December 15^th

Blessed Mary Frances Schervier

PRAYER

Eternal Father, the sick, the poor, and the aged are constantly in danger of being considered useless members of society and therefore ignored. Lord, may women and men, motivated by the ideals of Mother Frances show compassion and give dignity, so that all people respected.
When the just cry out, you hear their cries Lord, heal them from all their distress, and rescue them.
When we strive to live as fervent disciples of Jesus, we may face peril and persecution. Help us continue to draw spiritual strength from holding fast to your precepts Lord, and show love, as Mother Frances did, trusting in the power of Christ’s love, for in His Name we are saved and healed. Amen

Prayer to Blessed Mary Frances Schervier

To you O Lord we lift up our hearts and voices. By the holy example of your servant, Blessed Mary Frances Schervier, may we grow in love for the poor and sick; devoting our lives to seeking you in prayer and in the face of those who are suffering. By imitating her love for simplicity, may we shun the lure of wealth and prestige in this life and seek first the Kingdom of God. Help us through her intercession to turn our sorrows and struggles into paths of holiness through generous works of mercy and fervent heartfelt prayer. May our lives bring glory to your holy name O God and may you be adored forever!
Amen.

December 16^th

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

A Prayer for the Virtue of Obedience

Jesus, Almighty King of kings, You Who obeyed Your Father to the end, Teach me the meaning of obedience. My soul burns to comply to Your Will, Striving to charm Your Divinity. While my worldly nature seeks one way, My spiritual nature seeks another. Bless me with the strength to obey, That my soul may subdue both natures, Blending them as a fair aromatic bloom. I always seek favour in Your eyes, To always obey You until my last breath!

Prayer to Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

Gracious God, we pray to you today in thanksgiving for all you have given to us.

May we learn to be generous with our blessings and care for those in our communities who are in need.

As Kozminski lived a life of discipleship to you, let us take from his example and foster loving personal relationships with our family and friends, especially during the holiday season.

We ask all this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Prayer

O God,
you willed to give to your priest, Blessed Honoratus,
a spirit of tender love for souls
to reconcile them with you.
Through his intercession
may we taste the sweetness of your forgiveness
and be joined with you in perfect charity.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

December 17^th

Saint Hildegard of Bingen

God hugs you – St Hildegard Von Bingen

Good people,
Most royal greening verdancy.
Rooted in the sun,
You shine with radiant light.
In this circle of earthly existence
You shine so finely,
It surpasses understanding.
God hugs you,
You are encircled by the arms
Of the mystery of God

Prayer

O God, by whose grace your servant Hildegard, kindled with the Fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Amen.

St. Hildegard von Bingen Prayers

O Great Father

O Great Father we are in great need;
Now therefore we implore, we implore you
Through your Word, by which you have
Filled us with [those things] we need;
Now it may please you Father for it befits you
To consider us with your help,
So that we might not fail and lest your name
Might be blackened in us
And through your name, deign to help us.

O Eternal Lord

O eternal Lord,
it is pleasing to you
to burn in that same fire of love,
like that from which our bodies are born,
and from which you begot your Son
in the first dawn before all of Creation.
So consider this need which falls upon us,
and relieve us of it for the sake of your Son,
and lead us in joyous prosperity.

O Shepherd of Souls

O Shepherd of souls
and o first voice
through whom all creation was summoned,
now to you,
to you may it give pleasure and dignity
to liberate us
from our miseries and languishing.

O Ruby Blood

O ruby blood
which flowed from on high
where divinity touched.
You are a flower
that the winter
of the serpent’s breath
can never injure.

O Leafy Branch

O leafy branch,
standing in your nobility
as the dawn breaks forth:
now rejoice and be glad
and deign to set us frail ones
free from evil habits
and stretch forth your hand
and lift us up.

Prayers for St. Hildegard’s Intercession

Father, Source of Life,
you have bestowed on St Hildegard of Bingen
many excellent graces.
Help us to follow her example
of meditating on your ineffable Majesty
and to follow you
so that we, amidst the darkness of this world,
recognise the Light of your clarity
to cling to you without fail.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer to St. Hildegard

O Lord, you were generous with your gifts of grace to the virgin Hildegard. By following closely her example and teaching, may we pass from the darkness of this life into your marvelous light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

St. Hildegard’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures,
spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures,
glow of charity, lights of clarity, taste
of sweetness to sinners, be with us and hear us.
Composer of all things, light of all the risen,
key of salvation, release from the dark prison,
hope of all unions, scope of chastities, joy
in the glory, strong honour, be with us and hear us.
Amen.

December 18^th

Blessed Anthony Grassi

PRAYER

Blessed Anthony Grassi, being struck by lightning only deepened your faith, and made it burn brighter for Christ. Help us all to be such a serene, glowing force that others will want to come to know the love of God that sustains us. Bring us to the feet of Jesus in reconciliation, and pray for us to never leave the path that leads to Him. AMEN!

December 19^th

Blessed Urban V

PRAYER:

Almighty and eternal God, You willed to set Blessed Urban over your entire people and to go before them in word and example. By his intercession keep the pastors of Your Church together with their flocks and guide that in the way of eternal salvation. Amen.

