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This papyrus contains the oldest Marian prayer known to date

raphael

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May 4, 2020

This papyrus contains the oldest Marian prayer known to date

It is from the year 250, and is written in Greek.

The earliest known Marian prayer, like the Gospels themselves, is written in Greek. That is why, in it, the Virgin Mary is called Θεοτοκος, “theotokos,” the “Birth-Giver of God,” “the Mother of God.” That in such early prayer the Virgin Mary is already referred to with this title is quite important, both from a historical and a theological standpoint.

SUB TUUM PRAESIDIUM — A private copy of a prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary. Written in brown ink. Verso blank. Lines 4-9: “Mother of God (hear) my supplications: suffer us not (to be) in adversity, but deliver us from danger. Thou alone…

This prayer, as explained on Trisagion Film’s Website, was “found on a fragment of papyrus that dates all the way back to approximately AD 250,” only a couple of centuries after the death and resurrection of Christ, approximately a century before Constantine and the Edict of Milan but, more importantly, two centuries before the Third Ecumenical Council, the Council of Ephesus, in which the Virgin Mary was for the first time officially proclaimed “Mother of God,” Theotokos.

In 1917, the John Rylands Library in Manchester, England, acquired a large panel of Egyptian papyrus, written in Koine Greek (the Mediterranean lingua franca in which the Gospels were written). The prayer is to be found in the fragment labeled number 470, and it appears to be from a Coptic Christmas liturgy (maybe Christmas Vespers), although this fragment might also be a private copy of the prayer for personal use.
The prayer reads:

The Marian prayer the Church prays in every tribulation

Prayers

raphael

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May 4, 2020

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The Marian prayer the Church prays in every tribulation

Throughout history the Catholic Church prays Mary’s “Magnificat” in every trial that she endures.

The Church has had its fair share of suffering throughout the centuries. Whether its Roman persecution, medieval plagues, or theological controversies, the Church always remains faithful in its devotion to God, especially through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.In particular, St. John Paul II referred to Mary’s “Magnificat” (her words recorded in Luke 1:46-55) as an essential prayer for the “pilgrim Church” in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater.

The Virgin Mother is constantly present on this journey of faith of the People of God towards the light. This is shown in a special way by the canticle of the “Magnificat,” which, having welled up from the depths of Mary’s faith at the Visitation, ceaselessly re-echoes in the heart of the Church down the centuries.

The Church, which from the beginning has modeled her earthly journey on that of the Mother of God, constantly repeats after her the words of the Magnificat. From the depths of the Virgin’s faith at the Annunciation and the Visitation, the Church derives the truth about the God of the Covenant: the God who is Almighty and does “great things” for man: “holy is his name.” In the Magnificat the Church sees uprooted that sin which is found at the outset of the earthly history of man and woman, the sin of disbelief and of “little faith” in God.

Furthermore, John Paul II notes that it is a prayer the Church repeats in every trial.

Moving forward through trial and tribulation, the Church is strengthened by the power of God’s grace promised to [Mary] by the Lord, so that in the weakness of the flesh she may not waver from perfect fidelity, but remain a bride worthy of her Lord; that moved by the Holy Spirit she may never cease to renew herself, until through the Cross she arrives at the light which knows no setting.
The Church, which even “amid trials and tribulations” does not cease repeating with Mary the words of the Magnificat, is sustained by the power of God’s truth, proclaimed on that occasion with such extraordinary simplicity. At the same time, by means of this truth about God, the Church desires to shed light upon the difficult and sometimes tangled paths of man’s earthly existence.

Mary’s words of praise remind us to magnify the Lord and give praise to God who “has done great things for me.” It encourages us to see the many blessings God has given to us, even when it seems like he is absent.

Above all, the words of the Magnificat challenge us to trust God and his mercy, putting our faith in him, rather than ourselves. It puts the focus on God, instead of our own weak efforts to do good in the world.

John Paul II concludes this section of his encyclical with a reflection on the freedom Mary experienced, expressed most eloquently in the Magnificat.

Mary is totally dependent upon God and completely directed towards him, and at the side of her Son, she is the most perfect image of freedom and of the liberation of humanity and of the universe. It is to her as Mother and Model that the Church must look in order to understand in its completeness the meaning of her own mission.

Pregnant and feeling anxious? This prayer can bring you peace

Prayers

raphael

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May 3, 2020

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Pregnant and feeling anxious? This prayer can bring you peace

This coronavirus pandemic is not bigger than God’s love for you and your baby.

