Category Archives: Pray With Us

Prayer For Strength – Pope St. John XXIII

Every day I need you, Lord, but today especially,

I need some extra strength to face whatever is to come.

This day, more than any other day,

I need to feel you near me to strengthen my

Courage and to overcome any fear.

By myself I cannot meet the challenge of the hour.

We are frail human creatures and we need a Higher Power to sustain us in all that life may bring.

And so, dear Lord, hold my trembling hand.

Be with me, Lord, this day and stretch out your powerful arm to help me.

May your love be upon me as I place all my hope in you. Amen.

Pope Saint John XXIII.

Mary, you stand at the crossroads
Of time and eternity
Intersection of all creation

A desire as old as Eden
Burning in your soul
The yearning of every child

Who has graced the earth
Embodiment of humanity’s Hope
Of Redemption, Restoration

You have held in your heart
The wandering aridity
Of the desert and there

God comes to find you
Lifting you up and keeping
You the apple of His eye

Humanity has found
A response to God in you
From you is deliverance

Brought forth in Christ
In whom we are born and breathe
Our perfect peaceful consummation

Healing for our scars
Amen

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls – Pray for me.

This prayer was found in the fifteenth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death, or be drowned, not shall poison take effect of them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy; or shall be burned in any fire, or shall be overpowered in battle. Say for nine mornings for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail, so be sure you really want what you ask.

From the Provincial Fr. Derry Murphy:

I read this morning St Teresa of Avila who wrote that every year on the feast of St. Joseph she prayed to him for a special grace “It is now very many years since I began asking him for something on his feast, and I have always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good … I ask for the love of God that he who does not believe me will make the trail for himself.”

God bless, Derry. 

Night Prayer to Our Lady

Night is falling dear Mother and the long day is o’er
And before your dear image I am kneeling once more
To thank you for bringing me safe through the day
And to ask you this night to keep evils away

Many times have I fallen today Mother dear
Many graces neglected since last I knelt here
Will you not in pity my dear Mother mild
Ask Jesus to pardon the sins of His child

In His book they are written against the Last Day
O Mother ask Jesus to wash them away
For one drop of His Blood which for sinners is spilt
Is sufficient to cleanse the whole world from its guilt

And if ere the dawn I should draw my last breath
And the sleep I should take be the long sleep of death
Be near me dear Mother for Jesus’ dear sake
When my soul on eternity’s shore shall awake

Dear St. Rita, model wife and widow, saint of the impossible – you yourself patiently suffered a long illness for the love and glory of God. Teach us to pray as you did. Full of confidence in your intercession, we ask you to come to help us not only in our personal needs but we ask you to bless our marriages, homes and country at this critical time. We pray for the intentions which we speak in the silence of our hearts (name the intention) and may the answer to our prayer be for the glory of God and the salvation of all.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen