We originally posted this on Australian Catholic Families blog.
We will be posting each day for the next nine days.
For full transcript go here:Novena to the Holy Family
DAY 8
Family Love
Sign of the Cross…
Father, help us to live as the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Heavenly Father, from whom all parenthood comes, help us to grow in gratitude, love and respect towards our parents, whom by the gift of life, have brought us into the world and enabled us to grow. Teach us to understand our children so that they may grow in your wisdom and love according to your holy will: to be the best parents that we can, to model our parenthood on the parenthood of God, and to follow the example of Mary and Joseph. Amen.
READING
Colossians 3: 12-15
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
PSALM
Psalm 112: 1-5
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
GOSPEL
Luke 2:51-52
He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people.
REFLECTION
Vatican II, Gravissimum Educationis 3
As it is the parents who have given life to their children, on them lies the gravest obligation of educating their family. They must therefore be recognized as being primarily and principally responsible for their education. The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Prayer for the Family (Pope John Paul II)
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 woman, and through the Holy Spirit, 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 in the world.
Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity 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 weakness 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.
Through Christ our Lord, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life
for ever and ever.
Amen.+
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Pray for us
From the Coalface 