It’s only natural for expectant parents to feel nervous about bringing a vulnerable new life into the world right now — it’s an unprecedented time in our modern age. Even when you try to focus on the positive, there are so many factors outside your control that might steal your peace.But even now, God and His providence are unfailing. From the moment you conceived, God knew you would give birth during a pandemic. In fact, He knew long before that. It wasn’t part of human plans, but the timing and unusual circumstances of your pregnancy and birth have been part of God’s plan from the beginning.

You haven’t laid eyes on your baby yet, but God already knows this little one intimately, and loves your baby even more than you do. God wants the best for both you and your baby. Rest in this knowledge when you feel anxiety start to creep in.
Of course, it’s easy to say that, but incredibly hard in practice to lay aside your fears and find peace when faced with such difficult decisions and uncertainty. The truth is that you don’t have the strength to endure this hardship on your own. None of us does. But we’re not supposed to endure it on our own.

At this time, more than ever, we need to ask God to give us patience and fortitude. How many times in a day do we feel that we can’t go on like this any longer? These are the moments when we can cry out to God, “I can’t do this on my own. I’m not strong enough. But where I lack, your grace is infinite. Give me the strength to push forward.” He always will.

When you find worries creeping in, if you need a reminder of God’s tender love for you and your baby, turn to Scripture in the words of Psalm 139. You may want to practice Lectio Divina with this passage, or pray it regularly throughout your pregnancy (and read this reflection on its words):

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down,

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

O Lord, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from your spirit?

Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

If I take the winds of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me fast.

If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,’

even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is as bright as the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.

In your book were written

all the days that were formed for me,

when none of them as yet existed.

How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

I try to count them – they are more than the sand;

I come to the end – I am still with you.

(Psalm 139:1-18)

Here God reminds us that He is always with us, and has charted the path of each human life since long ago. His plan for you involves pregnancy and birth during a pandemic. His plan for your baby includes being born during this time.

No matter how it may feel, this pandemic is not bigger than His plan for you. He has promised that nothing on this earth can separate us from His love. Holding onto this truth of our faith, we find peace.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

This simple prayer of St. Teresa of Avila can calm your nerves

Prayers

raphael

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May 3, 2020

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This simple prayer of St. Teresa of Avila can calm your nerves

Her poetic words can soothe the heart when it is troubled.

Fear is a common feeling that we all encounter on a daily basis. It might be the fear of giving a presentation at work or school, or the fear of losing your loved one during a severe illness. Whatever fear or anxiety you might feel, God is here to help lift that burden.Jesus himself said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30).

God desires peace in your life and one of the most effective ways of finding that peace is invoking his aid. He wants to help you, but our hearts must be open to that divine assistance.

St. Teresa of Avila wrote a beautiful poem during her lifetime that has been used as a prayer throughout the centuries. It is simple in its format, which is why many turn to it in times of distress. If you are feeling afraid or anxious right now, consider praying this prayer, opening your heart to God and adding your own words, invoking God’s help in your hour of need.

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.

How to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter at home

raphael

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May 2, 2020

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How to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter at home

Here you have the prayers, readings, and everything else you need to celebrate with God’s Word.

In order to worthily sanctify the Fourth Sunday of Easter,

Aleteia proposes this celebration of the Word of God at home.

In collaboration with Magnificat magazine

Instructions:

This celebration requires the presence of at least two people.
If you’re alone, you can simply read this celebration, united in your heart and spirit with the Church. You can also watch the Mass on television.
Choose the most convenient time, from Saturday evening (the vigil of Sunday) to Sunday evening.
This celebration is particularly suitable for use with family. In order to respect quarantine measures, you should refrain from inviting others from outside your household. If anyone in your house is ill, make sure they remain in isolation to ensure that all safety guidelines are strictly followed.
Set up the needed number of chairs in front of a prayer corner, respecting an appropriate distance of at least a yard between each.
Take the time to renew a little the prayer corner’s decorations: images, candles, real or artificial flowers, drawings by your children, garlands, etc.
A simple cross or crucifix must always be visible in the background.
Designate a person to lead the prayer.
The leader will also direct the preparation of the celebration, during which he or she will mark the length of the periods of silence.
Designate readers for the readings.
During the preparation of the celebration: you can prepare petitions for the Prayers of the Faithful or Universal Prayer (in case that is not possible, a standard list of petitions is provided here for use during the course of the celebration). You may also prepare suitable hymns.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Celebration of the Word

“I came so that they might have life,

and have it more abundantly.”

