Apostleship of Prayer

February 2010

God of my fathers, Lord of mercy, you who have made all things by your word, with you is Wisdom. Send her forth from your holy heavens and from your glorious throne dispatch her that she may be with me and work with me, that I may know what is your pleasure. For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory.

- from Solomon's prayer, Wisdom 9: 1-11

January 2010

Lord, pour out upon us the fullness of your mercy, and by the power of your Spirit remove divisions among Christians. Let your Church rise more clearly as a sign for all the nations that the world may be filled with the light of your Spirit and believe in Jesus Christ whom you have sent, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

- From the Mass for Unity of Christians

December 2009

Blessed Mary, you promised the children of Fatima that "in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph." May it be so! May love triumph over hatred, solidarity over division, and peace over violence. May the love you bore your Son teach us to love God with all our hearts. May Jesus bless the children who suffer throughout the world with health and peace. Most of all, may they know that they are loved with a boundless love: the love of Christ which surpasses all understanding.

- from a prayer of Pope Benedict at Caritas Children's Hospital in Bethlehem, 2009

November 2009

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

- attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

October 2009

Father, you will your Church to be the sacrament of salvation for all peoples. Make us feel more urgently the call to work for the salvation of all, until you have made us all one people. Inspire the hearts of all your people to continue the saving work of Christ everywhere until the end of the world.

- From the Votive Mass for the Spread of the Gospel

September 2009

Lord, inspire us to read your scriptures and to meditate upon them day and night. We beg you to give us real understanding of what we need, that we in turn may put its precepts into practice. Yet we know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So we ask that the words of scriptures may also be not just signs on a page, but channels of grace into our hearts.

- A Prayer from the Early Church Father Origen Adamantius (185-254)

August 2009

God, our Father, your Son Jesus became a refugee and a homeless person. Look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry. Bless those who work to help them. Make us all generous and guide the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- from www.invitationtoprayer.org

July 2009

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen the love and commitment of your people in Jerusalem and the Holy Land in this time of uncertainty and challenge. May they abide in your promise: "'Peace I leave with you: My peace I give you.'" we pray for peace with justice in the Middle East, healing for the wounded and broken hearted, and dignity for all. Amen.

June 2009

Lord Jesus, you foretold that we would share in the persecutions that brought you to a violent death.

The Church formed at the cost of your precious blood is even now conformed to your Passion; may it be transformed, now and eternally, by the power of your resurrection.

-Psalm-Prayer from the Breviary

May 2009

O God, Who wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, grant we beseech You through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Saint Joseph, her spouse, Blessed Junipero Serra, and all the saints, an increase of laborers for your Church, fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls, through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

- Serra Prayer for Vocations

April 2009

All-powerful Father,God of goodness, you provided for all your creation.

Give us an effective love for our brothers and sisters who suffer from lack of food. Help us do all we can to relieve their hunger, that they may serve you with carefree hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

- from the "Mass for those who Suffer from Famine"

March 2009

Father, I pray that Catholics in China may renew their communion in our Lord Jesus Christ in faithfulness to the Pope. May they receive Your grace to love their enemies and rejoice that, though they may suffer trials, their faith, like gold tested by fire, may redound to praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. May Catholics throughout the world show solidarity with the Chinese Church through their prayers and works.

-Adapted from Pope Benedict XVI's Letter to the Church in China

February 2009

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Protectress of Africa, show us Jesus, Son of God and your Son. Guide our path of conversion, so that Jesus will let his glory shine in and on us in all the places of our personal, family, and social life.

Mother, filled with Mercy and Justice, through your docility to the Spirit of Consolation, obtain the grace for us to be the witnesses of the Risen Lord that we may become the salt of the earth and light of the world.

Mother of Perpetual Help, to your maternal intercession we entrust the preparation and fruits of the Second Synod for Africa. Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Africa, pray for us!

--from Prayer for the Preparation of the 2^nd African Synod

January 2009

God, indivisible Trinity of love, you created us in your image. May husbands and wives unite and raise children in your loving way. We ask that all families find inspiration in the Holy Family of Nazareth and pass along to their children humane and Christian values, establishing a strong foundation for a more loving society.

-Adapted from the prayer for the 6th World Meeting of Families

www.wmf2009.com

December 2008

O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life.
Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.

--concluding prayer of Pope John Paul II's encyclical The Gospel of Life

November 2008

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. You are glorified in your saints, for their glory is the crowning of your gifts. In their lives on earth, you give us an example. In our communion with them, you give us their friendship. In their prayer for the Church you give us strength and protection. This great company of witnesses spurs us on to victory, to share their prize of everlasting glory. May we imitate their lives of service and daily give you all honor and glory. Amen.

October 2008

Father, I can't understand Your Word without Your grace. I acknowledge my weakness so Your power can reach perfection in me (2 Cor 12:9).

Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth (Jn 14:26; 16:13).

May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me (see Lk 8:15-16). Amen.

September 2008

Lord, no one is a stranger to you, and no one is ever far from your loving care.

In your kindness, watch over refugees and exiles, those separated from their loved ones, young people who are lost, and those who have left or run away from home.

Bring them back safely to the place where they long to be and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and those in need.

--from the Votive Mass for Refugees and Exiles

August 2008

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

(from St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun)

July 2008
Official World Youth Day Prayer

God Our Father, we consecrate to you the World Youth Day in Sydney. Guide and protect Pope Benedict and all the leaders of the Church. Inspire and direct all those leading and planning the World Youth Day. Unite and protect them by your fatherly care.

Lord Jesus Christ, before you ascended to the Father, you promised to send your Holy Spirit so that we might be your witnesses to the end of the earth. Bless and multiply the efforts of all our staff and volunteers. Help us to take up our cross and follow you under the heavenly sign of the Southern Cross.

Holy Spirit, pour out your grace on this Great South Land of the Holy Spirit and grant to us a New Pentecost. Make of this land a true place of welcome for the young people of the world. Grant to those young people who come conversion of life, a deeper faith, and love for all. Enable them to build a new civilization of life, love, and truth. Make them true witnesses to your power and grace. Amen.

June 2008
Official prayer for the Eucharistic Congress in Quebec

God our Father, we bless you and give you thanks for your Son Jesus, the gift of your love for the life of the world.

Watch over your Church as it celebrates in joy and hope the 49th International Eucharistic Congress.

Renew our faith in the Holy Eucharist, the memorial of your Son's death and resurrection.

May your Holy Spirit shed light upon us and grant us strength to serve as faithful witnesses to the Gospel.

Nourish us with your Word and your Bread of Life so that united with Mary, Mother of your Divine Son and Mother of the Church, we will bear much fruit for the salvation of the world.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

May 2008

O Mary,
Star of the New Evangelization,
make us the light of the world.
We receive Christ in the Eucharist;
help us to build His Kingdom in the world.

Teach us to do whatever He tells us.
May our study of His life lead us to love Him and our love for Him lead us to imitate Him.

If we are what we should be,
we will set the world ablaze.
We ask your intercession to make this so, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

--From the Collegium Center for Faith and Culture

April 2008

O Jesus, eternal High Priest, I pray for all seminarians, Your future priests. Give them humility, meekness, prudence, and a burning zeal for souls. Fill their hearts with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to know and love the Church, that they may always and everywhere speak, act, and think with her. Teach them generosity and detachment from the things of this world. But above all, teach them to know You and love You, the one and only eternal priest. Good Shepherd of souls, hear this my prayer for saintly priests. Amen.

March 2008

You have favored, O Lord, your land; You have forgiven the guilt of your people; You have covered all their sins. Show us, O Lord, your kindness,
And grant us your salvation. I will hear what God proclaims- The Lord-for he proclaims peace
To his people, and to his faithful ones, And to those who put in him their hope. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, Glory dwelling in our land. Kindness and truth shall meet; Justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And justice shall look down from heaven.

(from Psalm 85)

February 2008

O Father, we ask you to bless us, and keep us in your love. May L'Arche be a true home, where the poor in Spirit may find life. Lord, give us hearts that are open,
hearts that are humble and gentle,
so that we may welcome those you send, with tenderness and compassion. Lord, through the hands of your little ones, we ask you to bless us. Through the eyes of those who are rejected,
we ask you to smile on us. Lord, on the day of your coming,
welcome all people into your Kingdom. Amen.

(adapted from the L'Arche prayer)

January 2008

Lord of unity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we pray without ceasing that we may be one as You are one. We give thanks give thanks for the abundant fruits of this unceasing prayer for unity in Christ rising up from all the continents. Father, hear us as we seek You. Christ, draw us to the unity which is your will for us. Holy Spirit, may we never lose heart. Amen.

(adapted from materials provided by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity)

December 2007

O good and gracious God of health and wholeness, in the plan of your creation you call us to struggle in our sickness and to cling always to the cross of your Son. Many of us are now suffering with HIV or AIDS. We come before you and ask you to take this suffering away. If it is your holy will, restore us to health and lead us to know you and your powerful healing love of body and spirit. We ask you also to be with those of us who nurse your sick ones. We are the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, and friends of your suffering people. Help us to minister in loving care, support, and patience for your people who suffer with HIV and AIDS. Amen.

(adapted prayer of the National African American
Catholic HIV/AIDS Task Force)

November 2007

Come, Holy Spirit! You breathed over the waters at the dawn of creation and brought forth all living beings. By the breath of the Risen Lord, You filled the
apostles with power to restore life to those dead in sin. On the last day You will breathe over all the dead and raise them from their graves. Come and breathe on our world today, Spirit of Life, and defeat the works of death in our midst. We worship You, and we trust in You. No matter how strong the forces of death, we know we can find endless life in You. Renew that life in each of us, and make us worthy apostles of life in our day! Amen.

(adapted from priestsforlife.org)

October 2007

O St. Therese of the Child Jesus, we fly to you with heartfelt affection. We ask you to place under your special protection those who travel far to declare the Good News.
In your earthly life you followed these heroic souls with special love. Now that you are in heaven and see Jesus face to face, please pray for them. May missionaries bring many souls to Jesus, redeeming them by his precious blood. Sustain them in their many labors. Comfort them in their sorrows. And offer your fervent prayers to God
for the salvation of those who hear their words. O glorious St. Therese, heavenly patroness of the missions, copatroness of the Apostleship of Prayer, hear and answer us. Amen.

(Adapted from the Raccolta)

September 2007

Merciful Lord Jesus, our Savior, look down with pity upon the prayers and sighs of your unworthy and sinful servants who humble have recourse to you, and unite us all again in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Shed upon our souls your inextinguishable light.

Cause all religious discord to disappear; grant us to praise you, with one heart and one voice, so that all may know we are your faithful followers and beloved children.

Most Merciful Lord,
hasten the fulfillment of your promise that there would be but one flock and one Shepherd in your Church. Grant that we may be made worthy to praise your holy name always, now and forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.

(Blessed Leonid Feodorov, 1879 - 1935, Exarch (Bishop) of the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church)

August 2007

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably
happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

July 2007

O St. Therese, Patroness of Missions, take under your care the generous souls who declare by their words and actions the redemption accomplished for all by the Lord Jesus Christ. Let them be filled with the Spirit of God; let their hearts burn with the love of Jesus Christ and of their neighbor.

Missionaries freely forsake their families and native land. Help them bring many into God�s family in heaven. With great courage they face sacrifice, painful toil, dangers, and even death itself. Let them lead many into the peace and love of God.

St. Therese, now that you are in heaven and seeing Jesus face to face, please intercede for them. With your help may they bring many souls to Jesus. Amen.

(Adapted from The Raccolta)

June 2007

Father, I abandon myself into Your hands; do with me what You will. Whatever You may do, I thank You.

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only Your will be done in me and in all Your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into Your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to You, with all the love of my heart, for I love You, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for You are my Father.

(Blessed Charles de Foucauld's "Prayer of Abandonment")