I’ve had this strong conviction to not only pray more intentionally for my children but to purposefully set them aside and put them under the care of the Father. I want to share with you how to consecrate our children; the how, and why. Really my prayer convictions have included my husband, myself, friends, and family as well. I’m being called into a more purposeful prayer life.
The first part of this prayer life is the reminder or realization that prayer is a conversation with God–about anything, everything, and everyone. There is nothing too small or too big to take Him in prayer. I began this purposeful prayer the other day by consecrating my children to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
The word “Consecrate” means–to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity; to devote or dedicate to some purpose (there’s my One Word “Purpose”). So to consecrate our children means to declare them sacred, to set them apart, or dedicate them to the service of God.
Consecrating my children to the service of God is the ultimate end of my prayer I believe. I can’t save them or make them believe in God but I can, through my prayers set them apart and dedicate them to His service. You may be saying, “Ok, so consecrate them to God. Why Jesus, Mary, and Joseph?” Let me share the prayer I used first and then we’ll talk about that.
Consecrating Our Children
O Jesus,only Son of God, only Son of Mary, I come to Thee as an unworthy parent, and I humbly consecrate to thy Most Sacred Heart, now and for eternity, the soul of my child N. I surrender him/her to Thy sweet yoke and place him/her at the foot of Thy Cross. I offer Thee for him/her the most loving Heart of Thy Most Holy Mother Mary, which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts, and I beg Thee by her merits to show Thyself to him/her a Savior.
O Mary, Mother of Jesus, I come to Thee as an unworthy parent, and I humbly consecrate to thy Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, now and for eternity, the soul of my child N. I offer Thee for him/her the most adorable Heart of Thy Son Jesus, who is the life, love and joy of Thy own Heart, and I beg Thee by the infinite merits of the Divine Son, Thou who art our Mother in the order of grace, to obtain the grace of salvation for my child.
O glorious St. Joseph, I come to thee and ask thee to take under thy special protection my child N. I consecrate him/her to thee today, that through this consecration he/she, they may become your foster child. Guard him/her, guide his/her steps in life, and form his/her heart after the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
O glorious St. Joseph, who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when the child Jesus was lost, protect him/her for time and eternity. May you be his/her father and counselor. Preserve him/her from the corruption of this world, and obtain for us the grace to be united in heaven forever. Amen.
Blessed be the Most Sacred and Loving Heart of Jesus and the Most Immaculate Heart of Mary in eternity and forever. Amen.
St Joseph, pray for us. Amen.
(CONSECRATION OF ONE’S CHILDREN TO JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH adapted from a prayer by St John Eudes and other sources: Parents should pray the consecrations below for each of their children at least once during their lives. Parents can render no greater service to their children than to implore their salvation, and indeed, they will of necessity render almighty God an account of their efforts in this regard. This prayer can be found as part of a post on Women of Grace.)
This is a beautiful prayer and I said once shared we would start considering why we’re consecrating our children to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph if what we want to do is consecrate them to God. Let me share a story. This story may be familiar to those who have made a Total Consecration. I may not get the story just right, but close enough that you will understand the gist of it.
There once was a poor farmer who owned a small apple orchard. One day he picked a small handful of his best apples to give to the king. Even though his intentions were pure and sweet, his apples had some bruised spots, a couple of wormholes, and a few were small. He had the idea to take them to the queen to then give to the king on his behalf.
The queen loved the king very much and was happy to present the poor farmer’s gift to him, but first, she trimmed away the bruised spots, cut out the wormholes, and neatly sliced and arranged the apples on a silver tray. The poor farmer was astonished at the difference! The queen had taken his poor, imperfect gift and with her loving touch transformed it.
Look at the first section of this prayer, “I offer to Thee on his [my child’s] behalf the most loving heart of Thy Most Holy Mother, which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts.” Mary is the queen presenting an imperfect gift to a perfect King on our behalf. (Please, do not leave me comments about how we only have one mediator. If you wish to argue that point, then I will assume you never ask anyone to pray for you or on your behalf.)
We are taking our prayers, made from a selfish, imperfect heart, and giving them to Jesus’ Mother, asking her intercession with us and on our behalf. I know when Chris’ mom was still alive, there were times I would seek her prayers. I figured who knew better to pray for my husband, than his own momma.
Now look at the second section, “I beg Thee [Mary] by the infinite merits of Thy Divine Son, Thou who art our Mother in the order of grace, to obtain the grace of salvation for my child.” I honestly believe anyone who has an issue with seeking Mary’s intercession must not have had a mother who interceded for them here on earth.
I know my own children have said to me, “Will you ask daddy for me? He may say yes if you ask.” I know my children have said, “Will you talk to the coach, the bank, the store clerk…they may listen to you.” And don’t we all have that friend or family member who just seems to have a direct line from their lips to God’s ear?
And in the third and fourth sections of this prayer, we ask St. Joseph’s intercession. He was the foster, earthly father of Jesus Christ. How many girls are a daddy’s girl–even when they’re full-grown women, mommas of their own even! And how many guys will always find their first best friend in their dad?
Again, I believe the prayers of a parent, even for an adult child with a spouse and children of their own, can be so very powerful. Mary and Joseph were our Lord’s earthly parents and I believe they hold that same parental prayer power.
So this consecration prayer was the beginning of my more purposeful prayer life for my children. I believe this would be a beautiful prayer to pray over and for our children at least once a year, maybe on their birthday even.
Printable Consecration Prayer for Our Children
CLICK HERE for a Consecrating Our Children Printable to tuck in your Journaling Bible, Prayer Journal or I’m a big fan of taping things to my bathroom mirror!
Christine says
I was searching for a consecration prayer for my children. This one is Perfect, as the Consecration is taking place in Rome. Let us, as moms, consecrate our children to Jesus, Mary and Joseph today and for ever!
Thank you for finding and sharing!
velia says
This is a beautiful prayer! What a lovely thought to say it on their birthdays! Exactly what I was looking for especially for my adult child who struggles with one trial or another frequently!
I plead the blood of Jesus,
and intercession of Mary and Joseph over my children. Amen.
Thank you!
Maritza says
Thank you. I was looking for this. ❤️
Jenny says
Yay! So happy it was helpful!
michaela says
Please, too many adds in the middle of the prayers so I can’t print them. Will you please email the consecration prayers to me?
Thank you so much,
Michaela
Jenny says
I just added a button at the bottom of the posts to print or email. Give it a try♥
Jenny says
I just added a printable prayer sheet to the bottom of the post.
Helen says
My 1yo son escaped onto the street in my neighbourhood. A neighbour found him, so I understand completely the anguish of St Joseph. Thank you for this. I will use it for my son (and my other children too!).
Lisa says
What a beautiful Prayer. Thank you so much for sharing.
Jenny says
Of course. I’m so glad I found it.
Stacy White says
That is a beautiful prayer and that is exactly what I needed at this moment for my children❤
Jenny says
Thanks be to God. His timing is perfect 🙂
Leahbeth says
Thanks for sharing this . It is very much needed right now. Felt post was meant for me! Blessings to you and your family .
Jenny says
Yay God! He knows our needs and provides 🙂
Ludy says
Oh Jenny! Just in time when I needed this prayer of Consecration for my daughter! She has been under so much stress. Thank you so much … Jesus, Mary and Joseph…(Perfect and beautiful), pray for us!
Jenny says
Oh Ludy, prayers for your sweet girl.