Lord God, from You every
family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Father, You are
love and life. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, born of woman,
and through the Holy Spirit, the fountain of divine charity,
grant that every family on earth may become for each
successive generation a true shrine of life and love. Grant
that Your grace may guide the thoughts and actions of husbands
and wives for the good of their families and of all the
families in the world. Grant that the young may find in the
family solid support for their human dignity and for their
growth in truth and love. Grant that love, strengthened by the
grace of the sacrament of marriage, may prove mightier than
all the weaknesses and trials through which our families
sometimes pass. Through the intercession of the Holy Family of
Nazareth, grant that the Church may fruitfully carry out her
worldwide mission in the family and through the family. We ask
this of You, Who is life, truth, and love with the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
Amen.
----------------------------------------
O Dear Jesus, I
humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family.
May our home be the shrine of peace, purity, love, labor and
faith. I beg You, dear Jesus, to protect and Bless all of us,
absent and present, living and dead. O Mary Mother of Jesus,
and our Mother, pray to Jesus for our family, for all the
families of the world, to guard the cradle of the newborn, the
schools of the young and their vocations; Blessed Saint
Joseph, holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by your
prayers in all our necessities of life. Ask of Jesus that
special grace which He granted to you, to watch over our home
at the pillow of the sick and dying, so that with Mary and
with you, heaven may find our family unbroken in the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. Amen.
-----------------------------------------
Prayer for Our Loved Ones
and Homes
Kind Father, I thank You
for my home where loved ones dwell and to which my fondest
memories now turn. I praise You for the family love and peace
and cheer which follow me and comfort me in strange and
distant places. I am grateful for all things we share in
common: the worthy lessons we learn, the hardships and griefs
we sometimes bear, the tasks and pleasures which bind us
closer to each other, and the abiding affection and heartfelt
prayers which still keep our spirits one in You.
Shelter my home, O God,
and all my dear ones there. Make me strong, unselfish, and
brave to defend and protect them. Send down Your peace to
every family on earth, and grant an abundance of grace to them
so that in doing Your will they may merit the joys of eternal
salvation. Amen.
~~ Taken from "Prayers
for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.
-----------------------------------------
For Our Families
O God, in the beginning
You brought together man and woman in holy marriage that they
might share Your work of creation and bring enriching life to
one another. We commend to Your constant care the homes where
Your people dwell. Knit together in growing affection those
who have been made one flesh so that their love may never
fail. Turn the hearts of parents to their children and
children to their parents. Take away the roots of bitterness,
vanity, and self-seeking that bring dissension where family
peace should reign. Inspire them, rather, with loyalty, faith,
and sacrifice, that in all the changes and circumstances of
life they may stand strongly together in mutual service and
love.
We ask this through Jesus
Christ, our Lord, Who grew within the family of Nazareth, Who
loved the Church as His beloved spouse, and gave Himself up
for her. Amen.
~~ Taken from "Prayers
for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.
--------------------------------------
A Single Parent's
Prayer
Lord, grant me time
enough to do all the chores, join in the games,
help with
the lessons, and say the night prayers and still have a
few
moments left over for me......Energy enoughh to be
bread-baker and
breadwinner, knee-patcher and peacemaker,
ballplayer and ball-juggler....
Hands enough to wipe away
the tears, to reach out when I'm needed
to hug and to hold,
to tickle and touch....Heart enough to share and to
care,
to listen and to understand, and to make a loving
home for my family. Amen.
-----------------------------------
Father, we look to Your
loving guidance and order as the pattern of all family life.
By following the example of the Holy Family of Your Son, in
mutual love and respect, may we come to the joy of our home in
heaven. Amen.
---------------------------------
Consecration of the
Family to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart
of Mary
(done traditionally on the Feast of the Holy
Family)
Most Holy Hearts of Jesus
and Mary, united in perfect love, as You look upon us with
mercy and caring, we consecrate our hearts, our lives, our
family to You. We know the beautiful example of your
home in Nazareth was meant to be a model for each of our
families. We hope to have, with your help, the unity and
strong, enduring love You gave to one another.
May our home be
filled with joy. May sincere affection, patience,
tolerance and mutual respect be freely given to all. May
our prayers be filled with the needs of others, not just
ourselves and may we always be close to your sacraments.
Bless those who are present, as well as those who are absent,
both the living and the dead; may peace be among us and
when we are tested, grant us the Christian acceptance of God's
will.
Keep our family
close to Your Hearts, may your special protection be with us
always. Most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, hear our
prayers.
---------------------------------
Blessing of the
Home
(done traditionally on the Feast of the Epiphany)
Some
communities have the custom of blessing homes while recalling
the visit of the Magi. The household gathers at the
manger scene in the home.
All make the Sign of the
Cross while the leader begins: "Peace be with this house and
with all who live here. Blessed be the name of the Lord"
All respond: "Now and
forever."
Leader: "Listen to the
words of the Holy Gospel according to John1:1-3, 14" (or
Matthew2:1-12)
All respond: "Praise to
You, Lord Jesus Christ"
Everyone then processes
from one room to another. In each room, God's blessing
is asked on all who dwell there. Each room is blessed
with Holy Water. All return to the starting place at the
manger scene, and join in reciting the Lord's
Prayer.
After a short silence for
reflexion and personal prayer, the leader continues: "Lord God
of heaven and earth, You revealed Your only-begotten Son to
every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house
and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of
Christ, that our concern for others may reflect Your
Love. May we be blessed with health and goodness of
heart. Thanks to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and
forever."
All respond:
"Amen."
