HWP: Prayer for One's Parents

The week of February 7-14 is National Marriage Week here in the U.S. Recognizing that the vocation of Holy Marriage - and the family necessarily connected with it - is the foundation of society and the first place wherein the faith is spread among the youth, it is especially important to strengthen and support those in this blessed vocation. Knowing that it is not possible for us to remain faithful without God's help, let us implore the Lord for our parents who have brought us into this life and instilled in us the gift of faith, that we all may be strengthened and drawn closer in union here and in eternity.

Prayer for One's Parents

Almighty and everlasting God, who, in the secret counsels of Thine ineffable Providence, hast been pleased to call us into life by means of our parents, who thus partake of Thy divine power in our regard, mercifully hear the prayer of filial affection which we offer to Thee in behalf of those to whom Thou hast given a share of Thy fatherly mercy, in order that they might lavish upon us in our journey through life the consoling gift of Thy holy and generous love. Dear Lord, fill our parents with Thy choicest blessings; enrich their souls with Thy holy grace; grant that they may faithfully and constantly guard that likeness to thy mystic marriage with Thy Church, which Thou didst imprint upon them on the day of their nuptials. Fill them with the spirit of holy fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, and continually move them to impart the same to their children: in such wise may they ever walk in the way of Thy commandments, and may their children be their joy in this earthly exile and their crown of glory in their home in heaven. Finally, Lord God, grant that both our father and our mother may attain to extreme old age and enjoy perpetual health in mind and body; may they deserve to sing Thy praises forever in our heavenly country in union with us, their children, giving Thee most hearty thanks that Thou hast bestowed upon them in this valley of tears the great gift of a share in the light of Thy infinite fruitfulness and of Thy divine fatherhood. Amen.

(taken from the Raccolta, 1957)