Christmas is a family feast: the Son of God was born into a family, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and Catholic homes have always celebrated it with prayers and blessings together. Below are Christmas prayers and blessings for your family: a prayer for Christmas morning, a parents’ blessing for their children, a blessing of the Christmas tree, a prayer to the Holy Family, a prayer for family members who are far away or have died, and Christmas blessings you can write in cards. For the meal itself, see the Christmas dinner prayer.
A short Christmas family prayer, written for this page:
Lord Jesus, born in Bethlehem for us, come into our home this Christmas.
Bless our family with your peace, your joy and your love,
and make our home a little Nazareth, where you are always welcome. Amen.
A family prayer for Christmas morning
Written for this page.
Good morning, Lord Jesus, and happy birthday!
Thank you for coming to live among us.
As we open our gifts, help us to remember that you are the greatest gift,
and teach us to give ourselves to one another with love. Amen.
Read the Christmas Gospel together before opening presents (Luke 2:10–11, Douay-Rheims):
And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:
For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.
A parents’ blessing for their children
Parents can trace a small cross on each child’s forehead and say:
May the Child Jesus bless you and keep you.
May Mary, his Mother, watch over you, and St. Joseph protect you.
May you grow in wisdom and grace, like Jesus in Nazareth. Amen.
Blessing of the Christmas tree
The head of the family may say this blessing, written for this page, when the tree is first lit:
Lord God, we bless you for this tree, green in the middle of winter, a sign of the life that never ends.
As we light it, may Christ, the Light of the world, shine in our home and in our hearts.
May all who see it be reminded of the tree of the Cross, by which Jesus saved us. Amen.
A prayer to the Holy Family
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, holy family of Nazareth, bless our family this Christmas.
Teach us to love one another with patience and tenderness,
to forgive quickly, to pray together, and to welcome the poor. Amen.
See the Holy Family novena and the Feast of the Holy Family, celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas.
For family who are far away or have died
Lord, this Christmas we remember our loved ones who cannot be with us, (names).
Keep them safe, let them feel our love, and bring us together again soon.
And grant eternal rest to those who have died, especially (names). Amen.
Christmas blessings for cards and messages
- “May the peace and joy of the newborn Christ fill your home this Christmas.”
- “Wishing you a blessed Christmas. May the Child of Bethlehem bring you every grace.”
- “May Jesus, Mary and Joseph bless your family this Christmas and throughout the New Year.”
- “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. A holy and happy Christmas!”
- “You are in our prayers this Christmas. May the light of Christ guide you in the year ahead.”
A blessing for the home
On the Epiphany, many Catholic families bless their homes by marking the doorway with chalk. See the Epiphany house blessing and the Catholic house blessing.
The family table (Psalm 127:1–3, Douay-Rheims):
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Christmas prayer for family?
A short prayer asking the Child Jesus to bless your home with peace, joy and love, such as the one at the top of this page, prayed together on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
When is the Feast of the Holy Family?
On the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, or on December 30 when Christmas falls on a Sunday.
Can parents bless their children?
Yes. Parents can bless their children by making the sign of the cross on their foreheads and asking God’s blessing; it is a beautiful Catholic custom.
More Christmas prayers
- Catholic Christmas prayers
- Christmas dinner prayer
- Christmas novena
- Christmas Mass
- Catholic prayer for family
- Christmas carols
Texts and sources
- Luke 2:10–11 and Psalm 127:1–3 (Douay-Rheims).