Prayers

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, etc…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Your Word.

Hail Mary, etc…

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, etc…

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 You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell; the third day He rose 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 Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen.

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that your 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 in revealing them you can neither deceive nor be deceived.

O my God, relying on Your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Amen

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.

OR

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

OR

O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know I should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do better, and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.

(This prayer is said after receiving communion.)

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 evil one protect me;
At the hour of my death, call me;
And close to you bid me; That with your saints,
I may be praising you forever and ever.

Amen.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and speaking falsely, say all manner of evll against you, for My sake.

Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe. All that has been created has been made for You. Make full use of Your rights over me.

I renew the promises I made in Baptism, when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works, and I promise to live a good Christian life and to do all in my power to procure the triumph of the rights of God and Your Church.

Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You my efforts in order to obtain that all hearts may acknowledge Your Sacred Royalty, and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace may be established throughout the universe.

Amen.

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart,
and with your whole soul,
and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.
And the second is like it:
you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

In the home it is kindness:
In the business it is honesty;
In society it is courtesy;
In work it is fairness;
Toward the unfortunate it is sympathy;
Toward the weak it is help;
Toward the wicked it is resistance;
Toward the strong it is trust;
Toward the penitent it is forgiveness;
Toward the successful it is congratulation;
And toward God it is reverence and obedience.

Come Holy Spirit into my soul,
Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess,
and grant me Your grace to confess them fully,
humbly and with contrite heart.

Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them again.

O Blessed Virgin,
Mother of my Redeemer,
mirror of innocence and sanctity,
and refuge of penitent sinners,
intercede for me through the Passion of Your Son,
that I may obtain the grace to make a good confession.

All you blessed Angels and Saints of God,
pray for me,
a most miserable sinner,
that I may repent from my evil ways,
that my heart may henceforth
be forever united with yours in eternal love.

Amen.

My dearest Jesus, I have told all my sins to the best of my ability. I have sincerely tried to make a good confession and I know that you have forgiven me. Thank you dear Jesus! Your divine heart is full of love and mercy for poor sinners. I love You dear Jesus; you are so good to me. My loving Savior, I shall try to keep from sin and to love You more each day. Dearest Mother Mary, pray for me and help me to keep all my promises. Protect me and do not let me fall back into sin. Dear God, help me to lead a good life. Without Your grace I can do nothing.

Amen.

1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before Me.
2. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus
while before Your face I humbly kneel and,
with burning soul,
pray and beseech You
to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments
of faith, hope, and charity;
true contrition for my sins,
and a firm purpose of amendment.

While I contemplate,
with great love and tender pity,
Your five most precious wounds,
pondering over them within me
and calling to mind the words which David,
Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus:

“They have pierced My hands and My feet,
they have numbered all My bones.”

Amen.

I believe that You, O Jesus, are in the most holy Sacrament. I love You and desire You. Come into my heart. I embrace You. Never leave me. May the burning and most sweet power of Your love, O Lord Jesus Christ. I beseech You, absorb my mind that I may die through love of Your love, who were graciously pleased to die through love of my love.

Come, O blessed Savior,
and nourish my soul with heavenly Food,
the Food which contains every sweetness and every delight.
Come, Bread of Angels,
and satisfy the hunger of my soul.
Come, glowing Furnace of Charity
and enkindle in my heart the flame of divine love.
Come, Light of the World,
and enlighten the darkness of my mind.
Come, King of Kings,
and make me obedient to your holy will.
Come, loving Savior,
and make me meek and humble.
Come, Friend of the Sick,
and heal the infirmities of my body
and the weakness of my soul.
Come, Good Shepherd, my God and my All,
and take me to yourself.
O most holy Mother, Mary Immaculate,
prepare my heart to receive my Savior.

Dear Lord,
help me to remove from my mind every thought
or opinion which You would not sanction,
every feeling form my heart which You would not approve.

Grant that I may spend the hours of the day
gladly working with You according to Your will.

Help me just for today and be with me in it.
In the long hours of work,
that I may not grow weary or slack in serving You.

In conversations,
that they may not be to me occasions of uncharitableness.

In the day’s worries and disappointments,
that I may be patient with myself and with those around me.

