FAMILY PRAYER ON

PALM SUNDAY
The family will join the Liturgy this Sunday at the start of the Holy
Week, led by the Bishop or priest, through TV, Radio, Facebook or
any other media. It is best to have an altar on which the cross,
lighted candle and a palm that would be blessed during the cele-
bration. If one could not have a palm, other branches with leaves
may be prepared.

After the Mass, the family around the table may offer this prayer
before they eat.

INTRODUCTION:

Leader: In these most holy days of the year, we commemo-

rate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ. The liturgy of the Church invites us to
follow in His footsteps to Calvary, to bear His cross,
and to glorify Him in the victory of His Resurrection.
Let us strive to experience the greatness of His love
as He offer Himself for our salvation.

Leader: We adore you Oh Christ, and we praise you.

All: For by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the

world.

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PETITIONS:

Leader: The Son of God lives with us. With thanksgiving and
praise, let us pray to Him as we say:

R. / Lord, stay with us.

1. Lord Jesus, with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph,
you established the Holy Family. Remain in our homes,
that we may acknowledge You as our honored head. Let
us pray to the Lord. R. /

2. Lord Jesus, through You every home becomes a temple of

holiness. Strengthen all members of our family so that
we may be a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray
to the Lord. R. /

3. Lord Jesus, You strengthened Your disciples in times of

fear and need. Keep us ever mindful of your comforting
peace as a fruit of your death and resurrection. Let us
pray to the Lord. R. /

4. Lord Jesus, give us the strength and courage to serve You

in our home. Let us also be considerate of the needs of
other families, specially the poor and the suffering. Let us
pray to the Lord. R. /

5. Lord Jesus, You are the fount of life, heal those who are
suffering from COVID-19, protect our front liners and
those who minister to the sick, inspire and strengthen us
during this crisis, stop the transmission of this disease,
and give us an immediate solution in our difficulties. Let
us pray to the Lord. R. /

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THE LORDS PRAYER

Our Father…

PRAYER:

Leader: One with the Church throughout the world, we com-

memorate Lord, Your wonderful works of redemption.
Just as the people praise you as you enter Jerusalem
with their “Hosanna”, we welcome and acknowledge
You as the King of our family. Forgive us, for we have
deserted and have forgotten you because we are weak
and fearful. Strengthen us that we may give witness in
our lives the faith we have believed. Amen.

BLESSING:
All mark themselves with the sign of the cross as they pray:

All: May the Lord be with us, (+) protect us from all evil and
unite us in heart and mind. Amen.

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 PRAYER OF THE FAMILY ON
HOLY THURSDAY
At the beginning of the Easter Triduum, this night each family will
celebrate the Liturgy of the Evening of the Lord’s Supper led by the
Bishop or priest, through TV, Radio, Facebook or any other media.
It is best to have a table where the cross is placed, and a candle lit.
If considered meaningful, you may prepare pitcher filled with wa-
ter, a basin, towels and soap for the ritual of washing.

After following the Mass, this prayer may be offered by the family
before they eat.

INTRODUCTION:

Leader: On this first day of the Paschal Triduum, the Church

commemorates the establishment of two of the
most important Sacraments: the Ministerial Priest-
hood and the Eucharist. Although physically, we
are far from the Church where the Eucharist is cele-
brated, we believe that the Lord does not deny His
presence with us in our home as we are the
“Domestic Church.”

And so let us pray:

(the family makes the Act of Spiritual Communion)

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PRAYER OF THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in

the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above
all things, and I desire to receive You into
my soul. Since I cannot at this moment re-
ceive You sacramentally, come at least spir-
itually into my heart. I embrace You as if
You were already there and unite myself
wholly to You. Never permit me to be sepa-
rated from You. Amen.

A SYMBOL OF LOVE AND HUMBLE

SERVICE IN THE FAMILY:

Leader: In older tradition, Holy Thursday is called Maundy

Thursday because on this night Jesus gave the
commandments: "Do this in memory of me", and,
"Love one another as I have loved you". In keeping
with these commandments, the Eucharist the Sac-
rament of Love, is a sign that proclaims God's love
for us. That mark of love becomes concrete when
we witness it, in our love for one another. So let us
offer each other the sign of our love.

Leader: The Gospel tells of what the Lord did to His disci-
ples: The Master washed the feet of His disciples.
He also commanded: "Wash one another's feet."
As a mark of our humble service to one another,
we wash one another.

(If it is difficult to wash the feet, hand washing is possible,

a practice that is necessary and meaningful in this time of the
pandemic.)

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THE LORD’S PRAYER:

Our Father…

PRAYER:

Leader: Our dear Jesus, tonight we celebrate Your last sup-

per with Your friends. It was not just a typical din-
ner. You have made your own Body and Blood as
our food. The very same body, which you have
offered on Calvary in atonement for our sins and for
our salvation. Make us always grateful for Your
gifts, as we thank you for the dinner we share to-
day. We welcome your invitation to partake of the
Sacrament of Your love. May we have the courage
to put into action the truth of your love, as we love
one another. Amen.

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 PRAYER OF THE FAMILY ON
GOOD FRIDAY

IN THE MORNING:
Traditionally in the morning of Good Friday, we join in the medita-
tions of the Way of the Cross. However, we cannot do it this time.
Every home can continue with this beautiful prayer as a family, by
reflecting the Way of the Cross at home. To dispose ourselves in
prayer, we prepare table where a Cross placed and a candle lit.

