2020 Novena for Family Unity Copyright 2017 George Martell/Holy Cross Family MInistries. All rights reserved.[/caption] How to begin Take a moment to gather your family. It’s helpful to find a quiet space, turn off all digital devices, light a candle and perhaps have a statue or image of Our Lady or the Holy Family. Discuss as a family what intentions you will pray for today. Is a family member ill, out of work, struggling with their studies? Were you blessed in some way today that you would like to offer a petition of thanksgiving? There are no right or wrong petitions. Anything from the hearts of any family member are important to offer. If every family member has a Rosary, take them out. FamilyRosary.org offers an infographic on how to pray the Rosary that you can share with your children as they learn this form of prayer.

DAILY OPENING PRAYER

Begin by praying together each day the following prayer: O Jesus, on the Cross you gave us Mary as our Mother. Her faithful servant, Father Patrick Peyton C.S.C., the Family Rosary priest, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim an important message about the power of family prayer. He believed and preached that The Family That Prays Together Stays Together. Through Mary and his intercession, we ask for this favor for our family: _____________________________________. Let our praying of the Rosary be a way for us to become more united as a family. Amen.

January 6 – Joyful Mysteries

Pray the Rosary. Read one mystery and reflection at each Our Father and spend a few quiet moments reflecting on it. You may want to have different family members read the reflections and lead the prayers:

LOVE OF NEIGHBOR

As we pray the Joyful Mysteries today, we grasp tangible ways to show God’s love to all those around us. First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation “I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” Ephesians 4:4 God’s love for us is infinite – that is the meaning of the Annunciation. God so loved the world, He sent Jesus to be our brother. Jesus lived his life for others. What do our neighbors need from us today? Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation “Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible.” 1 Corinthians 9:19 At first glance, Mary seems to have had a choice: to stay at Nazareth and “love the Lord her God,” newly conceived in her womb, or to “love her neighbor” by visiting Elizabeth. Really there was no choice: the way we treat others is the way we love God! Third Joyful Mystery: The Birth of Our Lord “But I say to you: love your enemies and pry for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 Jesus made no choice; He was born for those who loved Him and for those who didn’t. He washed the feet of even those who betrayed Him. To like everyone is impossible; but with Christ, I can love all, by being kind to everyone. Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple “She never left the temple but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer.” Luke 2:37 Anna was not merely noticed; she was studied. She quietly put the proud Pharisees to shame; Anna had won a public without advertising. Good example shines on the just and the unjust. It is one way for us to love everyone. Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple “All who heard him were astounded.” Luke 2:47 It was an uncomfortable day for the doctors. A small boy telling them they’d been missing the point. Truth was in this Child who discussed religion with more than authority. Zeal is love outspoken. If we love others as Christ, we’ll not just “keep the faith,” we’ll spread it.

CLOSING

We end this novena with Venerable Patrick Peyton’s prayer for beatification: Prayer For the Beatification of Venerable Patrick Peyton Dear Jesus, Father Peyton devoted his priestly life to strengthening the families of the world by calling them to pray together every day, especially the Rosary. His message is as important for us now as it was during his life on earth. We beg you, therefore, to hasten the day of his beatification so that your faithful people everywhere will remember his message that The Family That Prays Together Stays Together, will imitate him in his devotion to your Mother and ours, and will be inspired by his holy life to draw ever closer to you with childlike confidence and love. Amen. Here at CatholicMom.com, we will offer the full text of the daily novena prayers at 5:30 AM Eastern through January 9. You may also download the Novena eBook from FamilyRosary.org. All in honor of Venerable Patrick Peyton, we thank you for joining us in this Novena of Thanksgiving. As we express our profound gratitude to Our Lord for this tremendous gift, we also give thanks for all your prayers for Father Peyton’s Cause. Please continue to pray for Father Peyton’s Cause so that one day he will become “Blessed,” then a “Saint.” After all, the world needs “A Saint for Family Prayer.” We encourage you to continue praying with your family every day, wherever you are. For additional online resources for family prayer including a Prayer Petition Page and our World at Prayer Blog, please visit FamilyRosary.org. All our resources represent a sample of Father Peyton’s passion for family unity through prayer. We hope our services will enhance your family’s prayer life particularly remembering Father Peyton’s famous words: “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together” and “A World at Prayer is a World at Peace.”
Copyright 2020 Holy Cross Family Ministries

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