Prayers

All powerful God, You are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of Your creatures. You embrace with Your tenderness all that exists.  Pour out upon us the power of Your love, that we may protect life and beauty.  Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.  O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in Your eyes.  Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.  Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.  Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards Your infinite light.  We thank You for being with us each day.  Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love, and peace.

Help me to be a fine teacher, to keep peace in the classroom,
peace between my students and myself,
to be kind and gentle to each and every one of my students.

Help me to be merciful to my students,
to balance mercy and discipline in the right measure for each student,
to give genuine praise as much as possible,
to give constructive criticism in a manner that is palatable to my students.

Help me remain conscientious enough to keep my lessons always interesting,
to recognize what motivates each of my students,
to accept my student’s limitations and not hold it against them.

Help me not to judge my students too harshly,
to be fair to all, to be a good role model,
but most of all Lord, help me to show your love to all of my students. Amen.

I live alone, dear Lord, stay by my side, in all my needs, please be my guide.  Grant me good health, for that I pray, to carry on my work each day.  Keep pure my mind, my thoughts, and deeds.  Help me be kind, to meet others’ needs.  Save me from harm and malicious tongues, from pain and fear and evil ones. When I am sick, in need of care, O Lord, I pray that You be near. When I am low or in despair, lift up my heart and hear my prayer. I live alone, dear Lord, yet have no fear, because I know that You are near. Amen.

O Lord, help us to proclaim the Good News with courage: to those who do not know You, to those who deny You, and to all those who unconsciously long for You. Bring the day closer when all people will know and love You together with the Father and the Holy Spirit; then the Kingdom of God will have arrived. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find _____, that has been lost. At least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor, I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

Almighty God, send Your angels to keep guard as labor begins. Lord, comfort and protect us all. Surround us with Your hope and goodness. Hold us through each wave of delivery. Give us a perfect life. Our Lady, as you looked after Saint Elizabeth, stay beside us this time. Come, hold us safely within Your promises, now and forever. Amen.

Eternal God, You have revealed Yourself as the Father of all Life. We praise You for the Fatherly care which You extend to all creation, and especially to us, made in Your image and likeness.

Father, extend Your hand of protection to those threatened by abortion, and save them from its destructive power. Give Your strength to all fathers, that they may never give in to the fears that may tempt them to facilitate abortions. Bless our families and bless our land, that we may have the joy of welcoming and nurturing the life of which You are the source and the Eternal Father.

Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers. We pray for those who feel threatened and overwhelmed by their pregnancy. Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes and the courage to go on. May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion. May they experience the help of Christian people, and know the peace that comes from doing God’s will. Amen.

Teach me, Lord Jesus, to be generous:
to serve You as You deserve;
to give, not counting the cost;
to fight, not heeding the wounds;
to toil, not asking for rest;
to labor, not seeking any reward,
save that of knowing that we do Your will. Amen.

Gracious and Holy Father,
Please give me:
intellect to understand You,
reason to discern You,
diligence to seek You,
wisdom to find You,
a spirit to know You,
a heart to meditate upon You,
ears to hear You,
eyes to see You,
a tongue to proclaim You,
a way of life pleasing to You,
patience to wait for You
and perseverance to look for You.

Grant me a perfect end,
Your holy presence,
a blessed resurrection
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my many sins; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop, by means of labor, the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, prudence, and patience, never surrendering to weariness or difficulties; to work, above all, with purity of intention, and with detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch Joseph. Such shall be my motto in life and death. Amen. 

God of All Life
You fill what is empty,
You make abundant what is scarce,
You bring to bloom what is barren.

We ask Your presence and care for all those who seek to be parents. Bless them with the conception, healthy delivery and joyful rearing of children to cherish made in Your image and likeness. Dwell with them and console them as they wait for the gifts given in Your good time. With Sarah and Abraham, Rachel and Jacob, Hannah and Elkanah, Zachariah and Elizabeth, we pray. Amen.

God, Our Father, loving and merciful, bring together and keep all families in perfect unity of love and mutual support. Instill in each member the spirit of understanding and affection for each other. Keep quarrels and bitterness far from them, and for their occasional failures instill forgiveness and peace. May the mutual love and affection of parents set a good example. Instill in children self-respect that they may respect others and grow in mature independence. May the mutual affection and respect of families be a sign of Christian life here and hereafter, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

God, our Father and our Creator, You bestow on us gifts and talents to develop and use in accord with Your will. Grant to me, through the intercession of Saint Joseph the Worker, as model and guide, employment and work, that I may, with dignity, provide for those who depend on me for care and support. Grant me the opportunities to use my energy, talents, and abilities for the good of all, and the glory of Your name. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.