Prayer 101
Written by Denise Montpetit © Cat.Chat Productions Inc.
Characters:
- Teacher
- 5 students (Billy, Jesse, Matthew, Julie, Katie)
Props:
- Teacher’s chair and desk
- 5 Chairs (one for each student)
- 2 paper airplanes and 1 banana (or other snack)
- Notebooks and pencils for the teacher and students (The characters can keep a copy of the script in their notebooks to glance at their lines every once in a while.)
Intro: 2 girls standing around talking and having fun, 1 student sitting down and eating a snack, 2 guys playing with paper airplanes.
Mrs. O: Walks in to class with notebook and pencil.
Mrs. O: Okay class. Have a seat. Open up your notebooks. Today’s class we’re going to learn about prayer. Now, prayer doesn’t have to be “Rocket Science.” Prayer can be very simple.
Billy: Puts his hand up. Mrs. O: I don’t think prayer is simple. When I try to pray. I don’t know what to do or what to say?
Jesse: Yeah, me too. Sometimes, I just sit there and wonder if God is really listening.
Mrs. O: Jesse, God is definitely listening. He is with you when you pray, even if you don’t see Him. We need to have trust and believe. In the Bible, God says, “Know that I am with you ALWAYS.” (pause) Let me ask you a question: Do you see the air we breathe?
Students: No.
Mrs. O: Well, how do you know that it’s there?
Jesse: Puts hand up.
Mrs. O: Yes, Jesse.
Jesse: Because the air gives us oxygen to breathe and stay alive.
Mrs. O: Yes! We have to trust that God is with us in the same way. Even if we don’t see Him with our 2 eyes, we can see Jesus with the eyes of our heart.
Katie: Mrs. O, I don’t really understand.
Julie: Mrs. O, I think I know what you mean. In my prayer times, I know Jesus is with me because I can feel Him in my heart. I feel really peaceful.
Matthew: Yeah, when I go to Mass, I receive Jesus in the Eucharist and He comes into my heart.
Julie: Puts hand up.
Mrs. O: Yes, Julie?
Julie: Mrs. O. I think praying is actually pretty easy. I usually start by praying the Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. Then, I pray for the people on my heart and then I thank God for all the wonderful things in my life, like my new baby sister.
Mrs. O: That’s great, Julie. And, did you guys know that a simple, little prayer from the heart, repeated throughout our day, can be very powerful?
Julie: Yeah, my mom said it’s a good idea to repeat (with emphasis) “Jesus, I need you” over and over again, even if I’m just riding my bike, playing a game, or reading a book.
Mrs. O: Wonderful. What are some other examples of short, powerful prayers we can pray throughout our day?
Matthew: How about, “Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me”.
Mrs. O: That’s a good one! Katie: Jesus, I trust in you!
Mrs. O: Yes, that’s a beautiful prayer that St. Faustina taught us to pray. (pause) How about you Billy? Can you think of one?
Billy: I don’t know. (pause) How about “Jesus, teach me to pray”.
Mrs. O: That’s a great prayer too! It’s good to be real and honest with Jesus. Tell Jesus everything that’s on your heart. Talk to Him as you would your best friend, and take time to listen too. That’s what good friends do. They simply talk AND listen to each other. Okay, before we take a recess break, I have one more question: How many of you play sports?
Students: All 5 students put up their hands.
Matthew: I love playing soccer. Katie: Baseball.
Mrs. O: Well, then you’d all know how important it is to have teammates...other players to help you play and win the game, right? Students: Yeah?
Mrs. O: We can’t do it on our own. We need each other. That’s why it’s important that we ask our Heavenly teammates to join us in our prayer times. Who can tell me who our Heavenly teammates are?
Julie: The angels and saints.
Mrs. O: Who else? Matthew: Jesus and Mary.
Mrs. O: While making the sign of the Cross: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen! Now, go out and have some fun!
Students: All exit quickly, cheering and having fun!
The End.
