The Blessing of Children

The Blessing of Children

Prayers for Before Blessing Your Children

It is appropriate to pray one or both of the following before blessing your children.

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have the blessed me/us with the joy and care of children: Give me/us calm strength and patient wisdom as I/we bring them up, that I/we may teach them to love what is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

And/or this

Almighty God, who is always more ready to grant than we to ask, bless these my hands made in your image, grant that they may be worthy to bless in your holy name, all this I ask in the name of your son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God now forever. Amen.

Then bless your children using one of the forms below.

An Evening Blessing

When bed time has come and they are tucked in, place you hand on your child’s head and say

My Son/Daughter, may Almighty God grant you a quiet night and peaceful rest

Then tracing the sign of the cross on their forehead say

and may the blessing of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Then kiss them and tell them you love them!

A Morning Blessing

After you have woken your child, place you hand on your child’s head and say

My Son/Daughter, may Almighty God grant you to love what is just and true and good and avoid all sin

Then tracing the sign of the cross on their forehead say

and may the blessing of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Then kiss them and tell them you love them!

A Blessing on the Eve of Sunday

                               

Before the Saturday meal, the family should gather and the father or mother should lead the family in the following prayer.

O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Then the parents should call the children before them the oldest first and then each parent in turn should place their hands upon the child’s head and bless them with the following words.

For a son

May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe, the brothers who loved one another, and like the Blessed Apostles Andrew and Peter who when called followed the Lord. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

For a daughter

May God make you like Sara, Rebeca, Rachel, or Leah, the women whose trust in God created a nation, and like the Blessed Virgin who answered God’s call and gave birth to our Lord and Savior and followed him to the end. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Then the parent should kiss the child and the other parent should bless them. Then the next child should be called up until all the children have been blessed.

A Birthday Blessing

A Child’s Birthday is a great chance to show your love for them with a blessing. This shouldn’t be a done at a birthday party, but rather in a more private context. The family should gather and the father or mother should lead the family in the following prayer.

O God, our times are in your hand:  Look with favor, we pray, on your servant N. as he begins another year.  Grant that s/he may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen his trust in your goodness all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Then the parents should lay their hands on the child and bless him/her with following words.

Watch over thy child, O Lord, as his/her days increase; bless and guide him/her wherever s/he may be. Strengthen him/her when s/he stands; comfort him/her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him/her up if s/he falls; and in his/her heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of his/her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.