Prepare your hearts as well as your home for the celebration of your child's First Eucharist with a special family prayer. This prayer is designed to heighten your family's awareness of Eucharist in daily life. It should help you focus on:
- your needs and your reliance on God;
- your gratitude toward God, who gives you all that you need; and
- your offering of your life and will to God with Jesus.
Make a number of "loaves of bread" cut from white or brown construction paper, or a brown grocery bag. Place a small bread basket or bread plate on your dining table. Keep it there from now until the time of your child's First Eucharist. Place the bread shapes and pencils beside the basket or plate.
Every evening before dinner-or once a week if that works better for your family-invite family members to write on the paper bread loaves three types of things to be included in your prayer:
- things you need and wish to ask God for;
- things you have received and wish to thank God for; and
- things you offer up in your lives and accept out of love for Jesus.
Help younger ones write or draw their prayers. Then take turns reading or showing your items for prayer. After each petition, have all respond, "Give us this day our daily bread." Place each paper loaf in the bread basket or on the bread plate. |
