SURRENDER PRAYER
God, my Father, I thank you for all that you are, and all that you do for me through your son Jesus Christ. I praise you for my life, for your mercy and for your Eucharist. In Jesus’ name, Father, I place myself entirely in your Heart. I surrender to you my whole self, my heart, my mind, my memory, my imagination, my will, my emotions, my passions, my body, my sexuality, my desire for human approval, my weaknesses, my desires, my sins.
I surrender every person in my life to you. I surrender every situation in my life to you. I surrender every relationship I am in to you. I surrender every concern I have to you. I surrender every fear I have to you. I surrender every doubt I have to you. I surrender all confusion I have to you. I surrender all sadness I am experiencing in my heart to you. I surrender all my wounds to you. I surrender all anxiety and worry I have to you. I surrender all that deceives me in my heart to you. I trust you to care for me and others in a perfectly loving way.
As I have emptied myself, and surrendered everything to you, I ask you now, Father, to fill me with your Holy Spirit and all the gifts and fruits of your Spirit. Holy Spirit you are the source of love, hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, tenderness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Purify my desires. Help me to open my heart to you. Help me to become perfectly receptive as a pure child. Help me to believe in your love for me. Help me to hope in your love. Help me to receive from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus all grace and virtues necessary for me to become the person you created me to be. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your son, God Almighty Father.
O Most Holy Immaculate Virgin Mary. I entrust this prayer to your Heart, and ask you to press it to your wounded heart and intercede for me to your Son Jesus. Please help me to be as you are, a perfect disciple, an obedient servant, a true child of God. Amen.
MEMORARE
Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone 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 do not reject my petition but graciously hear it and grant it. Amen. (Saint Bernard)
Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone 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 do not reject my petition but graciously hear it and grant it. Amen. (Saint Bernard)
Vocations Prayer
Loving and generous Father, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow you. In particular, you call some to serve You as ministers in your Church. Bless our diocese of Hallam by raising up faith-filled and dedicated priests, deacons and religious. Bless our families and choose from our homes those who are needed for Your Mission.
Blessed John Anne: Pray for us.
Blessed Robert Ludlum: Pray for us.
Blessed Nicholas Garlick: Pray for us.
Blessed William Richardson; Pray for us.
Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help: Pray for us.
PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Lord Jesus, The Good Shepard,
We ask you to guide our young people in their faith journey,
Accompany them throughout the times they are tested and tried,
Give them the strength to respond to the culture of this world with holiness and zeal,
Unite them to your most Sacred Heart.
May the Holy Spirit prompt them to ask questions,
May the Holy Spirit give us the courage to give full and truthful responses,
May the Word of God be inscribed in their hearts,
And May they know the love You have for them. Amen
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Loving God, We pray for the people of Ukraine for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them. We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices. We pray for the world that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need. May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world? Amen.
Loving and generous Father, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow you. In particular, you call some to serve You as ministers in your Church. Bless our diocese of Hallam by raising up faith-filled and dedicated priests, deacons and religious. Bless our families and choose from our homes those who are needed for Your Mission.
Blessed John Anne: Pray for us.
Blessed Robert Ludlum: Pray for us.
Blessed Nicholas Garlick: Pray for us.
Blessed William Richardson; Pray for us.
Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help: Pray for us.
PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Lord Jesus, The Good Shepard,
We ask you to guide our young people in their faith journey,
Accompany them throughout the times they are tested and tried,
Give them the strength to respond to the culture of this world with holiness and zeal,
Unite them to your most Sacred Heart.
May the Holy Spirit prompt them to ask questions,
May the Holy Spirit give us the courage to give full and truthful responses,
May the Word of God be inscribed in their hearts,
And May they know the love You have for them. Amen
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Loving God, We pray for the people of Ukraine for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them. We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices. We pray for the world that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need. May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world? Amen.
A prayer for Afghanistan
Compassionate God,
We hold in your presence the people of Afghanistan.
Be a shelter for those who have been displaced.
Be a comforter for those who are mourning.
Be the peace for those who are afraid,
Be near to those who are hungry.
Be healing for those who are sick.
Be the strength of those working to bring hope.
Open our eyes and hearts, so we may stand in solidarity, and reach out in love to our brothers and sisters. May they know they are not forgotten and that we hold them in our hearts whilst they search for the path to peace?
Amen.
Compassionate God,
We hold in your presence the people of Afghanistan.
Be a shelter for those who have been displaced.
Be a comforter for those who are mourning.
Be the peace for those who are afraid,
Be near to those who are hungry.
Be healing for those who are sick.
Be the strength of those working to bring hope.
