Gryfferin

Of course! My family are also pretty rude about my faith, and something that helps me at least is just praying in my head "Lord, have mercy upon [name]" when they say something. In this way, you avoid the temptation to get into an argument/debate, and by immediately turning to prayer we can get some consolation which can soften the blow for anything hurtful that they have said.

Then in private, when you have the opportunity, a prayer such as:

Most merciful God, Thy will be done, which will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Save and help Thy servant/s, (name/s) Take this desire of mine as a cry of love which Thou hast commanded

I think this prayer for yourself will also be good:

Illumine our hearts, O Master Who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

I am sure that many of you, like myself, feel distraught and burdened by the increasing violence all around our world, particularly the violent persecution of Christians across several continents. It is easy to feel powerless, but remember that Christ is already victorious. Let us turn together in prayer to Him.

This coming Saturday, October 4th, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assissi. I will be starting a novena to St. Francis on this day, and I will be posting these prayers here to the community so that we may all lift up our hearts in prayer together. I hope that you all will join me and that the Lord will have mercy on our world!

Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh,