Family Prayer

shared by Andrea M. :

Growing up, our family regularly gathered to say the rosary in the evening and we always recited the “Family Prayer” afterwards. Our “family” then consisted of my parents, myself and eight siblings, and sometimes friends, neighbors or cousins who were “adopted” into our family. My siblings and I are now all married, with a total of thirty-two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and three more on the way. Although our father passed away in Oct 2009, the faith that he and our mother instilled in us continues to strengthen our bonds. As a family, we chose to have this prayer printed on the back of his Memorium Card. Our ever-expanding family continues the tradition of reciting this prayer when we gather around our father’s gravesite on special occasions.  

FAMILY PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You for Your love and for the many good things You have given to our family. Help us to show our gratitude by loving each other as You love us. Give us patience and understanding to bear with one another, generosity to share our joys and sorrows, honesty to admit our faults and correct them. We entrust our family to Your Fatherly care and protection. We ask that we grow daily in wisdom and grace, that some of us be granted the privilege of following Your Divine Son in the priesthood or religious life, and that all of us may one day share with You the joys of Heaven. Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help us to be a holy family.