There is no such thing as a family that has never fought, just as there is no such thing as a friendship without misunderstandings every now and then. It’s normal for family members to have quarrels and disagreements, but what matters is that these ‘falling-outs’ are not allowed to fester into a much bigger feud. Everyone, no matter who’s in the wrong, should set aside their differences and listen attentively to each other’s point of view, and then develop a solution together.
When things get difficult, we can always turn to the Lord and ask Him for help as the Mediator through this prayer to resolve family problems.
Prayer for unity and peace in the family
Our Loving Creator,
Your Heavenly breath brought life to the sands of the Earth and now lives within us. You took Your time creating each living creature and forming each landscape. You created humanity according to Your own image, and it is a great honor to be Your child and be of Your likeness.
I may be of Your likeness, Lord God, but I am not of Your purity. I am a sinful creature easily swayed by earthly pleasures and Satan’s temptations. I may be a sinner, but I know that I will be forgiven and saved. No amount of work can buy eternity, but I know that it matters not how much money I have or how famous my name is, but what really counts is the heartfelt service that I offer to other people as long as I am under the banner of Christ my Savior.
I struggle to stand on my own two feet, but with You by my side, I am unstoppable. Thank You for giving me companions in life and wonderful people who have been with me since I was born and continue to be my most trusted friends as I continue down my own path. My mouth lacks the appropriate words to say that I am grateful for my family; a mere ‘thank you’ would be an understatement. I know that there are times when I have not loved my family as much as I should and that there are times when we fight and quarrel. But what matters most, Lord God is that You are at the center of our household, that it is Your Name we are singing and praising.
As I am faced with worries that have taken root in my heart, I fervently call Your Name with this prayer for family unity so that You may strengthen my family and fix whatever evil has filled the gaps in our relationship as a household of Christ. A strong house needs a solid foundation, and so a strong household needs a solid foundation rooted in Your Word and Your will. May You watch over our family and not let the misunderstandings fester and widen the cracks.
This is my simple prayer that I lovingly ask, hoping that it will reach Your divine ears. Protect my family, Lord God. Unite us and strengthen us, and may You be the foundation of our household.
Amen.
Short prayer for peace and unity in the family
Lord God,
I praise Your Name and good works; Your mercy, magnificence, and majesty are unmatched. I humbly ask for Your protection for my family against evil and anything that could tear us apart. We are a household of Christ; wipe away any hint of pride, hatred, anger, or doubt, and grant our family unity, peace, and harmony instead.
You are the light that keeps our household happy and content. In this world of darkness, may Your light shine forevermore.
Amen.
The Word of God
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:13 NRSVUE
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
Acts 16:31-34 NRSVUE
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph, you are the virtuous head of the Holy Family and the earthly father of Jesus Christ, the one who protected and cared for Him and Mary. I am praying to you with respect and honor in my heart and a desire to have a peaceful, albeit imperfect, family.
I know that while God chose you and Mary to bear and take care of Jesus, your family life was never perfect, and as a family, you encountered many hardships in life. Still, it inspires me that you managed to hold on together and put your faith and trust in God despite the uncertainties and the enemies surrounding you, trying to endanger your family.
Saint Joseph, I am humbly reaching out to you through this prayer for peace and unity in the family, hopeful that you will hear my call. I have watched my family members disagree, fight, hate and even hold grudges against each other. It pains me to see this, and I don’t want my family to be broken and destroyed.
My prayer also goes out to those who come from broken families. May their families finally set aside their differences and the misunderstandings of the past, and may they have a joyous reunion that will bring decades of love and memories to cherish.
This is my prayer, Saint Joseph. Pray for us.
Further reflection
Don’t forget to reach out to the Lord through prayer for unity and closeness in the family. This can be a regular habit instead of just a prayer for when things get tough. In fact, some Christian families dedicate a certain time of the day (usually before or after dinner or before bedtime) to pray together as a whole, even for just a few minutes. When a sole person prays earnestly, his voice is powerful and heard by the Lord. But when an entire family offers a prayer for uniting family to God, their voices magnify a hundredfold.
Some Christian parents also teach their children early on how to pray to God and His Holy Mother by having them repeat after they recite a prayer. This can also be an excellent exercise to bond with children and to bring them closer to the Lord, especially through prayer to resolve family problems, which can help soothe the little ones in times of disagreement. In this way, they learn to approach the Lord whenever chaos wrecks havoc in the family and seek His help first and foremost.
In times of uncertainty and disagreement, especially involving our dearest loved ones, take a deep breath, get comfortable, and offer a prayer to the Lord.
