As a Catholic, how do I teach my 4-year old to pray? He goes to Mass and participates, but ...?

Question

wants to know "what to say when I pray."

He knows his prayers quite well. I'm talking about personal prayer. Where he talks directly to God.

Answer 1

The best thing to teach your son at his age is

1. Prayer before meals where we
+ Thank God for all of His gifts including dinner
+ Ask God to bless us and our food.

2. Prayer before bed where we
+ Tell God we are sorry for the bad things we did today
+ Thank God for all of the good things that happened today
+ Ask God to bless those people we love

Some basic Catholic prayers can be found at:
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Just teach him the "Dear Jesus,".

When he has time to himself, and he wants to offer a personal prayer, tell him to start with "Dear Jesus," and then tell him to speak his mind and heart to Jesus.

If he has trouble finding the right words to say, tell him that Jesus knows what he wishes to pray for because your son's desires come from his heart - and God can read our hearts.

Even if your son does not necessarilly have a particular request, he can still pray a Dear Jesus, just by talking to God as if he was having a regular conversation with the Almighty.

That's the beauty of personal prayer. They are limited only by our imagination. They can be as simple or as complex, as long or as short, as we want them to be. God is always listening, and He will always hear every prayer.

Answer 3

You should teach him to talk to God as a friend. And that he can talk to God about anything. God is not moved by rote prayers, but by sincere, heartfelt prayers. Teach him to go to God for his needs, and to thank God for all the good things in his young life. The goal is a genuine relationship with the Lord, and talking to God in a sincere and "real" manner will foster that relationship.

Answer 4

Play church with him. Pray conversational prayer to God in front of him. Play hymns and "holy sing alongs" when he is there at home or in the car.

Answer 5

First of all, thank you for not being rude! You are one of the first to actually want to know the truth, and not just posting ignorant questions. 2. Well, Catholics don't really have the title of "Chief Saint", she is Queen of all Saints and above other saints. She is special to us because she willingly accepted God's plan for her, even though her society would not openly accept her. We also believe that Mary was conceived in her mother (St. Anne's) womb without the stain of Original Sin. 3. I do not pray to any saint. That is idolatry and against Church law and God's law. My favorite saints are; St. Anne -my patron saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Agnes, and St. Maximillian Kolbe. 4. No, because we ask the saints to intercede our prayers for us - it's just like asking a friend to pray for you because someone died, or you're just going through tough times. 5. Well, asking them to pray for me has made all the difference. God ultimately answers my prayers, and the saints just intercede my pray to Him. I think any Christian would say that God gives us strength in our times of need.

Answer 6

Tell Him to speak to God as he would his father. There is a wonderful book my sons loved at that age called, "Litttle Acts of Grace." as well as "My First Mass Book"

Answer 7

Here are the12 keys to answered prayer.....http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/booklets/print-bk.cgi?action=print_item&category=Booklets1&item=1104095186&print=yes

Answer 8

OUR FATHER which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. AMEN

Answer 9

Tell him to talk to Jesus as if He is his best friend.

Answer 10

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.