Family Novena before First Communion Day

Ninth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, you love (name) very much. You saved (him, her) from sin and death by dying on the cross and rising. Through baptism (he, she) became God's child. In nine days you will come to (name) in communion. Fill (him, her) with thanksgiving for this great gift. Let our prayers help prepare (him, her) to receive you.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Eighth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, you died for our sins. We remember this in the Eucharist. In eight days (name) will receive the sacred bread and wine of communion. This is your body and blood that you gave for us. Keep (name) free from sin and full of grace.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Seventh Day Before

Parents: Jesus, by your death and rising you won everlasting life for us. In seven days (name) will receive you, the risen Lord, in communion. Let (name) always live so that someday (he, she) may be happy with you forever in heaven.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Sixth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, in the Eucharist, you nourish the divine life we received in baptism. In six days, (name) will receive you for the first time in holy communion. Help (him, her) grow in love of you so that (he, she) lives as a true child of God.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Fifth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, in communion you come closer to us than anyone can ever be. As our food and drink you become one with us. In five days, (name) will welcome you in (his, her) heart. May (he, she) come to love you more and more each day.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Fourth Day Before

Parents: Jesus, you want all your followers to be united in love. Through the Eucharist you bind us all together in friendship and love. In four days, (name) will be more closely joined to the church through holy communion. Give (him, her) the grace to be an active member of the church.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Third Day Before

Parents: Jesus, (name) was intitiated into your church at baptism. (He, She) is looking forward to further initiation through the Eucharist. In three days (name) will receive the sacrament of initiation. Make (him, her) a good Catholic Christian, full of faith and love.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

Second Day Before

Parents: Jesus, in the Eucharist you make us more like you. In two days you will come to (name) in communion. Enable (him, her) to be the person of kindness, compassion, wisdom and courage that you were. Increase (his, her) faith, hope and love.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

The Day Before

Parents: Jesus, tomorrow will be a great day of joy. (Name) will receive you in holy communion for the first time. (He, She) will know how much you love us. Bless (name) and make (him, her) a strong, loving Christian. May (name) always long to receive you in the Blessed Sacrament. May (he, she) always appreciate all you have done for us.
Child: Jesus, help me prepare my heart for you.

~ from "The Gift of Holy Communion" prayers.

The Miraculous Medal Prayer

Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Morning Prayer (for mothers)

My Jesus, I offer this day to you- all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings- and, through you, I make this offering to our Father in heaven. Be with me through this whole day in all its particulars, and assist me that it may become a worthy offering in every way.
Be close to me in all I think and say and do. Direct your Spirit to speak to me and guide me-and help me to listen attentively when he does speak...so that, in my response, your thoughts may become more surely my thoughts, and your ways may become my ways; so that my judgements may accord with your judgements, and that the sentiments of my heart may be most like your very own; so that my conversation with others may be conversation I may ask you to share with us, and that my works may be works I may ask you to approve.
Help me to have the practical wisdom to look to your Mother from time to time, as I go about the duties of my day, in an effort to find the grace of a better way in my motherhood; for she is the perfect example of all virtues and she is your loving gift to us as a perfect model for all motherhood.May I know the continued grace to work with you in all I do, and not merely for you...so that my day may become a perfect offering-lived with you and in you and through you- to be presented to the Father in joy and love.
~from the Mothers Manual by A. Francis Coomes, SJ

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor, banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

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

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in they mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

St. Therese Prayer (feast October 1st)

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you.

Jesus Help Me, Prayer to the Sacred Heart

In every need let me come to You with humble trust, saying: Jesus, help me!

In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations: Jesus, help me!

In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials: Jesus, help me!

In the failure of my plans and hopes, in disappointments, troubles and sorrows: Jesus, help me!

When others fail me, and Your Grace alone can assist me: Jesus, help me!

When I throw myself on Your tender Love as a Father and Savior: Jesus, help me!

When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good come from my efforts: Jesus, help me!

