As I skimmed the countless blogs and sites in my google reader this morning, with my usual groggy half-closed, morning eyes, I came upon this beautiful post by Father Z on a marriage prayer proposed by Archbishop John Nienstedt, of the Minnesota Archdiocese to help fight the war against marriage.

The prayer was proposed ahead of an upcoming amendment on the 2012 ballot, which will read:

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

The Archbishop has proposed that a prayer be said locally during the prayers of the faithful in anticipation of that vote.

It is refreshing to see that the Archbishop has made clear what he believes. Let’s pray that God will touch the hearts of all our Archbishops to follow his example and preach the Gospel boldly!

Below is the prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Through the powerful intercession of the Holy Family, grant to this local Church the many graces we need to foster, strengthen, and support faith-filled, holy marriages and holy families.

May the vocation of married life, a true calling to share in your own divine and creative life, be recognized by all believers as a source of blessing and joy, and a revelation of your own divine goodness.

Grant to us all the gift of courage to proclaim and defend your plan for marriage, which is the union of one man and one woman in a lifelong, exclusive relationship of loving trust, compassion, and generosity, open to the conception of children.

We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

You can get the prayer here.

Could we not all include this prayer in our private prayers too?