January 2^nd

Saint Basil the Great

Prayer to St. Basil for Protection

Saint Basil, o great follower of God, help all as well as me. Defender of orthodoxy, defend us too, that follow your faith and stand besides you. Great follower of God, pray to him for all your people, as well as for unworthy me. Strong knight and leader of Ostrog, save us from the seen and unseen. Raised by Serbian soil do be the light in front of God, be our light and light up our road and make darkness disappear. With prayer and tears you have warmed the cold cliffs of Ostrog, please warm our hearths with Gods spirit, so we can be saved. From all corners of the world to your grave come the weak and the ill, and you helped them, got rid of their demons as well as the devil, and healed their souls and bodies. Please continue to help, the baptized and the nonbaptized, everybody and me as well. You brought peace to fighting brothers, please continue to bring peace, help the devided, make the sad happy, calm the stubborn, heal the sick. Saint Basil, o miracle worker, father of our spirit, listen and hear your children’s spirits in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

O Lord our God, we beseech you, to ask for the gift we need. Steer the ship of our life to yourself, the quiet harbor of all storm-stressed souls. Show us the course which we are to take. Renew in us the spirit of docility. Let your Spirit curb our fickleness; guide and strengthen us to perform what is for our own good, to keep your commandments and ever to rejoice in your glorious and vivifying presence. Yours is the glory and praise for all eternity.
Amen.

A Prayer of St. Basil the Great

O God and Lord of the Powers, and Maker of all creation, Who, because of Thy clemency and incomparable mercy, didst send Thine Only-Begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind, and with His venerable Cross didst tear asunder the record of our sins, and thereby didst conquer the rulers and powers of darkness; receive from us sinful people,

O merciful Master, these prayers of gratitude and supplication, and deliver us from every destructive and gloomy transgression, and from all visible and invisible enemies who seek to injure us. Nail down our flesh with fear of Thee, and let not our hearts be inclined to words or thoughts of evil, but pierce our souls with Thy love, that ever contemplating Thee, being enlightened by Thee, and discerning Thee, the unapproachable and everlasting Light, we may unceasingly render confession and gratitude to Thee: The eternal Father, with Thine Only-Begotten Son, and with Thine All-Holy, Gracious, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Prayer by Saint Basil

I thank You, Christ and Master our God, King of the ages and Creator of all things, for all the good gifts You have given me, and especially for the participation in Your pure and life-giving mysteries. I pray to You, therefore, good and loving Lord, keep me under Your protection and under the shadow of Your wings. Grant that to my last breath I may with a pure conscience partake worthily of Your gifts for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life. For You are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of all good things, and to You we give glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen.

A Prayer Of St. Basil The Great After Communion

We give Thee thanks, O Lord our God, for the Communion of Thy holy, pure, deathless and heavenly Mysteries, which thou hast given for the good, the hallowing, and the healing of our souls and bodies. Do Thou, O Sovereign of the world, cause this Communion in the Holy Body and blood of Thy Christ to nourish us in unashamed faith, sincere charity, ripe wisdom, health of soul and body, separation from all ills, observance of Thy Law, and justification before His awful Judgment Seat. O Christ our God, the Mystery of Thy Providence has been accomplished according to our ability. We have been reminded of Thy Death and we have seen a figure of Thy Resurrection; we have been filled with Thine Infinite Life, and we have tasted Thine inexhaustible joy; and we pray Thee to make us worthy of these things in the life to come, through the grace of Thine Eternal Father and of Thy holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and forever, eternally:
Amen.

Morning Prayer by St. Basil the Great

As I rise from sleep, I thank Thee, O Holy Trinity, for through Thy great goodness and patience Thou hast not been angry with me, an idler and sinner, nor hast Thou destroyed me with mine iniquities, but hast shown Thy usual love for mankind; and when I was prostrate in despair,

Thou hast raised me up to keep the morning watch and glorify Thy power. And now enlighten my mind’s eye, and open my mouth that I may meditate on Thy words, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and hymn Thee in heartfelt confession, and sing praises to Thine all-holy name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.

January 3^rd

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Prayer in Honour of the Most Holy and Adorable Name of Jesus

Jesus! O Name of Jesus! Sweet Name! Delightful Name! Consoling Name! For what else is Jesus than Saviour! Therefore, O Jesus, for Thy sweet Name’s sake, be to me a Jesus, and save me. Suffer me not to be eternally lost. O good Jesus! Let not my iniquities destroy me, whom Thy bounty made. O sweet Jesus! Recognize in me what is Thine, and efface all that is not Thine. O sweet Jesus! Show mercy now in the time of mercy, and condemn me not in the day of justice. What profit to Thy Precious Blood, or what honour will my destruction give Thy Holy Name, O Jesus! “The dead shall not praise Thee, O Lord Jesus! Nor all they that go down to Hell.” Most amiable Jesus! Most meek, most loving Jesus! O Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Admit me to the number of Thy elect. O Jesus, salvation of those who believe in Thee! Comfort of those who fly to Thee! O Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary! Give me grace, wisdom, charity, purity, and humility, that I may love Thee perfectly, praise Thee, enjoy Thee, serve Thee, and be glorified in Thee, with all those who call upon Thy Name, Thy Holy Name, Thy Sweet name, Jesus.
Amen.

Prayer in Honour of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.
O Eternal Father, In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son.
Amen.

Prayer To The Holy Name Of Jesus

Lord Jesus,
we humbly pray You to give us all a great reverence
and respect for Your most holy name.
Forgive us for ever having used the name of Jesus in vain,
or without due respect.

Help us remember how reverently and lovingly,
Your Mother Mary used the name of Jesus,
and how humbly Saint Joseph called You
and spoke to You by name.

Your name, dear Jesus,
is above every other name in heaven or on earth,
because You are the Jesus,
the Savior of all men.
You have saved us,
and You have told us to ask God anything in Your name,
and it would be granted.

We ask You,
humbly and confidently,
to bless us and our work,
and give us the rich treasures of Your Divine grace,
without which we cannot even so much as pronounce the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Novena to the Holy Name of Jesus

Jesus most merciful, in early infancy You began Your office of Savior by shedding Your Precious Blood and assuming for us that Name which is above all names. I thank You for such early proofs of Your infinite love.

I venerate Your sacred Name in union with the deep respect of the Angel who first announced it to the earth. I also unite my affections to the sentiments of tender devotion which Your adorable Name has, in all ages, enkindled in the hearts of Your servants.

Jesus, You said, “Whatever you ask the Father, He will give you in My Name” (Jn 16:23). I earnestly ask the Father in Your Name for an increase of faith, hope, and charity, and the grace to lead a good life and to die a happy death.

Jesus, You said, “Anything you ask Me in My Name I will do” (Jn 14:13). I earnestly ask You in Your Name to save my soul. I also ask in Your Name for the following favor: (Mention your request.)

Jesus, Your most holy Name means “Savior”. Be my Savior, dearest Jesus. Mercifully grant me through Your adorable Name—which is the joy of heaven, the terror of hell, the consolation of the afflicted, and the solid ground of my unlimited confidence—all the petitions I make in this prayer.

Blessed Mother of our Redeemer, you shared so closely in the suffering of your dear Son from the moment that He shed His Precious Blood and assumed for us the Name of Jesus, till His last breath on the Cross. Obtain for me and all those I love, as well as for all the faithful, the grace of eternal salvation through the holy Name of Jesus.

Beg also that a most ardent love for Your Divine Son may imprint that sacred Name upon our hearts; that it may be always in our minds, and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense in temptation, our refuge in danger during our lives, and our consolation and support in the hour of death.
Amen.

Contrition

Good Jesus, according to Your great mercy, have mercy on me. Most merciful Jesus, by that Precious Blood which You willingly shed for sinners, I beg You to wash away all my sinfulness and to look graciously upon me, a poor and unworthy sinner, as I call upon Your holy Name. Therefore, Jesus, save me for the sake of Your holy Name.

Prayer

God, You appointed Your only-begotten Son to be the Savior of mankind, and You commanded His Name to be called Jesus. Mercifully grant that we may enjoy the vision of Him in heaven, whose holy Name we venerate on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Litany Of The Holy Name Of Jesus

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,have mercy on us(after each line)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Jesus, splendor of the Father,
Jesus, brightness of eternal light,
Jesus, King of glory,
Jesus, sun of justice,
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Jesus, most amiable,
Jesus, most admirable,
Jesus, the mighty God,
Jesus, father of the world to come,
Jesus, Angel of great counsel,
Jesus, most powerful,
Jesus, most patient,
Jesus, most obedient,
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Jesus, lover of us,
Jesus, God of peace,
Jesus, author of life,
Jesus, example of virtues,
Jesus, zealous lover of souls,
Jesus, our God,
Jesus, our refuge,
Jesus, father of the poor,
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Jesus, good Shepherd,
Jesus, true light,
Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Jesus, infinite goodness,
Jesus, our way and our life,
Jesus, joy of Angels,
Jesus, King of Patriarchs,
Jesus, Master of the Apostles,
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists,
Jesus, strength of Martyrs,
Jesus, light of Confessors,
Jesus, purity of Virgins,
Jesus, crown of all Saints,
Be merciful,spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful,graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil,deliver us, O Jesus.(After each line)
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From the snares of the devil,
From the spirit of fornication,
From everlasting death,
From the neglect of Thine inspirations,
By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
By Thy Nativity,
By Thine Infancy,
By Thy most divine Life,
By Thy labors,
By Thine agony and Passion,
By Thy Cross and dereliction,
By Thy sufferings,
By Thy Resurrection,
By Thine Ascension,
By Thine institution of the most Holy Eucharist,
By Thy joys,
By Thy glory,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Jesus.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let us pray

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask and ye shall receive, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the gift of Thy divine charity, that we may ever love Thee with our whole heart and with all our words and deeds, and may never cease from praising Thee.

Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name, for Thou never failest to help and govern those whom Thou dost bring up in Thy steadfast fear and love; who livest and reignest for ever and ever.
Amen.

January 4^th

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Prayer in St Elizabeth Ann Seton’s name

Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people.

Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women.

We ask this through Christ our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord Jesus, Who was born for us in a stable, lived for us a life of pain and sorrow, and died for us upon a cross; say for us in the hour of death,Father, forgive, and to Your Mother,Behold your child. Say to us,This day you shall be with Me in paradise. Dear Savior, leave us not, forsake us not. We thirst for You, Fountain of Living Water. Our days pass quickly along, soon all will be consummated for us. To Your hands we commend our spirits, now and forever.
Amen.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Prayer for Students

O God,
You called Elizabeth Ann Seton to be an instrument of your loving mercy.
Despite loss and sorrow, she was an example of hope and love.
Inspire us with your Blessed Sacrament to live our life for others.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Teacher.
Amen.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Prayer for Teachers

Holy Father,
You called Elizabeth Ann Seton to educate your children.
Inspire us, by her example, to find your will in the present moment.
Through her prayers, may we learn to teach others how to love like you.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Teacher.
Amen.

A Prayer for St. Elizabeth

Lord God, thank you for blessing
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton with great faith, hope, joy, and charity.
I pray that her timeless example will guide me.
I look at her humility to help me accept your will for my life.
Let her grateful heart remind me to thank you
for the joys and challenges of life.
May her courage and perseverance inspire me
To serve others, our church and our country.
Thank you, God, for Elizabeth Bayley Seton,
a loving and glorious saint who is always by our side.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.
Amen.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Devotion

Lord God, the giver of all good gifts, you blessed Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton with gifts of grace as wife, mother, educator and foundress of the sisters of Charity, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her prayers and example, may our families, particularly the young members of the Church, learn to express their love for you, as she did, in service and love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.

Ubi Caritas

Where charity and love are, there is God. The love of Christ has gathered us together, let us rejoice and be glad. Let us fear and love the living God, and let us love one another with a sincere heart. Where charity and love are, there is God. When therefore, we are assembled together, let us take heed that we be not divided in mind. Let malicious quarrels and contentions cease, and let Christ, our God, dwell among us. Where charity and love are, there is God. Let us also, with the blessed, see your face in glory, O Christ, our God, there to possess immeasurable and happy joy forever and ever.
Amen.

Intercessions (Priest:)
Let us pray to God in the words of Mother Seton: (All:) 0 Father, the first rule of our dear Savior’s life was to do Your Will. Let His Will of the present moment be the first rule of our daily life and work, with no other desire but for its most full and complete accomplishment. Help us to follow it faithfully, so that doing what You wish, we will be pleasing to you.
Amen.

[Silently make your petitions known to Mother Seton.]Mother Seton, be a mother to us. Inspire us, intercede for us, and be with us.
You know the sacrament of Holy Matrimony; teach us to support all families with faith and truth. You know the love of a good spouse; intercede for all married couples. You know the stirring of the child in your womb; intercede for every unborn child. You know the miracle of giving birth; pray for mothers tempted by abortion. You know the cry of a little child; inspire us to protect the littlest and most vulnerable. You know the pain of the widow; inspire us to seek out those who are most in need. You know the loneliness of the orphan; consecrate us to the protection of children. You know the searching of the adolescent; open our eyes to the wonder of their lives. You know of the vocation of the teacher; inspire us to teach the Gospel to the young. You know the vows of religious life; pray that we might be faithful to our vows and promises. You know the journey of the dying; be with us as we journey toward death with those whom we love.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, you are a saint for our time:You are a woman of faith, for a time of doubt and uncertainty; you are a woman of love, for a time of coldness and division; you are a woman of hope, for a time of crisis and discouragement. Intercede for the Church and for our country.
Amen.

January 5^th

Saint John Neumann

A prayer by St. John Neumann

My God, possess me that I may become a fit instrument of your graces and mercies to the souls you have confided to my care. If you know that success will make me vain, do not, on that account allow me to fail. Humble me in some other way, but do not punish me through those you have confided to me. My heart is pierced with sorrow when I hear of the loss of one of my sheep. Lord Jesus, have mercy. Permit not that any one of those whom you have entrusted to me should be lost. O my Jesus, I will pray, fast, suffer, and, with the help of your grace, sacrifice life itself. O Lord, imbue my words with power and healing that they may glorify the truth. As for myself, I am fully satisfied with the labors assigned to me in your vineyard, for I came here to atone for my sins and to win souls for God. Nowhere can a better opportunity be found for doing good. May God grant me the grace to discharge my duties in a worthy and fruitful manner. . . . O my Jesus, though I am poor in so many ways and so ignorant, I have been chosen as a shepherd to your sheep. Give me an ever-increasing love for those souls redeemed by your Precious Blood, that I may labor at their salvation in wisdom, patience, and holiness. Grant that not one of those you have confided to me may be lost through my fault. O my Jesus, help me to sanctify those committed to my care. O holy Mother of my Lord, pray for me and for those in my vineyard. Holy guardian angels of these dear ones, teach me how to act toward them so as to be able to instill into their hearts the maxims of faith and true love of God. Lord, teach me how to live and, if need be, to die, that all may be saved, that all may love and praise you throughout all eternity, that they may also love and cherish your dear Mother.

Prayer for St. John Neumann’s intercession

O St. John Neumann, your ardent desire of bringing all souls to Christ impelled you to leave home and country; teach us to live worthily in the spirit of our baptism which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers of Jesus Christ, the first-born of the family of God. Obtain for us that complete dedication in the service of the needy, the weak, the afflicted, and the abandoned which so characterized your life. Help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and at times painful paths of duty, strengthened by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and under the watchful protection of Mary our Mother. May death still find us on the sure road to our Father’s house, with the light of living faith in our hearts.

St. John Neumann Prayer

Merciful Father, You have given me all that I have in this world, even life itself. In all my daily needs, help me to remember the needs of others too. Make me aware of the need to pray to You not just for myself but for the Church, the Pope, for the clergy and for people who suffer any need. Make me selfless as Saint John Neumann was. Throughout my life, give me the grace to direct my first thoughts to the service of You and of others. Make my prayer—“Your will be done” knowing that in Your mercy and love, Your will for me is my sanctification. I ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Saint John Neumann, pray for us.

Novena prayers to St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R.

St. John Neumann, acknowledging our dependence upon Almighty God and recognizing the power of your intercession, we come to you because many prayers have been answered through your intercession. You were an inspiration to all who knew you. You went wherever the care of souls required your presence. You were always an example of charity and sacrifice. It was your life of virtue which merited a place in heaven. As we submit to the will of God in heaven, we pray that our petitions be granted for His honor and glory and for the salvation of souls. St. John Neumann, pray for us. St. John Neumann, manifest yourself to all who seek your help. Teach us to prefer God in everything we do. Protect us from spiritual and temporal harm. Alleviate the sufferings of the poor, the aged, and the infirm. Many times you experienced the sorrows of life, and yet you overcame those trials. Show us how to overcome our trials and tribulations. We want to grow in faith, hope, and love. Never let us forget that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. May we always be worthy of that honor. St. John Neumann, intercede for us. St. John Neumann, you had great devotion to our Eucharistic Lord. Pray that we may know and love the Eucharist as you did. Give strength and courage to the Vicar of Christ. Protect our bishops, priests, and religious. May all people be zealous for the kingdom of God. Enlighten the minds of people who seek truth. Lead them to the path of justice. How good it is to know that you will never forget our families, relatives, and friends. Protect our loved ones away from home. May your prayers comfort the souls of our departed brethren. St. John Neumann, pray that we may live and die in the state of grace. Look upon us with favor, St. John Neumann. We claim you as our very own. You are familiar with the places where we live, work, and pray. As a priest, you lived here among our forefathers. You taught them. You blessed them. You prayed for them. How often they gathered to pray with you. You did this so that they might enjoy the glories of heaven. Just as our predecessors came to you, so now we come to you. We are confident you will not disappoint us. Pray for our intentions. (Pause and reflect on your intentions) Whatever God grants through your intercession, we accept with a deep sense of gratitude. We thank Him. We praise Him. We want to be with Him forever.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, you placed the holy confessor St. John Neumann among the elect of Your sanctuary. May his life be an inspiration to all who seek eternal glory. May our prayers be answered through his intercession. May they be answered not only through his intercession but most especially through the merits of Jesus Christ, Who lives forever and ever. Amen.