Open our eyes and hearts, so we may stand in solidarity, and reach out in love to our brothers and sisters. May they know they are not forgotten and that we hold them in our hearts whilst they search for the path to peace?
Amen.
O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore you.
Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me; tell me
What I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise
To be submissive in everything that you ask of me
And to accept all that you allow happen to me.
Only show me what your holy Will is.
THE MIRACLE PRAYER
Lord, Jesus, I come before you, just as I am. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life Jesus, I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour. Heal me, change me and strengthen me in body, soul and spirit. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you Lord Jesus. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Mary my Mother, Queen of Peace, all the angels and saints, please help me. Amen
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, I know that you came into the world to die on the Cross and save me from my sins. I want to change my life; I want to commit my heart, my soul and my mind to you. I invite you into my life right now. I want you to be my personal Saviour, the Lord of my Life. Come Lord Jesus, into my heart. Help me remove all that displeases you from my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Wash me clean and turn my life around so that I can live only for you. Amen.
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures - I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father. Amen.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow peace;
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon;
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith;
Where there is despair, let me give hope;
Where there is darkness, let me give light;
Where there is sadness, let me give joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not try to be comforted, but to comfort;
Not try to be understood, but to understand
Not try to be loved, but to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive,
It is in forgiving that we are forgiven,
And it is in dying that we are born into eternal life. Amen
Lord Jesus, I offer you my whole day;
my work, my hopes and my fight against sin,
my joys and my sorrows. Give me and all my fellow workers
the grace to think like you, to work with you, to live with you.
Make me love you with all my heart and serve you with all my strength. May your kingdom come in all our factories, all our shops, all our farms and in all our homes. May you be better known, better loved and better served? May those of us today who may be tempted to leave you by sin, remain in your grace. Amen.
Prayer of St Michael
Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.
The Angelus (traditionally said at 7am, 12 noon and 6pm each day)
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 among 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 you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by message of an angel, may by His passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen. May the divine assistance remain always with us and may the soul of the Faith Departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
Fatima Prayer (to be said at the end of each decade of the Rosary)
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy Mercy
Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me; tell me
What I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise
To be submissive in everything that you ask of me
And to accept all that you allow happen to me.
Only show me what your holy Will is.
THE MIRACLE PRAYER
Lord, Jesus, I come before you, just as I am. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life Jesus, I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour. Heal me, change me and strengthen me in body, soul and spirit. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you Lord Jesus. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Mary my Mother, Queen of Peace, all the angels and saints, please help me. Amen
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, I know that you came into the world to die on the Cross and save me from my sins. I want to change my life; I want to commit my heart, my soul and my mind to you. I invite you into my life right now. I want you to be my personal Saviour, the Lord of my Life. Come Lord Jesus, into my heart. Help me remove all that displeases you from my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Wash me clean and turn my life around so that I can live only for you. Amen.
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures - I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father. Amen.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow peace;
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon;
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith;
Where there is despair, let me give hope;
Where there is darkness, let me give light;
Where there is sadness, let me give joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not try to be comforted, but to comfort;
Not try to be understood, but to understand
Not try to be loved, but to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive,
It is in forgiving that we are forgiven,
And it is in dying that we are born into eternal life. Amen
Lord Jesus, I offer you my whole day;
my work, my hopes and my fight against sin,
my joys and my sorrows. Give me and all my fellow workers
the grace to think like you, to work with you, to live with you.
Make me love you with all my heart and serve you with all my strength. May your kingdom come in all our factories, all our shops, all our farms and in all our homes. May you be better known, better loved and better served? May those of us today who may be tempted to leave you by sin, remain in your grace. Amen.
Prayer of St Michael
Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.
The Angelus (traditionally said at 7am, 12 noon and 6pm each day)
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 among 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 you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by message of an angel, may by His passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen. May the divine assistance remain always with us and may the soul of the Faith Departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
Fatima Prayer (to be said at the end of each decade of the Rosary)
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy Mercy
The Most Powerful Healing Prayer by St. Padre Pio
Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. I thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to the world to save and to set me free. I trust in Your power and grace that sustain and restore me.
Loving Father, touch me now with Your healing hands, for I believe that Your will is for me to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit. Cover me with the Most Precious Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.
Cast anything that should not be in me. Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the power of Jesus’ Precious Blood.
Let the fire of Your healing love pass through my entire body to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function.
Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest recesses of my heart. Saturate my entire being with Your presence, love, joy, and peace and draw me ever closer to You every moment of my life.
And Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to do Your works so that my life will bring glory and honour to Your Holy Name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYER TO CHRIST CRUCIFIED
I kiss the wounds of your sacred hands with sorrow deep and true. May every touch of my hands today be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wounds on your sacred feet with sorrow deep and true. May every step I take today be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wound in your sacred side with sorrow deep and true. May every beat of my heart today be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wounds on your sacred head with sorrow deep and true. May every thought of my mind today be an act of love for you. Amen
PRAYER AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
By
Saint Padre Pio
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you. You know how easily I abandon you.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my life and without you I am without fervour.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light and without you I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much and always be in Your Company.
Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you.
Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of Love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need you. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need you.
Let me recognize you as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love you with all my heart while on earth and continue to love you perfectly in Heaven
NOVENA PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP FOR THE DIOCESE OF HALLAM
Please say the prayer every day from 19th – 27th June
For Diocese of Hallam
O Mother of Perpetual Help, with great confidence we come before your holy icon to be inspired by the example of your life.
We think of you at that moment, when, full of faith and trust, you accepted God's call to be the mother of his Son.
Help us your children, to accept with joy our calling in life.
When you learned that your cousin Elizabeth was in need, you immediately went to serve her and offer your help.
Make us, like you, to be concerned for others.
We think of you, Mother, at the foot of the cross.
Your heart must have bled to see your Son in agony.
But your joy was great when he rose from the dead, victorious over the power of evil.
Mother of Sorrows, help us through our trials and disappointments.
Help us not to lose heart.
May we share with you and your Son the joy of having courageously faced up to all the challenges of life.
AMEN
THE FORGIVENESS PRAYER
BY
Fr Bob De Grandis
In the following prayer most of the significant areas will be covered. Often such a prayer will bring to mind other areas that need forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit move freely and guide your mind to persons or groups that you need to forgive.
Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive everyone in my life. I know that You will give me strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself.
Lord Jesus, I want to be free from the feelings of resentment, bitterness, and
unforgiveness toward You for the times I thought You sent death, hardships, financial difficulties, punishments and sickness in our family.
Lord, I forgive myself for my sins, faults, and failings. For all that is truly bad in myself or all that I think is bad, I do forgive myself. For an delving in the occult, Ouija boards, horoscopes, séances, fortune telling, lucky charms, [dream catchers]; for taking my name in vain; for not worshiping You; for hurting my parents; for getting drunk; [for the use of illegal drugs]; [for the misuse of legal drugs]; for sins against my purity; for adultery; for abortion; for stealing; for lying — I am truly forgiving myself today. Thank You Lord for Your grace at this moment.
I truly forgive my mother. I forgive her for all the times she hurt me, resented me, was angry with me and for all the times she punished me [unjustly]. I forgive her for the times she preferred my brothers and sisters to me. I forgive her for the times she told me I was dumb, ugly, stupid, the worst of the children or that I cost the family a lot of money. For the times she told me I was unwanted, an accident, a mistake or not what she expected. [For any negativity, gossip, manipulation, or bad example], I forgive her.
I forgive my father. I forgive him for a lack of support, any lack of love, affection or attention. I forgive him for any lack of time, for not giving me his companionship, for his drinking or arguing and fighting with my mother or other children. For his severe punishments, for desertion, for being away from home, for divorcing my mother or for any running around, I do forgive him.
Lord, I extend forgiveness to my sisters and brothers. I forgive those who rejected me, lied about me, hated me, resented me, were jealous of me, competed for my parents’ love, those who hurt me, who physically harmed me. For those who were too severe on me, punished me or made my life unpleasant in any way, I do forgive them.
Lord, I forgive my spouse for lack of love, affection, consideration, support, attention, communication, jealousy, for faults, failings, weaknesses, and those other acts or words that hurt or disturb me. I also forgive my spouse for being controlling. I forgive my children for their lack of respect, obedience, love, attention, support, warmth, understanding; their bad habits, falling away from the Church, and bad actions which disturb me.
My God, I forgive my in-laws—mother, father, son or daughter in-law, sister and brother in-law and other relatives by marriage. For their lack of love, words of criticism, thoughts, actions, or omissions which injure and cause pain, I do forgive them.
Please help me to forgive my relatives, my grandmother and grandfather who may have interfered in our family, been possessive of my parents, who may have caused confusion or turned one parent against the other.
Jesus, help me to forgive my co-workers who are disagreeable or make life miserable for me. For those who push their work off on me, gossip about me, won’t cooperate with me, try to take my job, I do forgive them.
My neighbours need to be forgiven, Lord. For all their noise, letting their property run down, [not training their pets properly], not taking in their trash cans, being prejudiced and running down the neighbourhood, I do forgive them.