When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me: Jesus, help me!

When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely: Jesus, help me!

Always, always, in spite of weakness, fails and shortcomings of every kind: Jesus, help me and never forsake me.

Prayer to St. Lucy (feast December 13th)

O Saint Lucy, whose name means light, full of confidence we present ourselves before you to ask of you a holy light, which may render us cautious in avoiding the ways of sin and escaping the darkness of error.

We beg also, through your intercession, for the preservation of the light of our eyes, together with abundant grace to use it always in accordance with the will of God and without injury to our souls.

Grant, O blessed Lucy, that after venerating and thanking you for your powerful patronage on earth, we may come at last to rejoice with you in the paradise of the eternal light of the Divine Lamb, your sweet spouse Jesus.

Amen.

A Marriage Blessing

We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in our hearts.

May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes.

Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings.

Increase our Faith and Trust in You and may Your Prudence guide our life and love.

Bless our Marriage, O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make our Love Fruitful for Your Glory and our joy both here and in eternity.

Amen.

A Nurse's Prayer

O my God, teach me to receive the sick in Thy Name. Give to my efforts success for the glory of Thy Holy Name.

It is Thy work: without Thee, I cannot succeed.

Grant that the sick Thou hast placed in my care may be abundantly blessed, and not one of them be lost because of any neglect on my part.

Help me to overcome every temporal weakness, and strengthen in me whatever may enable me to bring joy to the lives of those I serve.

Give me grace, for the sake of Thy sick ones and of those lives that will be influenced by them.

Amen.

Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

(the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls.)

On rosary beads...
First say one:
Our Father, Hail Mary, and The Creed
Then on the large beads say:
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the smaller beads say:
For the sake of His sorrowful Pssion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
In conclusion say three times:
Holy God, Holy Might One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


To be said at 3 o'clock, if possible

Teen Creed

Don't let your parents down,
They brought you up.
Be humble enought to obey,
You may give orders some day.
Choose companions with care,
You become what they are.
Guard your thoughts,
What you think, you are.
Choose only a date
Who would make a good mate.
Be master of your habits,
or they will master you.
Don't be a show off when you drive,
Drive with safety and arrive.
Don't let the crowd pressure you,
Stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

St. Paul, Prayer for Patience

O glorious St. Paul, who from a persecutor of Christianity, didst become a most ardent apostle of zeal; and who to make known the Savior Jesus Christ unto the ends of the world didst suffer with joy imprisonment, scourgings, stonings, shipwrecks and persecutions of every kind, and in the end didst shed thy blood to the last drop, obtain for us the grace to receive, as favors of the Divine mercy, infirmities, tribulations, and misfortunes of the present life, so that the vicissitudes of this our exile will not render us cold in the service of God, but will render us always more faithful and more fervent. amen

St. Gerard, Prayer for Motherhood

O glorious Saint Gerard, powerful intercessor before God, and wonder worker of our day, I call upon you and seek your help. You who always fulfilled God's will on earth, help me to do God's holy will. Beseech the Master of life, from whom all paternity proceeds, that I may conceive and raise children who will please God in this life, and be heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Amen

St. Gerard, Prayer for a Safe Delivery

O Great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love.
O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Mater, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers.
Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses. (Acts 1:8)

Mary, you are the Mother of Jesus, our Lord, Your presence in the upper room inspired the first disciples to trust completely in the promise of the Risen Christ:

I now consecrate myself to you under the title of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians, so that I might be a witness to your Son Jesus in the power of His Spirit.

Mary, teach me to be attentive to the voice of God in silence and to live a life of service in truth, joy and peace. Amen.

Lord, I love you.

Lord, I love you and I need you. Come into my heart and bless me, my family, my home and my friends. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, from whom all good things come. Amen.

Act of Contrition, childrens

Oh my God, I am sorry that I have sinned. Please forgive me. I know you love me. I want to love you and to be good to everyone. Help me to make up for my sins. I will try to do better from now on. Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love, commits me here. Ever this day, be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Rosary, Glorious Mysteries (Sun & Weds.)

The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary
The Coronation of Mary

Rosary, Sorrowful Mysteries (Tues & Fri.)

The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifiction

Rosary, Luminous Mysteries (Thurs)

The Baptism in the Jordan
The Wedding at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist

Rosary, Joyful Mysteries (Mon & Sat.)

The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Birth of Jesus
The Presentation
The Finding of Jesus

St. Joseph, novena

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus sleeping in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.

Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. Seldom known to fail.

doing things Your way

I wonder what your plans are, Lord.
How will I live this day?
I pray that I can please You
In each and every way.
I hope to be kind and helpful
To everyone that I see.
Let joy and love shine from my heart
So they may see You through me.
I pray that I can help others
Through their periods of pain and sorrow.
Let me help them find hope and peace
Until they have a brighter tomorrow.
Our time on earth is, oh, so short,
It's just a passing through;
So let me be Your instrument
In the things that You would do.
if I can be a source of comfort
To one saddened soul today
And help to spread Your wisdom,
Then I'm doing things Your way.

~Shirley Hile Powell

St. Jude (for the intercession of, in desperate cases)

Most holy apostle, St Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use, I implore you of that particular privelege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, paricularly (here make request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

St. Peregrine (for the intercession of)

Father of love and mercy, you miraculously cured Saint Peregrine of an advanced cancer of his foot when the power of man could do no more. You favored him with the vision of Jesus coming down from His cross to heal his affliction. Hear the prayers we offer, through the intercession of Saint Peregrine, for the cure of the sick whom we entrust to You. May all who suffer pain, illness, or disease know that You are with them even in the depths of despair. Enable them to see Your plan and bring them closer to Your Son who accepted our sufferings to teach us the virtues of meekness and patience as we carry our crosses through life. Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great (to release souls from purgatory)

Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well.

Eternal Father, I offer thee the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Cleanse Me Lord

May the most Precious Blood which flowed from the most Holy wounds of our loving Lord Jesus pour over me, to wash, cleanse, purify, heal, guide, and protect me from all evil, harm, sickness, and bless and make me as holy as I can be. I ask this in the name of Jesus and through His most Precious Blood and His most Holy wounds. Amen.

~2001 Jos. D. Malloy/SOSM
Servant of Mary-2001

Prayer for vocations

Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples to make them fishers of men, let your sweet invitation continue to resound: Come follow Me!
Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to Your voice. Support our bishops, priests, and consecrated people in their apostolic labor.
Grant perserverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to Your service.
Awaken in our community a missionary eagerness. Lord send workers to the harvest and do not allow humanity to be lost for the lack of pastors, missionaries and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.
Mary, Mother of the church, the model of every vocation, help us to say "Yes" to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation.Amen.

A prayer for my children

Lord, bless my children,
Protect them day and night;
Lead them down the right roads,
Forever in thy sight.

Let them know Thy presence
Each step along the way,
Giving strength and courage
To sustain them, come what may.

Be their consolation
In times of woe and strife,
Guide them past the pitfalls
On their journey through this life.

And when this life is over,
See them safely to that shore,
Where peace and love are boundless
Beyond Heaven's golden door.

For the Return of a Loved One to the Church

Lord Jesus, I know that you give everyone the grace to seek and to find you in their lives; so I want to pray for someone who is very dear to me, someone who was in the church but who has turned away.
Grant your grace to this person, Lord that he (she) may come back to full union with you in the church. Grant him (her) the eyes of faith to see that only in your true church the fullness of life can be found.

Let my life and the lives of all the faithful be so truly Christian that they may be a sign and an invitation to reconversion for this person and for all who may have fallen away. I ask this, Lord in you name and through the intercession of Mary Immacualte, Mother of the Church. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art though among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray:
Lord by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in consolation. We ask you this through Christ our Lord. Amen