January 7^th

Saint Raymond of Peñafort

St. Raymond of Penafort is the patron of lawyers and canon lawyers

O redeemer of captive slaves, those enslaved to sin and those enslaved by the clutches of the world – preach to us this day the freedom found under the Cross of Christ and in the repentance of heart blessed by the grace upon the Church. Teach us well the path to Heaven, which is wrought not in comfort and peace but in struggle against sin, in the laying down of our lives before our persecutors. Ransom us from wayward thoughts and actions, and from the snares of the adversary who waits for our misstep. In Christ alone may we find our rest.

Prayer

O God, who adorned the Priest Saint Raymond with the virtue of outstanding mercy and compassion for sinners and for captives, grant us, through his intercession, that, released from slavery to sin, we may carry out in freedom of spirit what is pleasing to you. 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.

Novena To Saint Raymund Of Penafort

(Patron of Canon Law lawyers)

Repeat the following Novena prayers every day for 9 consecutive days.

Faithful dispenser of the Mystery of reconciliation! it was from the Heart of an Incarnate God, that you did draw the sweet charity, which made you the friend of the sinner. You did love your fellowmen, and did labour to supply all their wants, whether of soul or body. Enlightened by the rays of the Sun of Justice, you have taught us how to discern between good and evil, by giving us those rules whereby our wounds are judged and healed. Rome was the admirer of your knowledge of her laws, and it is one of her glories that she received from your hand the Sacred Code whereby she governs the Churches of the world. Excite in our hearts, O Raymund! that sincere compunction, which is the condition required of us when we seek our pardon in the Sacrament of Penance. Make us understand both the grievousness of mortal sin, which separates us from our God for all eternity, and the dangers of venial sin, which disposes the tepid soul to fall into mortal sin. Pray, that there may abound in the Church men filled with charity and learning, who may exercise that sublime ministry of healing souls. Preserve them from the two extremes, of rigorism which drives to despair, and of laxity which flatters into sloth. Revive amongst them the study of the holy Canons, which can alone keep disorder and anarchy from the fold of Christ. Oh! you that had such tender love for captives, console all that are pining now in exile or in prison; pray for their deliverance; and pray that we all may be set loose from the ties of sin, which but too often make them, who boast of their outward liberty, be slaves in their souls. You were the confidant of the Heart of Mary, the Queen of Mercy, and she made you share with her in the work of the Redemption of Captives. You had great power with this Heart, which, after the Heart of Jesus, is our hope. Pray for us to this incomparable Mother of God, that we may have the grace to love the Divine Child she holds in her arms. May she be induced, by your prayers, to be our Star on the Sea of this world, more stormy far than that which you did pass, when sailing on thy miraculous bark. Remember, too, thy dear Spain, where you did pass your saintly life. Her Church is in mourning, because she has lost the Religious Orders which made her so grand and so strong: pray that they may be speedily restored to her, and assist her as of old. Protect the Dominican Order, of whose Habit and Rule you were so bright an ornament. You did govern it with great prudence, whilst on earth; now that you are in heaven, be a father to it by your love. May it repair its losses. May it once more nourish in the universal Church, and produce, as in former days, those fruits of holiness and learning, which made it one of the chief glories of the Church of God.

Litany and Prayer to St. Raymond of Penafort

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

St. Raymond of Peñafort, pray for us.
Master of Preachers, …
Patron of Lawyers, …
Father of Confessors, …
Counselor of Penitents, …
Apostle to Gentiles, …
Evangelist to Israelites, …
Ransomer of Captives, …
Teacher of the Learned and the Ignorant, …
Friend of Princes and Paupers, …
Protector of Sailors, …
Comforter of the Aged, ….
Defender of Marriage, …
Champion of Religious Rights, …
Advocate of Reason, …
Guardian of Justice, …
Promoter of Freedom, …
Worker of Miracles, …

Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, …
Son of St. Dominic, …
Son of the Church, …
Holy Priest of Jesus Christ, …

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Let us pray

Glorious Saint Raymond of Peñafort, wise and holy patron,
come to the aid of those entrusted to your care,
and all who flee to your protection.
Intercede for us in our need,
and help us through your prayers, example, and teaching,
to proclaim the truth of the Gospel to all we meet.
And when we have reached the fullness of our years,
we beseech you to guide us home to heaven,
to live in peace with you, Our Mother Mary, and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

January 7^th

Epiphany of the Lord

Epiphany Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly King, we thank you that you have brought both Jews and Gentiles to hear your voice, and from their number you have gathered and established your Holy Church, and perfected your praise out of their mouths. Keep us in that wisdom which you revealed to the Wise Men. Grant us your Holy Spirit, that we may always seek you and your kingdom. Enable us to follow your holy Word, as those from the East followed the leading of a star. Give us grace at all times and in all places to confess your holy name. Rule us by your Spirit, so that the joys of your birth may increase in us. Hear our prayers and cries. Accept our offerings, which you yourself have given us: the gold of our faith, the incense of our prayers and the myrrh of our contrite hearts. Deliver us from the destructive ways of error and sin, and by your Holy Spirit lead us in the ways of peace and in the paths of righteousness. Grant us all, when this life is done, a participation in the joys of the Year of Jubilee in heaven, where we shall praise and serve you and the Father who live and reign in unity with the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Prayers for Epiphany

We are drawn to your feet in worship Your creation facing its creator Hearts laid bare by your light Humbly asking for your mercy. We come to you as a people in need of assurance and forgiveness. We come to you as a people in need of healing and wholeness. We come dependent upon your love. Draw us close. Enfold us in your arms. Fill us with your Spirit that we might reflect your light within this dark world, speak your Word with boldness and draw others to your feet. We ask this through your dear Son Jesus Christ. Amen

An Epiphany Prayer

God of all heaven and earth, From the breath of your love came the creation of the world. We are amazed at the vast beauty of the night sky and at the intimate nature of the love you have for us your children. Be our daily star, Guiding our lives to search for kingdom love. May we always follow your light of truth in all that we do, Forever trusting, hoping and believing in your word. Lift our eyes tonight to see your eternal life shining brightly, Leading us home. Amen.

Epiphany

Almighty and eternal God, Brightness of faithful souls, you brought the Gentiles to your light, and made known to them him who is the true Light, and the bright and morning Star. Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself by the radiance of your light to all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect Prayer

May the splendor of your majesty, O Lord, we pray, shed its light upon our hearts, that we may pass through the shadows of this world and reach the brightness of our eternal home. 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.

Show Us the Brightness of Your Light

O Lord, you are truly the Star that rises out of Jacob, and the scepter that rises out of Israel. In a new star you showed yourself as God, and lying in the manger you showed yourself as God and Man, so we confess you to be the one Christ. In your great mercy grant us the grace of seeing you, and show us the brightness of your light, that all the darkness of our sins may be driven away. Even as we long to see you, refresh us with the joy of seeing you in your holy Word. Amen.

An Epiphany Prayer

The heavens are shining with the clear beauty of the stars, O Lord, and the earth is made beautiful by your light, because you came to this world from your holy dwelling place. Remove all sadness from our hearts, because you have come to make all things new. Grant also that as we see your light we may be purified and prepared to see you forever, that we who preach to the nations the glad joys of your appearing, may rejoice with forever. Amen.

Episcopal Prayer for Epiphany

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

January 8^th

The Baptism of the Lord

Prayer

Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed Him to be Your Son, anointing Him with the Holy Spirit: grant that we may be faithful to our call as Children of God, listening to you, guided by Your Spirit, to fulfil our unique and definite purpose. Amen.

Prayers for Baptism of the Lord

Gracious God, in Jesus Christ, baptized by John in the Jordan, you came to share our life and deliver us from sin and death. As we are baptized with water pour out your Holy Spirit upon us to make us your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect

Almighty and ever-living God, who when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan, and ask the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. 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.

Baptism of the Lord

Eternal Father, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and revealed him to us at his baptism in the River Jordan, grant that we, who have been born again of water and the Holy Spirit, and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who is alive with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

January 10^th

Saint Gregory of Nyssa

Prayer to the Good Shepherd

O Good Shepherd, Who carries the whole flock on your shoulders, Where are you pasturing your flock? Show me the place of peace, lead me to the good grass that will nourish me, call me by name so that I hear your voice, Answer me, For you are the One my soul loves. I call you ‘the One my soul loves’ because your name is above every name and above all understanding and no one can utter or comprehend it. How could I not love you, when you loved me so much? Even though I was stained dark with sin, You laid down your life for the sheep of your flock. A greater love cannot be imagined, than exchanging your life for my freedom! Show me where you pasture your flock, so that I can find that saving pasture too, and fill myself with the food of heaven without which no-one can come to eternal life, and run to the spring and be filled with the drink of God. You give it, as from a spring, to those who thirst – water pouring from your side, water that is a spring welling up to eternal life. If you lead me to pasture here, you will make me lie down at noon, sleeping at peace and taking my rest in light unconquered by any shade. For the noon has no darkness and the sun stands far above the mountain peaks. You bring your flock to lie in this light, You bring your children to rest in you. Show me how I should sleep and how I should graze, and where the path is to my noonday rest. Do not let me fall away from your flock and become lost. O Good shepherd, Who carries the whole flock on your shoulders. Amen.