In moments of fatigue and illness,
that I may be mindful of others rather than of myself.

In temptations, that I may be generous and loyal,
so that when the day is over I may lay it at Your feet,
with its successes which are all Yours,
and its failures which are all my own,
and feel that life is real and peaceful,
and blessed when spent with You as the Guest of my soul.

Amen.

Lord God, king of heaven and earth,

Direct our minds and bodies throughout this day,

and make us holy.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Most merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray you by the agony of your most sacred heart, and by the sorrows of your Immaculate mother, to wash in your most Precious Blood the sinners of the world who are now in their agony, and who will die today.

Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Assist me in my last agony, and grant that I may breath forth my soul in peace with you.

Amen.

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.
Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time.
Amen.

All-powerful Father,

you sent your son Jesus Christ

to bring the new light of salvation to the world.

May he enlighten us with his radiance,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Be with us,
Lord, tonight.
Stay to adore and praise,
and give thanks for us while we sleep;
to draw down mercy and grace upon the world;
to give strength to the suffering souls
in purgatory in their long night of waiting.

Stay with us,
to ward off the anger of God
from our crowded cities with their dens of vice,
their crimes that call to Heaven for vengeance.

Stay with us,
to guard the innocent,
to sustain the tempted,
to raise the fallen,
to curb the power of the evil one,
to prevent sin.

Stay with us,
to comfort the sorrowing,
to bless the death-beds,
to grant contrition to the dying,
to receive into the arms of Your mercy
the thousands that this night
must come before You for judgment.

O Good Shepherd,
stay with Your sheep,
Secure them against the perils that beset them.
Stay, above all,
with the suffering and dying.
Grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Be our merciful Shepherd to the last,
that without fear we may appear before You as our Judge.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your Angels and Saints charge over those who sleep. Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest Your weary ones, Bless Your dying ones, Soothe Your suffering ones, pity Your afflicted ones, Shield Your joyous ones, And all for Your love’s sake.
Amen.

Charity

Joy

Peace

Patience

Benignity

Goodness

Longanimity

Mildness

Faith

Modesty

Continence

Chasity

O dear Jesus,
I humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family.
May our home be the shrine of peace, purity, love, labor and faith.
I beg You, dear Jesus, to protect and bless all of us, absent and present, living
and dead.

O Mary,
loving Mother of Jesus,
and our Mother,
pray to Jesus for our family,
for all the families of the world,
to guard the cradle of the newborn,
the schools of the young and their vocations.

Blessed Saint Joseph,
holy guardian of Jesus and Mary,
assist us by your prayers
in all the necessities of life.
Ask of Jesus that special grace
which He granted to you,
to watch over our home
at the pillow of the sick and the dying,
so that with Mary and with you,
heaven may find our family unbroken
in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Amen.

Lord, I believe: I wish to believe in Thee.

Lord, let my faith be full and unreserved, and let it penetrate my thought, my way of judging Divine things and human things.

Lord, let my faith be joyful and give peace and gladness to my spirit, and dispose it for prayer with God and conversation with men, so that the inner bliss of its fortunate possession may shine forth in sacred and secular conversation.

Lord, let my faith be humble and not presume to be based on the experience of my thought and of my feeling; but let it surrender to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and not have any better guarantee than in docility to Tradition and to the authority of the magisterium of the Holy Church.

Amen.

Pope Paul VI

Lord Jesus Christ,

Who revealed the infinite mercy of Your Sacred Heart

in saying: “Love your enemies

and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44)

and again, “Bless those who curse you,

pray for those who abuse you” (Lk 6:28),

give me, I beseech You,

grace to obey these commandments of yours,

and to persevere in praying daily

for those who, in any way,

have abused, cursed, hurt, or rejected me.

I pray for those who hate me,

for those who resent me

and for those who have spoken ill of me.

I beg you to bless them abundantly

and to pour into their hearts

such a profusion of healing mercies

that in them and around them

love will triumph over hatred,

friendship over resentment,

sweetness over bitterness,

meekness over anger,

and peace over enmity.

I further ask you to extend these graces

to their families and to all whom they hold dear.

In particular, I pray today for N. (and N.).

