To access prayers of a specific type, click on its correspinding category as found in the index below:
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(Written for use throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh. To be prayed at the conclusion of the Universal Prayer (also called Prayers of the Faithful or General Intercessions) at Mass.)
Prayer for On Mission for The Church Alive!
Father of Mercy, as we journey On Mission for The Church Alive!, endow us with Your gifts of collaboration, courage and compassion. Help us to fulfill the mission of Jesus and His Church through vibrant parishes and effective ministries. Raise up selfless, energetic leaders to serve the Church in fidelity and with care.
May we, the Church of Pittsburgh in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington Counties, be sustained and strengthened by Your grace. Help us to learn Jesus, to love Jesus and to live Jesus. Hear this prayer and grant it through Jesus Christ our Lord, with the help of our dear Blessed Mother, under the mantle of her love. Amen.
(This prayer can be used to pray for the parishes in our grouping during the Implementation Phase of the On Mission! process. It should not replace the On Mission! Prayer, but can be used in addition to it.)
Parish Grouping Prayer
Father of Mercy, during this time of implementation help us to grow in unity with the parishes in our grouping:
St. John the Baptist, St. Titus, Our Lady of Fatima, and St. Frances Cabrini.
Grant us the wisdom and willingness to understand how our parishes will become stronger and more vibrant in fulfilling the mission of the Church. Assist us in opening our arms to welcome others as we continue to journey On Mission for The Church Alive! Help us, O Lord, to trust in the future You have planned for us. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit and fill us with your gift of wonder and awe in God's presence. May we never forget that our lives are made for what is eternal (heaven), not what will pass away (earth). May we always stand in amazement before God and the wonderful ways He is at work in our lives, the world and the Church. May we be free from sin to maintain our union with God and may we reflect His love as we are united with our brothers and sisters.
Come, Holy Spirit and fill us with your gifts of right judgment and courage. Give us right judgment so that we may know what is good for ourselves and for the Church and always choose what is right. Give us courage that we might step outside of our comfort zone, take risks and think outside of the box in order to renew the Church and the world.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your gifts of wisdom and understanding. Give us wisdom so that we may be open to your ways, know your will for our lives and for the Church of Pittsburgh. Give us understanding as we follow Christ, that we may comprehend His message of loving God and others before ourselves.
Come, Holy Spirit and fill us with Your gifts of knowledge and reverence. Give us knowledge so that we may think and act confidently in ways that will inspire faith and grow the Church. Give us reverence so that whatever may come we might rely on God with unwavering humility, trust and love and honor Him through worship, deed and word.
As we journey On Mission for The Church Alive!, inspire us to be open and trusting to the changes that await us, and strengthen us to live our baptismal call of building up the Kingdom of God on earth. Amen.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be 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.
Jesus, my God, You are infinitely good and perfect. I love You above all things and with my whole heart. I desire to receive You in Holy Communion that I may love You more and serve You better. Come to me and strengthen me, so that I may never be separated from You on earth and that I may live with You eternally in heaven. Amen.
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.
Suffer me not to be separated from You.
From the malignant enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come unto Thee,
That with all Your saints,
I may praise You forever and ever. 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. Amen.
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 instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ, our Lord. Amen
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I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, Who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 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; On the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
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My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has looked upon His handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry He has filled with good things; the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped Israel His servant, remembering His mercy, according to His promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
(Lk 1:46-55)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people.
He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David His servant, even as He promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of His holy covenant and of the oath He swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship Him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
(Luke 1:68-79)
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Jesus, my God, You are infinitely good and perfect. I love You above all things and with my whole heart. I desire to receive You in Holy Communion that I may love You more and serve You better. Come to me and strengthen me, so that I may never be separated from You on earth and that I may live with You eternally in heaven. Amen.
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. Suffer me not to be separated from You. From the malignant enemy defend me. In the hour of my death, call me. And bid me come unto Thee, That with all Your saints, I may praise You forever and ever. Amen.
