DAILY PRAYERS

QUALITY BY VARIETY

IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

For more devotion in your

ROSARY, turn to Page 39



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DAILY PRAYERS, a prayer booklet,

composed and compiled by Rev. Joel

Pokorny, O.S.B., St. Benedict’s Mon-

astery, Atchison, Kansas 66002.

Table of Contents

Purpose of Prayer 3

Need of Prayer 3

Model for Prayer 3

Prayer before Prayer 4

Prayer for Union with Christ in Prayer 4

Prayer for Self 4

Morning Offering 5

A Morning Prayer 6

Short Morning Prayer to Christ 6

Prayer for Today 7

Spiritual Communion 8

Consecration to Mary 8

Fatima Prayer 9

Short Consecration 9

Angelus 10

Regina Coeli 10

Memorare 1 1

Consecration to St. Joseph 12

Guardian Angel Prayer 1

2

Patron Saint 1

3

Another Patron Saint Prayer 13

Prayer to All Saints 1

3

Prayer for the Dying 13

Prayer to Our Lady for A Happy Death .... 14

Poor Souls 1

4

Prayer for a Good Heart 15



Short Prayer for Sanctifying Grace 15

Dedication to God 16

Evening Prayers 17

Prayer for Protection of Home 20

A Youth's Prayer 21

Prayer to the Sacred Heart 21

Prayer for Christlikeness 22

Aspirations 22

Maiden's Hymn of Praise 23

THE MASS (Tremendous Prayer) 24

Prayer for Union with All Masses 25

Assist at Mass Often (Daily) 26

Prayer for Priests (Cardinal Cushing) 27

Another Prayer for Priests 28

Prayer in Honor of the Passion 29

Christopher Prayer for Government 30

Patriotism Prayer 31

Prayer to Our Lady of Peace 32

Prayer for the Missions and for Vocations 32

Prayer for A Sick Person 33

Dear Saints, Teach Me 34

Prayer to St. Raphael, Archangel 36

Cultivate the Presence of God 37

Prayer for Forgiveness of Carelessness .... 38

Prayer to the Gentle Christ 38

THE ROSARY 39

The Mysteries of the Rosary 41

INSTRUCTIONS

Are You Spiritually Tongue-tied 42

The Counterfeiter 44

Power of Prayer 46

U-Bomb 47



PURPOSE OF PRAYER

The purpose of all prayer is to

raise the heart and the soul to God
— and to keep them there. Mere
words are not enough. "Rattling

off” your prayers is worthless. Our

Lord complained: "This people

honors me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me.

”

NEED OF PRAYER

The hands raised heavenward

overcome more enemies than those
who strike. —Bossuet.

Those who pray do more for the
world than those who combat; and

if the world is growing worse it is

because there is more fighting done
than praying. —Donaso Cortes.

THE WORLD NEEDS PRAYER
MORE THAN GUNS!

PRAYER is the hand that moves
the Hand that moves the world!

MODEL FOR PRAYER
Our Lord prayed perfectly, cease-

lessly. His soul was always united
with His Heavenly Father. He tells
us: "Pray always.” Like the Apos-

tles, let us often go to Him, BEG-
GING: "Lard, teach us to pray!”

3



PRAYER BEFORE PRAYER

Open, O Lord, our mouths to
bless Thy Holy Name. Cleanse our

hearts from all vain, bad, and dis-

tracting thoughts; enlighten our un-

derstanding, inflame our will, that

we may worthily, attentively, and
devoutly recite these prayers and

deserve to be heard in the presence

of Thy divine majesty: through

Christ Our Lord. Amen.

—Breviary.

PRAYER FOR UNION WITH
CHRIST IN PRAYER

O Lord, I offer these prayers to

Thee in union with that divine in-

tention with which Thou Thyself,

whilst on earth, didst render praise

to God. —Ibid.

PRAYER FOR SELF

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,

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To work without seeking rest, and

To spend myself without expecting

any reward but the knowledge

that I am doing Your Holy Will.

MORNING OFFERING

(Say it every morning; never

leave it out. This is your most im-

portant prayer.)

O Jesus, through the Immaculate

Heart of Mary, I offer Thee all my
prayers, works, and sufferings— all
my thoughts, words, and actions—
of this day, for all the intentions of

Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass through-

out the world, in reparation for my
sins, for the intentions of all our

Associates, and in particular for the

intention of our Holy Father for

this month (specify intention).

(The Holy Father’s intention for

each month is listed in CATHOLIC
QUOTE, St. Benedict’s Abbey,
Atchison, Kansas, and in many
other Catholic magazines and news-

papers.)

5



A MORNING PRAYER

0 Lord God Almighty, Who hast
safely brought us to the beginning

of this day, let Thy powerful grace

so conduct us through it that we

may not fall into any sin, but that
all our words, thoughts, and works

may be guided by the rules of Thy
heavenly justice and tend to the ob-

servance of Thy Holy Law.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth
with Thee in the unity of the Holy

Ghost, God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

SHORT MORNING PRAYER
TO CHRIST

Great and Glorious God, my
Lord Jesus Christ!

1 implore Thee to enlighten me

and to disperse the darkness of my
soul.

