Prayer
Give to us, O God, a heart transformed by grace and a life inspired by humility. Grant us fullness of faith, firmness of hope and fervency of love. Let our one desire be conformity to your perfect will: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 34
I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy ones.
They lack nothing, those who fear him.
The rich suffer want and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful.
Enkindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you will renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that by the gifts of the same Spirit
we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Three times)
Prayer for the Jubilee Year 2025
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Kind mother of our Redeemer,
the way to heaven for us, now and always,
star of the sea,
come to our help as we fall and strive to rise.
All nature stood still in wonder
when you gave flesh
to your own flesh’s Creator.
Virgin at Gabriel’s greeting,
Virgin now and always –
take pity on us sinners.
Prayer for Pope Leo
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favourably on your servant Pope Leo XIV,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that,
together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of St John of the Cross
O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in Thee.
Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me.
Rule me, O thou King of gentleness, King of peace.
Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions.
From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me.
By thine own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in Thee.
Make me in this, and in all, more and more like Thee. Amen.
Pope Francis' Prayer for Peace 2025
Forgive us our trespasses, Lord,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
In this cycle of forgiveness, grant us your peace,
the peace that you alone can give
to those who let themselves be disarmed in heart,
to those who choose in hope to forgive the debts of their brothers and sisters,
to those who are unafraid to confess their debt to you,
and to those who do not close their ears to the cry of the poor.
The Anima Christi Prayer
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.
Let me never be separated from you.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me,
And bid me come to you,
That with your saints I may praise you
Forever and ever. Amen.
(attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola)
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, hail, 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 vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Prayer of St Francis
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a true faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will.
Prayer of St Teresa of Avila
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,
always follow Your plans,
and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace,
so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honour.
May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me,
in me, and through me. Amen.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height
Thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures which endure
Come, thou light of all that live!
Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow
Thou in toil art comfort sweet
Pleasant coolness in the heat
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill:
If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew
On our dryness pour thy dew
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will
Melt the frozen, warm the chill
Guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give us comfort when we die
Give us life with thee on high
Give us joys that never end.
Prayer of St Anselm
O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find my joy in you;
and if I cannot do so fully in this life,
let me at least make some progress every day,
until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their fulness.
While I am here on earth let me learn to know you better,
so that in heaven I may know you fully;
let my love for you grow deeper here,
so that there I may love you fully.
On earth then I shall have great joy in hope,
and in heaven complete joy in the fulfilment of my hope.
Prayer of St Patrick (St Patrick's Breastplate)
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
The Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my saviour.
Because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
From this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm:
he has routed the proud of heart,
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
according to the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Prayer of St Augustine
Eternal God, who are the light of the minds that know you,
the joy of the hearts that love you,
and the strength of the wills that serve you;
grant us so to know you, that we may truly love you,
and so to love you that we may fully serve you,
whom to serve is perfect freedom, in Jesus Christ our Lord
Words of St Augustine and a prayer built on them
God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding admonishes you do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and aids you that you may be able.
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.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this 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;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next. Amen
Traditional Act of Contrition
My God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins
because they have crucified my loving saviour, Jesus Christ,
because they have offended your infinite goodness and love.
I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace,
never to offend you again
and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin
An Act of Contrition inspired by Psalm 51
Lord God, in your goodness have mercy on me:
do not look on my sins, but take away all my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart
and renew within me an upright spirit.
Prayer for a happy death, St John Henry Newman
“O my Lord and Saviour, support me in that hour in the strong arms of Thy Sacraments, and by the fresh fragrance of Thy consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me, and Thy own Body be my food, and Thy Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother Mary breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious Saints, and my own dear Father, Philip, smile on me; that in them all and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live, in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love”
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that any one who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother,
to you I come,
before you I stand sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate!
despise not my petitions,
but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
Prayer of St Thérèse of Lisieux
O my God ! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits ; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.
O my God! I ask thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfil perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in Heaven for all Eternity. Amen.
Prayer of Padre Pio
Stay with me, Lord,
because I love You and ask no other reward
but to love You more and more.
Stay with me, Lord,
for it is necessary to have You present
so that I do not forget You.
You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord,
because I am weak and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.
Daily Prayer: St Thomas Aquinas
Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen
Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful
Enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit & they shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that, by the gifts of the same Spirit,
we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St Anselm
"O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love,
joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.
