Opening Prayer

         First: ask the children to define prayer.

         Second: split the children into small groups and distribute pieces of paper with the goals of the prayer: THANK, PRAISE AND ASK. Each group should receive one of the goals.

         Third: each group should elaborate a prayer, according to the goal received. The prayers should be read subsequently for the rest of the class.

         Fourth: distribute question number 662 from The Spirits' Book and comment on it.

         662. Is there any use in praying for others?

         ""The spirit of him who prays exercises an influence through his desire to do good. By prayer, he attracts to himself good spirits who take part with him in the good he desires to do."

         The thought and will represent in us a power of action that reaches far beyond the limits of our bodily sphere. Prayers we do for others are an act of good will. If feverous and sincere, a prayer can call good spirits in aid of those whom we pray for. They will be able to suggest good thoughts and give strength for their body and soul. It’s important to remember a prayer needs to come from the heart to be meaningful.

         Fifth - activity: feelings at prayer time.

Distribute pictures from magazines with images of people. Ask them to cut out in heart-shaped form. Put the heart over a white sheet of paper afterwards (do not glue it to the paper; leave it without moving).

Distribute small pieces of steel wool and ask that children to rub it in all directions.

A white heart with the colours’ image radiating from the heart will come out as a result.

Each child must then write a little prayer for someone else within the heart (intercession prayer).

         Sixth: the spiritist teacher should reinforce that intercessory prayer is the one we do for another spirit, incarnate or discarnate. This will enable a correlation with the design that emerged from the steel wool technique.

         Remember that for a prayer to be attended, the person receiving prayer needs to deserve it. In addition, the person who prays should do it with her/his heart. This will then call the aid of good spirits to the person for whom he/she prays for.

         Click here to view a sample.

         Closing Prayer

         Suggested Material suitable for: 3rd cycle (11 to 12 years old).

         Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.