-------------------------------------
Prayer of Fathers
Heavenly Father, You have
been pleased to let me be called by the name that is yours
from all eternity. Help me to be worthy of that name. May I
always be for my children a source of life---corporal,
intellectual, and spiritual. Enable me to contribute in great
part to their physical growth by my work, to their mental
advancement by good schooling and to their supernatural life
by my prayer and example, so that they may become complete
human beings and true children of their heavenly Father.
Let me be conscious that my actions are far more important
than my words. May I always give my children a good example in
all the situations of life. May I wear my successes modestly,
and may my failures find me undaunted; may I be temperate in
time of joy and steadfast in time of sorrow. May I remain
humble after doing good and contrite after doing
evil.
Above all, may I scrupulously respect my children's
rights as human persons and their freedom to follow a
rightly-formed conscience, while at the same time fulfilling
my duty to guide them in the way given us by your Son Jesus.
Amen.
------------------------------------
For Strengthening the
Family Unit
Father, it is apparent
throughout Your Word that You instituted the family---father,
mother, and children. I realize, however, that a family unit
can also consist of many other combinations, such as a husband
and wife, a father and children, or a mother and children or
siblings. Bless all these families with Your boundless Love.
Help all parents, whether single or sharing responsibilities
with a spouse, to to use wisdom, understanding, and
consideration for the entire family unit when making decisions
that will affect all those in their households. Open their
minds and hearts so that discipline is just, effective, and
kind yet firm, teaching the children in their families that
there are consequences to their actions. May all the members
of each family love and respect the others, recognizing that
we are all Your children; and that they extend this love and
respect to people outside their own families as well.
I
pray that the standard of a godly family would be restored to
our nation, and there be a resurgence of its benefits in the
public forum. May it become apparent to those who form public
opinion that our family values as represented in Scripture are
the path in which to lead our nation's families back to You.
Amen.
-----------------------------------
Heavenly Father, most
good and gracious God, sustain our family in Your love. Make
it a place where holiness and love abound. Help us to learn to
be like Jesus in all our actions. Aid our family to imitate
the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Help us to learn
from the good example of others and to give good example to
everyone. Assist us in learning to bear our pain and suffering
as Jesus did. Aid us in overcoming difficulties and carrying
our crosses. Help our family life to lead only to Jesus, the
source of true happiness. Please give wholesome habits to our
family. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
---------------------------------
Crusade for the Family
Prayer
Mary, Mother of God, at
your request, Jesus worked His first miracle. He changed water
into wine for the wedding guests at Cana in Galilee. Over the
centures you have no ceased to obtain countless signs and
wonders for the poor, exiled children of Eve. We therefore ask
you to intercede with your Divine Son for the miraculous
graces which the modern world so desperately needs:
For the conversion and
reconversion of whole nations to Jesus Christ and His teaching
on marriage and the family
For the heroic
preservation among Christians of their faith in the
indissolubility of marriage, marital fidelity, and the loving
acceptance of children, as the bedrock of the Christian
family
For the courage of
martyrs in all of us followers of Christ, that we may witness
to His power to overcome the powers of darkness that are bent
on destroying the human family and the moral law.
Mary, Mother of the Holy
Family, and Mother of our families, pray for us. Amen.
-----------------------------
Family Prayer to Our
Lady
Holy Mary, Virgin Mother
of God, you were conceived without sin. I choose you this day
as the model for my household, and the intercessor for my
family. Through your Immaculate Conception, preserve us from
every disaster, from violence, and from misfortune. O holy
Virgin, bless and protect us all, strengthen us in trial, and
save us from all evil. Amen.
--------------------------
Where the Heart
Is
Home is where the heart is,
We've often heard
recited—
So we come to this family altar
To keep our
hearts united.
With thanks we come to worship,
We
offer up our praise—
We marvel at Your goodness
As
mercy renews our days.
We cast our cares upon
You,
We bid You, take the lead—
As You fill us with
Your presence
To more than meet our needs.
Now, may we serve each
other,
As we love and obey You, Lord—
Help us grow in
wisdom
To hear and do Your Word.
Let us live to please
You,
Giving glory to Your name—
Shinning forth a
witness
Of Your unending fame.
Lord, You're where our
heart is,
Our treasure beyond compare—
Holding this
family together
And answering our earnest prayer.
--Mary Fairchild
----------------------------
An Evening Family
Prayer
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank
you for this place in which we dwell,
For the love that
unites us,
For the peace accorded to us this day,
For
the hope with which we expect the morrow;
For the health,
the work, the food and the bright skies
That make our
lives delightful;
For our friends in all parts of the
earth.
Amen.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
-----------------------------
Give Us, O Lord, a
Steadfast Heart
Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart,
Which no unworthy affection may drag downwards;
Give
us an unconquered heart,
Which no tribulation can wear
out;
Give us an upright heart,
Which no unworthy
purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow upon us also, O Lord our
God,
Understanding to know you,
Diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
And a faithfulness that may finally
embrace you;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
--Thomas
Aquinas
---------------------------
Bless Our Family
All
praise to You, Lord Jesus,
Lover of children:
Bless
our family,
And help us to lead our children to You.
Give us light and strength,
And courage when our task
is difficult.
Let Your Spirit fill us with love and peace,
So that we may help our children to love You.
All glory and praise are
Yours, Lord Jesus,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
--Catholic Doors Ministry
-------------------------------
Teach Us to Love
O
God, perfect us in love,
That we may conquer all
selfishness and hatred of others;
Fill our hearts with Thy
joy,
And shed abroad in them Thy peace which passeth
understanding;
That so those murmurings and disputings
To which we are too prone may be overcome.
Make us
long-suffering and gentle,
And thus subdue our hastiness
and angry tempers,
And grant that we may bring forth the
blessed fruits of the Spirit,
To Thy praise and glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
--Reverend Henry
Alford (1810-1871)
-----------------------------