Passage
When Sarah’s parents left the bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tobiah rose from bed and said to his wife, “My sister, come, let us pray and beg our Lord to grant us mercy and protection.”
She got up, and they started to pray and beg that they might be protected. He began with these words:
“Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors; blessed be your name forever and ever! Let the heavens and all your creation bless you forever.
You made Adam, and you made his wife Eve to be his helper and support; and from these two the human race has come.
You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a helper like himself.’
Now, not with lust, but with fidelity, I take this kinswoman as my wife. Send down your mercy on me and on her, and grant that we may grow old together. Bless us with children.”
They said together, “Amen, amen!”
Tobit 8:4-8
Today's Meditation
The power of a husband and wife’s prayer
What a beautiful passage from the book of Tobit we just read! We can see that the first thing they did once they got married was to get on their knees and pray together to God. God is given priority in their marriage. Even more beautiful is when Tobit, the husband, tells Sarah to pray. Nowadays, men don’t know their calling to be leaders of their houses—not just a physical leader but a spiritual leader. And therefore, our Church has called the husband the priest of the house.
Pray over each other
From the wedding day, God allows a spiritual union of the spouses’ souls and bodies. By natural law, in the sacrament of matrimony through the wedding vows, God gives bodily rights to each of them. This right given over to our spouse plays a lot when it comes to prayer. Prayer is now a different dynamic between husband and wife. The husband has double authority over his wife, the first authority by virtue of being the head of the matrimony, and the second authority is given by God through the bodily rights that we mentioned. The wife has single authority over her husband by virtue of having rights over his body acquired through the sacrament of matrimony. When praying over each other, the spouses can ask God for the graces necessary to become more holy and for healing of the spirit and the body. This is one of the most powerful things a wife and a husband can experience.
Spiritual welfare of the spouses
Demons are fallen angels and their desire is to destroy your marriage. all angels at the moment of their creation were instilled with natural law in their intellect, which means that they understand the order of authority among their beings and humans. Since they know that the husband has authority over the wife and the wife has authority over the husband, whenever one prays over the other spouse in the form of imprecatory prayer (prayers of command in the name of Jesus or Our Lady), demons will obey the natural order, which was created by God. Ultimately, all authority belongs to God, but by his love and mercy, he has bestowed upon married couples such rights over each other's bodies.
Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8. Prayer begs what it signifies, so be sure to know what you are praying for. God will dispose according to your prayer, knowing that everything is in his hands (his will) and that whatever he allows in your lives is for your own sanctification.
Your marriage needs God
If we are not praying, our soul is dying. Prayer is key in our spiritual lives and HUGE in our marriage. A marriage that does not pray does not depend on God. And thus, a marriage is on the brink of destruction. As married couples, we must never cease praying. When both spouses adopt the habit of praying over each other, there will be an increase in love because prayer brings out the best in us, allowing us to see each other as a gift from God and fall in love every day more. Let us take this Lenten season through prayer to open our marriage to God and his graces.
Today's Questions
1. Think about how you both have lived your prayer lives. Is it a daily habit? If not, what can you both do to make it a habit?
2. Has the husband taken the lead in prayer in the marriage? If not, how can the husband be encouraged to do so?
Today's Challenge
Pray daily over each other starting today!
Don't Forget
Pray together the HOLY ROSARY every day (sorrowful mysteries only)
Pray OVER EACH other every day
Let's Pray
Into your hands Mary, I commend the body and soul of (Name of your spouse). I ask you to watch over her (him) and protect her/him. I ask You to protect her (him) from the evil one. I ask You to enlighten her (his) mind, strengthen her (his) will and restrain her (his) appetites by Grace.
Our Lady and St. Michael, call down from heaven the legions of angels under your command to protect her (him). I ask of you all the things I ask of your guardian angel. Guardian Angel of (name of your spouse), under your intellectual and volitional protection I place her (his) body.
I ask you to enlighten her (his) mind and restrain her (his) appetites. I ask you to strengthen his cognitive power, her (his) memory and her (his) imagination. Help her (him) to remember the things she (he) should and not to remember the things she (he) should not. Help her to associate the things she (he) should and not associate the things she (he) should not. Give her (him) clear and good images in her (his) imagination.
I ask you to chase away all demons that could affect her while she is sleeping or during the course of the morning. Help her (him) to sleep and if you deem it prudent direct her (his) dreams. Help her (him) to wake up refreshed. Amen.
Prayer written by Fr. Char Ripperger MMXX
We recommend this prayer every night before going to sleep.
Dedicate to Jesus one HOLY HOUR of Adoration per week
