Daily prayers : quality by variety in your prayer life


DAILY PRAYERS

QUALITY BY VARIETY
IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

For more devotion in your
ROSARY, turn to Page 39



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DAILY PRAYERS, a prayer booklet,
composed and compiled by Rev. Joel
Pokorny, O.S.B., St. Benedict’s Mon-
astery, Atchison, Kansas 66002.

Table of Contents

Purpose of Prayer 3

Need of Prayer 3

Model for Prayer 3

Prayer before Prayer 4

Prayer for Union with Christ in Prayer 4

Prayer for Self 4

Morning Offering 5

A Morning Prayer 6
Short Morning Prayer to Christ 6

Prayer for Today 7

Spiritual Communion 8
Consecration to Mary 8

Fatima Prayer 9

Short Consecration 9

Angelus 10

Regina Coeli 10

Memorare 1 1
Consecration to St. Joseph 12

Guardian Angel Prayer 1

2

Patron Saint 1

3

Another Patron Saint Prayer 13

Prayer to All Saints 1

3

Prayer for the Dying 13

Prayer to Our Lady for A Happy Death .... 14
Poor Souls 1

4

Prayer for a Good Heart 15



Short Prayer for Sanctifying Grace 15

Dedication to God 16
Evening Prayers 17

Prayer for Protection of Home 20
A Youth's Prayer 21
Prayer to the Sacred Heart 21

Prayer for Christlikeness 22

Aspirations 22

Maiden's Hymn of Praise 23
THE MASS (Tremendous Prayer) 24
Prayer for Union with All Masses 25

Assist at Mass Often (Daily) 26

Prayer for Priests (Cardinal Cushing) 27

Another Prayer for Priests 28

Prayer in Honor of the Passion 29

Christopher Prayer for Government 30

Patriotism Prayer 31

Prayer to Our Lady of Peace 32

Prayer for the Missions and for Vocations 32

Prayer for A Sick Person 33
Dear Saints, Teach Me 34
Prayer to St. Raphael, Archangel 36

Cultivate the Presence of God 37
Prayer for Forgiveness of Carelessness .... 38

Prayer to the Gentle Christ 38

THE ROSARY 39
The Mysteries of the Rosary 41

INSTRUCTIONS

Are You Spiritually Tongue-tied 42

The Counterfeiter 44

Power of Prayer 46

U-Bomb 47



PURPOSE OF PRAYER
The purpose of all prayer is to

raise the heart and the soul to God
— and to keep them there. Mere
words are not enough. "Rattling
off” your prayers is worthless. Our
Lord complained: "This people
honors me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me.

”

NEED OF PRAYER
The hands raised heavenward

overcome more enemies than those
who strike. —Bossuet.

Those who pray do more for the
world than those who combat; and
if the world is growing worse it is
because there is more fighting done
than praying. —Donaso Cortes.
THE WORLD NEEDS PRAYER

MORE THAN GUNS!

PRAYER is the hand that moves
the Hand that moves the world!

MODEL FOR PRAYER
Our Lord prayed perfectly, cease-

lessly. His soul was always united
with His Heavenly Father. He tells
us: "Pray always.” Like the Apos-
tles, let us often go to Him, BEG-
GING: "Lard, teach us to pray!”

3



PRAYER BEFORE PRAYER
Open, O Lord, our mouths to

bless Thy Holy Name. Cleanse our
hearts from all vain, bad, and dis-
tracting thoughts; enlighten our un-
derstanding, inflame our will, that
we may worthily, attentively, and
devoutly recite these prayers and
deserve to be heard in the presence
of Thy divine majesty: through
Christ Our Lord. Amen.
—Breviary.

PRAYER FOR UNION WITH
CHRIST IN PRAYER
O Lord, I offer these prayers to

Thee in union with that divine in-
tention with which Thou Thyself,
whilst on earth, didst render praise
to God. —Ibid.

PRAYER FOR SELF
O My God—

Teach me to be generous,
To serve You as You deserve to be

served,

To give without counting the cost,
To fight without fear of being

wounded,

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To work without seeking rest, and
To spend myself without expecting

any reward but the knowledge
that I am doing Your Holy Will.

MORNING OFFERING
(Say it every morning; never

leave it out. This is your most im-
portantprayer.)

O Jesus, through the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, I offer Thee all my
prayers, works, and sufferings— all
my thoughts, words, and actions—
of this day, for all the intentions of
Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass through-
out the world, in reparation for my
sins, for the intentions of all our
Associates, and in particular for the
intention of our Holy Father for
this month (specify intention).

(The Holy Father’s intention for
each month is listed in CATHOLIC
QUOTE, St. Benedict’s Abbey,
Atchison, Kansas, and in many
other Catholic magazines and news-
papers.)

5



A MORNING PRAYER
0 Lord God Almighty, Who hast

safely brought us to the beginning
of this day, let Thy powerful grace
so conduct us through it that we
may not fall into any sin, but that
all our words, thoughts, and works
may be guided by the rules of Thy
heavenly justice and tend to the ob-
servance of Thy Holy Law.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

SHORT MORNING PRAYER
TO CHRIST
Great and Glorious God, my

Lord Jesus Christ!
1 implore Thee to enlighten me

and to disperse the darkness of my
soul.

