Prayers (A-Z)

Ah, Lord, 
how many nights have I slept in enmity with Thee? 
O God! 
in what a miserable state was my soul during that time! 
it was hated by Thee, 
and wished to be hated by Thee. 
I was condemned to hell; 
there was nothing wanting 
but the execution of the sentence. 
But Thou, my God, 
hast never ceased to seek after me, 
and invite me to pardon. 
But who can assure me 
that Thou hast pardoned me? 
Must I, O my Jesus! 
live in this uncertainty 
till Thou dost judge me? 
But the sorrow which I feel 
for having offended Thee, 
my desire to love Thee, 
and still more, 
Thy Passion, 
O my beloved Redeemer! 
make me hope that Thy grace dwells in my soul. 
I am sorry for having offended Thee, 
O Sovereign Good! 
and I love Thee above all things. 
I resolve to forfeit everything 
rather than lost Thy grace and Thy love. 
Thou dost wish that the heart 
which seeks Thee should be full of joy. 
“Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.” 
Lord, I detest all the injuries 
I have offered to Thee. 
Give me courage and confidence; 
do not upbraid me with my ingratitude; 
for I myself know and detest it. 
Thou hast said that Thou willest not 
the death of a sinner, 
but that he be converted and live. 
Yes, my God, 
I leave all things and turn to Thee. 
Give me Thy love; 
I ask nothing else. 
O Mary! thou, after Jesus, art my hope; 
obtain for me holy perseverance.

I adore Thee, my God, 
and I love Thee with all my heart. 
I give Thee thanks for having created me, 
for having made me a Christian, 
and for having preserved me this day. 
Pardon me for the evil I have done today; 
if I have done anything good, do Thou accept it. 
Keep me while I take my rest 
and deliver me from all dangers. 
May Thy grace be always with me.

Amen.

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.

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.

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.

Most merciful God, 
Father in heaven, 
relying on Thy goodness and mercy, 
I come to Thee with filial confidence 
to confess my sins and to implore Thy forgiveness. 
Thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble heart. 
Bless me and receive me again into Thy favour; 
I acknowledge that I have been most ungrateful to Thee, 
but I sincerely repent and detest the wrong I have done, 
and I desire henceforth to walk in the way of perfection 
in accordance with Thy holy will.

O Jesus, my Saviour, my good Shepherd, 
I have strayed far from the path 
that Thou hast marked out for me; 
I did not follow in Thy footsteps; 
I wandered into forbidden places. 
Repentant and sorrowful, 
I beg to be admitted again into the fold of Thy faithful 
followers. 
I want to confess my sins with the same sincerity 
as I should wish to do at the moment of my death. 
My Jesus, I look to Thee with confidence 
for the grace to examine my conscience well.

O Holy Spirit come in Thy mercy; 
enlighten my mind and strengthen my will 
that I may know my sins, 
humbly confess them, 
and sincerely amend my life.

Mary, my Mother, 
immaculate Spouse of the Holy Ghost, 
refuge of sinners, 
ssist me by thy intercession.

Holy angels and saints of God,
pray for me.

Amen.

Lord Jesus, I lovingly pray for this sweet hope 
that I keep within my womb. 
You have granted me the immense gift 
of a tiny little life, 
living in my own life, 
and I humbly thank you for choosing me 
as an instrument of your love. 
In this sweet waiting, 
help me to live in a constant attitude 
of self-surrender to your will.

Grant me a motherly heart that is pure,
steadfast and generous. 
I hand over to you my own concerns; 
any anxious fears that may come, 
my own wishes for the little person 
that I still have no knowledge of. 
Grant that it may be born healthy in body, 
keep far from it every peril to its soul.

Mary, you have known 
the ineffable joy of a holy motherhood; 
give me a heart that can transmit an ardent, living 
faith. 
Sanctify my waiting, 
bless this joyful hope that is in me, 
grant that the fruit of my womb 
may open out in virtue 
and in holiness through your working 
with that of your divine Son.

Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body of the Virgin Mary to be a worthy dwelling place of your divine son. You sanctified St. John the Baptist, while still in his mother’s womb. Listen now to my prayer. Through the intercession of St. Gerard, watch over my child and me; protect us at the time of delivery. May my child receive the saving graces of Baptism, lead a Christian life, and, together with all the members of our family, attain everlasting happiness in heaven.

Amen.

O Good Saint Anne, who had the incomparable privilege of bringing into the world Her who was to become the Mother of God, I come to place myself under your special care.

I confide myself to you, together with the child I am carrying. Thousands of children owe you, Glorious Mother of Mary, the life of the body and the grace of baptism. Hence I wish, in my turn, to place my whole confidence in you. Make me keep in mind the precautions I need to take so as not to endanger in any way the health, good qualities or the eternal salvation of the child whose very existence God has placed in my care.

Obtain for me the virtues you did teach Her who was to be the Mother of God, so that I may afterwards instil and develop them in the heart of my child.

O Good Saint Anne, protect me today and forever. I know that you will not refuse your intercession to a mother who invokes you with confidence.

Amen

Father we thank you for your marvellous gift;
you have allowed us to share in your divine parenthood.
During this time of waiting,
we ask you to protect and nurture
these first mysterious stirrings of life.
May our child come safely into the light of the world
and to the new birth of baptism.

Mother of God,
we entrust our child to your loving heart.

Amen.