WHAT IS MY ROLE AS A STEPFATHER AND MY AUTHORITY OVER MY STEPCHILDEN?

QUESTION / COMMENT

I am a divorced, annulled and remarried in the Church, man. I'm reengaging in my faith and I'm looking for some help with an issue.

My wife has 3 children.  None of her children are baptized. I've been on her about this, but she seems to be caught in a situation where she doesn't want to baptize them as catholic, because her parents are Presbyterian. She has a leaning towards Catholicism and I believe her children would be fine to be baptized in the Church if she promoted it...

Anyway, about her children. One of them has a father who lives far away, but communicates often with his him. Her other two children have a father who is abusive verbally, mentally and on occasions he physically mistreats them. I say it that way, because it's my opinion that he overreacts when he disciplines the kids. His daughter wants nothing to do with him and she is now permanently staying with us. Her youngest comes home from his fathers and creates havoc in the house and spews hateful things towards his mother and the rest of the children. It takes 2-3 hrs to calm him down sometimes and often my wife has to sit with him before bedtime because, he's anxious about staying with his father during his fathers time.

We pray with the children nightly and I bless my children and my step daughter's head. I'm leery of blessing my other 2 stepchildren, because both of their fathers are still involved in their lives.

Can you tell me if it is advisable for me to bless my step children by marking their forehead with the sign of the cross and saying  "I bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"? I do not want to step outside of the structure that God has put in place.

Any other advice you may have is welcomed!

ANSWER!

Their natural fathers have spiritual authority over them. If they live with you than pray and bless everyone and every article in the house because the house and everything inside is under your authority. But don't lay hands on the kids unless you have legally adopted them and have the papers. Here are two safe prayers to add to your evening prayers:

 I CONSECRATE MY HOUSE

Most Blessed Virgin, whose Heart is Sorrowful and Immaculate, we recognize Thee as the Lady and Queen of this house.

Have the kindness to preserve it from any evil; from fire, water, thunder, storms, earthquakes, from robbers, wicked people, from revolutions, war, raids, from persecution and taxes, from any other evil known by Thee.

Bless, protect, defend and preserve as Thy personal property, those who live and will live here. Keep them from adversity and misfortune, but above all, preserve them from offending God. Let not a single mortal sin be ever committed in this house. And may all those who enter it work for the Glory of God, for the Reign of Jesus and Mary.

Let this house be forever consecrated to You, O Jesus and Mary. Let it be blessed with all those who inhabit it – Amen.

[During the 1st World War, in France, some of the faithful Catholics were known to have this prayer tacked on their front door. These homes and residents were not harmed or invaded during the time of war].

NIGHT PRAYER

Visit Oh Lord this habitation and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; Let thy holy angels dwell therein, and may thy blessing be upon us through Christ our Lord – Amen.  (1962 Roman Missal evening prayer, Liturgy of the Hours).

We all have the power and authority to pray protection over ourselves and our location. 

The way you can pray for people that are NOT under your authority is to say: "May God bless, protect and keep safe (mention their names) from any evil spiritual or physical in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Amen."