This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my “About Me” page for more details.

Our family life is hectic, chaotic and disorganized.

And that was before we were blessed with children.

There are certain times we do come together to pray on a consistent basis, and, well – if we can do it, then I am sure you can too!

When do we pray?

We pray consistently before meals and before bedtime.

We make a serious effort to eat dinner as a family.  Lately, it has been a challenge and it doesn’t always happen, but that is not the norm.  One thing we do well is family dinner time.

If having dinner together in your family is the norm, that makes praying beforehand a completely attainable goal.

We also pray before bedtime.

Part of our “tucking in” routine involves bedtime prayer.  In our house it usually is just one parent at this stage, but we have done this as a family as well.

What prayers do we say?

Before Dinner:

1. Grace Before Meals

Bless us Oh Lord and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty.  Through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

2. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we ask you to bless this house and all of us who live in it. Help us to live in peace and happiness.  May Your love enable us to strengthen and support each other, in every need so that together we may grow in Your love and our love for each other. Amen.

3. The Spiritual Adoption Prayer

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we love you very much.  We beg of you to spare the life of

(insert name or names here)

the unborn baby (babies) we have spiritually adopted who are in danger of abortion. Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Would you like a printable copy of these prayers?  Click Here: Free copy of Prayers Before Dinner

Want a BEAUTIFUL COPY of The Spiritual Adoption Prayer?  Click here: Spiritual Adoption Prayer designed by Meg Florkowski

Before Bedtime 

4. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Watch me Jesus through the night,

and wake me with the morning light. 

5. The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven;

hallow be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses; as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Would you like a printable version of these bedtime prayers?  Click here: Prayers Before Bedtime

This is where we are with our prayer life right now.

But I hope to bloom where we are planted.

I would love to someday pray the Rosary as a family after dinner.

Another goal I have to prayer journal more with our children.

“The family that prays together stays together; and if you stay together, you will love one another with the same love with which God loves each one of us. Love begins in the family. Peace begins in the family. Where there is love there is unity, peace and joy.”

Saint Mother Teresa

When do you pray as a family?  What prayers do you love to pray with your family?