Prayer to Family Ancestors (on the 1st and 15th)

Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times) - I respectfully bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of all Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions. - I respectfully bow to August Heaven, Sovereign Earth, and all the venerable deities. - I respectfully bow to the local Tutelary Deity, the Earth Deity of this place, the household Kitchen Gods, and all the venerable deities. - I respectfully bow to the ancestors, the High Ancestors and Ancestresses, and the spirits of the lineage on both paternal and maternal sides of the family …… The faithful (we) are: ……………………………………………………… Residing at: ……………………………………………………………………… Today is the .......... day of the .......... month, year ........... falling on the season of .... (Tết Nguyên Đán, Lantern Festival, full-moon day, first of the month). We feel the deep kindness of Heaven and Earth and of the venerable deities; we remember the labor of our ancestors; not for a moment do we forget. With sincere heart we prepare incense, flowers, offerings, gold and silver votive paper, tea, and fruit, and light fragrant incense before the altar. We sincerely invite the local Tutelary Deities and Great Sovereigns, the Earth Deity of this place, the household Kitchen Gods, the Five-Direction Long Mạch Wealth Deity. We humbly ask the deities to hear our invitation and have compassion on the faithful, to descend before the altar, bear witness to our sincerity, and partake of these offerings. We respectfully invite the ancestors, the High Ancestors and Ancestresses, and the spirits of the lineage on both paternal and maternal sides of the family ……, humbly asking that they have compassion on the descendants, descend to the spirit-seat, bear witness to our sincere heart, and partake of these offerings. We also respectfully invite the spirits of former and latter occupants of this house and land to come together before the altar, gather and partake, and bless our family with constant good health, peace in all matters, all things going well, prosperous livelihood, and family harmony. We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts; before the altar we humbly bow and ask to be sheltered and supported. Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)