Catholic blogger fail confession time–we are not That Catholic Family that does a morning blessing, says grace before every meal, and prays a nightly rosary. Not even close.
It’s not that we haven’t had good intentions. We’ve tried off and on over the many, many years (26 and counting, y’all) of having kids to come up with a family prayer routine that stuck. But to everything there is a season, and some of our seasons have been more fruitful in this area than others.
Every morning, John prays with William in the car on the way to school. And he did this with the big kids from the time they were little kids. I love that he does this. And right now we are rocking the family evening prayer because Advent. But we need to do better and I found something that might help.
Gracewatch Media has just published a lovely book by Jerry Windley-Daoust of Peanut Butter and Grace. The Catholic Family Book of Prayers is available for preview and/or purchase in a variety of formats right here. I was provided with a free copy in exchange for my honest review, and I am going to cherish it always because it is a beautiful book that every Catholic family should have it their library.
Seriously, before I go any further I suggest you buy this book right now if you need a wedding gift, a new baby or baptism gift, or an RCIA gift (or of course a Christmas gift for the Catholic families you know!).
The book is aptly subtitled A Treasury of Prayers and Meditations for Families to Pray Together because it really is a treasure. The content alone–basically every important Catholic prayer–would be enough to give it this status but this little volume packs in so much more: illustrations varying in style but all beautiful, explanations of prayers and traditions along with support from the Catechism, suggestions of different ways to pray, and inspirational quotations on prayer from the saints are just some of what you will find within.
I hope this book will help me to continue our family’s evening prayer routine once Advent comes to a close. Please do your family a favor and buy a copy!
Praying as a Family
I love this! I don’t think it really matters what family prayer looks like. Just as we are all unique every family is different and the point is to pray with our kids in some fashion. I love the prayer on the way to school your husband does, that will be esspecially engrained in the little hearts forever.