The Rosary with Children

In the last month, I have been experimenting with praying the rosary in the children's darkened bedroom to help them fall asleep. I got this idea from a friend of mine who explained that she often puts her 19-month-old to sleep by rocking him in a chair and praying one decade of the rosary, by the end of which he is asleep. Dreamy, huh?

I find it often takes three decades before the children even begin to quiet into stillness (and this is on the nights this technique even works at all).

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Children, hush.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. Mama, I want to hold my own rosary! Me too! I want my own! He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; No, you're always distracted when you hold a rosary. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. Please, please, please! Okay, fine, here are rosaries. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Mary, stop wrapping the rosary around your feet. It's disrespectful. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. John, now get the rosary off your feet. You're four, you know better. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. Amen.

For the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, we pray:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen. Mary! Lay down!

Hail Mary . . . Mary, lay down or I'm taking away your rosary.

Hail Mary . . . Children, shhhhh!

GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Mary had a little lamb . . . As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Mary, don't sing over someone who is praying, that's rude.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy. Stop singing over me, right now!



The second decade is interrupted by three more warnings to be quiet and stop singing over me, five warnings to stop wrapping the rosary around feet because it's disrespectful, and my taking away the rosaries, followed by tears.

The third decade is interrupted by requests for water, Mary throwing her pillows off the bed, meowing like a cat, and sitting up in bed repeatedly.

Finally the children fall quiet during the fourth decade, and the fifth decade is interrupted by their sweet snoring sounds.

Thank you God, and good night!