From IHM School

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love – A Manual for Christian Mothers – by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

Chapter IX. – Prayers a Christian Mother May Teach Her Child.

[As I explained to the mothers at our last Mothers' Tea, the important thing to be drawn from this chapter are the sentiments that they should be instilling in their children, whether or not they have them memorize these verses. As a child, my mother read to us regularly from Monsignor Hugh Benson's A Child's Rule of Life (which is in rhyme). To this day, some of my prayers are more easily expressed by those simple phrases. Sr. M. Ph.]

Dear God, make me good, that I may get to heaven!

Dearest Jesus, Thou art mine;
Let me be forever Thine.
I am young, and pure my heart,
O dwell therein, and ne’er depart!
Heavenly Mother, stand by me,
That I thy little child may be!
Guardian angel watch o’er me,
That my heart from sin e’er free,
May to God most pleasing be!

A present for thee! What shall it be?
Thou best and dearest Child!
The earthly treasures are naught to Thee;
Thou lovest more the pure and mild.
So, take our hearts, we give them Thee,
We give them cheerfully,
O hide them in Thy own dear Heart,
And to them love and grace impart.

O my God, I believe in Thee, for Thou art the Eternal Truth!
O my God, I hope in Thee, for Thou art goodness and mercy!
O my God, I love Thee, for Thou art the best, the most beautiful, the Supreme Good!
O my God, I grieve that I have offended Thee!

I believe, O God, I hope in Thee,
And with all my heart I love!
O who shall dare to wrest from me
Those gifts from heaven above?
I’ll guard them with my blood and life,
And dying I’ll exclaim:
“I believe, I hope, I love my God,
Forever more the same!”

All that I have, I have from Thee!
All that I need, Thou giv’st me!
Thou art so good, Thou lov’st me so
That other love I will not know.
I love Thee, Lord, I love Thee, God
O teach me to love Thee evermore!
Thy child, Thy own child let me be,
Grant that all sin I ever flee!

Lord Jesus Christ, I thank Thee
For having died for me!
Let not Thy Blood and Passion
Be shed in vain for me.

O Mary, dearest Mother,
O help me every day,
That through God’s loving mercy
Thy child may never stray.

My parents I commend to Thee,
Preserve them, dearest Lord to me!
The good they do me, reward,
And many gracious gifts accord.

MORNING PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

With God another day begins:
Direct it in Thy way,
And, Jesus, keep me from all sins
At home, at work, at play.

While Dressing.

As now I clothe myself, O Lord,
To Thee I humbly pray:
O let me ever heed Thy word,
And always with Thee stay.

While Washing.

The water flowing from Thy side
Is, dearest Lord, a saving Tide;
O let it cleanse me my salvation win.

Now kneel, fold the hands, and say:

O God, my Father, Thy sweet care
Has o’er me watched the livelong night!
For all the blessings that I share,
I praise Thee in the morning light.
Protect me also through the day
From sin, from evil, from distress;
Whate’er I do, or think, or say,
O best of Fathers, do Thou bless!
My Guardian Angel, thee I pray,
Stand at my side by night and say.
O Mary, pray before God’s throne
For me to Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Whom we all love, whom we adore,
Whom we praise forevermore.     Amen.

To purify the intention for the day, say:

All praise and honor be to Thee,
Thrice Blessed, Holy Trinity;
Whatever I may do or say,
For Thee it be, my God, today.
Forsake me not when dangers loom,
And save me from eternal doom.

When the child cannot be present at Holy Mass, let it say:

Hark! I hear the little bell
Calling to Holy Mass.
Dearest Lord, Thou knowest full well
It calls in vain for me.
Dear angel, do thou take my place
And when ‘tis over bring to me
Rich blessings full of grace.

NIGHT PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Before I lay me down to rest,
I raise my heart, O God, to Thee.
For gifts with which I have been blest,
I give Thee thanks repeatedly.
If Thee I have displeased to-day,
Forgive me, Father, ere I sleep!

Let the children make a short examination of conscience, and the say:

I love The, my Lord, I love Thee, my God,
O would that I loved Thee more!
I am so sorry now for all my sins,
O grant me Thy pardon and grace!

Whilst Undressing.

Lord, take from me whatever might
Thy gracious eyes displease!

One Our Father and Hail Mary for the poor souls in Purgatory. Then say:

Lord, grant the departed eternal rest
In light perpetual ever blest.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

BEFORE MEALS.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Come Jesus, Lord, and be our guest,
And let these gifts for us be blest.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

AFTER MEALS.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

For all these favors now, O Lord,
Our thanks we gladly give;
O grant when this our life is spent,
We may with Thee then live.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

Prayers for Parents.

Infinitely good God, Thou who hast imparted to me through my father and mother, my maintenance, a Christian education, and so many other benefits, I thank thee for Thy bounty. Grant me the grace ever to show them the obedience that I owe them, sincere love, and great reverence. Never permit that they should suffer chagrin and trouble through my fault; but keep and guide me in the way of Thy fear and Commandments, as I have been taught. Reward them richly for all the good they have done me. Be their protector in danger, their consoler in every care and anxiety. Grant them long life, good health, and a blessed eternity. Amen.