Give me true faith, firm hope, and

perfect charity.

Grant me, 0 Lord, to know Thee

so well that in all things I may act

by Thy light and in accordance

with Thy Holy Will. Amen.

6



PRAYER FOR TODAY

O My God, this day in my pray-
ers, I would remember:

My mother and father,
My brothers, sisters, relatives,
Friends and benefactors.

Those who love me and those who

hate me.

The dying and those to die today.

The poor souls in purgatory.

The Holy Father and his intentions.

Mother Church and all her chil-

dren,

All bishops, priests, brothers, and

sisters.

My country, its president and all
its officials,

The greatest and least of its citizens,

Those who died in military service
for it,

Those who lost loved ones in the
struggle.

The world and all its peoples.

All nations and all races,

The sick, the poor, the rich,

The neglected, the persecuted, the

enslaved,

The tempted, the doubting, the de-

spairing,

Those in danger and distress.

Men of good will that they may

7



come to the fullness of the Faith.

Men of evil ways that they may be
converted.

The triumph of God’s Infinite Mer-

cy in my life and in all lives:
Through the merits of the Most

Precious Blood of Jesus, and the

intercession of His Most Holy

Mother. Amen.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

(Give your SOUL meals daily;
keep it strong and growing as you

do your body.)

0 Jesus, I believe that Thou art

truly present in the Most Holy Sac-

rament of the Altar. I love Thee

above all things, and I desire to

possess Thee within my soul. Since
I cannot now receive Thee Sacra-

mentally, come at least spiritually

into my heart. I embrace Thee as
already being there, and unite my-

self wholly to Thee. Never permit

me to be separated from Thee.

Amen.

CONSECRATION TO MARY

(The Mother of Jesus will help

you to love her Divine Son. Ask her

for her assistance.)

8



0 Mary, My Queen, My Mother,
I give myself entirely to Thee,

and to show my devotion to Thee,
I consecrate to Thee this day

my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my
heart, my whole being without re-

serve.

Therefore, Good Mother, as I am
Thine own, keep me, guard me as

Thy property and possession.

FATIMA PRAYER

(A prayer sent from Heaven to

our "modern ” unbelieving world. It

is simple to learn. Say it often:

YOUR REPARATION is needed.)

0 My God, I believe, I adore,
I hope, I love Thee:

And I ask forgiveness for all those

who do not believe, do not adore,
do not hope, and do not love.

SHORT CONSECRATION

1 am all Thine, 0 Jesus, and all
that I have belongs to Thee,

through Mary, Thy Most Holy

Mother.

9



ANGELUS

V. The Angel of the Lord declared

unto Mary,

R. And she conceived of the Holy

Ghost. Hail Mary, etc.

V. Behold, the Handmaid of the

Lord!

R. Be it done unto me according to
Thy Word. Hail Mary, etc.

V. The Word was made Flesh (gen-
uflect),

R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.

V. Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of

God,

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

LET US PRAY: Pour forth, we
beseech Thee, 0 Lord, Thy grace

into our hearts, that we to whom the
Incarnation of Christ, Thy 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.

REGINA COELI (Instead of An-
gelus during Eastertide)

V. 0 Queen of Heaven, rejoice! Al-

leluia.

10



R. For He whom thou didst merit
to bear, Alleluia,

V. Has arisen, as He said, Alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, 0 Virgin

Mary, Alleluia.

R. For the Lord hath risen indeed,

Alleluia.

LET US PRAY: 0 God, Who,
through the Resurrection of Thy

Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst

vouchsafe to fill the world with joy;

grant, we beseech Thee, that,

through His Virgin Mother, Mary,

we may lay hold on the joys of ev-
erlasting life. Through the same

Christ our Lord. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, 0 most gracious Vir-
gin Mary, that never was it known

that anyone who fled to thy protec-

tion, implored thy help, or sought

thy intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly

unto thee, 0 Virgin of virgins, my
mother; to thee I come; before thee

I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O
Mother of the Word Incarnate, de-
spise not my petitions, but in thy
mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

11



CONSECRATION TO
ST. JOSEPH

O Blessed Saint Joseph! I conse-
crate myself to thy honor, and give

myself to thee, that thou mayest al-

ways be my father, my protector,
and my guide in the way of salva-
tion. Obtain for me a great purity

of heart and a fervent love of the in-

terior life. After thy example may I
do all my actions for the greater
glory of God, in union with the Di-

vine Heart of Jesus and the immac-

ulate heart of Mary! And do thou,

0 blessed Joseph, pray for me, that

1 may experience the peace and joy
of thy holy death. Amen.

GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER

(Be sure to say this prayer which

you learned as a little child at least

every morning and night. Too

many people shamefully forget their

Heavenly Companion.)

Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me
here;

Ever this day (night) be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and

guide. Amen.

12



PATRON SAINT

(Do you ever think of your pa-

tron saint? Remember: He (she) is

your protector and model. Walk

with your Heavenly Representa-

tive!)

Holy Patron, St pray for

me, and teach me e’er to follow

thee.