The leader of the celebration reads:

Brothers and sisters,

Sunday, the first day of the week,

is for us Christians the day of the Lord,

the day instituted to celebrate his Resurrection.

So, in a special way on this fourth Sunday of Easter,

we have an ardent desire to answer the call of our Good Shepherd,

to get out of our house,

and gather in our beloved parish church

for Sunday Mass!

Sadly, on this Sunday, our Shepherd

is still prevented from herding his flock

to give him the sacrament of unity in love…

Brothers and sisters,

may these contrary circumstances

not undermine our trust:

our Good Shepherd has conquered this world

and its prince, Satan!

Thwarting all the snares of the enemy of humanity,

our Good Shepherd came seeking out

his scattered sheep, one by one,

to give each one his Life,

this life in abundance that overcomes all trials,

and triumphs even over the abysses of death.

And so, this Sunday,

since we are gathered here to pray in his name,

Christ Jesus, our Good Shepherd, comes to us:

he is right here among us.

True, our eyes will not see the breaking of the bread,

and our mouths will not receive bread from his hand.

However, since we are going to read his Word in Church,

the Word of God himself will indeed be present among us,

and will surely talk to us.

Then, we’ll recognize his voice.

He’s going to explain to us why he had to suffer his passion,

and we with him,

in order to enter into glory,

and we in him.

So, brothers and sisters, since we cannot receive

the Lord in the Eucharist in our mouths,

let us open our ears!

Let our hearts be consumed with fire within us!

And may our desire to receive Communion

give us the grace to be, all our lives,

the Body of Christ never ceasing to work in the world

so that his sheep may have life,

and have it more abundantly.

After three minutes of silence, all rise and make the Sign of the Cross, saying:

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

The leader continues:

To prepare ourselves to receive God’s Word

and in order for it to heal us,

we recognize ourselves as sinners.

The penitential rite follows. For example:

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

For we have sinned against you.

Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

And grant us your salvation.

May Almighty God have mercy on us;

forgive us our sins,

And bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

The following is said or sung:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

The Gloria is then said or sung:

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you,

we adore you, we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory.

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world,

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Glória in excélsis Deo

et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.

Laudámus te, benedícimus te,

adoramus te, glorificámus te,

gratias agimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,

Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens.

Dómine Fili Unigénite, Jesu Christe,

Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,

qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;

qui tollis peccáta mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.

Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.

Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus,

tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe,

cum Sancto + Spíritu : in glória Dei Patris.

Amen.

PRAYER

The leader says the opening prayer:

O Jesus, our Good Shepherd,

this Sunday, we are impeded from perpetuating,

through the celebration of the Eucharist,

your offering of your life for your flock:

more than ever, you ask us to make it present,

in the way we love one another

as you loved us. Amen.

All sit down.

FIRST READING (Acts 2:14A, 36-41)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,

raised his voice, and proclaimed:

“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain

that God has made both Lord and Christ,

this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,

and they asked Peter and the other apostles,

“What are we to do, my brothers?”

Peter said to them,

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,

in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;

and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is made to you and to your children

and to all those far off,

whomever the Lord our God will call.”

He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,

“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized,

and about three thousand persons were added that day.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM (23: 1-3A, 3B4, 5, 6)

R/ Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

beside restful waters he leads me;

he refreshes my soul. R/

He guides me in right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk in the dark valley

I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

With your rod and your staff

that give me courage. R/

You spread the table before me

in the sight of my foes;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.R/

Only goodness and kindness follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

for years to come.R/

SECOND READING (1 Peter 2:20B-25)

Beloved:

If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good,

this is a grace before God.

For to this you have been called,

because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

When he was insulted, he returned no insult;

when he suffered, he did not threaten;

instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross,

so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

For you had gone astray like sheep,

but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL (John 10:1-10)

Alleluia. Alleluia.

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my sheep, and mine know me.

Alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said:

“Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate

but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.

But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,

as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has driven out all his own,

he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,

because they recognize his voice.

But they will not follow a stranger;

they will run away from him,

because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

Although Jesus used this figure of speech,

the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,

I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before me are thieves and robbers,

but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the gate.

Whoever enters through me will be saved,

and will come in and go out and find pasture.

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;

I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

At the end of the Gospel, all sing or say again the joy of the Resurrection:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All are seated, and the leader repeats slowly,

as if it were a far-off echo:

“I came so that they might have life,

and have it more abundantly.”

All observe three minutes of silence for silent personal meditation.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

All then stand to profess the faith of the Church

saying 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.

UNIVERSAL PRAYER

All remain standing for the prayers of the faithful, as prepared ahead of time. The following

intercessions may be used instead, separating the intentions with an intervening moment of silence.

The leader of the prayer says:

Let us give thanks to the Father who sent us his Son

to give us life, and have it more abundantly:

All say the refrain:

R/ Glory to you, loving Father!

We pray for your Church
in which you gather your flock:
let it open wide its gates to all who have gone astray.R/
For the Pope, bishops and priests
called to follow Christ to proclaim the Gospel:
may the example of their lives be their first form of witness.R/
For catechumens awaiting baptism:
may they may be immersed
in the death and resurrection of Christ.R/
For families, our domestic churches:
may they be places of sanctification
where the young are brought up to know, love and serve you. R/
For those who suffer from illness,
and for those close to them:
may they receive from you healing of body and heart. R/
For all those who have left this world:
may they rejoice forever in eternal happiness. R/

The people present may add, in turn, their own intentions. At the end of each of them, all repeat the

refrain together:

R/ Glory to you, loving Father!

The leader introduces the Lord’s Prayer:

United in the Spirit and in the communion of the Church,

we dare to pray as the Lord Jesus himself

taught us:

All say or sing the Our Father:

Our Father…

Continuing immediately with:

For the kingdom…

Then the leader invites those present to share a sign of peace:

We have just joined our voices

with that of the Lord Jesus to pray to the Father.

We are sons and daughters in the Son.

In the love that unites us with one another,

renewed by the word of God,

we can exchange a gesture of peace,

a sign of the communion

we receive from the Lord.

All then exchange a greeting of peace from a distance: for example, by bowing deeply towards each

other in turn; or, as a family, by blowing each other a kiss. Then all sit down.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

The leader says:

When we cannot receive sacramental communion for lack of a Mass, Pope Francis urges us to

practice spiritual communion, also called “communion of desire.”

The Council of Trent reminds us that this “consists in an ardent desire to feed on the Heavenly

Bread, with a living faith that acts through charity and that makes us participants in the fruits and

graces of the Sacrament.” The value of our spiritual communion depends therefore on our faith in

the presence of Christ in the Eucharist as a source of life, love and unity, and our desire to receive

Communion in spite of our inability to do so.

With that in mind, I now invite you to bow your head, to close your eyes and recollect yourselves.

Silence

Deep in our hearts,

may a burning desire arise within us to unite ourselves with Jesus,

in sacramental communion,

and then to bring His love to life into our lives,

loving others as He loved us.

All remain in silence for 5 minutes for a

heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus Christ.

You may optionally stand and say or sing a beautiful Alleluia once more:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All remain standing, turning to face the Cross of Christ. With hands joined in prayer, the prayer

leader, in the name of all, says the prayer of blessing:

FINAL BLESSING

May God, who by the Resurrection of his Only Begotten Son

was pleased to confer on us

the gift of redemption and of adoption,

give us gladness by his blessing. Amen.

May he, by whose redeeming work

we have received the gift of everlasting freedom,

make us heirs to an eternal inheritance.

Amen.

And may we, who have already risen with Christ

in Baptism through faith,

by living in a right manner on this earth,

be united with him in the homeland of heaven. Amen.

All together, each with hands joined in prayer:

And may the blessing of almighty God,

come down on us and remain with us for ever. Amen.

All make the Sign of the Cross.

Then parents may trace the Sign of the Cross on their children’s foreheads.

To conclude the celebration, the participants may sing the Regina Caeli,

or some other joyful, well-known Marian hymn.

Regína caéli, lætáre, Allelúia!

Quia quem meruísti portáre, Allelúia!

Resurréxit, sicut dixit, Allelúia!

Ora pro nóbis Déum, Allelúia!

O Queen of heaven rejoice! Alleluia!

For He whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia!

Hath arisen as he said, Alleluia!

Pray for us to God, Alleluia!

Send your guardian angel to Mass with this prayer

raphael

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May 1, 2020

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Send your guardian angel to Mass with this prayer

When you can’t make it to Mass and are stuck at home, send your guardian angel to church to intercede for you!