Prayer to Blessed Urban V

O God, who made Blessed Pope Urban V the Vicar of Peter and committed to him the care of the Universal Church, by his intercession keep your beloved flock ever safe, so that with integrity of faith and perfect charity your Church may journey to her heavenly homeland.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all that Blessed Pope Urban V accomplished during his papacy and we thank you, Father, for the holy men who watch over our souls. Amen.

December 20^th

Saint Dominic of Silos

Prayer to Saint Dominic

I. O glorious Saint Dominic, thou who wast a model of mortification and purity, by punishing thy innocent body with scourges, with fasting, and with watching, and by keeping inviolate the lily of thy virginity, obtain for us the grace to practice penance with a generous heart and to keep unspotted the purity of our bodies and our hearts.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
II. O great Saint, who, inflamed with divine love, didst find thy delight in prayer and intimate union with God; obtain for us to be faithful in our daily prayers, to love Our Lord ardently, and to observe His commandments with ever-increasing fidelity.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
III. O glorious Saint Dominic, who, being filled with zeal for the salvation of souls, didst preach the Gospel in season and out of season and didst establish the Order of Friars Preachers to labor for the conversion of heretics and poor sinners, pray thou to God for us, that He may grant us to love all our brethren sincerely and to cooperate always, by our prayers and good works, in their sanctification and eternal salvation.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
V. Pray for us, Saint Dominic,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who are weighed down by the burden of our sins may be raised up by the patronage of blessed Dominic Thy Confessor. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER

St. Dominic of Silos, you appeared to the mother of the great St. Dominic to foretell her son’s birth, and she named him after you, as a testimony of your holiness.
We ask you to intercede for us in our prayers and petitions placed on the altar of the Most High, in Jesus’ Name. Amen

Prayer to St Dominic

O Holy Priest of God and glorious Patriarch, St. Dominic, thou who wast the friend, the well-beloved son and confidant of the Queen Of Heaven, and didst work so many miracles by the power of the Holy Rosary, have regard for my intercessions.

On earth you opened your heart to the miseries of your fellow man, and your hands were strong to help them; now in heaven your charity has not grown less not has your power waned.

Pray for me to the Mother of the Rosary and to her divine Son, for I have great confidence that through your assistance I shall obtain the favor I so much desire:

(mention your intentions)
Amen

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, let me turn to You in good times and in bad. Grant that I may always remain in loving union with You no matter what adversity or goodness should befall me. As St Dominic de Silos lived his life, when he was exiled, he found another way to give You honour and through this adversity You filled his work with miracles. So too may it be in my life. St Dominic de Silos Pray for us! Amen

December 21^st

Saint Peter Canisius

PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF ST PETER CANISIUS

Lord,
you gave Saint Peter Canisius
wisdom and courage to defend the Catholic faith.
By the help of his prayers
may all who seek the truth rejoice in finding you,
and may all who believe in you
be loyal in professing their faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

PRAYER TO SAINT PETER CANISIUS, PATRON OF CATECHISM WRITERS

Dear Doctor and Defender of the Church,
to you the Master must have said:

“Well done, composer of books
which have taught and inspired countless persons in many lands.”

Help those who compose catechisms
to communicate the true teachings of Christ
in ways that can be understood by our contemporaries
so that they will be moved to follow Jesus.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Peter Canisius

O God you endowed Your priest, St. Peter Canisius,
with holiness and learning for the defense of the Church.
Through his intercession,
grant that those who seek the truth may joyfully find You
and that the people of believers
may ever persevere in bearing witness to You.
Amen.

The Universal Prayer of Saint Peter Canisius

Almighty, eternal God, Lord, heavenly Father, look with Your eyes of undeserved compassion on our sorrow, misery and need.

Have mercy on all the Christian faithful, for whom Your only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was content to give Himself into the hand of sinners and shed His precious Blood on the wood of the Holy Cross.

For the sake of the Lord Jesus, most gracious Father, avert our well-deserved punishments, present danger and future threats, harm and outrage, arms and warfare, dearth and misfortune, sickness and sorrowful, miserable times.

Enlighten and strengthen in all goodness our spiritual leaders and earthly rulers, that they may do everything to further Your honour as God, our salvation, the common peace, and the welfare of all Your people.

Grant us, O God of peace, a true unity in faith, free of all division and separation. Convert our hearts to true repentance and amendment of life. Kindle in us the fire of Your love; give us hunger and zeal for justice in all things, so that we, as obedient children through life unto death, may be pleasing to You and find favour in Your sight.

We also pray, O God, as You willed that we should pray, for our friends and enemies, for the healthy and the sick, for all Christians in sadness and distress, for the living and the dead.

To You, O Lord, be entrusted whatever we do, whatever our path, our work and our dealings, our living and dying. Let us delight in Your grace here in this world, and attain the next with all Your chosen ones, to praise, honour and extol You in unending joy and blessedness.

