November 30, 2009

Here is today's prayer (Catholic Prayer of Christ's Triple Coming):

Lamb of God,
You once came to rid the world of sin;
cleanse me now from every stain of sin.
Lord, you came to save what was lost;
come once again with Your salvific power
so that those You redeemed will not be punished.
I have come to know You in faith;
may I have unending joy
when You come again in glory.

New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

November 29, 2009

Today is the first Sunday of Advent and every day between now and Christmas, I invite you to join me in these special prayers of waiting and anticipation. Some will be prayers about our pace and the things we do this season while others will include some classics from a variety of traditions to help focus us on Christ's coming birth and promised return.

Here is today's prayer (The Great "O" Antiphons):

O Wisdom,
Holy Word of God
You rule all creation with power and true concern.
- Come teach us the way of salvation.

O Sacred Lord
and leader of ancient Israel
You communicated with Moses at the burning bush
and gave him the law on Mount Sinai
- Come to set us free by Your mighty arm

O Root of Jesse
raised up as a sign of all peoples
in Your presence kings become mute
and the nations worship before You
- Come to deliver us and do not delay

O Key of David
and Royal Power of Israel,
You open what no man can shut,
and You shut what no man can open.
- Come and deliver Your people
imprisoned by darkness and the shadow of death

O Radiant Dawn
You are the brightness of eternal light
and the Sun of justice.
- Come to enlighten those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death

O King of the Gentiles
and the long-for Ruler of the nations,
You are the cornerstone Who make all one.
- Come and save those whom You have created

O Emmanuel
our King and our Lawgiver
You are the Desired of the nations
and the Savior of all men.
- Come to save us, O Lord, our God!

November 28, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for Healing

O God who are the only source of health and healing,
the Spirit of calm
and the central peace of this universe,
grant to me such a consciousness of Your indwelling
and surrounding presence
that I may permit You
to give me health and strength and peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

November 27, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for Employment

God, our Father,
I turn to You seeking Your Divine help and guidance
as I look for suitable employment.
I need Your wisdom to guide my footsteps along the right path,
and to lead me to find the proper things to say
and do in this quest.
I wish to use the gifts and talents You have given me,
but I need the opportunity to do so with gainful employment.
Do not abandon me, dear Father, in this search,
but rather grant me this favor I seek
so that I may return to You with praise and thanksgiving
for your gracious assistance.
Grant this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

November 26, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.

Mary Fairchild

November 25, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Dear Lord,
as my life declines
and my energies decrease,
more than ever hold me by Your Power,
that I may not offend You,
but daily increase in Your Love.
Give me strength to work in Your Service
till the last day of my life.
Help me to ever have
an increasing dread of venial sin,
or whatever would cause
the slightest withdrawal of Your love,
all day long,
and at night keep me close to Your Heart;
and should I die, ere the morning breaks,
may I go rejoicing in that vision
of Your entrancing beauty,
never to be separated from You.

Amen.

November 24, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Dear Lord, through Your Apostle, St. Paul, You've taught us that there are three great virtues, Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of all is Love. Help me to understand that in order to love You and to love my neightbor, I must be alive. Father, help me to value my life, and all life, and give me courage to respect, defend, and, if necesssary, die to protect the right of everyone to live as You will them to.

Amen.

November 23, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

O God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

November 22, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer in time of Need

Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering.
You know, Lord, how weak I am.
I am an abyss of wretchedness,
I am nothingness itself;
So what will be so strange
If You leave me alone and I fall?

I am an infant, Lord,
So I cannot get along by myself.
However, beyond all abandonment I trust,
And in spite of my own feeling I trust,
And I am being completely transformed into trust,
Often in spite of what I feel.

Do not lessen any of my sufferings,
Only give me strength to bear them.
Do with me as You please, Lord,
Only give me the grace to be able to love You,
In every event and circumstances.

Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness,
Only give me strength
That I may be able to drink it all.

Amen.

November 21, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer in time of Debt

Almighty, everlasting God,
we beg of You to help us soon to pay off our debts to our fellowmen.
Give us strength and courage to persevere until the last penny is paid.
Give patience to those to whom we are in debt,
and let them not treat us unjustly.
Help us have great confidence in You and in the workings of Your providence,
trusting that You will always direct things to our greatest good.

Make us also fully realize that no debt to our fellowmen
can begin to equal the debt that we owe You on account of our sins,
to say nothing of the immense debt we owe You
for the gifts of Your Divine grace.
These we could never pay at all but for the coming of Your Son,
our Lord, Jesus Christ.
To Him be all honor and thanksgiving, now and forever.

Amen.

November 20, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for World Peace

Lord, we pray for the power to be gentle;
the strength to be forgiving;
the patience to be understanding;
and the endurance to accept the consequences
of holding to what we believe to be right.

May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil
and the power of love to overcome hatred.

We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe
in a world emancipated from violence,
a new world where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice,
nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.

Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy
to the task of making peace,
praying always for the inspiration and the power
to fulfill the destiny for which we and all men were created.

Amen.

November 19, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for the Disabled

God of compassion,
in Jesus Christ you cared for those who were blind or deaf,
crippled or slow to learn.
Though all of us need help,
give special care to those who are disabled,
particularly those we name in silence...
By our concern may they know the love you have for them,
and come to trust you;
through Jesus Christ who came to heal.