I present him/her/them

to Your Eucharistic Face,

asking You to envelop him/her/them in Its healing radiance,

dispelling whatever shadows of sin

may have darkened his/her/their mind(s)

or hardened his/her their heart(s)

in anger, hatred, or the refusal to forgive.

For my part,

with deep sorrow I confess

that I have sinned grievously against others,

causing them pain and even endangering their souls.

I pray you, O Merciful Jesus, to repair the evil I have done to others

and to heal the hurt I have inflicted on them.

In particular, I acknowledge my sins against N. (and N.)

imploring You to heal and repair the harm I have done him/her/them.

I ask you so to penetrate my heart

with the charity of Your Pierced Heart

that I will be able to forgive

those who have offended me,

to love them sincerely,

and to desire for them all that will contribute to their true happiness

in this life and in the next.

By means of a permanent intention,

I desire to renew this prayer

in every offering of Your Holy Sacrifice.

Let the light of Your Eucharistic Face

shine in the hearts of all who harbour

hatred or resentment toward me,

to bring them healing and peace.

Let Your Precious Blood

triumph over evil

in those against whom I have sinned

and in those who have sinned against me,

so that, delivered from the shadows

of this valley of tears,

we may one day praise Your Mercy together

in the sweetness of a boundless charity.

Amen.

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 guide.

Amen

Lord,

guide us in your gentle mercy,

for left to ourselves

we cannot do your will.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Most Holy Virgin and Mother, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the passion of your divine Son, and in His glorious resurrection, you were filled with unending joy in His triumph! Obtain for us who call upon you, to be such partakers in the adversities of holy Church and in the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Wisdom

Understanding

Counsel

Fortitude

Knowledge

Piety

Fear of the Lord

Hail, Mary! Full of grace,

The Lord is with thee;

Blessed are 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.

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 temptations 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.

Father, may everything we do

begin with your inspiration,

and continue with your saving help.

Let our work always find its origin in you,

and through you reach completion.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

O Sweet Jesus, I desire neither life, nor death, but Your most holy will. You are the One, O Lord, that I long for. If it be Your holy will to have me die, receive my soul; and grant that in You and with You, I may receive everlasting rest. If it be Your holy will to have me live longer upon this earth, give me the grace to amend the rest of my life, and with good works to glorify Your Holy Name.

Amen.

Luke 11:1

“Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

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.

Mary, Mother of grace,

Mother of mercy,

Shield me from the enemy

And receive me at the hour of my death.

(Roman Ritual)

O Jesus,

through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You all my prayers, works, 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 all my sins. For the intentions of all our associates, and, in particular, for the intention of our Holy Father for this month.

Amen.

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.

Inspired with 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 thy Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy clemency hear and answer me.
Amen.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name;

And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

He has shown might with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, His servant, mindful of His mercy –

Even as He spoke to our father – to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Keep us, O God, from all pettiness.

Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.

Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off all self-seeking.

May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, without self pity and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment, and always be generous.

Let us always take time for all things, and make us to grow calm, serene and gentle.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses, to be straightforward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life that create differences, that in the big things of life, we are as one.

And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind!

Amen.

O Jesus,

I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for Your lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in purgatory.

But above all I recommend to You the priests dearest to me; the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved me from my sins; the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way. O Jesus, keep them all close to Your heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.

Amen.

Most Holy Virgin and Mother, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the passion of your divine Son, and in His glorious resurrection, you were filled with unending joy in His triumph! Obtain for us who call upon you, to be such partakers in the adversities of holy Church and in the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

With eccliastical permission

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, protector of souls, mercifully hear our prayers for protection against the purveyors of evil, against the wiles of satan and his followers who seek to entrap us with the snares of pornography and lust and vice. Oh Jesus, grant that we may boldly step forward to defeat these enemies of men’s souls, through the power and protection of Your Most Precious Blood, offered for us on the Cross.

Lord Jesus, we beg the conversion of all who pander to weaknesses of men and women through pornography. Bring these and all your people to their final home in Heaven.

Virgin Most Pure, pray for your children here on earth who must face temptations thrust on them by evil men.

