How to FORCE our children to say rosary daily?

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OP, I have read the whole thread. Here are a few thoughts.
  1. If your teenagers aren’t gung-ho about the faith, they are really not going to be gung-ho once they have to listen to you pray over them or about them…or hear about how much you are praying for them. They will come to believe it is hocus-pocus, a sham, and it could permanently drive them away from all religion. Pray for them on your own, quietly.
  2. Your children have not been taken over by demons. It is a terrible thing to say, either to them or about them, to other people. Don’t do that. What good do you expect will come from that? Do you really believe that is what is happening? Please read up on child development (college text books are a good place to start).
  3. I would suggest some counseling to help you develop non-religious based strategies for dealing with the challenges of raising children. There is a reason many people say it is the hardest job you will ever do.
  4. Finally, I would like to mention that, as parents, our job is to raise our kids so when they are grown they can live independent, happy, and fulfilled lives…surviving the hardships this world has to offer and joyfulling experiencing the good things it has to offer. For religious, this of course means incoroprating your religious life into their upbringing. But remember, more leave the faith than stay (statistically). This means you should be raising them so they can survive even if they leave. And survive happilly, independently, and fulfilled, even if they choose a different religious path than the one you have offered them. This is possible, but it isn’t easy for everyone. Asking for help is a good thing, if you run into difficulty helping your kids down the path to adulthood.
 
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Swiftdove said:
You can start by looking up Father Ripperger he will guide you into the fight.
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Unless Fr Ripperger has been put in authority over you by your Bishop, his opinions are simply that, opinions.

There have been dozens and dozens of discussions about this priest on the forums, I would suggest another thread be more appropriate to discuss his opinions.

If a parent fears their minor child is under Satan’s control, that parent needs to seek their pastor, not some DIY solution.
 
The Rosary is too valuable to leave your children out of it. However you parents are comfortable, there is not a right or wrong way to pray.

It takes some tenderness, they will follow the spirit especially if they are Baptized already.
 
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Does anyone have the Catechesis of the Good Shepard at their Parish? Is a ministry that starts children learning the Faith at age 3. Our Parish supplies it and we were real impressed the progress our 4 year old made after just 3 classes.

The Catechesis of The Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children which came about over 50 years ago through the work of two lay women in Rome: Dr . Sophia Cavelletti , a Catholic Hebrew Scholar, and Gianna Gobbi , a Catholic teacher trained by Maria Montesorri
 
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CGS is for children ages 3 to 6. Our OP is wishing to force teenagers to pray.
 
Swiftdove said:
One thing that will help is having the Mother or Father, Preferably the Father for the first time pray Binding Prayers over the Children frequently.

Ask Our Blessed Mother under the title Virgin Most Powerful, and do so in the name of Jesus, to bind and cast out in the name of Jesus Christ with the Precious Blood of the Lamb all spirits that are unclean. Do if for spirits of rebelliousness , sinful anger, rejection, deformity, oppression , avarice, sexual deviancy, ect, Anything the Spirit reveals to you

Placing a hand on their head or shoulder pray out loud.
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Have you ever met a teenager?

Seriously I’m starting to wonder if this whole thread is for real 😳
 
As a teenager myself, I just want to thank you for truly caring about the faith of your children. Maybe remind your kids of the promises and blessings given to those who pray the rosary. That is one of the things that motivate me to pray the rosary. Also, as we spend more time with God, we start to care less about the worldly things around us. I think truly explaining these things to your kids will bring you closer to your kids and your kids will be closer to God as well.
 
Depends what kind of family the mother and father have. We are more traditional here in works. My 14 year old son looks forward to doing everything he sees me do his Father. He is different from most children and stays away from new age garbage material. He is preparing for Confirmation also.

The Holy Spirit protects them through their parents. Our prayers for one another in our family sustain us. Binding prayers are his chance to carry his cross.

My wife and I have six Children in the house a big blended family, praying over them is loving them. And praying with them is loving them. Our 17 month old twin boys can make the sign of the cross already and fold their hands.

The grace of God leads us as long as you do your small part your children will follow.
 
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Parents demand conformity to your will through Gods will with your children. Start very young. To love is a grueling task.

