Family Prayers and Activities
There has always been a tradition of family prayer in Catholic homes. For many generations it was popular to pray the rosary together. In recent years some families have begun reading scripture as a family. Many families continue to pray at table, either in the form of spontaneous prayer or a more formal prayer (“saying grace”). At bedtime, many parent(s) bless their children and pray with them. Catholic homes are also graced with the use of sacramentals on a daily basis, especially the burning of a candle and use of holy water.” (Dues, Greg., 1992. p. 34) Best Picks & Resources (Books, Media & others):
- 66 free prayer resources with link to hundreds of other resources: Catholic Online.org.
- Hahn, Scott. Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots Mystic. CT.: Twenty – Amazon.com. 2019. You can also see videos done by Fr. Richard Toohey as he walks through these customs in short videos. Click on the link to the Our Lady of Peace website.
- Merrick, James, PhD. How to Worship at Home With Your Family. Ascension Press.com. 2022
Diocese of Erie Media Catalog: (Videos/DVDs must be rented through your parish Religious Education Leader)
- For a list of DVDs to use for family prayer click here.