Prayer Of St. Gregory Of Nyssa For God’s Goodness To Us Sinners

Lord, from You flows true and continual kindness. You had cast us off and justly so, but in Your mercy You forgave us. You were at odds with us, and You reconciled us. You had set a curse on us, and You blessed us. You had banished us from the garden, and You called us back again. You took away the fig leaves that had been an unsuitable garment, and You clothed us in a cloak of great value. You flung wide the prison gates, and You gave the condemned a pardon. You sprinkled clean water on us, and You washed away the dirt.

January 11^th

Blessed William Carter

Prayer

Eternal Father, in glory and honor of your Holy Name, Blessed William Carter fearlessly and fervently followed the faith, in the midst of persecution and trial. He bore witness to the faith in hope and righteousness. May we too, by his example, bear all adversity, for the sake of your love. May we hasten towards you, Who are our only purpose, for you alone are life, in eternity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

January 13^th

Saint Hilary of Poitiers

Prayer Of St. Hilary Of Poitiers For Perseverance In Faith

Father, through the intercession of St. Hilary, keep us from vain strife of words. Grant to us constant profession of the Truth! Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith so that we may hold fast to that which we professed when we were baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that we may have You for our Father, that we may abide in Your Son and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer To St Hilary, Patron Of All Tempted To Tell Lies

Grant, we pray You, Almighty God, that the example of St Hilary and that of all Your Saints may lead us to a better life, so that by keeping their feast-days we may be brought to imitate their good deeds. St Hilary was a champion of the Truth; may we never tell lies to excuse ourselves, to hurt others, to gain or to make ourselves look more important. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

St. Hilary Poitiers Novena

O Lord our God, you raised up your servant Hilary to be a champion of the catholic faith: Keep us steadfast in that true faith which we professed at our baptism, that we may rejoice in having you for our Father, and may abide in your Son, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…

Collect Prayer

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may rightly understand and truthfully profess the divinity of your Son, which the Bishop Saint Hilary taught with such constancy. 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.

January 14^th

Saint Gregory Nazianzen

St. Gregory Nazianzen – 100th Year Anniversary Prayer

Almighty Father, We praise your holy name for the many blessings you grant us. We place our complete trust in you, without doubting your bountiful care for us. Help us to acknowledge that every good thing comes from you. Help us to never take for granted all that we have received from you, so that we may always be filled with heartfelt gratitude and a sincere love. As we prepare to celebrate St. Gregory’s Centennial year we ask your divine protection for our parish and all of its parishioners. May you keep us healthy and safe from all evil and harm. We pray that through the guidance of your Holy Spirit our parish will continue to grow, flourish and continue to be a spiritual home for all of us, both now and in the future. We ask all of this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us. St. Gregory of Nazianzen, pray for us.

Prayer Of Praise – St Gregory of Nazianzus

O God, You alone are unutterable, from the time you created all things that can be spoken of. You alone are unknowable, from the time you created all things that can be known. All things cry out about you, those which speak, and those which cannot speak. All things honour you; those which think, and those which cannot think. For there is one longing, one groaning, that all things have for you. All things pray to you that perceive your plan and offer you a silent hymn. In you, the One, all things abide, and all things endlessly run to you who are the end of all. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer to St. Gregory of Nazianzen

St. Gregory, you are known for your zeal for the Catholic faith, love of liturgy, and compassion and mercy toward those in need. Please help and guide us so that we may share in these virtues and thereby bring Jesus into the hearts of our families and all we encounter. We especially ask for blessings on our parish family, our priests and our deacons. I also ask that you graciously intercede for me before God so that I might be granted the special assistance and graces that I seek Help me to live as a faithful child of God and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. St. Gregory the Great, pray for us.

Collect Prayer

O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church by the example and teaching of the Bishops Saints Basil and Gregory, grant, we pray, that in humility we may learn your truth and practice it faithfully in charity. 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.

January 16^th

Saint Berard and Companions

Prayer To Ask For More Faith

Lord God, You sanctified the beginnings of the Order of Friars Minor by the glorious struggle of Your holy martyrs Berard and companions. As they did not hesitate to give up their lives for You so may we bear staunch witness to You by our lives. Gracious God, in every age you have sent men and women who have given their lives in witness to your love and truth. Inspire us with the memory of Berard and companions, whose faithfulness led to the way of the cross, and give us courage to bear full witness with our lives to your Son’s victory over sin and death, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Prayer

Lord God, you consecrated the infancy of the Franciscan Order by the glorious martyrdom of Berard and his companions; grant that as they died heroically for you so we may grow in persevering faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

January 17^th

Saint Anthony of Egypt

Prayer to St. Anthony the Abbot for wisdom

Dear God, St Anthony the Abbot accepted your call to renounce the world and to love you above all things. He faithfully served you in the solitude of the desert by fasting, prayer, humility and good works. In the Sign of the Cross, he triumphed over the Devil. Through his intercession, may we learn to love you better; with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, all our strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. St Anthony the Abbot, great and powerful saint, grant us also this special request […]. Amen.

Prayer In Honour Of St Anthony Of Egypt

God our Father, You gave St Anthony of Egypt the courage and belief of an apostle to give up his wealth, living a life of poverty and solitude, and to found monasteries. Help us to be zealous in imitating his virtues and to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant this through the same Christ Our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers to Saint Antony of Egypt

O’ Glorious Saint Antony, who upon hearing only one word of the Gospel didst forsake the riches and the ease of thy family, thy native land and the world, in order to retire into the wilderness; who, in spite of thy heavy burden of advanced age and the ravages of severe penance, didst not hesitate to leave thy solitude to rebuke openly the impiety of heretics and to restore wavering Christians to a firmer hold upon their faith with all the zeal of a confessor desirous of martyrdom; who through thy conquest of self and the excellence of thy virtues was endowed by Our Lord with miraculous power over animate and inanimate nature; do thou obtain for us the grace to be ever zealous in the cause of Christ and His Church and to persevere even unto death in our imitation of thee, in our belief in revealed truth, and in our keeping of they commandments and the counsels of the Gospel; to the end that, having faithfully followed in thy footsteps here on earth, we many be enabled to become sharers in thy heavenly glory through all the ages of eternity.
Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be three times.

Prayer To Defeat Satan

Dear God, St. Anthony the Abbot accepted your call to renounce the world and to love you above all things. He faithfully served you in the solitude of the desert by fasting, prayer, humility and good works. In the Sign of The Cross, he triumphed over the Devil. Through his intercession, may we learn to love you better; with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, all our strength and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. St. Anthony the Abbot, great and powerful saint, grant us also this special request […]. We ask this through our lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. One God forever and ever, Amen. O Divine Eternal Father, in union with your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit, and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg You to destroy the Power of your greatest enemy — the evil spirits.

January 18^th

Saint Charles of Sezze

Prayer

Lord God, you kept St. Charles of Sezze faithful to Christ’s pattern of poverty and humility. May his prayers help us to live in fidelity to our calling and bring us to the perfection you have shown us in your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for every and ever.

Saint Charles of Sezze

Sweet Jesus, Saint Charles of Sezze knew what it meant to have a lowly job. As a child, he worked as a shepherd, and as a Franciscan lay brother, he served in a variety of menial positions at friaries, doing whatever was asked of him. In this, he discovered great joy and a close relationship with You. I offer up to You all those tasks I have to do that I don’t like, the ones that seem pointless, the chores I find distasteful and the duties that others demand of me. Teach me to be cheerful and not complain as I do my work. In each moment of these jobs, help me to experience Your wonderful Presence. Saint Charles, pray for me. Amen.

Prayer

Lord our God, You are the shield and glorious reward of those who walk blamelessly in Your sight. keep us steadfast in Your holy service so that aided by the wise teaching and intercession of Brother Charles of Sezze, we may with hearts open to You run the way of perfect charity.

January 20^th

Saint Fabian

Collect Prayer

O God, glory of your Priests, grant we pray, that, helped by the intercession of your Martyr Saint Fabian, we may make progress by communion in the faith and by worthy service. 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.

