the story, what do you see? what do you hear, etc?

Their answers will be different from what you expect. But this is all about using the imagination in prayer, as we try to come closer to God.

Today's reading for daily Morning Prayer is Mark 9:30-41. Its the story of Jesus trying to get his disciples to understand that he was heading to Jerusalem where he would be killed and rise again. Then the disciples start arguing among themselves - not about what Jesus said, but about which one of them was the greatest! In answer to that, Jesus put a little child among them, and said that whoever welcomes this child welcomes him. I would suggest you try the meditation with just that portion of the story. The children will hear how important they are to Jesus.

Here is a copy of that portion of the reading:

He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Have fun!