My mom always thought she would become a nun. She spent her youth and young adult life in a convent preparing to do just that. Although my brothers and I owe our lives to the fact that didn’t work out (thanks to my handsome and charming Dad), the piety she possessed then, has never waned. When I was a little girl, she taught me songs she learned as a young postulant.
Softly and still as night comes stealing.
It is the end of day.
O Holy Queen of Heaven
O Star of Hope so Fair,
All grace to thee is given,
Hear thou our evening prayer…
All of my childhood through my teenage years (and all the drama that went with it) up until I left home to get married, she never failed to tuck me in with songs and prayer. So, I can’t begin this post without giving a misty-eyed nod to mom. She gave me such a beautiful example of how to make life a seamless song of praise. Not that I can compare, and I fall short daily. But I’m grateful for her illuminating the corners of my heart with the first light of faith. So, as I begin a new chapter of life as a stay-home mom, I’ve been joyfully anticipating being able to integrate faith like my mom did. Although I only have one full week under my belt of being home in the morning, many of these things I’ve done for years either on weekends or on my own. Here are a few of the ways we’ve been trying to sneak in a few sacred seconds with the Savior.
Prayer Upon Rising
My son Gabriel shared with me once, that every morning when he wakes he makes the sign of the cross. He marks himself with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. A physical way to brand his soul and mind with the reminder that he is a Christian. Also a gesture of thanksgiving in waking up to greet another day.
I have a copy of this prayer from St. Teresa (The Little Flower) that she reportedly said each morning:
O my God ! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the
intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to
sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by
uniting them to Its infinite merits ; and I wish to make reparation for
my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.
This is another, shorter prayer:
O my God! I ask thee for myself and for those whom I hold
dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love
of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one
day be united together in Heaven for all Eternity. Amen.
The moment I am consciously awake, I try to whisper a quick “Good Morning Jesus, thank you for this day. Help me spend my time, serving you today.” So often, I go to bed frustrated with myself that I wasted time, lost my patience or somehow “blew it” in various ways. So, I added the last part of the prayer to remind myself that I need God’s help every day and in all things, like time management and self-discipline.
Sweet Kisses
The older kids no longer do this but it’s something I still cherish with Karolina and Gus. As I carry them downstairs in their cozy pj’s and bed-head hair, we go over to the crucifix and statue of Mary for morning kisses.
Morning Music
We love “Good Morning Jesus” by Dana.
I would definitely recommend this one for the little ones! The entire album is good, and also a great way to learn prayers like the Angelus. Even on a busy morning, we always listen to a bit of Good Morning Jesus during breakfast.
Another recommendation is “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” by Christ Music Kids. The prayer of St. Patrick himself is a powerful way to start the day. Set to music, it’s a catchy reminder that God is with us, always.
(all of these mentioned are available on iTunes).
Morning Readings
Before the big kids head off to school, we always listen to the Gospel reading that day. Thanks to great apps like Laudate
and Evangelizo, we always have the liturgical readings handy. Magnificat is also a wonderful resource (great reflections that go with Sacred Scripture, as well as daily mass, etc).
This is such a vital component to begin the day. Even on rushed days where other things may be omitted, the gospel reading is a must.
Family Prayer
A morning rotation of prayers is a tradition that was started a few years ago by my husband. It used to be in the minivan on the way to school. Now. it’s a quick football huddle before breaking into bus stop formation. It’s often brief, but just a quick moment to gather and one person leads the prayer and offers their intentions for that day.
Holy Water Blessing
Finally, when it’s time for the bus rush and the kids are headed out
the door, I mark the sign of the cross on their forehead with holy
water. It’s not a superstitious thing, it really is a powerful sacramental tool.
For historical context, consider this:
“According to the Apostolic Constitutions, a document dating back well
over 15 centuries, the use of Holy Water is attributed to a
recommendation issued by St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. The lives of the saints are packed with instances of heavenly
protection and blessing secured through the reverent use of Holy Water. “
{Source}
After that, it’s pretty much on to our day of getting dressed, eating, diaper changes, cleaning up and repeat!
If it seems like I’ve listed a lot in our routine, remember most of these are literally under 2 minutes. Just little bits to help capture the holy miracle of another new day.
There are dozens more, from the Divine Office (Lauds) to praying a morning rosary and/or attending morning mass. But this is working for us. For now. I thank God for the gift to “catch up” in this way with my kiddos. I pray for more moments like these, and to somehow follow in the footsteps of that almost-amazing-nun. My mom.:)
I would love to hear your tips too! Please feel free to leave a comment to share your “Sunrise Songs to the Savior.”
Have a wonderful morning, friends!
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