by Saint Clement of Rome (Circa 100 AD)
We beg you, Lord, to help and to defend us. Deliver the oppressed, pity the insignificant, raise the fallen, show yourself to the needy, heal the sick, bring back those of your people who have gone astray, feed the hungry, lift up the weak, take off the prisoners’ chains. May every nation come to know that you alone are God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, that we are your people, the sheep that you pasture. Amen.
from a Kontakion of the Byzantine Rite
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where pain and sorrow are no more, nor sighing, but life everlasting. You alone are immortal, Creator and Maker of humanity, and we are mortal, formed out of the earth, and unto to earth we shall return; for so you ordained when you created me, saying, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” We all go down to the dust, and over the grave we weep and make our song: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where pain and sorrow are no more, nor sighing, but life everlasting. Amen.
Grant, O God, that my heart which was made for you alone, may ever be wholly yours; that free from all undue affection to creatures, it may refer all to you and seek you alone in all things. Yes, my God, I know, with St. Augustine, that you are the center of all hearts, because you are their last end and sovereign good and that they cannot rest until they rest in you. Grant me, therefore, what I ask now: a faithful, sovereign, and constant adherence to you. Amen.
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Eternal Father, your Son has promised that you would grant all the graces we ask of you in His name. Trusting in this promise, and in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, I ask of you five graces: First, I ask pardon for all offenses I have committed, for which I am sorry with all my heart, because I have offended your infinite goodness. Second, I ask for your divine Light, which will enable me to see the vanity of all the things of this earth, and see also your infinite greatness and goodness. Third, I ask for a share in your love, so that I can detach myself from all creatures, especially from myself, and love only your holy will. Fourth, grant me the grace to have confidence in the merits of Jesus Christ and in the intercession of Mary. Fifth, I ask for the grace of perseverance, knowing that whenever I call on you for assistance, you will answer my call and come to my aid; I fear only that I will neglect to turn to you in time of need, and thus bring myself to ruin. Grant me the grace to pray always, O Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
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 labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I am doing Your will. Amen.
by Origen (184-254)
May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes, as he did those of the blind. Then we shall begin to see in visible things those which are invisible. May he open our eyes to gaze, not on present realities, but on the blessings to come. May he open the eyes of our heart to contemplate God in Spirit, through Jesus Christ the Lord, to whom belong power and glory through all eternity. Amen.
O Holy Spirit of God, take me as your disciple; guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me. Bind my hands that they may do no evil; cover my eyes that they may see it no more; sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me. Be my God; be my guide. Wherever you lead me, I will go: whatever you forbid me, I will renounce; and whatever you command me, in your strength, I will do. Lead me, then, unto the fullness of your truth. Amen.
by Origen (185-254)
Lord, inspire us to read your Scriptures and to meditate upon them day and night. We beg you to give us real understanding of what we need, that we in turn may put its precepts into practice. Yet we know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So we ask that the words of Scriptures may also be not just signs on a page, but channels of grace into our hearts. Amen.
by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Grant, O merciful God, that I may ardently desire, carefully examine, truly know, and perfectly fulfill those things that are pleasing to you, to the praise and glory of your holy name. Direct my course, O my God, that I may do what you require me to do. Show me the way and grant that I may follow it as is necessary and profitable to my soul.
Grant to me, O Lord my God, that I may not be found wanting in prosperity; that I may not be lifted up by one nor cast down by the other. May I find joy in nothing but what leads to you; sorrow in nothing but what leads away from you. May I seek to please no one, nor fear to displease any. May I fear only you. May I despise all transitory things, O Lord, and treasure all things that are eternal. Let me loath all delights without you, nor desire anything apart from you. Let me find pleasure in all toil that is for you; and weariness in all rest where you are not.
Grant to me, O my God, that I may turn my heart to you always, and grieve for my failings with a firm purpose of amendment. Make me, O Lord, obedient without opposition; poor without repining; chaste without blemish; patient without murmur; humble without pretense; merry without riotousness; serious without heaviness; cheerful without frivolity; God-fearing without abjectness; truthful without duplicity; doing good without presumption; correcting my neighbor without pride; edifying him by word and example without hypocrisy.
Grant to me, O Lord God, a vigilant heart that no subtle speculation may ever lead me from you; a nobleness that no unworthy affection may draw from you; a rectitude that no evil purpose may turn from you. Grant me a steadfastness which no tribulation may shatter; a freedom that no violent affection may overthrow. Give me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you. Give me a way of life pleasing to you, perseverance to trust and await you, and finally faith to embrace you.
Grant that my punishment may be averted through penance here; your benefits used in this life through your grace; that your joys may be enjoyed in heaven in glory. Who lives and reigns, one God forever and ever. Amen.
by Saint Thomas More (1477-1535)
Almighty God, have mercy on (name) and on all that bear me evil will and would me harm, and on their faults and mine together, by such easy, tender, merciful means, as thine infinite wisdom best can devise; vouchsafe to amend and redress and make us saved souls in heaven together, where we may ever live and love together with thee and thy blessed saints, O glorious Trinity, for the bitter passion of our sweet Savior Christ. Amen.
We accept and share ALL God has revelead and try to explain them to others. We will never go against the Church now or in the future because we know She is Mother and Teacher. Thank You, Jesus!!!
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