When deciding how to go about introducing Latin Prayers for Children, it may help to think about what English prayers your children are learning and then studying both versions simultaneously.

The recommendations in this article come from book called, A Curriculum in Religion, which is the core book of the Highway to Heaven catechesis series. (To purchase in Australia, click here, and for the US click here.)

This set of traditional catechism books is aimed at children from Grade 1 to Grade 8; the core book is also very helpful in its own right, as it provides the essential components for religion instruction for each grade level.

Written in the 1930’s, this new reprint is good quality and the standard of catechesis is very high. As well as topics for study related to Scripture and the Mass, prayers and poetry, A Curriculum in Religion includes activities like craft and map-work appropriate to each age group.

Latin Prayers for Children by Grade

A Curriculum in Religion recommends that children are taught simple morning and evening prayers from Grade 1, with more sophisticated versions later on. Apart from the Guardian Angel prayer, I haven’t suggested those as candidates for Latin as they are commonly prayed in the vernacular.

Footnotes link to various websites, providing pronunciation videos, more information, activities and beautifully sung examples of the chants and hymns.

Grade 1

• Ave Maria ^{1 2}
• Pater Noster ^{3 4}
• Guardian Angel prayer ⁵

Grade 2

• Grace before Meals ⁶
• Grace after Meals ⁷
• Gloria ⁸

Grade 3

• Act of Faith ⁹
• Act of Hope ¹⁰
• Act of Charity ¹¹

Grade 4

• Act of Contrition ¹²
• Stations of the Cross ¹³
• Psalms of praise and thanksgiving ¹⁴
• HYMN: Veni Emmanuel ¹⁵

Grade 5

• Confiteor
• Litany of the Saints ¹⁶
• Psalms of praise and thanksgiving ¹⁷
• HYMN: O Sanctissima ¹⁸

Grade 6

• Prayers of the Mass
• HYMNS:
  • Tantum Ergo ¹⁹
  • O Salutaris Hostia ²⁰
  • Adoro Te ²¹
  • Veni Sancte Spiritus ²²

Grade 7

• Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary ²³
• HYMNS:
  • Adeste Fidelis ²⁴

Grade 8

• Credo ²⁵
• HYMNS:
  • Ave Maris Stella ²⁶
  • Stabat Mater ²⁷