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Prayer for the Morning (Thursday, January 6)

raphael

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January 6, 2022

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Saint André Bessette

Prayer for the Morning

Our God is love: 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

I will exalt you, God, my King,

For ever praise, for ever sing

All glory to your treasured name:

All praise, all love our hearts proclaim!

Believers trust and pray and prove

The glories of your mighty love:

Our streets shall sing, our cities bloom,

Your everlasting kingdom come!

As generations take their turn

And saints in each your glory learn,

Your name be praised, and praised again,

And praised forevermore. Amen!

Psalm 119:97-104

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (Jn 14:15)

If we love God, if we believe in Jesus Christ, if we trust in the glory revealed in the mystery of Christmas and Epiphany, then we in turn must love one another, so that our daily lives continue to manifest God in our day.

Lord, how I love your law!

It is ever in my mind.

Your command makes me wiser than my foes;

for it is mine for ever.

I have more insight than all who teach me

for I ponder your will.

I have more understanding than the old

for I keep your precepts.

I turn my feet from evil paths

to obey your word.

I have not turned from your decrees;

you yourself have taught me.

Your promise is sweeter to my taste

than honey in the mouth.

I gain understanding from your precepts;

I hate the ways of falsehood.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Leviticus 19:17-18

You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Love does no evil to the neighbor;

hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Rom 13:10)

Canticle of Zechariah

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. (Jn 13:34)

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 love for the God who has so loved us, we pray:

R/Teach us your ways, O Lord!

You made us in your image:

– reveal your love to the world through our love for one another. R/

You showed the depth of your love in the mystery of the cross:

– grant us the wisdom to seek forgiveness rather than vengeance. R/

You taught us that all peoples are neighbors:

– remove all the false boundaries that set limits to our love. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

God of love, you created your Church to be the sacrament of unity for a divided world. Gather us together in the communion of love by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that our love for one another may flame out as a vibrant light in every human darkness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening (Wednesday, January 5)

raphael

-

January 5, 2022

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Prayer for the Evening

Jesus Christ is our Shepherd:

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

Sweet Savior, bless us ere we go;

Thy Word into our minds instill,

And make our lukewarm hearts to glow

With lowly love and fervent will.

R/ Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,

O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Labor is sweet, for thou hast toiled,

And care is light, for thou hast cared;

Let not our works with self be soiled,

Nor in unsimple ways ensnared. R/

For all we love, the poor, the sad,

The sinful, unto thee we call;

O let thy mercy make us glad:

Thou art our Jesus, and our all. R/

Canticle of Isaiah 40:10a, 11, 13-14, 31

I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,/ who will shepherd you wisely and prudently. (Jer 3:15)

In the name of Christ, Saint John Neumann spent himself for the well-being of the Church, God’s beloved flock and vine, in his adopted country, serving in all humility those to whom he had been sent.

Here comes with power

the Lord God.

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.

Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,

or has instructed him as his counselor?

Whom did he consult to gain knowledge?

Who taught him the path of judgment,

or showed him the way of understanding?

They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength,

[they] will soar as with eagles’ wings;

They will run and not grow weary,

walk and not grow faint.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Acts 20:28, 32

Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.

The Lord is our shepherd;/ nothing shall we want.

(cf. Ps 23:1)

Canticle of Mary

I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the Lord. (Jer 23:4)

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

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. Through the intercession of Saint John Neumann, we pray:

R/Loving Shepherd, hear us.

You have led us through wise, prudent, and firm pastors:
– strengthen our pope and bishops in holiness, discernment, and singleness of heart. R/

You have cared for the poor through the generosity of concerned pastors:
– inspire all pastoral leaders and caregivers with a love for those in need. R/

You have brought life to those who live under sentence of death:
– grant to all pastors the gift of compassionate ministry towards the dying and the bereaved. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

May God carry out in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (cf. Heb 13:21)

Marian Antiphon

Antiphon for the Saturday Office

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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

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.