In a culture that slaughters babies and enforces corrupt laws to outlaw physical discipline in schools, feminism and co dependency dominate most families.

Teach them the Rosary with love. Make time to pray it together, teach them about the prayer battle. They will follow out of free will. Tenderness! Embrace it.

Learn binding prayers, pray over your children. Teach them to combat the unclean spirits tempting them. You will see a difference that sets them apart from the culture and others who dont.
 
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Swiftdove said:
Depends what kind of family the mother and father have.
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Swiftdove, your family sounds beautiful, and I hope with all my heart that all of you continue along the same path.

I’m 62 years old, and have been involved with churches all my life (Protestant for the first 47 years, and Catholic since 2004). So I’ve been friends with lots and lots of devoted Christian families.

And sadly, I’ve seen Christian families that seemed totally devoted and pious split up.

I’ve seen rock-solid couples divorced, often over addictions or affairs.

I’ve seen well-behaved, well-catechized children fall away from the church and leave their families.

One incident in particular haunts me. The family was so beautiful–8 children (Protestant), all home-schooled, parents devoted to each other and their children, involved with the church (Protestant) but not over-commited, and diligent to maintain family devotions (prayer, Bible time) and tithe.

My older daughter was friends with their oldest daughter during high school, and we all admired this family and loved this daughter.

And then she got a call from her friend’s mother–the oldest daughter, at age 17, ran away from home with a boyfriend that no one, including my daughter, knew about, and was not communicating with the family. They were worried and scared, and called my daughter to see if she had any clue where their daughter might be.

My daughter truly had no idea, and she was absolutely shaken by this incident. She never heard from her friend again, and I don’t know if the family ever heard from her. I do know that this incident broke them, and they stopped attending church.

I sincerely hope that this doesn’t happen to your family or ANY familyl, Christian or not.

But as an older woman who has seen other Christian families who have done everything RIGHT lose their children to sinful pursuits, addictions, romantic entanglements, rebellion, even criminal activity and eventual prison–I just want you to be aware.

It happens. I know that there are probably dozens, maybe hundreds or thousands of members here on CAF who have tried their best, did everything right as far as they and their families know, but still experienced the heartbreak of having a child rebel and leave the Church and abandon the good training that they grew up with.

Often this happens after the child has come of age and left home for college, career, or military.

It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and it is NOT the fault of the parents.

On a happier note, I’ve seen rebellious children/teens who caused their parents much grief growing up turn around and become solid citizens and active Christians in their churches! Sometimes, kids just have a hard time growing up, but straighten out once they become legal adults! (Often, the military is responsible, or a good and decent marriage partner.)

Finally, enjoy every minute with your family! The time flies! These are some of the happiest times in your lives.
 
Please please please understand that children are not programmable robots. There are no perfect words and actions at the perfect time to achieve the perfect outcome.

Absolutely by all means be your children’s rock, shelter, and stable launching-ground. Cling fast to Jesus and Mary. Teach your children to pray. But I really question the wisdom of putting your hand on your child as you pray out loud for their faults (that you have determined) to go away.

Definitely pray for your children’s faults. Pray very hard. But NOT in front of them. Don’t set up that battleground.
If they have a fault, gently discuss with them. Or if they did something wrong, correct them.

But don’t do a DIY exorcism over them.
 
Parents are the first teachers, and your home is a domestic church.

But – children over the age of reason are already adults for Church purposes, and children who have received Baptism and First Communion are full members of the Faithful. (Optimally they would have received Confirmation also. If that’s not the case with yours – well, you can’t say that un-Confirmed kids are fully initiated, but it’s not like they’re catechumens, either.) So although you can sort of play the heavy, it’s not fair to go too far.

Since a parent organizes family activities, insisting that kids go to Mass or attend a family rosary is within your purview as parent and teacher.

But being a jerk about it is silly and counterproductive.

Forcing kids into a full consecration of themselves, though… seriously, that is shady. Self-consecrations are a voluntary act, by their very nature. People are allowed to make their own devotional decisions on serious matters like this. If people don’t want to do it, how would it even take??

