Prayers for All

The Virgin In Prayer by Giovanni Battista Salvi

Contents
Introduction Sign of the Cross Lords Prayer Hail Mary Glory Be God be in my Head Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226 Prayer of Saint Richard of Chichester (1198-1253) St. Ignatius Loyola Teach us good Lord to serve thee as thou deservest, St. Patrick's Breast Plate I said a Prayer for you Today The Angelus Morning Offering To The Guardian Angel Regina Caeli: Queen of Heaven The Apostles Creed Come, Holy Spirit, Hail Holy Queen Memorare Canticle of Zechariah O Sacrament most Holy Morning or Evening Prayer Prayer for Saint Joseph's Intercession Prayer to Saint Joseph Prayer to Saint Joseph The Canticle of the Three Children (Trium Puerorum) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 9 10 10

Prayer of Saint Bonaventure (1217-1274) Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Adoro te devote Prayer From the Imitation of Christ Prayer to the Holy Spirit Psalm 51: Miserere Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) Te Deum: We Praise You

The Universal Prayer Canticle of Mary: The Magnificat

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Introduction
The idea for this assortment of Payers came from the St. Joseph's Sunday School Booklet of Prayers. The original intention was to include only very simple prayers suitable for children but result is a little more expansive. In order to stand by the original intention the order of Prayers is as close to the original St. Joseph's Sunday School Booklet of Prayers as memory permits and then other Prayers follow. All of the Prayers included are based on first-hand experience and have been prayed for many years by the author. The hope is that this assortment of Prayers will resonate with some and assist them in their Prayer Life.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Lords 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.

Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, 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.

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

God be in my Head
Sorum Primer (1527) God be in my head and in my understanding. God be in my eyes and in my looking. God be in my mouth and in my speaking. God be in my heart and in my thinking. God be at my end and my departing.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Co-Patron of Italy with Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. 1

Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy.

Prayer of Saint Richard of Chichester (1198-1253)

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits and blessings which you have given to me, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me. O most merciful Friend, Brother and Redeemer, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly.

St. Ignatius Loyola

Teach us good Lord to serve thee as thou deservest, To give-and not to count the cost. To fight-and not to heed the wounds. To toil-and not to seek for rest. To labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do thy will.

St. Patrick's Breast Plate

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all who love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I said a Prayer for you Today

I said a prayer for you today and know God must of heard. I felt the answer in our hearts although He spoke no word. I didn't ask for wealth or fame I knew you wouldn't mind I asked him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind. I asked that He be near you at the start of each new day to grant you health and blessings and friends to share the way. I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small but it was for His loving care I prayed the most of all.

The Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail, Mary, 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. V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R. Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary. V. And the Word was made flesh. R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.

To The Guardian Angel

Angel of God my guardian dear, To whom his love commits me here; Ever this day be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guard. Amen

Regina Caeli: Queen of Heaven

From the Easter Vigil to Pentecost Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom thou didst 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 truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. R. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. 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, O 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.

Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Canticle of Zechariah

(Prayer after Mass)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people and sent them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of His servant David. Through His holy prophets He promised of old that He would save us from our enemies. From the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant. This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship Him without fear, holy and righteous in His sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

O Sacrament most Holy

O Sacrament most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving, Be every moment Thine.

(Prayer after Mass)

Morning or Evening Prayer

Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work. I give you my feet to go your way. I give you my eyes to see as you see. I give you my tongue to speak your words. I give you my mind to think as you think. I give you my spirit so that you may pray in me. I give you my self so that you may grow in me. So that it is you, Lord Jesus, who lives and works and prays in me. Amen.

Prayer for Saint Joseph's Intercession

O God, who in your unspeakable providence chose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother, grant, we beseech you that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate on earth as our protector. Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

O blessed Joseph, happy man whose privilege it was, not only to see and to hear that God whom many a king has longed to see, yet saw not, longed to hear, yet heard not; but also to carry him in your arms and to kiss him, to clothe him and to watch over him! V. Pray for us, blessed Joseph. 5

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. God, who has conferred upon us a royal priesthood, we pray to you to give us grace to minister at your holy altars with hearts as clean and lives as blameless as that blessed Joseph who was found worthy to hold in his arms and with all reverence to carry your only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary. Enable us this day to receive worthily the sacred Body and Blood of your Son, and help us to win an everlasting reward in the world to come. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen

The Canticle of the Three Children

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; Praise and exalt him above all forever. Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; You heavens, bless the Lord;

(Trium Puerorum)

(Prayer after Mass)

All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. All you hosts of the Lord; bless the Lord. Sun and moon, bless the Lord; Stars of heaven, bless the Lord. Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; All you winds, bless the Lord. Fire and heat, bless the Lord; Cold and chill, bless the Lord. Dew and rain, bless the Lord; Frost and cold, bless the Lord. Ice and snow, bless the Lord; Nights and days, bless the Lord. Light and darkness bless the Lord; Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord. Let the earth bless the Lord; Praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. You springs, bless the Lord; Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. 6

You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; Praise and exalt him above all forever. You sons of men, bless the Lord; O Israel, bless the Lord. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless the Lord; Praise and exalt him above all forever. Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; Let us praise and exalt God above all forever. Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven; Praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Prayer of Saint Bonaventure (1217-1274)

(Prayer after Mass)

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of your love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for you, that it may yearn for you and faint for your courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with you. Grant that my soul may hunger after you, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon you, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of your savor; may it thirst after you, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God; may it ever compass you, seek you, find you, run to you, attain you, meditate upon you, speak of you, and do all things to the praise and glory of your name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end; may you alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firm and rooted immovably hence forth and for ever. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

(Prayer 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 and 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.