St. Maria Goretti, Model of Purity, help us to follow in your example in forgiveness of others and love of God; pray to God that we will be successful in our daily fight against the evil forces of pornography and temptations of the flesh; and ask God to give strength and wisdom to those who battle against the satanic forces of evil, that they may triumph for God and the salvations of souls.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect us and have mercy on us.

Amen

Virgin Most Pure, pray for us.

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us.

O gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on them.
Be not severe in Your judgments, but let some drops of Your Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames.
And, Merciful Saviour, send Your angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace.
Amen.

1. Attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation

2. Confession of serious sin at least once a year

3. Reception of Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season

4. Observance of the days of fast and abstinence

5. Providing for the needs of the Church

6. Observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

Father, without you we can do nothing.

By Your Spirit, help us to know what is right

and to be eager in doing Your will.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

Monday & Saturday

1. The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary (Humility)
2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Charity)
3. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Poverty)
4. The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Obedience)
5. Finding Jesus in the Temple at age 12 (Piety)

Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary

Tuesday & Friday

1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (Contrition)
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Purity)
3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns (Courage)
4. Jesus Carried the Cross (Patience)
5. The Crucifixion of our Lord (Self-denial)

Glorious Mystery of the Rosary

Wednesday & Sunday

1. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Faith)
2. The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven (Hope)
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Love)
4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Eternal Happiness)
5. Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth (Devotion to Mary)

Luminous Mystery of the Rosary

Thursday

1. The Baptism in the Jordan (Repentance)
2. The Wedding at Cana (Commitment)
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Evangelization)
4. The Transfiguration (Perseverance)
5. The Institution of the Eucharist (The Mass)

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Sacred heart of Jesus,
with all Its love,
all Its sufferings and all Its merits;
To expiate all the sins I have committed this day,
and during all my life.

Glory be to the Father, etc…

To purify the good I have done in my poor way this day,
and during all my life.

Glory be to the Father, etc…

To make up for the good I ought to have done and
that I have neglected this day
and during all my life.

Glory be to the Father, etc…

O 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 he did, the sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever.

Amen

“Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints”

O 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. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). 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 ever be yours.

Amen.

Prayer to St. John of the Staff

OH, BLESSED ST. JOHN OF THE STAFF, you devoted your life to the service of God in the practice of humility, obedience and self-denial. You pleased God so much that He granted you the power to intercede for all who need you and seek your assistance here on earth. It is through this power that you can obtain for me my most urgent needs.

I am confident that you will look upon my requests with compassion and help me to endure my pains and sufferings. Oh, Blessed St. John of the Staff, hear my prayer and come to my aid. (Mention your petition)

I promise to love our Lord, whom you loved so much, with all my heart. I shall do all I can to spread your devotion and strive to imitate your practice of the holy virtues. Blessed St. John of the Staff, pray for me and bless me in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

(Indulgence of 100 days)

ST. JOHN OF THE STAFF SAINT JOHN OF THE STAFF was born in Paterno, a small village in the province of the Marches, in central Italy. His family was of humble origin. They were farmers.

Because of his piety, obedience and desire for learning, his parents decided to send him to the University of Bologna which was noted for its high academic standards. St. John not only excelled in his literary studies but he also attended the religious services and listened eagerly to the word of God and the Holy Scriptures.

He found life in the city, and his school companions too great a temptation to his virtue and purity. He did not wish to fall into sin, or disobey his parents who were eager for him to study at Bologna. He turned to God and prayed fervently that God would help him and free him from this anxiety. Our Lord answered his prayer, for St. John developed a very painful sore on one of his legs. It became necessary for his parents to take him home. Slowly, his condition improved but he remained lame for the rest of his life. As a result he had to lean on a staff in order to walk. He became known as “St. John of the Staff’.

Since he did not wish to be a burden upon his family, he decided to go to Fabriano to open a grammar school. As he lived and worked here, he became more and more imbued with the idea of retiring completely from the world and consecrating himself entirely to the service of God.

In Fabriano everyone was talking of the sanctity of St. Sylvester who had founded the Monastery of Montefano near Fabriano. St. Sylvester and his disciples lived in strict obedience of the holy rule of St. Benedict. St. John decided to consult St. Sylvester concerning his strong desire to enter the “Order of St. Benedict of Montefano”. St. Sylvester, the Holy Founder, gladly accepted him.

