First Prayer
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen<\/span>.
We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
<\/div>O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.<\/div>
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Second Prayer<\/span>
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.<\/span>
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In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.
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Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.
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Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.
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Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.
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Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
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Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.
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Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.
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Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
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Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Amen.<\/span>
<\/div>PRAYER OF BLESSING<\/h3><\/div>\n\nLord God, You sent us your Son to teach us by word and example, <\/div>
that true wisdom comes from you alone. <\/div>
Your Spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us your ways.<\/div>
Send your Spirit on all of us. <\/div>
Grant that we may follow Jesus Christ,<\/div>
the way, the truth and the life,<\/div>
for ever and ever.<\/div>
Amen.<\/span> <\/div>
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CHOOSE LIFE:PRAYER FOR THE CHILD IN THE WOMB<\/h3><\/div>\n\nLord Jesus, you are the source and lover of life. <\/div>
Reawaken in us respect for every human life.<\/div>
Help us to see in each child the marvellous work of our Creator. <\/div>
Open our hearts to welcome every child as a unique and wonderful gift.<\/div>
Guide the work of doctors, nurses and midwives. <\/div>
May the life of a mother and her baby in the womb be equally cherished and respected.<\/div>
Help those who make our laws to uphold the uniqueness and sacredness of every human life, <\/div>
from the first moment of conception to natural death.<\/div>
Give us wisdom and generosity to build a society that cares for all.<\/div>
Together with Mary, your Mother, in whose womb you took on our human nature, <\/div>
Help us to choose life in every decision we take.<\/div>
We ask this in the joyful hope of eternal life with you, <\/div>
and in the communion of the Blessed Trinity.<\/div>
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Amen<\/span>.<\/div>
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PRAYER TO MARY OUR MOTHER<\/h3><\/div>\n\nOur Lady of Knock, pray for us. <\/span><\/div>All the Saints of Ireland, pray for us.<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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PRAYER TO MARY OUR MOTHER<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Mary, you have been there before us.<\/div>
You have stood at the tomb of farewell.<\/div>
We, too, often face painful endings.<\/div>
Like you, we need to eventually let go,<\/div>
believing that the Holy One will console us.<\/div>
You know how grief engulfs the heart<\/div>
and tries to strangle the hope it contains.<\/div>
You have felt the drain of a great loss<\/div>
and the emptiness it creates inside.<\/div>
Teach us how to have confidence in God<\/div>
when we question what the future holds.<\/div>
Strengthen our faith as we try to let go<\/div>
of whatever keeps us from growing deeper.<\/div>
We remember those who are moving through painful farewells . . .<\/div>
(pause for silent or vocal remembering).<\/div>
Mary, teach us how to be people of faith.<\/div>
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ST. TERESA OF AVILA\'S BOOKMARK<\/h3><\/div>\n\nLet nothing disturb you<\/div>
Let nothing frighten you<\/div>
All things pass away<\/div>
God never changes<\/div>
Patience obtains all things<\/div>
Those who have God<\/div>
Find they lack nothing.<\/div>
God alone suffices.<\/div>
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GIVING THANKS<\/h3><\/div>\n\nO Divine Gift-giver,<\/div>
I stand beneath the endless waterfall<\/div>
of your abundant gifts to me.<\/div>
I thank you especially for the blessing of life,<\/div>
the most precious of all your gifts to me.<\/div>
I thank you, Ever-generous One,<\/div>
for clothing to wear,<\/div>
for food and drink to nourish my body, <\/div>
for all the talents and skills that you have bestowed upon me.<\/div>
I thank you for the many joys of my life,<\/div>
for family and friends,<\/div>
for work that gives to me a sense of purpose<\/div>
and invests my life with meaning.<\/div>