AFTER THE LITURGY OF GOOD FRIDAY:

The family will join the Liturgy of

Good Friday, commemorating the
death of Jesus at Calvary, led by
the Bishop or priest, through TV,
Radio, Facebook or any other me-
dia. It is best to have a table
where the cross is placed, and a
candle lit. During this day, we
have the custom of venerating
the Cross of Jesus where He shed
His life for us. As we could not do
this as a community, we venerate
the Cross of our salvation by
praying the Litany of Supplication
used by Pope Francis in the Extra-
ordinary Urbi et Orbi Blessing.

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 LITANY OF SUPPLICATION

R:/ We adore you, O Lord

True God and true man, truly present in this holy Sacrament.
Our Savior, God with us, faithful and rich in mercy
King and Lord of creation and of history
Conqueror of sin and death
Friend of humankind, the Risen One, the Living One who sits
at the right hand of the Father.

R:/ We believe in you, O Lord

Only begotten Son of the Father, descended from heaven
for our salvation
Heavenly physician, who bows down over our misery
Lamb who was slain, who offer yourself to rescue us from
evil
Good Shepherd, who give your life for the flock which you
love
Living bread and medicine for immortality, who give us eter-
nal life

R:/ Deliver us, O Lord

From the power of Satan and the seductions of the world
From the pride and presumption of being able to do any-
thing without you
From the deceptions of fear and anxiety
From unbelief and desperation
From hardness of heart and the incapacity to love

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R:/ Save us, O Lord
From every evil that afflicts humanity
From hunger, from famine and from egoism
From illnesses, epidemics and the fear of our brothers and
sisters
From devastating madness, from ruthless interests and from
violence
From being deceived, from false information and the manip-
ulation of consciences

R:/ Comfort us, O Lord

Protect your Church which crosses the desert
Protect humanity terrified by fear and anguish
Protect the sick and the dying, oppressed by loneliness
Protect doctors and healthcare providers exhausted by the
difficulties they are facing
Protect politicians and decision makers who bear the weight
of having to make decisions

R:/ Grant us your Spirit, O Lord

In the hour of trial and from confusion
In temptation and in our fragility
In the battle against evil and sin
In the search for what is truly good and true joy
in the decision to remain in you and in your friendship

R:/ Open us to hope, O Lord

Should sin oppress us
Should hatred close our hearts
Should sorrow visit us
Should indifference cause us anguish
Should death overwhelm us

We conclude the Litany by praying the Oratio Imperata Against

COVID-19.

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 FAMILY PRAYER ON THEIR
FIRST MEAL ON EASTER
It may be used before supper after the Liturgy of the Easter or at
mealtime after the Liturgy of Easter Sunday.

INTRODUCTION:

All: In the name of

the Father, and
of the Son (+),
and of the Holy
Spirit.

R./ Amen.

Leader: Christ has risen.

Alleluia.

R./ He is truly alive.

Alleluia.

Leader: Throughout the Lenten Season we have prepared

ourselves for the celebration of the Lord's Resurrec-
tion through prayer, fasting and acts of charity. It is
a sign of our hunger and thirst for holiness that can
only be filled by Christ who feeds and strengthens
us through His word and the sacraments. As we
gather at the table for the first meal of Easter, we
pray that this may be a sign of the heavenly resur-
rection that the Lord has in store for us.

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GOSPEL:
Let us Listen to Word in the Gospel according to Luke
(24: 13-35)

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples
were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Em-
maus, and they were conversing about all the things that had
occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and
debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but
their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked
them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They
stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said
to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does
not know of the things that have taken place there in these
days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said
to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who
was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to
a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that
he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is
now the third day since this took place. Some women from our
group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early
in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and

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reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who an-
nounced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to
the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but
him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish
you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these
things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and
all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him
in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which
they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on
farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly even-
ing and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took
bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but
he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on
the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at
once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered to-
gether the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The
Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then
the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he
was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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PETITIONS:

Leader: The Son of God who invited us to the Resurrection

is here and ready to help us in our needs. Let us call
upon him:

R./ Lord, prepare us for the resurrection of life.

That this feast of the Resurrection cleanse us from sin and

make us ready to the gift of conversion to new life. Let us
pray to the Lord. R. /

That the food we share in this table remind us of the bread of

life we receive in the Eucharist. Let us pray to the Lord.
R. /

That from this table, may we share what we have with the
hungry and thirsty. Let us pray to the Lord. R. /

That we may share in the joy of the Lord's resurrection in his

heavenly kingdom. Let us pray to the Lord. R. /

That as we commemorate your victory over sin and death,

grant healing for those who are infected with COVID-19,
protect those in the frontlines and those who minister to
the sick, encourage and strengthen us during this crisis, ,
stop the transmission of the disease, and provide imme-
diate solution in our difficulty. Let us pray to the Lord.
R. /

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THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father…

PRAYER OF BLESSING:

Leader: Lord of glory, our eyes are fixed on You, as we cele-

brate Christ's victory over sin and death. May we
who share in the Lord's table continue to celebrate
the joy of His Resurrection and at last receive us in
the Eternal Banquet of Heaven. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING:

All: May Christ nurture and strengthen (+) us in faith

and love, now and forever. Amen.

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