The greatest enemy to family life is also the most unseen one. From the very beginning of time, Satan has sought to divide the family. Even his name in Greek, diabolos, means “to divide.”
A powerful weapon against this insidious foe is devotion to the Virgin Mary.
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This is why the devil hates the Virgin Mary
During the Rite of Exorcism the priest will pray, “The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you; she who by her humility and from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception crushed your proud head.”
Her humility was so radical that it crushes the “proud head” of Satan, and it remains the surest defense against him and his attacks.
St. Alpohnsus Liguori, a saint who devoted himself to the Blessed Mother, composed a prayer for families to dedicate themselves to the Virgin Mary, and invokes her protection against all assaults of the devil.
Oh Blessed and Immaculate Virgin, our Queen and Mother, refuge and consolation of all those who are in misery, I, prostrate before thy throne with all my family, choose thee for my Lady, Mother, and Advocate with God.I, with all who belong to me, dedicate myself forever to thy service, and pray thee, oh Mother of God, to receive us into the number of thy servants, taking us all under thy protection, aiding us in life, and still more, at the hour of our death.Oh Mother of Mercy, I choose thee Lady and ruler of my whole house, of my relatives, my interests, and all my affairs. Do not disdain to take care of them; dispose of them all as it pleases thee.Bless me, then, and all my family, and do not permit that any of us should offend thy Son. Do thou defend us in temptations, deliver us from dangers, provide for us in our necessities, counsel us in our doubts, console us in afflictions, be with us in sickness, and especially in the agonies of death.Do not permit the devil to glory in having in his chains any of us who are now consecrated to thee; but grant that we may come to thee in heaven to thank thee, and together with thee to praise and love our Redeemer Jesus for all eternity. Amen, thus may it be.
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A powerful prayer to St. Joseph for the conversion of a family member
And today we celebrate...