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The 5-second prayer that can change your life

raphael

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November 12, 2019

The 5-second prayer that can change your life

This type of prayer is the shortest, but can have a lasting effect on your spiritual life.

We may have the good intention to set aside a time of prayer each day, but then life gets busy and we never do it. On the other hand, we may pray every day in the morning, but then don’t allow that prayer to permeate the rest of our day.

One solution to both problems is to pray aspirations, short little “darts of love” to God throughout the day.

This type of prayer takes only a few seconds to do, but can have a profound effect on our life.

St. Francis de Sales encourages everyone to partake in this type of prayer on a daily basis.

Aspire then frequently to God … by short but ardent dartings of your heart; admire His beauty; invoke His aid; cast yourself in spirit at the foot of the cross; adore His Goodness; address Him frequently on your salvation; give your soul to Him a thousand times a day; fix your interior eye upon His sweetness; stretch out your hand as a little child to its father, that He may conduct you … plant Him in your soul like a standard; and make a thousand sorts of different motions of your heart, to enkindle the love of God.

While there are countless prayers that have been written over the centuries, St. Francis de Sales wrote that the best type of prayer is one that comes from the heart.

For example, one could simply say, “I love you Jesus,” randomly throughout the day. Other times we could say “Thank you, Jesus,” when something good happens. Or we could say “Forgive me, Jesus” when we do something wrong.

How simple it is!

Furthermore, St. Francis de Sales went so far as to say that we must do this, no matter the state of our spiritual life.

Without it no one can lead a true contemplative life, and the active life will be but imperfect where it is omitted: without it rest is but indolence, labor but weariness,—therefore I beseech you to adopt it heartily, and never let it go.

A person madly in love with another person will often send little text messages or emails to their beloved throughout the day. In a similar way, we should send little messages of love to God in the midst of our daily activities. This will help us direct all things to God and may even save us from a temptation we are experiencing.

Take 5 seconds right now to pray to God, offering to him a little “dart” of love.

Here are the Seven Most Powerful Prayers of the Catholic Church

leojohn

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November 10, 2019

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Here are the Seven Most Powerful Prayers of the Catholic Church

We all face extraordinary circumstances from time to time. We have been advised to handle these times by seeking God in prayer and fasting, to be especially attentive to his words, and the working of the Holy Spirit. If we are receptive to his will, God will provide for our needs and see us though anything.

In such circumstances, we do well to focus on the most powerful prayers given to us by our forebears. For extraordinary times, here are the seven most powerful prayers in history. These prayers have the potential to change lives. Some have even changed entire nations. As you pray, consider the power each of these prayers has, and the changes they can make in your life, should you take them to heart.

Our Father — This is the quintessential Christian prayer, given to us by Jesus Christ Himself. It suffices as an all occasion prayer that hits all the bases. It acknowledges God’s greatness, it invites God’s will, it petitions God for our needs, and requests pardon as we pledge to forgive.

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 — This prayer is remarkable because it is dedicated to the Queen of Heaven, Mary, whose intercession is especially powerful. This remarkably simple prayer has few elements, but all are taken from scripture.

It praises Mary, and asks for her intercession. It is short, so it can be easily memorized and quickly spoken, and is the backbone of the devotion of the Rosary, which is easily the world’s most powerful devotion. With countless miracles and conversions to its credit, the Hail Mary is an extraordinary composition.

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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.

The Prayer of Jabez — This is a life changing prayer. It’s often overlooked because it is buried deep in an Old Testament genealogy and refers to a person who wrote no books. It was written down by Ezra, the author of 1 Chronicles. The prayer is a petition, asking God for a blessing of abundance and protection.

Jabez called on the God of Israel. ‘If you truly bless me,’ he said, ‘you will extend my lands, your hand will be with me, you will keep harm away and my distress will cease.’ God granted him what he had asked. (1 Chronicles 4:10)

Jonah’s Prayer for Salvation — We all face distress. Jonah found himself in the belly of the leviathan, and from this place of utter despair and hopelessness, he cried for salvation. How often do we find ourselves already in the belly of the beast? Yet, even from this place we can cry out to the Lord and still He saves us!

3. Out of my distress I cried to Yahweh and he answered me, from the belly of Sheol I cried out; you heard my voice!

4. For you threw me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods closed round me. All your waves and billows passed over me;

5. then I thought, ‘I am banished from your sight; how shall I ever see your holy Temple again?’