Give me true faith, firm hope, and
perfect charity.

Grant me, 0 Lord, to know Thee
so well that in all things I may act
by Thy light and in accordance
with Thy Holy Will. Amen.

6



PRAYER FOR TODAY
O My God, this day in my pray-
ers, I would remember:

My mother and father,
My brothers, sisters, relatives,
Friends and benefactors.
Those who love me and those who
hate me.

The dying and those to die today.
The poor souls in purgatory.
The Holy Father and his intentions.
Mother Church and all her chil-
dren,

All bishops, priests, brothers, and
sisters.

My country, its president and all
its officials,

The greatest and least of its citizens,
Those who died in military service
for it,

Those who lost loved ones in the
struggle.

The world and all its peoples.
All nations and all races,
The sick, the poor, the rich,
The neglected, the persecuted, the
enslaved,

The tempted, the doubting, the de-
spairing,

Those in danger and distress.
Men of good will that they may

7



come to the fullness of the Faith.
Men of evil ways that they may be
converted.

The triumph of God’s Infinite Mer-
cy in my life and in all lives:
Through the merits of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus, and the
intercession of His Most Holy
Mother. Amen.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
(Give your SOUL meals daily;

keep it strong and growing as you
do your body.)

0 Jesus, I believe that Thou art
truly present in the Most Holy Sac-
rament of the Altar. I love Thee
above all things, and I desire to
possess Thee within my soul. Since
I cannot now receive Thee Sacra-
mentally, come at least spiritually
into my heart. I embrace Thee as
already being there, and unite my-
self wholly to Thee. Never permit
me to be separated from Thee.
Amen.

CONSECRATION TO MARY
(The Mother of Jesus will help

you to love her Divine Son. Ask her
for her assistance.)

8



0 Mary, My Queen, My Mother,
I give myself entirely to Thee,
and to show my devotion to Thee,
I consecrate to Thee this day
my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my
heart, my whole being without re-

serve.

Therefore, Good Mother, as I am
Thine own, keep me, guard me as
Thy property and possession.

FATIMA PRAYER
(A prayer sent from Heaven to

our "modern” unbelieving world. It
is simple to learn. Say it often:
YOUR REPARATION is needed.)
0 My God, I believe, I adore,

I hope, I love Thee:
And I ask forgiveness for all those
who do not believe, do not adore,
do not hope, and do not love.

SHORT CONSECRATION
1 am all Thine, 0 Jesus, and all

that I have belongs to Thee,
through Mary, Thy Most Holy
Mother.

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ANGELUS
V. The Angel of the Lord declared

unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy

Ghost. Hail Mary, etc.
V. Behold, the Handmaid of the

Lord!
R. Be it done unto me according to

Thy Word. Hail Mary, etc.
V. The Word was made Flesh (gen-

uflect),

R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.

V. Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of
God,

R. That we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY: Pour forth, we
beseech Thee, 0 Lord, Thy grace
into our hearts, that we to whom the
Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the 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.

REGINA COELI (Instead of An-
gelus during Eastertide)

V. 0 Queen of Heaven, rejoice! Al-
leluia.

10



R. For He whom thou didst merit
to bear, Alleluia,

V. Has arisen, as He said, Alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, 0 Virgin

Mary, Alleluia.
R. For the Lord hath risen indeed,

Alleluia.

LET US PRAY: 0 God, Who,
through the Resurrection of Thy
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst
vouchsafe to fill the world with joy;
grant, we beseech Thee, that,
through His Virgin Mother, Mary,
we may lay hold on the joys of ev-
erlasting life. Through the same
Christ our Lord. Amen.

MEMORARE
Remember, 0 most gracious Vir-

gin Mary, that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protec-
tion, implored thy help, or sought
thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly
unto thee, 0 Virgin of virgins, my
mother; to thee I come; before thee
I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O
Mother of the Word Incarnate, de-
spise not my petitions, but in thy
mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

11



CONSECRATION TO
ST. JOSEPH
O Blessed Saint Joseph! I conse-

crate myself to thy honor, and give
myself to thee, that thou mayest al-
ways be my father, my protector,
and my guide in the way of salva-
tion. Obtain for me a great purity
of heart and a fervent love of the in-
terior life. After thy example may I
do all my actions for the greater
glory of God, in union with the Di-
vine Heart of Jesus and the immac-
ulate heart of Mary! And do thou,
0 blessed Joseph, pray for me, that
1 may experience the peace and joy
of thy holy death. Amen.

GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER
(Be sure to say this prayer which

you learned as a little child at least
every morning and night. Too
many people shamefully forget their
Heavenly Companion.)

Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me
here;

Ever this day (night) be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and
guide. Amen.

12



PATRON SAINT
(Do you ever think of your pa-

tron saint? Remember: He (she) is
your protector and model. Walk
with your Heavenly Representa-
tive!)

Holy Patron, St pray for
me, and teach me e’er to follow
thee.

