5/5/21 We all began by holding onto a very large, long, single wild grape vine with lots of branches as Father George read a gospel reading from John 15:1-8, commonly known as Vine and Branches. “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” We talked about all being connected to God and to each other through the vine. Look for the vine in the altar decorations next week, with paper grape leaves attached with our youth names and prayer intentions. This weekend, the very next verses are read in John 15:9-17 in which Jesus proclaims the Great Commandment, “Love one another as I love you.”
Our main topic was on learning about different types of prayer. We sang Vine and Branches#351 by Trevor Thomson from the missalettes, as our songs come from scripture. The youngest group also talked about and heard another song about vine and branches, reviewed Our Father and Hail Mary, read stories and made Mother’s Day cards. Middle and High school students learned about, evaluated and practiced blessing, adoration, praise, thanksgiving, contrition, intercession, petition and meditative prayer. Our youth created the prayers of the faithful to be read at our May 16 youth mass at 11am.
Here are some online Prayer resources to explore with your family:
Chaplet of Divine Mercy linked to this beautiful you tube song version. Let this sink in and you’ll be humming it all the time. “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
This Sacred Space link has several short daily prayers and is found in the high school diocesan curriculum. It and is also appropriate for confirmed youth and adults. It gives direction and advice on physical posture, breathing, and listening suggestions for being present for prayer and reflection. After clicking the web link, click on Begin the Prayer, then click the words of the day of the week. Clicking the speaker button gives an instrumental reflective music. There are several prayers for each day, including the gospel reading as well as presence, freedom, consciousness, conversation and conclusion, Click Guide to read a listening, breathing, and body exercise as well as guidance for each of the different types of prayers.
Lectio Divinais a scripture prayer practice also part of the curriculum to be introduced to youth 7th grade and up. This video is a great introduction.
The Prayer Process –
This was included in the take-home packet. Last year we handed out cards with a similar prayer process.
Gratitude: Begin by thanking God in a personal dialogue for whatever you are most grateful for today.
Awareness: Revisit the times in the past twenty-four hours when you were and were not the-best-version-of-your-self. Talk to God about these situations and what you learned from them.
Significant Moments: Identify something you experienced in the last twenty-four hours and explore what God might be trying to say to you through that event (or person).
Peace: Ask God to forgive you for any wrong you have committed (against yourself, another person, or Him) and to fill you with a deep and abiding peace.
Freedom: Speak with God about how He is inviting you to change your life, so that you can experience the freedom to be the-best-version-of-yourself.
Others: Lift up to God anyone you feel called to pray for today, asking God to bless and guide them.
Pray the Our Father.
Family Prayer – this one would be better for younger kids because it is shorter:
ACTS Prayer
This prayer will help you to stay close to Jesus. It has a simple formula using the acronym, ACTS. Spend time reflecting and sharing on the following prayer prompts.
