PRAYER TO MARY OUR MOTHER

Mary, you have been there before us.

You have stood at the tomb of farewell.

We, too, often face painful endings.

Like you, we need to eventually let go,

believing that the Holy One will console us.

You know how grief engulfs the heart

and tries to strangle the hope it contains.

You have felt the drain of a great loss

and the emptiness it creates inside.

Teach us how to have confidence in God

when we question what the future holds.

Strengthen our faith as we try to let go

of whatever keeps us from growing deeper.

We remember those who are moving through painful farewells . . .

(pause for silent or vocal remembering).

Mary, teach us how to be people of faith.

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SPEAK LORD​

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Lord, why are you silent, when I am silent?

Why do you not speak to me when I am listening for your voice?

I make space for you. I make time. I hear nothing.

I know you are not there to be commanded.

I know I cannot order you to act at my request.

Lord, I need to hear your voice. I need your guidance.

I wait upon your word. I am in need of direction.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Let me hear you.

Why this silence? Why this lack of communication?

What do you mean, I should be satisfied with your presence?

Forgive me, Lord, I have been seeking presents, not the presence.

I have been searching for you, shouting for you, and you are here.

Lord, let my heart beat more in tune with your heartbeat,

Until I know that I dwell in you and you in me.

Let my will become in harmony with your will,

That my whole life may reveal you and your glory.

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FAMILY PRAYER​

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When they had done everything the Law of

the Lord required, Joseph and Mary went back

to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Meanwhile the child, Jesus, grew to maturity

and he was filled with wisdom and God's favour

was with him. (Lk.2:39,40).

May God's favour rest on our child/children

May they grow in wisdom and grace,

May they be safe from all evil and harm and

May they be guided by the Holy Spirit

in all their life's decisions. Amen.

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GOD FORSAKEN​

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God, why have you forsaken me?

Why leave me in this pain?

The sun is hidden from my sight:

The dark clouds drop cold rain.

The fury of the wind does not cease:

The very earth trembles and quakes.

The roaring waves increase:

The air vibrates and all shakes.

The storm gets stronger still:

A great darkness fills the sky.

Why, O God, do you keep silent?

Why, O God, I ask you why?

Do not trust your feelings:

They will lead you astray.

Trust me in the darkness:

I am a sure and safe way.

The sea will subside:

The surface will be calm.

The sun will shine again:

I will keep you from harm.

I am with you every moment:

I may be silent but I am near.

I stay with you always:

There is no need to fear.

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WHEN YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE LORD

When you have received the Lord and are in his presence,

try to shut the bodily eyes and open the eyes of the soul.

Do not lose such an excellent time for talking with Our Lord

as the hour after Holy Communion.

This is a good time for our Master to teach us and for us to listen to him.

Beg him to show you how to pray and never to leave you.

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We have no need to go and seek him somewhere a long way off.

Delight to remain with him.

Talk to him.

It is as if we saw the Lord entering our poor abode.

Let us enter into that abode with him.

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If while Our Lord went about in the world,

the sick were healed merely by touching his clothes

how can we doubt that he will work miracles when he is within us?

He will give us what we ask of him since he is in our house.

O my Lord, how little we profit from the blessings which you have granted us.

Your majesty seeks methods and ways and inventions

by which to show us what love you have for us.

Blessed forever so great a God.

Amen.

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BLESSING OF BABY

Jesus said;

Let the children come to me, for it is to

such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

Then he put his arms around them, laid his hands on

them and gave them his blessing (Mark 10:13-16)

Make the sign of the cross on your child's forehead

and pray, expressing your hopes and dreams,

desires and wishes for him/her.

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SET ME ON FIRE​

Lord, you are my light and my salvation,

Set me on fire with love for you.

Lead me to the radiance of your presence,

Scatter the darkness within me and around,

Deliver me from the deep dark of death.

Awaken me to life eternal,

That I may glow with the fire of your love,

And rejoice in the brightness of your glory.