ANOTHER PATRON
SAINT PRAYER
0 Great Saint, whose name I

bear, protect me, pray for me, that,
like thee, I may serve God faithfully
on earth, and glorify Him eternally
with thee in heaven. Amen.

PRAYER TO ALL THE SAINTS
0 Holy Mary and all the Saints,

intercede for us to God, that we
may deserve to be heard and saved
by Him, Who livest and reignest
forever and ever. Amen.
—Breviary.

PRAYER FOR THE DYING
(Prepare for your own death by

praying daily for the dying.)

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Most Merciful Jesus, lover of
souls, I pray Thee by the agony of
Thy Most Sacred Heart, and by the
sorrows of Thy Immaculate Moth-
er, to wash in Thy Most Precious
Blood, the sinners of the world who
are now in their agony and who
are to die this day (night).
Heart of Jesus, once in agony,

have mercy on the dying.
O St. Joseph, Foster Father of

Jesus, true Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Patron of a happy
death, pray for us and for the dy-
ing of today (tonight). Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY
FOR A HAPPY DEATH
O Mary! I beseech thee by the sor-

rows thou didst experience in be-
holding thy Divine Son dying on
the cross, procure for me a good
death; obtain for me that, having
loved Jesus and thee, my most ten-
der Mother, here on earth, I may
love you both and bless you eter-
nally in heaven. Amen.

POOR SOULS
(Do you pray for them regularly

?

Let us hearken to their cry, "Have

14



pity on me, at least you, my
FRIENDS!” and help them.) Pray
often:

Eternal rest grant unto all the faith-

ful departed, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon
them!

May they rest in peace! Amen.

PRAYER FOR A GOOD HEART
Give me, O Lord, an ever watch-

ful heart, which no subtle specula-
tion may lure from Thee.
Give me a noble heart, which no

unworthy affection can draw down-
ward to the earth.
Give me an upright heart, which

no insincere intention can warp.
Give me a firm heart, which no

tribulation can crush or quell.
Give me a free heart, which no

perverted or impetuous affection
can claim for its own. Amen.
—(St. Thomas Aquinas.)

SHORT PRAYER FOR
SANCTIFYING GRACE
O My God, grant me a spark
of Thy Interior Life!

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DEDICATION TO GOD
(All things are yours, and you

are Christ’s. —St. Paul.)
Every beat of my heart shall mean:

I love Thee.

Every breath: I thank Thee.
Every pulse of my hand: I trust in
Thee.

Every movement: I long for Thee.
Every look of my eye: I seek Thee.
Every step I take: Lead me to Thee.
Every sound of my tongue: I praise
Thee.

Every snowflake shall mean:
Give me a pure heart.

Every drop of rain: Wash me of
all sin.

Every breeze: Give me Thy holy
spirit.

Every ray of the sun: Kindle in me
the fire of Thy love.

Every star: Give me the light of Thy
grace.

Every flower: Give me the sweet
perfume of true virtue.

Every leaf of a tree: Keep me from
falling.

Every blade of grass: Make me
humble and good.

Every grain of wheat: Make my
life fruitful. —Author Unknown.

16



EVENING PRAYERS
(Recommended for family prayer.)

O my God, I present myself be-
fore Thee at the end of another day,
to offer Thee anew the homage of
my heart. I humbly adore Thee, my
Creator, my Redeemer, and my
Judge! I believe in Thee, because
Thou art faithful to Thy promises; I
love Thee with my whole heart, be-
cause Thou art infinitely worthy of
being loved; and for Thy sake I
love my neighbor as myself.
Enable me, 0 my God, to return

Thee thanks as I ought for all
Thine inestimable blessings and fa-
vors. Thou hast thought of me, and
loved me from all eternity; Thou
hast formed me out of nothing;
Thou has delivered up Thy Be-
loved Son to the ignominious death
of the Cross for my redemption;
Thou hast made me a member of
Thy holy Church; Thou hast pre-
served me from falling into the
abyss of eternal misery, when my
sins had provoked Thee to punish
me; and Thou hast graciously con-
tinued to spare me, even though I
have not ceased to offend Thee.
What return, 0 my God, can I

17



make for Thine innumerable bless-
ings, and particularly for the favors
of this day? 0 all ye Angels and
Saints, unite with me in praising the
God of mercies, who is so bountiful
to so unworthy a creature.

Prayer Before Examination
of Conscience

0 my God, sovereign Judge of
men, who desirest not the death of
a sinner, but that he should be con-
verted and saved, enlighten my
mind, that I may know the sins I
have this day committed in thought,
word, or deed, and give me the
grace of true contrition.

Act of Contrition

0 my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee, and I de-
test all my sins because I dread the
loss of heaven and the pains of hell,
but most of all because I have of-
fended Thee, my God, who art all-
good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of

Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do
penance, and to amend my life.
Amen.
0 God, hear my prayers on be-

half of our Holy Father, Pope N.,

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our Bishop N., our clergy, and for
all that are in authority over us.

