The Family Fully Alive Building the Domestic Church PRAYERS, MEDITATIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO ENRICH YOUR FAMILY LIFE Copyright © 2016 by Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. All rights reserved. Cover: The Holy Family by Giovanni Balestra (1774–1842), Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Rome, Italy. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Write: Knights of Columbus Supreme Council PO Box 1971 New Haven, CT 06521-1971 www.kofc.org/domesticchurch
[email protected] 203-752-4270 203-752-4018 fax Printed in the United States of America TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction by Past Supreme Knight Carl Anderson . .1 What Is the Domestic Church? . .4 Laying the Cornerstone of Your Domestic Church . .9 Part 1: Building the Domestic Church Throughout the Liturgical Year December – Joy . .13 January – Family Prayer . .16 February – The Sacrament of Marriage . .19 March – Family Difficulties . .22 April – Mercy and Forgiveness . .25 May – Hope . .28 June – Self-giving Love . .30 July – Witnessing to the Faith . .33 August – Hospitality . .36 September – Charity . .38 October – Together on Mission . .41 November – The Communion of Saints . .44 Part 2: Resources for Every Domestic Church Basic Catholic Beliefs . .47 What Is Prayer? . .49 How to Pray as a Family . .51 Prayers for Every Family . .54 Liturgical Celebrations Throughout the Year . .66 Meditations on Family Life . .67 Additional Resources . .76 INTRODUCTION In founding the Knights of Columbus, Blessed Michael McGivney sought to respond to the crisis in family life affecting Catholics in 19th-century America.