Prayer For The Church The Authorities Etc…

We pray Thee, O Almighty and Eternal God, 
who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, 
to preserve the works of Thy mercy; 
that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, 
may continue, with unchanging faith, 
in the confession of Thy name. 

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, 
to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, 
and sanctity of life our chief bishop, N., 
the Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ in the government of His Church; 
our own Bishop, (or Archbishop,) N., 
(if he is not consecrated, our Bishop-elect); 
all other Bishops, Prelates, and Pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed 
to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, 
and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation. 

We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice, 
through whom authority is rightly administered, 
laws are enacted, and judgments decreed, assist, 
with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude, 
the President of these United States, 
that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, 
and be eminently useful to Thy people, 
over whom he presides, 
by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; 
by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; 
and by restraining vice and immorality. 

Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, 
and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our role and government; so, that they may tend to the preservation of peace, 
the promotion of national happiness, 
the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, 
and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty. 

We pray for his Excellency the Governor of this State, 
for the members of the Assembly, 
for all Judges, Magistrates, and other officers 
who are appointed to guard our political welfare; 
that they may be enabled, 
by Thy powerful protection, 
to discharge the duties of their respective stations 
with honesty and ability. 

We recommend likewise to Thy unbounded mercy 
all our brethren and fellow-citizens, 
throughout the United States, 
that they may be blessed in the knowledge, 
and sanctified in the observance of most holy law; 
that they may be preserved in union, 
and in that peace which the world cannot give; 
and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, 
be admitted to those which are eternal. 

Finally, we pray Thee, O Lord of mercy, 
to remember the souls of Thy servants departed 
who are gone before us with the sign of faith, 
and repose in the sleep of peace: 
the souls of our parents, relations, and friends;
of those who, when living, were members of this congregation; 
and particularly of such as are lately deceased; 
of all benefactors who,
by their donations or legacies to this Church, 
witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship, 
and proved their claim to our grateful 
and charitable remembrance. 

To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, 
grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, 
light, and everlasting peace, 
through the same Jesus Christ, 
our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Prayer for Church Leaders

Lord Jesus Christ, 
watch over those who are leaders in your Church.
Keep them faithful to their vocation 
and to the proclamation of your message. 

Teach them to recognize and interpret the signs of the times.
Strengthen them with the gifts of the Spirit, 
and help them to serve their subjects, 
especially the poor and lowly.

Give them a vivid sense of your presence in the world
and a knowledge of how to show it to others. 

Amen.

A Prayer for Church Unity

Almighty and eternal God, 
You have promised that there will someday be but one fold and one Shepherd. 

Hasten that day, we pray You, 
in Your most merciful kindness and generosity. 
Pour the light of Your grace 
into the minds of our non-Catholic friends 
so that they may see the truth, 
and fully realize that the truth is one and undivided. 
Give them also the strength of will 
needed to follow in the direction of the light You give them.

Let us, their neighbors and friends, 
not be a hindrance to their conversion by our bad example. 
Rather let Your goodness be made clear to them by the virtue of our lives. 

Then may they finally all be brought to You, 
the Light that enlightens every man who comes into the world.

Amen.

Prayer for the Church Unity Octave

That they may all be one, as You, Father, in Me and I in You; 
that they so may be one in Us, 
that the world may believe that You have sent Me. (John 17:21)

V. I say unto you, that you are Peter.
R. And upon this rock I will build My Church.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, 
You said to Your Apostles: 
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.” 
Look not upon our sins, but upon the faith of Your Church, 
and grant to her that peace and unity 
which are agreeable to Your will, 
who live and are King and God, 
for ever and ever. 

R. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Claude de la Colombiere – A Despair Prayer

Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others. 
Other people will glorify You 
by making visible the power of Your grace 
by their fidelity and constancy to You. 

For my part I will glorify You 
by making known how good You are to sinners, 
that Your mercy is boundless 
and that no sinner no matter how great his offences 
should have reason to despair of pardon. 

If I have grievously offended You, My Redeemer, 
let me not offend You even more 
by thinking that You are not kind enough to pardon Me.

Amen.

Before the Closing of the Day

Before the closing of the day,
Creator, we Thee humbly pray,
That, for Thy wonted mercy’s sake,
Thou us under protection take.
May nothing in our minds excite
Vain dreams and phantoms of the night;
Our enemies repress, that so
Our bodies no uncleanness know.
In this, most gracious Father, hear,
With Christ, Thy equal Son, our prayer;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

Amen.

The Clown’s Prayer

As I stumble through this life,
help me to create more laughter than tears,
dispense more happiness than gloom,
spread more cheer than despair.

Never let me become so indifferent
that I will fail to see the wonder
in the eyes of a child
or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.

Never let me forget that my total effort
is to cheer people, make them happy
and forget – at least momentarily
all the unpleasantness in their lives.

And, in my final moment,
may I hear You whisper:
‘When you made My people smile,
you made Me smile.

Collect for the Feast of Saint Bibiana

O God, the Giver of all good gifts, 
in Your servant Bibiana You joined the flower of virginity 
with the palm of martyrdom; 
be pleased, by her intercession, 
to join our souls by charity to You, 
so that all dangers being removed, 
we may obtain our eternal reward. 
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, 
who lives and reigns with You 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
for ever and ever.

Amen.