My Lord Jesus Christ, Who because of Your love for men remain night and day in the Blessed Sacrament, full of pity and of love, awaiting, calling and welcoming all who come to visit You.
I believe that You are present here on the altar. I adore You, and I thank You for all the graces You have bestowed on me, especially for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given me Your most holy Mother Mary to plead for me, and for having called me to visit You in this church.
I now salute Your most loving Heart, and that for three ends:
first, in thanksgiving for this great gift;
secondly, to make amends to You for all the outrages committed against You in this Sacrament by Your enemies;
thirdly, I intend by this visit to adore You in all the places on earth in which You are present in the Blessed Sacrament and in which You are least honored and most abandoned.
My Jesus, I love You with my whole heart. I am very sorry for having so many times offended Your infinite goodness. With the help of Your grace, I purpose never to offend You again. And now, unworthy though I am, I consecrate myself to You without reserve. I renounce and give entirely to You my will, my affection, my desires and all that I possess. For the future, dispose of me and all I have as You please.
All I ask of You is Your holy love, final perseverance and that I may carry out Your will perfectly. I recommend to You the souls in Purgatory, especially those who had the greatest devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I also recommend to You all poor sinners.
Finally, my dear Saviour, I unite all my desires with the desires of Your most loving Heart; and I offer them, thus united, to the Eternal Father, and beseech Him, in Your name and for love of You, to accept and grant them. Amen.
(traditional)
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.
O Jesus, who hast said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you", we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity!
For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end. Amen
(modern)
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the Living God, behold we kneel before You and offer You our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Your holy name, for all the injuries done to You in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Your Immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Your spouse, the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.
O Jesus, who said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you", we pray and beseech You for all who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the True Faith; save those who are, even now, standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them, give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity!
For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Your name, to God the Father, with whom You live and reign, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary beg the conversion of poor sinners.
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The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary....
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary....
And the Word was made Flesh.
And dwelt 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 beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
[from Advent until Candlemass (Purification)]
Loving mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before. You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting, have pity on us poor sinners.
[from Candlemass (Purification) until Easter]
Hail, Queen of heaven; Hail, Mistress of the Angels; Hail, root of Jesus; Hail, the gate through which the Light rose over the earth.
Rejoice, Virgin most renowned and of unsurpassed beauty, and pray for us to Christ. Allow us to praise you, O sacred Virgin. Against your enemies give us strength.
Grant unto us, O merciful God, a defense against our weakness, that we who remember the holy Mother of God, by the help of her intercession, may rise from our iniquities, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
[from Easter until Trinity Sunday]
Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He, Whom thou was worthy to bear. Alleluia.
Has risen as He said. Alleluia.
Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia.
Because the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
(Let us pray.)
O God, Who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has been pleased to give joy to the whole world, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
[from Trinity Sunday until Advent]
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! Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions; but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
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(Traditional)
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment, but most of all because I have offended Thee, my God, Who is 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 occasion of sin. Amen.
(Modern)
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishment, but most of all because I have offended You, my God, Who is all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. 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 the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
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 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.
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Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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I.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
II.
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, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.
I.
I adore You, my God, and I love You with all my heart.
I thank You for having created me, for having made me a christian, and for having preserved me this day.
Pardon me for the evil I have done today. If I have done anything good, be pleased to accept it.
Protect me while I take my rest and deliver me from all dangers.
May Your grace be always with me. Amen.
II.
O Lord, we pray You to visit this home and drive from it all snares of the enemy. Let Your holy angels dwell in it to preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be always upon us, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
III.
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in His peace. Amen.
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O blessed Saint Joseph, faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector of your chaste spouse, the virgin Mother of God, I choose you this day to be my special patron and advocate and I firmly resolve to honor you all the days of my life.
Therefore, I humbly beseech you to receive me as your client, to instruct me in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction, to obtain for me, and for all, the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of my death. Amen
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day/night be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Saint 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 thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be all holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work. too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen
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. Amen.
(short version)
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, so that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love. Amen.
