Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve!
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears!
Turn then most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus!
O clement,
O loving
O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
The Rosary, a powerful weapon against the devil
The first “Hail Mary” was brought from Heaven
by Gabriel the Archangel, the messenger of Holy Trinity
The recent Apostolic Letter of John Paul II, “Rosarium Virginis Mariae” (released last October 16) encourages all Christians to turn back to the prayer strongly recommended both by the latest Pontiffs and recent Marian apparitions. Paul VI called the Rosary a compendium of the Gospel. To make it more complete, John Paul II added the ‘mysteries of light’ to cover Jesus’ public life. Padre Pio called the Rosary beads a weapon of extraordinary power against Satan.
One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism: “Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end.” The secret that makes this prayer so effective is that the Rosary is both prayer and meditation. It is addressed to the Father, to the Blessed Virgin, and to the Holy Trinity, and is a meditation centred on Christ.
Today more than ever, the world is in need of prayer and meditation. It is in need of prayer because people have forgotten God, and without God the world has put itself on the edge of a precipice. This is why in Her messages, Our Lady insists so much on prayer. Without God’s help, Satan wins. The world is also in need of meditation because if the great Christian truths are forgotten, souls become void. This void is grabbed up by the enemy, and he fills it with his lies. And today we see the results with widespread belief in superstition and occultism.
The most obvious danger for our society today is the downfall of the family. The rhythm of today’s world has broken the family unity. Little time is spent together, and even when the family is together, its members don’t speak because the television speaks. Where are the families which recite the Rosary together in the evenings? Pope Pius XII insisted in his own time: “If you pray the Rosary together, you will experience peace in your families; you will get on together.” “The family that prays together, stays together,” would say Father Peyton, the untiring apostle of the family Rosary. “Satan wants war,” Mary said one day in Medjugorje. Well, the Rosary is the weapon which is able to guarantee peace for the world, because it is a prayer and a form of meditation able to transform hearts and defeat the enemy.
review of the day
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This prayer of review is a short reflection back over the day, recalling events and taking note of your feelings. The purpose is to become more aware of the ways in which God has been present to you, the times when the Holy Spirit was drawing you towards life. Length: 8′ 20″ Download MP3 (7.6 MB) Download WMA (3.9 MB) |
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Thanks to the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in Glasgow for providing this recording,
and to Tom McGuinness SJ for the music.
courtesy of Pray as you go
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God, in three Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man and died for our sins and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
Act of Hope
O My God, relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
Act of Love
O my God, I love Thee above all things with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all mysins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the helpof Thy grace, to cnfess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
All Things Necessary to Salvation Prayer
Composed by Pope Clement, 1721
O my God, I believe in Thee, do Thou confirm my faith. I hope in Thee; do Thou strengthen my hope. I love Thee, teach me to love Thee daily more and more; I am sorry for having offended Thee; do Thou increase my sorrow.
I adore Thee as my first beginning; I seek Thee as my last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant benefactor: I call upon Thee as my sovereign protector.
Vouchsafe, O God, to direct me by Thy wisdom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me by Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power.
To Thee I wish to consecrate my thoughts, words, deeds and sufferings, that henceforth I may think of Thee, speak of Thee, refer all my actions to Thy greater glory, and suffer willilngly whatever Thou shalt decree.
Lord, I desire that They will may be done, because it is Thy will, in the manner Thou willest, and as long as Thou willest.
I beg of Thee to enlighten my understanding, to inspire my will, to purify my heart, and to sanctify my soul.
Give me strength, O God, to expiate my offenses, to resist all temptations, to subdue my evil passsions, and to practice the virtues belonging to my state of life.
Fill my heart with tender affection for Thy goodness, hatred of my faults, love for my neighbor, and contempt of the world.
Help me to be submissive to my superiors, charitable to my enemies, faithful to my friends, and considerate toward my inferiors.
Aid me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by almsdeeds, anger by meekness, and lukewarmness by fervor.
Oh my God, make me prudent in my undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in affliction, and humble in prosperity.
Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my resolutions.
Let my conscience be always upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my deportment regular.
Assist me to control my inordinate desires, to correspond with Thy grace, to keep Thy commandments, and obtain my salvation.
Make me realize, O God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.
Grant that I may prepare for death in fear of Thy judgment, and thus be saved from everlasting perdition, while firmly hoping to enjoy eternal happiness, through the merits of Jesus, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may be His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer Made with the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Prayer of Praise
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now and forevermore. Amen.
Prayer of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Contrition
O almighty and eternal God, in the presence of Thy divine Majesty, I humbly adore Thee and thank Thee for all Thy blessings. Grant me the grace to know how I have offended Thee, and to be truly sorry for my sins.
Prayer for Daily Neglects
(There is a pious story that soon after the death of a certain Poor Clare nun, she appeared to her Mother Superior – who was praying for her soul – and made the following revelation: ” I went straight to heaven because I paid all my debts by virtue of this prayer (below).” Please note that this prayer is not meant to take the place of making a sincere Confession. It is meant only as a prayer to foster true contrition and reparation.)
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with al its love, all its sufferings and all its merits.
To expiate all the sins I have committed this day and during all my life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
To purify the good I have done poorly this day and during all my life.
Glory be, etc.
To supply for the good I ought to have done, and that I have neglected this day and all my life.
Glory be, etc.
Daily Prayer of the Church
Visit our dwelling, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let Thy holy angels abide therein to preserve us in p eace, and may Thy blessing remain with us always, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace Before Meals
Sign of the Cross
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sign of the Cross
We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Mornning Prayers
Sign of the Cross
Blessed by the holy and undivided Trinity, now and forevermore. Amen.
O almighty and eternal God, in the presence of Thy divine Majesty, I humbly adore Thee and thank Thee for all Thy blessings. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, Who art infinitely good and worthy of all love.
I am resolved to avoid sin, especially my habitual sin, and to serve Thee faithfully. I beseech Thee, grnat me the grace that I may keep my resolution.
The Good Intention
O God of mercy, I offer Thee all my prayers, works and sufferings of this day in the holy name of Jesus, in honor of the Sacred Heart and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, for Thy greater honor and glory, and for the holy souls in purgatory.
A Short Form of the Good Intention
All for Thy greater honor and glory, O Most Precious Blood Of Jesus, and in union with the intentions for which Thou Blood was shed.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL
(HELP AGAINST SPIRITUAL ENEMIES)
Glorious St. Michael,
Prince of the heavenly hosts,
who standest always ready to give assistance
to the people of God;
who didst fight with the dragon,
the old serpent,
and didst cast him out of heaven,
and now valiantly defendest the Church of God
that the gates of hell may never prevail against her,
I earnestly entreat thee to assist me also,
in the painful and dangerous conflict
which I have to sustain against the same formidible foe.
Be with me, O mighty Prince!
that I may courageously fight
and wholly vanquish that proud spirit,
whom thou hast by the Divine Power,
so gloriously overthrown,
and whom our powerful King,
Jesus Christ, has,
in our nature,
so completely overcome;
to the end that having triumphed
over the enemy of my salvation,
I may with thee and the holy angels,
praise the clemency of God who,
having refused mercy
to the rebellious angels after their fall,
has granted repentance
and forgiveness to fallen man.
Amen