1. Pray for Patience

The Lord has told us to rely on and trust in him for all good and perfect things. Just look to Proverbs 3:5-6, which states: “Trust wholeheartedly in the Lord, put no faith in your own perception; acknowledge him in every course you take, and he will see that your paths are smooth.”

Learning to be patient and to trust is always difficult at first. When you feel stress coming on, say a quick prayer for patience, understanding, and forgiveness.

Maybe someone in your office didn’t finish their section of an important presentation you’re going to give. Keeping your cool in this situation is important.

Be patient – The situation is out of your hands and stressing about it will be of no help to anyone.

Be understanding – You can’t control everything. Best not to become upset about it.

Be forgiving – First forgive yourself for reacting negatively, then forgive your coworker. They know how important the presentation is. They aren’t being malicious. Things just sometimes come up at the worst times – but God has got your back.

Prayer for Patience

Lord God,

Please give me patience in times of hardship.

Grant me peace in the face of stress

And understanding when things don’t go my way.

Father God,

Forgive me for being impatient,

Forgive me my faults.

Give me strength, Lord,

To wait.

Calm my heart and soothe my frustrations,

These I lay at the foot of the cross.

Help me stay calm, maintain a positive attitude and be patient.

Thank you, Father,

Amen.

2. Pray for Discernment

Sometimes God bestows blessings in disguise and we don’t have the eyes to see them. Did Joseph see the most amazing gift when he heard his betrothed was with child? No. It took an angel’s word to make him believe. Can you imagine what Joseph must have felt at first? Betrayed by the woman he loves, angry at the situation, shamed, afraid, maybe even devastated with a broken heart. But God had greater plans, plans Joseph couldn’t even imagine.

Sometimes God places us in situations we don’t understand. Maybe your new boss expects perfection and gives you a hard time. Instead of viewing this as a problem, think of it as an opportunity to prove yourself and learn more skills.
Maybe it takes weeks, months or years of working under this person before an opportunity comes along but by the time promotions are offered, you find you are suddenly more than eligible for the position.

You may not understand why you are put in a situation but the rewards are always waiting on the other side.

Prayer for Discernment

Heavenly Father,

I pray you to give me the eyes to see through the enemy’s lies.

I ask for discernment between trials and attacks.

Please, Lord, teach me to see

All that You have for my life.

Help me understand how to turn bad situations

Into Your Glory.

Thank you, Father,

For all you do for me.

Amen.

3. Pray for Faith

As Catholics, we hold tightly to faith – but as humans we sometimes doubt. When things go wrong for a long amount of time, it can be difficult to maintain faith in anything. Maybe the decision to take a job in a new city was the right decision for your life but because you don’t know anyone, you struggle to feel anything but homesick. You thought the pay raise and impressive job title were worth the move but not you’re not so sure. Have faith.

God’s word is absolute. If we are walking the path of righteousness, He will help us along the way.

Hebrews 12:11 explains: “Of course, and discipline is at the time a matter for grief, not joy; but later, in those who have undergone it, it bears fruit in peace and uprightness.”

The verse is saying you have to work through the tough times to make it to the good on the other side. Maybe things are hard right now but you’ll eventually meet people, who will turn into friends, who will introduce you to more friends, some of whom may even become best friends or a future spouse!

Just because it is dark now, have faith and know there will be light in the morning. – In the meantime, cling tightly to Christ’s robes. Believe change will come and pray for it. Is there anything you can do to change your situation? Pray about it then act on it.

Prayer for Faith

Lord,

I struggle with _______ and need your help.

I thought I was walking the correct path

But I have failed again and again.

Please Father,

Help me hold to faith in You and Your plan for

My life.

Give me faith to believe that when you stand with me,

Nothing can stand against me.

Thank you for your blessings, Lord,

Help me recognize them when they come my way

And keep my heart from straying from Your Truth.

Thank you, Father.

Amen.

Prayer for the Morning

Jesus Christ is our one true treasure:

come, let us adore.

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

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!

What more can he say than to you he has said,

You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;

In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;

At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,

As your days demand shall your strength ever be.

Psalm 112:1-9

You know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)

Saint John Neumann lived in poverty in order to preach the Gospel without hindrance. His concern was not for his own comfort but for the religious and educational needs of those he had left his homeland to serve, especially those who, like himself, were immigrants to the United States.

Happy the man who fears the Lord,

who takes delight in all his commands.

His sons will be powerful on earth;

the children of the upright are blessed.

Riches and wealth are in his house;

his justice stands firm for ever.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:

he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,

he conducts his affairs with honor.

The just man will never waver:

he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;

with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

he will see the downfall of his foes.

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;

his justice stands firm for ever.

His head will be raised in glory.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Mark 10:29-31

Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and [the] last will be first.”

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

(Acts 20:35)

Canticle of Zechariah

We are treated as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. (cf. 2 Cor 6:8, 10)

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

Through the intercession of Saint John Neumann, let us pray:

R/Lord, you hear the cry of the poor!

You have taught your disciples to hold the poor in special regard:

– inspire in all pastoral leaders Saint John’s love for poverty and the poor. R/

You have sent your disciples out to all the world to preach the Good News:

– protect in your love all those pastors who serve far from their native place. R/

You call your servants to leave home and family for the service of the Gospel:

– grant parents the generosity to allow and encourage their children to respond to your call, as Mary allowed her Son to leave his home. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

O Lord our God, you sent your Son among us as a stranger, stripped of all majesty and privilege, that from his poverty the entire world might be enriched with the incomparable gift of redemption. Sustain all pastors who desire to set their people’s needs above their own, and inspire all who hear the pastoral call to serve, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

Let our lips be filled with God’s praise.

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

We praise you, Lord, with joy this day

As proudly we proclaim

That in her life this woman’s love

Has glorified your name.

She longed for Christ, she yearned for him

To see him face to face,

And through the long and patient years

She found in him her peace.

She walked in harmony with God,

Her eyes were on the Lord,

And in the struggles of each day

Her calm was in his word.

Psalm 63:2-9

Go, then! It is I who will assist you in speaking and will teach you what you are to say. (Ex 4:12)

Elizabeth Ann Seton taught to her own family, to her religious community, and to the countless children educated by her Sisters of Charity the wonders of God’s love which she had learned in meditation, prayer, and obedience to God’s word.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;

for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you

like a dry, weary land without water.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,

my lips will speak your praise.

So I will bless you all my life,

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,

my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.

On you I muse through the night

for you have been my help;

in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand holds me fast.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. (Eph 5:10)

Canticle of Mary

If you are willing to listen, you will learn;/ if you give heed, you will be wise. (Sir 6:33)

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 teaches us the way of salvation. Let us pray through the intercession of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton that the gifts of teaching and learning may flourish among us:

R/Our hope has always been in you!

Fill all who thirst for knowledge

– especially for knowledge of you: R/

Direct the efforts of all parents

– to form and educate their children: R/

Send gifted, conscientious, and committed teachers to all the corners of our nation and the world

– to foster the human capacity to know, to understand, and to love: R/

Grant creativity and wisdom

– to all who are responsible for designing and administering educational programs of every kind: R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

Peace be to all, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (cf. Eph 6:23)

Marian Antiphon

Antiphon for the Saturday Office

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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, 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 Morning

To God we lift up our hearts in prayer and praise!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

Forth in your name, O Lord, I go,

My daily labor to pursue,

You, only you, resolved to know,

In all I think, or speak, or do.

The task your wisdom has assigned

O let me cheerfully fulfill,

In all my works your presence find,

And prove your acceptable will!

Give me to bear your easy yoke,

And every moment watch and pray,

And still to things eternal look,

And hasten to your glorious day.

For you delightfully employ

Whate’er your bounteous grace has given;

And run my course with even joy,

And closely walk with you to heaven.