ANOTHER PATRON
SAINT PRAYER

0 Great Saint, whose name I

bear, protect me, pray for me, that,

like thee, I may serve God faithfully
on earth, and glorify Him eternally

with thee in heaven. Amen.

PRAYER TO ALL THE SAINTS

0 Holy Mary and all the Saints,
intercede for us to God, that we

may deserve to be heard and saved
by Him, Who livest and reignest
forever and ever. Amen.
—Breviary.

PRAYER FOR THE DYING

(Prepare for your own death by
praying daily for the dying.)

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Most Merciful Jesus, lover of

souls, I pray Thee by the agony of

Thy Most Sacred Heart, and by the

sorrows of Thy Immaculate Moth-

er, to wash in Thy Most Precious

Blood, the sinners of the world who

are now in their agony and who

are to die this day (night).

Heart of Jesus, once in agony,

have mercy on the dying.

O St. Joseph, Foster Father of

Jesus, true Spouse of the Blessed

Virgin Mary, Patron of a happy

death, pray for us and for the dy-

ing of today (tonight). Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY
FOR A HAPPY DEATH

O Mary! I beseech thee by the sor-

rows thou didst experience in be-

holding thy Divine Son dying on

the cross, procure for me a good

death; obtain for me that, having

loved Jesus and thee, my most ten-
der Mother, here on earth, I may
love you both and bless you eter-

nally in heaven. Amen.

POOR SOULS

(Do you pray for them regularly

?

Let us hearken to their cry, "Have

14



pity on me, at least you, my
FRIENDS!” and help them.) Pray

often:

Eternal rest grant unto all the faith-

ful departed, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon

them!

May they rest in peace! Amen.

PRAYER FOR A GOOD HEART

Give me, O Lord, an ever watch-

ful heart, which no subtle specula-

tion may lure from Thee.
Give me a noble heart, which no

unworthy affection can draw down-

ward to the earth.

Give me an upright heart, which

no insincere intention can warp.

Give me a firm heart, which no
tribulation can crush or quell.

Give me a free heart, which no
perverted or impetuous affection

can claim for its own. Amen.
— (St. Thomas Aquinas.)

SHORT PRAYER FOR
SANCTIFYING GRACE

O My God, grant me a spark
of Thy Interior Life!

15



DEDICATION TO GOD

(All things are yours, and you

are Christ’s. —St. Paul.)
Every beat of my heart shall mean:

I love Thee.

Every breath: I thank Thee.

Every pulse of my hand: I trust in
Thee.

Every movement: I long for Thee.

Every look of my eye: I seek Thee.
Every step I take: Lead me to Thee.

Every sound of my tongue: I praise
Thee.

Every snowflake shall mean:

Give me a pure heart.

Every drop of rain: Wash me of
all sin.

Every breeze: Give me Thy holy
spirit.

Every ray of the sun: Kindle in me

the fire of Thy love.

Every star: Give me the light of Thy

grace.

Every flower: Give me the sweet

perfume of true virtue.

Every leaf of a tree: Keep me from
falling.

Every blade of grass: Make me
humble and good.

Every grain of wheat: Make my
life fruitful. —Author Unknown.

16



EVENING PRAYERS

(Recommended for family prayer.)

O my God, I present myself be-
fore Thee at the end of another day,

to offer Thee anew the homage of

my heart. I humbly adore Thee, my
Creator, my Redeemer, and my
Judge! I believe in Thee, because

Thou art faithful to Thy promises; I

love Thee with my whole heart, be-
cause Thou art infinitely worthy of

being loved; and for Thy sake I

love my neighbor as myself.
Enable me, 0 my God, to return

Thee thanks as I ought for all

Thine inestimable blessings and fa-

vors. Thou hast thought of me, and

loved me from all eternity; Thou

hast formed me out of nothing;

Thou has delivered up Thy Be-

loved Son to the ignominious death

of the Cross for my redemption;
Thou hast made me a member of

Thy holy Church; Thou hast pre-

served me from falling into the
abyss of eternal misery, when my
sins had provoked Thee to punish

me; and Thou hast graciously con-

tinued to spare me, even though I

have not ceased to offend Thee.

What return, 0 my God, can I

17



make for Thine innumerable bless-

ings, and particularly for the favors

of this day? 0 all ye Angels and
Saints, unite with me in praising the

God of mercies, who is so bountiful

to so unworthy a creature.

Prayer Before Examination

of Conscience

0 my God, sovereign Judge of
men, who desirest not the death of

a sinner, but that he should be con-

verted and saved, enlighten my
mind, that I may know the sins I
have this day committed in thought,

word, or deed, and give me the

grace of true contrition.

Act of Contrition

0 my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee, and I de-

test all my sins because I dread the
loss of heaven and the pains of hell,

but most of all because I have of-

fended Thee, my God, who art all-
good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of

Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do
penance, and to amend my life.
Amen.

0 God, hear my prayers on be-
half of our Holy Father, Pope N.,

18



our Bishop N., our clergy, and for

all that are in authority over us.

Bless, I beseech Thee, the whole

Catholic Church, and convert all

heretics and unbelievers. Pour down

Thy blessings, O Lord, upon all my
friends, relations, and acquaint-

ances, and upon my enemies, if I
have any. Help the poor and sick,

and those who are in their last

agony. O God of mercy and good-
ness, have compassion on the souls

of the faithful in purgatory; put an

end to their sufferings, and grant

them eternal light, rest, and happi-

ness. Amen.

0 Almighty and Eternal God,
who savest all, and wiliest not that

any should perish, look, we be-

seech Thee, upon the souls that are

led astray by the deceits of the devil;

that, rejecting all errors, the hearts

of those who err may be converted,
and return to the unity of Thy truth.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bless, 0 Lord, the repose I am
about to take, that, my bodily
strength being renewed, I may be
the better enabled to serve Thee.

Amen.

0 Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother

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of Mercy, pray for me, that I may
be preserved this night from all evil,

whether of body or soul. Blessed

St. Joseph, and all ye Angels and

Saints, especially my guardian an-
gel and my chosen patron, watch
over me. I commend myself to your

protection now and always. Amen.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of

hosts: the earth is full of Thy glory.

Glory be to the Father, glory be to

the Son, glory be to the Holy

Ghost. Amen.

(The preceding "Evening Pray-

ers” are reproduced with special

permission from the MANUAL OF
PRAYERS, published by P. J. Ken-

edy & Sons, the official prayerbook
of the United States, prepared and

enjoined by order of the Third Ple-

nary Council of Baltimore. 832

pages.)

PRAYER FOR
PROTECTION OF HOME

Visit, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord,

this house and family. Drive from

it all the snares of the enemy. Let

Thy holy angels dwell therein who

may keep us in peace. And let Thy
blessing be always upon us. Amen.

20



A YOUTH’S PRAYER

Give me clean Hands, clean words,

clean thoughts.

Help me to stand for the hard right

against the easy wrong.

Save me from the habits that harm.

Teach me to work as hard and play

as fair in Your sight alone as if

all the world saw.

Forgive me when I am unkind and
help me to forgive those who are
unkind to me.

Keep me ready to help others at

some cost to myself.

Send me chances to do a little good

every day,

And so grow more like Christ.

PRAYER TO THE
SACRED HEART

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

shower Thy blessings copiously on

Thy holy Church, on the Supreme

Pontiff, and on all the clergy; grant

perseverance to the just, convert sin-

ners, enlighten infidels, bless our

parents, friends, and benefactors,

assist the dying, liberate the souls

in purgatory, and extend over all

hearts the sweet empire of Thy love.

21



PRAYER FOR
CHRISTLIKENESS

O My Jesus, teach me
To know Thee more clearly,

To love Thee more dearly,

To imitate Thee more nearly.

ASPIRATIONS

(Sprinkle them over your day:

*You are the salt of the earth, ” says

Jesus. In order not to forget them,

tie your aspirations in with some-

thing common to your every-day

life, like the ringing of a bell, the

striking of a clock, becoming an-

gry, etc.)

All for the honor and glory of God!

Blessed be God!

Blessed be His Holy Name!

Jesus! Mary! Joseph!

My God, Thy will be done!
My Jesus, mercy!
O Jesus, grant me patience!
O Jesus, convert sinners, save the
dying, free the souls in purga-

tory!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore,

that I may love Thee ever more
and more!

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,

22



make my heart like unto Thine!
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of

Mary!

MAIDEN’S HYMN OF PRAISE

Praise the Lord, my nylon hose;
Praise the Lord, my Sunday clothes.

Praise the Lord, cute mutton sleeves;

Praise the Lord, glad week-end eves.

Praise the Lord, O contract played;

Praise the Lord, the proms I’ve made.

Praise the Lord, my shining skates;
Praise the Lord, O phoning dates.
Praise the Lord, O Monday blues;
Praise the Lord, my brand new shoes.
Praise the Lord, my green plaid skirt;
Praise the Lord, my rides with Bert.
Praise the Lord, the words I’ve said;

Praise the Lord, my lipstick red.
Praise the Lord, my part in plays;
Praise the Lord, my last week’s raise.
Praise the Lord, the Cokes I’ve downed;

Praise the Lord, I’ve lost a pound!

Praise the Lord, my apple pies;
Praise the Lord, my laughs and cries.
Accept, dear Lord, these little human

things;

Bless them each and grant to me
Grace to use them for Thy glory—

Now and in eternity. Amen.
—Adapted from Brian McShane’s

“ Lauds for Loretta”. CATHOLIC
WOMAN’S WORLD.

23



THE TREMENDOUS PRAYEI

COMMENT: The Mass travels
with the sun; as the sun shines con-

tinually in some part of the world,

so the Precious Body and Blood of

Jesus Christ, the Savior, are offered

perpetually over the face of the

earth. Not a single moment elapses

but what the Precious Blood is

pouring for sinners ... for God’s ap-

peasement ...

1 a.m., Iceland

2 a.m., Azores

3 a.m., Brazil

4 a.m., East Canada

5 a.m., New York
6 a.m., Central U.S.

7 a.m., Rocky Mountains

8 a.m., California

9 a.m., West Canada

10 a.m., Alaska

11 a.m., Hawaii

12 a.m., Samoa

(Schedule of time and countries,

as well as HOURLY PRAYER, tak-
en from Father Stedman’s MY
LENTEN MISSAL.)

24



HOLY MASS — Live With It!

HOURLY PRAYER: Eternal Fa-
ther, through the Immaculate Heart

of Mary, I wish to unite myself with

Jesus now offering His Precious

Blood in (name of country) in the

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the

conversion of sinners, the relief of

the Souls in Purgatory, and for the

special grace I here implore. Amen.

1 p.m., New Zealand

2 p.m., East Indies

3 p.m., Japan

4 p.m., Australia

5 p.m., China

6 p.m., Siam

7 p.m., India

8 p.m., Persia

9 p.m., Jerusalem

10 p.m., Africa

11 p.m., Rome

12 p.m., Ireland

PRAYER FOR
UNION WITH ALL MASSES

0 Jesus, grant that I may be unit-
ed with Thee in all the Masses
which are being said everywhere in

25



the world at the present time. Let

me be united with all the Masses
which will be offered during this

day (night), during my whole life-
time, during the existence of the

world to the end of time— for Thy
honor and glory, in reparation for

sin, and for the conversion of sin-

ners. Amen.

ASSIST AT MASS OFTEN
(DAILY):

1. To give glory to the Heavenly

Father.

2. To thank Him for all His bless-
ings.

3. To make reparation for all our

sins.

4. To obtain all the blessings we

desire.

5. To release souls from purgatory,

and to shorten our own time

there.

6. To preserve us from all dangers

to soul and body.

7. To be consoled at the hour of

death for at that time its mem-

ory will be our greatest consola-

tion.

8. To intercede for us at the judg-

ment seat of God.

26



9. To better understand the sublim-

ity of the passion of Christ, and

to increase our love for Him.
—St. Joseph’s Daily Missal.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
(By Cardinal Cushing)

0 Almighty, Eternal God, look

upon the face of Thy Son, and for

love of Him Who is the Eternal
High-priest, have pity on Thy

priests. Remember, O most compas-
sionate God, that they are but weak

and frail human beings. Stir up in

them the grace of their vocation

which is in them by the imposition

of the Bishop’s hands. Keep them

close to Thee, lest the enemy pre-

vail against them so that they may
never do anything in the slightest

degree unworthy of their sublime

vocation.

O Jesus, I pray Thee for Thy
faithful and fervent priests; for Thy

unfaithful and tepid priests; for Thy

priests laboring at home or abroad

in distant mission fields; for Thy

tempted priests; for Thy lonely and

desolate priests; for Thy young

priests; for Thy dying priests; for

the souls of Thy priests in Purga-

tory.

27



But above all, I commend to Thee

the priests dearest to me; the priest

who baptized me; the priests who

absolved me from my sins; the
priests at whose Masses I assisted

and who gave me Thy Body and

Blood in Holy Communion; the

priests who taught and instructed

me or helped and encouraged me;

all the priests to whom I am in-
debted in any other way. 0 Jesus,

keep them all, close to Thy heart,

and bless them abundantly in time

and in eternity. Amen.

ANOTHER PRAYER
FOR PRIESTS

Divine Savior, Thou Friend of

priests, send daily to all priests the

seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, that

they may become all things to all
men, in life and in death. Give them

patience with the little ones, compas-

sion for the sick, humility with the

poor, courage before the enemies of

the Church. Make them tireless in

teaching, patient and kind in the

confessional, generous in the ad-

ministration of Holy Communion.

Let them appear terrible to hell and

the powers of evil, let them be mes-

28



sengers of peace to all men of good

will.

Wherever they go, may Thy

blessing go with them, wherever

they abide, may Thy peace enter

in. Whomsoever they bless, may he

also be blessed by Thee. Make them

apostles, make them saints.

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, model

of the priestly heart, have mercy on

us!

PRAYER IN HONOR
OF THE PASSION

I beseech Thee, My Lord Jesus
Christ, grant that Thy Passion may
be to me a power by which I may
be strengthened, protected, and de-

fended.

May Thy wounds be to me food
and drink, by which I may be nour-
ished, filled, and overjoyed.

May the sprinkling of Thy Blood
be to me a washing away of all my
sins.

May Thy death prove to me life
everlasting, Thy cross be to me an
eternal glory.

In these be my refreshment, my
joy, my preservation, and sweet-
ness of heart. Who livest and reign-
est world without end. Amen.

29



CHRISTOPHER PRAYER
FOR GOVERNMENT

Inspire us, O God, with such a
deep love of our country that we

will be actively concerned in its wel-

fare as well as in that of all our fel-

low countrymen for time and for

eternity.

Teach us to show by word and

deed the same zealous interest in

protecting and furthering the Chris-

tian principles upon which our na-

tion is founded that others dis-

play in belittling or eliminating

them.

Guide and strengthen the Presi-

dent, his Cabinet, the members of

Congress, the delegates to the Unit-

ed Nations, the Governor of our

State, the officials of our communi-

ty, and all others, in high positions

or low, who are entrusted with the

task of protecting for all citizens

those rights which come from You

and You alone.

Teach us likewise to be worthy in-

struments in extending to all men of

all nations, Your children and our

brothers, the same peace, freedom,

and security with which You have

so abundantly blessed our land.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

30



PATRIOTISM PRAYER

Our Father, Who art in heaven:
Give us, we pray Thee, the cour-

age to stamp out the threat of pa-

ganism and slavery that hangs

over the world today.

Be merciful to all who have died

in the service of their country.

Console those who have lost their

loved ones in the struggle.

Soothe the wounded from battle.

Sustain the courage of those who

suffer persecution for conscience’s

sake.

Have pity on all who have been

insulted, robbed, tortured, defiled,

enslaved, and persecuted by their

conquerors.

Grant wisdom to our leaders, civil

and military, that they may most
effectively direct our efforts at home

and abroad.

Teach us all to walk humbly be-

fore Thee, O God, so that we may
be worthy to conquer, and, having

conquered, may build a peace with
justice based on the Brotherhood of

man under the Fatherhood of God.
Amen.

31



PRAYER TO
OUR LADY OF PEACE

Holy Virgin,

Turn a look of kindness upon those

who are in suffering,

who are in the midst of difficulties

and who cease not to struggle

against the misfortunes of this life.

Have pity on those who love and

are separated.

Have pity on the loneliness of the

heart.

Have pity on the feebleness of our

faith.

Have pity on the objects of our ten-

derness.

Have pity on those who weep,

on those who pray,

on those who fear.

Give us the hope of peace in this

troubled world of ours. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE MISSIONS
AND FOR VOCATIONS

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who for the
salvation of all men didst found

Thy Church in the Blood of Sacri-

fice, we beseech Thee, look with

mercy on this land of ours and on

the whole world where Thy truth is

unknown to many for whom Thou

32



didst endure Thy bitter Passion and

Death. We commend to Thy Sacred
Heart the work of carrying Thy

Gospel to the neglected regions of

America and of the world. Raise up

holy and zealous apostles to bring

Thy words of salvation to souls

now thirsting for the truth. Have

mercy on them, 0 Lord, and send
shepherds to lead them into Thy

one true fold. Amen.

PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON

Most merciful Jesus, Who art the
consolation and salvation of all

who put their trust in Thee, we

humbly beseech Thee, by Thy most

bitter passion, grant the recovery of

his (her) health to Thy servant, N.,

provided this be for his (her) soul’s

welfare, that with us he (she) may
praise and magnify Thy holy

name. But if it be Thy holy will to

call him (her) out of this world,

strengthen him (her) in his (her)

last hour, grant him (her) a peace-

ful death and life everlasting.

Amen.

33



DEAR SAINTS, TEACH ME . . .
St. Ann, teach me to love thy
daughter, Mary.

St. Mary, teach me to become more
and more worthy of the promises

of Christ.

St. Joseph, teach me the virtue of
silence.

St. Daniel, teach me wisdom.

St. Michael, teach me to conquer

the devil.

St. John the Baptist, teach me mor-

tification.

St. John the Beloved, teach me pure
love of Jesus.

St. Peter, teach me fidelity.

St. Paul, teach me zeal for the sal-

vation of souls.

St. Thomas, teach me to overcome

doubt.

St. Stephen, teach me the spirit of

martyrdom.

St. Simon of Cyrene, teach me love

of the Cross.

St. Veronica, teach me concern for

the afflicted.

St. Mary Magdalene, teach me re-

pentance.

St. Dismas, teach me how to 'steal’

Paradise.

St. Agnes, teach me purity.

34



St. Mafia Goretti, teach me resist-

ance to temptation.

St. Jerome, teach me love of the

Holy Scriptures.

St. Monica, teach me steadfastness

in prayer.

St. Augustine, teach me respect for

a mother’s prayers.

St. Francis Borgia, teach me to de-

spise earthly vanities.

St. Francis de Sales, teach me al-

ways to smile.

St. Francis of Assisi, teach me hu-

mility.

St. Francis Xavier, teach me zeal

for the missions.

St. Philip Neri, teach me cheerful-

ness.

St. Thomas More, teach me to 'keep

my head’.
St. Anthony, teach me to 'find’ sanc-

tity.

St. Paschal, teach me love of the
Blessed Sacrament.

St. Wenceslaus, teach me love of the
Holy Mass.

St. John Vianney, teach me respect
for the holy priesthood.

St. Thomas Aquinas, teach me love
of divine contemplation.

St. Albert the Great, teach me love
of heavenly wisdom.

35



St. Vincent de Paul, teach me love of

the poor.

St. Elizabeth, teach me to break

bread for the downtrodden.

St. Camillus, teach me to visit the

sick.

St. John Bosco, teach me love of

youth.

St. Margaret Mary, teach me love

of the Sacred Heart.

St. Therese, teach me the value of

'little things’ and how to do all

for the honor and glory of God.

Amen.

PRAYER TO ST. RAPHAEL,
ARCHANGEL

Glorious Archangel, Saint Ra-

phael, great prince of the heavenly

court, illustrious by thy gifts of wis-

dom and grace, guide of travelers

by land and sea and air, consoler

of the unfortunate and refuge of sin-

ners, I entreat thee to help me in all

my needs and in the trials of this
life, as thou didst once assist the

young Tobias in his journeying.

And since thou art the "physician

of God”, I humbly pray thee to

heal my soul of its many infirmi-
ties and my body of the ills that af-

36



flict it, if this favor is for my greater
good. I ask, especially, for angelic

purity that I may be made fit to be

the living temple of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

CULTIVATE THE
PRESENCE OF GOD

(If you walk in the presence of

God, you will soon be a saint.)

St. Thomas Aquinas says: If at

all times we were mindful of the

presence of God, we would displease

Him very seldom.

St. Jerome: The thought of the

presence of God closes the door to

sin.

Abbot Diodes: He who does not

think of the presence of God will be-

come either a brute or a devil.

St. Teresa: All our faults arise

from not thinking of God as present

to us, but imagining Him far away.
St. Teresa: He is a true lover who

thinks ever of the beloved.

St. John of the Cross: Let God be

the Bridegroom and the Beloved of

your soul; remain always in His

presence and so you shall avoid

sin; learn to love Him and all
things will prosper with you.

37



Micheas: I will show thee, O man,
what is good, and what the Lord re-
quireth of thee ... to walk carefully

with thy God. (Old Testament.)

God: Walk before me and be perfect.

PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
OF CARELESSNESS

O my God and my All, in Thy
goodness and mercy, grant that be-
fore I die I may regain all the Gra-
ces which I have lost through my
carelessness and folly. Permit me to
attain that degree of merit and per-
fection to which Thou didst desire
to lead me, and which I failed bymy
unfaithfulness to reach. Mercifully

grant also that others regain the

Graces which they have lostthrough
my fault.

PRAYER TO THE
GENTLE CHRIST

Eyes of Jesus, look on me.

Lips of Jesus, smile on me.

Ears of Jesus, hear me.

Arms of Jesus, enfold me.

Hands of Jesus, bless me.

Feet of Jesus, guide me.

Voice of Jesus, speak to me.

Heart of Jesus, love me.

Spirit of Jesus, abide in me.

Now and forever. Amen.

38



The ROSARY

(READ AND FOLLOW CARE-
FULLY. ENRICH YOUR RO-
SARY.)

In imitation of the manner of

reciting the Rosary in many foreign

countries during past centuries, the

Rosary may be said by inserting
the mystery into each Hail Mary,

after the word "Jesus”. Let us take

an example: the first glorious mys-

tery. The Hail Mary is said, and

after the Name of "Jesus” the mys-
tery is added, thus: " ... fruit of thy

womb, Jesus — WHO AROSE
FROM THE DEAD. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray, etc.” The

mystery is said in each Hail Mary,

or ten times during each decade.

The three introductory Hail

Marys, in which we petition for the

three gifts of Faith, Hope, and

Charity, are said in the same way.

Example: "Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee, blessed art

thou among women, and blessed is

39



the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, IN

WHOM WE BELIEVE. Holy
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us

sinners, now and at the hour of our

death. Amen.”

Though this way of praying the

Rosary requires a little more time,

it has two distinct advantages. One

is that distractions are reduced and

attention is better focused because

of the repeated recitation of the par-

ticular mystery (ten times instead

of only once during each decade).

The second is that the Rosary takes

on more of a direct conversation

with our Lady — which it is sup-
posed to be. You actually talk to the

Mother of Jesus about the main

mysteries by which her Son re-

deemed you.

Furthermore, vocal and mental

prayer are nicely fused, as are the

two elements of the Rosary, the Hail

Mary and the mystery. Here is the

Rosary at its best!

The traditional formulation of the

mysteries in English is as follows.

(Each of the following phrases is

inserted after each "Jesus” in every

Hail Mary of the respective dec-

ade. )

40



The three introductory Hail Marys:

1 ) In Whom we believe.
2) In Whom we hope.
3)Whom we love above all things.

The Joyful Mysteries:

1)

Whom thou didst conceive of
the Holy Ghost.

2)Whom thou didst carry to Eliza-
beth.

3)Who was born of thee in Beth-
lehem.

4)Whom thou didst present in the
temple.

5)Whom thou didst find in the
temple.

The Sorrowful Mysteries:

1)

Who sweat blood for us.
2)Who was scourged for us.

3)

Who was crowned with thorns
for us.

4)Who carried the heavy cross for
us.

5)Who was crucified for us.

The Glorious Mysteries:

1)

Who arose from the dead.
2)Who ascended into heaven.
3)Who sent us the Holy Ghost.
4)Who took thee up into heaven.
5)Who crowned thee in heaven.

41



INSTRUCTIONS

ARE YOU
SPIRITUALLY TONGUE-TIED?

You should know a variety of

prayers. At least many of those
printed in this booklet, besides, of

course, the common prayers such
as the Our Father, Hail Mary,

Apostles’ Creed, Hail Holy Queen,

Acts of Faith, Hope, Love, Sorrow,

etc.

Pray with zest. Try to enlarge and

expand your prayer life. Prayer

should be something romantic: a

love affair between you and your

God!

Make your prayer fit the occa-
sion. Your morning prayers, for

instance, should consist of the

Morning Offering, Spiritual Com-

munion, Consecration to Mary, An-

gelus, Acts of Faith, Hope, and

Love, prayer to your Guardian An-

gel, prayer to your Patron Saint,

Prayer for Today (Page 7), etc.

Don’t you see how well they fit for

opening the day correctly? The

Morning Offering to change the

42



dusty work of your daily routine

(no matter how small or insignifi-

cant that work may be) into spiri-
tual gold; the Spiritual Communion

to feed your soul (since you cannot

actually go to Holy Communion)

just as bacon and eggs will feed

your weakening human body; the

Consecration to Mary to give your-

self to yopr Spiritual Mother; she

will be near to protect you from

temptation and sin (or don’t you

need help!) and to keep you near

Christ. The Angelus is so beautiful

a prayer that it is known even to

Protestants. Do you as a Catholic

say it when it is supposed to be said

—morning, noon, and night?

You say you can’t learn all these

prayers. All right, learn one, let us

say, every month. Read it slowly

from this booklet every day. It will

stay with you gradually. Then go

to the next one next month. You can
learn the main ones if you really

want to.

You will admit that you should
know more prayers. Do something

about it then. It’s a downright

shame to be so spiritually tongue-

tied as so many of us are!

43



THE COUNTERFEITER, or

WORKING ONESELF TO DEATH

Working (or doing anything else)

without the blessing of God, as for

example, in the state of mortal sin

or even without a good intention,

is doing like that forger of bills who

for ten years of his life was bent on

amassing a fortune by making

counterfeit money. 'This is a sure

and short road to wealth,’ thought

he; 'for as soon as my money be-
gins to pass around, my income
will be immense!’ So day by day he

slaved and long into the night, per-

fecting his dies and forging money

until beads of perspiration would

roll down his face; and his arms,

from constant and feverish haste,

would fall limp at his side.

At last he was through! Heaps of

crisp bills lay stacked around about

him ready for circulation. But just

as the moneymaker was ready to

pass them on, the stamp of the

country was changed; the outstand-

ing currency was called in and pro-

hibited thenceforth to serve as a

medium for exchange. So it hap-

pened that over night all his hopes

were crushed and all his labor was

in vain.

44



The greatest dupes the devil has

are those men who, as the saying

goes, work themselves to death.

Men who exhaust an anxious exist-

ence in studies and plans and hard

work to enrich themselves and their

children; who sacrifice even duty,

social and religious, only to find

out at sad last that they have

missed the very end for which they

were placed in this world.

It were an infinite tragedy if at the

end of life all our toil and labor—or
the greater part of it— were stamped
as counterfeit. "Lord, we have la-

bored all the night (all our life) and

have taken nothing.” God help us!

Our good works in themselves

are only of passing value, and mer-

it only a temporal reward. It is our

union with Christ as members of

that mystical body of which He is

Head which gives them a supernat-

ural, heavenly, infinite, everlasting

value. By keeping ourselves in the

state of grace, by frequently receiv-

ing the Sacraments of Penance and

Holy Communion, by regular and

constant prayer, and by renewing

our good intention (Morning Offer-

ing) often during the day we are

laying by treasure for eternity.

45



POWER OF PRAYER

Prayer is endowed with the omni-

potence of God Himself; and, by

prayer, we too become endowed

with the same divine attribute, in so

far as it places omnipotence at our

disposal.

Here, then, we have an instrument

in our hands which will work won-

ders for us wherever we will;

a power which nothing can resist;

a master-key to all the treasures

of heaven;

a shield against every danger;

a comfort in every sorrow;

a light in darkness;

a joy that never fails;

a food that never palls on the

taste;

a strength which no hardship can

break;

a life which cannot die.

It is a source of knowledge, such

as no earthly science can unfold; a

mine of wealth yielding treasures of

which death cannot rob us; a royal

charter of such privileges and dig-

nities as no mortal monarch ever

possessed or can bestow.

—Paradise of God.

46



U-BOMB

However men degrade them-

selves; however black with sin the

world becomes; however desperate

the outlook, there is always hope

for peace on earth for men of good

will.

The specific solution is the U-

Bomb of Faith and Hope, not the
H-Bomb of death and despair.

And you are the U-Bomb. When
you pray, you charge yourself with

the grace of God. When you act
you trigger off the bomb which sets
up chain reactions, not of misery

and death, but of peace and life. Ev-

ery man is needed— but no one can
do it all.

There are problems so big and so

complex that not one but a whole

cluster of U-Bombs must be fired

together to be effective.

In less picturesque but more prac-

tical language, this means that on

the parish, diocesan, and national

levels, there must be a clustering

together of our American Catholic

men (and women) for unified action
if we are going to make the strength
of our Faith felt in bringing about

the restoration of all things in

Christ. —From CATHOLIC MEN,

47



Nihil Obstat

Louis Hauber, S.T.D., Censor Deputatus

Imprimatur

+ Edward
J.

Hunkeler, D.D.

Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, August 9, 1961

This Prayer Booklet, DAILY PRAY-

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Very practical, modern application.

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