On the Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, we are reminded of the gift Jesus gave us of himself in the Eucharist.
With these family prayer ideas for children of all ages, we reflect on how the Eucharist challenges us to reach out to our sisters and brothers, as well as what it means for us to be part of the body of Christ.
Bread from around the world
Bread is a simple food that is eaten in many countries. Gather some different types of bread from around the world for this prayer activity, depending on what is available in your local shops. Some examples might include: naan, roti or paratha from India, tortillas from El Salvador, baguette from France, focaccia or ciabatta from Italy, injera from Ethiopia etc.
You could simply pray for the people of the country that each type of bread you have found is from. Or you could have the bread as a focal point as you share a prayer for all our brothers and sisters:
Jesus, Bread of Life,
feed our faith,
help us to share fairly,
to find joy in our differences,
and to love one another
as you have loved us.
Amen.
Don't forget to enjoy sharing and eating the different types of bread afterwards.
Bread of life
Find a bread recipe to make as a family. You could use our Ethiopian honey yeast bread recipe.
As you knead the bread, think about all the things that make you sad or angry in our world. This could be big global problems like hunger, poverty and war. Or more personal problems facing you and your family. Give these cares over to Jesus, who gave his life for us on the Cross, so that everything could be made new.
As the bread proves and rises, think about how you could grow as a family in the way that God wants you to. Will you pray more together, be kinder to one another and to other people, try to share more, or something else?
As the bread bakes, imagine a world where all people can eat their fill. Take some time to watch our Fix the Food System animation and find out more about how we can make this a reality together.
When the bread is ready and has cooled, eat some together, share it with your friends, neighbours or wider family where possible. Before you eat you may wish to give thanks in prayer to God:
First the seed, then the grain.
Thank you, God, for sun and rain.
First the flour, then the bread.
Thank you, God, that we are fed.
Thank you God, for all your care.
Help us all to share and share.
Amen.