6. The waters round me rose to my neck, the deep was closing round me, seaweed twining round my head.

7. To the roots of the mountains, I sank into the underworld, and its bars closed round me for ever. But you raised my life from the Pit, Yahweh my God!

8. When my soul was growing ever weaker, Yahweh, I remembered you, and my prayer reached you in your holy Temple.

9. Some abandon their faithful love by worshipping false gods,

10. but I shall sacrifice to you with songs of praise. The vow I have made I shall fulfil! Salvation comes from Yahweh!

(Jonah 2:3-9)

David’s Prayer for Deliverance — Pursued by his own brother, David prayed for God to deliver him from his enemies. It seems most of us have enemies who out of a twisted sense of justice, or perhaps out of evil, they seek to destroy us. Instead of seeking mercy and common accord, they believe they can only be satisfied with our downfall. When faced with such evil, we can ask God to protect us.

1 Yahweh, how countless are my enemies, how countless those who rise up against me,

2 how countless those who say of me, ‘No salvation for him from his God!

3 But you, Yahweh, the shield at my side, my glory, you hold my head high.

4 I cry out to Yahweh; he answers from his holy mountain.

5 As for me, if I lie down and sleep, I shall awake, for Yahweh sustains me.

6 I have no fear of people in their thousands upon thousands, who range themselves against me wherever I turn.

7 Arise, Yahweh, rescue me, my God! You strike all my foes across the face, you break the teeth of the wicked.

8 In Yahweh is salvation, on your people, your blessing!

(Psalm 3)

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel — There are few words the devil must hate to hear as much as these. Saint Michael is the defender of all faithful, and his sword is swift and keen. When confronted with evil, these words invoke St. Michael’s protection and invite his incredible intercession.

Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Jesus at Gethsemane — This prayer is perhaps the simplest, yet most profound prayer one can recite. Spoken by Jesus, it demonstrates how we must accept God’s will, even when we don’t like it. By accepting the will of God, we can be transfigured. Sometimes, the cup comes to us, thy will be done.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.”

(Luke 22:42)

Invoke St. Joseph’s powerful intercession with this “memorare”

raphael

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November 7, 2019

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Invoke St. Joseph’s powerful intercession with this “memorare”

Ask St. Joseph for anything and he will obtain it.

One of the most popular prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary is known as the “Memorare,” and is named after the first word of the prayer in Latin. However, the prayer is not the only “Memorare” in the Church’s rich treasury of prayers, as there is also a prayer known as the “Memorare of St. Joseph.”

Devotion to St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, can be traced back many centuries. He remains to this day one of the most popular saints of the Church’s 2,000 year history, second only to the Blessed Virgin Mary, his most beloved spouse.

In this context, it is not surprising to see one of the most popular Marian prayers converted into one that focuses on St. Joseph.

There are a few different versions of this prayer. The one that follows below became popular in the 19th century. It alludes to a quote from St. Teresa of Avila where she said, “It is now very many years since I began asking [St. Joseph] for something on his feast, and I always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good.”

Remember, O most amiable, most benevolent, most kind, and most merciful father, St. Joseph, that the great St. Teresa assures us, that she never had recourse to thy protection without obtaining relief. Animated with this same confidence, O dear St. Joseph, I come to thee and groaning under the heavy burden of my many sins, I prostrate myself at your feet. O most compassionate father, do not, I beseech thee, reject my poor and miserable prayers, but graciously hear and obtain my petitions. Amen.
St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.

4 Saintly prayers for a happy death

Kenneth C. Alimba

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November 4, 2019

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Even the saints prayed for a happy death.

As humans, we naturally do not seek out death, especially unexpected deaths. Most of us would prefer to die in our sleep, drifting off peacefully into the afterlife.

The saints wanted that as well. While many prayed for martyrdom, many more prayed for a “happy death,” ready to welcome Jesus when he came to call them home.

Here are four prayers from different saints who all desired a peaceful departure from this life to the next.

Blessed John Henry Newman

Oh, my Lord and Savior,
support me in that hour
in the strong arms of your Sacraments,
and by the fresh fragrance of your consolations.
Let the absolving words be said over me,
and the holy oil sign and seal me,
and your own Body be my food,
and your Blood my sprinkling;
and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me,
and my Angel whisper peace to me,
and my glorious Saints (NN.) smile upon me;
that in them all, and through them all,
I may receive the gift of perseverance,
and die, as I desire to live,
in your faith, in your Church, in your service,
and in your love. Amen.

