Prayers

AFTER GLOW

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one, I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave behind When day is done.

2
AN IRISH BLESSING

May the road rise up
to meet you.
May the wind be always
at your back.
 May the sunshine
warm your face,
the rain fall soft upon
your fields. 
And until we meet again,
may God hold you
in the palm of His hand. 
Amen

3
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

4
May He support us
all the day long
till the shades lengthen
and the evening comes
and the busy world is hushed
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then in His mercy
may He give us
a safe lodging and
a holy rest and
peace at the last.

Cardinal Newman

5
Policeman’s Prayer

   Dear Lord, be with me on my beat This day and every day. Grant that each weary block I walk, May ease a brothers way. Let me be kindly to the old And to the young, be strong But let me triumph over those Whose acts are cruel and wrong. And if according to your plan, I am to lose my life, Please bless with your protecting hand My children and my wife.

6
Fireman’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God, Whenever flames may rage; Give me strength to save some life, Whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child Before it is too late, Or save an older person From the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert And hear the weakest shout, And quickly and efficiently, To put the fire out. I want to fill my calling And to give the best in me, To guard my every neighbor And protect his property. And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life, Please bless with your protecting, my children and my wife.

7
Footprints

    One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.
    When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.
    This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

8
The 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.

9
Remember, O most gracious
Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
                                Amen.

10
Mother

You can only have one mother, Patient, Kind and True, No other friend in all the world will be the same to you.
When other friends forsake you, to mother you will return, for all her loving kindness, she asks nothing in return.
As we look upon her picture, sweet memories we recall, of a face so full of sunshine, and a smile for one and all.
Sweet Jesus take this message, to our dear mother up above, Tell her how we miss her, and give her all our love.

11
Mother

Let me paint her if I may
As I see her day by day.
With oval cheeks and lily face
Ever aglow with Heavenly Grace.
With two bright eyes that ever shine
Like the votive in a shrine.
Gently, Saintly, tender  hearted
For her virtue never parted;
This is mother

12

O Gentlest Heart of Jesus, ever
present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,
have mercy on the Soul of Thy departed servant.
Be not severe in Thy judgment but let some drops of
Thy precious blood fall upon the devouring flames, and do Thou O merciful Saviour,
send Thy angels to conduct Thy departed servant to a place of refreshment,
light and peace.
                                Amen.

13
Prayer to St. Anne

   O glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my trouble, I cast myself at your feet, and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special guidance. Vouchsafe to recommend it to thy Daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that he may bring it to a Happy Issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God, face to face, and with you and Mary and all the Saints, praising and blessing Him for all eternity.

14
Prayer of St. Francis

   Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace, where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and 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.

15
Prayer to St. Joseph

   O glorious St. Joseph,
spouse of the Immaculate Virgin,
obtain for us pure,
humble and charitable minds
and perfect resignation
to the Divine will.
Be our guide, father and
model through life,
that we may merit to
die as you did in the arms of
Jesus and Mary.

16
Prayer to St. Jude

   St. Jude, glorious Apostle,
faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the name of the traitor has caused
you to be forgotten by many, but the
true Church invokes you universally
as the Patron of things despaired of; pray for me, who am so miserable; pray for me, that finally I may receive the
consolation and the succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, especially . . . (here make your request),
and that I may bless God with the Elect throughout eternity. St. Jude, Apostle, martyr and relative of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Mary and of Joseph, intercede for us.
                                            Amen.

17
Prayer to the Infant of Prague

O Divine Child of Prague, and still the great omnipotent God. I implore through Thy most holy Mother’s most powerful intercession and through the boundless mercy of
Thy omnipotence as God, for a favorable answer to the intention I so earnestly ask in this Novena.
     O Divine Child of Prague, hear my prayer and grant my petition.

say three times
Say the Our Father and Hail Mary once

18
Prayer to St. Theresa

O glorious Saint Theresa, whom
Almighty God has raised up to aid and counsel mankind. I implore your miraculous intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining every need of body and soul,
our Holy Mother Church proclaims you a “Prodigy of Miracles—the Greatest Saint of Modern Times.”

   Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth—
of letting fall from Heaven a shower of Roses. Henceforth, dear Little Flower, I will fulfill your plea “to be made known everywhere”
and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you.
Amen.

19
I am the resurrection
and the Life.
The man who believes in me
will live even if he dies,
and every living person
who puts his faith in me
will never suffer eternal death.
John 11:25, 26

20
O Gesu, l’unica consolazione
che ci rimane nella
sua perdita e la speranza
che Tu l’abbia accolta
nella tua infinita pace.
Viva sempre nella
Tua luce e nel nostro
imperituro ricordo.

21
The Children’s Prayer

Now I Lay me down to sleep.
Fourteen angels watch do keep.
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding.
Two are on my right hand,
Two are on my left hand,
Two who o’er me hover,
Two around me cover,
Two to whom is given,
To guide my steps
to heaven.

22
Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.
There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth-
You shall rest in God’s own land.
When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

23
The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

24
The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change...
Courage to change
the things I can
and Wisdom
to know the difference.

25
When I Must Leave You

When I must leave you for a little while –
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you through the years.
But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
And for my sake and in my name,
Live on and do all the things the same.

Feed not your loneliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near;

And never, never be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!

26

God saw you were getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around you
And whispered “Come to me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you,
And saw you pass away.
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.

27
Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road       
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free? 
Miss me a little - but not too long
and not with your head bowed low, Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me - but let me go. 
For this journey that we all must take
and each must go alone, 
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan
a step on the road to home. 
When you are lonely and sick of heart
go to the friends we know,
and bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. 
Miss me - But Let Me Go...
– Author Unknown