Day 3 Intention: Joy in Our Family
Family life has its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, but at its heart is love. Our families have members with unique personalities, desires and motivations, it is through this diversity that our family becomes a training ground for how to live in the world around us. If we can have healthy relationships in our family with those people whom God gave us to help make us holy, then we can surely treat people outside our family with love and respect.
Fostering this atmosphere of Joy and love within the family is the primary responsibility of the parents, but also of the children. Parents set the example and the children learn what it looks like to be loving and truly see the gifts in each member of the family. Families can foster Joy by engaging not only in the mundane activities of family life, but also by seeking out opportunities to play together. Through regular recreational activities, the family grows closer together, gets to know each other better and has fun together.
The Family has a “right to wholesome recreation of a kind that also fosters family values” (FC 46)
The Novena Prayer:
St. John Paul II, great champion of the family, we seek your intercession today that our family may be a family of joy. We ask that you inspire each of us to get to know each other better and to learn how to have fun with each other. Show us how to prioritize our family schedule to allow for times of family play. Inspire in us a desire to be holy and do our part to make our family a holy family and petition God to grant us the favor of the following intention(s):
For the success of the upcoming Retreat for Families
(mention any family specific intentions here)
St. John Paul II, help our family to always choose to love as God loves and be a witness to hope in our community. Amen
Closing Prayer – The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.