March 5th, 2025
Helping your children grow in faith is one of the greatest gifts you can give them especially in the times we are living in today. If your child is grounded in the faith, they will have a much easier time growing closer to Jesus and Mary during their spiritual journey.
Introducing them to Mary – the gentle mother of Jesus and our heavenly mother will help them see faith not just as a set of rules but as a loving relationship. Teaching Marian devotions to children provides them with a model of purity, trust, and compassion that can shape their spiritual lives for years to come.
Before teaching them devotions you can start with who Mary is. Share stories from scripture using a colorful rosary page of the Joyful Mysteries such as the Annunciation and the Birth of Jesus. See rosary page here.
Talk to them about Mary’s “yes” to God. Use age-appropriate language and simple visual, like the nativity scenes or illustrated Bibles to help them image these moments. Remember children love visuals and colorful pictures.
Teach your child that Mary was not only Jesus’ mother but our mother too who loves and understands us. She understands all of our hurts, joys, sadness, and worries. Explain to them just as they turn to you for help, they can turn to Mary asking her for help in difficult situations.
The Lenten season is the perfect time to introduce the rosary prayer teaching them they can pray to Mary when they feel sad or need help with something.
Pray the Hail Mary together at bedtime or before doing their homework especially if they have a difficult school project. Remind them they can ask Mary to help them.
Introduce the Rosary gradually: one decade at a time with a picture of the mystery.
Create a Marian prayer corner where they can put their prayer intensions next to a stature of the Blessed Mother.
Act out a scene from scripture when Mary was at the foot of the Cross and the angel was there with Jesus. One child is the angel: One child is Mary, explain to them how important it is to stay with Jesus as Mary did even in difficult times.
Decorate Our Lady’s Helping Hand Box and invite their friends to come over and put coins in it and at the end of Lent giving it to a charity.
Making St. Therese sacrifice beads – having them offer up a sacrifice or a good deed every day during Lent for someone – writing it down and then putting it in the Our Lady’s Helping Hand Box.
Making simple rosaries from beads with string – having Marian tea parties and inviting their friends to join.
When praying the Sorrowful Mysteries ask your child what they notice with each mystery and how they think Mary felt when Jesus was suffering. See rosary page here.
As your child matures teach them that Mary helps them follow Jesus like she did. You can emphasize that Mary was Jesus’ first disciple and is always bringing us closer to HIM. Encourage your children to keep a Marian journal for prayer intensions, and possibly their favorite Marian prayer or quotes.
Introducing them to Marian sacramentals such as the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel will help them remember when wearing it that Mary is always protecting them and helping them grown in virtue and holiness.
By planting these practices into their everyday life Mary becomes not a task but a model for them to follow that will give them an ongoing relationship with her learning to love and cherish her as they would their earthly mother.
May this Lenten season be most fruitful for you and your families.
Until next time,
Pray your Rosary daily and always wear your Brown Scapular.
Francine