Teach us to love those who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that
we may be the children of your love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us
grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips;
may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Prayer to St Monica (who prayed successfully for the conversion of her son who became St Augustine of Hippo)
St Monica,
I need your prayers.
You know exactly how I'm feeling because you once felt it yourself.
I'm hurting and hopeless.
I desperately want my children to return to Christ in his Church but I can't do it alone.
I need God's help.
Please join me in begging the Lord's powerful grace to flow into my children’s lives.
Ask the Lord Jesus to soften their hearts, prepare a path for their conversion, and activate the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Amen.
Seeking the Lord
Lord, where shall I find you?
High and hidden is your place.
And where shall I not find you?
The world is full of your glory.
I have sought your nearness,
With all my heart I called you
and in going out to meet you
I found you coming in to meet me.
(Judah Halebi)
Prayer based on the Counsels 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 most divine master,
Let me strive rather to comfort than be comforted,
to understand rather than be understood
to love rather than be loved.
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
Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that
I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Prayer for Peace (Pax Christi)
The peace Jesus gives us
is a peace for today and for the future.
May the Lord give us this peace,
full of hope,
that makes us fruitful,
that makes us communicative with each other,
that creates community
and that always looks to the definitive
peace of Paradise. Amen
Isaiah 54
The mountains may depart,
the hills be shaken,
but my love for you will never leave you
and my covenant of peace with you will never be broken,
says the Lord who takes pity on you.
Prayers of St John Henry Newman
God has created me
to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission.
I never may know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purposes.
I have a part in this great work;
I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for nothing.
I shall do good,
I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.
May God support us all the day long
till the shadows lengthen
and the evening comes
and the busy world is hushed
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done –
then in mercy –
may God give us a safe lodging
and a holy rest
and peace at the last.
Prayer for Ukraine
O God, merciful & strong, you crush wars & cast down the proud, look with mercy on the Ukrainian people. Protect them from Russian aggression. Grant them peace & steadfast trust in your love. Give them courage to defend what is good, right & holy & provide all their needs. Through the powerful intercession of the Mother of God, Protectress of Ukraine & St Michael, the Archangel, Patron of Kyiv, banish violence swiftly from their midst & wipe away all tears. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Icelandic hymn 1208 (by the Viking, Kolbeinn Tumason)
Hear, maker of the heavens,
what the poet asks.
May softly come unto me
thy mercy.
So I call on thee,
for thou hast created me.
I am thy slave,
thou art my Lord.
Prayer of St Francis
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a true faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will.
Prayers of St Anselm
O Lord, we bring before you the distress and dangers of peoples and nations, the pleas of the imprisoned and the captive, the sorrows of the grief-stricken, the needs of the refugee, the impotence of the weak, the weariness of the despondent, and the frailty of the ageing. O Lord, stay close to all of them. Amen.
O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,
Where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
And you have bestowed on me
All the good things I possess,
And still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that
For which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
For I cannot seek you
Unless you teach me,
Or find you
Unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
Let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
Let me love you when I find you.
Evening Prayer of St Augustine
Watch, Lord, with those who wake or weep tonight.
Give the angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
O Lord Jesus Christ, tend your sick ones, rest Your weary ones,
bless Your dying ones, soothe the suffering ones,
pity all the afflicted ones, shield the joyful ones,
and all for Your love's sake. Amen.
Prayer from Citeaux (Cistercian Abbey)
Father of mercy,
your love embraces all
and, through the resurrection of your Son,
You call them into your beautiful light.
Dispel our darkness
and make of us a single people
who sing praise without end
to our Lord Jesus Christ.
St Therese of Lisieux on prayer
In order to secure a hearing there is no need to recite set prayers composed for the occasion... I have not the courage to look through books for beautiful prayers. I only get a headache because of their number, and besides, one is more lovely than another. Unable therefore to say them all, and lost in choice, I do as children who have not learned to read--I simply tell Our Lord all that I want, and He always understands. With me prayer is an uplifting of the heart; a glance towards heaven; a cry of gratitude and love, uttered equally in sorrow and in joy. In a word, it is something noble, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites it to God. Sometimes when I am in such a state of spiritual dryness that not a single good thought occurs to me, I say very slowly the "Our Father" or the "Hail Mary," and these prayers suffice to take me out of myself, and wonderfully refresh me.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy ones.
