First Day
For love between spouses
Daily Scripture
Genesis 2:20-25
“The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.”(NABRE)
(see also: Isaac and Rebekah, Genesis 24:62 – 67)
Daily Prayer Intention
God in Heaven, Divine Original Lover, we ask you to bless, sustain, and enrich the foundational relationship of every family: that of the husband and wife. Stir up the hearts of spouses, kindle romance, and cleave husbands and wives together in unity of spirit. Remind married couples of the love you first kindled between them and give your own love to them, so that, filled with your spirit, they may love each other to the fullest expression. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for all husbands and wives.
Second Day
That the family may welcome others into their home
Daily Scripture
Acts 16:13-15
“On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.” (NABRE)
(see also: “You Did It To Me,” Matthew 25: 34-40)
(see also: The Commandment of Leviticus 20:33-34)
Daily Prayer Intention
God, Father of all humanity and unity of all believers, we ask you to impress upon families your own heart of hospitality, generosity, and openness of spirit. May the families and households that belong to your kingdom be places where strangers are welcomed, the poor and destitute are fed, and the refugee may find shelter.Protect from harm and danger all families that open their households to others, and enable them to live out the Gospel in this manner, guarded by your holy angels and rewarded in heaven for keeping your commands. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for all families.
Third Day
That the family take care of their elderly
Daily Scripture
Isaiah 46: 3-4
“Hear me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
My burden from the womb, whom
I have carried since birth.
Even to your old age I am he,
even when your hair is gray I will carry you;
I have done this, and I will lift you up,
I will carry you to safety.” (NABRE)
Daily Prayer Intention
God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, instill respect and honor for all elderly members of families.Bless and support families who take on heavy burdens in caring for their elderly and give them supernatural joy and peace as they undertake their noble responsibilities.Stir up compassion and conviction in families that have neglected their elderly and remind them that you yourself, Lord, are Ancient of Days. Remind your human family, Lord Jesus, that to care for the aged and sickly is to care for you. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for all who care for the elderly in our midst.
Fourth Day
For protection from temptation and/or addictions
Daily Scripture
1 Corinthians 6:17-20
“But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple*of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”(NABRE)
(see also: Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife, Genesis 39)
Daily Prayer Intention God of constancy and purity, protect marriages and families from extra-marital relations and addictions, poison to all family relationships. Enlighten husbands, wives, and children with your illuminating knowledge, O God, and give them eyes to see the empty promises and false comforts that destructive behaviors offer. Give courage and determination to all family members to reject counterfeit love. Bind family members together in unity, grant them the gift of purity, and lead them all to embrace you, loving God, who are the source of all good gifts. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for all those struggling against temptations and addictions.
Fifth Day
That children respect and obey their parents
Daily Scripture
Proverbs 23:22-26
“Listen to your father who begot you,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.
My child, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.” (NRSVCE)
(see also: The Grace of Parental Wisdom, Proverbs 1:8-9)
(see also: Mary’s Request at Cana, John 2:1-11)
Daily Prayer Intention
Heavenly Father, first parent of all humanity, move your spirit upon each of us, the children of men and women. As the Lord Jesus himself gave us an example, having obeyed his own mother at Cana, even when her request did not coincide with his plans, enable all children to obey their parents. Teach children of all ages the value of respecting their parents, and by your grace, enable each of us to keep the commandment “Honor your father and mother” in ultimate obedience to you, our divine parent. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for all children.
Sixth Day
That parents love and understand their children
Daily Scripture
Matthew 18:1-5
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”(NRSVCE)
(see also: Do Not Provoke Your Children, Colossians 3:21)
Daily Prayer Intention
Father in Heaven, guardian of all children, bless parents with a deep and profound understanding of your divine love so that all human parents may share in your exemplary parenthood, loving their own children just as you have loved the human race and spared nothing to reconcile it to yourself, even to the point of giving your own son. Draw parents closer to yourself and enrich them with kindness, patience, wisdom, and understanding in relation to their children. May parents treat their children with neither dismissiveness nor coddling, but hold to the narrow, moderate path of holy parenting. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for all parents.
Seventh Day
That parents live out the Gospel as an example to their children
Daily Scripture
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
“Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (NRSVCE)
(see also: As a Father Treats His Children, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-13)
Daily Prayer Intention
Holy Trinity, who guides the human race on its path to our heavenly home, we ask that you grace parents with vigor, steadfastness, and a zeal for the Gospel.
May parents lead their children home to heaven first by their own life of prayer and obedience, and secondly by teaching and admonition. May the Gospel be preached to future generations in every home through the humility and example of saintly parents who are faithful to you and your ways, eager to teach the faith, and persistent in prayer. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for parents, the first and primary catechists of their children.
Eighth Day
For Christian unity within the domestic church
Daily Scripture
Ephesians 4:1-6
“I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (NABRE)
(see also: Be of the Same Mind, United in Heart, Phillipians 2:1-5)
Daily Prayer Intention
Holy Trinity, icon of perfection through oneness, hear our prayer for unity and love within each family, the Domestic Churches of the world. As the Universal Church protects, rallies, and unifies all Christians, may the Domestic Church protect, rally, and unify its own members: father, mother, children, and extended members. Grant that Christian homes may be guarded by angels and filled with the Holy Spirit. Inspire parents and siblings to seek to perfect each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, unified through their shared baptism. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray that families know this unity.
Ninth Day
For forgiveness of past wrongs and reconciliation
Daily Scripture
Colossians 3:12-15
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.” (NABRE)
(see also: “How Often Must I Forgive?” Matthew 18: 21-22)
(see also: “Leave Your Gift at the Altar,” Matthew 5:21-24)
Daily Prayer Intention
O Infinite Forgiver, by your mercy and grace, help family members to respond to your call to reconcile with one another. Lord of Light, expose faults and convict us of hidden resentments, wrongs, and unresolved differences between family members, and lead parents, children, and siblings to forgive one another. Heal hearts broken by empty promises and selfish choices and give family members heroic virtue to respond with divinely-given mercy and forgiveness. Holy Family of Nazareth, pray that we may have hearts of forgiveness.