Prayers for the family Compiled by Ihe Rev. Edgar Schmiedeler, O. S. B. Prayers For The Family Compiled By The Rev. Edgar Schmiedeler, O. S. B. No. 43 Fifth Edition 24,000 Published in U. S. A. Februory 12, 1946 By OUR SUNDAY VISITOR PRESS Huntington, Indiana Imprimatur: * JOHN FRANCIS NOLL, D. D. Bishop of Fort Wayne Nihil Obstat: REV. T. E. DILLON Censor Librorum Desddrffed Prayers for the Family There is a great variety of prayers approved by the Church that relate to marriage and family life. Only too frequently these are hidden away in the rituals or other official publica- tions of the Church. We present a number of these prayers herewith for the benefit of our readers. An Act of Consecration To be Recited by Christian Families Who Consecrate Themselves to the Holy Family (Association of the Holy Family) 0 Jesus, our most loving Saviour, Thou Who was sent down from heaven to enlighten the world by Thy teaching and example, and Who didst will to pass the greater part of Thy holy life in lowliness at Thy home in Nazareth, subject to Mary and Jo- seph, and thereby didst hallow the household which was to be the pat- tern for all Christian families, do Thou in Thy goodness receive our 4 PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY household, which this day conse- crates itself to Thee; protect and guard us, strengthen us, in Thy holy fear, establish in our hearts the peace and concord of Christian char- ity, so that each one of us, becoming like to the divine model of Thy fam- ily, may be sharers of eternal joy. 0 Mary, most loving Mother of Jesus Christ, our Mother, through thy love and mercy intercede that Jesus receive this act of consecration and pour out upon us His graces and blessings. O Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, help us by thy prayers in all our necessities both of body and soul, that, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and thyself, we shall praise and thank Christ Jesus our divine Redeemer. $ % jj* H* A Prayer To be Said Every Day Before a Picture of the Holy Family O most loving Jesus, Who didst hallow by Thy surpassing virtues and the example of Thy home life the PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY 6 household Thou didst choose to live in whilst upon earth, mercifully look down upon this family, whose mem- bers, humbly prostrate before Thee, implore Thy protection. Remember that we are Thine, bound and conse- crated to Thee by a special devotion. Protect us in Thy mercy, deliver us from all danger, help us in our neces- sities, and impart to us strength to persevere always in the imitation of Thy holy family, so that, by serving Thee and loving Thee faithfully dur- ing this mortal life, we may at length give Thee eternal praise in heaven. 0 Mary, dearest Mother, we im- plore thy assistance, knowing that thy divine Son will hearken to thy petitions. And do thou, most glorious patri- arch, St. Joseph, help us with thy powerful patronage, and place our petitions in Mary’s hands, that she may offer them to Jesus Christ. * * * * * From the Mass of the Holy Family: Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, Who was obedient to Mary and Jos- 6 PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY eph, Who has consecrated family life with inexpressible blessing : make us, with their help, to learn by the exam- ple of Thy holy Family and so to attain to eternal companionship with them : Thou Who liveth and reigneth with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. Amen. Let us pray: Lord Jesus make us, whom Thou hast refreshed with Thy heavenly Sacraments, imitate the example of Thy holy Family: that in the hour of our death, with the glorious Virgin Mary and St. Joseph near us, we may be received by Thee into eternal dwelling. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. Amen. * * * * * Prayer to Our Lady Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, who was conceived without sin, I choose thee, this day, for the Lady and Mistress of this house; I beseech thee through thy Immaculate Con- PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY 1 ception, to preserve it from pesti- lence, fire and water; from lightning and tempests, from robbers, from schisms and heresies, from earth- quakes and from sudden death. Bless and protect, O Holy Virgin, all its inmates, obtain for them grace to avoid all sin, and save them from every other misfortune and accident. Amen. ***** Prayer for The Christian Family God of bounty and of mercy, to Thy almighty protection we com- mend our home, our family and all we possess. Bless us all, as Thou didst bless the Holy Family at Naza- reth. 0 Jesus, our most blessed Saviour, by the love with which Thou didst become man for our salvation, by thy mercy in dying for us on the Cross, bless, we beseech Thee, our home, our family, and our household; preserve us from every evil and from the snares of men ; protect us from light- ning and hail, from fire, flood, and 8 PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY tempest ; preserve us from Thy wrath, from the hatred and the evil designs of our enemies, from pestilence, fam- ine, and war. Let not any of us die without the holy Sacraments; grant us Thy blessing, that we may bravely confess that faith by which we are sanctified, that we may preserve our hope in sorrow and in affliction, and that we may redouble our love of Thee and our charity towards our neighbor. O Jesus, bless and protect us. O Mary, mother of grace and of mercy, bless us, defend us against the evil spirit, lead us by the hand across this vale of tears, reconcile us with thy Son, and commend us to Him that we may be made worthy of His promises. 