January 24^th

Saint Francis de Sales

The Prayer of St. Francis de Sales

(Patron Saint of writers and journalists)

Be at Peace

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…

Other 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.