Psalm 18:2-4, 29-30, 32-33, 36-37

My feet kept to the level path/ because from earliest youth I was familiar with wisdom. (cf. Sir 51:15)

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s path took many unexpected turnings because she followed God’s will rather than her own. What matters most is that the path God chose took her to him. In her obedience lay the source of the wisdom with which she taught others to follow in God’s ways.

I love you, Lord, my strength,

my rock, my fortress, my savior.

My God is the rock where I take refuge;

my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.

The Lord is worthy of all praise:

when I call I am saved from my foes.

You, O Lord, are my lamp,

my God who lightens my darkness.

With you I can break through any barrier,

with my God I can scale any wall.

For who is God but the Lord?

Who is a rock but our God?

The God who girds me with strength

and makes the path safe before me.

You gave me your saving shield;

you upheld me, trained me with care.

You gave me freedom for my steps;

my feet have never slipped.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Sirach 24:28-31

Now I, like a rivulet from [wisdom’s] stream,/ channeling the waters into a garden,/ Said to myself, “I will water my plants,/ my flower bed I will drench”;/ And suddenly this rivulet of mine became a river,/ then this stream of mine, a sea./ Thus do I send my teachings forth shining like the dawn,/ to become known afar off./ Thus do I pour out instruction like prophecy/ and bestow it on generations to come.

The path of the just is like shining light,/

that grows in brilliance till perfect day. (Prv 4:18)

Canticle of Zechariah

I will teach you the manner of God’s dealings,/ and the way of the Almighty I will not conceal. (Jb 27:1)

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

God opens the way before us. Through the intercession of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, let us pray for the wisdom to see it and the grace to follow it.

R/Lord, make us know your ways!

You called Saint Elizabeth Ann to the life of wife and mother:

– bless all wives and mothers with the gifts of wisdom and love. R/

You called Saint Elizabeth Ann to enter fully into the life of the Church:

– teach all catechumens and candidates the wisdom of your word. R/

You called Saint Elizabeth Ann to leave the familiar world of family life to found a religious congregation for the service of your people in charity:

– bless the Sisters of Charity for their faithful service and send many workers into the harvest in our day. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

O Lord our God, Word of truth, you illumined Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton with the light of your presence and the love of your people. Through her example and intercession, teach us to know you, to follow you, and to serve you, who are Christ the Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Morning

God’s ways are known upon earth:

let us come before him with 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

The race that long in darkness pined,

Have seen a glorious Light;

The people dwell in day, who dwelt

In death’s surrounding night.

To hail thy rise, thou better Sun,

The gathering nations come,

Joyous as when the reapers bear

The harvest treasures home.

To us a Child of Hope is born,

To us a Son is given,

Him shall the tribes of earth obey,

Him all the hosts of heaven.

His power increasing still shall spread,

His reign no end shall know:

Justice shall guard his throne above,

And peace abound below.

Psalm 57:4c, 6, 8-12

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Gn 1:3)

The world is a new creation now, and the light a new Light, the light of Christ, which no darkness can extinguish.

May God send his truth and his love.

O God, arise above the heavens;

may your glory shine on earth!

My heart is ready, O God,

my heart is ready.

I will sing, I will sing your praise.

Awake, my soul,

awake, lyre and harp,

I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,

among the nations I will praise you

for your love reaches to the heavens

and your truth to the skies.

O God, arise above the heavens;

may your glory shine on earth!

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. 2 Samuel 23:3-4

The God of Israel spoke;/ of me the Rock of Israel said,/ “He that rules over men in justice,/ that rules in the fear of God,/ is like the morning light at sunrise/ on a cloudless morning,/ making the greensward sparkle after rain.”

No longer shall your sun go down,/

For the Lord will be your light forever. (cf. Is 60:20)

Canticle of Zechariah

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:/ for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. (Is 8:23)

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

To Christ our Light we pray:

R/Shine for ever on your people, Lord!

