Praying the Rosary with children

Last night was our Confirmation I class (9th grade students).

At our class session each class was asked to study the Stations of the Cross and then come up with some way to "present" them to the large group.

Last night we got together and prayed through the stations using the meditations and various ways each group had decided to present it.

It came out very well and I think that (mostly) the students have a deeper appreciation/understanding for the Stations.

Afterwards a group of us stayed back in the Church and prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. I'd say there were about fifteen students and three adults.

It's interesting.....the girls were kneeling, moving their fingers along the beads at the right time, praying along respectfully.

A few of the boys *appeared* to be doing that; I think one or two had their head down on the pew possibly catching a wink or two.

And then I knelt behind a group of four boys. Boys, boys, boys.

I KNOW that they at least know the Haily Mary.....if not the basic idea of how to pray the Rosary. But it seemed to be a time for "tee hees" and saying the wrong prayers at the wrong times, and seeing who can whip the Rosary around fastest etc.

At one point I'm kneeling praying in my head to Jesus in the Tabernacle saying "Can I smack them yet? Can I holler yet? LOOK at how they are disrespecting Your Mothers Prayer!"

You get the idea.

But everytime I started to get a little.....shall we say "miffed"....I kept hearing the gentle voice of Jesus telling me to just keep praying....pray FOR these kids....HIS kids. Don't smack them. Don't holler. Just keep praying.

It helped. The boys (who weren't being totally and completly obnoxious or annoying....they weren't disrupting everyone's prayer mainly just mine since I was placed right behind them) didn't necessarily calm down from the antics but after awhile as I prayed I found myself calming down. I offered up the Rosary for those students. Who are the future of our Church. Who have so much energy that I just know God is going to use it all for the good someday.

But it also impressed upon my heart how very important it is to teach children these prayers from the very beginning. To pray the family Rosary. To pray morning and night time prayers and prayers before each meal.

And then I came across this beautiful article written by Mary Ellen Barrett today about the importance of children praying.

If the opportunity presents itself I'll pray the Rosary with this group of kids again. For by the time we were finished I could feel the graces from our Blessed Mother flowing through the group. And I know that the rest of my night was a relaxed, peaceful one.