Act
of Contrition
O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee
and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell,
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God,
Who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins, to do penance,
and to amend my life. Amen.
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Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that You are One
God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit; I believe
that Your Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He
will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe these
and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because
You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
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Act of Hope
O my God, relying on Your almighty power and
infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the
help of Your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
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Act of Love
O my God, I love You above all things, with
my whole heart and soul, because You are all good and worthy of all
love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive
all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
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Prayer for All Needs
We beg You, Lord, to help and defend us. Deliver
the oppressed. Pity the insignificant. Raise the fallen. Show Yourself
to the needy. Heal the sick. Bring back those of Your people who have
gone astray. Feed the hungry. Lift up the weak. Take off the prisoner's
chains.
May every nation come to know that You alone are God, that Jesus is
Your Child, that we are Your people, the sheep the You pasture.
Amen.
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The Angelus
V.: The angel spoke God's message to Mary,
R.: and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail, Mary....
V.: "I am the lowly servant of the Lord:
R.: Let it be done to me according to Your Word."
Hail, Mary....
V.: And the Word became flesh
R.: and lived among us.
Hail, Mary....
V.: Pray for us, holy Mother of God,
R.: that we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Lord, fill our hearts with your grace: once, through the message of
an angel you revealed to us the incarnation of your Son; now, through
His suffering and death lead us to the glory of His resurrection.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R.: Amen
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Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever Amen.
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Prayer
Before Confession
Lord our God, you are patient with sinners
and accept our desire to make amends. I acknowledge my sins and I
am resolved to change my life. Help me to celebrate this sacrament
of your mercy so that I may reform my life and receive from you the
gift of everlasting joy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Prayers
for Christian Unity
Gracious Father, we pray to You for Your holy
Catholic Church. Fill it with Your truth. Keep it in Your peace. Where
it is corrupt reform it. Where it is in error, correct it. Where it
is right, defend it. Where it is in want, provide for it. Where it
is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Your Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Almighty and eternal God, you keep together those you have united.
Look kindly on all who follow Jesus, your Son. We are all consecrated
to you by our common baptism; make us one in the fullness of faith
and keep us one in the fellowship of love. We ask this through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Come Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful
and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light
of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise,
and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Dedication
to Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding,
and my will. All that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender
it all to be guided by Your will. Your love and Your grace are wealth
enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more.
Amen
St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)
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Prayer to the Divine Mercy
I fly to your mercy, Compassionate God, who
alone is good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many,
I trust in your mercy, because you are the God of Mercy; and, from
time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or earth
remember, that a soul trusting in your mercy has been disappointed.
O God of compassion, you alone can justify me and you will
never reject me when I, contrite, approach your merciful heart, where
no one as ever been refused, even if he/she were the greatest sinner.
For your Son assured St. Faustina, "Sooner would heaven and earth
turn into nothingness, than would my mercy fail to embrace a trusting
soul."
Jesus, friend of a lonely heart, you are my haven,
you are my peace. You are my salvation, you are my serenity in moments
of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. You are the bright ray
that lights up the path of my life. You are everything to a lonely
soul. You understand the soul even though it remains silent. You know
our weaknesses and, like a good physician, you comfort and heal, sparing
us sufferings - expert that you are. Amen
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 Prayer
for a Merciful Heart
O Jesus, I understand that your mercy is beyond
all imagining, and therefore I ask you to make my heart so big that
there will be room in it for the needs of all the souls living on
the face of the earth and the souls suffering purgatory. Make my heart
sensitive to all the sufferings of my neighbor, whether of body or
soul. O my Jesus I know that you act toward us as we act toward our
neighbor. Make my heart like unto your merciful heart. Transform it
into your own heart that I may sense the needs of other hearts, especially
those who are sad and suffering. May the rays of mercy rest in my
heart Jesus; help me to go through life doing good to everyone. Amen.
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Glory
Be
Glory be to the Father and to
the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen
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Grace
before Meals
Bless us O Lord
and these Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty
through Christ our Lord.
Amen
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Guardian
Angel Prayer
Angel of God, My Guardian Dear
to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be
at my side
to light and guard and rule and guide.
Amen
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Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished
children of Eve. To thee do we send
up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us; and
after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
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Holy
light on earth’s horizon,
star of hope to those who fall,
light amid a world of shadows,
dawn of God’s design for all,
chosen from eternal ages,
you alone of all our race,
by your Son’s atoning merits
were conceived in perfect grace.
Mother of the world’s Redeemer,
promised from the dawn of time:
how could one so highly favoured
share the guilt of Adam’s crime?
Sun and moon and stars adorn you,
sinless Eve, triumphant sign;
you it is who crushed the serpent,
Mary, pledge of life divine.
Earth below and highest heaven,
praise the splendour of your state,
you who now are crowned in glory
were conceived immaculate.
Hail, beloved of the Father,
Mother of his only Son,
mystic bride of Love eternal,
hail, O fair and spotless one!
– Alma Lux, 17th cent.., translated by Edward Caswall
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Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace full of grace, the Lord
is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
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Into Your Hands
Father, I abandon myself into Your hands; do with me what
You will. Whatever You may do, I thank You: I am ready for all, I
accept all. Let only Your will be done in me, and in all Your creatures
- I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into Your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to You with all the love of my heart. For I love You, Lord,
and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands without
reserve and with boundless confidence. For You are my Father.
Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916)
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Prayer for the Elderly
All-powerful and living God, in whom we live
and move and have our being, we thank You and praise You for giving
(name) and (name) long years, lived in faith and in doing good. Grant
that they may have the loving support of their relatives and friends,
that in good health they may be cheerful, and in poor health not lose
hope. Sustained by the help of Your blessing, let them spend their
old age giving praise to Your name. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
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Prayer
for Evangelization
(the Disciples Prayer)
Loving God, you called us each by name and gave your only
Son to redeem us. In your faithfulness, you sent the Holy Spirit to
complete the mission of Jesus among us.
Open our hearts to Jesus. Give us the courage to
speak His name to those who are close to us and the generosity to
share His love with those who are far away.
We pray that every person throughout the world be
invited to know and love Jesus as Savior and Redeemer. May they come
to know His all-surpassing love. May that love transform every element
of our society. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
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O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear my prayer…
From the desire of being esteemed... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged ... Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected ... Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease
...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it..
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it..
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as
holy as I should …
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Amen
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Mary, Queen of Peace, save us all, who have
so much trust in you, from wars, hatred, and oppression. Make us all
learn to live in peace, and educate ourselves for peace, do what is
demanded by justice and respect the rights of every person, so that
peace may be firmly established. Amen
Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)
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The
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas--Thanksgiving After Mass
Lord, Father all-powerful
and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner,
your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the
kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body
& Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation
and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet
of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil
ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity
and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power
to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies,
visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil
impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to
you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting
happiness with You.
And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where
you, with Your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light,
total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and
perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our
Lord. AMEN.
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Prayer for a
Happy Death
Lord Jesus Christ, you want everyone's salvation
and no one ever appeals to You in vain, for with Your own lips You
promised: "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will do."
In your name - Jesus, Savior - I ask that in my dying moments you
will give me full use of my senses, heart-felt sorrow for my sins,
firm faith, hope in good measure and perfect love, that I may be able
to say honestly to you: "Into your hands, O lord, I commend my
spirit. You have redeemed me, Lord God of truth."
St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)
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Prayer to the
Holy Family
O Jesus, look graciously upon our family here
before you. Once more we consecrate ourselves before you - our trials
and joys - that our home may ever be the shrine of peace, purity,
love and faith. Protect and bless all of us, both absent and present,
and be merciful to those departed.
O Mary, loving Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, pray to Jesus for
our family, for all the families of the world, to guard the cradle
of the newborn, the schools of the young and their vocations.
O Joseph, holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by your prayers
in all the necessities of life. Be present at the pillow of the sick
and dying so that we may all be united to Jesus and Mary and you for
all eternity. Amen.
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Prayer for Lent
O God, bless us during this season of spiritual
renewal. Fill our minds and hearts with love, that we may be a sign
of Jesus to all those living in our midst.
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Prayer for
the Needy
Grant, Lord, that I may gladly share what I have
with the needy, humbly ask for what I need from him who has, sincerely
admit the evil I have done, calmly bear the evil I suffer, not envy
my neighbor for his blessings, and thank You unceasingly whenever You
hear my prayer.
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Prayer to
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Grant me Thy grace, most merciful Jesus, that
it may be with me and work with me and preserve with me even to
the end. Grant that I may always desire and will that which is to
Thee most acceptable and most dear. Let Thy will be mine, and let
my will ever follow Thine and agree perfectly with it. Let my willing
and not-willing be all one with Thine, and let me not be able to
will or not will anything else but what Thou willest or willest
not. Amen.
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Prayer
for our Nation's Health Care Reform
Lord
Jesus, you are the Divine Physician,
And the source of all life and health.
Guide our nation at this critical moment,
As our government seeks health care reforms.
Give our elected officials the humility to know
That they are servants, not masters.
Give them the wisdom to realize
That every life has equal value.
Give them the strength to resist the idea
That some lives can be sacrificed to save others
Or that killing the unborn is a part of health care.
Give your people the courage to speak up
And to hold public officials accountable for their actions.
