The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is normally celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas. This feast developed at the beginning of the 19th century in Canada and then spread to the entire Church in 1920. At first, it was celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. It is a Feast that seeks to portray the Holy Family of Nazareth as the “true model of life” (cf. Opening Prayer) from which our families can draw inspiration and know where to find help and comfort. The Holy family consists of Jesus, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, his Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his Foster father St Joseph. Although major feast days dedicated to each member of this family are in observance, the Feast of the Holy Family commemorates their life together as a family unit, the focus being on the religiosity of family life as expressed in its daily existence.
The Holy Family Prayer
JESUS, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.
MARY, Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.
JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.
HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the centre of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendour of true love,
to you we turn with trust.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.
Amen.
Consecration to the Holy Family
O jesus, our most loving redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with thy teaching
And example, didst will to pass the greater part of thy life in humility and subjection to mary and
Joseph in the poor home of nazareth, thus sanctifying the family that was to be an example for
All christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates to consecrate itself to thee
This day. Do thou protect us, guard us, and establish among us thy holy fear, true peace, and
Concord in christian love: in order that by living according to the divine pattern of thy family we
May be able, all of us without exception, to attain eternal happiness.
Mary, dear mother of jesus and mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble
Offering acceptable in the sight of jesus, and obtain for us his graces and blessings.
O saint joseph, most holy guardian of jesus and mary, help us by thy prayers in all our spiritual
And temporal needs; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine savior jesus, together with
Mary and thee, for all eternity.
Our father, hail mary, and glory be three times.
Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Family
O Jesus, Word made flesh, saviour of the world, your life is for us an example of total dedication to your Father and to the work he entrusted to you. Help us to live fully our religious consecration, to spend ourselves completely in your salvific mission to the people of God.
Mary, Mother of God, obtain for us the grace of intimate union with your divine Son and in and through him with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, teach us to live a life of prayer, work, and self-forgetfulness, that we may become ever more docile instruments of the will of God.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, inspire us so to live our community life, that we may be a sign to others that Christ has come, that our hope is centered in him, and that we look forward to the glory of the resurrection.
O Holy Family, bless and protect all the families of the world; safeguard their unity, fidelity, integrity and dignity. Enable them to live according to God’s law that they may fulfil their sublime vocation. May their lives be a reflection of yours and may they enjoy your presence forever in heaven.
Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Family for Vocations
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, teach us the sublime dignity and the vital duty of fostering vocations. Give us one heart and soul. Give us the grace to be ever aware of our tremendous responsibility for setting a good example in our own relations so as to act as a magnet for drawing vocations.
We are eternally grateful for your numerous graces in the past, the present, and the future. Help us always to be aware of God’s presence within us.
Hidden Child of Nazareth, teach us!
Blessed Mother of Jesus, guide us!
Faithful guardian of Mary, protect us!
Novena Prayer:
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of loving Holy Church as I should, above every earthly thing, and of ever showing my love by deeds.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of openly professing as I should, with courage and without human respect, the faith that I received as your gift in holy Baptism.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of sharing as I should in the defense and propagation of the Faith when duty calls, whether by word or by the sacrifice of my possessions and my life.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of loving my family and others in mutual charity as I should, and establish us in perfect harmony of thought, will, and action, under the rule and guidance of the shepherds of the Church.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of conforming my life fully as I should to the commandments of God’s law and those of His Holy Church, so as to live always in that charity which they set forth.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I ask in particular this special favor:
(Mention your favor).
Dedication of One’s Family:
Most loving Jesus, by Your sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience, and gentleness, you blessed with peace and happiness the family which You chose on earth. In Your mercy look upon my family. We belong to You, for we have received Your many blessings over many years and we entrust ourselves to Your loving care.
Look upon my family in Your loving kindness, preserve us from danger, give us help in time of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in imitation of Your holy Family, so that having revered You and loved You faithfully on earth, we may praise You eternally in heaven.
Mary, dearest Mother, to your intercession we have recourse, knowing that your Divine Son will hear your prayers. Glorious patriarch, Saint Joseph, help us by your powerful prayers and offer our prayers to Jesus through Mary’s hands. Amen.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to Mary and Joseph, you sanctified family life by Your beautiful virtues. Grant that we, with the help of Mary and Joseph, may be taught by the example of Your holy Family, and may after death enjoy its everlasting companionship.
Lord Jesus, help us ever to follow the example of Your holy Family, that in the hour of our death Your glorious Virgin Mother together with Saint Joseph may come to meet us, and we may be worthy to be received by You into the everlasting joys of heaven. You live and reign forever. Amen.
Pray to the Holy Family
Lord, you intended for the Holy Family to be an example for all, and for the Holy Spirit to enlighten our homes.