Saint Vincent Ferrer

Lord Jesus Christ,
You do not will that anyone should perish
and never is a prayer made to you without hope of mercy.
You have promised:
“All things that you ask in my name, shall be done for you”.
Therefore, I ask you, O Lord,
for your holy Name’s sake,
to grant me at the hour of my death
full consciousness and the power of speech,
sincere contrition for my sins,
true faith, firm hope and perfect charity,
that I may be able to say to you with a clean heart:
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit:
you have redeemed me, O God of truth,
who are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Joseph Cafasso

I place the moment of my death in the hands of my dear Mother Mary, of my good Guardian Angel and of my special protectors, St. Joseph, St. Ignatius and St. Alphonsus Liguori, all of whom I expect to assist me at the hour of my death and in my voyage to eternity.

Come then, welcome death. Come, but conceal thy coming, so that the hour of my death may not give life back again.

It will be no longer death for thee, my soul, but a sweet sleep if, when thou art dying, Jesus assists thee, and if when thou art expiring, Mary embraces thee. Amen.

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, I love you, O most lovable Lady, and because of my love for you, I promise to serve you always and to do all in my power to win others to love you also. In your hands I place all my hopes; I entrust the salvation of my soul to your care. Accept me as your servant, O Mother of Mercy; receive me under your mantle. And since you have such power with God, deliver me from all temptations, or rather, obtain for me the strength to triumph over them until death. Of you I ask the grace of perfect love for Jesus Christ. Through your help I hope to die a happy death. O my Mother I beg you, by the love you bear my God, to help me at all times, but especially at the last moment of my life. Do not leave me, I beseech you, until you see me safe in Heaven, blessing you and singing your mercies for all eternity, Amen. So I hope, so may it be.

5 Prayers to start your morning right

leojohn

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November 2, 2019

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We all need a little extra help to begin our day.

For many of us the morning is the hardest part of the day. The alarm clock always seems to be pestering us and when we think about the day ahead, we don’t like the prospects.

One important habit that brings hope to each day is the custom of praying a morning prayer or morning offering. It begins the day with a look to God for guidance and to place everything — your thoughts, words, and deeds — in the hands of God.

Countless saints had this custom and the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer) has been a strong proponent of this habit for the past century, connecting it to the Sacred Heart and offering everything for the pope’s monthly intentions.

So, if you are struggling to start the day on the right foot, check out these prayers and print them out, putting them on your bathroom mirror so that you don’t forget to give your day to God. For with God, all things are possible.

Serviam

I will serve you, Lord!

Suscipe of St. Ignatius Loyola

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

Morning Offering of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network

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, 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.

Short Morning Offering

My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and to make reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose never to sin again. Dear Lord, I could never vie with Thee in generosity, but I love Thee; deign to accept my poor heart, and though it is worth nothing, yet it may become something by Thy grace. Since it loves Thee, do Thou make it good and take it into Thy custody.

Morning Offering

O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious
Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining
with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.
O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit
I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate,
that she may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most
Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Prayer in Time of Suffering

raphael

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November 2, 2019

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Behold me, my beloved Jesus,
weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings,
I cast myself at Your feet,
that You may renew my strength and my courage,
while I rest here in Your Presence.
Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart,
for only Your infinite goodness can sustain me;
only Your love can help me bear my cross;
only Your powerful hand can lighten its weight.
O Divine King, Jesus,
whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted,
I wish to live in You;
suffer and die in You.
During my life be to me my model and my support;
At the hour of my death,
be my hope and my refuge.

Amen.

Words of St John Paul II on suffering and offering our sorrows to God

“The gospel paradox of weakness and strength often speaks to us from the pages of the Letters of Saint Paul, a paradox particularly experienced by the Apostle himself and together with him experienced by all who share Christ’s sufferings. Paul writes in the Second Letter to the Corinthians: ‘I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me’. In the Second Letter to Timothy we read: ‘And therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed’. And in the Letter to the Philippians he will even say: ‘I can do all things in him who strengthens me’” – St. John Paul II

“Those who share in Christ’s sufferings have before their eyes the Paschal Mystery of the Cross and Resurrection, in which Christ descends, in a first phase, to the ultimate limits of human weakness and impotence: indeed, he dies nailed to the Cross. But if at the same time in this weakness there is accomplished his lifting up, confirmed by the power of the Resurrection, then this means that the weaknesses of all human sufferings are capable of being infused with the same power of God manifested in Christ’s Cross.”- St. John Paul II

Prayer of liberation for our house

leojohn

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October 28, 2019

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“May all evils be cast out of this place, at this moment, in the name of Jesus.”

