Prayers for Families

A Prayer for Parents for Their Children and for Relatives and Friends

O God, our heavenly Father, who lovest mankind, and art most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon thy servants (Name those whom you wish to remember) for whom I humbly pray thee, and commend to thy gracious care and protection. Be thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of thy truth, and draw them nearer to thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in thy love and fear; doing thy will in all things. Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, dilligent, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life; and direct them in the way of salvation, through the merits of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of his Holy Mother and thy blessed Saints. Amen.

—Antiochian Orthodox Occasional Prayer

Prayer for Families

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary 
in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in
 which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride 
of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance,
 patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those
 who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the
 hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the 
children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among
 us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one 
to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Care of Children

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the 
joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient
 wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love
 whatever is just and true and good, following the example of 
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Parents

Almighty God, giver of life and love, bless N. and N. Grant them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.  And so knit their wills together in your will and their spirits in your Spirit, that they may live together in love and peace all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Unless otherwise marked, all prayers are from The Book of Common Prayer