Bless, I beseech Thee, the whole

Catholic Church, and convert all
heretics and unbelievers. Pour down
Thy blessings, O Lord, upon all my
friends, relations, and acquaint-
ances, and upon my enemies, if I
have any. Help the poor and sick,
and those who are in their last
agony. O God of mercy and good-
ness, have compassion on the souls
of the faithful in purgatory; put an
end to their sufferings, and grant
them eternal light, rest, and happi-
ness. Amen.
0 Almighty and Eternal God,

who savest all, and wiliest not that
any should perish, look, we be-
seech Thee, upon the souls that are
led astray by the deceits of the devil;
that, rejecting all errors, the hearts

of those who err may be converted,
and return to the unity of Thy truth.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bless, 0 Lord, the repose I am

about to take, that, my bodily
strength being renewed, I may be
the better enabled to serve Thee.
Amen.
0 Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother

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of Mercy, pray for me, that I may
be preserved this night from all evil,
whether of body or soul. Blessed
St. Joseph, and all ye Angels and
Saints, especially my guardian an-
gel and my chosen patron, watch
over me. I commend myself to your
protection now and always. Amen.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of

hosts: the earth is full of Thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, glory be to
the Son, glory be to the Holy
Ghost. Amen.

(The preceding "Evening Pray-
ers” are reproduced with special
permission from the MANUAL OF
PRAYERS, published by P. J. Ken-
edy & Sons, the official prayerbook
of the United States, prepared and
enjoined by order of the Third Ple-
nary Council of Baltimore. 832
pages.)

PRAYER FOR
PROTECTION OF HOME

Visit, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord,
this house and family. Drive from
it all the snares of the enemy. Let
Thy holy angels dwell therein who
may keep us in peace. And let Thy
blessing be always upon us. Amen.

20



A YOUTH’S PRAYER
Give me clean Hands, clean words,
clean thoughts.

Help me to stand for the hard right
against the easy wrong.

Save me from the habits that harm.
Teach me to work as hard and play
as fair in Your sight alone as if
all the world saw.

Forgive me when I am unkind and
help me to forgive those who are
unkind to me.

Keep me ready to help others at
some cost to myself.

Send me chances to do a little good
every day,

And so grow more like Christ.

PRAYER TO THE
SACRED HEART
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

shower Thy blessings copiously on
Thy holy Church, on the Supreme
Pontiff, and on all the clergy; grant
perseverance to the just, convert sin-
ners, enlighten infidels, bless our
parents, friends, and benefactors,
assist the dying, liberate the souls
in purgatory, and extend over all
hearts the sweet empire of Thy love.

21



PRAYER FOR
CHRISTLIKENESS
O My Jesus, teach me
To know Thee more clearly,
To love Thee more dearly,
To imitate Thee more nearly.

ASPIRATIONS
(Sprinkle them over your day:

*You are the salt of the earth, ” says
Jesus. In order not to forget them,
tie your aspirations in with some-
thing common to your every-day
life, like the ringing of a bell, the
striking of a clock, becoming an-
gry, etc.)

All for the honor and glory of God!
Blessed be God!
Blessed be His Holy Name!
Jesus! Mary! Joseph!
My God, Thy will be done!
My Jesus, mercy!
O Jesus, grant me patience!
O Jesus, convert sinners, save the
dying, free the souls in purga-
tory!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore,
that I may love Thee ever more
and more!

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,

22



make my heart like unto Thine!
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of
Mary!

MAIDEN’S HYMN OF PRAISE
Praise the Lord, my nylon hose;
Praise the Lord, my Sunday clothes.
Praise the Lord, cute mutton sleeves;
Praise the Lord, glad week-end eves.
Praise the Lord, O contract played;
Praise the Lord, the proms I’ve made.
Praise the Lord, my shining skates;
Praise the Lord, O phoning dates.
Praise the Lord, O Monday blues;
Praise the Lord, my brand new shoes.
Praise the Lord, my green plaid skirt;
Praise the Lord, my rides with Bert.
Praise the Lord, the words I’ve said;
Praise the Lord, my lipstick red.
Praise the Lord, my part in plays;
Praise the Lord, my last week’s raise.
Praise the Lord, the Cokes I’ve downed;
Praise the Lord, I’ve lost a pound!
Praise the Lord, my apple pies;
Praise the Lord, my laughs and cries.
Accept, dear Lord, these little human

things;

Bless them each and grant to me
Grace to use them for Thy glory—
Now and in eternity. Amen.

—Adapted from Brian McShane’s
“Lauds for Loretta”. CATHOLIC
WOMAN’S WORLD.

23



THE TREMENDOUS PRAYEI

COMMENT: The Mass travels
with the sun; as the sun shines con-
tinually in some part of the world,
so the Precious Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ, the Savior, are offered
perpetually over the face of the
earth. Not a single moment elapses
but what the Precious Blood is
pouring for sinners ... for God’s ap-
peasement ...

1 a.m., Iceland

2 a.m., Azores
3 a.m., Brazil
4 a.m., East Canada
5 a.m., New York
6 a.m., Central U.S.
7 a.m., Rocky Mountains
8 a.m., California
9 a.m., West Canada
10 a.m., Alaska
11 a.m., Hawaii
12 a.m., Samoa

(Schedule of time and countries,
as well as HOURLY PRAYER, tak-
en from Father Stedman’s MY
LENTEN MISSAL.)

