The Family

In the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as the babe of Bethlehem, God the Father blessed and sanctified the Family as a special Christian institution. It was God who made for Adam a helper and soul mate, Eve, so that the two might become one, and the family was born. God also chose as Jesus'Mother, Mary, blessed among women, and Joseph, as surrogate earthly father, a most chaste spouse. Jesus was cared for, loved, and brought up in his faith by his family. His Mother was an ongoing part of his life throughout his life on earth. She carried on after his death and resurrection with John in Ephesus. By tradition, Joseph was older than Mary and had died before the beginning of Jesus' ministry. In one of his final acts from the Cross, Jesus gave his mother a son - John, and he, a mother in Mary.

The Holy Family,

Convent of the Sisters of Nazareth.

Nazareth, Galilee area, Israel.

A Christmas Prayer


Lord God Almighty, Father of every family, against whom no door can be shut; Enter ino the homes of our land, we beseech thee, with the angel of thy presence, to hallow them in pureness and beauty of love; and by thy dear Son, born in a stable, move our hearts to hear the cry of the homeless, and to convert all sordid and bitter dwellings into households of thine: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.






Prayer of a Parent


Father of mankind, you have given me these children, and entrusted them to my charge, to bring them up for you and to prepare them for everlasting life. Help me with your heavenly grace to fulfill this sacred duty. Teach me what to give, and what to withhold; when to reprove and when to forbear. Make me gentle, yet firm; considerate and watchful. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Pope John Paul II's Family Prayer Book.








Hail Mary


Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy wombs, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.






On the Birth of a Child


O Lord God, in Whose hands are the issues of life, we thank Thee for Thy gifts to us at this time. We thank Thee for the life given, and the life preserved. And as Thou hast knit together life and love in one fellowship, so we pray Thee to grant that with this fresh gift of life to us, there may be given an increase of love one to another. Grant that the presence of weakness may awaken our tenderness, enable us to minister to the little one that has been given to us in all lovingness, wisdom, and fidelity; and grant that he/she may live as Thy child, and may serve this generation according to Thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.






Eternal and everblessed God, you have taught us to call you Father, and you have surrounded us all our lives by your fatherly love and care. Help us so to live that we may be sons and daughters who bring joy and not sorrow to their Father's heart: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.






Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour, Master and example of the true and good life, send the Holy Spirit to every member of our family. Help protest and guide us. Keep far from us anything that would hurt our fellowship or divide us. Keep us in your love. Banish from us
The irritable temper:
The selfish ambition:
The desire to dominate:
The arrogant intolerance:
The false disloyalty.
And draw us, by your grace, day by day, to come closer to you and to one another. Cleanse us of our sin, and of your mercy bring us to the heavenly Father's kindgom.
Amen.

 

A Litany on Behalf of Children

O God, The Father,
Bless them.

O God, the Son,
Bless them.

O God, the Holy Ghost,
Bless them.

O Holy Mother of God,
Nurture them.

O Blessed Saint Joseph,
Protest them.

For all children conceived this day,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children born this day,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children baptized this day,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children confirmed this day,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children entering school,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children enrolled in school,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children in a united and loving family,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children who persevere in a worthwhile project,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all children who know true love and are loving,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.

For all organizations and groups organized to protect life,
We thank Thee and ask Thy Blessing.


Lord,
have mercy upon them.

Christ,
have mercy upon them.

Holy Ghost, Spirit of Life,
Inspire them.


From the holocaust of abortion,
Protect them.

From the danger of extermination faced by handicapped babies,
Protect them.

From afflictions of mind and body,
Protect them.

From physical and sexula abuse,
Protect them.

From the clutches of child pornographers,
Protect them.

From family strife and violence,
Protect them.

From family division and divorce,
Protect them.

From nations in strife or at war,
Protect them.

From feelings of low esteem or self-hatred,
Protect them.

From Extraordinary peer pressure,
Protect them.

From bodily abuse by alcohol or narcotics,
Protect them.

From worry of acceptance and the fear of failure,
Protect them.

From the dangers faced by runaways,
Protect them.

From the horrors faced by street children,
Protect them.

From sexual licentiousness,
Protect them.

From despair and the contemplation of suicide,
Protect them.

From Satan and his human helpers, who attempt to cajole, detract, diminish or destroy our children,
Protect them.


O Most Glorious Trinity,
Protect little children and those yet unborn.

O Holy Saint Michael and All Angels,
pray unceasingly for little children and those yet unborn.

All Martyrs and Saints before us,
pray unceasingly for little children and those yet unborn.

All Bishops, Priests and Deacons,
pray unceasingly for little children and those yet unborn.

All Lay People in the Holy Faith,
pray unceasingly for little children and those yet unborn.


Let us pray:

O God, our Father, Who hast made heaven and Earth, and Who hast made of one blood all people who dwell upon the face of the earth, restore to us the sacredness of all life, reflecting Thy love in all of our thoughts, words, and deeds. And finally, may those conceived and born grow by Thy Grace into that stature and fulfillment which Thou hast ordained from the beginning, unto their lives' end.
Amen.