Grant us this, O Lord, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

December 23^rd

Saint John of Kanty

PRAYER ON THE MEMORIAL OF ST JOHN OF KANTY

Almighty Father,
through the example of John of Kanty
may we grow in the wisdom of the saints.
As we show understanding and kindness to others,
may we receive your forgiveness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer:

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that by the example of St. John,
Thy Confessor we may make progress in the science of the Saints, and by showing mercy to others may obtain through his merits forgiveness from Thee.
Through our Lord.

Prayer to St. John of Kanty

Saint John of Kanty, you were unjustly fired from your work. Please pray for those who are jobless or in danger of losing their jobs that they may find work that is fulfilling in every way. Guide us to ways to help those looking for work. Amen

COLLECT

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that by the example of the Priest Saint John of Kanty
we may advance in knowledge of holy things
and by showing compassion to all,
may gain forgiveness in your sight.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever

Prayer to St. John of Kanty

O holy teacher of the faith
and pastor of Christ’s flock
who instructed with wisdom
and led by kindness and humility
those in your care
and all those around you –
teach us today
not only to know our faith
but to practice it by holiness of life
as you have done,
so simply,
so thoroughly as a child of the Lord.
Pray for us
and pray for our priests,
for whom you are a model of perfection.
All yourself you have given
in imitation of Jesus;
may the Lord God
be in our hearts and on our lips
just so truly
as He has been
with you,
good teacher.

December 24^th

Christmas at Greccio

The Story of Christmas at Greccio

What better way to prepare for the arrival of the Christ Child than to take a brief journey to Greccio, the spot in central Italy where Saint Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas crib in the year 1223.

Francis, recalling a visit he had made years before to Bethlehem, resolved to create the manger he had seen there. The ideal spot was a cave in nearby Greccio. He would find a baby—we’re not sure if it was a live infant or the carved image of a baby—hay upon which to lay him, an ox and an ass to stand beside the manger. Word went out to the people of the town. At the appointed time, they arrived carrying torches and candles.

One of the friars began celebrating Mass. Francis himself gave the sermon. His biographer, Thomas of Celano, recalls that Francis “stood before the manger…overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness…”

For Francis, the simple celebration was meant to recall the hardships Jesus suffered even as an infant, a savior who chose to become poor for our sake, a truly human Jesus.

Tonight, as we pray around the Christmas cribs in our homes, we welcome into our hearts that same Savior.

December 25^th

Nativity of the Lord

Prayer for Christmas

Glory to God in the highest! My precious Lord, Jesus, I adore You with profound love and rejoice in the celebration of Your birth. Your love for us is unfathomable, it is glorious, transforming, awe-inspiring, and deeply personal. You chose to come and dwell among us, being born into poverty, rejection and humility. Yet Your mother knew whom she bore, Her heart was filled with the tenderest love as she adored her Child and her God.

Help me, dear Lord, to come to love You with the heart of Your mother. Invite me to adore You with St. Joseph and the poor shepherds. Reveal to me the glorious power of Your birth and change my life on account of this perfect gift of Yourself.

I love You, dear Lord Jesus. Help me to love You with all my heart. Newborn Savior of the World, I trust in You. Mother Mary and St. Joseph, Pray for me and for all.
Amen.

Christ, Candle of Hope

God, our loving Father, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to counter all the forces of evil: sin, suffering and death, and to overcome evil with the force of good; hatred with the power of love, your great love for us in Jesus.

Help us never to curse the darkness, but to join with you in bringing Your light into this world, the light that is your Son, born of the Virgin Mary, in Bethlehem. Help us to be instruments of your light and love by doing one special act of kindness or by being your special instrument of reconciliation this New Year.

May the Christ Candle we light symbolize our desire to bring light into a world of darkness and hope into a world of despair. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer to Jesus in the Manger

O divine redeemer Jesus Christ, prostrate before thy crib, I believe thou art the God of infinite majesty, even though I do see thee here as a helpless babe. I humbly adore and thank thee for having so humbled thyself for my salvation as to will to be born in a stable. I thank thee for all thou didst wish to suffer for me in Bethlehem, for thy poverty and humility, for thy nakedness, tears, cold and sufferings.

Would that I could show thee that tenderness which thy virgin mother had toward thee, and love thee as she did. Would that I could praise thee with the joy of the angels, that I could kneel before thee with the faith of St. Joseph, the simplicity of the shepherds. Uniting myself with these first adorers at the crib, I offer thee the homage of my heart, and I beg that thou wouldst be born spiritually in my soul. Make me reflect in some degree the virtues of thy admirable nativity. Fill me with that spirit of renunciation, of poverty, of humility, which prompted thee to assume the weakness of our nature, and to be born amid destitution and suffering. Grant that from this day forward, I may in all things seek thy greater glory, and may enjoy that peace promised to men of good will.

Prayers at the Nativity Scene

Begin by reading from the Gospel of Luke 2:1-8.

Prayer Before the Manger Scene:

God our Heavenly Father, from the moment of creation you have never ceased showing your love for us. Even when we turned away from you, you did not abandon us to the darkness of sin and death. Indeed, it was when our need was greatest that you sent us a Redeemer—your Son, Jesus—to be born of the Virgin Mary. Bless us as we look upon this manger. May it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus and raise our minds to contemplate the awesome mystery of God-made-flesh. Let this holy season fill us with hope that we might join him in the eternal Kingdom of peace in heaven. Through Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

A Prayer At Christmas

Thank You, Father, that Your times and seasons are pre-ordained and that You sent Your only begotten Son to be born of a woman, so that at the appointed hour He could be made sin for our sins, and in so doing become the propitiation for the sins of all mankind.

