Pro-Life Month – Day Twenty-Four

“I think the world today is upside down. Everybody seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches and so on. There is much suffering because there is so very little love in homes and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other; there is no time to enjoy each other. In the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”  (Mother Teresa)

• Encourage and strengthen family life by participating or organising a Family Fun Day. In Auckland Bishop Pat Dunn will join us on February 5th, 2012 for good old fashioned races and games and entertainment. He will then lead us in prayer, finishing with a blessing for all children, and a special blessing for those children in the womb and their mothers.  All people are invited – young old, married, single, Religious – in this way we strengthen too, the family of God.

Prayer for Family Life

Dear Lord, with Mary and Joseph, you have lived within a family;
Teach me always to appreciate the precious gift of being part of a family.  Show me ever new ways to protect and comfort those closest to me, and let me, each day, do something that will say ‘I love you’ without speaking the words.  But remind me also to frequently say those words.  Let me never part from any member of my family in anger.  Prompt me always to turn back without delay -to forgive, and be forgiven.  And let me see your image within each person in my own family, and in my greater family, knowing that in your Kingdom, we will truly be one family, united by your sacrifice on the cross.  Amen.