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As a parent, there is no greater joy than witnessing your children learn and grow. Every new discovery of theirs opens your heart to a more childlike joy that was once faded. While there is great joy that comes with parenthood, the weight of responsibility can often feel burdensome, and we’re always sure that everyone else has this parenting thing down better than us.
This quote by St. Teresa of Calcutta is a reminder that we do not need to do anything extraordinary to please God. All we must do is love our children, love our spouses, and offer everything we think, say and do to Jesus.
Raising your children in a faithful home is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Setting a solid foundation of love, mercy and faith prepares their hearts and minds for the journey into adulthood and allows them to be confident in the love their heavenly father has for them, even when we fall short as parents.
Pope St. John Paul II said, “Family prayer has its own characteristic qualities. It is prayer offered in common, husband and wife together, parents and children together ... by reason of their dignity and mission, Christian parents have the specific responsibility of educating their children in prayer, introducing them to gradual discovery of the mystery of God and to personal dialogue with Him....”
In order to raise our children to be saints, prayer must be at the center of the family. Praying the rosary together as a family at least once a week may seem like a challenge, especially with little children, but teaching them the prayers and introducing them to the life of Jesus is what will strengthen their own relationship with Christ.
It is the mission of the parents in the Christian family to love their children to Heaven. Building up the domestic Church is the surest way to strengthen the universal Church and to spread the Gospel to all people.
If you’re looking for ways you can build up your domestic Church, clickHERE to read our previous blog post.
If you’re in need of strength raising your tiny saints, consider imploring the intercession of saints who have been in your shoes. There are a number of saints who were parents, including Mary, the mother of God. Studying these saints and calling on their intercession can inspire and encourage us in our own families.
Christ have Mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us
God our Father
Have mercy on us and our children
Jesus, Son of God and child of Mary
Have mercy on us and our children
Holy Spirit
Enlighten us and our children
St. Michael the Archangel
Protect our children
[Respond to each invocation with “Pray for our children”]
Mary Mother of God and our Mother
Pray for our children
Sts. Joachim and Ann, parents of Mary
Pray for our children
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus …
St. Elizabeth and Zechariah, parents of John the Baptist …
St. Leonides, father of 7 …
St. Helena …
St. Monica …
Sts. Basil and Emelia, parents of 10 …
St. Adalbald and Rictrude whose four children became saints …
St. Wenceslas …
St. Olga …
St. Hedwig, queen and mother of 7 …
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, mother of 4 …
St. Jutta …
St. Bridget of Sweden, mother of 8 …
St. Dorothy of Montau, mother of 9 …
St. Louis IX, king of France and father of 11 …
St. Margaret of Scotland, queen and mother of 8 …
St. Frances of Rome …
St. Rita, patroness of hopeless cases …
St. Nichols of Flue, father of 10 …
St. Thomas More …
Blessed Barbe Acarie, mother of 6 …
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, mother of 5 …
St. Jane Frances de Chantal …
Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents of St. Therese …
Blessed Frederick Ozanam …
St. Manuel Morales …
St. Gianna Molla …
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us O Lord
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us O Lord
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God our Father, we ask you to give us and our children all the graces we need at this stage of our lives. We know that you love our children more than we do. And so, we ask you, through the intercession of all the angels and saints, especially those saints who were parents themselves, to pour out your blessings on our children. Give them the Wisdom to know the Truth and the Fortitude to live by it. We ask you through your Beloved Son who died for their Salvation, to pour out your Holy Spirit on them.
Amen.
(This prayer first appeared on Aleteia)
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