Thank You, that in the eternal council chambers of the almighty Godhead, You devised a perfect plan that would save mankind from eternal separation from You, which required that the eternal Son of the Father became flesh and was conceived and born of a virgin.

Lord, we rejoice at the Christmas story and all the wondrous glory that we see unfolded in the manger scene in the little town of Bethlehem, and in the fields, while shepherds watched their flocks by night. We glory at the good news of great joy that was proclaimed by the angel of the Lord, and we are amazed to behold a heavenly choir of angelic beings singing,”glory to God in the highest.” We praise Your name for the visit of the wise men from the east and we grieve at the satanic atrocity that was perpetrated by king Herod on innocent children.

But most of all, we humbly kneel before Your throne of grace when we understand that the baby lying in a manger must one day be crucified to the cruel cross, so that our sins could be forgiven. Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be born so that He could die for our sins. In His name we pray,

Amen.

A Prayer of Thanks At Christmas

Father, we thank You from our innermost being that You sent Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be born into a fallen race so that by His perfect life and sacrificial death He might be lifted up on the wooden cross, in the same way that Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so that all who looked would live.

Thank You, Father, for the wonderful plan of salvation that You in Your grace purposed would be the only way that mankind could be saved from His sin, and so You sent Your one and only begotten Son, to be born of a virgin into the human race, God becoming Man, so that man might be eternally clothed in the righteous garments of God.

Thank You that by His human life and physical death, He was able to reconcile us back to God, forgive us of our sins and break the power of death in the lives of all Who believe on His name.

Thank You that from His unpretentious beginning, where he had nowhere to lay His head, to His lifelong submission of the Father, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Thank You, Father, for the birth of My Redeemer and I rejoice in the God of my Saviour. In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Prayer of Love and Peace At Christmas

Dear Lord, how we praise and thank You that Love in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ came down at Christmas, when the eternal Son of God became Jesus, the perfect Son of Man, and through Whom the promise of peace was given to men of goodwill. Peace with God to those who trust in the redeeming blood of His Son, and the peace of God, for all who are born into the family of God, positioned in Christ and accepted in the Beloved.

Thank You, for the example of a life that personifies love and thank You that the Person of Jesus Christ is the One that satisfies every need of the human heart.

Father, at this special time of the year when we remember that first Christmas day when Your dearly beloved Son was manifested in the flesh in the form of a new-born babe, we pray that His love and His peace may spread abroad into the hearts and minds of many lost and hurting people, who feel themselves unloved and who lack that vital peace with God and the incomparable peace of God within, that surpasses all comprehension.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit grant peace in the hearts of all who are searching for answers, as to emptiness in their lives, this Christmas time. We ask this in the name of Jesus,

Amen.

Prayer To Prepare Our Hearts This Christmas

Heavenly Father, at this festive season I pray that the real meaning of Christmas will not be missed, and that the precious truth that was given to the shepherds and sung by the angels, will become a reality in the hearts and lives of many people this year.

As we prepare for this lovely season of the year and all the joy that it brings with it, help us not to forget that Christ was born for a purpose. And that as we share our gifts one with the other, may we remember the wonderful gift of grace that was sent into the world 2000 years ago.

As we listen to the Scripture readings and rejoice over the good news that was proclaimed that holy night, let us not forget to thank You for Your gift of grace in the Person of Christ Jesus, knowing that He was sent to earth so that by believing on Him we could go to heaven.

Thank You, Father, that in Christ You made all the good and necessary preparation for sinners to be made righteous through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, by first sending Him at the appointed time to be born into a race of sinners.

May we seek to prepare our hearts for our future heavenly home, knowing that our citizenship is in heaven, and may we spend this Christmas period reflecting on the wonderful truth that Christ Jesus was born into the world to save sinners, like me, for which I praise Your holy name. In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Christmas Day Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, true God from true God, you became a little child for us so the world you made would be saved. Just as a child is born to us and a Son is given to us, may we be born again through you
and always remain in the number of God’s faithful children; through your merits, O blessed Savior, with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

December 26^th

A Prayer by Deacon Keith Fournier

Lord Jesus, you chose Stephen as the first deacon and martyr of your One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The heroic witness of his holy life and death reveals your continued presence among us. Through following the example of his living faith, and by his intercession, empower us by your Holy Spirit to live as witnesses to the faith in this New Missionary Age. No matter what our state in life, career or vocation, help us to proclaim, in both word and in deed, the fullness of the Gospel to a world which is waiting to be born anew in Jesus Christ. Pour out upon your whole Church, the same Holy Spirit which animated St Stephen, Martyr, to be faithful to the end, which is a beginning of life eternal in the communion of the Trinity.

Litany of St Stephen, protomartyr

Antiphon: And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord.