Amen

November 18, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for a Birthday

God our Father,
the birth of your Son Jesus Christ
brought great joy to Mary and Joseph.
We give thanks to you for (name) whose birthday we celebrate today.
May he/she ever grow in your faith, hope, and love.
We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

November 17, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for Students

God of Light and Truth,
thank you for giving me
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love.
Help me to keep learning every day of my life,
for all knowledge leads to you.
Let me be aware of your presence
in all things and at all times.
Encourage me when work is difficult
and when I am tempted to give up;
encourage me when my brain seems slow
and the way forward is difficult.
Grant me the grace to put my mind to use
exploring the world you have created,
confident that in you there a wisdom
that is real.
Amen.

Charles Henderson

November 16, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for Teenagers

With each new day that dawns I am growing up, O Lord.
It's not too soon to start thinking of what I want to be.
It's very hard, I think,
to make the right decision
but I pray that you will help and guide me.
Show me what to do,
let me share, someday,
my talents where they're needed.
And when you show me,
give me courage to be generous enough
to do what you want.

Amen.

November 15, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

O Lord,
In this time of need, strengthen me. You are my strength and my shield; You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. I know, Father, that Your eyes go to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts long for You. The body grows weary, but my hope is in You to renew my strength.
I do not fear, for You are with me.
I am not dismayed or overwhelmed, for You are my God. I know You will strengthen me and help me; that You will uphold me with Your righteous hand. Even as the shadows of illness cover me, I feel the comfort of Your strength, O Lord.
Amen.

November 14, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Jesus, Your array of miracles,
A true manifestation of Your Divinity,
Draws the admiration of searching souls.
Never let it be said, "Miracles do not exist!".
You are the living example of such actions.
Bless me with the faith to always believe,
To affirm the Supreme Power of Your miracles,
Be they of a physical or spiritual nature.
Grant me the aptitude to instantly perceive
The source of all supernatural occurrences,
So only Your Excellence shall be glorified.
Jesus, my existence is a wondrous miracle!

Amen.

November 13, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Almighty God, and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death: Look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy upon this child now lying upon the bed of sickness: Visit him, 0 Lord, with thy salvation; deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for thy mercies' sake: That, if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to thee, and be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee faithfully, and doing good in his generation; or else receive him into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, 0 Lord, for thy mercies' sake, in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

November 12, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

O heavenly Father,
Almighty God,
we humbly beseech Thee
to bless and sanctify this house
and all who dwell therein
and everything else in it,
and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it
with all good things;
grant to them, O Lord,
the abundance of heavenly blessings
and from the richness of the earth
every substance necessary for life,
and finally direct their desires
to the fruits of Thy mercy.
At our entrance, therefore,
deign to bless and sanctify this house
as Thou didst deign to bless the house
of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob;
and may the angels of Thy light,
dwelling within the walk of this house,
protect it
and those who dwell therein.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

November 11, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

O Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. I adore You and love You with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with a holy fear and a great love for Him. Give me compunction and patience, and do not let me fall into sin.

Increase faith, hope, and charity in me and bring forth in me all the virtues proper to my state of life. Help me to grow in the four cardinal virtues, Your seven gifts, and Your twelve fruits.

Make me a faithful follower of Jesus, an obedient child of the Church, and a help to my neighbor. Give me the grace to keep the commandments and to receive the sacraments worthily. Raise me to holiness in the state of life to which You have called me, and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen

November 10, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Prayer for a Carer

Now I raise me up from sleep,
I thank the Lord who did me keep,
All through the night; and to Him pray
That He may keep me through the day.
All which for Jesus' sake, I say. Amen.

November 9, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Marriage Prayer

We thank you, O God,
for the Love You have implanted in our hearts.
May it always inspire us to be kind in our words,
considerate of feeling,
and concerned for each other's needs and wishes.
Help us to be understanding and forgiving
of human weaknesses and failings.
Increase our faith and trust in You
and may Your Prudence guide our life and love.
Bless our Marriage O God,
with Peace and Happiness,
and make our love fruitful for Your glory
and our Joy both here and in eternity.

Amen.

November 8, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Magnificat


My soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.
Glory be to the Father,
As it was in the beginning

Amen.

St. Luke I.

November 7, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Love prayer

God, my Father,
May I love You in all things and above all things.
May I reach the joy which
You have prepared for me in Heaven.
Nothing is good that is against Your Will,
and all that is good comes from Your Hand.
Place in my heart a desire to please You
and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love,
so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.

Amen.

November 6, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Lord, support us all day long
until shadows lengthen,
evening comes,
the busy world hushed,
the fever of life is over
and our life's work is done.
Amen.

November 5, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Friendship Prayer

Father, I ask you to bless my friend reading this right now! Lord, show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment.

Where there is pain, give them Your peace & mercy. Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them.

Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, & strength as they learn submission to Your leading.

Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You.

Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage.

Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friends' life.

Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them.

Give each of them discernment to recognize the demonic around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it.

I ask You to do these things in Jesus name!

November 4, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Fireman’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God,
wherever flames may rage,
give me strength to save a life,
whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child
before it is too late,
or save an older person from
the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert,
and hear the weakest shout,
quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling,
to give the best in me,
to guard my friend and neighbor,
and protect his property.
And if according to Your will
I must answer death's call,
bless with Your protecting hand,
my family one and all.
Amen.

November 3, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Disturbed Prayer

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

November 2, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for,
but eveything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Amen.

November 1, 2009

Here is today's prayer:

Anglican Collect for All Saints

Almighty God,
who hast knit together thine elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of Your Son, Christ our Lord:
Give us grace so to follow Your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living,
that we may come
to those ineffable joys
that thou hast prepared for those
who unfeignedly love thee;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Book of Common Prayer, 1979