Prayers of Parents for Guidance & their Children

Prayers of Parents for Guidance
& for their Children

to Gather Us In

Most loving Father, the example of parenthood, teach us what to give
and what to withhold. Show us when to reprove and when to praise.
Make us gentle and considerate yet firm and watchful.
Keep us from weak indulgence, or from great severity.
Give us the courage to be disliked sometimes by our children,
when we must do necessary things which are displeasing to their eyes.
Give us the imagination to enter into their world
in order to understand and guide them.
Give us all the virtues we need to lead them by word and example
in the path of righteousness. Amen.

Heavenly Creator of the universe, we thank You for the children
that You have entrusted to us.
We want to cooperate with You fully in helping them
grow into free and responsible persons
and mature in the faith received at Baptism.

Grant us the grace to be able to guide them in the practice of virtue and
the way of your commandments---by the good example of our lives, and by theloving observance of your law and that of your Church.

Most of all, however, guide them with your Spirit so that they may know the
vocation You will for them and be open to geniune self-giving
and true Christian love. Amen.

Prayer to St. Aloysius, Patron of Youth

Dear Christian youth, you were a faithful follower of Christ in the
Society of Jesus. You steadily strove for perfection while generously serving the plague-stricken. Help our youth today who are faced with a plague
of false cults and false gods. Show them how to harness their energies
and to use them for their own and others' fulfillment---which will redound
to the greater glory of God. Amen.

God Bless Our Kids!

We pray for God's protection, As our children go to school.
Help them to remember To obey the Golden Rule.

As they pledge their allegiance May they understand,
The stars and stripes are symbols Of God's blessing on our land.

We ask for good direction. Guide them as they grow.
When they face temptation Give them power to say, "No!"

Give us strength, as parents, To be what we should be.
There is nothing more important Than a healthy family tree.

A Prayer of Parents

Heavenly Mother, keep us always in mind of your Son's great mercy and understanding as we pray for our children. They are grown-up now and have left us and are living their lives according to their own ideas. We feel anxious and worried because they do not seem to feel the need of Christ, to understand the wisdom of his ways, or to be fully at ease with us or themselves.

Intervene, dearest Mother, in their lives at the moment you know to be right and help them to understand the things that lead to their peace. Help them to see their need of Christ and to experience the greatness of his love, so that we may all proclaim as you did, that his mercy truly is from generation unto generation. Amen.

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

The Gift of a Child

Dear God, I thank You for the gift of this child to raise, this life to share, this mind to help mold, this body to nurture, and this spirit to enrich. Let me never betray this child's trust, dampen this child's hope, or discourage this child's dreams. Help me, dear God, to help this precious child become all You mean him to be. Let Your grace and love fall on him like gentle breezes and give him inner strength and peace and patience for the journey ahead. Amen.

~~ Marian Wright Edelman

SINGLE PARENT’S PRAYER

I know that, God, You’ve not ordained a family to be led by one,
but there’s no way to change the past or undo what has been done.
And so, dear Lord, I come today for Strength and Guidance too,
as I am a Single Parent and must depend solely on You!
I can’t depend upon myself because alone I cannot stand.
I need You standing by my side, holding onto my hand.
Oh, cover me, dear Jesus, with Meekness lest I see
old wounds of bitterness and pride reestablished deep in me.
’ve already asked forgiveness for what’s transpired in the past,
but I need constant Reassurance that I’m in Your will at last.
When I face ugly disappointments, let me draw on Your vast supply
of Wisdom and of Knowledge so I’ll do more than “just get by.”
A double-dose of Courage will help me stand up to Responsibility
so I’ll be a better parent, equipped with Stability.
Although my schedule’s very hectic with so much more to do,
teach me to be a Spiritual Leader as I daily lean on You.
Please help me to develop the skills my child needs to observe in me,
so that I can mend that tender heart and have Peace within my family.
Then help me squeeze in Quality Time to enjoy watching my child grow...
time to create Lasting Memories that come when Love and Happiness flow.
I promise, Lord, to follow You even when days seem too long or drear.
So help me hold tight to Your hand and eradicate my fear.
When I’m feeling desperate or lonely, give me Hope and Grace to see
that I never have been all alone... for You’ve been right there with me!

~~ by Dorothea (Dotty) K. Barwick © 2/1999

Prayer for the Sexually and Physically Abused

Divine Mercy, I beg of You to protect all those helpless children who are physically and sexually abused, especially by those whose duty it is to guide and protect them on earth. Send down Your enveloping cloak of Mercy and wrap it around these poor children, enfolding them in Your love and protection. Send forth Your rays of Blood and Water to cleanse and renew the souls of those who perpetrate these vile acts of Satan. Let the powerful image of Your Divine Mercy find a way of entering the homes of the families affected by physical and sexual abuse, and as You have promised, may Your graces flow from it to renew and restore them. O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.

~~from the Divine Mercy Apostolate Prayer book

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