FOR FATHERS


     LET US honor deserving fathers of our Church with prayer to the Father in heaven. Let us honor the men whose fatherhood images God the Father the Almighty! They lovingly shepherd their families in his name!

     MAY ALL sincere fathers hold fast to faith in God! May they give their assent to his eternal Word! Even the sightless man who cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" merited your love, O heavenly Father.

     GRACIOUS GOD, strengthen the true fathers in our Christian community to receive the blessing of Christ! May every man who fathers a child be a true father to his child! May every father turn to you, O God, as his model of fatherhood.

     ST. JOSEPH, good shepherd of the Holy Family, guide and protect all men who father children. Charge them to do their best, to give their lives for their families.

     LOVING GOD, we pray for irresponsible fathers. May they courageously accept the healing power of your love. May your Holy Spirit make them faithful to your divine truth. May they never betray love by cruelty or shame. May struggling fathers learn from Christ--faithful over God's house as a son--to humble themselves before your will and soften their hardened hearts.

      ST. JOSEPH, confident in God and obedient to his angel, we pray that fathers and their families prepare for the hour in which their faith is tested!

     ACCEPT GOD'S love, fathers, in the name of all that is innocent and helpless, for Christ is very near to you! Do you not see him at play with your children, or hear him in your sons laughter or behold him in the joy of your daughters smile? Recognize, dear fathers, the value of the children God has given you. Accept the responsibility! Who fathers a child who will not be judged by the Father in heaven?

     THIS WE pray in Jesus name. Amen. 



[cf. Ordinary Time Week 30 Year A]

 

© Richard E. Barker 2007