V. I see the heavens opened,

R. And Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Saint Stephen, First Martyr, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, who suffered for preaching the Name of Jesus Christ, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, who so closely imitated Jesus in that great virtue of charity for thine enemies, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, who when stoned by thine enemies, didst cast forth sparks, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, not of anger, but of love, to set on fire their hearts, harder than the stones which they threw, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, having recommended thy soul to God, cried for mercy on the souls of thine enemies, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, most zealous for the glory of God, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, most patient and constant, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, pattern of chastity and purity, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, whose heavenly fortitude caused admiration in all, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, by whom so many miracles were wrought, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, who, in the love of God, was not inferior to the Apostles themselves, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, who didst convert many to the faith of Christ, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, by whom the Church has received and continues to receive such singular benefits, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, of whom it is said, that the Holy Ghost, who inhabited thy soul, shone and darted forth His rays into thy body, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, whose face shone like that of an angel, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, filled with the faith and the Holy Ghost, Pray for us.

St. Stephen, dear to the Heart of Jesus, Pray for us.

V. Obtain for us, O blessed Stephen, the virtue of holy charity: R. For which thou wast so eminent and we are so needy
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Let us pray

Grant to us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so to imitate what we revere that we may learn to love even our enemies: for we celebrate him who could even plead on behalf of his persecutors with Thy Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Who with Thee and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Prayer To St Stephen

Stephen, Stephen, I say:
here is a place for goodness, here is a time for mercy,
here at least is an opportunity to show charity!
For I stand continually in danger
although I do not always recognize this,
and I am the more miserable and wretched
when I forget that it is so.
For God always sees my sins,
always his severe judgment threatens
the sinfulness of my soul,
always hell gapes and its torments are ready
to snatch my wretched soul away to that place.
Thus am I placed when I wake, thus when I sleep;
I am thus when I smile, thus when I jest;
thus, when I am proud, thus when I am humiliated;
thus, when angry, thus when vindicated;
thus, thus I am when I miserably love
the delights of the flesh.
Thus am I then always and everywhere.
So, I pray you, Stephen, make haste
before I am condemned,
before the enemies of the human race
snatch me away to torment,
before the prison of hell swallows me up,
before the torments of eternal fire consume me.
Truly my need is great
when it impels me to ask for help
even of those by whom I deserve to be punished.
But you and all the saints are so full of such wealth
from the unending fount of all goodness,
that you delight rather to free by your goodness
those whom by justice you are able to condemn.

… St Stephen, Pray for Us …

O glorious St. Stephen, first Martyr for the Faith, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles.
I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under your special protection …
(mention here).
Vouch safe to recommend it to our Lord Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.
Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints praise Him through all eternity.
O most powerful Saint Stephen, Deacon and martyr, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, forever and ever.
Amen.

December 27^th

Prayer to St. John the Apostle

O God, who through the blessed Apostle John have unlocked for us the secrets of your Word, grant, we pray, that we may grasp with proper understanding what he has so marvelously brought to our ears. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer to St. John the Evangelist the , for a Ardent Love to Jesus and Mary

Glorious Saint John, you were so loved by Jesus that you merited to rest your head upon his breast, and to be left in his place as a son to Mary. Obtain for us an ardent love for Jesus and Mary. Let me be united with them now on earth and forever after in heaven.

A Prayer to St. John the Apostle , for a Burning love for Jesus

O Glorious Apostle, who, on account of your virginal purity, was most beloved by Jesus as to deserve to lay your head upon His divine breast, and to be left, in His place, as son to His most holy Mother; I beg you to inflame within me a true and ardent love towards Jesus and Mary. Obtain for me from our Lord that I, too, with a heart purified from earthly affections, may be made worthy to be ever united to Jesus as a faithful disciple, and to Mary as a devoted son, both here on earth and eternally in heaven. Amen.
St. John, the beloved disciple of our Lord, pray for us.

Prayer for Parents to St. John

St. John, chosen and favored disciple of our Lord, selected as the son of His sorrowful Mother, how great your privilege of being allowed to repose on the bosom of Jesus at the Last Supper, and to stand beneath the cross, there to receive Mary for your spiritual Mother! O happy disciple! How did you deserve such great prerogatives and favors? The whole Christian Church knows and acknowledges that it was your carefully guarded virginal purity which made you worthy of the special love of Jesus Christ; and that it was your ardent love and filial reverence toward His Blessed Mother that strengthened your heart to persevere to the end in the way of His holy cross.
O happy child of our dear Lady, how greatly I desire that my children and I may resemble you in purity of heart, in love for Jesus, and in devotion towards His Virgin Mother! In you do we place our trust. You will obtain for us this threefold grace. By your intercession you will dispose the Divine Mercy to pour out these graces into our hearts also. You are so highly favored by our Divine Master, He can refuse you nothing, least of all the graces He has so lavishly bestowed upon you. We confidently hope for these graces through your intercession, O chaste disciple of Jesus and devoted son of Mary! When you have obtained them for us, you must likewise watch over them, that we may never again lose them during our whole life. O pure St. John, obtain our request for the honor of Jesus and Mary and your own eternal praise! Amen.

