Prayer

“Prayer is the breath of faith; it is its most proper expression." Pope Francis (2024)

Prayer plays an integral part of the school life of St Monica's, and it is through prayer that we can become closer to God.

Just as Our Lord Jesus Christ is at the heart of all our prayer and liturgy, so too he is at the centre of every Catholic school. His Gospel is the reference point for its ethos and values; he offers the definitive example of the educator. Joining Christ in praise of the Eternal Father and united by the Holy Spirit in making intercession for the world through prayer and liturgy lies at the heart of thedaily life of the school. The quality of the prayer and liturgy in school not only gives honour to Godbut forms the spiritual and ethical life of pupils and staff alike.  'To love You more dearly' - The Prayer and Liturgy Directory for Catholic Schools, Academies and Colleges in England and Wales, 2023, pg3.

Parents are the first teachers of their children in the faith. At the Baptism of their children, parents accept the responsibility of training their sons and daughters in the practice of the faith. Essential to the practice of a child’s faith is their understanding of God’s love and how to turn to him in prayer. The spiritual life of the school complements the role of the parish in supporting the life of the Domestic Church (home). The Prayer and Liturgy Directory, 2023, pg 6.

Prayer has been traditionally described as ‘lifting up of the hearts and minds to God’, which means it involves our whole person – our head as well as our heart.  (The Prayer and Liturgy Directory, 2023, pg7)

‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them’ (Matthew 18:20)

Guide to the years in which formal prayers are introduced to the children at St Monica's

EYFS                                                                 KS1                                                         KS2

Sign of the cross                                            Our Father                                            The Gloria

St Monica's School Prayer                            Hail Mary                                              The Apostles Creed

Lunch prayers                                               Lunch Prayers (further)                        Holy, Holy

Glory Be                                                        The Rosary (basic decade)                  Lamb of God

Basic responses in Mass                               End of the day prayer                          Lord I am not worthy

                                                                                                                                      Eternal Rest

                                                                                                                                      Act of Contrition

                                                                                                                                      The Mysteries of the Rosary                                                                           

The Prayers

St Monica's School Prayer

As we gather here today,

Keep us safe in every way.

Let love of learning fill our mind,

Our hearts and hands be always kind.

Courage, hope, faith and joy we value

Working together to be more like you.

Help and guide us to make good choices,

And may we speak your word with true brave voices.  

Amen

Lunchtime prayers

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts

Which we are about to receive from thy bounty

Through Christ our Lord

Amen

*

Thank you Jesus for happy meal times.

Thank you for the fishermen and farmers,

lorry drivers and shopkeepers who work to bring us our food.

Thank you for all who get our meals ready for us, and help us at dinner time.

Amen

*

For what we are about to receive,

May the Lord make us truly thankful.

Amen

*

Thank you for the food we eat,

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the birds that sing,

Thank you God for everything.

Amen

*

God bless this bunch as we munch our lunch.

Amen

*

Dear Lord, We want to thank you for the meal we've had,

and we want to thank you too, for all the many gifts of love we daily get from you.

Amen

*

Lord, Bless the food on our table,

Keep us healthy, strong and able.

Amen

End of the day prayer

God our Father, I come to say, Thank you for your love today.

Thank you for my family and all the friends you give to me.

Guard me in the dark of night and in the morning send your light.

Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God,

Because you are so good,

I am very sorry that I have sinned against you.

And by the help of your grace,

I will try not to sin again.

Amen

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord ,

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

The Gloria

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory.

Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world
receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation
   Mary learns that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
2. The Visitation
   Mary visits Elizabeth, who tells her that she will always be remembered.
3. The Nativity
   Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.
4. The Presentation
   Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the Temple to present him to God.
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
   Jesus is found in the Temple discussing his faith with the teachers.

The Mysteries of Light

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
   God proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
   At Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first miracle.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
   Jesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom.
4. The Transfiguration of Jesus
   Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
   Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden
   Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he dies.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
   Jesus is lashed with whips.
3. The Crowning With Thorns
   Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns.
4. The Carrying of the Cross
   Jesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify him.
5. The Crucifixion
   Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies.

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection
   God the Father raises Jesus from the dead.
2. The Ascension
   Jesus returns to his Father in heaven.
3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit
   The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples.
4. The Assumption of Mary
   At the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven.
5. The Coronation of Mary
   Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.