Eat dinner and say the Rosary together, and then release the kids to do whatever. Or alternately, eat breakfast and say the Rosary together.

Why gather twice? Herding cats is not a good plan!
 
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Ewohdrol –

I wish I could give you a hug! There are a lot of different Catholic devotional traditions out there, and a lot of them are very old and holy but very different from what your parents over-pushed on you.

The whole point of private devotions is that they are supposed to be individually useful, reflecting your individual love for Jesus.

A lot of people look East. There are early Christian devotions, medieval devotions, early modern devotions, etc. that have a very different look and feel to what is popular today. And of course, you may have a lot of your own ideas – use them!

But a prayer life doesn’t have to be regimented, either.

Your parents are wrong to be “disappointed.” They were wrong not to support your individual charism gifts from the Holy Spirit, and you are correct to keep using your own gifts your own way, in order to build up the Body. Trying to turn an eye into a finger is silly, and a waste of a God-given eye.
 
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I cannot relate to the rosary, since I am not and never have been a Catholic. But I can relate to “forcing” someone to participate in a practice (any practice) they are not comfortable with. When we were quite young, I had to say a simple prayer for our family, which included my younger brother. Generally, I had no problem with it, but sometimes I was “angry” at my brother for some stupid, childish reason. Yet, I had to pray for him. Even though at that time the word “hypocrisy” was missing from my vocabulary, I understood the concept and resented it. As a matter of fact, it was the first inclination that turned me away from religion, its inherent hypocrisy.

Yes, this is just one anecdotal example, so take it as you wish…
 
My mother was flakey when it came to when we said the rosery. She would say it when she felt like it and to hell with what everyone else is doing. Didn’t matter if we we’re halfway through a movie or all off doing our own hobbies at any time between 6-9pm we HAD to say it.

This often meant no one would do anything we couldn’t just drop. So if you were into anything before dinner don’t expect to get back to it meaningfully till the morning.

To this day I loath the evening rosery when I visit. I feel like she actively pads it out with custom prayers and list of intentions. Often calling for rosery whenever anyone is doing something fun she refused to partake in.

For years I’d plead for a more set in stone time instead of whenever after dinner.

The Catholic part of me understands the importance of prayer and ritual but rite includes time.

Want to make sure your kids hate the rosery? Use it whenever.
 
You should pray over your children with binding prayers. I am actually following spiritual advice of Fr Ripperger a lead exorcist and p.h.d who explained in further detail for all parents.

Using the negative description of the spirit you want to bind and cast out. (never use a demons name unless your an ordained exorcised.) For example, Jealousy, rejection, rebelliousness, sinful anger, unforgiveness, avarice, deformity.

Lay a hand on the child and say " Through the intercession of The Virgin Most Powerful and the Precious Blood of the Lamb, In the name of Jesus Christ I bind and cast out all unclean spirits of { description} (ex. avarice), I bind them and cast them to the foot of the cross to be Judged by Jesus Christ himself. "

This will help keep your children open to the Sprit and you will have a much easier time guiding them through life. They will be open to pray more also. Don’t forget you as a parents ( Mother and Father) have spiritual authority over the Child. Fathers, you are equal to your wife and you have spiritual authority in your family.

Hope this helps you all, God Bless
 
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Arizona-Catholic said:
If that doesn’t work, I would recommend a carrot and stick approach. Rewards for praying, punishments for not praying.
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I would strongly recommend not doing that. Guaranteed, this will only reinforce whatever negative associations they have about the rosary. Plus, considering how given they are to peer culture and pressure, just think about how their friends will reinforce these negative associations when the kids talk about how their dad is using the Rosary as a punishment tool. This will only reinforce misconceptions about traditional Catholicism being oppressive.

@panorama, you mentioned getting emotional before. To put it bluntly, this probably contributed significantly to the problems you’re having with your kids now, as they probably respect you less because of it. You’ll have to work on being more calm and even in your interactions. Other than that, continue to set a good example with your wife - ie: let your kids see you pray, consistently, whether or not they join in.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cut back on their internet usage - that’s a good thing to do many reasons. Try to make them understand these reasons as best you can. I would not want to link it in any way to their opposition to the Rosary though.
 
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