I now forgive my clergyman (Priest), [ministers], my congregation and my church for all their lack of support, pettiness, bad sermons, lack of friendliness, not affirming me as they should, not providing me with inspiration, for not using me in a key position, for not inviting me to serve in a major capacity and for any other hurt they have inflicted—I do forgive them today.
Lord I forgive all professional people who have hurt me in any way—doctors, nurses, police officers, hospital works, lawyers, contractors. For anything they did to me unjustly, I truly forgive them.
Lord, I forgive my employer for not paying me enough money, for not appreciating my work, for being unkind and unreasonable with me, for being angry and unfriendly, for not promoting me and for not complimenting me on my work.
Lord, I forgive my schoolteachers, professors, and instructors of the past, as well as the present. For those who punished me, humiliated me, abused me emotionally, insulted me, treated me unjustly, made fun of me, called me dumb or stupid, made me stay after school.
Lord, I forgive my friends who have let me down, lost contact with me, do not support me, were not available when I needed help, borrowed money and did not return it, gossiped about me.
Lord Jesus, I especially pray for the grace of forgiveness for that one person in life who has hurt me the most. I ask to forgive anyone who I consider my greatest enemy, the one who I said I would never forgive.
Thank You, Jesus, that I am free of the evil of unforgiveness. Let Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened. AMEN
Remember, forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling. Jesus calls us to forgive always and throughout our entire lives. Daily we need to forgive those who hurt or injure us. “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” (Matt. 18:21-22, RSV CE)
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
Start 19th November and conclude on 27th November, the Feast of The Miraculous Medal.
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray
O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation,
through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
O Mary, conceived without sin.
Pray for us who have recourse to Thee. (repeat 3 times)
O Lord, Jesus Christ, who have vouchsafed to glorify by numberless miracles the Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculate from the first moment of her conception, grant that all who devoutly implore her protection on earth, may eternally enjoy Thy presence in Heaven, who, with the Father and Holy Spirit, live and reign, God forever and ever. Amen.
O Lord, Jesus Christ, who for the accomplishment of Thy greatest works, have chosen the weak things of the world, that no flesh may glory in Thy sight; and who for a better and more widely diffused belief in the Immaculate Conception of Your Mother, have wished that the Miraculous Medal be manifested to Saint Catherine Labouré, grant we beseech Thee, that filled with like humility, we may glorify this mystery by word and work. Amen.
Novena Prayer
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we thy loving and trustful children implore thee to obtain for us the graces and favours we ask during this Novena, if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray.
(Here privately mention your petitions)
Thou know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity. Obtain for us, then, a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory. Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin; and at length attain to that blessed abode where thou are the Queen of angels and of men Amen.
An Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward you. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Saviour, keep us close to you every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death; so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever. Amen.
O Mary, conceived without sin.
Pray for us who have recourse to Thee. (repeat 3 times)
CHRISTMAS POEM (By Father Paddy)
When Augustus was the Caesar
And the Empire was so great
He had arranged a census
The gospel did relate
To take part in the census
Since he was of David's line
To Bethlehem went Joseph
'Twas in God's plan divine
St Joseph and his wife
To Bethlehem did go
But the town was overcrowded
Inns booked to overflow
So Joseph and his Mary
To Bethlehem they sped
The town was overcrowded
They tried to find a bed.
It was in a lowly stable
Since a room they were denied
Where The Son of God was born
To humble human pride
Close by were humble shepherds
Their sheep they watched by night
When suddenly an angel
Appeared in brilliant light
The angel to the shepherds said
You must not be afraid
A Saviour has been born to you
He's in a manger laid
Then suddenly the angel
Was joined by many more
Singing glory be to God on High
And peace for evermore
Christmas is the season
Of joyousness and mirth
When we celebrate the story
Of how Christ came to birth
Zacchaeus (by Fr Paddy)
Zacchaeus was a little man
Who used to gather tax
Because of this he was disliked
He overcharged by stacks
He felt so sad without a friend
His riches brought no peace
In vain he searched to find a mate
His sadness did increase
He heard that Jesus was in town
Who came to save the sinner
This was his chance to find a friend
He may even come to dinner
Zacchaeus was so small and stout
The crowd blocked all his view
If I but climb this tree, he thought
I'll see this man for sure
Jesus stopped beneath the tree
Looked straight into Zacc's face
Come down said he and waste no time
Come join the human race
But I have been a sinner, Lord
I've cheated more than one
But I'll pay back fourfold for sure
He said to God the Son
I'd like to stay at your house today
Said Jesus to his friend
The crowd, they stood aghast at this
He must be round the bend
Zacchaeus turned his life around
Because Jesus loved him so
He'll do the same for you and me
To Him we all must go