Lord, you are my light and my salvation,

Set me on fire with love for you.

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AWAKE WITH THE DAWN

Anyone who has not wondered

At the dawning has died

During the night, or has never lived.

Each day should awaken us to wonder and awe,

To a fresh reverence for each creature.

Everything I touch burns with a presence.

All that I see dazzles me with its radiance.

A single sound fills my ears with its call.

Events flame in my heart, revealing Love.

How can I survive such wonder and awe.

They say I should not be so sensitive,

In allowing such glory to mix with the earth.

Lord, how can this be, for it is reality?

A handful of soil can open the eyes of the blind.

I have seen heaven and earth are one.

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THE POWER OF GOD

God the Almighty is the power of my life:

I need not be anxious or afraid.

God is a fortress about me:

I need not be overcome.

I dwell in his presence:

Nothing can take him from me.

He hides me in his shelter:

When troubles are about me.

He offers me this help

When I am weak or distressed.

He will never leave or forsake me.

Nothing can separate me from him.

I dwell in his presence,

And he dwells in me.

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LORD, OPEN US TO YOU​

Open our eyes, Lord, to the beauty of this day.

Open our eyes to the glory of your presence.

Open the eyes that have narrowed their vision.

Open the eyes that are clouded with familiarity.

Open the eyes that are blinded to beauty.

Open the eyes that are weary with watching.

Open the eyes that distorted with sorrow.

Open the eyes that are only able to see the greyness.

Open the eyes that are selective in their seeing.

Open the eyes that are shut through fear.

Open the eyes that are closed in the sleep of death.

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts.

Enlarge our vision,

Increase our awareness,

Make us more sensitive,

Open our eyes to your presence and to you.

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PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT

Father, I abandon myself into your hands;

Do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you;

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures.

Into your hands I commend my soul:

I offer it to you with all the love in my heart,

For I love you Lord, and so need to give myself,

To surrender myself into your hands

Without reserve and with boundless confidence,

For you are my Father.

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PRAYER OF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER

God our Father, as you are giving me the

blessing of bringing an infant into the

world and knowing that as Creator of all life

it is more truly more yours than mine, I ask you to

help me to fulfil all my maternal duties.

O Lord Jesus Christ, look upon this unborn

little one that lies close to my heart. Grant

that this baby may one day become a member

of the Church through the sacrament of Baptism.

Holy Spirit, sanctify us, father, mother and the baby.

Holy Mary, Mother of God nourish us with your

love and protection always.

Dear St. Joseph, watch over our baby as you

watched over Jesus.

Holy angel of our little child, pray for us.

Amen.

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I AM A SEEKER

Father,

I am a seeker,

I am often unsure,

I need your guidance,

I need your presence,

I need your love.

Father,

Give me joy in my journey,

Give me wonder on the way,

Give me your grace to guide,

Give me sureness in seeking,

Lead me to you.

Father,

Let your eye watch over me,

Let your hand guide me,

Let your presence protect me,

Until I come to rest before you,

Until I come at last before your face.

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O DIVINE CREATOR.

Unless You, O Divine Creator, build

the house,

those who build it labour in vain.

Unless You watch over the city,

the watchers stay awake in vain.

For it is in co-operating with You

from morn to evening,

Eating the bread of your Word,

that we rest in peace throughout

the night.

Reverence the sacred gift of life that

nourishes all.

Who will grow in wisdom, abandoning

themselves into the chalice of Love?

Who will open themselves to the

imprint of Love's gifts upon

their heart?

Unless You, O Divine Spirit, make

your home within us,

we wander through life in vain.

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MOST GRACIOUS PRESENCE

Most gracious Presence, let me not

be arrogant,

nor boast of my virtuous deeds;

Let me not seek fame or set my heart

on the riches of the world.

Help me to calm and quiet my soul,

like a child is quieted at its

mother's breast;

like a child that is quieted,

so be my soul.

I shall hope in You, O Breath

of my breath,

from this time forth and

forevermore.

Amen