Reflections
"Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray."
- St. Louis de Montfort
A "Short Prayer to Mary Most Holy of Good Counsel to Implore Her Protection" from 1796
A "Short Prayer to Mary Most Holy of Good Counsel to Implore Her Protection" from 1796:
O Mary of Good Counsel, inflame the hearts of all who are devoted to you, so that all of them have shelter in you, O great Mother of God. O most worthy Lady, let everyone choose you as teacher and wise counselor of their souls, since you are, as Saint Augustine says, the counsel of the Apostles and counsel of all peoples. Amen.
From the liturgy:
Lord,
you know that our thoughts on earth
are full of fear and uncertainty;
through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
from whom your Son took flesh and blood,
send us the Spirit of counsel
to teach us how to know your will,
and to guide us in all we do.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord,
we have shared in your mysteries
on this memorial of Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel.
Grant that we may learn what is pleasing to
you,
and receive salvation from your Son,
whom you gave to us as our wonderful Counselor
through the cooperation of his Blessed Mother.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself.
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am really actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with , and you will never me to face my perils alone. Amen.
Loving Father, the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Grant, we implore you, an increase of vocations to the ordained ministry and to the religious life. We ask that you send your Holy Spirit to strengthen all of us as we seek to follow the vocation to which we have been called. We pray especially for those called to serve as priests, deacons, sisters and brothers. May they, and all you call your own, be open and responsive to serving your people with the gifts you have entrusted to them.
Send a special blessing to the young men at Notre Dame Seminary. Grant them wisdom and knowledge to discern your will in their lives so that they may be true images of your Servant Son. Lead the faculty and staff of Notre Dame Seminary and all who are are active in the formation of seminarians on the path of eternal truth. Let them proclaim of your saving love in their every word and action.
We make this prayer in the name of your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Consecration of Families to the Sacred Heart
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thou didst reveal to the blessed
Margaret Mary Thy desire to rule over Christian families; behold, in order to
please Thee, we stand before Thee this day, to proclaim Thy full sovereignty
over our family. We desire henceforth to live Thy life, we desire that the
virtues, to which Thou hast promised peace on earth, may flower in the bosom of
our family; we desire to keep far from us the spirit of the world, which Thou
hast condemned. Thou art King of our hearts by our love of Thee alone, with
which our hearts are on fire and whose flame we shall nourish by frequent
reception of the Holy Eucharist. Be pleased, O Sacred Heart, to preside over our
gathering together, to bless our spiritual and temporal affairs, to ward off all
annoyance from us, to bless our joys and comfort our sorrows. If any of us has
ever been so unhappy as to fall into the misery of displeasing Thee, grant that
he may remember, O Heart of Jesus, that Thou art full of goodness and mercy
toward the repentant sinner. And when the hour of separation strikes and death
enters our family circle, whether we go or whether we stay, we shall all bow
meekly before Thine eternal decrees. This shall be our consolation, to remember
that the day will come, when our entire family, once more united in heaven,
shall be able to sing of Thy glory and Thy goodness forever. May the immaculate
Heart of Mary and the glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph vouchsafe to offer Thee
this our act of consecration, and to keep the memory thereof alive in us all the
days of our lives.
Glory to the Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father! Amen.
God, Our Father, we pray that through Your intercession of St. Nicholas You will protect our children. Keep them safe from harm and help them grow and become worthy in Your sight. Give them strength to keep their Faith in You; and to keep alive their joy in Your creation. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the Word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lay down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.