Prayer for the Family

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, 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 weakness 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.

Through Christ our Lord, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life for ever
and ever. Amen.

(John Paul II)

Prayer for the Family

O God of goodness and mercy, to Thy fatherly guidance we commend our family,
our household and all our belongings. We commit all to Thy love and keeping; do
Thou fill this house with Thy blessings even as Thou didst fill the holy House
of Nazareth with Thy presence.

Keep far from us, above all else, the blemish of sin, and do Thou alone reign in our
midst by Thy law, by Thy most holy love and by the exercise of
every Christian virtue. Let each one of us obey Thee, love Thee and set himself to
follow in his own life Thine example, that of Mary, Thy Mother and our Mother most
loving, and that of Thy blameless guardian, Saint Joseph.

Protect us and our house from all evils and misfortunes, but grant that we may be
ever resigned to Thy divine will even in the sorrows which it shall please Thee to
send us. Finally give unto all of us the grace to live in perfect harmony and in the
fullness of love toward our neighbor. Grant that every one of us may deserve by a
holy life the comfort of Thy holySacraments at the hour of death. O Jesus, bless us
and protect us.

O Mary, Mother of grace and of mercy, defend us against the wicked spirit, reconcile
us with Thy Son, commit us to His keeping, that so we may be made worthy of His
promises.

Saint Joseph, foster-father of our Savior, guardian of His holy Mother, head of the
Holy Family, intercede for us, bless us and defend our home at all times.

Saint Michael, defend us against all the evil cunning of hell.

Saint Gabriel, make us to understand the holy will of God.

Saint Raphael, preserve us from all sickness and from every danger to our lives.

Our holy Guardian Angels, keep our feet safely on the path of salvation both day
and night.

Our holy Patrons, pray for us before the throne of God.

Yea, bless this house, O God the Father, who hast created us; O God the Son, who
hast suffered for us upon the holy Cross, and Thou, O Holy Spirit, who hast
sanctified us in holy Baptism. May the one God in three divine Persons preserve our
bodies, purify our minds, direct our hearts and bring us all to everlasting life.

Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Ghost! Amen.

These Christian family prayers are perfect for praying around the family altar,
on special occasions and holidays, during family devotions and before or
after family Bible studies.

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)

Prayer for Family

Blessed are you, loving Father,

Ruler of the universe:

You have given us Your Son as Your Leader,

And have made us temples of Your Holy Spirit.

Fill our family with Your light and peace.

Have mercy on all who suffer,
And bring us to everlasting joy with You.

Father,
We bless Your Name for ever and ever.

Amen.
~~~~~~

Prayer for Family

My Prayer and Wish for Our Family

And

My Pledge to you

I pray that we become closer and closer as a family united.

I pray that we connect on a deeper and more spiritual level.

I pray that we appreciate and accept each other.

I pray that we love and support each other through thick and thin.

I pray that we not take each other for granted.

I pray that we put judgments aside and truly listen to one another.

I pray that we understand that we are family for a reason

and that we take advantage of that reason.

I pray that we forgive and forget any and all past hurts that we have caused each
other,
even if we didn’t intentionally hurt the other.

I pray that we always have good intent when talking and sharing
information with each other.

I pray that we are totally honest with each other and will
not walk on egg shells at the expense of ourselves.

I pray that we really get to know each other and that we show interest
in each other’s lives.
 I prayer that we be open to each other’s point of view
especially when that point of view does not match our own..

I pray that we put all of our past struggles and lack of communication behind us
and go forward in a more positive, open, honest, and loving way.

My Pledge to You

I pledge to you that I will do all that I have prayed for.

I pledge to you that I will honor and cherish you as a loving individual
and a very special gift from God.

I am truly blessed to have you in my life!

Love,

Family Thanksgiving Prayer

Family thanksgiving payers are offered by the complete family assembled together,
to pay tribute to the Holy Lord. Each member of the family expresses gratitude to
Almighty for giving him/her a loving family, and a great life. Family members thank
god for the understanding, laughter and fun they share with their family, for the
happy things they do together and the small joys of life they enjoy with each other.
Thankfulness is also expressed for giving family support and strength in times of
trouble and when support is really needed in tough situations. The family
thanksgiving prayers given below will help you pay your thanks to the Lord.

Thanksgiving Prayer For Family Gatherings

Prayer 1
Jesus, thank you for loving us;
And providing food, shelter, and each other.
Every moment of our lives is a gift;
And we appreciate all the time You
have given us.
Thank you for all our good fortune.
Amen.

Prayer 2
Dear precious Lord,
We bow our heads in heartfelt, thankful prayer;
For all the ways You've blessed our lives
And for Your loving care.
We thank You for the hands
That have prepared this special treat
And pray that You will bless all those
Who have no food to eat.

We're thankful for Salvation's plan

And for Your Holy Word;
And pray we'll help to spread
Your love to those who've never heard.
We're thankful for our freedom
And for churches that are near;
Where we can meet to praise Your Name
And worship without fear.

But still our hearts are saddened

By our brothers who aren't free;
Who suffer death and torture
For their Christianity.
We pray You'll give them strength
And courage as their cross they bear;
And let them know God's family
Remembers them in prayer.

We thank You for heroic troops

Who fight for liberty;
And daily risk their lives
And limbs to keep our country free.
Forgive us of our many sins
And keep us close today;
And bless this food You've given us,
In Jesus Name, we pray.
Amen