Prayer for a Holy Life

Virgin Immaculate,
Mother of God and my Mother,
from your throne in heaven
turn your merciful eyes upon me.
With full confidence in your goodness and power,
I beg you to help me in this journey of life,
which is strewn with dangers for my soul.

I entrust myself completely to you,
that I may never be the devil's slave through sin,
but may always live a humble and pure life.
I consecrate my heart to you forever,
since my sole desire is to love your divine Son Jesus.
O Mary,
since none of your devoted servants has ever perished,
let me too attain salvation.

- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Company

Proud to Be Catholic

Check out this video over at Padre Steve's Blog

St. Joseph Novena Starts Today

The following was shared by Madalena via email.

St Joseph is the patron of a Happy Death.

One day a woman emerged from confession to ST PIO OF PETRELCINA weeping profusely because he had told her that her three sons had already been lost forever, and they could have been saved if she had prayed for them.

This is confirmed by Our Blessed Mother at FATIMA: “So many souls are lost because they have no one to pray and make sacrifices for them”.

Let this not happen to any of our children.

In preparation for the Feast of St Joseph let us pray each day of the novena to take care of our children and obtain for them a happy death. Set out below is a prayer we can say for this intention, for each day of the novena and perhaps every day. Remember too that if you enroll any nearest and dearest as a third party living member you will have the holy souls praying for their salvation as well as yourself.


Prayer to St Joseph : "O Saint St Joseph, you who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when Our Blessed Lord was lost, protect my dear children for time and eternity, may you be their father and counselor, let them like Jesus grow in age as well as in wisdom before God and men, preserve them from the corruption of this world and grant us the grace that one day we may be united in Heaven forever Amen
St Joseph pray and intercede for (name)

St Joseph pray and intercede for (name)

St Joseph pray and intercede for (name)

For I am their Mother/Father. AMEN.

St Joseph, Foster Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ and True Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for the dying of this day and this night."

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Prayer for Employment

God our Father and Creator, You bestow on us gifts and talents to develop and use in accord with Your will.

Grant to me, thru the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker as model and guide, employment and work that I may with dignity provide for those who depend on me for care and support.

Grant me the opportunities to use my energy and my talents and abilities for the good of all, and the glory of Your name.

Amen

Prayer for Priests

O Illustrious Patriarch St. Joseph, who carried the Infant Jesus in thy blessed arms and who, during the space of thirty years, lived in the most intimate familiarity with Him,
take under thy powerful protection those whom He has clothed with His authority and honored with the dignity of His Priesthood,
whom He has charged to continue His mission,
to preach His Gospel, and
to dispense everywhere His graces and blessings.
Sustain them in their fatigues and labours;
console them in their pains;
fortify them in their combats;
but above all, keep far from them all the evils of sin.

Obtain for them the humility of St. John the Baptist,
the faith of St. Peter,
the zeal and charity of St. Paul,
the purity of St. John and
the spirit of prayer and recollection of which thou, my dear Saint, are the model, so that, after having been on earth, faithful dispensers of the Mysteries of thy foster Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
they may in Heaven receive the recompense promised to pastors according to the Heart of God, Amen.

- St. Michael Center

Prayer in Time of Aridity

Heavenly Father,
I am enmeshed in a time of spiritual aridity.
You seem so far removed from me
and I cannot even pray.
I am deprived of all sensible consolations
which facilitate prayer and the practice of the virtues.
Yet I want to pray
and I want to remain close to you.

Let me realize the truth of the well-known axiom:
when we think God is furthest away from us
that is when he is closest to us.
Make me increase my efforts at prayer
even if I feel they are useless.
Keep me from being discouraged
and help me remain united with you.
Grant that I may regain my love for prayer
and grow in my relationship with you,
your Son Jesus,
and the Holy Spirit.

- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Company

On Giving Our Opinions

674 Never give your opinion if you are not asked for it, even if you think that your view is the best.

The Works of St. Josemaría Escrivá

Prayer in Time of Anger

Lord Jesus,
there is anger in my heart
and I cannot root it out.
I know that I should calm down
and offer the hurt and disappointment to you
but my emotion is running away with me.
Help me to overcome this weakness
and give me peace of heart as well as mind.
Let me learn from this experience
and grow into a better human being.

- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Company

On Being Silent

671 Jesus remains silent. Jesus autem tacebat. Why do you speak, to console yourself, or to excuse yourself?

Say nothing. Seek joy in contempt: you will always receive less than you deserve.

Can you, by any chance, ask: Quid enim mali feci, what evil have I done?

The Works of St. Josemaría Escrivá

What Book Did My Husband Read During Adoration?

Yes, DH began reading Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's book Grace Cafe.

When my family and I go for our Hour of Adoration, we bring a tote bag full of books to read should we care to do so, during our visit with Jesus. This week, a few of the choices included St. Josemaría Escrivá's The Way and Grace Cafe. Before I knew it, my husband was engrossed in reading Donna's book. He told me afterward, he thought it was beautifully written. He loved the clever way it was laid out with old-fashioned recipe cards. He said he could see it helping women to re-identify with the traditional values and the importance of being a wife and mother.

Dan: "Since I plan to continue reading this book, my initial impression is to recommend it anyone who needs a book that is thought-provoking and introspective in its Catholic spirituality."

So thank you Donna for writing a book that both my husband and I enjoy reading and one that makes us grow closer as a Catholic family.

A Beautiful Story of Conversion

America Needs Fatima's "It Began When My Father Left"