BLESSINGS FOR PERSONS, PLACES AND THINGS Never pay back one wrong with another, or an angry word

with another one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing yourself. (1 Peter 3:9)

In March 1972, the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship summarized its thoughts on blessings: Blessings obtain certain spiritual effects. They bless men and things, or pray for men and their needs. The first element in a blessing is thanksgiving and praise toward God (as in the berakah prayers used over bread and wine during the preparation of the gifts at Mass). A blessing recognizes and proclaims that creation is good, and that our Creator looks after us in his providential love. When man gives thanks at various moments in his life, he recognizes and professes that all things have been made by God and come to us from him. The use of blessings should increase in the lives of Christians; we ought to continue to advert to God and to his constant guidance of the universe. To help bring this about, it is good to extend the use of blessings to lay persons, especially blessings which belong to their daily life and work. Blessings which belong directly to worship are reserved for use by an ordained minister. St. Paul | Holidays | Weddings & Anniversary | Travel | Articles | OT Blessings

Blessing of Love

(Attributed to St. Francis)

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, union; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we 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. Amen. Prayers for Peace V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. God our Father, you reveal that those who work for peace will be called your sons. Help us to work without ceasing for that justice which brings true and everlasting peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God, Creator of the world, you established the order which governs all ages. Hear our prayer and give us peace in our time that we may rejoice in your mercy and praise you without end. We ask this through Jesus, your Son and our Lord. Amen. God of perfect peace, neither violence nor cruelty can be a part of you. May those who are at peace with one another hold fast to the good will that unites them. May those who are enemies forget their hatred and be healed. Grant this peace to all men throughout the world. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you; bring peace into the world by bringing your peace into the hearts of men. Help us to turn away from sin, and to follow you in love and service. Glory and honor be yours forever and ever. Amen. Thanksgiving V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Father of all gifts, we praise you, the source of all we have and are. Teach us to acknowledge always the good things your infinite love has given us. Help us to love you with all our hearts and all our strength as our expression of thanksgiving for your many blessings. Fill our hearts with this spirit of gratitude. Amen. Father of mercy, we thank you for your kindness and ask you to free us from all evil that we may serve you with generous hearts and in happiness all our days. Make us always aware of your mercies that with truly thankful hearts, we may make known your praise by giving wholeheartedly of ourselves, and by true holiness of lives all honor and glory will be yours throughout all ages. Amen. Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men. We bless you for our creation and all the blessings of this life, but above all, for your incomparable and undying love in the redemption of the world by your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Heavenly Father, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men, particularly our families, friends and loved ones. We thank you for all the blessings of this life, our disappointments and failures, but above all, for your incomparable love in the redemption of the world, through your Son Jesus Christ, and for the means of grace and the hope of glory. Make us always aware of your mercies, so that with thankful hearts we may make known your praise, not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving of ourselves to your service. May others see you in us by the charity and holiness of our lives. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, so that we can know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, we may give thanks to you in all things. Amen. For Our Fellowmen V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you.

Let us pray. O God, you have made us in your likeness and redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ. Look with compassion on all of our fellowmen throughout the world. Take away arrogance and hatred from our hearts. Bless us abundantly, so that in your good time all nations and peoples may serve you in peace and harmony here and around your heavenly throne. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Grace at Meals V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Bless us, 0 Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty and goodness through Christ our Lord. Amen. Heavenly Father, make us grateful for all your mercies and make us ever mindful of the needs of others, especially those less fortunate and blessed. Amen. Lord God, King of the universe, you give us food to sustain our lives and bless us in so many ways. Help us never to forget your love and providential care. Amen. Father in heaven, we praise you for giving us your Son to be our Savior and Lord. Bless us as we gather together and let us always live in your love. Fill our hearts with a deep spirit of love. Hear our prayer, loving Father, for we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Blessed be your name, our God and our Provider, for the gifts of this nation, this land, and for our table. Bring us together in this sharing. Like the supper of Jesus, let this occasion nourish us with faith in you, with care for one another, and with food to give us pleasure and to make us strong. We know that we dare thank you only if our sharing reaches out to all in need. Amen. Greek Orthodox: Blessed be God, who in his mercy nourishes us from his bounteous gifts by his grace and compassion. 0 Christ, our God, bless the meat and drink of which we are about to partake, for you are holy forever. Amen. Protestant: Bless, O Lord, this food for our use, and us for your service, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others, in Jesus name. Amen.

Jewish: Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary and bless the Lord. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen. For Our Enemies V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. O God of all mankind, whose Son commands us to love those who hate us, hear our prayers for our enemies. Deliver them and us from deeds beneath the dignity of man whom you have redeemed. Turn us from our evil ways by removing hatred, cruelty and revenge from our hearts. Let others see Christ in us, and that we reflect his love in every thought, word and action. Amen. For the Church (May be used for the diocese and the parish.) V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Gracious Father, hear our prayers for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with truth and keep it in your peace. Strengthen and confirm its members, and grant them every blessing that they be of one heart and one mind. Where it is in error, correct it. Where it is in want, provide for it. Where it is divided, reunite it. Where it is right, strengthen and defend it. We ask this for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. O God, sustain your Church as it faces new tasks in the distress and confusions of this rapidly changing world. Let your Holy Spirit guide our Holy Father the Pope, our bishops and our priests with sound judgment, convictions and the strength to persevere in being bold witness to your kingdom on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Church Unity

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, Peace I give you; my own peace I leave with you. Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church. Take away all hatred and prejudice and whatever else may hinder us from unity. May we all be of one heart and one soul united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and love, so that we may with one mind and one tongue sing out your glory. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Our Country V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Almighty God, we humbly thank you for this good land which you have given us for our inheritance. We pray that we may always prove honest labor. Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Preserve and increase our liberties, and fashion into one united nation this people of many races and tongues. Fill with the spirit of wisdom those to whom we entrust the authority of government, that they may seek justice and peace. In time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness and in time of trouble, do not allow our trust and hope in you to fail. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Civil Authorities V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you.

Let us pray. O Lord, the whole world is full of your glory. We commend our country to your merciful care, that we may follow your guidance and live in peace. Give to the President of these United States (or governor of this state, etc.), and to all authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your holy will. Fill them with the love of truth, honesty and righteousness. Make them always remember that they are your servants called to lead and serve this nation (or state, etc.) in the fear of your righteous judgments. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and governs with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. For Congress or a State Legislature V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. O God, the source of all wisdom, whose statutes are good and gracious, and whose law is truth, guide and direct our senators and congressmen (or state legislature, etc.), that by just and prudent laws, they may promote the well-being of all our people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, our Father, you have charged us with the task of building on this earth a home where all the nations dwell in unity, liberty and justice. We pray for strength and purpose to make officers in every branch of government accountable to all the people, fulfilling roles of service and responsibility, that they may seek justice and protect the weak and lead us in constructing institutions for our peace and mutual aid. Amen. For Social Justice V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray.

Almighty God, you have created us in your own image. Grant us strength and courage to fearlessly contend against evil, that we may rightly use our freedom and have strong convictions to be counted when we are put to the test. Help us employ the principles of freedom and Christian ideals in the struggle for justice among men and nations, to the glory of your holy name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Grant, O Lord, your holy and life-giving Spirit that every human heart may be moved and promoted to break through the barriers that divide the peoples of our land. Destroy the spirit of hatred; and may suspicions disappear and hatreds cease, so that we may live in justice and peace for which Christ gave his life that all men would be saved. Amen. In the midst of our complex and hurried lives, our Father, remind us of our simple roots. We have to carry about so much and manage so many things, that we dare not be distracted by our neighbor. If we do not reach out to others, it is not because we do not want to, but because our arms are tired from grasping, holding, keeping all the good things we possess. Lighten our load, so that we may learn to share; and help us learn to share, so that our load may be lightened. Amen. For Those in the Armed Forces V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we commend to your gracious and protective care and benevolent keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your guiding hand and heavenly grace; encourage them and strengthen them in their trials, temptations and discouragements; grant them your abiding presence wherever they may be. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessing of a School V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, sanctify, we implore you, this building meant for the education of children. Pour into it the richness of your blessing and peace. Nurture your children with Christian ideals. Enlighten with your wisdom those who teach and those who learn, that rejoicing together in the knowledge of your truth, we may worship and serve you from generation to generation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Schools and Colleges O God, the source of all truth, behold with your gracious favor our schools and colleges that knowledge and wisdom may be increased among us. Bless all who teach and all who learn, that their minds will be open to the truths of Christian ideals and principles. Bless both teacher and student that they may ever look to you their God, the source of all truth, and accept your teachings in genuine humility of heart. Amen. Blessing for an Elderly Person V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Father in heaven, remember those who have grown old in your love and service. Bless them and give them strength; keep them in your love. Give them your joy and peace each day, so that they may always follow your Son Jesus. Amen. For the Sick V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Father, your Son accepted our sufferings to teach us the virtue of patience in human illness. Hear the prayers we offer for our sick friends and relatives. May all who suffer from disease or painful lingering sicknesses realize that they are chosen to be saints, and know that they are joined to

Christ in his suffering for the salvation of the world, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Heavenly Father, our help in human weakness, show our sick and suffering friends the power of your loving care. Accept the prayers and gifts we offer for them. In your kindness make them well, and if it is your will, restore them to health and turn our society for them into joy. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. Heavenly Father, your love guides every moment of our lives. Accept our prayers and petitions for our sick relative (or friend, etc.), N.; restore his (her) health and turn our anxiety for him (her) into joy. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. Merciful Father, giver of life and health, bless N., your servant, and those who minister to him (her) your healing gifts that he (she) may be restored to complete health and render to you prayers and gratitude. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need and distress, we humbly beg you to relieve your sick servant for whom our prayers are offered. Look upon him (her) with your great mercy; comfort him (her) with a sense of your goodness; give him (her) patience in his (her) affliction. In your good time restore him (her) to health and enable him (her) to live the rest of his (her) life in your love and to your glory. Amen. For One About to Undergo an Operation V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, graciously comfort and encourage your servant in his (her) suffering and bless the means available for his (her) cure. Fill his (her) heart with absolute confidence in you and teach him (her) to put complete trust in your goodness and power. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Childbirth V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you.

R. And also with you. Let us pray. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. O Lord, be a tower of strength to your servant N., and send her aid from your holy place. Almighty and everlasting God, Creator of all things, you who are mighty and awe-inspiring, just and merciful, you alone are kind and loving. By the co-working of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body and soul of the Virgin Mary to become a worthy home for your Son. Receive the sacrifice of your servant N. who humbly asks you for the welfare of the child you permitted her to conceive. May the hand of your mercy assist her delivery and may her child come to the light of day without harm, to serve you in all things and attain everlasting life. Through Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. For the Poor and Neglected V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Most merciful God, help us to remember all poor and neglected persons, whom it would be so easy to forget: the homeless, the destitute, the aged and the sick, particularly those who have no one to care for them. May your fatherly goodness rest upon them. Heal and comfort those who are broken in spirit and turn their sorrow into joy. Lift up the downhearted and cheer them with new hope. Keep them from being discouraged and help them from despairing. Grant this, our heavenly Father, for the love of your Son who, for our sake, became poor. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Those Who Mourn or Are Bereaved V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And also with you. Let us pray. Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all comfor

DAILY PRAYERS These prayers, recited daily, give the day meaning and purpose.

The Sign of the Cross In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 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. The Hail Mary Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father 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. The 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen. An Act of Faith O My God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. An Act of Hope

O My God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. An Act of Love O My God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. The Confiteor I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever virgin, to blessed Michael the archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul and to all the saints that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary, ever virgin, blessed Michael the archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul and all the saints to pray to the Lord our God for me. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of all our sins. Amen. An Act of Contrition O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen. A Daily Prayer Into Your hands, O Lord, and the hands of Your Angels, I place and entrust this day my own soul, my relations, my benefactors, my friends and enemies, and all Catholic people; keep us during this day, by the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints, from the vices, evil desires, sins, and temptations of the devil, from sudden and un-provided death, and from the pains of hell. May the light of the Holy Spirit and Your grace shine in my heart. Let me ever obey Your commandments, and let me never be separated from You, Who live and reign with God the Father and the same Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen. Prayer of Adoration I adore You, O God. I count myself as nothing before Your divine majesty. You alone are life, truth, beauty and goodness. I glorify You, I praise You, I give You thanks and I love You, helpless and unworthy as I am, in union with Your dear son Jesus Christ, our savior and our brother. I desire to service You, to please You, to obey You and to love You always in union with Mary Immaculate, mother of God and our mother.

Give me Your Holy Spirit to enlighten me, to correct me and to guide me in the way of Your commandments and in all perfection, while I look for the happiness of heaven, where I shall glorify You forever and ever. Amen. Offering of Self Receive, O Lord, all my liberty. Take my memory, my understanding and my will. Whatever I have, whatever I possess You have given to me. I restore it all to You. I yield it to be ruled directly by Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace and I am rich enough nor do I ask for more. Amen. Grace before Meals Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts, which we are about to receive from Your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Angelus The angel of the Lord spoke to Mary. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary... Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your word. Hail Mary... And the Word was made flesh. And dwelled among us. Hail Mary... Pray for us, O holy mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray Pour forth, we beg You, O Lord, Your grace into our hearts that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Your 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. Grace after Meals

We give You thanks, Almighty God, for all Your benefits; Who live and reign, world without end. Amen. Regina Coeli (said during Paschaltime instead of the Angelus) Queen of heaven, rejoice. Alleluia. For He whom you deserved to bear. Alleluia. Has risen as He said. Alleluia. Pray for us to God. Alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia. For the Lord is truly risen. Alleluia. Let us pray O God, Who by the Resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, vouchsafed to give joy to the whole world; grant, we beseech You, that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. O Jesus In union with your most precious blood poured out on the cross and offered in every mass, I offer you today my prayers, works, joys, sorrows and sufferings for the praise of Your holy name and all the desires of Your sacred heart; in reparation for sin, for the conversion of sinners, the union of all Christians and our final union with you in heaven. Amen. A Prayer of Praise

Praise to You, Father for the innocent eyes of children, for sunlight and flowers and snowfalls; for the muscles of men who build houses and hospitals and harbors; for the minds of scholars who unfold the truths of the universe; for the hearts of parents who teach us to love. We praise You for what we have. We praise You, too, for those things that Your wise love has decided to withhold from us. What we are and have is from You. And our grateful response can only be to share these treasures with all Your children. Praise to You, too, Father for so many brothers and sisters. Amen. Daily Prayer of Thanksgiving Oh, heavenly Father, We Thank You... For food and remember the hungry. For health and remember the sick. For friends and remember the friendless. For freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to your service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen. The Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change The courage to change the things I can And the wisdom to know the difference Living one day at a time Enjoying one moment at a time Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace Taking, as God did, this sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it Trusting that God will make all things right If I surrender to God's will That I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with God forever in the next. Amen. MORNING PRAYERS A collection of beautiful prayers to start the day.

The Morning Offering

Lord God Almighty, Who have brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us during this day by Your power, that we may not fall into sin but that all our words, thoughts and deeds may always proceed and be directed toward that which is just in Your sight. Amen. Prayer to the Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray O God, Who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Fruits of the Holy Spirit Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Loganimity, Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continence, Chastity. Gifts of the Holy Spirit Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. Anima Christi Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds hide me. Separated from You let me never be. From the malignant enemy, defend me.

At the hour of death, call me. And close to You bid me. That with Your saints I may be Praising You, forever and ever. Amen. The Morning Prayer O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all the apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen. Prayer before Work O God of the poor and the humble, who was born in a stable and worked in a carpenter's shop, look down in pity on the workers of this world. Give us work that we may keep our families in comfort and live without fear. Teach us to be content with our lot and never let us be tempted with dishonesty. When it seems necessary to fight against injustice, O God of strength, send Your Holy Spirit upon us that we may know what is right and have strength to do it. Protect us from violence and give us peace. Good St. Joseph, friend of the workman, pray for us. Amen. A Morning Prayer In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity. Now and forever. Amen. O almighty and eternal God, in union with all Your elect in heaven and on earth I adore You. I praise and thank You for the gifts of nature and grace which I have received from your infinite goodness. I thank You principally for having created me to Your image and likeness and preserved me to this day; for having given Your only begotten son to suffer for me on the cross and to wash away my sins in his most precious blood. I thank You for having called me to the faith of the holy, catholic and apostolic church; for having so often pardoned my sins; for having watched over me this past night and preserved me from sudden death; and from all other evils which might have befallen me, had I not been protected by You merciful and watchful providence. O Lord, in return for all your mercies I wish I could give you a sufficient offering of gratitude and love. But You know that of myself I am nothing, have nothing and can do nothing worthy of you. Yet, remembering that I come to Your majesty through Christ my Savior. I humbly offer you in union with Him and through His sacred heart whatever I possess: my body, my senses and all the powers of my soul. I promise, by Your divine grace, not to think, say or do anything unworthy of one called to be a member of Your family.

Help me, O Lord, to curb my evil inclinations and so guide and sustain me in all things that every thought, word and action of mine may be used for Your greater glory, the sanctification of my soul and for the good those around me. Amen. Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You were already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. Fatima Morning Offering O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad; for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen. SPECIAL PRAYERS A collection of beautiful prayers for special intentions

A Prayer to St. Jude May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Prayer To The Blessed Virgin O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me here that you are my mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity (mention request). There are none that can withstand your power, O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recoursed thee (3 times). My cause is in your hands. Lovely Lady Dressed In Blue Lovely Lady dressed in blue-teach me how to pray! God was just your little boy, tell me what to say!

Did you lift Him up, sometimes, gently on your knee? Did you sing to Him the way Mother does to me? Did you hold His hand at night? Did you ever try telling stories of the world? O! And did He cry? Do you really think He cares if I tell Him things-little things that happen? And do the Angel's wings make a noise? And can He hear me if I speak low? Does He understand me now? Tell me, for you know? Lovely Lady dressed in blue, teach me how to pray! God was just your little boy, and you know the way. Prayer To St. Anthony Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints. Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (mention request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, Who loved to be folded in your arms and the gratitude of my heart will be yours. Prayer To St. Michael St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our hour of conflict; Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God restrain Him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast Satan into Hell, and with him all the other evil spirits, who wander through the world, for the ruin of souls. Amen. Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel Glorious Archangel, St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land, or sea, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (mention request) and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayer Of 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; 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 that we are born to eternal life. A Prayer Of St. Ignatius Loyola Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve: to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward save that of knowing I am doing Your will. A Prayer Of St. Patrick 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 that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. St. Andrew Novena Prayer to Obtain Favors Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen. (mention request) (It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.) Prayer To The Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your holy gifts. Let my weakness be penetrated with Your strength this very day that I may fulfill all the duties of my state conscientiously, that I may do what is right and just. Let my charity be such as to offend no one, and hurt no one's feelings; so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me. Assist me, O Holy Spirit, in all my trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen me in my weakness, help me in all my needs, protect me in temptation and console me in afflictions. Graciously hear me, O Holy Spirit, and pour Your light into my heart, my soul, and my mind. Assist me to live a holy life and to grow in goodness and grace. Amen. Prayer To The Holy Trinity

Glory be to the Father, Who by His almighty power and love created me, making me in the image and likeness of God. Glory be to the Son, Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell, and opened for me the gates of heaven. Glory be to the Holy Spirit, Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism, and continues to sanctify me by the graces I receive daily from His bounty. Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity, now and forever. Amen. Prayer To St. Martha "Thank you, Saint Martha, for favors granted." The following prayer is to be said for nine consecutive Tuesdays. Saint Martha, I resort to your protection and faith. Comfort me in all my difficulties and, through the great favor you enjoy in the house of my Savior, intercede for me, and my family. (Say three Hail Marys.) I beseech thee to have infinite pity in regard to the favor I ask of thee, Saint Martha, (mention request) and that I may be able to overcome all difficulties. Amen. This prayer has never been known to fail. You will receive your intention on or before the ninth Tuesday, no matter how impossible it might seem. Publication must be promised." Prayer To St. Jude O glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, true relative of Jesus and Mary, I salute thee through the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through this heart I praise and thank God for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. Humbly prostrate before thee, I implore thee through this heart to look down upon me with compassion. Oh, despise not my poor prayer. Let not my trust be confounded. To thee God has granted the privilege of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. Oh, come to my aid that I may praise the mercies of God. All my life I will be grateful to thee and will be thy faithful client until I can thee in Heaven. Amen. Prayer to Mother Teresa of Calcutta Oh Holy Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whose great love of Christ led you to serve the poorest of the poor, and whose missionary zeal inspired you to embrace the peoples of the world, I come to you in humble supplication. Obtain for me the grace to see Christ in all human beings, embracing them in

the spirit of generosity and ministering to them in the name of Jesus. Obtain for me also, the favor of: (mention request) Oh Heavenly Father, I beseech thee to obtain for Mother Teresa the official declaration of sainthood through canonization. I ask this in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen. A Prayer For Our Parish O God, You have made us the church of Your dear Son. Make our parish a family of one heart and mind in love toward You. Grant that our common life and work may be an example to all about us. Guide our pastor and his assistants in their work. Acknowledge the intercessions of (name of the parish patron) our patron; and keep us secure in Your love. Amen. Prayer For Missionaries Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, through Your life of poverty, Your intense sufferings, the labors of Your public life and bloody death, You earned the salvation of souls. The same path is trodden now by our missionaries who work for the salvation of souls. Fill them with courage, a devoted spirit of sacrifice and an unshakable confidence in Your promise to be with them to the end of time. Give success to their labors, answer their prayers and bless their burdens so that Your kingdom may extend to the ends of the earth. Amen. A Prayer for Priests 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 unworldly their hearts sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let your holy love surround 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 their everlasting crown hereafter. Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us; obtain for us numerous and holy priests. Prayer for Troubled Priests Eternal Father, creator of all things, we reverence Your continued grace and presence in the priesthood of You only begotten Son, now shared by Him with men. In the weakness which You know, some of those called to participate in the priesthood of the eternal high priest have fallen from the heights to which they were summoned. Do not, we beg You, cast them forever from Your sight. Be mindful, rather, of their hearts as they were touched by Your grace in the beginnings of their priesthood. Restore to them by a flood of Your grace that generosity which they knew in life's morning. Amen. Prayer For Brothers

O Almighty and eternal God, look lovingly upon Mary as she stood beneath the cross of her Son. For the love of this sorrowing mother and her Son have pity on Your other sons, the Brothers consecrated to Jesus. In youth's glad hour they turned from every earthly possession, every passing joy and every vain ambition, that they might dedicate themselves by the sacred bonds of poverty, chastity, and obedience in holiness of life. O Jesus, I confidently plead with You for all Your Brothers, for they are faithful, ardent religious. Be present in the classroom with the Brothers who labor for the youth You love so well; bend over the hospital cot with the Brothers who nurse bodies to win souls; be present in the kitchen and in the laundry and in the workshop with these Brothers who form the strong right arm of the great religious bodies that are the glory of Your church; be present in the mission field with Your Brothers, who have You alone as their motive and their solace. Amen. Prayer For Sisters O Almighty and eternal God, look upon the mother of Your Son and for love of her, and through her, have pity on Your consecrated Sisters. They are bound to You by their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Yet in spite of their good will and generosity, they are human, weak and frail. Take, therefore, their womanhood; purify it, ennoble it, transform it by Your grace, give them Your courage to rise above all pettiness. Give them Your tenderness to melt all selfish coldness; pierce them with Your honesty so that they may know themselves and come to know You. Give them O God, fidelity and sincerity. Keep them always in Your holy presence. Stir up in them the grace of their holy vocation. O Jesus, I pray to You for Your courageous, faithful and fervent Sisters. But above all I commend to You the Sisters dearest to me, the Sisters who taught me in school, the Sisters who encouraged and guided me, who comforted me in sickness, the Sisters whose beautiful example has edified and inspired me, all the Sisters to whom I am indebted in any other way, particularly Sister (mention name here). O Jesus, keep them all close to Your heart. And bless them abundantly for time and for eternity. Amen. Prayer of Resignation My Lord God, even now resignedly and willingly, I accept at your hands will all its anxieties, pains and sufferings whatever kind of death it may please you to be mine. Amen. An Exorcism Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places (Eph., 6,12). Come to the assistance of men

whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit ...that he may no longer seduce the nations (Apoc. 20, 2-3). Rite of Exorcism In the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints. (and powerful in the holy authority of our ministry)*, we confidently undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil.(*non-religious omit) God arises; His enemies are scattered and those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God. P. Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of enemies. R. The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David, hath conquered. P. May Thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us. R. As great as our hope in Thee.

(The crosses + below indicate a blessing to be given if a priest recites the Exorcism; if a lay person recites it, they indicate the Sign of the Cross to be made silently by that person).
We drive you from us, whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects. In the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, + may you be snatched away and driven from the Church of God and from the souls made to the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb. + Most cunning serpent, you shall no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the Church, torment God's elect and sift them as wheat.+ The Most High God commands you,+ He with whom, in your great insolence, you still claim to be equal. God who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2,4). God the Father commands you. + God the Son commands you.+ God the Holy Ghost commands you.+ Christ, God's Word made flesh, commands you;+ He who to save our race outdone through your envy, humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death (Phil.2,8); He who has built His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Her, because He will dwell with Her all days even to the end of the world (Matt. 28,20). The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you,+ as does also the power of the mysteries of the Christian Faith.+ The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you; + she who by her humility and from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception crushed your proud

head. The faith of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of the other Apostles commands you.+ The blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the Saints command you. + Thus, cursed dragon, and you, diabolical legions, we adjure you by the living God, + by the true God,+ by the holy God,+ by the God who so loved the world that He gave up His only Son, that every soul believing in Him might not perish but have life everlasting (St.John 3, 16); stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and hindering her liberty. Be gone Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man's salvation. Give place to Christ in Whom you have found none of your works; give place to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the price of His Blood. Stoop beneath the all-powerful Hand of God; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy Name of Jesus, this Name which causes hell to tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and Dominations of heaven are humbly submissive, this Name which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly repeating: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the God of Hosts. P. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. P. May the Lord be with thee. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. God of heaven, God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Confessors, God of Virgins, God who has power to give life after death and rest after work: because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, of Whose reign there shall be no end, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power from all the tyranny of the infernal spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious wickedness. Deign, O Lord, to grant us Thy powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. P. From the snares of the devil, R. Deliver us, O Lord. P. That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty: R. We beseech Thee to hear us. P. That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church: R. We beseech Thee to hear us. (Sprinkle Holy water in the places you may be). Prayer To Defeat The Works Of Satan Oh Divine Eternal Father, united with your Divine Son, and the Holy Spirit and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg you to destroy the power of your worst enemies: The malign spirits. Throw them into the deepest caverns of hell; and keep them there forever,

take possession of your kingdom; since it has been created by yourself; and very justly it belongs to you. Heavenly Father, grant us the reigning right of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With every beat of my heart and with every breath, I repeat this prayer, for pure Love to you. Amen. Providence Prayer
(by Sister Denise Wilkinson, SP)

My life, with all of its ups and downs, I gently place into your hands, Provident God. My loved ones, those here and those living in the fullness of your life, I gently place into your hands, Provident God. My daily work and all who come into my life through it. I gently place into your hands, Provident God. Our Church and all of the people of God, I gently place into your hands, Provident God. Our planet and our universe, revelations of your love, I gently place into your hands, Provident God. In your hands, may we learn to be expressions of your Providence, today and always. Amen. God of Providence God of Providence, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Into fruitfulness, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God of Jesus Christ, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Into your new creation lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God who called our Foundress, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Into love and care, to the poor and abandoned lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God who calls us in the darkness, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Into listening, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God who promises newness, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; To the places of new growth lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God our breath and our wellspring, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Give us living water, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God of humankind, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Into harmony, lead us, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. God who dwells within us, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Fire us for the journey, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit.

God of Providence, lead us, lead us in your wisdom; Be our light and our vision, lead us together, lead us to freedom in your Spirit. Amen. Prayer to the Providence of God
(St. Claude La Colombiere, SJ)

Loving and tender Providence of my God, into your hands I commend my spirit; to you I abandon my hopes and fears, my desires and repugnancies, my temporal and eternal prospects. To you I commit the wants of my perishable body; to you I commit the more precious interests of my immortal soul for whose lot I have nothing to fear as long as I do not leave your care. Though my faults are many, my misery great, my spiritual poverty extreme, my hope in you surpasses all. It is superior to my weakness, greater than my difficulties, stronger than death. Though temptations should assail me, I will hope in you; though I break my resolutions, I will look to you confidently for grace to keep them at last. Though you should ask me to die, even then I will trust in you, for you are my father, my God, the support of my salvation. You are my kind, compassionate and indulgent parent, and I am your devoted child, who casts myself into your arms and begs your blessing. I put my trust in you, and so trusting, shall not be confounded. Amen. Prayer of One about to be Married O gracious Father, who dost bless us by Thy bounty, pardon us by Thy mercy, support and guide us by Thy grace, and govern us by Thy providence: I give Thee humble and hearty thanks for all the mercies which I have received at Thy hands in time past. And now, since Thou hast called me to the holy estate of marriage, be pleased to be with me in my entering into it and passing through it, that it may not be a state of temptation or sorrow to me by occasion of my sins or infirmities, but of holiness and comfort, of love and dutifulness, as Thou has intended it to be to all that love and fear Thy holy name. Amen. TEENAGER PRAYERS A collection of beautiful prayers for Teenager's

Prayer For the Desire To Learn Almighty God, give me a deep curiosity about all of Your creation. Move me to search and to question; give me insight and understanding, a retentive memory and the patience to ponder and reflect. May I not stop with knowledge, but proceed to understanding of heart and wisdom to view

the world with the eyes of faith. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, help in the completion. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer For Parents Almighty and everlasting God, You have lovingly called us into life by means of our parents who thereby share in Your divine power. Mercifully hear the prayer of love which we offer to You for those with whom You have shared Your fatherly kindness so that they might lavish upon us, as we journey through life, the consoling gift of Your holy and generous love. Dear Lord, fill our parents with Your choicest blessings and enrich their souls with Your holy grace. Grant that they may faithfully and constantly guard that likeness to Your spiritual union with Your Church, which You first imprinted upon them on their wedding day. Fill them with Your spirit of holy reverence which is the beginning of wisdom, and enable them to impart it always to their children. May they ever walk in the way of Your commandments; and may their children be their joy in this earthly exile and their crown of glory in our heavenly home. Finally, Lord God, grant that both our father and our mother may reach old age in continuous health of mind and body. May they deserve to sing Your praises forever in our heavenly homeland together with us, their children. May they give You abundant thanks for having bestowed upon them the great privilege of sharing in Your infinite fruitfulness and Your divine fatherhood. Amen. Prayer For Grandparents Dear Lord, fill our grandparents with Your choicest blessings and enrich their souls with Your heavenly grace. Grant that they may faithfully and constantly guard that likeness of You which is in their hearts. Fill them with the spirit of wisdom and enable them to impart it always to their grandchildren. May they ever walk in the way of Your commandments and may their grandchildren be their joy in this earthly life and part of their crown of glory in our heavenly home. Dear Lord, grant our grandparents continuous health of mind and body. May they deserve to sing Your praises forever in our heavenly homeland, together with us, their grandchildren. Help us, Lord, to be helpful to them. Amen. A Girl's Prayer Before A Date Dear God, be with me tonight on this date so that I may be attractive, interesting, and a worthwhile companion. Help me to be considerate and thoughtful and to contribute to the enjoyment of the evening. Keep us from temptation. Make our social life a graceful experience of warmth and friendship. Amen. A Boy's Prayer Before A Date

Dear God, as I get ready for tonight I hope my date will find me interesting and attractive. Help me to remember that as a man I am leader and protector; I am responsible for this evening. Keep us from temptation; help us to enjoy each other's company; and provide us with the chance to know each other better and to grow in friendship if this be your will. Amen. Prayer After A Date Thank You, dear God, for the pleasure of this evening. May we both, through Your continuing protection, grow to know You and each other better. Amen. Prayers For School O God of truth, from whom every good thought comes, help us in our study. Let us read more carefully and listen to wisdom more humbly. Teach us in the course of this year that every discovery of truth is a discovery of You and the more we learn of Your laws and Your ways, the nearer we are brought to an understanding of Your divine being. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, teach me to work hard and play fair; and help me to forgive those who are unkind to me. Keep me ready to help others and send me chances to do some good each day. Amen. A Prayer Before Study Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge; vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls. Amen. Prayer for Students Under thy patronage, dear Mother, and calling on the mystery of thine Immaculate Conception, I desire to pursue my studies and my literary labors: I hereby solemnly declare that I am giving myself to these studies chiefly to the following end: that I may the better contribute to the glory of God and to the promotion of thy veneration among men. I pray thee, therefore, most loving Mother, who art the Seat of Wisdom, to bless my labors in thy loving-kindness. Moreover I promise with true affection and a willing spirit, as it is right that I should do, to ascribe all the good that shall come to me from thee, wholly to thine intercession for me in God's holy presence. Amen. Another Prayer Before Study Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge; vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of

apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls. Amen. A Prayer for Study Bestow on me, O Lord, my God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, a life and conversation which may please Thee, perseverance in waiting patiently for Thee, and a hope which may embrace Thee at the last. Grant me to be pierced with compunction by Thy sorrows through true repentance, to improve all Thy gifts and benefits during this my pilgrimage through Thy grace, and so at length to enter into Thy full and consummate joy in Thy glory. Who livest and reignest God, forever and ever. Amen OCCASIONAL PRAYERS A collection of beautiful prayers for occasional use.

Prayer For The Whole Church Defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, from all dangers both of soul and body; and, by the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of Blessed N. (mention your patron Saint), and all thy Saints, grant us, in Thy mercy, health and peace; that all adversaries and errors being done away, Thy Church may serve Thee with a pure and undisturbed, devotion. Amen. A Prayer For The Pope O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in Thy mercy, upon Thy servant N. (mention the Pope's name), whom Thou hast appointed to preside over Thy Church; and grant, we beseech Thee, that both by word and example he may edify all those who are under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. A Prayer For The Bishop Of The Diocese Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy servant our Bishop, that, by preaching and doing such things as are right, he may by the example of good works edify the minds of those under his authority, and receive of Thee, most tender Shepherd, an everlasting recompense and reward. Amen. A Prayer For The Congregation

