St. Finian's Catholic Primary School

Throughout the school day, we recite prayers of the traditional catholic church- Morning, Lunch and End of Day Prayer, The Angelus, The Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, The Glory Be, Act of Contrition

At St Finian’s we want our children to experience different ways of praying and spending time with God.  In addition to the formal prayers of the church, we involve children in spontaneous prayer. 

We also teach children to pray using Lectio Divina, Visio Divina, the Examen, Breath prayers and guided meditation. 

Lectio Divina 

Lectio Divina is a form of prayer that involves meditating on scripture. The name is Latin for ‘sacred reading’ and it dates back to the early Christian Church, around the time of St Benedict.   

There are 4 steps to Lectio Divina. 

• Reading (lectio) In the first step, a passage from the Scripture is read several times.  As you read/have it read to you, you  leav room for the Holy Spirit to call your attention to a word, phrase, or line that God wants you to hear. 

• Meditation (meditatio) In the meditation step, you think about the word or words that the Holy Spirit has called to your attention, holding them in your mind and considering them from different angles. 

• Prayer (oratio) In the prayer step, you respond to the sacred words in prayer, either silently or out loud, or in writing. 

• Contemplation (contemplatio) In the contemplation step, you rest in God’s presence, quieting yourself and listening for God’s response to your prayer. 

Visio Divina 

Visio Divina, which means "divine seeing," is a form of prayer that invites us to reflect on and pray through visual art or images. Just like Lectio Divina Visio Divina encourages a slow, meditative approach to encountering God through imagery. 

Visio Divina uses religious images, such as murals, icons, or other sacred artwork, as a focal point for prayer and contemplation. Students and staff are invited to observe the image, reflect on what it communicates spiritually, and listen for God’s message through the visual. This process helps deepen understanding, fosters spiritual growth, and encourages personal reflection on faith. 

Steps for Visio Divina: 

1. Prepare – Begin in silence, asking God to guide your thoughts and reflections. 

2. Look at the Image – Observe the art carefully. Pay attention to the details, colours, and emotions it stirs. 

3. Meditate – Reflect on how the image speaks to you. What does it reveal about God or your own faith journey? 

4. Pray – Offer a personal prayer based on your reflections, asking for guidance or expressing gratitude. 

5. Contemplate – Sit in silence, allowing God’s presence to fill you through the experience. 

Visio Divina is a meaningful way for our school family to engage visually and spiritually, using art to deepen their connection with God. 

Breath Prayer 

Author Kayla Craig  in her book To Light Their Way explain Breath prayer in this way: “Breath prayers are short meditations to help you focus your body and mind on the One who gives each breath. Breath prayer is simply an invitation to take a moment to breath and center your thoughts on the reality of the Creator, who dwells in you and among you always.” 

Breath prayers for children are a simple form of prayer that combines deep breathing with short, repetitive phrases, often from Scripture or a personal request. They are easy to do and can be done anywhere.  They can be very helpful when children are feeling anxious or just need some stime to be mindful. They can help children to help them to connect with their faith in a simple and accessible way.   

The Examen 

This type of prayer is attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola.  It is traditionally prayed at the end of a day. This style of praying is designed to help us look for the presence of God in our day- to thank God, to notice when we felt close to Him and moments when we felt far away from Him or who we are called to be. It looks back over the day we have had and forward to the day we will have tomorrow.