Adoro te devote
(St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. E. Caswall.) O Godhead hid, devoutly I adore Thee, Who truly art within the forms before me; To Thee my heart I bow with bended knee, As failing quite in contemplating Thee. Sight, touch, and taste in Thee are each deceived; The ear alone most safely is believed: I believe all the Son of God has spoken, Than Truth's own word there is no truer token. God only on the Cross lay hid from view; But here lies hid at once the Manhood too: And I, in both professing my belief, Make the same prayer as the repentant thief. Thy wounds, as Thomas saw, I do not see; Yet Thee confess my Lord and God to be: Make me believe Thee ever more and more; In Thee my hope, in Thee my love to store. O thou Memorial of our Lord's own dying! O Bread that living art and vivifying! Make ever Thou my soul on Thee to live; Ever a taste of Heavenly sweetness give. O loving Pelican! O Jesu, Lord! Unclean I am, but cleanse me in Thy Blood; Of which a single drop, for sinners spilt, Is ransom for a world's entire guilt. Jesu! Whom for the present veil'd I see, What I so thirst for, O vouchsafe to me: 8

That I may see Thy countenance unfolding, And may be blest Thy glory in beholding. Amen.

Prayer From the Imitation of Christ

Thomas a Kempis (1379-1471) O Lord God, holy Father, be you now and forever blessed. For as you will, so it has been done; and what you do is good. Let your servant rejoice in you, not in myself or in any other. You alone are my true joy. You are my hope and my crown. You are my gladness and my honor. O Lord, what has your servant but what has been received from you without deserving it? Yours are all things that you have given and have made. Amen. (Book III, 50). 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.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Blessed Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (1902-1975), Founder of Opus Dei Come, O holy Spirit! Enlighten my understanding in order to know your commands, strengthen my heart against the snares of the enemy; enkindle my will. I have heard your voice and I do not want to harden my heart and resist, saying, "Later...tomorrow." Nunc coepi! Right now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me. O Spirit of truth and of wisdom, Spirit of understanding and of counsel, Spirit of joy and of peace! I want what you want, because you want it, as you want, when you want it.

Psalm 51: Miserere

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offense. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. My offenses truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. That you may be justified when you give sentence and be without reproach when you judge. O see, in guilt was I born, a sinner was I conceived. Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt. 9

A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your holy spirit. Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you. O rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise. For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse; my sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn. In your goodness, show favor to Zion: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered on your altar.

Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)

Theresa of the Child Jesus, "The Little Flower" Memorial, October 1 "I have realized that whoever undertakes to do anything for the sake of earthly things or to earn the praise of others, deceives himself. Today one thing pleases the world, tomorrow another; and what is praised on one occasion is denounced on another. Blessed are you, my Lord and my God, for you are unchangeable for all eternity. Whoever serves you faithfully to the end will enjoy life without end in eternity. Amen." O Lord, you who said: Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven: grant, we beseech you, that in humility and simplicity of heart we may so follow the blessed virgin Theresa, as to obtain reward everlasting. Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen. O servant of God, Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, who in your dying moments said: I will spend my heaven in doing good upon earth, hasten to let fall upon me a shower of roses that I, too, may be inflamed with that fire of love which burned so brilliantly in your breast and which brought you so gloriously to the arms of Jesus, my Lord and my God. Amen.

Te Deum: We Praise You

We praise you, O God: we acclaim you as the Lord. Everlasting Father, all the world bows down before you. All the angels sing your praise, the hosts of heaven and all the angel powers, all the cherubim and seraphim call out to you in unending song: Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of angel hosts! The heavens and the earth are filled with your majesty and glory. The glorious band of apostles, the noble company of prophets, the white-robed army who shed their blood for Christ, all sing your praises. And to the ends of the earth your holy Church proclaims her faith in you.

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Father, whose majesty is boundless, your true and only Son, who is to be adored, the Holy Spirit sent to be our advocate. You, O Christ, are the King of glory, Son of the eternal Father. When you took our nature to save mankind, you did not shrink from birth in the Virgin's womb. You overcame the power of death opening the Father's kingdom to all who believe in you. Enthroned at God's right hand in the glory of the Father, you will come in judgment according to your promise. You redeemed your people by your precious blood. Come, we implore you, to our aid. Grant us with the saints a place of glory everlasting. Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Rule them and uphold them for ever and ever. Day by day we praise you: we acclaim you now and to all eternity. In your goodness, Lord, keep us free from sin Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. May your mercy always be with us, Lord, for we have hoped in you. In you, Lord, we put our trust: we shall not he put to shame.

The Universal Prayer

Composed in 1721 by Pope Clement XI Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.

(Prayer after Mass)

I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow. I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector. Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; my words: to have you for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for you; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me: in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it. Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian. Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out towards others. Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life wellordered. Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. 11

Let me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation. Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal. Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven. Amen.

Canticle of Mary: The Magnificat

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 we 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 for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

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