Prayers (A-Z)

O holy mother, most afflicted by the bitter sorrow which thou didst endure at the foot of the Cross during the Three Hours’ agony of Jesus: vouchsafe to assist all of us, the children of thy sorrows, in our last agony, that through thine intercession we may pass from the bed of death to form a crown for thee in Heaven. 
Say 3 of each…

Our Father…
Hail Mary…

O Mary, Mother of grace, Mother of Mercy, protect us from the enemy and receive us at the hour of death.

V. From sudden or unprovided death, R. O Lord, deliver us.
V. From the snares of the devil, R. O Lord, deliver us.
V. From everlasting death, R. O Lord, deliver us.

Let us pray. 

O God, who for the salvation of mankind didst give an example and a help in the passion and Death of Thy Son: grant, we beseech Thee, that in the hour of our death we may experience the effect of this Thy charity, and deserve to be partakers in the glory of Him our Redeemer, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

R. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief, beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption by thy innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins; arid that, persevering till death in His grace, I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion.

Amen.

Mother of love, of sorrow, and of mercy, pray for us.

O Victorious Lady, Thou who has ever such powerful influence with Thy Divine Son, in conquering the hardest of hearts, intercede for those for whom we pray, that their hearts being softened by the ways of Divine Grace, they may return to the unity of the true Faith, through Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Heavenly Father, you have called us all to holiness which means sharing in your divine life. Fill us with a sense of our true dignity as those called to be your daughters and sons in the world and your ambassadors of justice, love and peace. Give us the desire to be worthy of this great calling and the courage to live up to it. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
the soul of Thy servant N…,
from every bond of sin,
that being raised in the glory of the resurrection,
he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

O gracious Master, infuse in our hearts the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom and open the eyes of our mind that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that having curbed all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, both thinking and doing everything to please You. For You, O Christ, our God, are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies; and to You we render glory, together with Your eternal Father, and with Your all holy, life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.

Dear Lord Jesus, 
by Your Passion and Resurrection
You brought life to the world.
But the glory of the Resurrection
came only after the sufferings of the Passion.

You laid down Your life willingly
and gave up everything for us.
Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross,
Your clothing became the prize of soldiers,
your blood ebbed slowly but surely away,
and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple.

Stretched out on the Cross,
deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid, 
You cried out to Your Father that the end had come.
You had accomplished the work given You, 
and You committed into His hands, 
as a perfect gift, 
the little life that remained to You.

Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions
after the example You have given.
Let me place my death in Yours 
and my weakness in Your abandonment,
Take hold of me with Your love,
that same foolish love that knew no limits,
and let me offer myself to the Father 
with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life.

It is customary, Lord 
to give something up 
during the season of Lent.
What would you have me do without? 
I who have so much.
Chocolate?
Cream cakes?
Cigarettes?
Sweets?
Swearing?
The list is endless
and I could give up all those things
for the span of 40 days
quite easily and almost painlessly.
But what difference would it make 
other than making me feel ‘holier’ 
that my friend who makes no such sacrifice?

What would you have me do without?
I who have so much
Selfishness?
Conceit?
Envy?
Pride?
I fear before I ask, 
that the answer might be ‘yes’ 
and the giving up 
would be all too real, Lord.
It would be difficult,
painful,
sacrificial,
a real cross to carry for 40 days,
and more?

Almighty and Everlasting God, 
You have given the human race 
Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility. 
He fulfilled Your Will by becoming Man 
And giving His life on the Cross. 
Help us to bear witness to You 
By following His example of suffering
And make us worthy to share in His Resurrection. 
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.

Amen. 

Our Father…

MARY, Mother of Jesus, 
you were Jesus’ gift for us from the Cross. 
He gave you to us as our mother. 
Intercede for all our needs. 

Hail Mary…
Glory Be…

Forgive those things we have done
which have caused you sadness,
and those things we should have done
that would have brought you joy.

In both we have failed 
ourselves,
and you.

Bring us back to that place
where our journey began,
when we said that we would follow
the way that you first trod.

Lead us to the Cross
and meet
us there.