NOVENA TO SAINT JOHN

My most loving Saint, St. John the Apostle,
behold me kneeling at thy feet,
beseeching thee with all the affection of my heart
to grant me thy special protection,
particularly when in danger of offending God.
O my dear and holy advocate,
remember me before the throne of the most holy Trinity,
and obtain for me from the infinite goodness of God,
the virtues of humility, purity, obedience,
and the grace to fulfill exactly the duties of my state.

Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be…

O my dear Saint, St. John the Apostle,
I renew to the Lord, through thee,
the holy resolutions which I have frequently made
of intending to love and serve Him faithfully.
I am resolved to detach myself from every earthly thing,
and I desire ardently to unite myself to Him,
as my first beginning, last end, and sovereign good.
My dear Saint, I beseech thee to offer to the most holy Trinity
the sacrifice of my whole being,
particularly of my judgment and will,
in order to conform fully to God most holy,
because I desire nothing else besides His grace
and His holy love.

Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be…

My sweet and holy Protector, St. John the Apostle,
behold me again full of love for thee and full of confidence,
beseeching thee to cast thyself on thy knees
before the throne of the most holy Trinity,
and entreat most ardently that God,
through His infinite goodness,
may grant me the grace to fly sin,
and the gift of final perseverance.
Thou knowest, O my dear St. John the Apostle,
how great are the temptations to which man is subject,
and how continual are the perils I run of being lost;
do thou assist me with thy efficacious prayers.

Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be…

Saint John the Apostle, Pray for us.
Saint John the Apostle, Pray for us.
Saint John the Apostle, Pray for us.

Prayer to St. John as your Patron Saint

Saint John, whom I have chosen as my special patron, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things, and events in the light of almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did.

Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world.

Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day, and every day of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death.
Amen.

December 28^th

Holy Innocents Novena

Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your blessed martyrs, the Holy Innocents. We praise You for the holy sacrifice they made by dying in place of You, and we ask You to hear their prayers on our behalf.
Holy Innocents, you were the victim of evil King Herod’s cruel jealousy. Fearing that his power would be usurped, he ordered your deaths. You gave up your lives in place of Christ. Please bring my prayers before the throne of Jesus for Whom you died!
You were cruelly killed at a young age by Herod’s soldiers. You died innocent victims, and we venerate you as martyrs because you were killed in place of the Infant Jesus. Pray for us, that we may always be willing to lay down our lives for Christ. Pray that we may grow in devotion to God each day.

Please also pray for :

(Mention your intentions here).

Holy Innocents, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Innocents for courage and strength

The innocent and sinless are not to be without their penance in this world, upon which falls the deep shadow of sin. I see it is Thy holy will, who wiliest all things well. I, then, will at least deny myself some little pleasure each day for love of Thee. I will not always seek and choose the easy and the flowery path. Teach me to give up daily my own will with gladness for Thy dear sake. Ye holy Innocents, blest Babes, earliest martyrs of Jesus Christ, the King of martyrs, how bright a life was won by that sharp death! Beautiful little martyrs of the holy Child, your eyes soon closed upon the dull mists of earth, to open upon untold glories. Bitter and short the passage, but Oh, Low passing sweet the end! How sweet to have died for Him who came to give His life for you! Pray for me, ye stainless ones, before the Throne, that I too, unworthy and wayward as I am, may come to be with those who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. Most Holy Child Jesus, save Thy children.

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Holy children of God, you suffered death before you enjoyed the fullness of life, yet now you rest and reign with Christ in glory. Look down from heaven on our poor earth where children like you still suffer and die at the hands of those blinded by this world. Surround and protect the innocent and when our own poor efforts fail, comfort and console the parents whose loss we can hardly comprehend or imagine. We commend to your joyful company in heaven the souls of all dear children who have died. Help us to become like you, simple, pure and true! Teach us to accept love and blessings like you! Fill us with the joy and laughter of life to remind us that to such babes as you, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs.
Amen

Prayer to the Holy Innocents

Holy Innocents, you died before you were old enough to know what life means, pray for all children who die young that God may gather them into His loving arms.

Holy Innocents, you were killed because one man was filled with hatred, pray for those who hate that God may touch their hearts and fill them with love.

Holy Innocents, you experienced a violent death, pray for all who are affected by violence that they may find peace and love.

Holy Innocents, your parents grieved for you with deep and lasting sorrow, pray for all parents who have lost young children that God may wrap a warm blanket of comfort around them.

Holy Innocents, those around you certainly felt helpless to prevent your deaths, pray for all who feel helpless in their circumstances that they may cling to God for courage and hope.

Holy Innocents, you who are now in Heaven, pray for all of us, that one day we may join you there to bask in God’s love forever. Amen.

Prayer for Holy Innocents

We remember today, O God,
the slaughter of the holy innocents
of Bethlehem by King Herod.
Receive, we pray,
into the arms of your mercy
all innocent victims;
and by your great might
frustrate the designs of evil tyrants
and establish your rule of justice, love and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the union of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Blessing of Children on Holy Innocents

who came to You, and said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and their angels always see the face of my Father!” Look now with fatherly eyes on the innocence of these children and their parents’ devotion, and bless them this day through our ministry.
(The father signs the forehead of each child with the sign of the cross.)
In Your grace and goodness let them advance continually, longing for You, loving You, fearing You, keeping Your commandments. Then they will surely come to their destined home, through You, Savior of the world. Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
“Amen.”