I thank you as well<\/div>
for the suffering and trials of my life<\/div>
which are also gifts<\/div>
and which together with my mistakes are among my most important teachers.<\/div>
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Grant that I may never greet a new day<\/div>
without the awareness of some gift<\/div>
for which to give you thanks.<\/div>
And may constant thanksgiving<\/div>
be my song of perpetual praise to you.<\/div>
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Diocesan Prayer<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<\/div>
God our Father,<\/div>
we, your people of the diocese of Derry, <\/div>
turn to you in prayer, as our ancestors have done, <\/div>
in good times and bad, since the days of St. Columba and St. Eugene, St. Lurach and St. Mura. <\/div>
Although aware that we are unworthy of your grace, with confidence in your love we ask your help. <\/div>
Support and care for our bishops in their retirement. <\/div>
Give courage and vision to those who are called on to administer the diocese at this time. <\/div>
Grant your wisdom and discernment to those charged with the task of choosing our next bishop. <\/div>
We ask you this in the name of Jesus, your Son, our Lord.<\/div>
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Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.<\/span><\/div>St Lurach, pray for us.<\/span><\/div>St Mura, pray for us.<\/span><\/div>All you saints of the diocese pray for us.<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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PRAYER FOR ONE WHO FEELS TERRIBLY POOR INSIDE<\/h3><\/div>\n\nI do not feel that I have anything to offer to you, <\/div>
O God, or to anyone else for that matter.<\/div>
Inside me all is emptiness.<\/div>
I am sitting in the ashes of desolation. <\/div>
I feel swallowed up in a sea of nothingness. <\/div>
Come, let me know the strong refrains of your love running through my inner pockets of poverty.<\/div>
At these times, when I feel so alone,<\/div>
so powerless, so sad and so desolate, <\/div>
the promise of your love does not enthuse me <\/div>
or hearten me.<\/div>
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Take this empty spirit of mine, <\/div>
fill it with a deep belief in your abiding presence; <\/div>
allow me to bid farewell to whatever keeps me from relying on you.<\/div>
Help me to see that this emptiness <\/div>
can be a blessing <\/div>
because it puts my life in perspective <\/div>
and allows me to see you <\/div>
as the source of all inner energy and fullness.<\/div>
God of the poor, <\/div>
draw near to me in my need.<\/div>
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CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY<\/h3><\/div>\n\nI chose you today, Mary, <\/div>
in the presence of the angels and the saints of heaven, for my Mother and my Queen.<\/div>
I consecrate to you, in obedience and in love, <\/div>
all I am, and all the good I may do, <\/div>
putting myself and all that belongs to me <\/div>
entirely at your service, <\/div>
for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity.<\/div>
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SPEAKING TO MARY<\/h3>Mary, you have been there before me, <\/div>
weary and worn out from the long vigil,<\/div>
saddened by the pain of your loved one,<\/div>
heartbroken over what you could not change.<\/div>
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Your valiant stance beneath the cross<\/div>
tells me of your unceasing love.<\/div>
Long years of unfailing faith upheld you.<\/div>
Kind friends by your side sustained you.<\/div>
I, too, am standing with a loved one <\/div>
who hangs upon the cross of suffering.<\/div>
I, too, am powerless to help.<\/div>
Teach me how to stand beneath this cross.<\/div>
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Woman of Compassion, Mother of Sorrows,<\/div>
I draw inspiration from your journey.<\/div>
I, too, can move through the pain of my present situation.<\/div>
Your faith and courage lead me to my own.<\/div>
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ONE WHO IS LONELY<\/h3><\/div>\n\nEternal Presence,<\/div>
you are with me on my journey.<\/div>
You know the loneliness<\/div>
that wraps around my heart<\/div>
and leaves a void of sadness.<\/div>
Comfort me on my dreary days<\/div>
when emptiness is all I know.<\/div>
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Do not let me succumb <\/div>
to isolated self-pity.<\/div>
Let me experience your presence.<\/div>
Fill my downcast spirit <\/div>
with your joy.<\/div>
Keep me close to your abiding love.<\/div>
with every step I take.<\/div>
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PRAYER FOR GRANDPARENTS<\/h3><\/div>\n\n
This Universal Prayer For Grandparents was composed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.<\/span><\/div>
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