Prayers
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as 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. (For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever). Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now at the hour of our death. Amen.
Prayer of Praise
Glory 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.
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kinkdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one god in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your 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 you revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
Act of Love
O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I l ove my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended you; and I detest, through all my sins, because of your just punishment. But most of all, because they have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly intend, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
Prayer to Your Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
My Jesus Lord, I commit myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family, that this Lenten Season may renew our faith filled community. Today, I will think about the difficulties I have faced in my life, making it a point to see where you have given me Wisdom in these struggles.
I thank you for moving my vision from how tough these times were, to what I have learned from them. I renew my trust in you, and ask you to increase my Wisdom that I might look for your loving hand in times of difficulty.
I know that your gift of Wisdom is different from just being smart, but enables me to see more as You see. The wise person knows that Good Friday will be followed by Easter Sunday. Increase my concern for those who are struggling and guide me to compassionately care for them.
I ask your blessing Lord upon our Church, and today I ask you to send this same Wisdom to our parish family members who are struggling, that they may know of our prayers and concern for them. Strengthen all of us that we may come through our trials to Christ's Easter Victory.
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Wisdom. ~A m e n~
My Jesus Lord, I commit myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family, that this Lenten Season may renew our faith filled community. Today, I will think about the times I have struggled to interpret your will, wanting answers and seeking solutions, instead of trusting you. I pray for the gift of Understanding, knowing that you shed light where I have noticed only darkness. I renew my trust in you, and th.ank you for hearing me. Help me to accept that I will not always possess clear insight in times of difficulty.
I know that your gift of Understanding allows me to get to the bottom of each worry, and enables me to catch a glimpse of your mysterious plan for our world. May I imitate Saint Francis of Assi, who asked that he not so much be understood as understand. Help me to bring peace to those around me in times of confusion, doubt or frustration. Today may I be happy that you send this same Understanding to comfort our parish family members, that they may know of our prayers and receive this same peace. Strengthen all of us that we may come through our doubts to Christ's Easter Victory..
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Understanding. ~A m e n~
My Jesus Lord, I commit myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family, that this Lenten Season may renew our faith filled community. Today, I will think about decisions I have made and those I plan to make. Help me to seek yourCounsel, especially when I lean toward a hasty decision based on rash judgemnts.
I pray for Counsel, knowing that you spent years making the Grand Canyon; waited countless generations before sending your only Son to be our Savior, and especially I will keep in mind that Scripture often speaks of how slow you are to anger. I know that your gift of Counsel allows me to receive your advice whenever I need it. To see things as you would have me see, without prejudice or resentment. To be patient and to make good choices. Today, I pray for our parish family, that each of us receive the gift of Counsel especially about our biggest life decisions: Vocation, family, and career. That we might, just as eagerly, ask for your advice, as we do a raise or wish for material wealth.
Strengthen all of us to remember to make our choices with your Counsel and so come to share Christ's Easter Victory.
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Counsel. ~A m e n~
My Jesus Lord, I commit myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family, that this Lenten Season may renew our faith filled community. Today, I will think about what I know, particularly what I know how to do. Your gift of Knowledge helps me to know that which is truly important and that which is not. I am aware that Scripture tells me that "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" and I believe that the Spirit does not reveal things merely to satisfy my idle curiosity.
Help me to really use your gift of Knowledge by leading me to charity in my actions. When I say "Jesus is Lord of my Life" enlighten me to know how I may love all that You have made. This day allow me to accomplish one concrete act of charity and then pray about what are the most important things in my life.
I pray for our parish family, that Your gift of Knowledge blossom in our charitable actions toward our families, in our community and truly all of Your creation. May those things we know how to do begin with loving the least of Your little ones. May the gift of Knowledge inspire each of us to notice and serve the least among us and so come to share Christ's Easter Victory.
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Knowledge ~A m e n~
My Jesus Lord, I commit myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family that this Lenten Season may renew our faith filled community. Today, I will examine my heart. Particularly I will think about the times I have lacked confidence, been fearful, or taken flight in the face of danger. Sometimes I am afraid to face danger or illness because I am relying on my own resources, or my own strength. Sometimes I walk away from that which I could better attend by direct confrontation.
I pray for the gift of Courage to stand up for you and with you. To speak the words you may need me to say without worry or concern for what others might think. Courage reminds me I am not alone. Your gift of Courage enables me to see where my real strength lies: God is my strength, God indeed is my Savior, I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my Courage is the Lord. Help me to bring my difficulties before you in prayer, that we may face any opponent, danger or weakness together. May the sincerity of my prayer and my concern for others allow me to count on your gift of Courage.
I pray for our parish family, that we might be hope for those in darkness. That those paralyzed by fear might find in our presence this same Courage in the face of uncertainty. May we be a light that strengthens the weak and emboldens the fearful. May each of us have bold hearts to proclaim your love always. May this Courage remind us that you are present with us everywhere and fortified with this strength may we come to share Christ's Easter Victory.
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Courage ~A m e n~
My Jesus Lord, I commit myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family that this Lenten Season may renew our faith filled community. Today, I will place myself at the foot of you Holy Cross. I recall, standing here, that you are my Savior, and I am the one of saved. I know how much I need your gift of Reverence to enable me to act in the light of this reality and to show my gratitude for your dying for me.
Sometimes I know I forget who is who, when I loose this perspective I know I become childish, demanding and insisting on my own way. You died for my sins, might I be aware of the loving relationship that gives us?
Your gift of Reverence places me confidently in your Holy and loving embrace. As I look up to your tortured and blood stained face, on your Holy Cross, I wish to show my gratitude by my piety and devotion. May I think of you all during my day. May I be moved to talk to you as a friend often. May each day include time when I show you how grateful I am for your graces bestowed freely, lovingly and so immeasurably generously upon me.
I pray for our parish family, that we might be truly grateful for a beautiful community of prayer in which to show our respect, love and thankfulness. Each time we come together, our voices in prayer, our hands clasped in a sign of peace and joined as our smallest parishoners do praying "The Lord's Prayer" migh we please you with sincere praise.
God of Reverence, you are always in loving relationship with your creation. May you Holy Spirit of Reverence place our parish family in your loving embrace as you prepare us to share Christ's Easter Victory.
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Reverence ~A m e n~
My Jesus Lord, I've committed myself to daily prayer, along with all of my parish family, this Lent. I am grateful for the renewal in faith you have brought about. In participating in this renewal, I am amazed how much time I really have to pray! I am most especially thankful for you helping me direct my thoughts to you and your plan for our parish and world. Each week as I opened the particular gift of the Spirit, you gave me strength and called me to walk with you and expect your daily help. I am more aware of your presence and have a clearer view of how, the two of us together, walk through my life, empowered with faith, to greet each new day. Finally, this Holy Week, I opened your seventh precious gift, and saw Wonder and Awe in God's Presence.
In order to wonder or be amazed, it takes time and leisure. To take time to see God's beauty around me. To see the beauty in a blade of grass, a baby's hand, or a loved one's face. I will take time today to recall the last time I said wow! Knowing that you give me each moment as a gift to enjoy your creation, I will also recall the words of those who came down the path with you to golgatha, "Surely this man is the son of God." I will recall the words of the angel who consoled the disciples saying, "why do you look for the living among the dead?" And I will remember that your death on the cross gave me the gift of eternity, all the time I could ever imagine.
Help me to experience the Wonder and Awe in God's Presence that Thomas did when he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God." I pray for our parish family, may all of us notice the beauty in each person we meet, in each face we greet, and each prayer of hope we speak in praise of our God dwelling in the hearts of your people renewed by this 40 day Lenten retreat. God of wonder and awe, may we simply stand back and take time to admire all you are, all you have done, and still may we be eager for all you plan to do as we celebrate Holy Week with Wonder and Awe in God's Presence, that you may prepare us to share Christ's Easter Victory.
May God Bless Our Parish Family with Wonder and Awe in God's Presence ~Amen ~