You are the dawn of hope fulfilled:

– enlighten us to hope only for your kingdom’s coming. R/

You are the light of life for all creation:

– guide us in the way of life. R/

You are the joy of those who dwelt in darkness:

– keep us always in your light. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

God of all the living, you sent your Only Begotten Son to enlighten the world with the warmth of your love. Enkindle in our winter-bound hearts the fire of charity, that we may burn always with zeal for you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Roman Ritual provides a strong blessing of Epiphany water that casts out all evil spirits.

While the feast of Epiphany in the Roman Rite is primarily focused on the visit of the Magi, historically it was more focused on the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. For this reason, there developed a special blessing of Epiphany water in memory of Jesus sanctifying the waters of Baptism.

This blessing of water on Epiphany was maintained by Eastern Catholics, but Roman Catholics also have an optional ceremony that was approved in 1890 that did homage to this tradition.

The emphasis of the blessing, however, was less on the commemoration of Jesus’ baptism and more on the symbolic nature of water as a cleansing agent. In this way, the blessing of Epiphany water in the Roman Rite was used to cast out Satan and all his demonic angels.

It is a powerful blessing, one that uses strong language to invoke the power of God over evil. It reminds us of the spiritual power of holy water and encourages us to use it in faith, trusting in the protecting help of God over our spiritual enemies. Here is an excerpt of the prayer, which is quite lengthy.

Prayer

In the name of our Lord Jesus + Christ and by His power, we cast you out, every unclean spirit, every devilish power, every assault of the infernal adversary, every legion, every diabolical group and sect; begone and stay far from the Church of God, from all who are made in the image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of the divine + Lamb.

Never again dare, you cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the Church of God, nor to strike the chosen of God and to sift them as + wheat. For it is the Most High God who commands you, + He to whom you heretofore in your great pride considered yourself equal; He who desires that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. God the Father + commands you.

[God] the Son + commands you. God the Holy + Spirit commands you. The majesty of Christ, the eternal Word of God made flesh + commands you…Therefore, accursed dragon and every diabolical legion, we adjure you by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by the God who so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have life everlasting; cease your deception of the human race and your giving them to drink of the poison of everlasting damnation; desist from harming the Church and fettering her freedom.

Begone Satan, you father and teacher of lies and enemy of mankind. Give place to Christ in whom you found none of your works; give place to the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church, which Christ Himself purchased with His blood. May you be brought low under God’s mighty hand. May you tremble and flee as we call upon the holy and awesome name of Jesus, before whom hell quakes …

Prayer for the Evening

Vigil of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Jesus Christ, son of Mary, is the Lord of all time:

come, let us adore him, alleluia!

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 Theotokos, Mary blest,

Our human nature’s shining crest,

Now we are freed from slav’ry’s plight:

Through you made children of the light.

And you, O Mary, Virgin Queen,

Descended from King David’s line,

Your royal dignity has come

Not from your fathers, but your Son.

Remove us from the ancient root.

Graft us in him, the newborn shoot.

Through you may we become by grace

A royal, priestly, human race.

O offer holy prayers to win

Release from all our bonds of sin,

And with you to the heavens raise

The ones who sing your merits’ praise.

Psalm 150

In childbirth, she brought forth the King, whose name is eternal. She keeps a mother’s joy with a virgin’s honor. None like her was seen before, and none thereafter. (Traditional Christmas Antiphon)

Let us close this year with the final psalm of the psalter. With every living being, with every gift we possess, let us praise in joyful hope the Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth of the Virgin opened this, the final age; and whose return in glory will bring it to its wonderful conclusion at the appointed time, hidden in God’s plan.

Praise God in his holy place,

praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his powerful deeds,

praise his surpassing greatness.

O praise him with sound of trumpet,

praise him with lute and harp.

Praise him with timbrel and dance,

praise him with strings and pipes.

O praise him with resounding cymbals,

praise him with clashing of cymbals.

Let everything that lives and that breathes

give praise to the Lord.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Revelation 22:13-14, 16b

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates.

“I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.”

