I am currently reading “Befriending Your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Healing and Wholeness” by Brya Hanan, which offers a Catholic-Christian perspective on inner child work. “Reparenting” and “inner child work” seem to be increasingly popular these days. It involves reflecting on parts of ourselves from childhood, how these parts show up in us today, and addressing their unmet needs. Brya offers an additional source of strength for this work, which is our faith. Through reflection and meditation, we can invite God the Father to show us who we are as His children and allow Him to meet our deepest, innermost needs.
Recall how Jesus spoke of children, stating “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Luke 18:16).” Jesus valued the children, who were often dismissed, ignored, or considered insignificant in that age. Sometimes we dismiss or ignore the child-like parts of ourselves in an effort to feel more in control. However, Jesus desires to draw near to our child-like parts, the parts that at times feel fearful, insecure, vulnerable, and in need of compassionate love. He desires to bring healing and peace to our child parts.
Where do we begin to help our inner child encounter the Father and allow Him to love us? Brya provides a 15-minute “Becoming One” meditation online to use the gift of imagination to bring our child parts closer to the Father. She also wrote the following prayers to help us access God’s grace on a daily basis. I pray that your inner child encounters the deep, enduring, gentle love of God that delights in your goodness.
https://www.avemariapress.com/pages/befriending-inner-child-meditations?srsltid=AfmBOorFrK4w-YMwFn3F0qxN-M8K-lF94PqQw1AeMgcDz4Q3sUcWYo3W
Morning Prayer Offering:
Take, Lord, and receive my inner child. I surrender to you every part of me. Lead me through the power of your Holy Spirit and help me to be the Spirit-led adult self you are calling me to be. Give me the graces I need to respond to my inner child and the inner child in others the way you would today. Amen.
Prayer Litany of the Inner Child:
From the fear of befriending my internal world, deliver me, Jesus.
From the neglect of my inner child, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of abandonment and the tendency to abandon myself, deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that healing will happen by my own doing, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that letting go of my unhealthy self-protection will leave me harmed, deliver me, Jesus.
From all mistrustful thoughts that you will be like those who have hurt me, deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency, deliver me, Jesus.
From the struggle to uphold my healthy vows and agreements, deliver me, Jesus.
From the grasping and clinging to what is apart from you, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of living fully in the present, deliver me, Jesus.
From the unsafety I feel in my body, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear and suspicion of joy, deliver me, Jesus.
From all the negative core beliefs, feelings, defense mechanisms, and unhealthy vows and agreements that have kept me from my imago dei, deliver me, Jesus.
That you are continually pursuing me and drawing me close to your Sacred Heart, Jesus, I trust in you.
That your love goes deeper than my trauma, complex grief, attachment injuries, and sin, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my inner child’s unmet needs are an opportunity to heal and become your whole child, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you are always with me in the struggle to experience integration and wholeness, Jesus, I trust in you.
That your Holy Spirit is guiding me and sustaining me to be an adult self that looks more like you, Jesus, I trust in you.
That when I ask, you will respond and will lead me closer to the truth, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you are helping me form a healthy and perfect family in you and within me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you will give me the graces to befriend my inner child, and become more whole in your timing, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you will help me experience what I yearn for most and will heal every wound, Jesus, I trust in you.
That I am your beloved child, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you bring me closer to my Abba, Father, Jesus, I trust in you!
Amen.