Prayer

God our Father, glory of Your priests, may the prayers of Your martyr Fabian help us to share his faith and offer you loving service. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer

Pope Saint Fabian, it’s so easy to believe that peace means a life without conflict or suffering. Help us to see that the only true peace is the peace Christ brings. Never let us as a Church or as individual Christians choose to deny our beliefs simply to avoid an unpleasant situation. Amen

Prayer

Thus didst thou live out the long tempestuous days of thy Pontificate, O Fabian! But thou hadst the presentiment of the peaceful future reserved by God for His Church, and thou didst zealously labour to hand down to the coming generations the great examples of the Martyrs. The flames have robbed us of a great portion of the treasures thou preparedst for us, and have deprived us of knowing the Fabian who so loved the Martyrs, and died one himself. But of thee, Blessed Pontiff! we know enough to make us thank God for having set thee over His Church in those hard times, and keep this day as a feast in celebration of thy glorious triumph. The dove, which marked thee out as the one chosen by heaven, showed thee to men as the visible Christ on earth; it told thee that thou wert destined for heavy responsibilities and martyrdom; it was a warning to the Church, that she should recognise and hear thee as her guide and teacher. Honoured thus with a resemblance to Jesus in the mystery of his Epiphany, pray to Him for us, that He mercifully manifest himself to our mind and heart. Obtain of Him, for us, that docility to His grace, that loving submissiveness to His every will, that detachment from all created things, which were the support of thy life, during those fifteen years of thy ever threatened and anxious pontificate. When the angry persecution at length broke on thee, it found thee prepared, and martyrdom carried thee to the bosom of God, who had already welcomed so many of thy martyred children. We, too, are looking for that last wave, which is to break over us, and carry us from the shore of this present life to eternity–oh! pray for us, that it may find us ready! If the love of the Divine Babe, our Jesus, be within us; if, like thee, we imitate the simplicity of the dove;–we shall not be lost! Here are our hearts–we wish for nothing but God–help us by thy prayers.

January 20^th

Saint Sebastian

Prayer for Saint Sebastian

Dear Commander at the Roman Emperor’s court, you chose to be also a soldier of Christ and dared to spread faith in the King’s of King’s, for which you were condemned to die. Your body, however proved athletically strong and the executing arrows extremely weak, so another means to kill you was chosen and you gave your life to the Lord. May athletes be always as strong in their faith as you so clearly have been. Amen.

Saint Sebastian Guidance Prayer

O Lord, grant us the spirit of fortitude, so that guided by the example of the martyr St. Sebastian, we may learn to bear witness to the Christian Faith and patiently support the sufferings of life. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to St. Sebastian

Glorious Sebastian, martyr and saint, I call on your strength and courage to help me through this difficult trial. Your faith was so deep, a multitude of arrows could not finish you. I ask for your intercession that I may also survive that which threatens to destroy my beliefs in the mercy of Christ. Amen.

Litany of St. Sebastian

Lord, have mercy on us! Christ, have mercy on us! Lord, have mercy on us! Christ hear us! Christ, graciously hear us! God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us! God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us! God, the holy Ghost, Have mercy on us! Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us! Holy Mary, Queen of Martyrs, Pray for us. Saint Sebastian, Pray for us. Invincible Martyr, Pray for us. Knight, noble by birth and fame, Pray for us. Glorious warrior and martyr of Christ, Pray for us. Patron and mirror of Christian soldiers, Pray for us. Despiser of the world, Pray for us. Conqueror of Satan, Pray for us. Comfort of the dying, Pray for us. Consoler of the afflicted, Pray for us. Announcer of the word of God, Pray for us. Protector and Patron of countries and cities, Pray for us. Saint Sebastian, perfect in virtue and wisdom, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, lover of God and men, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, might in word and work, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who didst strengthen the Christians in torments and death, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who didst fortify those wavering in their faith, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who didst encourage the doubting to persevere to the end, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who, in flamed with love of God, didst despise the pains inflicted by the tyrant, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, surrounded by celestial light, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, instructed by the holy Angels, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, giving speech to the dumb, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who for defending the truth wast wounded by arrows, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who wast put to death with clubs, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, who wast crowned with eternal glory, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, great intercessor for us with God, Pray for us. St. Sebastian, endowed with power from God to avert pestilence and all contagious diseases, Pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord! Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord! Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, O Lord! Christ, hear us! Christ, graciously hear us! Let us pray. Mercifully look on our weakness, O almighty God; since the weight of our own evil deeds bears us down, may the glorious intercession of Thy blessed martyr Sebastian be our protection Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

January 21^st

Saint Agnes

Agnes of Rome, Protect the Young

O Little St. Agnes, so young and yet made so strong and wise by the power of God, protect by your prayers all the young people of every place whose goodness and purity are threatened by the evils and impurities of this world. Give them strength in temptation and a true repentance when they fail. Help them to find true Christian friends to accompany them in following the Lamb of God and finding safe pastures in His Church and in her holy sacraments. May you lead us to the wedding banquet of heaven to rejoice with you and all the holy virgin martyrs in Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. … St Agnes, Pray for Us …

Prayer to Saint Agnes

Saint Agnes, although you were only a child, you believed that Jesus was always with you; help us to remember that He is also with us, and to remain true to His presence. Saint Agnes, you refused to give up your faith; help us to be proud of our faith, to love it, to be strong in it, and to give witness to it daily. Saint Agnes, patron saint of children, watch over the children of the world; keep them safe from harm; be with them in their hour of need; and always pray for them. Saint Agnes you are an example to the worth of virtue and chastity. You wear a Martyr’s palm and a virgin’s wreath. Saint Agnes pray for us that, though unworthy of a special crown, we may have our names written in the list of Saints. Amen.

January 23^rd

Saint Marianne Cope

Prayer to Saint Marianne Cope

Lord Jesus, you who gave us your commandment of love of God and neighbor, and identified yourself in a special way with the most needy of your people, hear our prayer. Faithful to your teaching, St. Marianne Cope loved and served her neighbor, especially the most desolate ourcast, giving herself generously and heroically for those afflicted by leprosy. She alleviated their physical and spiritual sufferings, thus helping them to accept their afflictions with patience. Her care and concern for others manifested the great love you have for us. Through her merits and intercession, grant us the favor which we confidently ask of you so that the people of God, following the inspiration of her life and apostolate, may practise charity towards all according to your word and example. Amen

Novena To Saint Marianne Cope

DAY 1 All glory and praise be to you, Lord God almighty! St. Marianne led a group of sister/nurses to the Hawaiian Islands to care for the poor suffering souls afflicted with Hansen’s disease (leprosy). In imitation of St. Marianne’s self-sacrificing spirit, I ask for the grace to be more truly concerned with the welfare of others. Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be… St. Marianne, intercede for us.

DAY 2
We give praise and glorify you, Lord, God almighty for the life of St. Marianne. Responding to your call, St. Marianne was instrumental in founding schools for immigrants and hospitals to care for your people. In imitation of St. Marianne, I pray for the grace to increase my love for my neighbor. Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be…

“What you did for the least of my people you did for me.” St. Marianne established a home for women and young girls in Hawaii afflicted with Hansen’s disease. She taught them to plant, and how to sew, helping them to make their lives more meaningful. Giver of life, we ask you in your goodness to bestow on us your grace to live a life of sacrifice as did your servant, St. Marianne. Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be… St. Marianne, intercede for us.DAY 4
My Lord and my God; my God and my All. St. Marianne said, “I do not think of reward. I am working for God and do so cheerfully.” St. Marianne was truly a servant of servants living in exile for more than 30 years with those to whom she ministered in Kalaupapa. Help me to follow her example by not complaining of what little is asked of me. Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be… St. Marianne, intercede for us.DAY 5
Lord, our God, you said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me. I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brethren, you did it for me.” St. Marianne heard these words and with deep compassion and charity for the suffering, she worked tirelessly serving those in need. May I too, serve others with compassion and charity. Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be… St. Marianne, intercede for us.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. St. Marianne gave hospitality to Father Damien when his illness made him an unwelcome visitor to church and government leaders in Honolulu, Hawaii. St. Marianne responded to the pleas for help and said, “We will cheerfully accept the work.” She and the sisters accepted the care of the exiled women and girls, while continuing the work of Father Damien on the peninsula on the island of Molokai. May I accept cheerfully the work that is mine to do.Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be...

St. Marianne, intercede for us.

My Lord and my God; my God and my All. You honored St. Marianne as being blessed among your people. Help us to work diligently and prayerfully to be signs of your living presence. May we respond to the fullness of life to which we are called.Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

St. Marianne, intercede for us.

Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ. You called your servant, St. Marianne, to her heavenly reward. Awaken in us the ways that we can help those who are suffering and teach us to be grateful for having the opportunity to serve others. May all who die this day experience the fullness of life, and may we, too, one day share that life together with St. Marianne.Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

St. Marianne, intercede for us

Glory to you, Source of all being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit. The sick and the abandoned were in St. Marianne’s heart and mind. Having no distinction as to a person’s nationality, religion or color, she served those at Kalaupapa and made their lives more hopeful (hope filled) during their last years. She made it a time of peace and contentment for them. Teach us how to serve the outcasts of society and how to respect and accept their gifts.Through the intercession of St. Marianne, I ask that the petition of this Novena be granted in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

St. Marianne, intercede for us.

January 24^th

Saint Francis de Sales

The Prayer of St. Francis de Sales

(Patron Saint of writers and journalists)

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and everyday. He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

Confidence in God

It is good to mistrust ourselves, but how would that advantage us were we not to throw all our confidence on God, and to wait on His mercy? If you feel no such confidence, cease not on that account from making these acts and from saying to Our Lord: “Yet, O Lord, though I have no feeling of confidence in You, nevertheless, I know that You are my God, that I am all Yours, and that I have no hope but in Your goodness; so, I abandon myself entirely into Your Hands.” It is always in our power to make these acts; although we have difficulty in performing them, still there is no impossibility. Thus we testify faithfulness to our Lord.

My Cross

The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.

Prayer of St. Francis de Sales

“Lord, I am Yours, and I must belong to no one but You. My soul is Yours, and must live only by You. My will is Yours, and must love only for You. I must love You as my first cause, since I am from You. I must love You as my end and rest, since I am for You. I must love You more than my own being, since my being subsists by You. I must love You more than myself, since I am all Yours and all in You. Amen.”

Litany of St. Francis de Sales

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. O God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us. O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. O God, the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us O Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us. St. Francis de Sales, St. Francis, miracle of the most august Trinity, St. Francis, faithful imitator of Jesus Christ, St. Francis, attached to the the service of the Blessed Virgin, St. Francis, practicing the virtues of the Saints, St. Francis, most devote to Jesus crucified, St. Francis, august tabernacle of true religion, St. Francis, most humble in prosperity, St. Francis, most patient in adversity, St. Francis, true portrait of the meekness of Christ, St. Francis, simple as the dove, St. Francis, example of angelic modesty, St. Francis, exact observer of evangelic poverty, St. Francis, excellent example of the purity of angels, St. Francis, ever obedient to the Apostolic See, St. Francis, generously despising the world, St. Francis, powerful vanquisher of demons, St. Francis, invincible triumpher over the flesh, St. Francis, inflamed with the love of God, St. Francis, abounding in virtues, St. Francis, all to all for the salvation of souls, St. Francis, most dear to God, and beloved by men, St. Francis, unwearied apostle of Geneva and its territory, which thou didst so laboriously reunite to the one true Church of God, St. Francis, most fervent pastor, ever careful to lead thy flock to the fold of Jesus the Good Shepherd, St. Francis, most renowned for thy miracles, St. Francis, greatest of all thy miracles, St. Francis, patriarch of the Visitation, St. Francis, continual martyr to thy love of God, St. Francis, father of many Saints, by the holy rules which thou hast left for every state, St. Francis, powerful protector to obtain of God that mildness which preserves the peace of the heart, St. Francis, amiable patron of those who invoke thee, Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord. O Blessed Francis, like the fruitful olive-tree in the house of God, radiant in miracles, make us partakers of thy sanctity and of the light which thou enjoyest. V. Pray for us, Blessed Francis of Sales. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose gracious will the Blessed Francis, thy confessor and bishop, became all things unto all men, for the saving of their souls, mercifully grant that, being filled with the sweetness of thy love, we may, through the guidance of his counsels, and by the aid of his merits, attain unto the joys of life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen St. Marianne, intercede for us.

January 25^th

Conversion of Saint Paul

A prayer for conversions

O blessed apostle, St. Paul, greatest of all converts, who labored unceasingly for the conversion of other souls, inspire me with the ardor of your zeal that I may pray and work for the conversion of my brethren, redeemed in the blood of Christ but not as yet blessed with the full light of his truth. Mindful of the loving concern of the Divine Shepherd for the salvation of the “other sheep that are not of this fold,” I now beg your intercession to obtain the grace of conversion for (name of family member, friend or others). May God, the Holy Spirit from whom alone this gift can come, hear my humble prayer and thus enable me to share with others the riches of my heritage of faith through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer

O glorious St. Paul, who from a persecutor of Christianity, didst become a most ardent Apostle of zeal; and who to make known the Savior Jesus Christ unto the ends of the world didst suffer with joy imprisonment, scourgings, stonings, shipwrecks and persecutions of every kind, and in the end didst shed thy blood to the last drop, obtain for us the grace to receive, as favors of the Divine mercy, infirmities, tribulations, and misfortunes of the present life, so that the vicissitudes of this our exile will not render us cold in the service of God, but will render us always more faithful and more fervent. V. Pray for us, Saint Paul the Apostle, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.

Let us pray

O God, Who hast taught the multitude of the Gentiles by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle: grant unto us, we beseech Thee, that we who keep his memory sacred, may feel the might of his intercession before Thee. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer

O God, who by the preaching of your apostle Paul has caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

January 26^th

Saint Timothy and Titus

A Prayer For The Intercession Of Saints Timothy And Titus

God our Father, You gave Your saints Timothy and Titus the courage and wisdom of the apostles: may their prayers help us to live holy lives and lead us to heaven, our true home. 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 Timothy

Dear Saint, well known for your gentleness, you were a most faithful disciple of Saint Paul, and like him, traveled much to bring the Good News to all people. The Letters Paul wrote to you reveal your zeal and inspire us with confidence in you. You too were cast into prison and you too gave your life for Christ. So with confidence we dare to ask, please obtain relief for (name of sufferer), if it be God’s will.
Amen.

Saint Timothy

Lord, you blessed St. Timothy with Apostolic virtues. Through his intercession, may we be filled with the desire and will to live good and religious lives here on earth and thus be worthy of our heavenly on with you.
Amen.
St. Timothy, pray for us.

January 27^th

Saint Angela Merici

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Angela Merici

May the Virgin Saint Angela never fail to commend us to your compassion, O Lord, we pray, that, following the lessons of her charity and prudence, we may hold fast to your teaching and express it in what we do. 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 Angela Merici

Lord, may Saint Angela commend us to Your mercy; may her charity and wisdom help us to be faithful to Your teaching and to follow it in 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.

Litany of St. Angela Merici

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Mother of God, and faithful Guardian of our Mother Saint Angela, Pray for us. Saint Angela Merici, Pray for us. St. Angela, favored with the choicest gifts of God from thy infancy, Pray for us. St. Angela, who didst give thyself to the practice of all the virtues from thy tenderest years, Pray for us. St. Angela, who didst always preserve a spotless purity, Pray for us. St. Angela, who by thy love for holy purity, didst merit to receive thy name, Pray for us. St. Angela, who from childhood found thy delight in solitude, Pray for us. St. Angela, who led an angelic life in the house of thy parents, Pray for us. St. Angela, who didst daily hear on thy body the mortification of Jesus, Pray for us. St. Angela, whose gift it was to reconcile the bitterest enemies, Pray for us. (St. Angela, who at thirteen become a Tertiary of St. Francis and ever remained faithful,) Pray for us. St. Angela, gifted with the graces of prayer and contemplation, Pray for us. St. Angela, who visited the Holy Land, and there followed the bloody footprints of Jesus, Pray for us. St. Angela, who triumphed over the illusions of the devil, Pray for us. St. Angela, who wast not afflicted at the loss of thy sight in visiting the holy places, Pray for us. St. Angela, whose sight was miraculously restored in the Island of Candia, Pray for us. St. Angela, whom the love of. God had wounded and whom this same love cured, Pray for us. St. Angela, model of perfect self-denial and true humility, Pray for us. St. Angela, who, like Jacob, wast permitted to see the mysterious ladder, Pray for us. St. Angela, chosen by God to be the mother of many holy virgins, Pray for us. St. Angela, Foundress of the illustrious Order of the Ursulines, Pray for us. St. Angela, to whom God promised that this Order should always subsist, Pray for us. St. Angela, who, filled with joy, didst give up thy soul in the embrace of the Lord, Pray for us. St. Angela, whose body remained incorruptible after death, Pray for us. St. Angela, Patroness of Christian mothers, Pray for us. St. Angela, Protectress of young girls, Pray for us. St. Angela, our Mother and Advocate, Pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us. V. Pray for us, O glorious Mother Saint Angela: R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
O God, Who by means of our blessed Mother Saint Angela didst cause a new Order of holy virgins to flourish in Thy Church: grant, through her intercession, that we may imitate her angelic virtues, and, forsaking all earthly things, may be found worthy of eternal bliss. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.

Angela Merici prayer

Lord, my hope and my life. Receive my heart, Lord, my freedom and my will. All my actions and my thoughts, I give you, Lord, all that is mine, I offer at your feet my whole being receive it; I pray you, I who deserve nothing from you, enlighten my heart, that I may never offend you. Strengthen my spirit so that I may never to turn away from your face so that it may not separate me from you, enlighten my heart that I may never offend you. Strengthen my spirit that I may never from your face so that it may not that I may not be separated from you. Amen.

Prayer for the unfortunates

Dear St. Angela of Merici, you showed great concern for the welfare of so many girls and adolescents who needed your help because they were helpless. Today grant us your intercession before our Father so that no woman in the world will have to go through suffering, humiliation, pain, and disadvantage. We pray to You for wives, daughters, sisters, girlfriends or friends, so that they may live their lives to the full, always accompanied by the hand of God; make them invisible in the eyes of evil and allow them to have the teachings, courage, and support they need and deserve at all stages of their lives. For those who take care of their homes and are not valued, for those who feel sunken and with low self-esteem before the humiliations of others, for those who are treated as objects, for the girls who grow up in unsuitable conditions, for the young women who are exposed to so many dangers and for every woman who needs help in the world. But above all, glorious Saint Angela of Merici, we implore you to pray for all of us so that we may be able to build a more just and egalitarian society where gender gaps do not exist and that among women, there may be the necessary support to get ahead and not envy or finger-pointing; Make our prayers reach the heavens so that we may receive the mercy of our Lord. Amen

Prayer for spiritual growth

Lord, during the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, St. Angela experienced great devastation; then, she began to go blind. Still, she insisted on continuing the pilgrimage with dedication and enthusiasm. On my journey through the world, and the journeys of each of us, especially for the disabled, help us continue onward against all odds. Renew our commitment to spiritual growth. You who restored St. Angela’s sight teach us to know that your healing love is with us, even when we do not get the healings we desire. St. Angela, pray for us.
Amen
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Act of contrition
O Lord, we commend ourselves to your divine pardon through the intercession of St. Angela of Merici so that following her example of charity and prudence, we may know how to keep your doctrine and put it into practice in this life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Blessed Spirit and is God per saecula saeculorum. Amen

Novena for Saint Angela de Merici

God of all goodness, who enlightened St. Angela, virgin, with the wisdom of the cross, so that she might recognize your Son Jesus Christ in the poor and abandoned sick, and serve them as a humble servant, grant us the grace that we ask of you through her intercession in this novena. (Here, we mention the grace we wish to obtain). In the same way, she inspires in us the desire to follow her example, embracing day after day our cross, in union with Christ crucified and serving our brothers and sisters with love. We ask this through Jesus Christ himself, your Son, and our Lord.
Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …
Saint Angela, pray for us.

January 28^th

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas Prayer for a Good Life

Grant O merciful God, that I may ardently desire, carefully examine, truly know and perfectly fulfil those things that are pleasing to You and to the praise and glory of Your holy name. Direct my life, O my God, and grant that I might know what you would have me to do and for me to fulfil it as is necessary and profitable to my soul. Grant to me, O Lord my God, that I may not be found wanting in prosperity or in adversity and that I may not be lifted up by one nor cast down by the other. May I find joy in nothing but what leads to You and sorrow in nothing but what leads away from You. May I seek to please no one or fear to displease anyone, save only You. Grant to me, O Lord God, a vigilant heart that no subtle speculation may ever lead me from You; a noble heart that no unworthy affection may draw me from You; an upright heart that no evil purpose may turn me from you. Give me a steadfast heart that no tribulation may shatter and a free heart that no violent affection may claim as its own. And finally, grant me O Lord my God, a mind to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you. Give me a way of life pleasing to You; perseverance to trust and await You in confidence that I shall embrace You at the last.
Amen.

St. Thomas Aquinas: Prayer before Study I

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, the true source of light and fountain of wisdom. Pour forth your brilliance upon my intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.

St. Thomas Aquinas: Prayer before Study II

Creator of all things, true Source of light and wisdom, lofty origin of all being, graciously let a ray of Your brilliance penetrate into the darkness of my understanding and take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, an obscurity of both sin and ignorance. Give me a sharp sense of understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations, and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in completion; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

O merciful God, grant that I may ever perfectly do Your Will in all things. Let it be my ambition to work only for Your honor and glory. Let me rejoice in nothing but what leads to You, nor grieve for anything that leads away from You. May all passing things be as nothing in my eyes, and may all that is Yours be dear to me, and You, my God, dear above them all. May all joy be meaningless without You and may I desire nothing apart from You. May all labor and toil delight me when it is for You. Make me, O Lord, obedient without complaint, poor without regret, patient without murmur, humble without pretense, joyous without frivolity, and truthful without disguise. Give me, O God, an ever watchful heart which nothing can ever lure away from You; a noble heart, which no unworthy affection can draw downwards to the earth; an upright heart, which no evil can warp; an unconquerable heart, which no tribulation can crush; a free heart, which no perverted affection can claim for its own. Bestow on me, O God, understanding to know You, diligence to seek You, and wisdom to find You; a life which may please You, and a hope which may embrace You at the last.
Amen

Novena prayer

St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of students and Catholic schools, I thank God for the gifts of light and knowledge, he bestowed on you, which you used to build up the Church in love. I thank God, too, for the wealth and richness of theological teaching you left in your writings. Not only were you a great teacher, you lived a life of virtue and you made holiness the desire of your heart. If I cannot imitate you in the brilliance of your academic pursuits, I can follow you in the humility and charity which marked your life. As St. Paul said, charity is the greatest gift, and it is open to all. Pray for me that I might grow in holiness and charity. Pray also for Catholic schools, and for all students. In particular, please obtain the favor I ask during this novena. [Make you request here…]
Amen.

First Day
St. Thomas, called by God “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37). St. Thomas, as a young man you became convinced that God was calling you to religious life. Although your family was opposed to it, you were determined to follow God’s call. Even when your brothers kidnapped you and forced you to remain a prisoner in your own house, you did not give up but waited patiently for God’s hour. St. Thomas, pray for all young people who are considering their vocation in life. Help them to be open to the call of God. Inspire them to make choices motivated by love for God and an unselfish love for other people. Whatever their state in life, help them to see their chosen path as a call to service. May all married couples, single persons, priests and religious build up the Church through lives of unselfish devotion and love.
Second Day

St. Thomas, lover of purity “For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness” (1 Thes 4:7). St. Thomas, you had a great esteem for the virtue of purity. When your family tried to deter you from entering the Dominicans by sending a woman to lead you into sin, you resisted the temptation and determined to consecrate your chastity to God forever. Today we are immersed in a culture that degrades the gift of human sexuality. Human persons are viewed as objects of pleasure and their human dignity is devalued. As a consequence, society tolerates abortion, disregarding human life at the very outset. Children suffer abuse and families are damaged by infidelity. Pray that our society may once again value the virtue of chastity. Pray that those in the media will work to promote a Christian view of marriage and family life. May the plague of pornography in all its forms be eliminated. May Christian moral standards act as a leaven in society and bring about a greater respect for human life.

St. Thomas, example of humility “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted” (Mt 23:12). St. Thomas, when you were a young student some of your classmen called you the “dumb ox.” Although you were more intelligent than all of them, you bore their insults patiently without retaliating. You were endowed with a keen mind but recognized that God is the source of all gifts. You humbly acknowledged your dependence on God, and begged him to enlighten you so that you would act only for his glory. St. Thomas, pray for me that I too learn to act out of humility and never from the empty desire for esteem in the sight of others. Help me to seek only God’s glory and to act with a right intention. May I seek to humble myself now, so that in heaven I will shine like the stars for all eternity.

Fourth Day
St. Thomas, devoted to truth “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph 4:15). St. Thomas, you devoted your life to seeking the truth and explaining it to others. You dedicated your mind to God, and used it to probe the Word of God more deeply. Your gifts as a theologian and philosopher make you stand out as one of the greatest doctors of the Church. In your discussions, you made truth your primary aim, while treating respectfully anyone who differed with you. Obtain for me too a great love of truth. Help me to ponder God’s word so as to draw from it the light I need to nourish myself spiritually. Keep me firmly rooted in the truth, and never let me be swayed by false teachings. I pray also for those who are lost in darkness; please bring them into the light of truth.

Fifth Day
St. Thomas, afire with love for the Blessed Sacrament “So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you”‘ (Jn 6:53). St. Thomas, you had a great love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and spent many hours in adoration be fore the Blessed Sacrament. You once said that you learned more from prayer before the tabernacle than from many hours of study. The Church owes you a debt of gratitude for the beautiful Eucharistic hymns you wrote at the request of Pope Urban IV, for the newly-established feast of Corpus Christi. Pray that I too might be inflamed with an ardent love for the Holy Eucharist. Help me to always esteem and reverence this wonderful sacrament. Pray for me that I might always participate devoutly in Mass, receive Holy Communion with great fervor, and often visit Jesus in the tabernacle. Through contact with the Eucharistic Lord, may my heart overflow with love for God and for my neighbor.

Sixth Day
St. Thomas, filled with charity “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor 1 3 :4-6). St. Thomas, you were noted during your life for the charity you showed to others. During debates at the university, you did not ridicule those who argued with you but treated them with respect and love. You showed consideration for the needs of other people. Help me also to be more deeply rooted in love of God and neighbor, keeping in mind Jesus’ words, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). Help me to practice this same charity in a concrete way that does not stop at words, but is shown with sacrifice. May it begin first of all in my family, and then radiate to everyone I meet.

Seventh Day
St. Thomas, defender of the Church “…the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15). St. Thomas, from your youth you learned to love the Church, your spiritual home. In your teaching, you sought to explain and defend the doctrine of the Church, making it known through your writings. You understood that true wisdom means to let oneself be instructed by the Church, for Jesus guaranteed that the Holy Spirit would always be with the Church, to lead it into all truth. At the end of your life you said, “I have taught and written much… according to my faith in Christ and in the holy Roman Church, to whose judgment I submit all my teaching.” Intercede for the Church today, that it might grow stronger and more spiritually fruitful in the world. Raise up holy priests, religious and laity, that they may all be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Bless the pope in his efforts to guide the Church, witnessing to the power of the Gospel to renew the face of the earth. May all theologians work to explore the richness of Catholic teaching so as to show forth its truth and benefit the faithful. Pray for missionaries as they work to spread the Gospel. May the whole Church be renewed by the power of the Spirit to more effectively witness to Christ in the world today.

