Thoughts and Prayers

 

Prayer before a crucifix

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I casy myself on my knees in your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech you that you would impress upon my heart, a lively sentiment of faith, hope and charity, with a true repentance for my sins and a firm desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul, I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate your five most precious wounds, having before my eyes that which David spoke in prophecy of you, O good Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones."

 

On Silence

We are realizing more and more clearly that silence is part of the liturgy. We respond, by signing and praying, to the God who addresses us, but the greater mystery surpassing all words, summons us to silence. It must, of course, be a silence with content, not just the absence of speech and action. We should expect the liturgy to give us a positive stillness that will restore us. Such stillness will not be just a pause, in which a thousand thoughts and desires assault us, but a time of recollection, giving us an inward peace, allowing us to draw breath and rediscover the one thing necessary, which we have forgotten.

Pope Benedict XVI

 

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.

 

God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grow in silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.

 

We need silence to be able to touch souls.  

 

The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us. All our words will be useless unless they come from within - words which do not give the light of Christ, increase the darkness.

Mother Theresa

After Communion

 

Mother Teresa

Thank you for this time of quiet reflection, Lord. Thank you for speaking to my heart. Thank you for your presence here and now.

 

Jesus, Body and Blood, we are grateful for the gift of your life and the way it strengthens us to live ours. Teach us to draw on the gift of your Body and Blood for energy, renewal, strength and grace. May we never take the gift of your presence for granted.

 

Mary, give me your heart, so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate — your heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the bread of life and love him as you love him and serve him in the distressing guise of the poor.

 

Anima Christi

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.

 

Jesus hear me.

Hide me in your wounds,

that I may never leave your side

and never let me be parted from you.

From the malicious enemy, defend me.

 

In the hour of my death, call me

and let me come unto you,

that with your saints I may praise you

through all eternity,

for ever and ever. Amen

 

O Sacrum Convivium

O sacred banquet,

in which Christ is received,

and the memory of his Passion is renewed:

where the soul is filled with grace,

and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

 

Prayers after Mass

 

Prayer of St Ignatius

teach us, Good Lord

to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will.

Through Jesus Christ Our Lord

 

Prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; 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; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

 

Prayer of St Richard

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits thou hast given me,
for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly, day by day.
Amen.

 

A thought on thanksgiving

It is very easy to pray to God when we are in trouble, even people who do not think they believe in God may utter a short prayer in times of crisis. Fewer people thank God for the good things which we are given. Remember how often Jesus said, "Father I Thank you..."

 

Jesus, Our Brother

Dear Lord,

I believe that Holy Communion joins us all together in union with you, and in union with one another. As we all received you together at the Holy Table, let us remember that we are all members of one family.

 

Let us help one another and forgive one another, bearing one another's burdens. You have said that if we do not love our neighbour, whom we can see, how can we love God, who we cannot see?

 

Make me careful, therefore, not to despise anyone as if they were beneath me; not to bear a grudge against anyone who may have done me wrong.

W

herever there is any work to be done for the good of the parish, make me overcome any laziness and my pride and give me the desire to help.

 

Let me be a good example, not a stumbling block, to those around me.