Dear God

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards;
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me;
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet;
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier
or the challenges are removed;
I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

A PRAYER FOR LENT

O gracious Master,

infuse in our hearts

the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom

and open the eyes of our mind

that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel.

Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments,

so that having curbed all carnal desires,

we may lead a spiritual life,

both thinking and doing everything to please You.

For You, O Christ, our God,

are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies;

and to You we render glory,

together with Your eternal Father,

and with Your all holy,

life-creating Spirit,

now and ever, and forever.

Amen.

Prayers For The Crash Victims of Flight 3407

Eternal rest grant unto them , O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them (him, her).
May their soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

Amen.

I Cannot Pray

I cannot say OUR if my religion has no room for others and their needs.

I cannot say FATHER if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily life.

I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I, who am called by His name am not holy.

I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God.

I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN unless I am truly ready to give myself to his service here and now.

I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of my fellow men.

I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.

I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.

I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER if I fear what my neighbors and friends may say or do

I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY if I am seeking my own glory first.

I cannot say FOREVER if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.

I cannot say AMEN unless I honestly say, "Cost what it may, this is my prayer

Anon

New Year Prayer

God grant us this year a wider view,
So we see others' faults through the eyes of You.
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,
Neither the adult ... nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure
And a stronger faith so we feel secure.
Instead of remembering, help us forget
The irritations that caused us to fret.

Freely forgiving for some offense
And finding each day a rich recompense.
In offering a friendly, helping hand
And trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are ...
Are trying to reach an unreachable star.
For the great and small ... the good and bad,
The young and old ... the sad and glad

Are asking today; Is life worth living?
The answer is only in, loving and giving.
For only Love can make man kind
And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can start this year
To lift the clouds of hate and fear.

This Christmas

God, give us eyes this Christmas

To see the Christmas Star.

And give ears to hear the song

Of angels from afar

And with our eyes and ears attuned

For a message from above,

Let Christmas Angels speak to us

Of hope and faith and love.

Hope to light our pathway

When the way ahead is dark

Hope to sing through stormy days,

With the sweetness of the lark.

Faith to trust things unseen

And know beyond all seeing

That it is our Father’s love

We live and have our being.

And love to break down barriers

Of color, race and creed,

Love to see and understand

And help all those in need.

Amen

Miracle of the Rosary-A Personal Story

When my mother was dying of cancer she would spend hours laying in her bed staring in rapture at a picture of Our Lady. It was a normal picture of our Lady and I could not understand what my mother stared at with such intensity and adoration.

Oneday I decided to go in and ask her, why she continued to stare with such love at a mere picture? Her response was to smile at me and say, 'oh but if you only knew her, how beautiful she is, how beautiful...' I again looked at the painting and could not see what my mother was seeing.

Every night before my mother went to sleep she would always wrap her Rosary around her hand. Until one night when she could not find her Rosary, my mother was most upset as my father and I upended her bedside table. We emptied out the draws, no Rosary. I looked into my mothers pillow case still no Rosary, I also felt around her body in the bed and again no Rosary. Finally I got a torch and on my hands and knees I looked under her bed only to be disappointed, no Rosary.

My mothers Rosary seemed to have disappeared!

I offered my mother my own Rosary but my mother said no, she wanted her own, so with a sad smile we retired for the night. I lay awake for a long while because I knew what a comfort the Rosary was for my mother and then when I could hear her sleeping I also went to sleep.

The next morning I was awoken very early as my mother yelled for me. Thinking she was in immense pain I jumped up and ran into her room only to find my mother sitting up and holding out her hand. Wrapped around my mothers hand was her Rosary...The Rosary that neither my father or myself could find only the night before.

My mother then looked at the picture of Our Lady and said, 'oh, I knew you would find it for me... beautiful Lady, thankyou.'

Months later when my mother lay in hospital dying I made sure her Rosary was wrapped around her hand.

And again...

