SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OVER YOUR CHILDREN

QUESTION? / COMMENT!

You have had many prayers for fathers to say for their children. My husband died; can I say these prayers over my children or are there ones for mothers? Do I have the same authority as their father? Also, I have remarried; does that change this. My children were adults when I remarried and do not consider my husband as a father figure.

ANSWER! / COMMENT!

You have spiritual authority over your kids when they live at home with you (cf. 4th commandment). Once they move out and reach the age of majority you spiritual authority changes now to spiritual counselor. Because of the virtue of piety that kids should have for their parents, you have the obligation to provide them good counsel based on our Catholic faith. You also have an obligation as parents to pray for your children for the rest of your life. The best prayers for a mother to pray for her children are the daily rosary, the daily divine mercy, offer your daily penance for their continued conversion and bless them every night or day by say: "May the Lord bless you and protect you my son (or daughter( in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Amen."