O God, who looks down upon the lowly and knows the heights from afar: grant that your children may with pure heart imitate the humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary; she who was pleasing to you in her virginity and in humility conceived our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son: Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
for Feast of Abbe Perreyve, February 11
O Most Holy Virgin, do not in the midst of your greatness forget our earthly sorrows. Cast down your tender look upon those who suffer, who struggle against difficulties, and who cease not wetting their lips in the bitter draughts of this life. Have pity I beseech you on those, who although united in love, have been cruelly parted, and take pity on the lonely-hearted. Grant us your help in our unbelief, and have compassion on those most dear to us. Be compassionate upon those who mourn, who pray, who tremble, and grant all Hope and Peace. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother. O holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this my necessity; there are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein that you are my Mother. Our Lady, Queen and Beauty of Carmel, pray for me and obtain my requests. Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. Amen.
Saint Ambrose Prayer Before Communion
Lord, Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing, poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I trust in your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you and uncover my shame before you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered. Lord Jesus Christ, eternal king, God and man, crucified for mankind, look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and precious blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
Saint Gerard Prayer for the Unborn
Saint Gerard Majella, women the world over have adopted you as their patron in the joys and fears of childbearing. Today, we invoke your intercession for the pro-life movement. Pray that all will look upon human life as a great gift from God to be accepted and loved, not as an unwanted burden to be destroyed. Assist from heaven the efforts of those on earth who are enlisted in the Christ-like crusade of promoting the dignity and value of all human life, particularly the unborn. This we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Saint John Bosco
In need of special help, I appeal with confidence to you, O Saint John Bosco, for I require not only spiritual graces but also temporal ones, and particularly (here mention the grace you seek). May you, who on earth had such great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and to Mary, Help of Christians, and who always had compassion for those who were in suffering, obtain from Jesus and from His heavenly Mother the grace I now request, and also a sincere resignation to the Will of God. Amen.
Prayer to Saint John Neumann (1811-1860)
First U.S. Bishop to be Canonized (1977)
Father, you called John Neumann to labor for the gospel among the people of the new world. His ministry strengthened many others in the Christian faith: through his prayers may faith grow strong in this land. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Joseph for Purity
Saint Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Joseph After Rosaries Prayed During October
To you, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our afflictions, and, having implored the help of your holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg you also to take us under your protection. By that charity wherewith you were united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which you cherished the Child Jesus, we beseech you and we humbly pray that you will look down with gracious eyes upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood. and will succor us in our need by your power and strength. Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old you rescued the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under your patronage, that, following your example and strengthened by your help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Joseph of Pope Pius IX
by Pope Pius IX, promulgated on December 8, 1870)
O blessed Joseph, on whom God bestowed the name and dignity of foster-father of Jesus; and gave Mary ever Virgin to be your most pure spouse; head of the Holy Family on earth; finally chosen by the Vicar of Christ as Patron and Protector of the Universal Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ, with the greatest confidence I implore for that same Church militant on earth, your most powerful assistance. Keep, I beseech you, in the special care of that paternal love with which you burn forever, the Roman Pontiff, all bishops and priests united to the See of Peter. Be the defender of all who labor for the salvation of souls among the sorrows and trials of this life. Bring all peoples of their own free will to submit themselves to the Church, which is everywhere the necessary means of salvation. Accept, most holy Joseph, the offering of myself, whole and entire, which I make to you, freely and willingly. I consecrate myself wholly to you, to be always my father, protector, and leader in the way of salvation. Obtain for me exceeding great cleanliness of heart, and a burning love of the interior life. Grant that, following your footsteps, I may direct all my actions to the greater glory of God, in union with the love of the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary. Finally, pray that I may share in the peace and joy that was yours in your most holy death. Amen.