Pope S Family Prayer Book

Collection of prayers suggested by Pope Paul VI.

Pope Francis has often expressed his concern for the urgent pastoral needs of families in today's society. Underscoring that deep love and concern for the family, the Pope has spent many months speaking on this subject in his weekly Wednesday audience talks. This book is a collection of all of those talks about the family from Dec. 17, 2014 to Sept. 16, 2015. The Pope covers a wide variety of important subjects directly related to family life, speaking in his personal style that offers wisdom and practical insights for the modern family. His words are for families in general, and also directed to the important roles of all those specific persons who make up family life – husbands, wives, parents, children and grandparents. He emphasizes the deep crisis that the family and marriage are undergoing in the Western world, and says that the family is "a new mission field for the Church." He challenges families today to be witnesses to the world of love, fidelity, and service. Some of the specific topics his talks address include: the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth; transmitting the faith; educating the children; family prayer; complementarity of male and female; celebration in family life; mercy and forgiveness; dealing with illness and death; learning the value of work; poverty and economic struggles; evangelizing the culture, and much more. Throughout his addresses, the Holy Father especially emphasizes the primary role of God and faith in family life, and the crucial importance of regular family prayer to draw on God's grace for strength, love, joy and unity within the home. "The true joy which we experience in the family is not superficial; it does not come from material objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well. . . . True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something which we all feel in our hearts." – Pope Francis

Family life today can be so fast-paced and hectic that couples rarely carve out the time to pray together. Here is one way for husbands and wives to both pray together and benefit from the beauty and wisdom of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia). Each two-page reflection contains an excerpt from Pope Francis' letter, a question for couples to ponder, and a short prayer that they can pray alone or together. Couples will be blessed by the Holy Father's words as well as by the experience of praying for their marriage and their family.

This reformated and updated edition of A Prayer Book for Catholic Families is an invaluable resource for Catholic families who value traditional prayer but are not always sure how to incorporate it into contemporary life. Designed with the typical modern family in mind, the book teaches families what to pray and how to pray-and does so in a way that doesn't require a lot of time or any special knowledge on their part. It includes all the basic Catholic prayers, covering a broad array of topics and situations in life.

This timely fourth title in the Bringing Lent Home series by EWTN host and popular author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle invites families with children to let the wisdom and spiritual insight of Pope Francis be their guide through Lent. The story of the popular Holy Father’s life, brief words of inspiration from him, and a variety of prayers and activities are included for each of the 40 days of Lent. Known for his humility and concern for the poor, Pope Francis has been an inspiration to millions of Catholics and non-Catholics alike since he became the Church’s first Jesuit pope in 2013. In Bringing Lent Home with Pope Francis, popular author and EWTN host Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle , offers Pope Francis as a guide through Lent. Guided by the threefold Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the booklet offers inspiring stories, practical ideas for family prayer, easy-to-do activities, and suggestions for conversations. Building on the popularity of Bringing Lent Home with St. John Paul II, Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa and Bringing Lent Home with St. Thérèse of Lisieux, this edition provides the same practical elements: a quotation from Pope Francis, a story about his life, and practical suggestions for living the threefold call of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Parents can enhance their own daily prayer by using the booklet’s reflections for parents. On Sundays, families focus on the themes assigned to that Sunday of Lent, and Cooper O’Boyle suggests a project for the week ahead. The booklet can be used with any of the three Catholic lectionary cycles. Previous books in the series have been praised by parents, catechists, and pastors alike as helpful, creative, and transformative resources.

This popular duo has teamed up again in a second volume of their best-selling Here I Am, Lord collection of prayers and prayer starters for teens. With their hard-won insight into the lives of teenagers, the authors have created a second youth prayer companion to encourage teens from 14 to 17 to pray about the big issues they face every day. Like Volume 1, this book uses touching stories, personal prayer examples and insightful questions, teens are gently guided to consider the important issues of life such as goodness, sexuality, humility, beauty, faith, and courage as well as to formulate their own responses to the God who calls each of us by name. What makes Here I Am, Lord, Volume 2 significant is that the chapters combine old and new stories, saints and rock lyrics, stories, poems, and parables about the "hot topics" the authors have heard teens actually discuss! Suitable for use in confirmation or religious education classes, Here I Am, Lord, Volume 2 can help today's Catholic youth navigate these often traumatic and challenging years with renewed Faith and deeper commitment.