May we, like them, be able to live according to the family virtues and stand united by the strength of Your love before meeting again for eternity in the joy of Your House. Amen.
A prayer to the Holy Family of Nazareth to bring love to your own family
Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless our family.
Open our hearts to receive Your love. May our home be another Nazareth,
so that our family may be a place where Your peace and love abides.
Open our eyes to recognize the gift and beauty of life,
so that we may find joy in Your presence among us.
Grant us pure hearts seeking holiness, generous hearts full of Your love,
merciful hearts ready to forgive and tender hearts full of kindness.
May our family be a sanctuary of life and love,
a beacon of hope
drawing others to your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us.
Pope Francis: Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love,
to you we turn with trust.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.
Amen.
Prayer for the World Meeting of Families 2018
God, our Father,
We are brothers and sisters in Jesus your Son,
One family, in the Spirit of your love.Bless us with the joy of love.
Make us patient and kind,
gentle and generous,
welcoming to those in need.
Help us to live your forgiveness and peace.
Protect all families with your loving care,
Especially those for whom we now pray:
[We pause and remember family members and others by name].
Increase our faith,
Strengthen our hope,
Keep us safe in your love,
Make us always grateful for the gift of life that we share.
This we ask, through Christ our Lord,
Amen
Traditional Prayer
Jesus, Mary and Joseph I give you my heart and my soul;
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph may I breathe forth my spirit in peace with you.
Amen
Prayer To the Holy Family
Lord Jesus Christ,
who, being made subject to
Mary and Joseph,
did consecrate domestic life
by Your unspeakable virtues;
grant that we,
with the assistance of both,
may be taught by the example
of Your Holy Family
and may attain to
its everlasting fellowship.
Who lives and reigns,
world without end.
Amen.
Novena to the Holy Family
This novena is most appropriately begun nine days before December 28, the feast of the Holy Family. It is also fitting to pray it during the month of February, which is consecrated to the Holy Family.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of loving Holy Church as I should, above every earthly thing, and of ever showing my love by deeds.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of openly professing as I should, with courage and without human respect, the faith that I received as your gift in holy Baptism.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of sharing as I should in the defense and propagation of the Faith when duty calls, whether by word or by the sacrifice of my possessions and my life.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of loving my family and others in mutual charity as I should, and establish us in perfect harmony of thought, will, and action, under the rule and guidance of the shepherds of the Church.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of conforming my life fully as I should to the commandments of God’s law and those of His Holy Church, so as to live always in that charity which they set forth.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I ask in particular this special favor:
(Mention your favor)
Dedication of One’s Family:
Most loving Jesus, by Your sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience, and gentleness, You blessed with peace and happiness the family which You chose on earth. In Your mercy look upon my family. We belong to You, for we have received Your many blessings over many years and we entrust ourselves to Your loving care.
Look upon my family in Your loving kindness, preserve us from danger, give us help in time of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in imitation of Your holy Family, so that having revered You and loved You faithfully on earth, we may praise You eternally in heaven.
Mary, dearest Mother, to your intercession we have recourse, knowing that your Divine Son will hear your prayers. Glorious patriarch, Saint Joseph, help us by your powerful prayers and offer our prayers to Jesus through Mary’s hands. Amen.
Litanies to the Holy Family
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Pray for us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, most worthy of our reverence and love,
Pray for us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, by the voice of all ages called the Holy Family,
Pray for us.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, names forever blessed of the Father, the Mother and the Child, who compose the Holy Family,
Pray for us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, image on earth of the august Trinity,
Pray for us.
Holy Family tried by the greatest contradictions,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, afflicted in your journey to Bethlehem,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, rejected by all and obliged to take refuge in a stable,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, saluted by the concerts of the angels,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, visited by the poor shepherds,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, venerated by the Wise Men,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, persecuted and exiled in a strange country,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, hidden and unknown at Nazareth,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, model of Christian families,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, living in peace and charity,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, whose Head is a model of paternal viligance,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, whose Spouse is a model of maternal care,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, whose Child is a model of obedience and filial piety,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, who led a poor laborious and penitent life,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, poor in the goods of the world but rich in the goods of Heaven,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, despised by the world, but great before God,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, our support in life, and our hope in death,
Pray for us.
Holy Family, patrons and protectors of all Christian families,
Pray for us.
Christ Child Jesus, Holy Mary and Saint Joseph,
Pray for us.
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, O Lord.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
Let us pray
O God of goodness and mercy, who has been pleased to call us to love the Holy Family; grant that we may always honor and imitate Jesus, Mary and Joseph; so that pleasing them on earth, we may enjoy their presence in Heaven; through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
