O Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima
and reveal a glorious message.
We implore you,
inspire in our hearts a fervent love
for the recitation of the Rosary.
By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption
that are recalled therein
may we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask,
through the merits of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Redeemer.
May 13, 2019
May 12, 2019
God our creator,
we come before You
and lift up in prayer all mothers,
grandmothers, stepmothers and mothers to be
who gave the gift of life.
We give you thanks for their presence,
talents and gifts which they share in our church,
society and world.
May all mothers know of Your loving
and gentle presence
and may they always turn towards You
in times of joy, sorrow and glory.
We ask this in Your Name.
Amen.
May 11, 2019
O God, give me Your Holy Spirit,
to enlighten me, to correct me
and to guide me in the way of Your commandments
and in all perfection,
the while I look for the happiness of heaven,
where we shall glorify You for ever and ever.
Amen.
May 10, 2019
All praise to You, O God, this night
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep us, we pray, O King of kings,
Beneath Your own almighty wings.
Forgive us, Lord, through Christ your Son,
Whatever wrong this day we've done;
Your peace give to the world, O Lord,
That we might live in one accord.
Enlighten us, O blessed Light,
and give us rest throughout this night.
O strengthen us, that for Your sake,
We all may serve You when we wake.
May 9, 2019
You govern your creation, O God,
and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands.
Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work
that will enhance their human dignity
and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom.
Enable them to provide for those confided to their care
for the betterment of human life.
We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus
who labored with his own hands while he lived on earth.
Amen.
May 8, 2019
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,
keep me close to Your Heart;
and should I die,
in the morning breaks,
may I go rejoicing
in that vision of Your entrancing beauty,
never to be separated from You.
Amen.
May 7, 2019
Ever glorious and blessed Mary,
Queen of Virgins,
Mother of Mercy,
hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls,
through that sword of sorrow
which pierced your tender heart
while your only Son,
Christ Jesus, our Lord,
suffered death on the cross;
through that tenderness
and pure love He had for you,
grieving in your grief,
while from His cross He recommended you
to the care and protection
of His beloved disciple, St. John,
take pity, I beseech you,
have compassion on my anxieties and cares;
assist and comfort me
in all my infirmities and miseries,
of what kind so ever.
May 6, 2019
Wise and compassionate God, accept this our prayer;
Sheltered from storm and darkness, under this roof,
This family kneels to adore You.
For the day just past,
For keeping us safely, body and soul,
Now we most humbly thank You.
For the good black earth and the seeds producing
The plenteous harvest; for times without number
When we have eaten of that same harvest,
We thank You and bless You forever.
Deliver us safely, if such be Your will,
From deluge and drought,
From famine and war and disaster.
Give us tomorrow, as yesterday and today,
All things most needed for rightful living;
And move our hearts that we may have sorrow for sinning against You.
God of the hearth and the harvest,
Your children, here kneeling, adore You.
Bless now our rest
And cherish us safe until tomorrow.
Amen.
May 5, 2019
Sing praise to our Lord, for He is gracious,
it is fitting to praise Him.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
sing praise with the harp to our God,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
who provides rain for the earth;
Who makes grain sprout on the mountains
and herbs for the service of men;
Who gives food to the cattle,
and to the young ravens when they cry to
In the strength of the steed He delights not,
nor is He pleased with the fleshness of men.
The Lord is pleased with those who fear Him,
and with those who hope for His kindness.
May 4, 2019
Oh, St. Joseph,
whose protection is so great,
so strong, so prompt before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interest and desires.
Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession,
and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power,
I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you,
and Jesus asleep in your arms;
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press Him in my name
and kiss His fine head for me
and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departed souls, pray for me.
May 3, 2019
O God, Who gladdens us by the yearly festival day
of Your Apostles Philip and James;
grant we beseech You
that we who rejoice in their merits,
may be taught by their examples.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one world without end.
Amen.
May 2, 2019
Do you know, sweet Mary,
Whereto I aspire?
It is my hope to love You,
This is my desire.
I would ever be near You,
Queen most fair and sweet!
Do not, do not drive me
From my Mother's feet.
Then, O Rose most lovely!
Let me hear from You.
Loving Mother! tell me
What thou wilt of me.
More I cannot offer,
Lo! I bring my heart;
Lovingly I give it,
Never from You to part.
Lady, please take it,
It is no longer mine:
Long since you loved it,
And its love was thine!
Do not, then, forsake me,
Mother of sweet Love,
Till one day you see me
Safe in Heaven above.
May 1, 2019
O Mary, countless people have known
the overflowing joy of the mercy
which the Father has given us in Christ.
In the particular Churches throughout the world,
and still more in this center of Christianity,
the widest array of people have accepted this gift.
Here the enthusiasm of the young rang out,
here the sick have lifted up their prayer.
Here have gathered priests and religious,
workers and people of learning,
children and adults,
and all have acknowledged in your beloved Son
the Word of God made flesh in your womb.
O Mother, intercede for us,
that the fruits of this Year will not be lost
and that the seeds of grace will grow
to the full measure of the holiness
to which we are all called.
April 30, 2019
Blessed are You, Lord God,
ruler of all creation
and Father of us all:
we praise You for Your loving care.
Help us in our time of sorrow
and lift us when we are crushed,
for we entrust our life into Your hands, Father,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
April 29, 2019
O omnipotent Father,
God of truth, God of love,
permit me to enter into the cell of self-knowledge.
I admit that of myself I am nothing,
but that all being and goodness in me
comes solely from You.
Show me my faults,
that I may detest my malice,
and thus I shall flee from self-centeredness
and find myself clothed again
in the nuptial robe of divine charity,
which I must have in order to be admitted
to the nuptials of life eternal.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.