While there is a rite of blessing for houses to be led by a priest in a family home, this prayer designed for families to pray together in the absence of a priest can also be fruitful.

~

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

Father of infinite goodness, I am consecrating this place where I live with my family, my home, to the Lord.

Many homes become a place of discord, of disputes over inheritances, of financial debts, of tears and suffering. Some are the scene of infidelity; others become places of hate, vengeance, pornography, dissoluteness, theft, drug trafficking, disrespect, serious illness, psychological disorders, aggression, death, and abortion.

Some houses stand on land that was the cause of legal battles and improperly distributed inheritances, which may have caused deaths, accidents, violence, and aggression.

I ask You, Lord, to bless us and drive all of that evil away from us!

I know that the enemy takes advantage of these situations to set up his headquarters, but I also know that You have the power to cast all evil out of this place. Therefore, I ask that the devil be sent away and never come back to this house.

Today, I make the decision to consecrate this house to You. I ask that, just as You went to the house of the bride and groom at Cana in Galilee and performed Your first miracle there, come today to my house and cast out all evil that might have taken root here.

Please, Christ our Lord, expel now, with Your power, all evil.

May all evils be cast out of this place, at this moment, in the name of Jesus, and never again return, because this house now belongs to God and is consecrated to Him!

Lord, I ask You, banish from this place all aggression between siblings, all fighting, any lack of respect, and any violence between parents and children, between the spouses who live here, and between the residents of this house and their neighbors.

May the angels of God come to live with us. May they now inhabit every bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, hallway and outdoor area. May our house be a fortress inhabited and protected by the angels of the Lord, so that all our family may persevere in prayer and remain faithful in the love of God, and may peace and the fullness of harmony dwell here.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayers! May we serve You each day, and may Your blessing always be upon us. Know, Lord, that this house belongs to You. Stay with us, Lord! Amen!

After this prayer, say an Our Father and sprinkle holy water in all the rooms.

Can’t get your thoughts to slow down? Try this prayer

raphael

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October 28, 2019

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Can’t get your thoughts to slow down? Try this prayer

John of the Cross might not be able to silence your inner voice, but he can help you turn it down a notch.

Like a man climbing an imposing mountain in search of the great secret of life, I spend much of my time pursuing silence. Alas, many days that is an elusive commodity. When I do capture some precious solitude, I always have Jesus to thank.

But St. John of the Cross deserves much credit as well. The Spanish Carmelite friar of the 16th century actually enabled me to give a name to my desire: stillness of soul.

Finding quiet can be such a challenge in our world. The big-screen TV with hundreds of channels, regular radio and satellite radio, iPods and iPads, laptops and desktops, CDs and the return of vinyl — so many gadgets to entertain, inform and amaze. Even if you shut all those down, you still need to have the willpower to turn off the phone, with its constant access to social media, calls and texts.

Let’s say you successfully muffle all those man-made noisemakers. And that you’re able to silence the sound of family members seeking your attention, the sounds of the street and whatever else outside that can interrupt you inside. You still have one major force of noise to hush.

Your own voice.

I know that my voice always seems to be prattling on inside my head. I sit on the little couch behind the closed door of my bedroom for Morning Prayer. I relax in the pew at church before Mass. I bask in the peace during my five-day silent retreat every year in Gethsemani, Kentucky. It might be quiet enough to hear a bird singing 100 yards away, but the silence still is constantly broken by my internal voice telling me anything and everything.

I have found a way to at least turn that into a whisper that I can mostly avoid, though, thanks to John of the Cross. The author of The Dark Night of the Soul, among many other profoundly beautiful works, has been somewhat of a spiritual director for me for years. He was a master advocate of silence, as noted in these quotes:

“It is best to learn to silence the faculties and to cause them to be still so that God may speak.”
“The soul that is quick to turn to speaking and conversing is slow to turn to God.”
“What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God with our appetite and with our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love.”

More beneficial than any of his advice has been what has been called John of the Cross’ “Prayer of Peace.” I use it especially in the moments before I begin my quiet time for meditation and contemplation.

O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in Thee. Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O thou King of gentleness, King of peace. Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me. By thine own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in Thee. Make me in this, and in all, more and more like Thee. Amen.

Before Mass pray this short prayer of preparation

Kenneth C. Alimba

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October 28, 2019

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Before Mass pray this short prayer of preparation

A little preparation can go a long way the next time you attend Mass.

It’s often said that, “You only get out of Mass what you put into it.” In other words, if you don’t prepare your heart for Mass, you will likely not be able to receive the many graces God wants to give to you.

This is why various saints have suggested arriving early to Mass and offering a few short prayers of love. Prayers of preparation became such an ingrained tradition that many people would take their place in the pew and instantly kneel down for a minute or two to say these prayers before every Mass.

There are many different options, some of them long, others short. Here is an excerpt from a longer prayer written by St. Thomas Aquinas. It highlights the spiritual disposition we should have when we attend Mass and prepares our hearts to receive God’s grace.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Lord, in your great generosity, heal my sickness … May I receive the bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords … with the purity and faith … that will help to bring me to salvation.

Amen.

7 Tips to help you pray for your husband

raphael

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October 26, 2019

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7 Tips to help you pray for your husband

Want to pray for him, but don’t know where to start?

Are you at a loss for words when it comes to praying for your husband? Here are 7 tips — and prayers — to ask for God’s intercession on his behalf.

1. That my spouse might know God’s love

[That] Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3: 17-19)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I place myself in your presence to ask that you might envelop the heart of my spouse with your Sacred Heart. Place in his heart a great trust in you.

May he be rooted and grounded in love and may all of the love you wish to give him bloom in our lives. May my spouse know your infinite and endless mercy so that he might understand that your love is real … more real than any passing experience of this life.

2. That my spouse might lead our matrimony in holiness

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her… So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25,28)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have willed that my husband should find holiness through the gift of matrimony. Fill his heart with the love of your own heart, that he might fulfill his vocation, in imitation of you.

3. That my spouse might know you so that our children can learn of you through him

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill the heart of my husband with your peace so that he is a faithful reflection of your love for our children. Give him patience and wisdom to know how to raise our children in virtue and faith. Give him your gift of counsel, so that he might guide our children and know how to encourage them to stay close to you.

4. That you protect his heart

My son, to my words be attentive,
to my sayings incline your ear;
Let them not slip from your sight,
keep them within your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
bringing health to one’s whole being.
With all vigilance guard your heart,
for in it are the sources of life.
(Proverbs 4:20-23)

Prayer: Jesus, help my spouse to pay special attention to your words, that your truth might reach deep into his soul and make him understand the great calling you have for him.

Protect his heart from the many trinkets the world offers, which are so unimportant in the light of eternity. Do not allow anyone to tempt him to dark paths. Abide in him and guide his steps for his own good and for the good of our family.

5. That he might use what we’ve been given for the good of the family

My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Prayer: Lord, you know well what we need. I ask that you always give my husband the grace to use our funds wisely, to help us to be generous with the needy, to make us poor in spirit, and to keep us from ever lacking our daily bread. Amen.

6. May he be the man you have called him to be

Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Prayer: Dear Father, I entrust to you every decision that my husband makes, all of his projects, and his very life. I entrust to you all of his worries. I ask you to keep him strong and protected in the shadow of your love, keeping him firm in the faith. I ask you to make him the man you have called him to be: courageous, joyful and generous, a man of true strength. May he grow in faith, hope and charity.

7. May he be filled with wisdom, knowledge and discernment

[I] do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might. (Ephesians 1:16-19)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. (James 1:5)

Prayer: My Lord, you who went through the world doing good, I ask that you give my husband the grace to follow in your footsteps. I ask that you give him the strength to take each step in wisdom, knowing that his choices affect our family. Enlighten his heart with the light of your Holy Spirit so that he may walk firmly and with confidence through whatever trials arise. Fill him with the knowledge of your truth. Amen.

Virgin Mary, my Mother, cover my husband with your mantle, obtain for him the graces necessary to be a protector of our family as St. Joseph was for yours. With your maternal embrace, O Mary, make him feel secure and may he never be left alone. Amen.

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This type of prayer is the shortest, but can have a lasting effect on your spiritual life.

Ask St. Joseph for anything and he will obtain it.

Even the saints prayed for a happy death.

We all need a little extra help to begin our day.

Words of St John Paul II on suffering and offering our sorrows to God

“May all evils be cast out of this place, at this moment, in the name of Jesus.”

John of the Cross might not be able to silence your inner voice, but he can help you turn it down a notch.

A little preparation can go a long way the next time you attend Mass.

Want to pray for him, but don’t know where to start?

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