(long vesrion)
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without meaning and hope.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I can hear Your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You ever more, and to be always in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be always faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a dwelling of Your love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late; the days are coming to a close and life is passing. Death, judgement and eternity are drawing near. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way, for that I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me, Jesus, because in the darkness of life, with all its dangers, I need You. Help me to recognize You as Your disciples did at the Breaking of the Bread, so that the Eucharist Communion be the light which disperses darkness, the power which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death I want to be one with You, and if not by Communion, at least by Your grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolations because I do not deserve them, but I only ask for the gift of Your Presence. Oh yes! I ask this of You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I seek You alone, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and I ask for no other reward but to love You more and more, with a strong active love. Grant that I may love You with all my heart while on earth, so that I can continue to love you perfectly throughout all eternity, dear Jesus. Amen.
May the Strength of God pilot us;
May the Power of God preserve us;
May the Wisdom of God instruct us;
May the Hand of God protect us;
May the Way of God direct us;
May the Shield of God defend us;
May the Host of God guard us;
Against the snares of the evil ones,
Against temptations of the world.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us!
Christ be over all!
May Thy salvation, Lord, always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and evermore. Amen.
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess, Thou hast given me: I surrender it all to Thee to be disposed of according to Thy will. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. Amen.
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing;
God only is changeless.
Patience gains all things.
Who has God, wants nothing.
God alone suffices.
O Lord, I place myself in your hands and dedicate myself to you. I pledge myself to do your will in all things: To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength.
Not to kill. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honor all persons. Not to do to another what I would not wish done to myself. To chastise the body. Not to seek after pleasures. To love fasting. To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To hold myself aloof from worldly ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
Not to give way to anger. Not to foster a desire for revenge. Not to entertain deceit in the heart. Not to make a false peace. Not to forsake charity. Not to swear, lest I swear falsely. To speak the truth with heart and tongue. Not to return evil for evil. To do no injury: yea, even to bear patiently any injury done to me. To love my enemies. Not to curse those who curse me, but rather to bless them. To bear persecution for justice's sake.
Not to be proud. Not to be given to intoxicating drink. Not to be an over-eater. Not to be lazy. Not to be slothful. Not to be a murmurer. Not to be a detractor. To put my trust in God.
To refer the good I see in myself to God. To refer any evil in myself to myself. To fear the Day of Judgment. To be in dread of hell. To desire eternal life with spiritual longing. To keep death before my eyes daily. To keep constant watch over my actions. To remember that God sees me everywhere. To call upon Christ for defense against evil thoughts that arises in my heart.
To guard my tongue against wicked speech. To avoid much speaking. To avoid idle talk. To read only what is good to read. To look at only what is good to see. To pray often. To ask forgiveness daily for my sins, and to seek ways to amend my life. To obey my superiors in all things rightful. Not to desire to be thought holy, but to seek holiness.
To fulfill the commandments of God by good works. To love chastity. To hate no one. Not to be jealous or envious of anyone. Not to love strife. Not to love pride. To honor the aged. To pray for my enemies. To make peace after a quarrel, before the setting of the sun. Never to despair of your mercy, O God of Mercy. Amen.
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Heavenly Father, pour forth Your Holy Spirit to inspire me with these words from holy Scripture. Stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith and deepen my relationship with Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that I might truly believe in and live the Good News. Open my heart to hear the Gospel and grant me the confidence to proclaim the Good News to others.
Pour out Your Spirit, so that I might be strengthened to go forth and witness to the Gospel in my everyday life through my words and actions. In moments of hesitation, remind me: If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel? If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed? If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim?
God, our Father, I pray that through the Holy Spirit I might hear the call of the new evangelization to deepen my faith, grow in confidence to proclaim the Gospel and boldly witness to the saving grace of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name. We pray Thee, Who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope Frances, the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, David Zubik, all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.
We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
We pray for his Excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.
We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.
Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance.
To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
[Archbishop John Carroll; November 10, 1791]
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. Amen,