0 holy Joseph, reputed father of our Saviour, guardian of His most blessed Mother, head of the Holy Family, intercede for us, and bless and protect our habitation at all times. St. Michael, defend us against all the malice of hell. PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY # St. Gabriel, make us ever to seek the holy will of God. St. Raphael, preserve us from sickness and all danger of death. Ye holy angels, our guardians, keep us day and night in the way of salvation. Ye holy saints, our patrons, pray for us before the throne of God. Bless this our home, 0 God the Father, Who has created us; 0 God the Son, Who hast suffered for us on the Cross; O God the Holy Spirit, Who hast sanctified us in baptism. May God in His three divine Persons preserve our bodies, purify our souls, guide our hearts and lead us to eternal life. Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Ghost. Amen. (200 days, once a day.) * * * * * From the Mass on the Day of Marriage: (After the “Our Father” of the Wedding Mass, the Priest interrupts the usual sequence of the Mass, and 10 PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY turning to the bridal couple who kneel before the altar, confers the Nuptial Blessing upon them.) Let us pray : Be appeased, 0 Lord, by our humble prayers, and in Thy kindness assist this institution of marriage which Thou hast ordained for the propagation of the human race; so that what is here joined by Thy authority may be preserved by Thy assistance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God for ever and ever. Amen. Let us pray : 0 God, by Thy mighty power Thou didst make all things out of nothing. First, Thou didst set the beginnings of the uni- verse in order. Then, Thou didst make man in Thy image, ^nd didst appoint woman to be his inseparable helpmate. Thus Thou didst make woman’s body from the flesh of man, thereby teaching that what Thou hast been pleased to institute from one principle might never lawfully be put asunder. 0 God, Thou hast sancti- PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY II fled marriage by a mystery so excel- lent that in the marriage union Thou didst foreshadow the union of Christ and the Church. O God, Thou dost join woman to man, and Thou dost endow that fellowship with a bless- ing which was not taken away in punishment for original sin nor by the sentence of the flood. Look, in Thy mercy, upon this Thy handmaid, about to be joined in wedlock, who entreats Thee to protect and streng- then her. Let the yoke of marriage to her be one of love and peace. Faithful and chaste, let her marry in Christ. Let her ever follow the model of holy women: let her be dear to her husband like Rachel; wise like Re- becca ; long-lived and faithful like Sara. Let her be true to one wedlock and shun all sinful embraces; let her strengthen weakness by stern disci- pline. Let her be grave in demeanor, honorable for her modesty, learned in heavenly doctrine, fruitful in chil- dren. Let her life be good and inno- 12 PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY cent. Let her come finally to the rest of the blessed in the kingdom of heaven. May they both see their children’s children unto the third and fourth generation, thus attaining the old age which they desire. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liv- eth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God for ever and ever. Amen. Deliver us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, from all evils, past, present, and to come; and through the inter- cession of the glorious and blessed Mary, ever virgin, mother of God, to- gether with Thy blessed apostles, Peter and Paul and Andrew, and all the saints, grant of Thy goodness, peace in our days, that aided by the riches of Thy mercy, we may be al- ways free from sin and safe from all disturbance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY 13 Prayer to St. Gerard Majella 0 Great Saint Gerard, beloved Ser- vant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of thy meek and humble Saviour, and devoted child of the Mother of God, enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in thine and made thee a ser- aph of love. O glorious Saint Ger- ard, because thou didst bear, like thy Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men when falsely accused of crime, thou hast been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expect- ant mothers : preserve me from dan- ger and from the excessive pains ac- companying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Nine Hail Marys). * * * * * The Blessing of a New House 0 Heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and 14 PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things : grant to them, 0 Lord ! the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy. At our en- trance, therefore, deign to bless and sanctify this house as Thou didst deign to bless the house of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; and may the Angels of Thy light dwell within the walls of this house; and may they protect it and those who dwell there- in. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. * * % $ H* The Blessing of an Infant 0 Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the liv- ing God, begotten before all ages, Who didst wish, however, to become a little infant, and loving the inno- cence of childhood didst tenderly draw to Thyself little children and embrace and bless them : direct this little infant in the blessings of Thy sweetness and grant, we beseech PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY 16 Thee, that its soul may escape the corrupting influence of wickedness; and that, advancing in age, and wis- dom, and grace, it may always be most pleasing to Thee: Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen. H: H* H* * Churching of Women Almighty, Everlasting God, Who through the delivery of the Blessed Virgin Mary, hast turned the pains of the faithful at childbirth into joy: look mercifully on this Thy handmaid, who cometh in gladness to Thy holy temple to offer up her thanks: and grant that after this life, through the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Mary, she may prove worthy to obtain, together with her offspring, the joys of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 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