Prayer to the Holy Family.

O Jesus, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father,

well-beloved Son of the Blessed Virgin

and foster Child of St. Joseph,

we most fervently implore Thee,

through Mary Thine ever-blessed Mother

and St. Joseph Thy foster father,

take our children under Thy special charge

and enclose them in the love of Thy Sacred Heart.

They are the children of Thy Father in Heaven,

created after His own image;

they are Thy possession,

for Thou hast purchased them with Thy Precious Blood;

they are temples of the Holy Ghost,

who sanctified them in Baptism

and implanted in their hearts the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

O most loving Jesus,

rule and guide them,

that they may live according to the holy Catholic Faith,

that they may not waver in their confidence in Thee

and that they may ever remain faithful to Thy love.

O Mary, Blessed Mother of Jesus,

grant to our children a place in thy pure maternal heart!

Spread over them thy protecting mantle

when danger threatens their innocence;

keep them firm when they are about to stray from the path of virtue;

and should they have the misfortune of falling into mortal sin,

oh, then raise them up again,

reconcile them with thy Divine Son

and restore them to Sanctifying Grace.

And thou, O holy foster father St. Joseph,

do not abandon our children!

Protect them from the assaults of the wicked enemy

and deliver them from all dangers of soul and body.

O dear parents of the holy Child Jesus!

Intercede for us parents also,

that we may bring up our children

in the love and fear of God

and one day attain with them the Beatific Vision.

Amen.