Our daily life, whether we realize it or not, is surrounded by the protecting presence of angels!As the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.’ Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God” (CCC 336)

Angels are here to help us and above all, guide us to eternal life.

Many saints would send their guardian angels on various errands, such as praying at a church for them when they were physically unable to do so. This works because angels are spiritual beings and are able to move about our world with relative ease, going from one place to another in less than a second.

This means that when we ask our guardian angel to attend Mass for us, being stuck at home, they will go instantly!

To attend Mass for them is a great joy, as “Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels” (CCC 331). They love God and will gladly pray for us at Mass anywhere in the world!

The angelic world is mysterious, but we are encouraged to pray to them in faith and trust that they will do what they can to lead us closer to God.

Here is a beautiful prayer, often printed on prayer cards, that dates to the 1920s and sends your guardian angel to Mass when you are unable to attend the Holy Sacrifice.

O HOLY ANGEL at my side,

Go to Church for me,

Kneel in my place, at Holy Mass,

Where I desire to be.

At Offertory, in my stead,

Take all I am and own,

And place it as a sacrifice

Upon the Altar Throne.

At Holy Consecration’s bell,

Adore with Seraph’s love,

My Jesus hidden in the Host,

Come down from Heaven above.

Then pray for those I dearly love,

And those who cause me grief,

That Jesus’ Blood may cleanse all hearts,

And suff’ring souls relieve.

And when the priest Communion takes,

Oh, bring my Lord to me,

That His sweet Heart may rest on mine,

And I His temple be.

Pray that this Sacrifice Divine,

May mankind’s sins efface;

Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home,

The pledge of every grace. Amen

A prayer to St. Joseph so you can find work after the COVID-19 pandemic

raphael

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May 1, 2020

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A prayer to St. Joseph so you can find work after the COVID-19 pandemic

If you’ve lost your job, ask St. Joseph the Worker to intercede for you.

Each year in many countries, people begin the month of May with a celebration of International Workers’ Day. This year, the festive mood will be dampened for all those who lost their jobs because of the pandemic. But it’s still possible for all of us to call on the protection of St. Joseph. In 1955, St. Pius XII wished to dedicate May 1 to this saint, who had consecrated most of his life to humbly and lovingly working as a carpenter and fulfilling his role as a head of family, and offer him as a model for all those working or looking for work.

Here’s a prayer to St. Joseph composed by Fr. Yannick Bonnet (1933-2018). It will be very useful to all those looking for work or to all those who are currently worried about their professional prospects:

Blessed St. Joseph,

your task as a guardian of the Redeemer

and a protector of Virgin Mary

made you the head of the Holy Family

and the administrator of its material possessions.

Three times,

your obedience to God’s will

forced you to change the place of residence

losing contact with those providing

work for you.

Three times,

in Bethlehem, in Egypt and when you came back to Galilee,

you were forced to look for new construction projects

to exercise your trade as a carpenter.

St. Joseph,

you never lost your faith in God

and sought his help.

Today, I am also looking for work,

and I am calling on you,

as a powerful mediator who, with the help of your spouse,

will defend me before your Son,

to help me find a way to live off the fruits my work.

Teach me how to be active in my search,

open to new opportunities, honest in my relations,

reasonable in my demands,

determined in fulfilling all of my obligations.

St. Joseph of Good Hope,

pray for me, protect me, guide me

and keep my hopes up.

Amen.

A powerful litany for those sick and suffering

raphael

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April 30, 2020

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A powerful litany for those sick and suffering

This Litany for the Sick is one way to intercede for those closest to you who are severely ill or infirm.

It is often difficult to bear when someone close to us is suffering from a severe illness. Whether it is temporary or chronic, our heart breaks for our loved ones and we want to do something for them.The Church firmly believes that one of the most powerful ways we can help a loved one in need of healing is to pray for them.

This reality is played out in Gospels when Jesus healed a paralyzed man. Jesus responded generously when he saw the faith of the people who brought the man to him: “when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven’” (Matthew 9:2).

In a similar way, we bring to Jesus the people in our lives who are suffering and sick. One way to do that is to pray this beautiful Litany for the Sick. It is taken from an Augustinian Manual from the 19th century and begs God to visit the sick person and restore them to health.

Litany for the Sick

Lord, have mercy on [him or her],

Christ, have mercy on [him].

Lord, have mercy on [him].

O God the Father, Creator of the world, Have mercy

on [him].

O God the Son, Redeemer of mankind, Have mercy

on [him].

O God the Holy Spirit, perfecter of the elect, Have

mercy on [him],

O Sacred Trinity, one God in three persons, Have

mercy on [him].

Holy Mary, pray for [him].

All ye holy Angels and Archangels, pray for…

Holy Abel,

All ye blessed company of the just.

Holy Abraham,

St. John the Baptist,

All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets,

St. Peter and St. Paul,

St. Andrew and St. John,

All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,

All ye holy disciples of our Lord,

All ye holy Innocents,

St. Stephen and St. Laurence,

All ye holy Martyrs,

St. Sylvester and our holy Father St. Augustine,

St. Patrick, our glorious Apostle,

All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,

St. Benedict and St. Francis,

All ye holy Priests and Religious,

St. Mary Magdalen and St. Lucy,

All ye holy Virgins and Widows,

All ye saints of God, Make intercession for [him].

Have mercy, O Lord, and spare [him].

Have mercy, O Lord, and hear [him].

From all [his] sins, deliver [him], O Lord.

From all the temptations and snares of Satan, deliver…

From all impatience and repining at thy just chastisements,

From dejection of spirit and diffidence in thy mercy,

From the fear of death and too much desire of life,

From distracting [his] mind with the things of this world, and neglecting to prepare for eternity,

By thy cross and passion,

By thy death and burial,

By thy glorious resurrection and ascension,

By the grace of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter,

In the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Deliver [him], O Lord.

We sinners, Beseech Thee to hear us.

That it may please Thee to comfort [him] in [his] sorrow, and to enable [him] to look beyond death

and the blessed state it leads to, we beseech Thee to hear us.

That it would please Thee to bring into [his] thoughts all thy mercies, and by them encourage [him]

to a confidence in Thee, we beseech…

That Thou wouldst vouchsafe [him] by thy grace to order all [his] temporal affairs with prudence, justice, and charity, and with a free and quiet…wholly to dispose [himself] for heaven, we beseech…
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe [him] the grace heartily to forgive all those who have offended [him], and to satisfy according to [his] power whoever has suffered the least prejudice by [him], we beseech…

That being thus reconciled to Thee and all the world, [he] may, with a humble and assured hope, reverently receive the sacred viaticum of thy blessed Body, and firmly persevere to the end in thy grace and favour, we beseech…

That the pains of [his] sickness may expiate the punishment due to [his] sins, by diminishing [his] love of this world, and increasing [his] desire of the next, we beseech…
That whatever thy providence shall determine concerning [him], [he] may readily submit to thy holy will, and whether (he) live or die, be always thine, we beseech…
Son of God, we beseech…

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

O Lord, hear my prayer.

And let my supplication come unto Thee.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whose hands are the keys of life and death, and whose infinite wisdom disposes all things for the best to those who love Thee, behold, we beseech Thee, thy servant whom Thou hast cast upon the bed of sickness, and support with thy grace [his] afflicted spirit; strengthen [his] faith, increase [his] hope, and perfect [his] charity; sanctify to [him] every accident of [his] sufferings, that if thy mercy shall restore [him] to [his] health, [he] may more carefully correct the errors of [his] former life; and, if it shall please Thee to call [him] to thyself, [he] may pass through the valley of the shadow of death with safety, and be transported by thy holy angels into the mansions of bliss, where no fear shall trouble [him], no pains torment [him], nor any grief disturb the quiet of [his] mind, but perfect security, pure delight, and unspeakable joys shall for ever be established unto [him]: through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy only Son, who, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.

Litany of Compassion for the Sick

raphael

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April 30, 2020

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A beautiful litany that asks God to send his consoling grace to strengthen the sick.

It can be distressing to hear of so many people sick and suffering in the world. The news might break our heart and we are distressed by the vast number of people dying. It can seem like God is not there.However, we must remember that God wants to be with us in our suffering and to comfort us in our affliction. When Jesus walked this earth, he stayed close to the sick and accompanied them in their pain.

Here is a beautiful litany written by Dominican priest Fr. Peter John Cameron. It was published in the book Blessing Prayers: Devotions for Growing in Faith, and is currently available through Magnificat.

Pray it with compassion in your heart for the sick, those you know and those you do not know. God will hear your prayer and wrap his love tenderly around them.

We pray with special love and concern for all those who are ill or infirm, asking the Lord for his consoling grace to strengthen the sick in times of trial.

Response: Lord, be close to give your comfort.

When pain or distress is overwhelming: