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Prayer of the five kisses for baby Jesus

raphael

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January 24, 2022

While the prayer of the five kisses for baby Jesus is on the Christmas octave, it can be said at any time of the year. When we find ourselves drifting apart from Jesus, this is a perfect prayer to say to draw us closer to him; giving our hearts totally to Christ even in the face of sorrow and pain so we may grow in joy and love.

Prayer of the five kisses for baby Jesus

Kissing his little right hand: O my Jesus, what you want, I also want. I want it because you want it, O Jesus.

Kissing his little left hand: Jesus, what you want, I also want. I want it how you want it, O Jesus.

Kissing his little right foot: Jesus, what you want, I also want. I want it when you want it, O Jesus.

Kissing his little left foot: Jesus, what you want, I also want. I want it for as long as you want it, O Jesus.

Kissing his heart: Sweet Lord, give me what I see in your heart.

O my Jesus, my sweet Lord,

Give me what I see in your heart:

Sorrow that love is ever lacking in me.

Love, so that it is never lacking in sorrow.

Sorrow that endures every sorrow.

Love, to despise all other loves.

Amen

Prayer for the Evening

Great is the Lord in his Body, the Church.

Come, let us adore him!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

Oh blest that house where faith you find,

And all within have set their mind

To trust their God and serve him still,

And do in all his holy will.

Blest, where their prayers shall daily rise

As fragrant incense to the skies,

While in their lives the world is taught

That forms without the heart are nought.

Blest, where the busy hands fulfil

Their proper task with ready skill,

While through their different works ye see

One spirit run of unity.

Psalm 68:25-30, 33-36

Go up into the hill country;/ bring timber, and build the house/ That I may take pleasure in it/ and receive my glory, says the Lord. (Hg 1:8)

Just as God chose the Israelites to be his people, the Lord has also made us as Christians his chosen people. Saint Paul in today’s Mass reading tells us that we are members of Christ’s Body. In this way we become members of God’s family, for we are one with his Son.

They see your solemn procession, O God,

the procession of my God, of my king,

to the sanctuary:

the singers in the forefront, the musicians coming last,

between them, maidens sounding their timbrels.

“In festive gatherings, bless the Lord;

bless God, O you who are Israel’s sons.”

There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head,

Judah’s princes, a mighty throng,

Zebulun’s princes, Naphtali’s princes.

Show forth, O God, show forth your might,

your might, O God, which you have shown for us.

For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem

may kings come to you bringing their tribute.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord

who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.

He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.

Come, acknowledge the power of God.

His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.

God is to be feared in his holy place.

He is the Lord, Israel’s God.

He gives strength and power to his people.

Blessed be God!

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Ephesians 4:25-27, 32–5:2

Putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God. (Eph 2:19)

Canticle of Mary

We are one body in Christ. (cf. Rom 12:5)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

To the head of the Body, the Church, we pray:

R/Christ, lead us.

When we are in darkness: R/

In the ways of prayer and holiness: R/

Into the depths of your heart: R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

May the God of peace be with us all. Amen. (cf. Rom 15:33)

Marian Antiphon

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, perpetual Virgin,

temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Spirit,

you alone without compare were pleasing

to the Lord Jesus Christ;

pray for the people, intervene for the clergy;

intercede for devout women.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O 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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Evening

Vigil of the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

It is the Lord in whom we trust.

Come, let us adore him!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

O thou immortal holy Light,

Blest Trinity in unity,

Forever infinite in might,

We sinful creatures worship thee:

As from the Father infinite

His Son and Word eternal came,

So too from him the Paraclete

Proceeds, in Deity the same.

O thou most holy, wise, and just,

O Lord of nature, God of grace,

Grant that as now in thee we trust

So may we see thee face to face.

Psalm 31:2-6

No longer will I hide my face from them, for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God. (Ez 39:29)

To dwell in the Spirit of the Lord and to be receivers of the divine life is the ultimate goal of the spiritual life. Yet this goal is so close to us. It is within our souls. We need only to enter into the holiness of the Trinity dwelling within us and fully embrace it. It is the relationship that God yearns to have with each one of us. Let us turn our lives from all that is not of God and follow the way of holiness, and be safe within his loving arms.

In you, O Lord, I take refuge.

Let me never be put to shame.

In your justice, set me free,

hear me and speedily rescue me.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a mighty stronghold to save me,

for you are my rock, my stronghold.

For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.

Release me from the snares they have hidden

for you are my refuge, Lord.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.

It is you who will redeem me, Lord.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Isaiah 61:1-3

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,/ because the Lord has anointed me;/ He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,/ to heal the brokenhearted,/ To proclaim liberty to the captives/ and release to the prisoners,/ To announce a year of favor from the Lord/ and a day of vindication by our God,/ to comfort all who mourn;/ To place on those who mourn in Zion/ a diadem instead of ashes,/ To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning,/ a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit./ They will be called oaks of justice,/ planted by the Lord to show his glory.

I will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the stony heart from their bodies, and replace it with a natural heart. (Ez 11:19)

Canticle of Mary

The Lord is my refuge and my strength. (cf. Ps 31)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

The Lord keeps us safe from all harm and leads us to holiness. Let us pray to him.

R/O God, pour your Spirit upon us.

Lord Jesus, you wish to be our intimate friend:

– may we accept that friendship you offer us. R/

Lord Jesus, you give us the gift of your Spirit:

– may our spirits conform themselves to you. R/

Lord Jesus, you invite us to dwell with you:

– may we never leave the safety of your house. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

May grace and peace in Jesus Christ be with all those beloved of God! Amen. (cf. Rom 1:7)

Marian Antiphon

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, perpetual Virgin,

temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Spirit,

you alone without compare were pleasing

to the Lord Jesus Christ;

pray for the people, intervene for the clergy;

intercede for devout women.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O 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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Evening

O peoples, bless our God,

let the voice of his praise resound!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Her captors lead her to the fire

But she refuses their desire,

“For it is not such smold’ring brands

Christ’s virgins take into their hands.”

“This flaming fire of pagan rite

Extinguishes all faith and light.

Then stab me here, so that the flood

May overcome this hearth in blood.”

Courageous underneath the blows,

Her death a further witness shows,

For as she falls she bends her knee

And wraps her robes in modesty.

Psalm 66:1-3, 8-12, 16-17, 20

When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned;/ the flames shall not consume you. (Is 43:2)

Saint Agnes’ fidelity to Christ was tried by fire—and fire proved her love and strengthened her to choose death rather than betrayal.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth,

O sing to the glory of his name.

O render him glorious praise.

Say to God: “How tremendous your deeds!”

O peoples, bless our God,

let the voice of his praise resound,

of the God who gave life to our souls

and kept our feet from stumbling.

For you, O God, have tested us,

you have tried us as silver is tried:

you led us, God, into the snare;

you laid a heavy burden on our backs.

You let men ride over our heads;

we went through fire and through water

but then you brought us relief.

Come and hear, all who fear God.

I will tell what he did for my soul:

to him I cried aloud,

with high praise ready on my tongue.

Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer

nor withhold his love from me.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I will test them as gold is tested./ They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them. (Zec 13:9)

Canticle of Mary

I will bless you, O Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, because by your Son the fire that surrounded me was quenched. (Traditional Antiphon)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

The fiery love of God protected Saint Agnes from all lesser fires. Through her intercession we pray:

R/Blessed are you who do not reject our prayer!

You protected Saint Agnes in the defenselessness of age and body:

– protect the young, the elderly, the sick, and the poor from all exploitation. R/

You kept Saint Agnes chaste amid threats and seduction:

– protect all your people from the pervasive and subtle pornography of our culture. R/

You brought Saint Agnes through death to everlasting life in your presence:

– grant the fullness of life to all those who have died a violent death. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May God keep us firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (cf. 1 Cor 1:8)

Marian Antiphon

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, perpetual Virgin,

temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Spirit,

you alone without compare were pleasing

to the Lord Jesus Christ;

pray for the people, intervene for the clergy;

intercede for devout women.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O 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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Morning

Come, let us adore the Lamb of God

whom the virgins follow!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

The blessed virgin Agnes flies

Back to her home above the skies.

With love she gave her blood on earth

To gain a new celestial birth.

Mature enough to give her life,

Though still too young to be a wife,

What joy she shows when death appears

That one would think: her bridegroom nears!

Psalm 116:1-6, 9

I have with me an Angel of the Lord as a guardian of my body. (Traditional Antiphon)

It is said that threat, torture, and confinement in a house of prostitution could not break this young girl’s commitment to Christ. Saint Agnes went to her death as to her wedding banquet, trusting that Christ, the Bridegroom with whom she kept faith in this life, would keep faith with her in the life to come.

I love the Lord for he has heard

the cry of my appeal;

for he turned his ear to me

in the day when I called him.

They surrounded me, the snares of death,

with the anguish of the tomb;

they caught me, sorrow and distress.

I called on the Lord’s name.

O Lord my God, deliver me!

How gracious is the Lord, and just;

our God has compassion.

The Lord protects the simple hearts;

I was helpless so he saved me.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Sirach 51:1-2a, 3

I give you thanks, O God of my father;/ I praise you, O God my savior!/ I will make known your name, refuge of my life;/ you have been my helper against my adversaries./ You have delivered me, in your great mercy,/ From the scourge of a slanderous tongue,/ and from lips that went over to falsehood;/ From the snare of those who watched for my downfall,/ and from the power of those who sought my life;/ From many a danger you have saved me.

I love you, Lord, my strength,/ my rock,

my fortress, my savior. (Ps 18:2-3)

Canticle of Zechariah

My Lord Jesus Christ has espoused me with a ring. He has adorned me with a crown. (Traditional Antiphon)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

Saint Agnes overcame all fear of bodily pain and death; she put her trust in her Savior and was delivered through death to everlasting life. Through her intercession we pray:

R/O Lord, our God, deliver us!

From every infidelity: R/

[From] all temptation: R/

From compromise with expediency: R/

[From] any lessening of our baptismal commitment
to Christ: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Agnes loved you more than she loved approval, safety, or life itself. Through her intercession, protect the young from every form of seduction, and keep all your people faithful to your love for us, who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Morning

Lift up your hearts!

Let us lift them up to the Lord!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,

Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares can destroy,

Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

Your bliss in our hearts, Lord,

at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

Whose strong hands were skilled

at the plane and the lathe,

Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,

Your strength in our hearts, Lord,

at the noon of the day.

Psalm 25:1-7

Let the Lord, your God, show us what way we should take and what we should do. (Jer 42:3)

Let us put into God’s hands our heart, our soul, the deep recesses of our being wherein dwell those beliefs and thoughts that govern our actions, so that he may guide us in the ways of the Gospel.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

I trust you, let me not be disappointed;

do not let my enemies triumph.

Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed,

but only those who wantonly break faith.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my savior.

In you I hope all day long

because of your goodness, O Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

and the love you have shown from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth.

In your love remember me.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind on their journey;/ by paths unknown I will guide them./ I will turn darkness into light before them,/ and make crooked ways straight./ These things I do for them,/ and I will not forsake them.

Let us search and examine our ways/

that we may return to the Lord!

(Lam 3:40)

Canticle of Zechariah

In all your ways be mindful of him,/ and he will make straight your paths. (Prv 3:6)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

We trust in God; he will not disappoint us. Let us lift up to him our prayers, saying:

R/Lord, make us know your ways.

For those who have been disappointed by their loved ones:

– fill them with hope in you. R/

For those who seek the truth:

– guide them to the fullness of faith in you. R/

For the aging:

– keep them always in your love. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

O God our Father, you sent your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be our way, our truth, and our life. At this morning hour, we lift our hearts to you in prayer and ask that you guide us through this day according to your will, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

The Shepherd has gone before us into the valley of death and has returned to lead his flock home:

come, let us adore him!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

O bless the Lord, my soul!

His grace to you proclaim!

And all that is within me join

To bless his holy name!

O bless the Lord, my soul!

His mercies bear in mind!

Forget not all his benefits!

The Lord to you is kind.

He pardons all your sins,

Prolongs your feeble breath;

He heals all your infirmities

And ransoms you from death.

He clothes you with his love,

Upholds you with his truth;

And like the eagle he renews

The vigor of your youth.

Psalm 37:23-28a, 29-31, 39-40

Because of his love and pity/ he redeemed them himself,/ Lifting them and carrying them/ all the days of old. (Is 63:9)

The Prophet Isaiah contrasts the idols, who demand to be carried in procession by their followers, with the loving, compassionate God who lifts and carries his people safely through all the dangerous and frightening passages of life. Let us look honestly at what burdens us and what frees us.

The Lord guides the steps of a man

and makes safe the path of one he loves.

Though he stumble he shall never fall

for the Lord holds him by the hand.

I was young and now I am old,

but I have never seen the just man forsaken

nor his children begging for bread.

All the day he is generous and lends

and his children become a blessing.

Then turn away from evil and do good

and you shall have a home for ever;

for the Lord loves justice

and will never forsake his friends.

The just shall inherit the land;

there they shall live for ever.

The just man’s mouth utters wisdom

and his lips speak what is right;

the law of his God is in his heart,

his steps shall be saved from stumbling.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,

their stronghold in time of distress.

The Lord helps them and delivers them

and saves them: for their refuge is in him.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Isaiah 40:10-11

Here comes with power/ the Lord God,/ who rules by his strong arm;/ Here is his reward with him,/ his recompense before him./ Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;/ in his arms he gathers the lambs,/ Carrying them in his bosom,/ and leading the ewes with care.

The Lord is my shepherd;/

there is nothing I shall want. (Ps 23:1)

Canticle of Mary

You saw how the Lord, your God, carried you, as a man carries his child, all along your journey until you arrived at this place. (Dt 1:31)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

To Christ our Good Shepherd we pray:

R/Hear our cry, our appeal.

You came in search of the last, the least, and the lost:

– carry your needy ones to safety. R/

You chose the company of the poor, the outcast,
the sinner:

– heed the pleading of those who do not know the words of prayer. R/

You shielded humanity from the blows of evil by taking them upon yourself:

– defend those who are abused, abandoned, and oppressed. R/

You gave your life that all might live:

– raise to new life those who have died. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with us. Amen. (cf. 1 Cor 16:23)

Marian Antiphon

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, perpetual Virgin,

temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Spirit,

you alone without compare were pleasing

to the Lord Jesus Christ;

pray for the people, intervene for the clergy;

intercede for devout women.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O 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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Evening

Let us tell of God’s wonderful works:

let us praise him with all the saints!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Soldiers of Christ, arise,

And put your armor on,

Strong in the strength which God supplies

Through his eternal Son.

Strong in the Lord of hosts,

And in his mighty power,

Who in the strength of Jesus trusts

Is more than conqueror.

Pray without ceasing, pray,

Your captain gives the word;

His summons cheerfully obey

And call upon the Lord;

To God your every want

In instant prayer display,

Pray always; [pray] and never faint,

Pray, without ceasing, pray!

Pour out your souls to God,

And bow them with your knees,

[And] spread your hearts and hands abroad,

And pray for Sion’s peace;

Your guides, and brethren, bear

For ever on your mind;

Extend the arms of mighty prayer,

In grasping all mankind.

Psalm 73:23-26, 28

Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Col 4:2)

Ceaseless prayer is the ideal of the monastic life developed by Saint Anthony. Its goal is purity of heart, that is, a heart so filled with love for God and neighbor that there is room for nothing else. Its tool is discernment, that is, the habit of watchfully testing the inner movements of the heart, following those which are from God and ignoring those which are not. It is the desert legacy to all who seek God in any walk of life.

I was always in your presence;

you were holding me by my right hand.

You will guide me by your counsel

and so you will lead me to glory.

What else have I in heaven but you?

Apart from you I want nothing on earth.

My body and my heart faint for joy;

God is my possession for ever.

To be near God is my happiness.

I have made the Lord God my refuge.

I will tell of all your works

at the gates of the city of Zion.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-22

Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

The Lord guides the steps of a man/

and makes safe the path of one he loves.

(Ps 37:23)

Canticle of Mary

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. (Mk 14:38)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

[he] has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

Through the intercession of Saint Anthony, let us pray to Christ our Lord:

R/Make safe our path, O Lord!

You call all your followers to pray without ceasing:

– deepen in your Church the spirit of prayer. R/

You call all your followers to watchfulness:

– deepen in your Church the spirit of discernment. R/

You call all your followers to purity of heart:

– deepen in your Church the spirit of holiness. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the God of peace himself make us perfectly holy and may we entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (cf. 1 Thes 5:23)

Marian Antiphon

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, perpetual Virgin,

temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Spirit,

you alone without compare were pleasing

to the Lord Jesus Christ;

pray for the people, intervene for the clergy;

intercede for devout women.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O 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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Morning

God’s will is our heritage for ever:

with joy, let us give thanks and praise!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

O raise your voices! Wake the world!

And let your songs of praise be heard!

For both in town and desert waste

God’s glory finds a dwelling place.

This servant heard within his heart

A call to leave his fam’ly hearth.

He heard, he answered, left his home

And gave away the goods he owned.

He gave his life to hear God’s word

And then proclaim it to the world.

He listened, fasted, suffered, prayed

And stood in darkness undismayed.

O praise the Father, wake the world!

And let the Son’s own praise be heard!

And praise in town or desert waste

The Spirit glorified in grace.

Psalm 119:105-112

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mt 19:21)

Upon hearing the Gospel story of the rich young man read in church one day, Saint Anthony sold all he had and abandoned a comfortable life for the solitude of the desert. He inspired countless men and women to follow his example of prayer and asceticism, to attune the heart to hear the Word of God and live it intensely.

Your word is a lamp for my steps

and a light for my path.

I have sworn and have made up my mind

to obey your decrees.

Lord, I am deeply afflicted:

by your word give me life.

Accept, Lord, the homage of my lips

and teach me your decrees.

Though I carry my life in my hands,

I remember your law.

Though the wicked try to ensnare me

I do not stray from your precepts.

Your will is my heritage for ever,

the joy of my heart.

I set myself to carry out your will

in fullness, for ever.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Mark 8:34-37

[Jesus] summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?”

Whoever has ears ought to hear. (Mt 11:15)

Canticle of Zechariah

Blessed are the poor in spirit,/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:3)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

With Saint Anthony, let us pray for ears to hear and hearts to keep God’s Word and will:

R/Your Word is a lamp for our steps.

You called Saint Anthony to abandon home and heritage to follow your Word:

– grant us the wisdom to seek first the kingdom of God and trust that all else will be given us besides. R/

You called Saint Anthony to wrestle with the choice of good over evil:

– grant us the courage to persevere in keeping your Word. R/

You called Saint Anthony to lead others to holiness:

– grant us the faith to live as beacons of light for
others. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

Lord God of wilderness and city, you call men and women in every age to follow in the footsteps of your Son. Keep all disciples faithful to the Gospel in the walk of life to which you have appointed them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

Christ the Bridegroom comes!
Let us meet him in prayer.

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

A city radiant as a bride

And bright with gold and gem,

A crystal river clear and wide,

The new Jerusalem;

A city wrought with wealth untold,

Her jeweled walls aflame

With green and amethyst and gold

And colors none can name.

A city ever new and fair,

The Lamb’s eternal bride;

No suffering or grief is there

And every tear is dried.

There Christ prepares for us a place,

From sin and death restored,

And we shall stand before his face,

The ransomed of the Lord.

Canticle (Revelation 19:1-7)

As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride/ so shall your God rejoice in you. (Is 62:5b)

The wedding prefigured in the humble home at Cana will be celebrated in glory at the coming of Christ, in whom humanity and divinity are wedded in everlasting love.

Alleluia.

Salvation, glory, and power to our God:

his judgments are honest and true.

Alleluia.

Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,

all who worship him reverently, great and small. Alleluia.

Alleluia.

The Lord our all-powerful God is King;

let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.

Alleluia.

The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,

and his bride is prepared to welcome him.

Alleluia.

Word of God. Revelation 21:2; 19:8

I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

She was allowed to wear/ a bright, clean linen garment./ (The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.)

There was a cry, “Behold, the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him!” (Mt 25:6)

Canticle of Mary

You shall be called “My Delight,”/ and your land “Espoused.”/ For the Lord delights in you,/ and makes your land his spouse. (Is 62:4)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

God rejoices in our salvation. Let us pray with confidence and love:

R/Have mercy on your people, Lord!

You have joined us to yourself in love:

– make us one in our love for one another: R/

You have given us a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb:

– deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist: R/

You have promised us a dwelling place where sin and sorrow are no more:

– grant the joy of eternal life to all our beloved dead: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. Amen. (cf. Rom 15:13)

Marian Antiphon

Blessed Mother of God, Mary, perpetual Virgin,

temple of the Lord, shrine of the Holy Spirit,

you alone without compare were pleasing

to the Lord Jesus Christ;

pray for the people, intervene for the clergy;

intercede for devout women.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O 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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

sharing the faith received

sharing the faith received

Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

Prayer of the five kisses for baby Jesus

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 68:25-30, 33-36

Word of God. Ephesians 4:25-27, 32–5:2

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 31:2-6

Word of God. Isaiah 61:1-3

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Salve Regina

Hail Holy Queen

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 66:1-3, 8-12, 16-17, 20

Word of God. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Salve Regina

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn

Psalm 116:1-6, 9

Word of God. Sirach 51:1-2a, 3

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn

Psalm 25:1-7

Word of God. Isaiah 42:16

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 37:23-28a, 29-31, 39-40

Word of God. Isaiah 40:10-11

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 73:23-26, 28

Word of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-22

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Salve Regina

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn