Legatus Timeless Prayers 2020

TIMELESS PRAYERS FOR BUSY PEOPLE



TIMELESS PRAYERS FOR BUSY PEOPLE P.O. Box 444 • Ann Arbor, MI 48106 866-LEGATUS • legatus.org ©2019 photo: iStock.com

introduction Today more than ever, the demands of work, career, and family can combine to crowd out the most effective resource to success in any of them – our union with God in prayer. The prayers in this collection, drawn from the rich heritage of our Catholic faith, follow the pattern of everyday life – morning, mid-day, evening – as well as what Vatican II calls the “source and summit” of all our prayer, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. “Without me, you can do nothing,” Jesus tells us in the Gospel. But he adds that “nothing is impossible with God.” A faithful habit of daily prayer is the best possible way to unite our work and ourselves to him. We highly recommend the regular use of these prayers and hope they enrich your relationship with Jesus Christ.

table of contents traditional prayers Our Father................................................................. 2 Hail Mary.................................................................. 2 Glory Be..................................................................... 2 morning prayers Morning Offering...................................................... 3 An Act of Faith.......................................................... 3 An Act of Hope.......................................................... 3 An Act of Love........................................................... 3 Morning Prayer of St. Patrick................................... 4 Prayer for Generosity................................................. 4 Prayer Before a Day’s Work....................................... 4 Prayer Before Starting Any Task............................... 4 Canticle of Zechariah................................................. 5 mid-day prayers The Angelus............................................................... 6 The Regina Coeli........................................................ 7 Noontime Examination of Conscience....................... 7 Prayer of Self-Dedication........................................... 8 Prayer of Humble Reliance Upon God...................... 8 Prayer Before a Crucifix............................................ 8 evening prayers A Prayer of Cardinal Newman.................................. 9 Examination of Conscience........................................ 9 Act of Contrition........................................................ 9 Canticle of Mary...................................................... 10 Saint Michael the Archangel Prayer....................... 10 Visit This House, O Lord..........................................11 Salve Regina.............................................................11 Memorare..................................................................11 other prayers Before Mass.............................................................. 12 After Mass............................................................... 13 The Universal Prayer............................................... 14 Litany of Humility................................................... 16 Mysteries of the Rosary........................................... 17 The Way of the Cross............................................... 18

traditional prayers Our Father 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. Hail Mary Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou 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. Glory Be to the Father 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. 2

morning prayers Morning Offering O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen. An Act of Faith O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. An Act of Hope O my God, relying on your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. An Act of Love O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul because you are all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. 3

Morning Prayer of St. Patrick 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, shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. Prayer for Generosity O my God, teach me to be generous; to serve you as you deserve to be served; to give without counting the cost; to fight without fear of being wounded; to work without seeking rest; and to spend myself without expecting any reward, but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will. –St. Ignatius Loyola Prayer Before A Day’s Work Direct, we beg you, O Lord, our actions by your holy inspirations, and carry them on by your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with you, and through you be happily ended. Amen. Prayer Before Starting Any Task Lord, if this is something pleasing to you, so be it. If it gives you honor, Lord, I do it in your name. If you judge it to be desirable and profitable to me, then grant that I may employ if for the glory of your name. But if you know that it will bring me harm and provide no benefit for my soul’s welfare, than take from me all desire for it. –Thomas à Kempis 4

Canticle of Zechariah Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:68-79 5

mid-day prayers The Angelus* The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace... Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to your word. Hail Mary, full of grace... And the Word was made flesh, And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, full of grace... Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. *It is Catholic tradition to pray the Angelus at 6:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. 6

The Regina Coeli (during Easter Time) Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia! For the Son you were chosen to bear, alleluia! Has risen as he said, alleluia! Pray for us to God, alleluia! Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia! For the Lord is truly risen, alleluia! Let us pray: O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Noontime Examination of Conscience In addition to reviewing our day before retiring, many spiritual writers recommend pausing in the middle of the day to ask: • What particular sin am I working to overcome? How am I doing? How have I done? • What was the resolution I made in my evening prayer last night? Am I keeping it? 7

Prayer of Self-Dedication Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess you have given me. I surrender it all to you to be disposed of according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace – with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. –St. Ignatius Loyola Prayer of Humble Reliance Upon God Lord, if you withdraw your hand, there is no grace. If you cease to guide us, we have no wisdom. If you no longer defend us, we have no courage. If you do not strengthen it, our chastity is vulnerable. If you do not keep a holy watch over us, our watchfulness cannot protect us. By ourselves we sink, we perish: When you are with us, we are uplifted, we live. We are shaky, you make us firm. We are lukewarm, you inflame us. –Thomas à Kempis The next prayer is especially appropriate on Fridays between noon and 3 p.m., the time of Christ’s crucifixion. Prayer Before a Crucifix My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before you, asking you most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope and charity, with true repentence for my many sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon your five wounds, and dwell on them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the words the prophet David spoke long ago concerning yourself, “They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have counted all my bones.” 8

evening prayers A Prayer of Cardinal Newman O Lord, support us all the day long, as the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the tumult of life is over. Then in his mercy may God grant us pardon, perfect peace, and sleep at last. Amen. Examination of Conscience A company that did not take inventory on a regular basis would soon be out of business. So it is with one’s spiritual life, which is why the saints and the great spiritual writers urge us to examine our conscience at the end of each day. • Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten you. • Ask: How have I offended God? How have I offended my neighbor – and myself? • Reflect: What have I done right? What could I have done better? • Express your sorrow in the Act of Contrition (below). • Resolve to do better in one particular area tomorrow. Be specific and practical. Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen. 9

Canticle of Mary My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Luke 1:46-55 Saint Michael the Archangel Prayer Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. 10

Visit This House, O Lord Visit this house, O Lord, we beg you, and banish from it all the deadly power of the enemy. May your holy angels dwell here to keep us in peace, and may your blessing be upon us always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It is traditional to end the day with a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Salve Regina Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Memorare Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency hear and answer me. Amen. 11

other prayers Before Mass Almighty and ever-living God, I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I come sick to the Doctor of Life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of Heaven and earth. Lord, in your great generosity, heal my sickness, wash away my defilement, enlighten my darkness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness. May I receive the bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with humble reverence, with the purity and faith, the repentance and love, and the determined purpose that will help to bring me to salvation. May I receive the sacrament of the Lord’s body and blood, and its reality and power. Kind God, may I receive the body of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, born from the womb of the Virgin Mary, and so be received into his mystical body and numbered among his members. Loving Father, as on my earthly pilgrimage I now receive your beloved Son under the veil of a sacrament, may I one day see him face to face in glory, who lives and reigns with you forever. Amen. St. Thomas Aquinas 12

After Mass Lord, Father all-powered and ever-living God, I thank you, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, you have fed me with the precious body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and be the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the one true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with you. And I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. St. Thomas Aquinas 13

The Universal Prayer Lord, I believe in you: Increase my faith. I trust in you: Strengthen my trust. I love you: Let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: Deepen my sorrow. I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector. Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; my words: to have you for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for you; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me: in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it. Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian. Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies. 14

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out to others. Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, and my life well-ordered. Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation. Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of Heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal. Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of Heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Attributed to Pope Clement XI 15

Litany of Humility O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved… From the desire of being extolled… From the desire of being honored… From the desire of being praised… From the desire of being preferred to others… From the desire of being consulted… From the desire of being approved… From the fear of being humiliated… From the fear of being despised… From the fear of suffering rebukes… From the fear of being calumniated… From the fear of being forgotten… From the fear of being ridiculed… From the fear of being wronged… From the fear of being suspected… That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I… That in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease… That others may be chosen and I set aside… That others may be praised and I unnoticed… That others may be preferred to me in everything… That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should… Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val 16

The Mysteries of the Rosary No private devotion has been more frequently recommended by the popes of our day than the Holy Rosary because it provides an opportunity to recall the entire course of Christ’s life as presented in the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries. Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays) • The Annunciation • The Visitation • The Nativity • The Presentation • The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays) • The Baptism of Jesus • The Wedding of Cana • The Proclamation of the Gospel • The Transfiguration • The Institution of the Eucharist Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays) • The Agony in the Garden • The Scourging at the Pillar • The Crowning with Thorns • The Carrying of the Cross • The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays) • The Resurrection • The Ascension • The Descent of the Holy Spirit • The Assumption • The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin 17

The Way of The Cross It is traditional to meditate on the Stations of the Cross on Fridays between noon and 3:00 p.m., especially during the season of Lent. Before each station, say: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.” After each station, pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be. I. Jesus is condemned to death II. Jesus takes up his cross III. Jesus falls the first time IV. Jesus is met by his Blessed Mother V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross VI. The face of Jesus is wiped by Veronica VII. Jesus falls the second time VIII. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem IX. Jesus falls the third time X. Jesus is stripped of his garments XI. Jesus is nailed to the Cross XII. Jesus dies on the Cross XIII. Jesus is laid in the arms of his Blessed Mother XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb 18



TO STUDY, LIVE AND SPREAD THE CATHOLIC FAITH IN OUR BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES The tenth printing of Timeless Prayers is courtesy of Troy & Christy King, Orlando Chapter of Legatus. P.O. Box 444 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 • •866-LEGATUS legatus.org