Prayer to the Holy Family
JESUS, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.
MARY, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.
JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.
HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.
MARY, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.
JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.
HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.
Introduction
The Church has appointed this Sunday within the octave of
Christmas as the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She
wants all Christian families to try to model their lives on this,
the holiest of families that ever lived on earth.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22.24-28
We mirror the Gospel story of Jesus being found in the Temple
at Jerusalem, with the story of Hannah presenting her son,
Samuel, in the Temple at Shiloh. “Samuel is made over to the Lord for the
whole of his life.”
Responsorial Psalm: Ps: 83
They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Second Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-2.21-14
Here we think not about the physical “holy family”, but the “spiritual holy
family” which is the Church. Just as Jesus and Samuel acknowledged their
Father in His Temple, so we should acknowledge that we are God’s children,
by living out the commandments - “We are called God’s children, and that is
what we are.”
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:41-52
At first sight it seems surprising that he did not tell them, but the incident
had evidently the purpose of impressing on them that his mission from his
heavenly Father, to whom his first obedience was due, came before
The Church has appointed this Sunday within the octave of
Christmas as the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She
wants all Christian families to try to model their lives on this,
the holiest of families that ever lived on earth.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22.24-28
We mirror the Gospel story of Jesus being found in the Temple
at Jerusalem, with the story of Hannah presenting her son,
Samuel, in the Temple at Shiloh. “Samuel is made over to the Lord for the
whole of his life.”
Responsorial Psalm: Ps: 83
They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Second Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-2.21-14
Here we think not about the physical “holy family”, but the “spiritual holy
family” which is the Church. Just as Jesus and Samuel acknowledged their
Father in His Temple, so we should acknowledge that we are God’s children,
by living out the commandments - “We are called God’s children, and that is
what we are.”
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:41-52
At first sight it seems surprising that he did not tell them, but the incident
had evidently the purpose of impressing on them that his mission from his
heavenly Father, to whom his first obedience was due, came before