December 29^th

Prayer to Saint Thomas Becket, Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury

Great Saint Thomas, Bishop, Priest, Martyr, and sacrificial lamb for the Faith, pray for us.
You who were a fearless Shepherd of the people of God, pray for us to have courage in all the circumstances of our lives, to living according to the light that your example gives to our consciences. May we be faithful unto death, as you were. May we always seek God’s Holy will in our lives.

Saint Thomas, many were brought to you for healing both in your lifetime and especially after your martyrdom, please hear and accept my prayers for:

(Names)

We pray for the living and the dead:

(Names)
confident that you who now stand before Gods Holy Throne will intercede for us and draw us closer to Christ. St Thomas pray for us that in Him, and With Him, we may live and move and have our being. Amen.
Composed by a Poor Clare Cloistered Nun

Prayer of St Thomas a Becket

My Lord, I find it difficult to talk to You. What can I say? I, who have turned away from You so often with indifference. I have been a stranger to prayer, undeserving of Your friendship and love. I’ve been without honour and feel unworthy. I am a weak and shallow creature, clever only in the second-rate
and worldly arts, seeking my comfort and pleasure. I gave my love, such as it was, elsewhere, putting service to my earthly king, before my duty to You.
Please Lord, teach me how to serve You with all my heart, to know at last, what it really is, to love, to adore. So that I may worthily administer Your kingdom here on earth and find my true honour, in observing Your divine will. Please Lord, make me worthy.

Thomas Becket Intercession Prayer

O God, for the sake of whose Church
the glorious Bishop Thomas fell,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that all who implore his aid,
may obtain the good fruit of their petition.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever. Amen.

Intercession Prayer

Almighty God, you granted your martyr, Thomas Becket, the grace to give his life willingly for the freedom of your Church.
By his prayers, make us willing to renounce our life in this world for Christ so that we may find it in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
… St Thomas Becket, Pray for Us …

Intercession Prayer

Father, you confirm the true faith with the crown of martyrdom.
May the prayers of St Thomas Becket give us the courage to proclaim our faith by the witness of our lives.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who gave the Martyr Saint Thomas Becket
the courage to give up his life for the sake of justice,
grant, through his intercession,
that, renouncing our life
for the sake of Christ in this world,
we may find it in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever
Amen

December 31^st

Saint Sylvester I

Prayer to St. Sylvester

Saint Sylvester, as successor of Peter, you gained the liberty of Christians after three centuries of persecution and shared with them the happiness of being able to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ. You proclaimed His divinity in the face of powerful opposition and worked tirelessly to preserve the unity of all who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Grant your protection especially to those who are unjustly deprived of their freedom, to those who are victims of oppression and torture, to those whose human and civil rights are trampled upon. Intercede for them, that God may be their refuge and strength in all their trials. Help us, after your example, to have the courage of our convictions and never betray or faith. Be mindful of us, and inspire us to imitate your holiness of life.
Saint Sylvester, pray for us.

PRAYER TO ST SYLVESTER

Come, O Lord, to the help of your people,
sustained by the intercession of Pope Saint Sylvester,
so that, running the course of this present life under your guidance,
we may happily attain life without end.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

COLLECT PRAYERr

Almighty ever-living God, who in the Nativity of your Son established the beginning and fulfillment of all religion, grant, we pray, that we may be numbered among those who belong to him, in whom is the fullness of human salvation. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Novena to Pope St. Sylvester I

O admirable St. Sylvester,
you lived through the persecutions of Diocletian
and not only survived but flourished.
Intercede for your namesake
(Name of the person)
and lay before the throne of Jesus
our prayers for his/her recovery.
Heavenly Father, Almighty God,
you chose St. Sylvester to be your pope,
who would guide your Church into an era of peace.
Through his intercession,
kindly grant our petition that
(Name the person)
will safely pass through this time of suffering
and be completely restored to health.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Prayer to Saint Sylvester for prosperity, help, protection and protection

O glorious Saint Sylvester, Pope of Monte Mayor,
that you distinguished yourself by your zeal and charity,
that you ruled the Church with peace and goodness,
you who have been a wonder of virtues
and exalted by your wisdom and humility,
listen to the pleas of those who come to you
and get help, shelter and protection for all.
Blessed Saint Sylvester chosen by God as defender of Christianity
heed the cries of your devotees
and please intercede with the Lord
so that our tribulations may be remedied,
so that we are free from injustice and abuse,
of envy, of betrayal and bad people,
sudden death, from diseases and epidemics,
of fire, accident and catastrophes,
and of all kinds of adversities and miseries.
Intercede Saint Silvestre so that resentment may be appeased
of those who wish our misfortunes and perdition,
and to grant us the favor of protecting ……
(your name, or the name of the people you want to protect).
Saint Sylvester, glorious Pope of Monte Mayor,
that by merits you enjoy power before the Lord
Pray that our wishes are fulfilled,
that money, work, health and prosperity
enter through the door of our houses
and come fortune, profits, abundance,
wealth and good luck to all,
Pray that we may be granted what we ask in faith:
(Say what you want to achieve),
deliver our bodies and homes,
and everything around us,
of the wrongdoer and of whoever wants to cause us harm,
drive away all the evil and wickedness that may wish us,
and that enemies, visible or invisible,
they and never humiliate and defeat us.
Thank you for giving us your attention,
blessed Saint Sylvester of Monte Mayor,
and in the name of the Kings of Heaven, Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
ask for us help, clemency and blessing.
If it is for the greater glory of God and the good of our souls.
Amen.

