7 Quick Takes — Favorite Prayers 12-18

So this week is spring break and I got busy with spring cleaning my office (read: dumping ancient files out of my filing cabinet with the hope that I will actually file instead instead of pile current stuff).   I think what I really need is one of those old fashioned post office mail sorting cabinets, so I can just file my current projects in their own little slot.  Anyway, in the process of spring break cleaning, I managed to get behind on my intention of sharing a daily favorite prayer each day during lent. So, here we go with seven little ones I really like:

1) The Sign of the Cross:

In the name of the Father,
of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit

while making the sign of the Cross over our body  (right handed, touching the forehead, belly-button, left shoulder, right shoulder.)  Many of our prayers start with the Sign of the Cross, (as one priest told the story, he used to thing of it as a toggle switch, prayer-on, prayer-off ) but it is a prayer in its own right.  It reminds us that we are Christ and in the Sign of the Cross we pledge once again to take up our own cross everyday and to follow Christ.  We are Christ’s and everything we do, we should do in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2) In that same spirit, I pray a little offering prayer every day:

I am all yours,
and everything I possess,
I offer to you, O lovable Jesus,
through Mary, your Holy Mother.

3) Another daily prayer, that I pray before all meals is:

Bless us O Lord,
and these Thy gifts
which we have received from thy bounty
Through Christ, our Lord
Amen.

4) And I pray for vocations:

O Jesus, eternal Shepherd of our souls,
send good laborers into your harvest.

5) When I drive, I usually pray the Guardian Angel prayer:

Angel of God, my guardian dear
to whom His love entrusts me here
ever this day (night) be at my side
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen

6) Also, I pray an Act of Love, to remind myself of the greatest of the commandments, which, in case you missed it, was the Gospel of the day today:

O my God,
I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul,
because you are all-good and worthy of all love.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You.
I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Amen.

7) And aware that all things come from God, a prayer I say repeatedly during the day, trusting in his promise:

By myself, I can do nothing
with You I can do all things
For love of You I want to do all things
To You be Honor and Glory
and to me, Heaven.

I hope everyone is having a blessed and fruitful Lenten season.

Favorite Prayers 11

One of the Daughters of St. Paul that I know just posted something on Facebook about singing a hymn Attende Domine at Mass this morning.  It happens to be one of my favorite hymns, although I only know the refrain part by heart:

Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.
Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi

which translates to:

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.
Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

Now that in itself is a beautiful prayer, especially this time of year. I love the haunting melody (and he who sings, prays twice)

The rest of the prayer translates as follows:

To Thee, highest King,
Redeemer of all,
do we lift up our eyes
in weeping:
Hear, O Christ, the prayers
of your servants.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

Right hand of the Father,
corner-stone,
way of salvation,
gate of heaven,
wash away our
stains of sin.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

We beseech Thee, God,
in Thy great majesty:
Hear our groans
with Thy holy ears:
calmly forgive
our crimes.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

To Thee we confess
our sins admitted
with a contrite heart
We reveal the things hidden:
By Thy kindness, O Redeemer,
overlook them.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

The Innocent, seized,
not refusing to be led;
condemned by false witnesses
because of impious men
O Christ, keep safe those
whom Thou hast redeemed.

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, because we have sinned against Thee.

Now for a taste of a more modern version of the prayer, check out the Daughters of St. Paul Choir on Facebook and perhaps purchase a track or two …

Favorite Prayers 10

Ever wonder why the church bells at St. Bernard (and many other Catholic Churches) ring that odd pattern of bell-tolls at noon and at 6pm?  You know, three rings … pauze;  three rings…pauze;  three rings…pauze; and then nine strokes of continuous ringing?  It is a Christian call to prayer.  Traditionally it is rung at 6am, noon and 6pm … but in some places city ordinances prohibit the 6am bell-ringing.  It is a time to stop and pray the Angelus:

The Angelus

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

(Hail Mary)

V. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”
R. “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

(Hail Mary)

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt amongst us.

(Hail Mary)

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 by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

 

Favorite Prayers 9

Since it is Saturday, a day traditionally dedicated to Mary, thought I would share one of my favorite Marian prayers … especially beautiful when chanted in Latin:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
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.

V. Pray for us O holy Mother of God,
R. that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Here are two chant versions of this beautiful prayer:

Favorite Prayers 8

I will be meeting with a students who hopes to be confirmed at the Confirmation for Adults at the end of April.  Made me think of this prayer:

Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

 

Favorite Prayers 7

One of my favorite Psalms is Ps. 63 which I always pray sometime near the beginning of a visit to the Blessed Sacrament.  The line I love the most as I gaze on Jesus present in the monstrance on the altar is “So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.” 

Our God is powerfully present.  If you long for him like a dry weary land without water, all you need do is stop by and make a visit!

 

 

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life.
My lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life.
In your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet.
My mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen

Favorite Prayers 6

Well, I was going to close the series with this one … and I may repeat this prayer at the end  anyway, but considering it was today’s reading, I decided to use it for today’s favorite prayer installment:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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.

If you want to read an interesting round-up of posts on the Our Father, check out this compilation of  meditations on each word of the prayer on Jennifer Fulwiler’s blog The Conversion Diary.

Favorite Prayers 5

One of my longtime favorite prayers is a prayer for the dying of the day.  Since my mom was diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer, this prayer has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  No longer is is just an abstract prayer for all those who are dying, but it has become a personal prayer for a peaceful death for someone I love.

O Saint Joseph,
foster-father of Jesus Christ
and true spouse of the Virgin Mary
Pray for us,
and for the dying of this day.

Amen

Favorite Prayers 4

If you are Catholic, you have prayed it.  If you went to Catholic school, you probably started or ended the day with it. Even, in high school when I had drifted away from the Church, if I got anxious or nervous or had a bout of insomnia, I would hold on to this prayer:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
and blessed it the fruit of your womb, Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners, now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

A funny but true story: I prayed this prayer wrong until I moved to the States and heard it in English for the first time.  You see, in Dutch the word for sinners is “zondaars”, but  instead of “zondaars” I prayed “zondags” which means “on Sundays.”  I always thought it odd that we asked that Mary to pray only on Sundays … because then, how did the “now and in the hour of our death” fit in.  Ah well, I finally learned the right words and it is a wonderfully powerful prayer to request Mary’s intercession.

Favorite Prayers 3

This is probably the first prayer I learned by heart after the Our Father and the Hail Mary. I read it as a teenager, and it just moved and comforted me.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O Good Jesus, hear me
Within thy wounds, hide me
Never let me be separated from thee
From the evil enemy, defend me
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to thee
That with thy saints I may praise thee
Forever and ever, Amen.

 
 
 
 
For a wonderful little book on this prayer, with meditations on each line, check out Anima Christi  by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C. from Ignatius Press.