Loving Father

Loving Father, 
all the fancy words 
in the world, 
expressed in eloquent prose, 
decorated with emotion, 
spoken with conviction, 
cannot compete with a heartfelt 
‘sorry’ 
when all other words fail. 
There are times 
when we are all too aware 
of our limitations, 
conscious of sin, 
and the distance it creates between us.
Sometimes ‘sorry’ 
is all the heart can bear to say aloud. 
It is only you 
who can read and understand 
the language of our hearts, 
only you who can translate our ‘sorry’ 
into the prayer we would have prayed,
if we had the words within us.
Then you forgive,
and having forgiven 
surround us in an embrace of love,
drawing us close to your heart,
as it was always meant to be. 
Thank you, Loving Father,
that you listen to hearts, 
as well as voices

Thank you.

Loving God

Loving God, you speak to us through all of life. Help me to trust you and to trust that what you desire for me lies in the deepest part of my heart. And, what you desire is that which allows me to grow and to be the person you created me to be – fully human and fully alive. May I always center my life on you and hear joyfully your call to be your companion. Help me to follow my desire to live my life as best I can and to serve others with the special gifts you have given me. Amen. 

Vocation Prayer

In Loving Memory

Almighty God, through the death of your Son on the cross, you have overcome death for us. Through his burial and resurrection from the dead you have made the grave a holy place and restored us to eternal life. We pray for those who died believing in Jesus and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. God of the living and the dead, may those who faithfully believed in you on earth praise you for ever in the joy of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Luminous Mysteries

The First Luminous Mystery
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

John is baptizing in the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance.
“I am the voice of one crying in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord.”
“One mightier than I is coming after me.”
“I have baptized you with water, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Seeing Jesus, John exclaims: “Behold the Lamb of God.”
Against protests of his unworthiness, John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan.
After Jesus’ baptism a voice from Heaven: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
The Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove.
In this heavenly manifestation is instituted the sacrament of baptism.
The divine Trinity is manifested: the voice of the Father is heard as the Spirit descends upon the Son.
Spiritual Fruit: Gratitude for the gift of Faith

The Second Luminous Mystery
THE WEDDING OF CANA

Jesus, His Mother and disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana.
During the wedding feast the wine ran short.
Mary turned to Jesus: “They have no wine.”
Jesus replied: “What would you have me do? My hour has not yet come.”
Mary said to the waiters: “Do whatever he tells you.”
There were six stone water jars, each holding fifteen to twenty gallons.
Jesus bids the waiters to fill the jars with water, and then draw some out and take it to the chief steward.
The chief steward said to the groom: “Every man serves the good wine first… but you have saved the good wine until now.”
At Mary’s request, Jesus worked His first miracle.
By His presence, Christian marriage was raised to the dignity of a Sacrament.
Spiritual Fruit: Fidelity

The Third Luminous Mystery
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM

“Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
“My kingdom is not of this world.”
“Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”
“Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter into it.”
“I have come to call sinners, not the just.”
“Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.”
“Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church… I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
Spiritual Fruit: Desire for Holiness

The Fourth Luminous Mystery
THE TRANSFIGURATION

Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain to pray.
Jesus was transfigured before them.
“His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes as radiant as light.”
This was to fortify their faith to withstand the coming tragedy of the Passion.
Jesus foresaw the ‘scandal of the cross,’ and prepared them for it by this manifestation of His glory.
Moses and Elias (representing the Law and the prophets of the Old Testament) were conversing with Jesus about His passion.
“Do not think I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets… but to fulfill them.”
From a cloud came a voice: “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”
Jesus admonishes them not to tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man rises from the dead.
We too will behold the transfigured Jesus on the Last Day.
Spiritual Fruit: Spiritual Courage

The Fifth Luminous Mystery
THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST

I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
Jesus took bread, blessed it: “Take and eat, this is My Body.”
Taking the wine: “This cup is the new covenant in my Blood, shed for you.”
At that eucharistic meal, Jesus celebrated the first Mass.
At every Mass the sacrifice of Calvary is made present.
At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Orders to perpetuate this sacrifice.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
The Eucharist is a sacrifice inasmuch as it is offered up, and a sacrament inasmuch as it is received.
In the Mass we offer ourselves to God, and God gives himself to us.
The Mass will be fruitful in the measure of our surrender to the Father.
Spiritual Fruit: Love of our Eucharistic Lord

Magnificat 1

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name; And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has given help to Israel, His servant, mindful of His mercy – Even as He spoke to our father – to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Magnificat 2

Proclama mi alma la grandeza del Seńor,
y se alegra mi espíritu en Dios, mi Salvador;
porque ha mirado la humillación de su esclava.
Desde ahora me felicitarán todas las generaciones,
porque el Poderoso ha hecho obras grandes en mí:
su nombre es santo,
y su misericordia llega a sus fieles
de generación en generación.
Él hace proezas con su brazo:
dispersa a los soberbios de corazón,
derriba del trono a los poderosos
y enaltece a los humildes,
a los hambrientos los colma de bienes
y a los ricos los despide vacíos.
Auxilia a Israel, su siervo,
acordándose de la misericordia
como lo había prometido a nuestros padres
en favor de Abrahán y su descendencia por siempre. 

Amén.

Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, Saint Francis Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Make Us Worthy of Your Blessings

We thank You oh God for your generosity and kindness, and ask that You hear us in this hour of financial need. Make us worthy of Your blessing and keep us from further want. Help us restore our abundance here on earth, so that we may turn more attention to Your divine kingdom. We have worked so hard, and yet there is no end to our lacking. Grant us this wish, and make us worthy of its fulfillment.

Amen.

Marian Prayer

I love thee, most lovable Lady, by the love which I bear thee, I promise ever to serve thee, and to do as much as I can, that thou be loved by others also. I put all my hopes in thee, all my salvation. Receive me as thy servant and cover me with the mantle of thy protection, thou the Mother of mercy!

Amen.