by Victor Hoagland, C.P.

The Feast of the Holy Family, which is celebrated the Sunday following Christmas, is an appropriate day for prayers for a family.

The leader may begin:

From the beginning, God joined man and woman together, and blessing them with children, made them a family. Just as Jesus lived at Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and his relatives and friends, so we find our life here with our own flesh and blood. We ask God's blessing on our family and our home.

Listen to the words of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians:

Put on, then, garments that suit God's chosen and beloved people: compassion, kindness,humility, gentleness, patience.

Be tolerant with one another and forgiving, if any of you has cause for complaint: you must forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Finally, to bind everything together and complete the whole, there must be love.

Let Christ's peace be arbiter in your decisions,
the peace to which you were called as members of a single body. Always be thanksful.

Let the gospel of Christ dwell among you in all its richness; teach and instruct one another with all the wisdom it gives you.

Colossians 3:12-16

After some moments of silence, prayers for the family may be offered, especially for those members who have died. Then all say:

O God,
bless our family
and all its members and friends;
bind us together by your love.
Give us kindness and patience
to support each other;
and wisdom in all we do.
Let the gift of your peace
come into our hearts
and remain with us.
May we rejoice in your blessings
for all our days.
Amen.

 

 

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