Category: C

I call to God, Please assist my efforts to find love.

I open to love in all ways. Let love meet me around the next corner.

I throw my arms open to love!

Father in Heaven and Lord of all,
establish Your sovereignty 
on the university campuses of the world.

Draw young men and women into a relationship with Your Son, Jesus,
and direct their ways by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Call them to a deeper service and love of Your holy Catholic Church.

Guide and protect the ways of Your labourers 
in the harvest on all campuses.
May these witnesses continue to reach out 
and transform, by Your power, the lives of students on campus.

We ask this in Your holy Name.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, 
You are the true Light 
enlightening every soul born into this world. 
Today we celebrate the feast of Candlemas. 

Before Holy Mass, 
the priest blesses the candles, 
whose wax is the humming summer’s work of countless bees. 
The flames of these candles 
will shed their light upon the altar at the Holy Sacrifice. 

Help us to realize, 
this day and every day, 
that our own humdrum daily work, 
if it is done for love of You, 
and in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, 
will be a supernatural work, 
and will shine brightly before You for all eternity. 

Help us realize, too, 
each time we see the blessed candles at Holy Mass, 
or at the bedside of the sick, 
that they are a symbol of Yourself, 
the Light shining in the darkness of this world. 
Help us to live in that Light, 
to make it our own, 
and to kindle it in the souls of others, 
increasing the area Of light 
and lessening the darkness in the World This, 
dear Lord, help us do, 
through the merits of Your own dear mother, Mary, 
who did everything for love of 
You, from the moment she brought You into this world 
till the day she joined You in the realms of light at her death. 

Then we, too, working for You, 
shall be light-bearers who will help to spread Your kingdom on earth, 
and increase the number of those who dwell in heaven, 
the city of eternal light.

Amen.

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God,
to you belong praise, glory,
honour and all blessing.

Be praised, my Lord, for all your creation
and especially for our Brother Sun,
who brings us the day and the light;
he is strong and shines magnificently.

O Lord, we think of you when we look at him.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon,
and for the stars
which you have set shining and lovely
in the heavens.
Be praised, my Lord,
for our Brothers Wind and Air
and every kind of weather
by which you, Lord,
uphold life in all your creatures.

Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water,
who is very useful to us,
and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom you give us light in the darkness:
he is bright and lively and strong.

Be praised, my Lord,
for Sister Earth, our Mother,
who nourishes us and sustains us,
bringing forth
fruits and vegetables of many kinds
and flowers of many colours.

Be praised, my Lord,
for those who forgive for love of you;
and for those
who bear sickness and weakness
in peace and patience
you will grant them a crown.
Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister Death,
whom we must all face.

I praise and bless you, Lord,
and I give thanks to you,
and I will serve you in all humility.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
For He has looked with favour 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,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning.
is now, and will be forever.

Amen.

Now, Master, You can dismiss your servant in peace; 
You have fulfilled Your word. 
For my eyes have witnessed Your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: 
A revealing light to the Gentiles, 
the glory of Your people Israel. [Lk. 2:29-32]

(In honor of the Presentation of Jesus and the Purification of Mary) 

Now, Master, You can dismiss your servant in peace; 
You have fulfilled Your word. 
For my eyes have witnessed Your saving deed 
displayed for all the peoples to see: 
A revealing light to the Gentiles, 
the glory of Your people Israel. [Lk. 2:29-32]

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; 
Praise and exalt him above all forever. 
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; 
You heavens, bless the Lord; 
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. 

All you hosts of the Lord; bless the Lord. 
Sun and moon, bless the Lord; 
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord. 
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; 
All you winds, bless the Lord. 

Fire and heat, bless the Lord; 
Cold and chill, bless the Lord. 
Dew and rain, bless the Lord; 
Frost and cold, bless the Lord. 

Ice and snow, bless the Lord; 
Nights and days, bless the Lord. 

Light and darkness bless the Lord; 
Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord. 
Let the earth bless the Lord; 
Praise and exalt him above all forever. 

Mountains and hills, bless the Lord 
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. 
You springs, bless the Lord; 
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. 

You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; 
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. 
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; 
Praise and exalt him above all forever. 

You sons of men, bless the Lord; 
O Israel, bless the Lord. 
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; 
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. 

Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; 
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. 
Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless the Lord; 
Praise and exalt him above all forever. 

Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; 
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever. 
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven; 
Praiseworthy and glorious forever.

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 Saviour,
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 Lord
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,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning.
is now, and will be forever.

Amen.