Prayer of the Elderly

Dear Lord,
as my life declines
and my energies decrease,
more than ever 
hold me by Your Power,
that I may not offend You,
but daily increase in Your Love.
Give me strength to work in Your Service
till the last day of my life.
Help me to ever have 
an increasing dread of venial sin,
or whatever would cause 
the slightest withdrawal of Your Love,
all day long, 
and at night keep me close to Your Heart;
and should I die,
ere the morning breaks, 
may I go rejoicing 
in that vision of Your entrancing beauty,
never to be separated from You.

Amen.

Prayer for Employment 1

God, our Father, I turn to you seeking your divine help and guidance as I look for suitable employment. I need your wisdom to guide my footsteps along the right path, and to lead me to find the proper things to say and do in this quest. I wish to use the gifts and talents you have given me, but I need the opportunity to do so with gainful employment. Do not abandon me, dear Father, in this search, but rather grant me this favor I seek so that I may return to you with praise and thanksgiving for your gracious assistance. Grant this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for Employment 2

You govern your creation, O God,
and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands.
Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work 
that will enhance their human dignity 
and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom.
Enable them to provide for those confided to their care
either by family ties or by charity we owe to one another
for the betterment of human life.
We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus
who laboured with his own hands while he lived on earth.

Amen.

Prayer for Enlightenment

O Holy Ghost, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always obedient to Thy heavenly inspirations and the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful following of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever.

Amen.

Epiphany Prayers

Father: Christ has appeared among us. 

All: Come, let us adore Him. 

Mother: The precious gifts which the Magi brought to the 
Lord this day are threefold, 
and they are signs of divine mysteries. 
By gold the power of the King is signified, 
by frankincense His great priesthood, 
by myrrh the burial of the Lord. 

All: The Magi worshipped the Author of our salvation in 
the crib, 
and of their treasures they brought to Him gifts of 
mystic nature. 

Youngest Child: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and 
to the Holy Ghost. 

All: As it was in the beginning, 
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. 

Father: Let us pray. O God, 
by the leading of a star Thou didst manifest Thine 
only begotten Son 
to the Gentiles on this day; 
mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith, 
may be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy 
majesty. 
Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son. 

All: Alleluia. 

The following hymn serves well as a conclusion. 
Additional verses may be composed by members of the 
family. 

The Wise Men tune Jesu Dulcis Memoria 
Now there appeared a brilliant Star
Which led the wise Men from afar.
They came and, kneeling down, adored
And offered gifts to Christ, the Lord.

[From The Story of the Redemption for Children.]

Evening Prayer 1

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake,
or watch, or weep tonight,
and give Your Angels and Saints charge over those who 
sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest Your weary ones,
Bless Your dying ones,
Soothe Your suffering ones,
pity Your afflicted ones,
Shield Your joyous ones,
And all for Your love’s sake.

Amen.

Evening Prayer 2

Evening Prayer to the Holy Spirit

O Holy Spirit, 
most merciful Comforter: 
You proceed from the Father 
in a manner beyond our understanding. 
Come, I beseech You, 
and take up your abode in my heart. 
Purify and cleanse me from all sin, 
and sanctify my soul. 
Cleanse it from every impurity, 
water its dryness, 
melt its coldness, 
and save it from its sinful ways. 
Make me truly humble and resigned, 
that I may be pleasing to You, 
and that You might abide with me forever. 
Most Blessed Light, 
most Amiable Light, 
enlighten me. 
O Rapturous Joy of Paradise, 
Fount of Purest Delight, 
My God, give yourself to me 
and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of Your love. 
My Lord, instruct, direct, 
and defend me in all things. 
Give me strength against all immoderate fears 
and against despondency. 
Bestow upon me a true faith, 
a firm hope, 
and a sincere and a perfect love. 
Grant that I always do Thy Most Gracious Will. 

Amen.

Evening Prayer 3

Evening Prayer to the Son of God

O Only-Begotten Word of the Father, 
Jesus Christ, 
who alone are perfect: 
according to the greatness of your mercy, 
do not abandon me, your servant, 
but ever rest in my heart. 
O Sweet Jesus, 
Good Shepherd of Your flock, 
deliver me from the attacks of The Enemy. 
Do not allow me to become the prey of Satan’s evil intent, 
even though I have within me the seed of eternal 
damnation. 
Instead, O Lord Jesus Christ, 
Adorable God, Holy King, 
while I sleep, 
protect me by Your Holy spirit, 
through Whom You sanctified Your Apostles. 
Enlighten my mind by the light of the Holy Gospel, 
my soul by the love of Your Cross, 
my heart by the purity of Your teaching. 
Protect my body by Your sacred passion, 
my senses by Your humility, 
and awaken me in due time for Your glorification. 
For You, above all, are adorable, 
together with Your eternal Father, 
and the Holy Spirit, 
now and ever, and forever. 

Amen.

Evening Prayer 4

Evening Prayer to God the Father

O eternal God and Ruler of all creation,
You have allowed me to reach this hour. 
Forgive the sins I have committed this day by word, 
deed or thought. 
Purify me, O Lord, 
from every spiritual and physical stain. 
Grant that I may rise from this sleep to glorify You 
by my deeds throughout my entire lifetime, 
and that I be victorious over every spiritual 
and physical enemy. 
Deliver me, O Lord, 
from all vain thoughts and from evil desires, 
for yours is the kingdom, 
and the power, and the glory, 
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
now and ever, and forever. 

Amen.