Lent (Part 1): Prayer

Solomon joins in on family prayers
Note: By this point, his meal is pretty much gone. That boy can eat!

Lent (Part 1): Prayer

Most of us probably think of the 40-day period of Lent as a time to give something up. The classics are coffee, chocolate, alcohol, social media, tv, etc. But giving something up--fasting--is actually just one part of Lent. The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. And let's be clear: these are not intended as empty religious obligations that we do because we're supposed to! Each of these is designed for our benefit: to quiet our hearts from the incessant demands of daily life so that we can draw near to Christ (prayer), to become more aware of our need for him (fasting), and to practice the same generosity which he himself showed to us (almsgiving). The goal of these practices is to prepare our hearts to experience the joy of the resurrection anew on Easter.  So this year, Dominic, Josephine, and I set (sometimes very small) goals in each of these areas. This post deals with the first pillar of Lent: prayer. 

There are lots of ways to focus on prayer during Lent. Here are some practices I've come across that may be useful for you:

Psalms

Choose one psalm (for all of Lent, or one per week) and pray that psalm everyday. Some people choose to memorize their psalm(s) as well. Children can memorize just a few verses, as they are able. Sometimes we like to read the full version of a psalm, along with the children's illustrated version of that psalm in Psalms for Young Children by Marie-Helene Delval. 

Lord's Prayer

The same could be done with the Lord's Prayer. In fact, Josephine has had the Lord's Prayer memorized for as long as I can remember, because we say it daily at dinner. Even Solomon folds his hands and babbles along when we say this prayer. And for two well-illustrated children's books that focus on each element of the Lord's Prayer, check out Our Father by Sabrina Bus and Our Father by Rainer Oberthür (this one also gives an introduction to prayer responding to the questions Where Is God, Why Can't I See God, How Can I Talk to God, and What Can I Say to God?).

Other Prayers

There are lots of prayers that you could pray daily during Lent (the prayer books for children listed below work just as well for adults!) This year, Dominic is memorizing and praying the Prayer of St. Francis. 

Morning and Night Prayer

Set aside 5-10 minutes at a certain time or times of the day to pray. This could be informal prayer, or you can follow prayers set by the church. 

As for me, our life is very busy, and I often spring out of bed already in a hurry, and flop into bed at the end of the day already half-asleep. So this Lent I am trying to spend a few minutes in prayer when I first wake up and right before I go to bed. Specifically, I am praying the Morning and Night Prayers that the church assigns, which also incorporate assigned Scripture readings. This takes some getting used to, but I find that there are some great apps that make this process a lot easier. I have included my two favorite apps below .

And Josephine is going to memorize a few children's nighttime prayers . I typically say the prayers at bedtime, but Josephine and I decided that she's ready to help lead our nighttime prayers!

What about you and your family?

Even though we are already a few days into Lent, it is not too late to make your own Lenten prayer goals!  Please leave a comment with what you and your family are doing.


RESOURCES

Morning and Night Prayer
Anglican Daily Prayer (iOS, Android)
This app has a traditional setting that gives the prayers from the The Book of Common Prayer (1662), as well as a contemporary setting that gives these same prayers, but in the updated version found in Common Worship: Daily Prayer (2005). I find the contemporary setting is more accessible. Note that the app also includes Evening Prayer. Evening Prayer is read around dinnertime and includes a longer list of Scripture readings. Night Prayer is read before bed and is more focused on prayer than Scripture reading. Because Night Prayer is shorter, that's the one I typically use!

Daily Prayer App, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. (iPhone/iPad, Android)
This app really focuses on the Scripture readings and includes fewer and shorter prayers. In addition to Morning Prayer and Close of the Day Prayer (=Night Prayer), it includes Midday Prayer and Evening Prayer.

Josephine prays the Lord's Prayer.
There is some mumbling around "forgive us our debts"
and "lead us not into temptation."
But she finishes with a flourish!

Josephine's Nighttime Prayers

Here are the prayers that we are going to begin with for Josephine: 

Psalm 4:8 (adapted)
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, keep me safe.

From the Night Prayer
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;
Watch over us as we sleep,
That awake we may keep watch with Christ,
And asleep, rest in his peace.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray you, Lord, your child to keep; 
Your love be with me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.

See also Pss. 4:7-8; 16:7-8; 42:8; 51; 63:5-8; 74:16-17; 104:19-23; 121 (especially vv. 5-8); 139:7-12; 141:1-2; Amos 5:8; John 8:12.

Prayer Books for Children

Both of these are excellent resources that I highly recommend! The Loyola one is Catholic, so you may choose to omit the Rosary and prayers to Mary and the saints; but I do love that this includes prayers for people who are hard to love! 😂

The Anglican Family Prayer Book, by Anne E. Kitch

Loyola Kids Book of Everyday Prayers, by Catherine Odell and Margaret Savitskas