Prayer to St. Sylvester

O eminent Shepherd
of God’s people
who led us from the catacombs
into the light of day
by a blessed peace
with the city of man,
allowing the Lord’s Church
to grow and flourish freely
in its sacraments,
in its worship of the one true God –
pray the Body of Christ
may again prosper in truth
with its divine Head,
that the Light that has come into the world
may be proclaimed to the ends of the earth
and all souls called by the Lord
come to the font of Baptism
and find the fullness of faith
in the holy Catholic Church.
Pray there be no dissension
in the Body
but that all shall be one in Him
who is God Himself

December 31^st

Saint Sylvester I

Prayer to St. Sylvester

Saint Sylvester, as successor of Peter, you gained the liberty of Christians after three centuries of persecution and shared with them the happiness of being able to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ. You proclaimed His divinity in the face of powerful opposition and worked tirelessly to preserve the unity of all who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Grant your protection especially to those who are unjustly deprived of their freedom, to those who are victims of oppression and torture, to those whose human and civil rights are trampled upon. Intercede for them, that God may be their refuge and strength in all their trials. Help us, after your example, to have the courage of our convictions and never betray or faith. Be mindful of us, and inspire us to imitate your holiness of life.
Saint Sylvester, pray for us.

PRAYER TO ST SYLVESTER

Come, O Lord, to the help of your people,
sustained by the intercession of Pope Saint Sylvester,
so that, running the course of this present life under your guidance,
we may happily attain life without end.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

COLLECT PRAYERr

Almighty ever-living God, who in the Nativity of your Son established the beginning and fulfillment of all religion, grant, we pray, that we may be numbered among those who belong to him, in whom is the fullness of human salvation. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Novena to Pope St. Sylvester I

O admirable St. Sylvester,
you lived through the persecutions of Diocletian
and not only survived but flourished.
Intercede for your namesake
(Name of the person)
and lay before the throne of Jesus
our prayers for his/her recovery.
Heavenly Father, Almighty God,
you chose St. Sylvester to be your pope,
who would guide your Church into an era of peace.
Through his intercession,
kindly grant our petition that
(Name the person)
will safely pass through this time of suffering
and be completely restored to health.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Prayer to Saint Sylvester for prosperity, help, protection and protection

O glorious Saint Sylvester, Pope of Monte Mayor,
that you distinguished yourself by your zeal and charity,
that you ruled the Church with peace and goodness,
you who have been a wonder of virtues
and exalted by your wisdom and humility,
listen to the pleas of those who come to you
and get help, shelter and protection for all.
Blessed Saint Sylvester chosen by God as defender of Christianity
heed the cries of your devotees
and please intercede with the Lord
so that our tribulations may be remedied,
so that we are free from injustice and abuse,
of envy, of betrayal and bad people,
sudden death, from diseases and epidemics,
of fire, accident and catastrophes,
and of all kinds of adversities and miseries.
Intercede Saint Silvestre so that resentment may be appeased
of those who wish our misfortunes and perdition,
and to grant us the favor of protecting ……
(your name, or the name of the people you want to protect).
Saint Sylvester, glorious Pope of Monte Mayor,
that by merits you enjoy power before the Lord
Pray that our wishes are fulfilled,
that money, work, health and prosperity
enter through the door of our houses
and come fortune, profits, abundance,
wealth and good luck to all,
Pray that we may be granted what we ask in faith:
(Say what you want to achieve),
deliver our bodies and homes,
and everything around us,
of the wrongdoer and of whoever wants to cause us harm,
drive away all the evil and wickedness that may wish us,
and that enemies, visible or invisible,
they and never humiliate and defeat us.
Thank you for giving us your attention,
blessed Saint Sylvester of Monte Mayor,
and in the name of the Kings of Heaven, Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
ask for us help, clemency and blessing.
If it is for the greater glory of God and the good of our souls.
Amen.

Prayer to St. Sylvester

O eminent Shepherd
of God’s people
who led us from the catacombs
into the light of day
by a blessed peace
with the city of man,
allowing the Lord’s Church
to grow and flourish freely
in its sacraments,
in its worship of the one true God –
pray the Body of Christ
may again prosper in truth
with its divine Head,
that the Light that has come into the world
may be proclaimed to the ends of the earth
and all souls called by the Lord
come to the font of Baptism
and find the fullness of faith
in the holy Catholic Church.
Pray there be no dissension
in the Body
but that all shall be one in Him
who is God Himself