As a member of the Benedictine Order St. John could not engage in any physical activity because of his handicap. He devoted himself to writing, praying and teaching. Much of his time was also spent in the faithful imitation of the holy virtues which he admired in his elderly confreres, especially those of the great and holy St. Sylvester. The holiness of his life and his learning elicited such great esteem and consideration from everyone that St. Sylvester encouraged him to become a priest. At first, St. John was hesitant but humbly accepted the high dignity. Once a Priest he eagerly increased his efforts to perfect himself in all of the monastic virtues. When offering the sacrifice of the Mass, St. John’s devotion and fervor were so great that all were impressed and edified. By his continuous meditation of the Passion of our Lord, he developed a patience that helped him to bear with joy all the sufferings and pains in his life, especially that which was caused by his physical infirmity. He loved his sufferings because he considered them a special grace which God granted him for the preservation of his purity.

He was humble and very devoted to his confreres and was always ready to render them any service. St. John was most attentive and affable to those who suffered. He was prompt to receive charitably all outsiders and was ever ready to help all who turned to him for assistance.

For many years St. John was the prudent and wise counselor of St. Sylvester and of those who followed St. Sylvester as administrators of the Benedictine Order of Montefano. St. John died in Fabriano, on March 24, 1290. His tomb immediately became a holy place for pilgrimages and wondrous miracles. Even today, St. John lavishes many graces upon those who pray to him. He invites us to have recourse with faith and fervor to his intercession.

O Blessed Saint Joseph, faithful guardian and protector of virgins, to whom God entrusted Jesus and Mary, I implore you by the love which you did bear them, to preserve me from every defilement of soul and body, that I may always serve them in holiness and purity of love.

Amen.

Holy Michael the archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do you,
O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the divine power thrust into hell
Satan and all the other evil spirits
who wander through the world
seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen

Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to you in this time of illness. O dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us.

Amen.

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.

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;

To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Behold me, my beloved Jesus,
weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings,
I cast myself at Your feet,
that You may renew my strength and my courage,
while I rest here in Your Presence.
Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart,
for only Your infinite goodness can sustain me;
only Your love can help me bear my cross;
only Your powerful hand can lighten its weight.
O Divine King, Jesus,
whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted,
I wish to live in You;
suffer and die in You.
During my life be to me my model and my support;
At the hour of my death,
be my hope and my refuge.

Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus today I wish to live in You, in Your grace, in which I desire at all costs to persevere.

Keep me from sin and strengthen my will by helping me to keep watch over my senses, my imagination, and my heart.

Help me to correct my faults which are the source of sin.

I beg You to do this, O Jesus, through Mary, Your Immaculate Mother.

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 to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will.

St. Ignatius Loyola

Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me
Christ to comfort me 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 or stranger.

St. Patrick
(390-461 A.D.)

I ask God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey . . .

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things . . .

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty that I might be wise . . .

I ask for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God . . .

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things . . .

I got nothing that I had asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

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.

God our Father, you have called us
to be witnesses to Jesus
and have commissioned us to lead
all people to encounter him.

Send your Holy Spirit
to enlighten our minds
so that your will may be clear to us and that we may accept it.

Dwell within our souls
and make our hearts your own.

Transform us into a band of
joyful missionary disciples
embracing the fruits of Synod 16
so as to share the good news
of Jesus Christ in Southeastern Michigan
through joyful
evangelization and service.

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle
in them the fire of your love. Amen.

Saint Anne, pray for us.

Heavenly Father, You create men in Your own image, and You desire that not even the least among us should perish.In Your love for us, You entrusted Your only Son to the holy Virgin Mary. Now, in Your Love,protect against he wickedness of the devil,those little ones to whom You have given the gift of life.

God our Savior,

bring us back to you

and fill our minds with your wisdom.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen

Father,

You guide Your people with kindness

and govern us with love.

Give the spirit of wisdom

to those You have to call to leave Your Church.

May the growth of Your people in holiness

be eternal joy of our shepherd.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Father, keep before us the wisdom and love

You have revealed in Your Son.

Help us to be like Him in word and deed.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen