BASIC CATHOLIC PRAYERS
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
OUR FATHER
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.
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, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
GLORY BE
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it
was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell;
the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into
Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from thence He shall come 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 life
everlasting. Amen.
ACT OF FAITH
O MY GOD, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in Three Divine
Persons, Father, Son and 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 almighty power and infinite mercy 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 CHARITY
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 the love of Thee. I forgive all who have
injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
ACT OF CONTRITION 1
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.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION VERSION 2
Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my
youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body;
my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins; the sins I know, the sins I do
not know; the sins I have concealed for so long, and which are now
hidden from my memory. I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and
venial, for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded Thy Tender Heart, O My Savior, let
me be freed from the bonds of evil through the most bitter Passion of
My Redeemer. Amen. O My Jesus, forget and forgive what I have
been. Amen.
THE MORNING OFFERING
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary
[here kiss your Scapular as sign of your consecration to Mary,
which carries a partial indulgence], I offer Thee the Precious
Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining
with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.
O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit
I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate,
that she may best apply them in the interests of They Most
Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Immaculate Heart of
Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
SPECIAL MORNING PRAYERS
FATIMA MORNING OFFERING
O JESUS, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my
prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be
they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners,
and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
OFFERING OF DAILY ACTIONS
ETERNAL FATHER, by virtue of Your generosity and love, I ask
that You accept all my actions, and that You multiply their value in
favor of every Soul in Purgatory. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
SHORT MORNING OFFERINGS
My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and to make
reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I
consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose never
to sin again. Dear Lord, I could never vie with Thee in generosity,
but I love Thee; deign to accept my poor heart, and though it is worth
nothing, yet it may become something by Thy grace. Since it loves
Thee, do Thou make it good and take it into Thy custody. I will extol
Thee, O God, my King, and I will bless Thy Name forever and ever.
Take O Lord, all my liberty. receive my memory, my understanding
and my whole will. All that I am, all that I have, Thou hast given me,
and I restore it all to Thee, to be disposed of according to Thy good
pleasure. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I am rich
enough, and I desire nothing more.
OFFERING TO THE HOLY TRINITY
MOST Holy and Adorable Trinity, One God in Three Persons, I
praise Thee and give Thee thanks for all the favors Thou has
bestowed upon me. Thy goodness has preserved me until now, I offer
Thee my whole being and in particular, all my thoughts, words, and
deeds, together with all the trials I may undergo this day. Give them
Thy blessing.May Thy divine Love animate them and may they serve
Thy greater glory.
I make this morning offering in union with the Divine intentions of
Jesus Christ Who offers himself daily in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, and in union with Mary, His Virgin Mother and our Mother,
who was always the faithful handmaid of the Lord. Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL: SHORT VERSION
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our hour of conflict; Be our
safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God
restrain Him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the
Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast Satan into Hell, and with
him all the other evil spirits, who wander through the world, for the
ruin of souls. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL: LONGER VERSION
PRAYER AGAINST SATAN and THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF H. H. POPE LEO XIII
The Holy Father exhorts priests to say this prayer as often as
possible, as a simple exorcism to curb the power of the devil and
prevent him from doing harm. The faithful also may say it in their
own name, for the same purpose, as any approved prayer. Its use is
recommended whenever action of the devil is suspected, causing
malice in men, violent temptations and even storms and various
calamities. It could be used as a solemn exorcism (an official and
public ceremony, in Latin), to expel the devil: It would then be said
by a priest, in the name of the Church and only with the Bishop's
permission.
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the
Archangel. defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers,
against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of
wickedness in the high places" (Ephes. 6:12). Come to the assistance
of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has
redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church
venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has
entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray
therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he
may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer
our prayers unto the Most High, that without delay they may draw
His mercy down upon us; take hold of "the dragon, the old serpent,
which is the devil and Satan." Bind him and cast him into the
bottomless pit "so that he may no longer seduce the nations" (Apoc.
20:2).
OFFERING OF LOVE AND PRAISE
Variation of a Prayer Recited by St. Gerard Majella
MY GOD, I make the intention of offering to Thee as many acts of
love and praise as the Blessed Virgin, all the Saints and Angels, as
well as all the faithful on earth have ever made. I desire to love Thee
as much as Jesus Christ loves Thee. I wish to renew these acts at
every pulsation of my heart.
PRAYER TO REDEEM LOST TIME
O MY GOD! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Thy sovereign
power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that
Thou, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am,
yet I firmly believe that Thou can do all things. Please restore to me
the time lost, giving me Thy grace, both now and the future, that I
may appear before Thee in "wedding garments." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE GRACE FROM
ALL THE WORLD'S MASSES:
Eternal Father, we humbly offer Thee our poor presence, and that of
the whole of humanity, from the beginning to the end of the world at
all the Masses that ever have or ever will be prayed. We offer Thee
all the pains, sufferings, prayers, sacrifices, joys, and relaxations of
our lives, in union with those of our Lord Jesus here on earth. May
the Most Precious Blood of Christ, all His Blood, Wounds, and
Agony save us, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of
Mary. Amen.
[This prayer should be recited daily, and be made known.]
THE DAILY PRACTICE OF ADOPTING
AN UNKNOWN DYING SOUL
God's mercy is so abundant that He wants to shower it upon earth.
He sent His only Son, Our Lord to redeem sinners at the cost of
Calvary. Christ would have died on that Cross to redeem but one
soul, yet the One Sacrifice was sufficient for all. Redemption,
however, does not suffice for salvation, as St. Paul warns us to work
out our salvation "in fear and trembling." With the great Apostasy
predicted by the Apostle to the Gentiles come upon us in these last
days many souls are going to Hell: they either do not know how, or
cannot pray for themselves.
But Jesus Christ is waiting and now is the acceptable time, if only we,
who do believe and do pray would only make it a daily habit of
unfathomable charity and mercy, to spiritually adopt an unknown
dying sinner, asking God for the grace for that person to repent or ask
for mercy in his last moments. As a pledge of our fidelity and trust in
Christ's mercy, all we have to do is ask through our prayer offering,
perhaps, if so moved, to offer the intention of our entire day, or to
forego one small pleasure that is licit in exchange [not necessary but
a gracious little work]; at the very least we should make the intention
of bearing one inconvenience that day with more patience than is our
usual wont, for the repentance of that soul.
Any formula of prayer can be used, but for those who prefer an
assist, here is a short invocation that can be said for that soul:
A PRAYER FOR THE DYING AND A SPECIAL SOUL
O MOST MERCIFUL JESUS, lover of souls, I beseech Thee, by the
agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine
Immaculate Mother, wash clean in the Thy Blood the sinners of the
whole world who are to die this day. Remember most especially the
soul I spiritually adopt with the intention of entrusting him or her to
Thy Shepherd's care: I beseech Thee for the grace to move this
sinner, who is in danger of going to Hell, to repent. I ask this because
of my
trust in Thy great mercy. If it should please Thy Majesty to send me a
suffering this day in exchange for the grace I ask for this soul, then,
it, too, shall please me very much, and I thank Thee, Most Sweet
Jesus,
Shepherd and Lover of Souls; I thank Thee for this opportunity to
give mercy in thanksgiving for all the mercies Thou hast shown me.
Amen. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying.
GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER
O MOST holy Angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I
give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed
on me in body and soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou
condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend
me against all the assaults of my enemy.Blessed be the hour in which
thou were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron.
In acknowledgment and return for all thy loving ministries to me, I
offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, and firmly
purpose to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my
God. Amen.
O my good Angel, whom God, by His Divine mercy, hath appointed
to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me
this day. Amen.
PRAYER FOR DAILY NEGLECTS
PENANCE: The Sacrament by which, as a repentant sinner, I receive
forgiveness of even mortal sins, and thus become again a living
member of Christ's Mystical Body. Tonight, therefore, I shall
examine my conscience in preparation for a full Confession, realizing
that I must have a genuine sorrow for sin, together with a
determination to sin no more.
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
with all 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, etc.
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 during all my life.
GLORY BE, etc.
Now recite An Act of Contrition
NIGHT PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
FROM OUR LORD
ETERNAL FATHER, I desire to rest in Thy Heart this night. I make
the intention of offering to Thee every beat of my heart, joining to
them as many acts of love and desire. I pray that even while I am
asleep, I will bring back to Thee souls that offend Thee. I ask
forgiveness for the whole world, especially for those who know Thee
and yet sin. I offer to Thee my every breath and heartbeat as a prayer
of reparation. Amen.
AN ACT OF RESIGNATION
My Lord God, even now I accept at Thy hands, cheerfully and
willingly, with all its anxieties, pains and sufferings, whatever kind of
death it shall please Thee to be mine. Amen.
PRAYER FOR GRACE
O MY GOD and MY ALL, in Thy goodness and mercy, grant that
before I die I may regain all the graces which I have lost through my
carelessness and folly. Permit me to attain the degree of merit and
perfection to which Thou didst desire to lead me, and which I failed
by my unfaithfulness to reach. Mercifully grant also that others
regain the graces which they have lost through my fault. This I
humbly beg through the merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION
O My God, I adore Thee and I love Thee with all my heart. I thank
Thee for having created me, for having made me a Catholic and for
having watched over me this day. Pardon me for the evil I have done
this day; and if I have done any good, deign to accept it. Watch over
me while I take my rest and deliver me from danger. May Thy grace
be always with me. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful
departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit; deliver
them from the lion's mouth, that hell not swallow them up, that they
fall not into darkness, but let the holy standard bearer Michael bring
them into that holy light which You promised to Abraham and his
seed.
PRAYER OF ST. ALPHONSUS
Jesus Christ, my God, I adore Thee and I thank Thee for the many
favors Thou hast bestowed on me this day. I offer Thee my sleep and
all the moments of this night, and I pray Thee to preserve me from
sin. Therefore, I place myself in Thy most sacred side, and under the
mantle of our Blessed Lady, my Mother. May the holy Angels assist
me and keep me in peace, and may Thy blessing be upon me.
PRAYER FOR THE HOME
We beseech You, O Lord, visit this home, and drive far from it all the
snares of the enemy; let Your holy angels dwell therein so as to
preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be always upon us.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER TO MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here,
ever this night be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
OUR FATHER
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.
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, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
GLORY BE
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it
was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell;
the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into
Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from thence He shall come 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 life
everlasting. Amen.
ACT OF FAITH
O MY GOD, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in Three Divine
Persons, Father, Son and 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 almighty power and infinite mercy 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 CHARITY
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 the love of Thee. I forgive all who have
injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
ACT OF CONTRITION 1
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.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION VERSION 2
Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my
youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body;
my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins; the sins I know, the sins I do
not know; the sins I have concealed for so long, and which are now
hidden from my memory. I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and
venial, for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded Thy Tender Heart, O My Savior, let
me be freed from the bonds of evil through the most bitter Passion of
My Redeemer. Amen. O My Jesus, forget and forgive what I have
been. Amen.
THE MORNING OFFERING
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary
[here kiss your Scapular as sign of your consecration to Mary,
which carries a partial indulgence], I offer Thee the Precious
Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining
with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.
O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit
I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate,
that she may best apply them in the interests of They Most
Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Immaculate Heart of
Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
SPECIAL MORNING PRAYERS
FATIMA MORNING OFFERING
O JESUS, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my
prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be
they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners,
and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
OFFERING OF DAILY ACTIONS
ETERNAL FATHER, by virtue of Your generosity and love, I ask
that You accept all my actions, and that You multiply their value in
favor of every Soul in Purgatory. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
SHORT MORNING OFFERINGS
My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and to make
reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I
consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose never
to sin again. Dear Lord, I could never vie with Thee in generosity,
but I love Thee; deign to accept my poor heart, and though it is worth
nothing, yet it may become something by Thy grace. Since it loves
Thee, do Thou make it good and take it into Thy custody. I will extol
Thee, O God, my King, and I will bless Thy Name forever and ever.
Take O Lord, all my liberty. receive my memory, my understanding
and my whole will. All that I am, all that I have, Thou hast given me,
and I restore it all to Thee, to be disposed of according to Thy good
pleasure. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I am rich
enough, and I desire nothing more.
OFFERING TO THE HOLY TRINITY
MOST Holy and Adorable Trinity, One God in Three Persons, I
praise Thee and give Thee thanks for all the favors Thou has
bestowed upon me. Thy goodness has preserved me until now, I offer
Thee my whole being and in particular, all my thoughts, words, and
deeds, together with all the trials I may undergo this day. Give them
Thy blessing.May Thy divine Love animate them and may they serve
Thy greater glory.
I make this morning offering in union with the Divine intentions of
Jesus Christ Who offers himself daily in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, and in union with Mary, His Virgin Mother and our Mother,
who was always the faithful handmaid of the Lord. Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL: SHORT VERSION
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our hour of conflict; Be our
safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God
restrain Him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the
Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast Satan into Hell, and with
him all the other evil spirits, who wander through the world, for the
ruin of souls. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL: LONGER VERSION
PRAYER AGAINST SATAN and THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF H. H. POPE LEO XIII
The Holy Father exhorts priests to say this prayer as often as
possible, as a simple exorcism to curb the power of the devil and
prevent him from doing harm. The faithful also may say it in their
own name, for the same purpose, as any approved prayer. Its use is
recommended whenever action of the devil is suspected, causing
malice in men, violent temptations and even storms and various
calamities. It could be used as a solemn exorcism (an official and
public ceremony, in Latin), to expel the devil: It would then be said
by a priest, in the name of the Church and only with the Bishop's
permission.
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the
Archangel. defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers,
against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of
wickedness in the high places" (Ephes. 6:12). Come to the assistance
of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has
redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church
venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has
entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray
therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he
may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer
our prayers unto the Most High, that without delay they may draw
His mercy down upon us; take hold of "the dragon, the old serpent,
which is the devil and Satan." Bind him and cast him into the
bottomless pit "so that he may no longer seduce the nations" (Apoc.
20:2).
OFFERING OF LOVE AND PRAISE
Variation of a Prayer Recited by St. Gerard Majella
MY GOD, I make the intention of offering to Thee as many acts of
love and praise as the Blessed Virgin, all the Saints and Angels, as
well as all the faithful on earth have ever made. I desire to love Thee
as much as Jesus Christ loves Thee. I wish to renew these acts at
every pulsation of my heart.
PRAYER TO REDEEM LOST TIME
O MY GOD! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Thy sovereign
power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that
Thou, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am,
yet I firmly believe that Thou can do all things. Please restore to me
the time lost, giving me Thy grace, both now and the future, that I
may appear before Thee in "wedding garments." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE GRACE FROM
ALL THE WORLD'S MASSES:
Eternal Father, we humbly offer Thee our poor presence, and that of
the whole of humanity, from the beginning to the end of the world at
all the Masses that ever have or ever will be prayed. We offer Thee
all the pains, sufferings, prayers, sacrifices, joys, and relaxations of
our lives, in union with those of our Lord Jesus here on earth. May
the Most Precious Blood of Christ, all His Blood, Wounds, and
Agony save us, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of
Mary. Amen.
[This prayer should be recited daily, and be made known.]
THE DAILY PRACTICE OF ADOPTING
AN UNKNOWN DYING SOUL
God's mercy is so abundant that He wants to shower it upon earth.
He sent His only Son, Our Lord to redeem sinners at the cost of
Calvary. Christ would have died on that Cross to redeem but one
soul, yet the One Sacrifice was sufficient for all. Redemption,
however, does not suffice for salvation, as St. Paul warns us to work
out our salvation "in fear and trembling." With the great Apostasy
predicted by the Apostle to the Gentiles come upon us in these last
days many souls are going to Hell: they either do not know how, or
cannot pray for themselves.
But Jesus Christ is waiting and now is the acceptable time, if only we,
who do believe and do pray would only make it a daily habit of
unfathomable charity and mercy, to spiritually adopt an unknown
dying sinner, asking God for the grace for that person to repent or ask
for mercy in his last moments. As a pledge of our fidelity and trust in
Christ's mercy, all we have to do is ask through our prayer offering,
perhaps, if so moved, to offer the intention of our entire day, or to
forego one small pleasure that is licit in exchange [not necessary but
a gracious little work]; at the very least we should make the intention
of bearing one inconvenience that day with more patience than is our
usual wont, for the repentance of that soul.
Any formula of prayer can be used, but for those who prefer an
assist, here is a short invocation that can be said for that soul:
A PRAYER FOR THE DYING AND A SPECIAL SOUL
O MOST MERCIFUL JESUS, lover of souls, I beseech Thee, by the
agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine
Immaculate Mother, wash clean in the Thy Blood the sinners of the
whole world who are to die this day. Remember most especially the
soul I spiritually adopt with the intention of entrusting him or her to
Thy Shepherd's care: I beseech Thee for the grace to move this
sinner, who is in danger of going to Hell, to repent. I ask this because
of my
trust in Thy great mercy. If it should please Thy Majesty to send me a
suffering this day in exchange for the grace I ask for this soul, then,
it, too, shall please me very much, and I thank Thee, Most Sweet
Jesus,
Shepherd and Lover of Souls; I thank Thee for this opportunity to
give mercy in thanksgiving for all the mercies Thou hast shown me.
Amen. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying.
GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER
O MOST holy Angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I
give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed
on me in body and soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou
condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend
me against all the assaults of my enemy.Blessed be the hour in which
thou were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron.
In acknowledgment and return for all thy loving ministries to me, I
offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, and firmly
purpose to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my
God. Amen.
O my good Angel, whom God, by His Divine mercy, hath appointed
to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me
this day. Amen.
PRAYER FOR DAILY NEGLECTS
PENANCE: The Sacrament by which, as a repentant sinner, I receive
forgiveness of even mortal sins, and thus become again a living
member of Christ's Mystical Body. Tonight, therefore, I shall
examine my conscience in preparation for a full Confession, realizing
that I must have a genuine sorrow for sin, together with a
determination to sin no more.
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
with all 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, etc.
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 during all my life.
GLORY BE, etc.
Now recite An Act of Contrition
NIGHT PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST
FROM OUR LORD
ETERNAL FATHER, I desire to rest in Thy Heart this night. I make
the intention of offering to Thee every beat of my heart, joining to
them as many acts of love and desire. I pray that even while I am
asleep, I will bring back to Thee souls that offend Thee. I ask
forgiveness for the whole world, especially for those who know Thee
and yet sin. I offer to Thee my every breath and heartbeat as a prayer
of reparation. Amen.
AN ACT OF RESIGNATION
My Lord God, even now I accept at Thy hands, cheerfully and
willingly, with all its anxieties, pains and sufferings, whatever kind of
death it shall please Thee to be mine. Amen.
PRAYER FOR GRACE
O MY GOD and MY ALL, in Thy goodness and mercy, grant that
before I die I may regain all the graces which I have lost through my
carelessness and folly. Permit me to attain the degree of merit and
perfection to which Thou didst desire to lead me, and which I failed
by my unfaithfulness to reach. Mercifully grant also that others
regain the graces which they have lost through my fault. This I
humbly beg through the merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION
O My God, I adore Thee and I love Thee with all my heart. I thank
Thee for having created me, for having made me a Catholic and for
having watched over me this day. Pardon me for the evil I have done
this day; and if I have done any good, deign to accept it. Watch over
me while I take my rest and deliver me from danger. May Thy grace
be always with me. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful
departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit; deliver
them from the lion's mouth, that hell not swallow them up, that they
fall not into darkness, but let the holy standard bearer Michael bring
them into that holy light which You promised to Abraham and his
seed.
PRAYER OF ST. ALPHONSUS
Jesus Christ, my God, I adore Thee and I thank Thee for the many
favors Thou hast bestowed on me this day. I offer Thee my sleep and
all the moments of this night, and I pray Thee to preserve me from
sin. Therefore, I place myself in Thy most sacred side, and under the
mantle of our Blessed Lady, my Mother. May the holy Angels assist
me and keep me in peace, and may Thy blessing be upon me.
PRAYER FOR THE HOME
We beseech You, O Lord, visit this home, and drive far from it all the
snares of the enemy; let Your holy angels dwell therein so as to
preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be always upon us.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER TO MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here,
ever this night be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
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