Eighth Day
St. Thomas, teacher of prayer “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving” (Col 4:2). St. Thomas, you knew that prayer is the source of wisdom and you spent long hours in conversation with God. Prayer became your very life. Whenever you pondered over a problem in theology, you turned to prayer to seek God’s enlightenment. Now in heaven you see God face to face. Pray for me, too, that I might become a person of profound prayer. Obtain for me the grace that I might always pray with humility, confidence and perseverance. Help me to grow more and more in the spirit of prayer, so that my whole life may become a prayer. May I always seek the face of the living God.

Ninth Day
St. Thomas, patron of students “For in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind” (1 Cor 1:5). St. Thomas, God called you to spend most of your life in academic pursuits, first as a student, and then as a professor of theology. In your work as a teacher, you desired to help your students apply what they learned to their lives, in order to grow in holiness. You realized that knowledge is meant to draw people closer to God. In your teaching you sought to communicate the truth, desiring to help your students become better Christians. Pray for all students. Pray for those who may have difficulty in their studies, as well as for those who can study with ease. Pray that they may all be open to the truth, and always seek to better understand it. May they grow in knowledge so as to know God better and to be able to serve their brothers and sisters as the Lord desires. St. Thomas, pray especially for theologians, that in their studies and research they may come to a deeper knowledge of revealed doctrine in keeping with the mind of the Church. May their lives reflect the holiness of the Word of God which they seek to more fully understand.

Litany of St. Thomas Aquinas

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Pray for us. (repeat after each line) Glorious Mother of the King of kings, St. Thomas, Worthy child of the Queen of Virgins, St. Thomas most chaste, St. Thomas most patient, Prodigy of science, Silently eloquent, Reproach of the ambitious, Lover of that life which is hidden with Christ in God, Fragrant flower in the garden of St. Dominic, Glory of the Friars Preachers, Illumined from on high, Oracle of the Church, Incomparable scribe of the God-Man, Perfect in the school of His Cross, Model of perfect obedience, Endowed with the true spirit of holy poverty, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. What have I in heaven, or what do I desire on earth? That you are the God of my heart, and my portion forever.
Let us pray
O God, who ordained that St. Thomas should enlighten your Church, grant that through his prayers we may practice what he taught. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

January 30^th

Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska

Prayer

God our Father, you graced Blessed Mary Angela with living faith and boundless love which she manifested in complete surrender to your divine will. By her prayers and witness may we strive to seek, to accept, and to fulfill your will in all circumstances of our lives. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Intercession of Blessed Mary Angela

God our Father, we praise and thank you for the gift of Blessed Mary Angela, who lived your will in faith and trust, and lived your love in service to others. I pray, in confidence, that through her intercession you will grant me the favor which I request. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany of Blessed Mary Angela

Praise to you, God, our Creator. All praise, and glory and thanksgiving. Praise to you, Jesus, our Savior. All praise, and glory and thanksgiving. Praise to you, Spirit of Love. All praise, and glory and thanksgiving. * Response: Pray for Us … Blessed Mary Angela, … Lover of God’s Will, … Lover of Jesus in the Eucharist, … Lover of Mary, … Lover of the Gospel, … Lover of Christ’s Body, the Church, … Lover of beauty and learning, … Lover of your native land, … Devoted daughter and sister, … Faithful follower of Francis, … Spiritual Mother, … * Response: Inspire Us … Servant of the needy, … Guardian of family life, … Enlightened woman of your day, … Dedicated advocate of the poor, … Compassionate caregiver, … Pioneer religious woman, … Woman of faith and prayer, … Woman of mercy, …. Woman of vision and courage, … Woman of contemplation and action, … Woman of wisdom and understanding, … Model of self-denial, … Model of reparation, … Model of humility, … Model of simple living, … Model of perseverance, … Angela, you were moved by the plight of neglected children, women, the sick, the homeless, the aged, the illiterate, immigrants, victims of war, and all who did not know the love and mercy of God,Pray for these people in our world today.

January 31^st

Saint John Bosco

Prayer to Saint John Bosco

O glorious Saint John Bosco, who in order to lead young people to the feet of the divine Master and to mould them in the light of faith and Christian morality didst heroically sacrifice thyself to the very end of thy life and didst set up a proper religious Institute destined to endure and to bring to the farthest boundaries of the earth thy glorious work, obtain also for us from Our Lord a holy love for young people who are exposed to so many seductions in order that we may generously spend ourselves in supporting them against the snares of the devil, in keeping them safe from the dangers of the world, and in guiding them, pure and holy, in the path that leads to God. Amen.

Saint John Bosco

Friend of the young, Teacher in the ways of God, Your dedication to empowering the needy inspires us still. Help me to work for a better world, where the young are given the chance to flourish, where the poor’s dream for justice can come true,and where God’s compassion is shown to be real. Intercede for me as I bring my needs to you and to our heavenly Mother,the Help of Christians. Saint John Bosco, Pray for us!

Don Bosco’s Prayer to Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, how sweet it is to come to your feet imploring your perpetual help. If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me? Grant then to me, I implore you, your perpetual help in all my necessities, in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations. I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering. Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners. Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life. Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians, that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.

Novena to Don Bosco | Novena to Saint John Bosco

1st Day – Love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

O Saint John Bosco, you loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and zealously promoted this devotion by encouraging participation in the Holy Eucharist, reception of Holy Communion and daily Visits. Pray for us that, inspired by your example, we may grow in this love, so that we may end our days strengthened and comforted by the Heavenly Food of the Most Holy Eucharist. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with others I may assist in bringing young people to the love of Christ in the Eucharist.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

2nd Day – Devotion to Our Blessed Mother

O Saint John Bosco, you loved the Blessed Virgin, Mary Immaculate Help of Christians, taking her as your Mother and Guide, and becoming her apostle. Pray for us that, inspired by your example, we may grow in true and enduring love for this sweetest of mothers, and may thus win her powerful protection in life and especially at the hour of our death. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with others I may assist in bringing young people to the love of Mary Our Help.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

3rd Day – Loyalty to the Church and to the Pope

O Saint John Bosco, you nurtured a filial love for the Church and the Pope, and you courageously spoke and wrote in their defense. Pray for us that, inspired by your example, we may be faithful sons and daughters of Holy Mother Church, and may likewise love and honor the Holy Father as the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace.. [pause]… so that together with others I may assist in bringing young people to the love of the Church.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with others I may assist and help young people in today’s society.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

5th Day – For Salesian Brothers, Sisters, and Priests

O Saint John Bosco, you founded the Salesian Society and the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians for the continuation and extension of the work on behalf of young people. Pray for all your sons and daughters, the members of these two religious families that, inspired by your example and imbued with your spirit they may be faithful to their religious consecration and steadfast in the Salesian mission. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with the sons and daughters of your religious families I may assist and help young people.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory to the Father…

6th Day – For Salesian Cooperators and the Salesian Family

O Saint John Bosco, you founded the Association of Salesian Cooperators, the seed of the worldwide Salesian Family, in order to ensure the widest possible participation in the charitable work on behalf of young people. Pray for all the members of the Salesian Family that, inspired by your example and bonded in one spirit, they may share in the Salesian mission and model in their life and work pastoral educative charity. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with the Salesian Family I may assist and help young people in today’s society.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory to the Father…

Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with Salesian missionaries all over the world I may assist in bringing young people to the love of Christ.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

8th Day – For Purity

O Saint John Bosco, you prized the virtue of purity highly and strove with all your might to foster it in the hearts of young and old. Pray for us that, inspired by your example, we may nurture it in our hearts and minds and may act effectively to defend our young people against a culture pervaded by sex and violence. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with others I may assist in bringing young people to the love of Christ.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

9th Day – For Family, Friends, and those in Need

O Saint John Bosco, you were full of compassion toward all people, especially the young, who suffered from illness, poverty, hunger, injustice, and alienation. Pray for all in need, and for us too, that the blessings of God and protection of Mary Help of Christians may be on us all, to heal us, strengthen us, and comfort us. Pray for our families, especially for our young people, that they may be kept safely in God’s grace. Intercede for us in life and in death so that we may eternally sing the Divine mercies in heaven. Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace… [pause]… so that together with others I may bring young people to the love of Christ.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

Prayers to St. John Bosco

O Saint John Bosco, Father, Teacher, and Friend of Youth, you have labored so much for the salvation of souls: teach me to be patient and gentle as I seek the good of my own soul and the souls of my neighbor. Three great loves gave purpose and meaning to your earthly life: help me deepen my own reverence to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and loyalty to our Holy Father the Pope. Together with the grace for which I now pray… [pause]… pray for me to obtain final perseverance and grace of a happy death. Through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.