Lenten Prayer (Fr. Thomas Haren)

May I remember throughout these 40 days that every little thing that I give up for love of you can be a spiritual gift for the good of others. By your grace, O Lord, help me to grow in virtue and holiness. May I enter deeper into the life of prayer, fasting, and care for the poor.

O Christ, true bread of life, may I hunger for you alone. Be my constant joy and delight as I seek to relinquish my appetites for this world and to be fed from above with faith, hope, and charity. Lord, lead me through your sorrowful passion and death that I may receive in your resurrection.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph

O man of God, St. Joseph, faithful son of the Father, wise guardian of the Word made flesh, obedient servant to the Holy Spirit, please be to me a father and friend. Watchful protector of the Church, help me to reverence Jesus, the true bread of life, and to love him in every crushed grain of humanity by which his body is made. Chaste husband of the Immaculate Mary, help me to honor Mary with a pure and innocent mind, courageous chastity of body, and constant reflection on the mysteries of her Son.

Gentle father of the Holy Family, be mindful of our needs and those of our family. Guard me from the evils of these times, the worship of riches, the destructive pursuit of pleasure, the pride that blinds me from the perfect law of Christ. Help me to live and work in the presence of the Lord all the days of my life, and to come to him at the end in a death as peaceful and happy as your own. Amen. 

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

Prayer to St. Patrick

Hail, glorious St. Patrick, we honor thy name. Though Aaron may claim thee, the world knows thy fame.

The faith of our fathers is our treasure too. How holy the thought that they learned it from you. Through crosses and trials, its fire burn bright.

They show us the way, the truth, and the light. Great Saint, intercede that we always may be devoted and loyal, true children of thee. Our love and devotion be ever like thine.

Our thought be of Jesus, our heart be his shrine. And when to the end of life’s path we have trod, be near us, great Bishop, anointed of God.

Act of Reparation
O well beloved Face of Jesus! Humbly prostrate in Thy presence, we adore Thee; we love Thee and we pray to Thee, for those who refuse to love Thee, and who blaspheme and deny Thee. Unhappy madmen!

If they knew Thee better, with what repentance and confusion would they turn towards Thee,

how they would seek to make compensation to Thee for all which Thou has suffered for them! O sacred Face!

Permit us to weep over the crimes of our erring brethren. Enable us to repair, by our sighs and our love, the attempts made against Thy divinity.

Amen.

Litany of Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X from the prayer book for Jesuits, 1963

Daily Prayer

Morning Offering
O Lord, Almighty God, who have brought us to the beginning of this day, save us today by your strength, so that we may not fall into any sin on this day, but always let our words, thought, and deeds be directed and proceed for the purpose of doing your justice. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

St. Michael the Archangel *
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the 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 power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

*For the original longer prayer to St. Michael, click here. 

Evening Prayer of Saint Augustine
Watch, Lord, with those who wake, or watch, 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, sooth the suffering ones, pity all the afflicted ones, shield the joyful ones, and all for Your love’s sake. Amen.

Essential Prayers

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

Our Father
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.

Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be (Doxology)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy 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 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.

The Nicene Creed
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.

Hail Holy Queen (The Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

The Rosary
Mysteries – How to Pray the Rosary “The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer. It begins with the Apostles’ Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel’s words announcing Christ’s birth and Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ’s life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and––added by Pope John Paul II in 2002––the Luminous.

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ’s spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.” – USCCB Website 

The Mysteries of the Rosary

Each rosary is prayed with a set of mysteries of Christ’s life on which we meditate. As a general rule, certain mysteries are prayed on certain days.

The Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Mondays and Saturdays:

  1. The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
  2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
  3. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas)
  4. The Presentation of our Lord at the Temple
  5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays:

  1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
  2. The Scourging at the Pillar
  3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
  4. Jesus Carries the Cross
  5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord

The Glorious Mysteries are prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays:

  1. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
  2. The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles
  4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
  5. Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth

The Luminous Mysteries are prayed on Thursdays:

  1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
  2. The Wedding ad Cana (Jesus turns water to wine)
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
  4. The Transfiguration of Jesus
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist

How to Pray the Rosary – from the USCCB Website

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross.
  2. Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles’ Creed.
  3. On the first bead, say an Our Father.
  4. Say three Hail Marys on each of the next three beads.
  5. Say the Glory Be
  6. For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.
  7. While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be. (After finishing each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.)
  8. After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer. – TheDivineMercy.org

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross (at the crucifix)
  2. Optional Opening Prayers (on the first bead): You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Live, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. (repeat three times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
  3. Pray the Our Father (on the second bead)
  4. Pray the Hail Mary (on the third bead)
  5. Pray the Apostle’s Creed (on the fourth bead)
  6. Pray the Eternal Father (on the fifth bead) Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
  7. On the ten small beads of each decade say: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  8. Repeat for the remaining decades: Say the “Eternal Father” on each of the “Our Father” beads and then 10 “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion…” on the following “Hail Mary” beads.
  9. After five decades, conclude with: (repeat three times) Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  10. Optional Closing Prayer: Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.