The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever!

Te Deum

Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. All time belongs to him and all the ages. To him be glory and power through every age and for ever. (Easter Vigil Liturgy)

You are God: we praise you;

You are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Father:

All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free

you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to glory everlasting.

Intercessions

In thanksgiving for the time that has been, in hope for the time that is to come, let us pray through the intercession of Mary, the Holy Mother of God:

R/We praise you, O Lord, and we bless you.

For the years, the centuries, the millennia through which the world has lived since the birth of Christ: R/

For the gifts and burdens of the year that is past: R/

For the promise of the year that lies before us: R/

For the achievement of your reign of peace and justice in the new era upon which we embark in hope: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the Lord of peace himself give us peace at all times and in every way. Amen. (cf. 2 Thes 3:16)

Marian Antiphon

O Mary, ever Virgin, rejoice,

you who were worthy to bear Christ,

the Creator of heaven and earth;

for from your womb

you brought forth the Savior of the world, alleluia.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quæ pervia cæli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quæ 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.

Prayer for the Morning

To Christ our newborn King

let us sing a song of rejoicing, alleluia!

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

To us a Child of royal birth,

Heir of the promises, is given;

The Invisible appears on earth,

The Son of man, the God of heaven.

The Christ, by raptured seers foretold,

Filled with the eternal Spirit’s power,

Prophet, and Priest, and King behold,

And Lord of all the worlds adore.

Canticle of Judith 16:1, 13-15

As for me, I am old and gray. I have lived with you from my youth to the present day. (cf. 1 Sm 12:2)

Anna had grown old in faith and hope, but when she saw the Child of God’s promise brought to the Temple, she sang in her heart a new song of praise and thanksgiving. One is never too old to be surprised by joy.

Strike up the instruments,

a song to my God with timbrels,

chant to the Lord with cymbals.

Sing to him a new song,

exalt and acclaim his name.

A new hymn I will sing to my God.

O Lord, great are you and glorious,

wonderful in power and unsurpassable.

Let your every creature serve you;

for you spoke, and they were made,

you sent forth your spirit, and they were created;

no one can resist your word.

The mountains to their bases, and the seas, are shaken;

the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance.

But to those who fear you,

you are very merciful.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Hebrews 6:11-12

We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.

For me they listened and waited. (Jb 29:21)

Canticle of Zechariah

Be patient, therefore, until the coming of the Lord. (cf. Jas 5:7)

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

For the fulfillment of our Advent waiting, we pray:

R/Reward your people’s patience, Lord.

The people of the Sinai covenant await your coming in faith:

– may they recognize your Son and rejoice when he returns in glory. R/

Those who have longed for the gift of faith and have not received it await you:

– grant them the joy of recognizing you in the celebration of this season. R/

Those whose loved ones have lost the path of faith yearn with love for their conversion:

– reunite in your worship broken households of faith. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

O God of promise and fulfillment, you sent your Son as the long-desired Messiah. Awaken our world to his presence, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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 for the Morning

Hymn

Psalm 119:97-104

Word of God. Leviticus 19:17-18

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Canticle of Isaiah 40:10a, 11, 13-14, 31

Word of God. Acts 20:28, 32

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Salve Regina

Read More

1. Pray for Patience

Prayer for Patience

2. Pray for Discernment

Prayer for Discernment

3. Pray for Faith

Prayer for Faith

Read more

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn

Psalm 112:1-9

Word of God. Mark 10:29-31

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 63:2-9

Word of God. Colossians 3:16

Canticle of Mary

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn

Psalm 18:2-4, 29-30, 32-33, 36-37

Word of God. Sirach 24:28-31

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn

Psalm 57:4c, 6, 8-12

Word of God. 2 Samuel 23:3-4

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

Read More

The Roman Ritual provides a strong blessing of Epiphany water that casts out all evil spirits.

Prayer

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

Hymn

Psalm 150

Word of God. Revelation 22:13-14, 16b

Te Deum

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn