Prayer Before Holy Communion

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

Who by the will of the Father
and with the cooperation of the Holy Ghost
hast by Thy death given life unto the world:
deliver me by this,
Thy most Sacred Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil.
Make me always cling to Thy commandments
and never permit me to be separated from Thee.

Amen.

Prayer for Choosing a State in Life

From all eternity, O Lord,

You planned my very existence and my destiny.
You wrapped me in Your love in baptism
and gave me the Faith to lead me to an eternal life of happiness with You.

You have showered me with Your graces
and You have been always ready with Your mercy and forgiveness when I have fallen.

Now I beg You for the light I so earnestly need
that I may find the way of life in which lies the best fulfillment of Your will.
Whatever state this may be,
give me the grace necessary
to embrace it with love of Your holy will,
as devotedly as Your Blessed Mother did Your will.

I offer myself to You now,
trusting in Your wisdom and love
to direct me in working out my salvation
and in helping others to know and come close to You,
so that I may find my reward in union with You for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer for Inner Strength

Lord Jesus Christ,

I'm upset and disturbed,

and I pray that You will grant me

the grace of inner peace.

As You commanded the storm winds at sea to be calm,

command the storms in my life to be calmed.

Give me the patience I need

to cope with the burdens and anxieties of my life.

Grant me the strength to better deal with my problems,

and the understanding to be more tolerant and kind to others.

Teach me to seek after Your will

which alone brings peace of mind and peace of heart.

Amen.

Prayer of a Separated or Divorced Person

Father, I belong to You.

I place myself anew in Your hands
and acknowledge You as Master and Lord of my life.
Grant me the gift of a forgiving heart
and cleanse me of any anger, hostility or revenge.
Heal my hurts and wounds and teach me to rely on Your love.
Grant me wisdom of heart
and strengthen me by Your grace
to move on in faith, in trust, and in love.
Thank You, Lord, for Your love in my life.

Amen.

O Lord, Forgive

My failure to be true even to my own accepted standards:
O Lord, forgive!

My self-deception in the face of temptation:
O Lord, forgive!

My choosing of the worse when I knew the better:
O Lord, forgive!

My failure to apply to myself
the standards of conduct that I demand of others:
O Lord, forgive!

My blindness to the suffering of others
and my slowness to be taught by my own:
O Lord, forgive!

My complacence toward wrongs that do not touch my own case
and my over sensitiveness to those that do:
O Lord, forgive!

My slowness to see the good in my fellows and to see the evil in myself:
O Lord forgive!

My hardness of heart toward my neighbor's faults
and my readiness to make allowance for my own:
O Lord forgive!

My unwillingness to believe that You have called me
to a small work and my brother to a great one:
O Lord, forgive!

Prayer for Spiritual Armor

Heavenly Father,

We ask You today for Your truth
As a belt tight around our waists.

We put on the zeal
To announce Your good news of peace
As shoes for our feet.

We put on Your righteousness,
O Christ, as our breastplate.
And the hope of salvation
As a helmet for our head.

Father we take up faith
As a shield which is able to put out
All the fiery darts of the enemy.

And the sword of the Spirit,
Which is Your Word, O Lord.

Father may the love
With which You have loved Jesus,
Be in us and may Jesus be in us.

We ask You for the grace
Of a servant heart.
Amen.

Prayer for Healing of Mind

O Jesus, come into my sorrows, anxieties, mental troubles
and to every stage of my growth and formation.
Deliver me from the painful memories of the past.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
I forgive all those who hurt me.
Fill all of them with Your Holy Spirit.
Thank You, Jesus.
Praise You, Jesus.
Amen.

Prayer for the Present Moment

Dear God,


I spend so much time reliving yesterday
or anticipating tomorrow
that I lose sight of the only time that is really mine,
the present moment.
You give today one moment at a time.
That's all I have,
all I ever will have.
Give the faith which knows that each moment
contains exactly what is best for me.
Give the hope which trusts You enough
to forget past failings and future trials.
Give the love which makes each moment
an anticipation of eternity with You.
We ask this in the name of Jesus
Who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Amen.

Prayer to Jesus

Jesus, I believe in You,
Jesus, I hope in You,
Jesus, I love You.

I believe in You for those who do not believe.
I hope in You for those who have never hoped
and for those who have lost hope.
I love You for those who have never known You
and have never loved You.

Sweet Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
I trust in You for all, with all, in spite of all,
and forever.

O Mary, Mother of my Jesus,
keep me close to Jesus,
keep Jesus close to me.

Amen.

Prayer of Parents for their Children

O Jesus, lover of children,
bestow Your most precious graces
on those whom You have confided to our care.
Increase in them faith, hope and charity.
May Your love lead them to solid piety,
inspiring them with dread for sin,
love of work, and an ardent desire
of worthily approaching Your holy table.
Preserve in them innocence and purity of heart;
and if they should offend You,
grant them the grace of a prompt and sincere repentance.
From Your tabernacle watch over them day and night;
protect them in all their ways.
Grant that they may acquire the knowledge
that they need to embrace the state of life
to which You have called them.
Grant us a sincere love,
constant vigilance,
and generous devotedness towards them.
Grant us all consolation on earth
and eternal reward in heaven.  Amen.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Prayer of St Theresa of Avila

Let nothing disturb you,
Nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patient endurance attains all things.
Whoever possesses God lacks nothing,
God alone is sufficient.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit (by St Catherine of Sienna)

Holy Spirit, come into my heart;
draw it to Thee by Thy power,
O my God, and grant me charity with filial fear.
Preserve me, O ineffable Love,
from every evil thought;
warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love,
and every pain will seem light to me.
My Father, my sweet Lord,
help me in all my actions.
Jesus, love, Jesus, love.

Amen.

Litany for Lent

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us from our sins.
Lord, have mercy.

You fasted to encourage us to do penance.
Lord, have mercy.

You suffered temptation to give us strength.
Lord, have mercy.

You were transfigured to give us hope.
Lord, have mercy.

You suffered insults to bring us salvation.
Lord, have mercy.

You accepted death to bring us life with You.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, our Lord,
You endured the agony in the garden
to strengthen us in prayer.
Christ, have mercy.

You carried Your cross to save us.
Christ, have mercy.

You were nailed to the cross to heal our wounds of sin.
Christ, have mercy.

You died on the cross to bring us eternal life.
Christ, have mercy.

You were raised to life so that we could live with You for God.
Christ, have mercy.

Consecration of America

Immaculate Mary, most Holy Mother of God
and of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
we the people of the United States of America
at this historic moment stand before you
in a humbled condition of love,
loyalty, affection, and thankfulness.
To your Immaculate Heart we recommit and dedicate ourselves
throughout the entire American nation.
To your Son Jesus Christ we pledge to serve His teaching,
His church, and to work for His kingdom on earth.
O Mary, to you do we flee for protection.

Surround the American family with your maternal care;
enfold us in your arms.
Give to this American land,
built on the blood and tears of so many faithful forebears,
a peaceful and praiseworthy existence in truth,
love, justice, and freedom.

O Mary, we submit to you as the Patroness of our beloved country.
O Mary, Help of Christians,
enfold the Holy Father and the Catholic Church
within your protective cloak;
be our shield in the days ahead.
Give to the Church true holiness and freedom.
Obtain for our leaders holy zeal,
the ability to face the truth,
and the courage to correct all abuses.
Stop the flood of atheism, greed, heresy,
impurity, lukewarmness, materialism,
and selfishness that threaten our nation.
Show to those who have strayed from the Church
the way to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mother of God,
accept our personal consecration to you and, through you,
bind us forever to the Holy Trinity.
Gather us all into your Immaculate Heart
and unite us forever with Jesus.
O Mary, we love you.

Amen.

Blessing for a Family

Blessed are You, eternal God,
King of the universe:
You have called us in Jesus to be Your beloved people,
living pure and blameless lives in Your sight.

Bless + this family who ask for your grace.
Let your Spirit guide their words and deeds,
so that their light may shine before all
and lead all who know them to give You praise.

May their home be filled with the spirit of love,
with the obedience of faith,
and the strength of hope.
Make their lives happy in Your service,
and bring them in Your love to Your eternal home.

Father all-holy,
we praise Your Name,
and ask this blessing through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great

Eternal Father,

I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home, and within my family.  Amen.

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.  We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give You thanks for Your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, o God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord, God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Prayer for those Coping with Depression

Dear Lord, You are our refuge in good and in bad times. In Your infinite mercy, bring peace and comfort to those of us who face days sometimes filled with pain and depression. Help us to realize that through You there is joy and the promise of lasting peace. Help us through the rough times. Walk before and beside us so that we may walk in Your footsteps and reach out to You in our journey on this earth. Help us to focus on our blessings rather than our misfortunes, dear Lord. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen.

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

I give You thanks, O Holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, Who has granted, not for any merit of mine, but solely out of the condescension of Your mercy, to satisfy me a sinner, Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this holy communion be not to me a condemnation unto punishment, but a saving plea unto forgiveness.  May it be unto me the armour of faith and the shield of good will.  May it be the emptying out of my vices, the extinction of all concupiscence and lust, the increase of charity and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a strong defense against the snares of all enemies, visible and invisible; the perfect quieting of all my evil impulses, both carnal and spiritual; a firm cleaving unto You, the One True God; and a pledge of a blessed destiny.

And I beseech You, that You grant to bring me, a sinner, to the ineffable banquet, where You, with Your Son and the Holy Spirit are to Your saints true light, fullness of content, eternal joy, gladness without alloy, and perfect bliss.  Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Fatima Prayer

Prayer for a Good Husband or Wife

O Jesus, lover of the young, the dearest Friend I have, in all confidence I open my heart to You to beg Your light and assistance in the important task of planning my future. Give me the light of Your grace, that I may decide wisely concerning the person who is to be my partner through life. Dearest Jesus, send me such a one whom in Your divine wisdom You judge best suited to be united with me in marriage. May his/her character reflect some of the traits of Your own Sacred Heart.

May he/she be upright, loyal, pure, sincere, and noble, so that with united efforts and with pure and unselfish love we both may strive to perfect ourselves in soul and body, as well as the children it may please You to entrust to our care.

Bless our friendship before our marriage, that sin may have no part in it. May our mutual love bind us so closely, that our future home may ever be most like Your own at Nazareth.

O Mary Immaculate, sweet Mother of the young, to your special care I entrust the decision I am to make as to my future husband. You are my guiding Star! Direct me to the person with whom I can best cooperate in doing God's Holy Will, with whom I can live in peace, love, and harmony in this life, and attain to eternal joys in the next. Amen.

The Canticle of Mary

And Mary said, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.  He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation.  He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever."  Luke 1:46-56

Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me.
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.

Prayer to St Benedict

O Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God's grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. I implore thy loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things. May thy blessings be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to thee. I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession in the confident hope that thou will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore, if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.

Act of Contrition

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. 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 You, my God, Who is all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow charity;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and
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 to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen

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.







Almighty, everlasting God, who by the co-operation of the Holy Spirit did prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin-Mother Mary to become a dwelling place for thy Son:  grant that as we rejoice in her commemoration; so by her fervent intercession, we may be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death.  Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayer to St. Faustina

Dear Saint Faustina, I have come to know you as a friend. I ask you to plead to the Lord for me the prayer I ask of you. In times of doubt, dear friend, implore the Lord's Mercy as you did so often here on earth, that I may remember who I am, and to what His mercy has called me.

In times of fear, implore His Mercy that I may ever remember to trust, and trust again, in joy, and in the knowledge that God is preparing me for a beautiful mission.

Please pray, dear Saint Faustina, that I may never forget that the abyss between my Lord and me has been bridged by His tender mercy. He will continue to be faithful and heal me of anything which stands in the way of His Will. My life is in His Hands.

Thank you dear friend. Pray with me the prayer Our Lord taught you to spread throughout the world; Jesus, I trust in You! Remind all pilgrims of life that if our trust is great, there is no limit to Jesus' generosity.

Prayer of St. John of the Cross

O blessed Jesus,
give me stillness of soul in You.
Let your mighty calmness reign in me.
Rule me, O King of Gentleness, King of Peace. 
Amen.

Prayer for Those Who Don't Know Christ

Lord Jesus!  You,

Who in the most bitter moments of Your passion
showed an ardent thirst for souls,
grant that we may share in this thirst.
Give us the light to grow
in the knowledge of Your word
and grant us strength so that,
by collaborating in preaching this word
at every moment of our lives,
we may bring to You,
through Your holy Church,
and the intercession of Your holy Mother,
innumerable souls who live far from the truth.
Grant this so that with You,
through You and in You,
they may be reconciled to the Eternal Father,
in union with whom,
together with the Holy Spirit,
You live and reign forever and ever.

Amen.