Defend, we beseech Thee, O Lord, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, this Thy family, from all adversity; and as in all humility they prostrate themselves before Thee, do Thou graciously protect them against all the snares of their enemies. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer In Any Necessity O God, our refuge and strength, who art the Author of all goodness; hear, we beseech Thee, the devout prayers of Thy church; and grant that what we faithfully ask we may effectually obtain. Amen. A Prayer For Rain O God, in Whom we live, and move, and are, grant us seasonable rain; that we, enjoying a sufficiency of support in this life, may with more confidence strive after the things which are eternal. Amen. A Prayer For Fair Weather Hear us, O Lord, who cry unto Thee, and grant fair weather to us, Thy suppliant servants; that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins, may be Thy preventing pity find mercy. Amen. A Prayer During Hurricane Season O Heavenly Father, all the elements of nature obey Your commands, including hurricanes. Calm the storms that threaten us and turn our fear of Your power into praise of Your goodness. Grant this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. A Prayer For The Gift Of Tears O Almighty and most Merciful God, who didst cause a fount of living water to spring out of a rock for Thy people in their thirst; draw forth tears of compunction from our stony hearts; that, we may weep over our sins, and by Thy mercy deserve to obtain pardon for the same. Amen. A Prayer For The Forgiveness Of Sins O God, who rejectest none that come unto Thee, but in loving kindness art appeased even with the greatest sinners who repent; mercifully regard our prayers in our humiliation, and enlighten our hearts, that we may be able to fulfill Thy commandments. Amen. A Prayer For The Tempted And Afflicted O God, who, justifiest the ungodly, and willest not the death of a sinner; we humbly entreat Thy Majesty to protect Thy servants, who trust in Thy mercy, with Thy heavenly assistance; that they may constantly serve Thee, and by no temptation be separated from Thee. Amen.

A Prayer Against Evil Thoughts Almighty and most Merciful God, graciously hearken unto our prayers; and free out hearts from the temptations of evil thoughts; that we may worthily become a fit habitation for Thy holy Spirit. Amen. A Prayer For Our Friends O God, who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, hast poured into the hearts of Thy faithful the gifts of charity; grant to Thy servants and handmaids, for whom we implore Thy mercy, health both of body and soul; that they may love Thee with all their strength, and cheerfully perform those things which are pleasing unto Thee. Amen. A Prayer For Our Enemies O God, the lover and preserver of peace and charity; grant unto all our enemies peace and true charity; give them remission of all theirs sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their snares. Amen. A Prayer Before Study Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge; vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls. Amen. A Prayer for Study Bestow on me, O Lord, my God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, a life and conversation which may please Thee, perseverance in waiting patiently for Thee, and a hope which may embrace Thee at the last. Grant me to be pierced with compunction by Thy sorrows through true repentance, to improve all Thy gifts and benefits during this my pilgrimage through Thy grace, and so at length to enter into Thy full and consummate joy in Thy glory. Who livest and reignest God, forever and ever. Amen. A Prayer For The Gift Of Continence Inflame, O Lord, our reins and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit: that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a pure mind. Amen. A Prayer For The Gift Of Humility O God, who, resistest the proud, and givest grace to the humble: grant us the virtue of true humility, whereof Thine Only-begotten showed in Himself a pattern for Thy faithful; that we may

never by our pride provoke Thine anger, but rather by our meekness receive the riches of Thy grace. Amen. A Prayer For The Gift Of Patience O God, who didst crush the pride of the enemy by the long suffering of Thine Only-begotten Son: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily recall those things which in His tender love He bore for us; and thus following His example may patiently endure all our adversities. Amen. A Prayer For The Gift Of Charity O God, who makest all things to work together for good unto those who love Thee: give to our hearts the lasting affection of Thy love; that such desires as are inspired by Thee may never be changed by any temptation. Amen. A Prayer For Those At Sea O God, who didst bring our fathers through the Red Sea, and bear them through the great waters singing praises unto Thy name: we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe to turn away all adversities from Thy servants at sea, and to bring them with a calm voyage unto the haven where they would be. Amen. A Prayer In Times Of Threatened Calamity O Jesus Christ, we call upon Thee, Holy, Immortal God. Have mercy upon us and upon all men. Purify us by Thy holy Blood, forgive us by Thy holy blood, save us by Thy holy Blood, now and forever. Amen. A Prayer For All Things Necessary To Salvation (A Universal Prayer) O my God, I believe in Thee; do Thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee; do Thou secure them. I love Thee; teach me to love Thee daily and more. I am sorry that I have offended Thee; do Thou increase my sorrow. I adore Thee as my first beginning; I aspire after Thee as my last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant benefactor; I call upon Thee as my sovereign protector. Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by Thy wisdom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me by Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power. To Thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of Thee, speak of Thee, refer all my actions to Thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever Thou shalt appoint. Lord, I desire that in all things Thy will may be done, because it is Thy will, and in the manner that Thou willest.

I beg of Thee to enlighten my understanding, to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my souls. Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offenses, to overcome my temptations, to subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues proper for my state. Fill my heart with tender affection for Thy goodness, hatred of my faults, love of my neighbor, and contempt of the world. Let me always remember to be submissive to my superiors, courteous to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies. Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by devotion. O my God, make me prudent in my undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in affliction, and humble in prosperity. Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my resolutions. Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my deportment regular. Assist me, that I may continually labor to overcome nature, to correspond with Thy grace to keep Thy commandments, and to work out my salvation. Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity. Grant that I may prepare for death; that I may fear Thy judgments, escape hell and in the end obtain heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer During Hurricane Season O Heavenly Father, all the elements of nature obey Your commands, including hurricanes. Calm the storms that threaten us and turn our fear of Your power into praise of Your goodness. Grant this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. Prayer for Social Justice Almighty and eternal God, may your grace enkindle in all of us a love for the many unfortunate people whom poverty and misery reduce to a condition of life unworthy of human beings.