They lack nothing, those who fear him.
The rich suffer want and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful.
Enkindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you will renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that by the gifts of the same Spirit
we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Three times)
Prayer for the Jubilee Year 2025
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Kind mother of our Redeemer,
the way to heaven for us, now and always,
star of the sea,
come to our help as we fall and strive to rise.
All nature stood still in wonder
when you gave flesh
to your own flesh’s Creator.
Virgin at Gabriel’s greeting,
Virgin now and always –
take pity on us sinners.
Prayer for Pope Leo
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favourably on your servant Pope Leo XIV,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that,
together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of St John of the Cross
O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in Thee.
Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me.
Rule me, O thou King of gentleness, King of peace.
Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions.
From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me.
By thine own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in Thee.
Make me in this, and in all, more and more like Thee. Amen.
Pope Francis' Prayer for Peace 2025
Forgive us our trespasses, Lord,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
In this cycle of forgiveness, grant us your peace,
the peace that you alone can give
to those who let themselves be disarmed in heart,
to those who choose in hope to forgive the debts of their brothers and sisters,
to those who are unafraid to confess their debt to you,
and to those who do not close their ears to the cry of the poor.
The Anima Christi Prayer
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.
Let me never be separated from you.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me,
And bid me come to you,
That with your saints I may praise you
Forever and ever. Amen.
(attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola)
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, hail, 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 vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Prayer of St Francis
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a true faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will.
Prayer of St Teresa of Avila
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,
always follow Your plans,
and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace,
so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honour.
May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me,
in me, and through me. Amen.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height
Thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures which endure
Come, thou light of all that live!
Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow
Thou in toil art comfort sweet
Pleasant coolness in the heat
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill:
If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew
On our dryness pour thy dew
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will
Melt the frozen, warm the chill
Guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give us comfort when we die
Give us life with thee on high
Give us joys that never end.
Prayer of St Anselm
O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find my joy in you;
and if I cannot do so fully in this life,
let me at least make some progress every day,
until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their fulness.
While I am here on earth let me learn to know you better,
so that in heaven I may know you fully;
let my love for you grow deeper here,
so that there I may love you fully.
On earth then I shall have great joy in hope,
and in heaven complete joy in the fulfilment of my hope.
Prayer of St Patrick (St Patrick's Breastplate)
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
The Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my saviour.
Because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
From this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm:
he has routed the proud of heart,
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
according to the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Prayer of St Augustine
Eternal God, who are the light of the minds that know you,
the joy of the hearts that love you,
and the strength of the wills that serve you;
grant us so to know you, that we may truly love you,
and so to love you that we may fully serve you,
whom to serve is perfect freedom, in Jesus Christ our Lord
Words of St Augustine and a prayer built on them
God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding admonishes you do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and aids you that you may be able.
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.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this 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;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next. Amen
Traditional Act of Contrition
My God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins
because they have crucified my loving saviour, Jesus Christ,
because they have offended your infinite goodness and love.
I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace,
never to offend you again
and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin
An Act of Contrition inspired by Psalm 51
Lord God, in your goodness have mercy on me:
do not look on my sins, but take away all my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart
and renew within me an upright spirit.
Prayer for a happy death, St John Henry Newman
“O my Lord and Saviour, support me in that hour in the strong arms of Thy Sacraments, and by the fresh fragrance of Thy consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me, and Thy own Body be my food, and Thy Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother Mary breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious Saints, and my own dear Father, Philip, smile on me; that in them all and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live, in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love”
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that any one who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother,
to you I come,
before you I stand sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate!
despise not my petitions,
but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
Prayer of St Thérèse of Lisieux
O my God ! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits ; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.
O my God! I ask thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfil perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in Heaven for all Eternity. Amen.
Prayer of Padre Pio
Stay with me, Lord,
because I love You and ask no other reward
but to love You more and more.
Stay with me, Lord,
for it is necessary to have You present
so that I do not forget You.
You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord,
because I am weak and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.
Daily Prayer: St Thomas Aquinas
Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen
Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful
Enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit & they shall be created
and you will renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that, by the gifts of the same Spirit,
we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St Anselm
"O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love,
joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.
Teach us to love those who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that
we may be the children of your love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us
grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips;
may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Prayer to St Monica (who prayed successfully for the conversion of her son who became St Augustine of Hippo)
St Monica,
I need your prayers.
You know exactly how I'm feeling because you once felt it yourself.
I'm hurting and hopeless.
I desperately want my children to return to Christ in his Church but I can't do it alone.
I need God's help.
Please join me in begging the Lord's powerful grace to flow into my children’s lives.
Ask the Lord Jesus to soften their hearts, prepare a path for their conversion, and activate the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Amen.
Seeking the Lord
Lord, where shall I find you?
High and hidden is your place.
And where shall I not find you?
The world is full of your glory.
I have sought your nearness,
With all my heart I called you
and in going out to meet you
I found you coming in to meet me.
(Judah Halebi)
Prayer based on the Counsels 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 most divine master,
Let me strive rather to comfort than be comforted,
to understand rather than be understood
to love rather than be loved.
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
Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that
I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Prayer for Peace (Pax Christi)
The peace Jesus gives us
is a peace for today and for the future.
May the Lord give us this peace,
full of hope,
that makes us fruitful,
that makes us communicative with each other,
that creates community
and that always looks to the definitive
peace of Paradise. Amen
Isaiah 54
The mountains may depart,
the hills be shaken,
but my love for you will never leave you
and my covenant of peace with you will never be broken,
says the Lord who takes pity on you.
Prayers of St John Henry Newman
God has created me
to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission.
I never may know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purposes.
I have a part in this great work;
I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for nothing.
I shall do good,
I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.
May God support us all the day long
till the shadows lengthen
and the evening comes
and the busy world is hushed
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done –
then in mercy –
may God give us a safe lodging
and a holy rest
and peace at the last.
Prayer for Ukraine
O God, merciful & strong, you crush wars & cast down the proud, look with mercy on the Ukrainian people. Protect them from Russian aggression. Grant them peace & steadfast trust in your love. Give them courage to defend what is good, right & holy & provide all their needs. Through the powerful intercession of the Mother of God, Protectress of Ukraine & St Michael, the Archangel, Patron of Kyiv, banish violence swiftly from their midst & wipe away all tears. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Icelandic hymn 1208 (by the Viking, Kolbeinn Tumason)
Hear, maker of the heavens,
what the poet asks.
May softly come unto me
thy mercy.
So I call on thee,
for thou hast created me.
I am thy slave,
thou art my Lord.
Prayer of St Francis
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a true faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will.
Prayers of St Anselm
O Lord, we bring before you the distress and dangers of peoples and nations, the pleas of the imprisoned and the captive, the sorrows of the grief-stricken, the needs of the refugee, the impotence of the weak, the weariness of the despondent, and the frailty of the ageing. O Lord, stay close to all of them. Amen.
O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,
Where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
And you have bestowed on me
All the good things I possess,
And still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that
For which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
For I cannot seek you
Unless you teach me,
Or find you
Unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
Let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
Let me love you when I find you.
Evening Prayer of St Augustine
Watch, Lord, with those who wake or weep tonight.
Give the angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
O Lord Jesus Christ, tend your sick ones, rest Your weary ones,
bless Your dying ones, soothe the suffering ones,
pity all the afflicted ones, shield the joyful ones,
and all for Your love's sake. Amen.
Prayer from Citeaux (Cistercian Abbey)
Father of mercy,
your love embraces all
and, through the resurrection of your Son,
You call them into your beautiful light.
Dispel our darkness
and make of us a single people
who sing praise without end
to our Lord Jesus Christ.
St Therese of Lisieux on prayer
In order to secure a hearing there is no need to recite set prayers composed for the occasion... I have not the courage to look through books for beautiful prayers. I only get a headache because of their number, and besides, one is more lovely than another. Unable therefore to say them all, and lost in choice, I do as children who have not learned to read--I simply tell Our Lord all that I want, and He always understands. With me prayer is an uplifting of the heart; a glance towards heaven; a cry of gratitude and love, uttered equally in sorrow and in joy. In a word, it is something noble, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites it to God. Sometimes when I am in such a state of spiritual dryness that not a single good thought occurs to me, I say very slowly the "Our Father" or the "Hail Mary," and these prayers suffice to take me out of myself, and wonderfully refresh me.