24



HOLY MASS — Live With It!

HOURLY PRAYER: Eternal Fa-
ther, through the Immaculate Heart
of Mary, I wish to unite myself with
Jesus now offering His Precious
Blood in (name of country) in the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the
conversion of sinners, the relief of
the Souls in Purgatory, and for the
special grace I here implore. Amen.

1 p.m., New Zealand
2 p.m., East Indies

3 p.m., Japan
4 p.m., Australia

5 p.m., China
6 p.m., Siam
7 p.m., India

8 p.m., Persia

9 p.m., Jerusalem
10 p.m., Africa
11 p.m., Rome
12 p.m., Ireland

PRAYER FOR
UNION WITH ALL MASSES
0 Jesus, grant that I may be unit-

ed with Thee in all the Masses
which are being said everywhere in

25



the world at the present time. Let
me be united with all the Masses
which will be offered during this
day (night), during my whole life-
time, during the existence of the
world to the end of time— for Thy
honor and glory, in reparation for
sin, and for the conversion of sin-
ners. Amen.

ASSIST AT MASS OFTEN
(DAILY):

1. To give glory to the Heavenly
Father.

2. To thank Him for all His bless-
ings.

3. To make reparation for all our
sins.

4. To obtain all the blessings we
desire.

5. To release souls from purgatory,
and to shorten our own time
there.

6. To preserve us from all dangers
to soul and body.

7. To be consoled at the hour of
death for at that time its mem-
ory will be our greatest consola-
tion.

8. To intercede for us at the judg-
ment seat of God.

26



9. To better understand the sublim-
ity of the passion of Christ, and
to increase our love for Him.

—St. Joseph’s Daily Missal.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
(By Cardinal Cushing)

0 Almighty, Eternal God, look
upon the face of Thy Son, and for
love of Him Who is the Eternal
High-priest, have pity on Thy
priests. Remember, O most compas-
sionate God, that they are but weak
and frail human beings. Stir up in
them the grace of their vocation
which is in them by the imposition
of the Bishop’s hands. Keep them
close to Thee, lest the enemy pre-
vail against them so that they may
never do anything in the slightest
degree unworthy of their sublime
vocation.

O Jesus, I pray Thee for Thy
faithful and fervent priests; for Thy
unfaithful and tepid priests; for Thy
priests laboring at home or abroad
in distant mission fields; for Thy
tempted priests; for Thy lonely and
desolate priests; for Thy young
priests; for Thy dying priests; for
the souls of Thy priests in Purga-
tory.

27



But above all, I commend to Thee
the priests dearest to me; the priest
who baptized me; the priests who
absolved me from my sins; the
priests at whose Masses I assisted
and who gave me Thy Body and
Blood in Holy Communion; the
priests who taught and instructed
me or helped and encouraged me;
all the priests to whom I am in-
debted in any other way. 0 Jesus,
keep them all, close to Thy heart,
and bless them abundantly in time
and in eternity. Amen.

ANOTHER PRAYER
FOR PRIESTS
Divine Savior, Thou Friend of

priests, send daily to all priests the
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, that
they may become all things to all
men, in life and in death. Give them
patience with the little ones, compas-
sion for the sick, humility with the

poor, courage before the enemies of
the Church. Make them tireless in
teaching, patient and kind in the
confessional, generous in the ad-
ministration of Holy Communion.
Let them appear terrible to hell and
the powers of evil, let them be mes-

28



sengers of peace to all men of good
will.

Wherever they go, may Thy
blessing go with them, wherever
they abide, may Thy peace enter
in. Whomsoever they bless, may he
also be blessed by Thee. Make them
apostles, make them saints.
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, model

of the priestly heart, have mercy on
us!

PRAYER IN HONOR
OF THE PASSION

I beseech Thee, My Lord Jesus
Christ, grant that Thy Passion may
be to me a power by which I may
be strengthened, protected, and de-
fended.

May Thy wounds be to me food
and drink, by which I may be nour-
ished, filled, and overjoyed.
May the sprinkling of Thy Blood

be to me a washing away of all my
sins.

May Thy death prove to me life
everlasting, Thy cross be to me an
eternal glory.

In these be my refreshment, my
joy, my preservation, and sweet-
ness of heart. Who livest and reign-
est world without end. Amen.

29



CHRISTOPHER PRAYER
FOR GOVERNMENT
Inspire us, O God, with such a

deep love of our country that we
will be actively concerned in its wel-
fare as well as in that of all our fel-
low countrymen for time and for
eternity.

Teach us to show by word and
deed the same zealous interest in
protecting and furthering the Chris-
tian principles upon which our na-
tion is founded that others dis-
play in belittling or eliminating
them.

Guide and strengthen the Presi-
dent, his Cabinet, the members of
Congress, the delegates to the Unit-
ed Nations, the Governor of our
State, the officials of our communi-
ty, and all others, in high positions
or low, who are entrusted with the
task of protecting for all citizens

those rights which come from You
and You alone.
Teach us likewise to be worthy in-

struments in extending to all men of
all nations, Your children and our
brothers, the same peace, freedom,
and security with which You have
so abundantly blessed our land.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

30



PATRIOTISM PRAYER
Our Father, Who art in heaven:
Give us, we pray Thee, the cour-

age to stamp out the threat of pa-
ganism and slavery that hangs
over the world today.
Be merciful to all who have died

in the service of their country.

Console those who have lost their
loved ones in the struggle.
Soothe the wounded from battle.
Sustain the courage of those who

suffer persecution for conscience’s

sake.

Have pity on all who have been
insulted, robbed, tortured, defiled,
enslaved, and persecuted by their
conquerors.
Grant wisdom to our leaders, civil

and military, that they may most
effectively direct our efforts at home
and abroad.
Teach us all to walk humbly be-

fore Thee, O God, so that we may
be worthy to conquer, and, having
conquered, may build a peace with
justice based on the Brotherhood of
man under the Fatherhood of God.
Amen.

31



PRAYER TO
OUR LADY OF PEACE
Holy Virgin,
Turn a look of kindness upon those
who are in suffering,
who are in the midst of difficulties
and who cease not to struggle
against the misfortunes of this life.

Have pity on those who love and
are separated.

Have pity on the loneliness of the
heart.

Have pity on the feebleness of our
faith.

Have pity on the objects of our ten-
derness.

Have pity on those who weep,
on those who pray,
on those who fear.

Give us the hope of peace in this
troubled world of ours. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE MISSIONS
AND FOR VOCATIONS
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who for the

salvation of all men didst found
Thy Church in the Blood of Sacri-
fice, we beseech Thee, look with
mercy on this land of ours and on
the whole world where Thy truth is
unknown to many for whom Thou

32



didst endure Thy bitter Passion and
Death. We commend to Thy Sacred
Heart the work of carrying Thy
Gospel to the neglected regions of
America and of the world. Raise up
holy and zealous apostles to bring
Thy words of salvation to souls
now thirsting for the truth. Have
mercy on them, 0 Lord, and send
shepherds to lead them into Thy
one true fold. Amen.

PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON
Most merciful Jesus, Who art the

consolation and salvation of all
who put their trust in Thee, we
humbly beseech Thee, by Thy most
bitter passion, grant the recovery of
his (her) health to Thy servant, N.,
provided this be for his (her) soul’s
welfare, that with us he (she) may
praise and magnify Thy holy
name. But if it be Thy holy will to
call him (her) out of this world,
strengthen him (her) in his (her)
last hour, grant him (her) a peace-
ful death and life everlasting.
Amen.

33



DEAR SAINTS, TEACH ME . . .
St. Ann, teach me to love thy
daughter, Mary.

St. Mary, teach me to become more
and more worthy of the promises
of Christ.

St. Joseph, teach me the virtue of
silence.

St. Daniel, teach me wisdom.
St. Michael, teach me to conquer
the devil.

St. John the Baptist, teach me mor-
tification.

St. John the Beloved, teach me pure
love of Jesus.

St. Peter, teach me fidelity.
St. Paul, teach me zeal for the sal-
vation of souls.

St. Thomas, teach me to overcome
doubt.

St. Stephen, teach me the spirit of
martyrdom.

St. Simon of Cyrene, teach me love
of the Cross.

St. Veronica, teach me concern for
the afflicted.

St. Mary Magdalene, teach me re-
pentance.

St. Dismas, teach me how to 'steal’
Paradise.

St. Agnes, teach me purity.

34



St. Mafia Goretti, teach me resist-
ance to temptation.

St. Jerome, teach me love of the
Holy Scriptures.

St. Monica, teach me steadfastness
in prayer.

St. Augustine, teach me respect for
a mother’s prayers.

St. Francis Borgia, teach me to de-
spise earthly vanities.

St. Francis de Sales, teach me al-
ways to smile.

St. Francis of Assisi, teach me hu-
mility.

St. Francis Xavier, teach me zeal
for the missions.

St. Philip Neri, teach me cheerful-
ness.

St. Thomas More, teach me to 'keep
my head’.

St. Anthony, teach me to 'find’ sanc-
tity.

St. Paschal, teach me love of the
Blessed Sacrament.

St. Wenceslaus, teach me love of the
Holy Mass.

St. John Vianney, teach me respect
for the holy priesthood.

St. Thomas Aquinas, teach me love
of divine contemplation.

St. Albert the Great, teach me love
of heavenly wisdom.

35



St. Vincent de Paul, teach me love of
the poor.

St. Elizabeth, teach me to break
bread for the downtrodden.

St. Camillus, teach me to visit the
sick.

St. John Bosco, teach me love of
youth.

St. Margaret Mary, teach me love
of the Sacred Heart.

St. Therese, teach me the value of
'little things’ and how to do all
for the honor and glory of God.
Amen.