Thankyou beautiful Lady, thankyou.

Written by Marie

Prayer for World Peace

Lord, we pray for the power to be gentle;

the strength to be forgiving;

the patience to be understanding;

and the endurance to accept the consequences

of holding to what we believe to be right.

May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil

and the power of love to overcome hatred.

We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe

in a world emancipated from violence,

a new world where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice,

nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.

Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy

to the task of making peace,

praying always for the inspiration and the power

to fulfill the destiny for which we and all men were created.

Anon

Amen!

A PRAYER FOR AMERICAN ELECTION

O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord,

Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.

We thank You for the privilege

Of being able to organize ourselves politically

And of knowing that political loyalty

Does not have to mean disloyalty to You.

We thank You for Your law,

Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged

And recognized as higher than any human law.

We thank You for the opportunity that this election year puts before us,

To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote,

But to influence countless others to vote,

And to vote correctly.

Lord, we pray that Your people may be awakened.

Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation,

Their response to You requires that they be politically active.

Awaken Your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world

But rather a community of faith renewing the world.

Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to You in prayer

Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth;

That the same eyes that read Your Word

Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot,

And that they do not cease to be Christians

When they enter the voting booth.

Awaken Your people to a commitment to justice,

To the sanctity of marriage and the family,

To the dignity of each individual human life,

And to the truth that human rights begin when Human Lives Begin,

And not one moment later.

Lord, we rejoice today

That we are citizens of Your kingdom.

May that make us all the more committed

To being faithful citizens on earth.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone

PRAYER FOR COURAGE IN THE TIME OF BATTLE

O Prince of peace, we humbly ask your protection

for all our men and women in military service.

Give them unflinching courage to defend

with honor, dignity and devotion,

the rights of all who are imperiled

by injustice and evil.

Be their rock, their shield, and their stronghold

and let them draw their strength from you.

For you are God, for ever and ever.

AMEN!

Author Unknown

Lord, I Give This Day To You

Good Morning Lord,
I Love you... So what should I do this day?
I open up my heart to you;
would you just lead my way?
Is there someone I need to see
or something I should do?
I'm willing Lord... just show me
for "I give this day to You"!
I s there a lonely soul out there
who needs someone to care?
I'm willing to reach out to them...
I'm willing... lead me there;
Or is there someone ill today
who needs my Nursing care?
I'm willing Lord, to go to them
If you'll just lead me there!
Or could it be your will for me
is stay at home and pray?
I'm willing Lord... this day is yours
so you just lead my way!
There's nothing more important Lord,
than just to do your will;
Surrender all my heart and soul and
serve you Lord until,
My journey through this land is o'er..
My life on earth has passed;
Then I'll walk through those Pearly Gates,
to be with You at last!

Let's Join Together to Pray for LIFE- Hour of Prayer

Archbishop Hart has urged Catholics and all people of goodwill to join with him in an Hour of Prayer this coming Sunday October 5 at 12.15pm at St Patrick's Cathedral East Melbourne to pray for the defeat of the Abortion Law Reform Bill, the archdiocese has announced. 

Archbishop Hart has also declared Sunday October 5 2008 a Day of Intercession for the defeat of the Abortion Law Reform Bill. 

The Abortion Law Reform Bill passed the lower house of the Victorian parliament on September 11 without amendment. It is scheduled for debate in the upper house on Tuesday October 7.

A Family Blessing

God bless the Father,

Who teaches with wisdom,

Whose discipline is fair and wise.

God bless the Father,

Whose love enfolds,

And holds his family as one.

God bless the Mother,

Who gives life,

Who nourishes with her faith.

God bless the Mother,

Whose heart is full,

With gentle care,

And the love she shares.

God bless the Children,

Who grow in their footsteps,

Who learn the values and meanings,

Of life and faith.

God bless the Children,

Who learn to love and give,

Who honor and obey,

Their Mother and Father.

