Building a Family Culture of Prayer

Ideas and Suggestions from Some of Our Favorite Catholics

(First two phots by Kim Baile for Theology of Home II)

Years ago, when I was a fresh convert studying for my Master’s degree at Franciscan University, it was also striking to see many large families at Mass. But there was one family prayer ritual that always stuck out - the Hahn Huddle. It was Scott Hahn and his family huddling up after Mass in prayer.

I recently asked Scott what prayers their family said together. He said, “I would usually lead with an extemporaneous prayer of thanksgiving followed by a Hail Mary. Sometimes Kimberly or one of the older kids would lead. Over and done in less than 2-3 minutes.” But to an outside (and a newly initiated one) it was powerful. It seemed simple and concrete witness to the idea of a family praying together and staying together.

So we decided to ask some of our friends (and ourselves!) what family prayers or devotions they do to keep their family united to each other and God.

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Denise Trull: With seven young children very close in age, bedtime was bedlam for a long time with us. Socks were flung every which way, after shoes were flipped as high in the air as they could go. If you were not faint of heart, you could enjoy an impromptu, high level gymnastics routine being performed at the top of our squeaky, red, steel bunk bed. Pajamas were sought in all the far flung corners of the room, and eventually were plopped over heads. Teeth were brushed, and water splashed to the sound of squeals. Night time books were carefully chosen and added to the island of blankets in the middle of some child's carefully built nest. Getting ready for bed was cacophony times seven in our house!

Then Tony would say with a friendly bellow, "Let's pray!" and everyone ran for their beds and dove in. We all prayed a night offering, then Tony took Holy Water and went around to each bed and made a sign of the cross in water on each child's forehead. That was my cue to sit down in the hall so everyone could hear, and I would sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" -- all the verses in precisely the same way each night. The critics were exacting. And slowly, slowly, noises died down and heads snuffled into pillows. Lights were turned off as I made it to the end of the last verse.

That was our nightly prayer ritual for years. I can still see Tony going from room to room, and bed to bed, blessing each child. The Peace of Christ is a real thing, believe me. I saw it there on those upturned faces as their Dad blessed them each one with a watery splash of grace. It was a beautiful thing. Praise Him!

Denise Trull is a mother of seven and a grandmother. You can find her at The Inscapist.