PRAYER TO ST. RAPHAEL,
ARCHANGEL
Glorious Archangel, Saint Ra-

phael, great prince of the heavenly
court, illustrious by thy gifts of wis-
dom and grace, guide of travelers
by land and sea and air, consoler
of the unfortunate and refuge of sin-
ners, I entreat thee to help me in all
my needs and in the trials of this
life, as thou didst once assist the
young Tobias in his journeying.
And since thou art the "physician
of God”, I humbly pray thee to
heal my soul of its many infirmi-
ties and my body of the ills that af-

36



flict it, if this favor is for my greater
good. I ask, especially, for angelic

purity that I may be made fit to be
the living temple of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

CULTIVATE THE
PRESENCE OF GOD

(If you walk in the presence of
God, you will soon be a saint.)

St. Thomas Aquinas says: If at
all times we were mindful of the
presence of God, we would displease
Him very seldom.

St. Jerome: The thought of the
presence of God closes the door to
sin.

Abbot Diodes: He who does not
think of the presence of God will be-
come either a brute or a devil.

St. Teresa: All our faults arise
from not thinking of God as present
to us, but imagining Him far away.

St. Teresa: He is a true lover who
thinks ever of the beloved.

St. John of the Cross: Let God be
the Bridegroom and the Beloved of
your soul; remain always in His
presence and so you shall avoid
sin; learn to love Him and all
things will prosper with you.

37



Micheas: I will show thee, O man,
what is good, and what the Lord re-
quireth of thee ... to walk carefully
with thy God. (Old Testament.)
God: Walk before me and be perfect.

PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
OF CARELESSNESS

O my God and my All, in Thy
goodness and mercy, grant that be-
fore I die I may regain all the Gra-
ces which I have lost through my
carelessness and folly. Permit me to
attain that degree of merit and per-
fection to which Thou didst desire
to lead me, and which I failed by my
unfaithfulness to reach. Mercifully
grant also that others regain the
Graces which they have lost through
my fault.

PRAYER TO THE
GENTLE CHRIST
Eyes of Jesus, look on me.
Lips of Jesus, smile on me.
Ears of Jesus, hear me.
Arms of Jesus, enfold me.
Hands of Jesus, bless me.
Feet of Jesus, guide me.
Voice of Jesus, speak to me.
Heart of Jesus, love me.
Spirit of Jesus, abide in me.
Now and forever. Amen.

38



The ROSARY
(READ AND FOLLOW CARE-

FULLY. ENRICH YOUR RO-
SARY.)

In imitation of the manner of
reciting the Rosary in many foreign
countries during past centuries, the
Rosary may be said by inserting
the mystery into each Hail Mary,
after the word "Jesus”. Let us take
an example: the first glorious mys-
tery. The Hail Mary is said, and
after the Name of "Jesus” the mys-
tery is added, thus: " ... fruit of thy
womb, Jesus — WHO AROSE
FROM THE DEAD. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray, etc.” The
mystery is said in each Hail Mary,
or ten times during each decade.
The three introductory Hail

Marys, in which we petition for the
three gifts of Faith, Hope, and
Charity, are said in the same way.
Example: "Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee, blessed art
thou among women, and blessed is

39



the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, IN
WHOM WE BELIEVE. Holy
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our
death. Amen.”
Though this way of praying the

Rosary requires a little more time,
it has two distinct advantages. One
is that distractions are reduced and
attention is better focused because
of the repeated recitation of the par-

ticular mystery (ten times instead
of only once during each decade).
The second is that the Rosary takes
on more of a direct conversation
with our Lady — which it is sup-
posed to be. You actually talk to the
Mother of Jesus about the main
mysteries by which her Son re-
deemed you.
Furthermore, vocal and mental

prayer are nicely fused, as are the
two elements of the Rosary, the Hail
Mary and the mystery. Here is the
Rosary at its best!
The traditional formulation of the

mysteries in English is as follows.
(Each of the following phrases is
inserted after each "Jesus” in every
Hail Mary of the respective dec-
ade. )

40



The three introductory Hail Marys:
1 ) In Whom we believe.
2) In Whom we hope.
3) Whom we love above all things.
The Joyful Mysteries:

1)

Whom thou didst conceive of
the Holy Ghost.

2) Whom thou didst carry to Eliza-
beth.

3) Who was born of thee in Beth-
lehem.

4) Whom thou didst present in the
temple.

5) Whom thou didst find in the
temple.

The Sorrowful Mysteries:

1)

Who sweat blood for us.
2) Who was scourged for us.

3)

Who was crowned with thorns
for us.

4) Who carried the heavy cross for
us.

5)Who was crucified for us.
The Glorious Mysteries:

1)

Who arose from the dead.
2) Who ascended into heaven.
3)Who sent us the Holy Ghost.
4)Who took thee up into heaven.
5) Who crowned thee in heaven.

41



INSTRUCTIONS

ARE YOU
SPIRITUALLY TONGUE-TIED?
You should know a variety of

prayers. At least many of those
printed in this booklet, besides, of

course, the common prayers such
as the Our Father, Hail Mary,
Apostles’ Creed, Hail Holy Queen,
Acts of Faith, Hope, Love, Sorrow,
etc.

