Father Peyton, families, Tobit, and prayer

Photo courtesy Museum of Mayo

Father Peyton was right. The great prayer crusader emphasized, by whatever means at hand, the necessity of prayer—especially family prayer. As he repeatedly said: "The family that prays together, stays together."

We've been reading from the Book of Tobit for the past few days...

And today's reading gives a wonderful example of a new family's prayer!

I won't go into the details of Sarah's troubles and Tobiah's love. Read the Book of Tobit for yourself, if you like. (It's a gift!)

But listen to the newlywed's prayer on their wedding night:

“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers,
praised be your name forever and ever.
Let the heavens and all your creation
praise you forever.
You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve
to be his help and support;
and from these two the human race descended.
You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone;
let us make him a partner like himself.’
Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine
not because of lust,
but for a noble purpose.
Call down your mercy on me and on her,
and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”

They said together, “Amen, amen,” and went to bed for the night.

Isn't that terrific?

I don't exactly have a family—blood kin—to pray with.

Oh, I've got sisters and aunts and uncles and in-laws, but they all live far away. My "family" prayer—which I treasure—is daily Mass and the Rosary. At home, I pray by myself...and my guardian angel. But I certainly remember, as a child, praying with my parents and my sisters every night.

If you live with your family, pray together!

Grace before meals, at least, and—at some point during the day—a Rosary, or a Chaplet.

"The family that prays together, stays together."

May the family of God unite in prayer, and may Our Father continue to bless us. Amen.