And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” (Gospel for Aug. 15, Lk 1:46-48)
Praying together brings families closer to God and closer to each other. When Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, the first thing they do is pray: Elizabeth declares a blessing that we repeat every time we say a Hail Mary, and Mary responds with a hymn of praise called the Magnificat. Blessed Michael McGivney, whose feast day we celebrate Aug. 13, came from a prayerful home, and because of his work to strengthen families, we call him the “apostle of Christian family life.” May we seek to make our own homes places of prayer to strengthen our families and draw nearer to God.
This month, I challenge you to pray every day as an individual or as a family, asking the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney to live in a more prayerful home, perhaps using the prayer for his canonization. Second, I challenge you to assist your council in the Faith in Action Family Prayer Night or Family Week program, incorporating devotions to Father McGivney into your efforts.
Do you maintain good and regular habits of prayer in your home? Where is there room for improvement in your family prayer life? What is one specific thing you could do to deepen your own prayer life?