Prayer for Families

"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." — Pope Saint John Paul II

The Prayer

Lord God, from You every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Father, You are Love and Life. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, born of a woman, and through the Holy Spirit, the fountain of divine charity, grant that every family on earth may become for each successive generation a true shrine of life and love. Grant that Your grace may guide the thoughts and actions of husbands and wives for the good of their families and of all the families of the world. Grant that the young may find in the family a strong support for their humanity and for their growth in truth and love. Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the sacrament of marriage, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. Through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that the Church may fruitfully carry out her worldwide mission in the family and through the family. We ask this of You, who are Life, Truth, and Love, with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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About This Prayer

This prayer can be prayed daily by families, during family gatherings, or during special times such as anniversaries, holidays, or moments of difficulty. It is especially fitting during the Feast of the Holy Family, before meals, or as part of evening prayer time together.

When To Pray

This powerful prayer for families was written by Pope Saint John Paul II as part of his pastoral vision for family life in the modern world. It calls on God the Father to bless every household, strengthen marriages, guide children, and build homes rooted in faith, truth, and love. Inspired by the Holy Family of Nazareth, this prayer emphasizes the importance of unity, sacrificial love, and the mission of the family as the domestic Church. It’s one of the most well-known Catholic prayers for family life and continues to be used at gatherings, retreats, and in daily family devotions.