i like the idea of making a prayer up i think its nice to be able to do that and lovely reading this thread as well
The Holy Face devotion and the Seven Sorrows of Mary are my favorite prayers. I love both devotions. They touch me.
for me it's the Hail Holy Queen.. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail,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, O 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. Let us Pray. O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. And my wife's favourite. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me..
There are so many, how to choose just one? But two prayer that I would like to share are from the TLIG messages for the conversion of sinners. Jesus, my only love, I pray for those whom You love, but know not how to love you, may they be purified and healed so that they too be exempt from all evil. Amen. Father all Merciful, let those who hear and hear again yet never understand, hear Your Voice this time and understand that it is You, the Holy of Holies; open the eyes of those who see and see, yet never perceive, to see with their eyes this time Your Holy Face and Your Glory, place Your Finger on their heart so that their heart may open and understand Your Faithfulness, I pray and ask you all these things, Righteous Father, so that all the nations be converted and be healed through the Wounds of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ; amen;
"What is your favourite prayer" Oh.. well.. that's an interesting question.. so many come to mind. Our Father, Hail Mary, Hail Holy Queen, Golden Arrow, Divine Mercy, and so on... Sometimes I write my own in the form of poetry. The best prayer is the one said from the heart. St. Therese, would say: "For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy" "Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing" God Bless!
This, then, is what I pray, in union with St. Paul, kneeling before You father, from whom every fatherhood, in heaven or on earth, takes its name. In the abundance of Your glory may You, through Your Spirit, enable me to grow firm in power with regard to my inner self, so that Christ may live in my heart through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all Your holy people I will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, I may be filled with the utter fullness of God. Glory be to You whose power, working in me, can do infinitely more than I can ask or imagine; glory be to You from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:14-21) italics mine. I have found this prayer to be one of the most powerful, I adapted it a little and one will see results if one says it deeply and heartfelt, it may take some time though because inner healing can be slow. But the results will be life changing!
This one i got from Josephite...to write Jesus with your finger. I find it very powerful. I say the letter in my head and write it at same time...it bring me back to the moment and helps me to bring my focus back to God. Brother al
I am not a Trad but I still have my old missal from the 50s. Here is a prayer from page [76] Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostate before Thy altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but,to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates ourself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many indeed, have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of that race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Saviour; may It now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise be to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honour for ever. Amen.
I think the above is a beautiful prayer but it makes me think of one more beautiful; " Lord be merciful to me a sinner."
Thank you Brother Al, you are very kind. I must say that the reason I decided to write the Holy name of Our Lord ‘Jesus’ with my finger was mostly due to being a nurse and daily working (for many years) with people who have suffered strokes and those that suffer dementia. I’ve pondered these peoples terrible plight and thought I know this person would pray if they could! I then thought what would I do if ever I suffered a stroke or dementia and was not be able to communicate, let alone pray. How would I be able to tell Jesus that I love him? Most people who suffer strokes are still cognitively aware, even though they cannot communicate or do much to help themselves and people that get dementia often repeat a behaviour that has become instilled as a routine. The Holy Spirit inspired me, I realised there are many ways to communicate and praise God even if we are unable to pray with our tongues, we can still pray with bodies, our fingers! Stroke victims normally retain some use of their fingers if not with both hands than usually with one. Therefore , if I suffered a stroke and could no longer communicate with the world, I could still offer God the Father Glory and join with all the masses said throughout the world, by writing Our Lords Glorious name, 'Jesus', repeatedly no matter where I was, and if I suffered from dementia then again I would be repeatedly able to offer God praise by constantly writting His glorious name , even if my mind had been eroded. According to the Holy name society; Every time you say the name Jesus, You offer to God the Father all the merits of Jesus Christ, His passion and Death, with all the Masses being said all over the world for, A) The Glory of God. B) Your own intentions C) For Gods Will to be accomplished (Ind of 300 days each time.) However, my favourite prayer always changes. I once asked a very Holy person why I had been praying a particular prayer and then after a few months started praying a different prayer, noteing only after hindsight that this seemed fortuitous for the particular situation at the time. This holy person said to me, that the Holy Spirit leads us to pray the different prayers we are lead to pray at any particular given time of our life. I believe this to be true. So that is why, next to the Rosary, I always have a different favourite prayer.
I have fallen in love with this prayer! I heard it a lot on ewtn radio, where they must have played a recording of it with very soothing musci between every show. I hope I have my wits about me to remember it when I am at the very end of my life.
Wisdom of the Sacred head, guide me in all my ways. Oh Love of the Sacred Heart, consume me with Thy fire. 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 your wounds hide me . Separated from you , let me never be. From the malignant enemy defend me. At the hour of my death call me, And close to you bid me. That with your saints I may be praising you. For ever and ever. Amen.
From the Prayers of an Irish Mother prayerbook - this is my favorite.. I tear up almost every time I recite it: Lean Hard - Child of My love, lean hard And let me feel the pressure of thy care I know thy burden, child; I shaped it, Poised it in Mine own Hand; made no proportion Between it's weight and Thine unaided strength. For even as I laid it on I said: "I shall be near, and as she leans on Me, This burden shall be Mine, not hers; So shall I keep My child within the circling arms, Of My own love!" Here lay it down, nor fear To impose it on a Shoulder which upholds The Government of worlds. Yet closer come--- Thou are not near enough, I would embrace thy care, So I might feel My child reposing on My Heart, Thou lovest Me? I know it. Doubt not then But loving me, lean hard.