Pray with zest. Try to enlarge and
expand your prayer life. Prayer
should be something romantic: a
love affair between you and your
God!
Make your prayer fit the occa-

sion. Your morning prayers, for
instance, should consist of the
Morning Offering, Spiritual Com-
munion, Consecration to Mary, An-
gelus, Acts of Faith, Hope, and
Love, prayer to your Guardian An-
gel, prayer to your Patron Saint,
Prayer for Today (Page 7), etc.
Don’t you see how well they fit for
opening the day correctly? The
Morning Offering to change the

42



dusty work of your daily routine
(no matter how small or insignifi-
cant that work may be) into spiri-
tual gold; the Spiritual Communion
to feed your soul (since you cannot
actually go to Holy Communion)
just as bacon and eggs will feed
your weakening human body; the
Consecration to Mary to give your-
self to yopr Spiritual Mother; she
will be near to protect you from
temptation and sin (or don’t you
need help!) and to keep you near
Christ. The Angelus is so beautiful
a prayer that it is known even to
Protestants. Do you as a Catholic
say it when it is supposed to be said
—morning, noon, and night?
You say you can’t learn all these

prayers. All right, learn one, let us
say, every month. Read it slowly
from this booklet every day. It will
stay with you gradually. Then go
to the next one next month. You can
learn the main ones if you really
want to.
You will admit that you should

know more prayers. Do something
about it then. It’s a downright
shame to be so spiritually tongue-
tied as so many of us are!

43



THE COUNTERFEITER, or
WORKING ONESELF TO DEATH
Working (or doing anything else)

without the blessing of God, as for
example, in the state of mortal sin
or even without a good intention,
is doing like that forger of bills who
for ten years of his life was bent on
amassing a fortune by making
counterfeit money. 'This is a sure
and short road to wealth,’ thought
he; 'for as soon as my money be-
gins to pass around, my income
will be immense!’ So day by day he
slaved and long into the night, per-
fecting his dies and forging money
until beads of perspiration would
roll down his face; and his arms,
from constant and feverish haste,
would fall limp at his side.
At last he was through! Heaps of

crisp bills lay stacked around about
him ready for circulation. But just
as the moneymaker was ready to
pass them on, the stamp of the
country was changed; the outstand-
ing currency was called in and pro-
hibited thenceforth to serve as a
medium for exchange. So it hap-
pened that over night all his hopes
were crushed and all his labor was
in vain.

44



The greatest dupes the devil has
are those men who, as the saying
goes, work themselves to death.
Men who exhaust an anxious exist-
ence in studies and plans and hard
work to enrich themselves and their
children; who sacrifice even duty,
social and religious, only to find
out at sad last that they have
missed the very end for which they
were placed in this world.

It were an infinite tragedy if at the
end of life all our toil and labor—or
the greater part of it—were stamped
as counterfeit. "Lord, we have la-
bored all the night (all our life) and
have taken nothing.” God help us!
Our good works in themselves

are only of passing value, and mer-
it only a temporal reward. It is our
union with Christ as members of
that mystical body of which He is
Head which gives them a supernat-
ural, heavenly, infinite, everlasting
value. By keeping ourselves in the
state of grace, by frequently receiv-
ing the Sacraments of Penance and
Holy Communion, by regular and
constant prayer, and by renewing
our good intention (Morning Offer-
ing) often during the day we are
laying by treasure for eternity.

45



POWER OF PRAYER
Prayer is endowed with the omni-

potence of God Himself; and, by
prayer, we too become endowed
with the same divine attribute, in so
far as it places omnipotence at our
disposal.

Here, then, we have an instrument
in our hands which will work won-
ders for us wherever we will;
a power which nothing can resist;
a master-key to all the treasures
of heaven;

a shield against every danger;
a comfort in every sorrow;
a light in darkness;
a joy that never fails;
a food that never palls on the

taste;

a strength which no hardship can
break;

a life which cannot die.
It is a source of knowledge, such

as no earthly science can unfold; a
mine of wealth yielding treasures of
which death cannot rob us; a royal
charter of such privileges and dig-
nities as no mortal monarch ever
possessed or can bestow.
—Paradise of God.

46



U-BOMB
However men degrade them-

selves; however black with sin the
world becomes; however desperate
the outlook, there is always hope
for peace on earth for men of good
will.

The specific solution is the U-
Bomb of Faith and Hope, not the
H-Bomb of death and despair.
And you are the U-Bomb. When

you pray, you charge yourself with
the grace of God. When you act
you trigger off the bomb which sets
up chain reactions, not of misery
and death, but of peace and life. Ev-
ery man is needed— but no one can
do it all.
There are problems so big and so

complex that not one but a whole
cluster of U-Bombs must be fired
together to be effective.
In less picturesque but more prac-

tical language, this means that on
the parish, diocesan, and national
levels, there must be a clustering
together of our American Catholic
men (and women) for unified action
if we are going to make the strength
of our Faith felt in bringing about
the restoration of all things in
Christ. —From CATHOLIC MEN,

47



Nihil Obstat

Louis Hauber, S.T.D., Censor Deputatus

Imprimatur

+ Edward J. Hunkeler, D.D.
Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, August 9, 1961

This Prayer Booklet, DAILY PRAY-
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