God bless the Home,

Which is built with strong foundations,

Filled with the treasures from Heaven.

God bless the Family,

Who lives and grows with God,

With His love and wisdom,

Taught and given with faith.

To be passed down the generations.

God Bless the Family

With God in their hearts,

The Holy Spirit in their souls,

And with Jesus walking beside them.

God Bless our Families.

Amen and Amen

Praying The Beatitudes

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Keep us from being preoccupied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven in theirs." Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right rather than to practice injustice; and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them.

Anon

A PRAYER FOR AMERICA

Father, once again we are reminded that any security we have as individuals and as a nation comes only from the abiding hope and trust we have in You.

Father, we seek Your peace for our nation and our world. In the midst of our questions and uncertainty, we recognize that the unknown details of this day are already in Your grasp. We know You sent Your Son as the Prince of Peace and even this day falls under His command. Help us to find the strength and comfort we need as a nation to continue to humble ourselves, pray and seek Your face for a new day in America and a new hope for our world.

We seek Your peace for the emergency workers, that You would guard their lives as they seek to guard the lives of others. Give them the wisdom they need to perform their duties above and beyond the levels of their training.

Amen.

Let Go & Let God

As children bring their broken toys,

with tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God

because he was my friend.

But then, instead of leaving Him

in peace to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help,

with ways that were my own.

At last, I snatched them back and

cried, "How can you be so slow?"

"My child," He said,

"What could I do?

You never did let go."

Prayer for Melissa-RIP

Lord at times we do not understand Your Will but we do trust Your Love for us, even when we fail You.

We know your love for Melissa was so great that You as a Loving Father have brought her into Your Majestic Presence.

Though her loving presence will be missed by her family and friends, yet Melissa is now with You and by the side of our Blessed Mother and the Saints in Heaven.

We pray now Lord great Comforter and Consoler of the sorrowful that You in Your great Mercy will comfort and aid her grieving family and friends.

Thankyou Lord for the wonderful gift of Melissa, a unique, extraodinary and loving human being.

Joy she gave and Joy she has received.

Amen.

Thankyou Kathy and Kimberly for keeping us informed about this dear child of God. God bless you both.

Prayer for Families

Heavenly Father,

we are reminded by the Second Vatican Council

that our family is a domestic Church

where family prayer and mutual affection

pay you special worship.

Help us to be a family of love,

support, forgiveness and courage.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Prayer for America

Almighty God,

bless the American nation

and make it true

to the ideas of freedom and justice

and brotherhood for all who make it great.

Guard them & all of mankind from war,

from fire and wind,

from compromise, fear, confusion.

Be close to their president and their statesmen;

give them vision and courage,

as they ponder decisions affecting peace

and the future of the world.

Make them more deeply aware of their heritage;

realizing not only their rights

but also their duties

and responsibilities as a citizen.

Make that great land

and all its people

know clearly Your will,

that they may fulfill

the destiny ordained for them and us in the salvation of the nations,

and the restoring of all things in Christ.

Amen

Peace Prayer to the Mother

The greatest gift of The Mother is Her Love.

It is incumbent upon us, Her children,

to act towards each other as valued members of the same family.

Mother hear our desires, teach us your wisdom.

Let there be peace of understanding;

Peace of a calming of angers;

peace of wisdom,

Peace of a willingness not to seek vengeance.

Let there be peace because we owe it to the children,

Peace because we owe it to the parents,

Peace because we owe it to our ancestors.

Let there be peace so that there may be art,

Peace so there may be farming.

Peace so there may be dancing,

Peace so that utterly different peoples may compare their ways with interest.

Let there be peace among humans

Peace between humans and all living creatures,

Peace between humans and the land.

Let there be peace so that our ingenuity may undo our damage,

Peace so that we may solve riddles.

Peace so that we may reach the stars,

Peace so we may reach our own souls.

Let there be lasting peace;

Peace among men and women.

Peace among adults and children.

Let there be true peace.

Amen!