On February 20, the Church remembers Jacinta and Francisco Marto, the shepherd children of Fatima; what does their experience teach us today? A great truth, often emphasized by Pope Francis: children’s prayers, «born from trusting hearts, draw the Spirit of God into the world».
The Children’s Rosary: the prayer that touches heaven
And so we begin to understand why children’s prayer is so special. It is a prayer that springs from pure hearts capable of entrusting themselves without reservation: this makes children’s prayer powerful and pleasing to God.
Fatima and the Rosary: Our Lady’s invitation to the little ones
Christian tradition and the Marian apparitions remind us that Mary has a special love for children’s prayers. The Rosary is in fact closely linked to the apparitions at Fatima: the three shepherd children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia, received a specific task from the Virgin Mary: to pray the Rosary every day for peace in the world and the conversion of sinners. On May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary concluded her message with these words: «Pray the Rosary every day, to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war».
Despite their young age, the shepherd children took this commitment seriously, showing that children too can be powerful intercessors. So, following their example, it can be beautiful to rediscover the Rosary in our homes, with our children or grandchildren, or in the parish.
Praying the Rosary with children today: an experience of living faith
It is very common to feel discouraged when faced with the Rosary, especially when thinking of proposing it to children, because it may seem like a long and repetitive prayer, but there are many ways to turn prayer time with them into a space of peace, reflection, and also joy and fun.
We offer just a few practical tips for praying the Rosary with children; your imagination will add many more:
Create a welcoming atmosphere with a lit candle or a small prayer corner;
do not force children to pray the entire Rosary, but “negotiate” with them: even just one decade prayed well may be enough;
listen to their needs so they immediately feel involved;
create a happy memory associated with praying the Rosary, such as a walk, flowers to bring to the Madonna, an ice cream…
listen to their needs so they immediately feel involved;
involve children in prayer, for example, by letting each of them say a Hail Mary or lead the decades;
use images, booklets, or videos to explain the mysteries in a way suitable for children.
Discover the section dedicated to children on our website
We would particularly like to recommend.
The Children's Rosary
A book to explain the Rosary to children and teach them how to pray it. The 20 mysteries are written in rhyme, simple and enjoyable to read, and each one is accompanied by a beautiful image.
My prayers
A little book for children to help them learn their first prayers to Jesus, Mary, the saints, and their guardian angel.
Children's prayer is powerful; it can truly change the world! So let's not tire of offering children the “adventure” of prayer, the beauty of the Rosary; we will witness wonders!
