Devotional Habits of the Catholic Family
The family is the lifeblood and central unit of any Catholic parish. Indeed, the metaphor of family informs the entire structure of the Catholic Church. The family is an inviolable unit, one that — lived well — gives great strength, comfort, and support in faith and that leads to a happy, healthy life. It is no coincidence that the beginning of a family, matrimony, is one of the seven sacraments of Catholicism.
The Bonds of PrayerTying a Catholic family together are the bonds of prayer. Prayer brings holiness into the family and creates a ritualistic setting where the family can unite in their common wishes and their faith. Parents introduce their children to prayers at a young age, and children grow up with a deep connection to prayer as a form of communication with their family and with God.
A simple grace before every meal is one fine way to gently bring the Lord into daily life. Food means comfort and sustenance. It is important to remember that it doesn't get on the table by itself. The parents provided and cooked it. And God made the world from which the food springs. Thanking God is a good way to remind children not to take life for granted.
Also, many children are taught to say a simple prayer before going to bed. This simple ritual of saying a bedtime prayer helps them calm down, forms a lovely bond with their parents, and becomes a long-lasting tradition. Most important, it sets the stage for the development of faith as children grow older. Here is a sample bedtime prayer that many Catholic parents teach their young ones:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless the bed that I lie on.
Four angels round my bed,
Two at the foot, and two at the head.
A family is also strengthened by its weekly adherence to Sunday worship. Attending Mass as a family unit is enriching. Praying and worshiping together during the liturgy spreads warmth that can't be denied. It raises everyone up and helps them feel a little better about themselves. When children are older, partaking in the Eucharistic celebration is ennobling. The children are now soldiers of Christ and well on their way to becoming full-fledged members of the congregation.
Catholic children usually attend Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes, where they receive an age-appropriate introduction to Bible stories. This gives them a taste of the great mysteries at the heart of Catholicism as well as instruction in catechism to help them begin their journey to becoming Catholic adults with a firm grasp on Catholic beliefs.
Once introduced to simple devotional habits, a Catholic child will probably go to a Catholic school to learn their catechism properly and receive more disciplined Catholic teachings. But it is the parents who set the educational stage. By teaching children about prayer and making it part of daily life, parents give their children an exemplary model for personal help and meditation for their whole lives.
