In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Help is in the Name of the Lord,
Who made Heaven and Earth.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
______________________________
Opening Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, You granted to St. Stanislaus, your faithful bishop and martyr, the grace to stand firm in the truth of the Gospel and to give his life in defence of justice and righteousness. Grant that through his intercession, we may receive the grace we seek during this novena. Strengthen our faith, deepen our hope, and increase our charity, that we may live courageously in the light of Your Gospel till the end. (Add your personal intention). We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scriptural Reading, Life, Examples & Legacies (Part 4)
Psalm 133:1 – “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
______________________
Meditation: The family is the first school of love, the foundational community where human life is nurtured, values are passed on, and faith is first encountered. When the family is strong, society is strengthened. But when the home is divided or broken, the effects ripple outward into communities, nations, and even the Church. In today’s world, families are under immense pressure. Marital breakdowns, domestic violence, lack of communication, financial instability, generational gaps, the influence of secular ideologies, and the busyness of modern life have made it difficult for many families to live in harmony. Even where there is no dramatic crisis, many households suffer from coldness, distance, or unresolved wounds.
St. Stanislaus understood the importance of the family in both civil and ecclesiastical life. As a bishop, he did not view the family merely as a social unit, but as a sacred space: a “domestic Church” where the love of God is meant to flourish. He actively worked to restore peace in families, encouraged reconciliation among estranged members, and denounced abuses of authority within homes, whether from fathers who were tyrannical, or from those who abandoned their responsibilities. He often acted as a mediator between family members, even in noble and royal households. He reminded the faithful that love and justice must begin at home. A society cannot hope to have peace in the streets if there is chaos at the dinner table.
The family is also the place where faith is first taught, not necessarily through theological lessons, but through witness: a mother kneeling in prayer, a father forgiving with tenderness, siblings helping each other, meals shared with gratitude, and difficulties faced with trust in God. Such examples imprint themselves on the hearts of children far more deeply than any catechism class ever can. Today, we are invited to pray earnestly for peace in families: for spouses in conflict, for children caught in the crossfire of divorce, for single parents carrying burdens alone, for families dealing with addiction, unemployment, or spiritual apathy. We pray for healing where there has been betrayal, forgiveness where there is bitterness, and renewed unity where communication has been lost. We must also look at our own family relationships. Do we foster peace, or contribute to tension? Are there wounds in our homes that still need healing? Are we quick to forgive, or do we hold grudges? Do we take time to pray together, or has God become a stranger in our households?
St. Stanislaus challenges us not to give up on our families. No matter how damaged or distant, God can restore what seems impossible. The path may be slow, but grace works patiently. Through prayer, humility, and sacramental life, homes can become again what they were meant to be: places of warmth, faith, and love. Through the intercession of St. Stanislaus, may our families become havens of peace and sanctuaries of grace where the love of Christ reigns.
Litany of St. Stanislaus:
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, devoted shepherd, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, fearless witness to truth, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, martyr of the altar, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, defender of justice, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, humble and obedient servant, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, intercessor for the Church, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, protector of the oppressed, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, faithful in prayer, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, patron of Poland, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, model for bishops, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Stanislaus, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Concluding Prayer
Heavenly Father, bring peace to our homes. Heal divisions and teach us the power of forgiveness. Through the intercession of St. Stanislaus, bless our families with love, understanding, and mutual support. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Through the intercession of St. Stanislaus, may Almighty God bless us + in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Stanislaus, guardian of family peace, pray for us!
Shalom!
Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
___________________________________
PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?