Save us, Lord Jesus, from a culture of death,
And let every reform in our public policy
Be based on the reform of our hearts and minds
In the light of your Gospel,
For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer
for the Sick
Lord, our God, you sent Your Son into
the world to bear our infirmities and to endure our sufferings.
For Your servants who are sick, we ask that Your blessing will
give them strength to overcome their weakness through the power
of patience and the comfort of hope; and that with Your aid
they will soon be restored to health. We ask this through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
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Prayer of Saint
Patrick
Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ
behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ
on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I
sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks
of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears
me. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Christ. May your
salvation , O Lord, be ever with us.
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Prayer
to St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that
we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
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Prayer to St. Michael
the Archangel
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly
Host--by the Divine Power of God--cast into hell
satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
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Regina Coeli
O Queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia. For He
whom you did merit to bear, Alleluia. Has risen, as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
V.: Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia.
R. For the Lord has risen indeed. Alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, Who by the resurrection of Your Son, Our Lord
Jesus Christ, has given joy to the whole world, grant, we beseech
You, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother,
we may attain the same joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ
Our Lord. Amen
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Renew Prayer
Gracious God and Father, we are your people
embraced by your love. We thank you for your presence with us throughout
all time. Create us anew through Jesus Christ your Son. Liberate us
from all that keeps us from you. Send your Holy Spirit, enabling us
to share in your work of recreating our world and restoring justice.
Heal us from every form of sin and violence. Transform us to live
your Word more profoundly. Reconcile us so enemies become friends.
Awaken us to the sacred; nurture our relationships. Enliven our parishes;
reunite our families. Fill us with joy to celebrate the fullness of
life. Empower us to be a community of love growing in your likeness
by the grace of Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Te Deum
You are God: we praise You; You are the Lord:
we acclaim You; You are the eternal Father; all creation worships
You.
To You all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim,
sing in endless praise: holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise You. The noble fellowship
of prophets praise You. The white-robed army of martyrs praise You.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims You: Father, of majesty
unbounded, Your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the
Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
When You became man to set us free You did not spurn the Virgin's
womb.
You overcame the sting of death, and opened the kingdom of heaven
to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory. We believe that you will
come, and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought
with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to
glory everlasting.
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Thanksgiving Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You for the many
graces You bestow on us: for our food, our shelter, for the love and
support of family and friends, and for all Your many blessings.
Inspire us to lift up the poor, the hungry and homeless, and all those
in our midst who are suffering. Move our hearts to live the Gospel,
to reach out with and compassion to all who need us. And let us never
forget that in serving the poor, we serve You.
Lord, watch over us and guide us today and in the weeks and months
ahead. Amen.
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Thanksgiving Table Prayer
O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your
overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food
we eat and especially for this feast today.
Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the
presence of those gathered here.
Thank you for our health, our work and our play.
Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick, and suffering
war and violence.
Open our hearts to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ
your son. Amen.
Celebrating
Faith: Year-round Activities For Catholic Families, by Mary
Cronk Farrell
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The Lord's
Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
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Vocation
Prayer
Loving God, you speak to us and nourish us through
the life of this church community.
In the name of Jesus, we ask you to send Your Spirit to us so that
men and women among us, young and old, will respond to Your call to
service and leadership in the Church.
We pray especially in our day, for those who hear Your invitation
to be a priest, sister, brother or deacon.
May those who are opening their hearts and minds to Your call be encouraged
and strengthened through our enthusiasm in Your service.
Amen
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Prayers
at the End of the Day
Jesus,
quiet my heart as another day draws to a close. Where I have been
able to serve you well, I give thanks for the presence of your Spirit
in my heart. Where I failed to respond to the promptings of that
same Spirit, I ask your pardon. Help me to let go of the day's concerns
and place my trust fully in you throughout the night. Whether wakeful
or asleep, may I never lack for confidence in your mercy and love.
Amen
Jesus Christ my God, I adore you and I thank you
for all the graces you have given me this day. I offer you my sleep
and all the moments of this night, and I implore you to keep me
safe from sin. To this end I place myself in your sacred side and
under the mantle of our Lady, my Mother. Let your holy angels surround
me and keep me in peace; and let your blessing be upon me. Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Maria de
Liguori
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Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priest.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow
in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal
Priest.
Amen.
Dear Lord,
We pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests
and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.
We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words,“Do
whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5).
May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste
spouse.
May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart inspire them to embrace
all who suffer at the foot of the cross.
May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love seeking
nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls.
Amen.
Saint John Vianney, pray for us.
by St. Therese of Lisieux
O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter
of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred
Body.
Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime
mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world’s
contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom
they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their
beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of clergy, send us holy priests. Amen
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