Arouse in the hearts of those who call you Father a hunger and thirst for social justice and for fraternal charity in deeds and in truth. Amen. Social Justice Prayer Grant, O Lord, peace to souls, peace to families, peace to our country and peace among nations. Amen. Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Grace for a Thanksgiving Meal Loving God, we thank you for all you have given us, family and friends, elders and children, loved ones to share the good times and the hard times, and the freedom to make of our lives what we choose. At this Thanksgiving meal, we thank you for the gift of life, we remember those who hunger and thirst, and we ask your continued blessings for all whose love we share. Amen. Blessing of the Christmas Tree Dear God, two thousand years ago, you brought your son, Jesus, into this world to teach us the power of love and sacrifice. As we raise this tree, we remember his birth and the meaning of his life for us. Bless this tree as a symbol of our celebration of Jesus' birth and our gratitude for his sacrifice. May the joy this tree brings and the gifts we place under it remind us of the many gifts you have given us. We ask your blessings upon our loved ones, this day and always. Amen. Prayer for a New Year Creator God, the wheel is turning, a new year beginning, reminding us of our place in time. We are part of this world you made, not as separate bits and pieces but as part of the beautiful wholeness of your plan. Our strength is from your mountains, our patience from your lakes, and our love is from our brothers and sisters with whom we share this world. As we face this year, help us in all we do to better understand our part in your miracle of creation, and to make this world a better place, now and forever. Amen. Easter Morning Prayer

Risen Jesus, a new day is born. It is your gift to us. In giving your life, you gave willingly what we could never ask. And, in so doing, you taught your world the meaning of love. You gave us a new beginning. You made us a resurrection people. You brought sunshine to our lives. We pray to be worthy of your sacrifice and your feeling for us. A Mother's Day Prayer Mary, mother of Jesus, woman of Providence, you formed your child's faith and led him to his destiny. Living your life in a real world, as a real woman, you became a model for all women. This special day, as in all the days of my life, I ask blessings for my mother (mention name) and for all women in my life whose own faith and care have been a life-long gift to me. Amen. A Prayer for Father's Day St. Joseph, through your goodness, faith and quiet sacrifice, you taught the meaning of fatherhood. You offered guidance and show the way. Thank you for those who have brought fatherhood into my life, especially for (mention name). I turn to you today, asking that you seek blessings for my own father and for all men who have touched my life. Amen. All Souls Remembrance Loving God, a candle burns in my heart and warms my soul. It never flickers. It never wanes. It is the memory of those I love who are now at home with you. I ask you to keep them close to your heart. Keep them in the bright flame of your love. As I prepare for my own journey, help me to understand death as but a doorway to new and eternal life. Amen. Prayer in Time of Sickness O Jesus, You suffered and died for us; you understand suffering; Teach me to understand my suffering as You do; To bear it in union with You; To offer it with You to atone for my sins and to bring Your grace to souls in need. Calm my fears; increase my trust. May I gladly accept Your holy will and become more like You in trial. If it be Your will, restore me to health so that I may work for Your honor and glory and the salvation of all men. Amen.

Mary, help of the sick, pray for me.

Prayer when Hospitalized

Jesus, I give You all those parts of my body which have suffered from illness. You know what it is like to endure pain. Let me see how You reshape and make that part of my body new, just as You and Your Father fashioned me with such exacting precious precision at the moment of my conception. Give Your gift of wisdom to my Physician that He may be guided by the Holy Spirit in all He does. Bless, too, my medication and my nurses so that their hands will become Your hands as they touch me. Amen. Before an Operation Loving Father, I entrust myself to Your care this day; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of those who minister in Your name; and grant that every cause of illness being removed, I may be restored to soundness of health and learn to live in more perfect harmony with You and with my fellow man, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Into Your hands I commend my body and my soul. Amen. After an Operation Blessed Savior, I thank You that this operation is safely past, and now I rest in Your abiding presence, relaxing every tension, releasing every care and anxiety, receiving more and more of Your healing life into every part of my being; in moments of pain I turn to You for strength, in times of loneliness, I feel Your loving nearness; and then grant that Your life and love and joy my flow through me for the healing of others in Your name. Amen. Prayers for Healing Lord, look upon me with the eyes of Your mercy, may Your healing hand rest upon me, may Your lifegiving powers flow into every cell of my body and into the depths of my souls, cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness and strength for service in Your Kingdom. Amen. O God, who art the only source of health and healing, the spirit of calm, and the central peace of this universe, grant unto me such a consciousness of Your in-dwelling and surrounding presence, that I may permit You to give me health and strength and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for Those in Stress God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...Courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. A Prayer for Those in Temptation Let me not deceive myself...I know what I am considering is wrong. Let me not be swept away by its immediate attraction.

God the Father, watch over me. Christ our Lord, strengthen me. The Holy Spirit, live in me. Amen. A Prayer for Those Who need Courage Dear Lord, teach me to be generous; To give and not count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To work and ask for no reward, Save that of knowing I am doing Your will. Amen. Prayer to Redeem Lost Time (St. Teresa of Avila) O my God! Sources of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in "wedding garments." Amen. Prayer for Peace Grant peace, O Lord, in our days, for there is none other to fight for us, but Thou, our God. V. Peace be within thy strength. R. And plenteousness in thy towers Let Us Pray O God, from whom all holy desires, right counsels and just works, grant to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts, being intent upon Thy commandments and the fear of our enemies taken away, the times, through Thy protection, may be peaceful. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for Safe Travel Be nigh to our prayers, O Lord: they path of Thy servants do Thou appoint towards safety and success, that in every change of ways and days, they may be shielded always with Thy might. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer Before Study Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge; vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls. Amen.

A Prayer for Study Bestow on me, O Lord, my God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, a life and conversation which may please Thee, perseverance in waiting patiently for Thee, and a hope which may embrace Thee at the last. Grant me to be pierced with compunction by Thy sorrows through true repentance, to improve all Thy gifts and benefits during this my pilgrimage through Thy grace, and so at length to enter into Thy full and consummate joy in Thy glory. Who livest and reignest God, forever and ever. Amen. A Prayer in any Tribulation O Almighty God, despise not Thy people who cry unto Thee in their affliction; but, for the glory of Thy name, turn away Thine anger, and help us in our