Youth Ministry @ SMDY

PRAYER FOR PREPARTION TO STUDY

Grant me peace, O God, as I open my books and notes. Open my mind to Thy will, and may I dedicate these hours to Thy Son, Jesus Christ.

Offer me insight, O Lord, that I might understand these things, and see them as a part of Thy Kingdom.

May I offer Thee my best in reading and learning that it may be a part of my discipleship.

O Jesus Christ, may this be a worthy time that is faithful to Thee and bring me closer to the goals I have in order to serve Thee. I offer this time and prayer in Thy holy Name. Amen.

PRAYER BEFORE AN EXAM

O wise God, I pray that my mind might be rested, my body energized, and my spirit inspired for the exam I must write.

Grant me peace and assurance so that I might do the best I am able, regardless of what that might be.

Be with my fellow students and may I be a good example to them, offering reassurance and confidence regardless of how I feel.

May I be honest and insightful, and able to give a true record of what I have learned. In the end, may any disappointment be born with grace, and any joy accompanied with humility.

I write this exam with Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: http://admin.acadiau.ca/chaplain/prayer.htm

Souce:  http://english.people.com.cn/200606/09/images/nee1.jpg and http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0819/csmimg/p14a.jpg

HELP!

Lord, I ask for a quite mind and an open heart.  I do not know what to do or where to go.  I have so many choices and I'm unsure.  If  I make the wrong choice, will I lose You, myself, and my family?  Though, I know You are always beside me in everything I do and say, I  fear most of all  is the unknown. 

As I make this choice (...mention the question.choice you need help with), guide my heart to hear your voice and my mind to accept your call.  Allow Your Spirit to rest upon me in this quite hour as I wait in Faith and Hope that you will guide me to hear the truth and wisdom of others and to live the path I am called to follow.  With a truthful and faithful heart, I ask for your guidance.

(Moment of silence)

Now, I ask for courage to stand firm in the descision I have made. Thank you for being there to hear my prayer.  Thank you for giving me the eyes to see and the ears to hear.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve.  I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

picture source:  http://www.ocytoronto.org/Multimedia/CLIMB_06_1.htm

A Guardian Angel Prayer for Friends

Guardian Angel,
watch over those whose names you can read in my heart.
Guard over them with every care
and make their way easy and their labours fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep;
sanctify their joys;
raise their courage if they weaken;
restore their hope if they lose heart,
their health if they be ill,
truth if they err,
repentance if they fail.  AMEN

Source:  http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=755 and http://www.catholic.org/images/ins_saints/angel1.jpg

Canticle Of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness  of the Lord,
My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
For He has looked with favour 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 for ever.

Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning.
is now, and will be forever.

Amen.

Source:  http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=539 

PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JUDE (patron Saint of Lost Causes)

Most holy Apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered the beloved Master into the hands of His enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore you, of this particular privilege accorded 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 consolations and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (here make your request), and that I may bless God with you and all the elect forever.

I promise you, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to you. Amen.

Photo Source www.accessdominicanrepublic.co.nr

Source of photo http://www.flgulfhomes.com/images/Peacesunrise1.jpg

Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year

O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.

Source of Prayer:  http://www.catholic.org/prayers

By Pope John Paul II.

Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.  Amen

Source of Prayer:  http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/prayers/view.cfm?id=973

Source of Image:  http://www.hcfm.org/images/news/news-image-2565-01-sm.jpg

Mary, Mother of God

Heavenly Father, You blessed the Virgin Mary with the fullness of grace. She is my model of faith, hope, and love. I give this new year to her intercession and ask for her holy prayers. Place my needs into the protection of her motherly love. With her help, I want my faith to grow. Give me an increase in the virtue of hope when troubles tempt me to despair. Guide me in understanding Your infinite love. And join my heart, dear Lord, to the Holy Mother's Immaculate Heart, so that I may improve in loving everyone unconditionally, in imitation of my Savior Jesus. Amen.

Souce:  http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/MaryMother.htm

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. --Reinhold Niebuhr

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.

Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."

Source:  http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html and http://www.bigfoto.com/themes/nature/sky/clouds-hzg5.jpg

PRAYER FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI'S PILGRIMAGE TO TURKEY NOV 28TH-DEC 1ST, 2006

Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, we humbly ask that you sustain, inspire, and protect your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, as he goes on pilgrimage to Turkey—a land to which St. Paul brought the Gospel of your Son; a land where once the Mother of your Son, the Seat of Wisdom, dwelt; a land where faith in you Son’s true divinity was definitively professed.  Bless our Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of truth and love to all people of faith and good will dwelling in this land so rich in understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and those who profess Islam.  May the prayers and events of these historic days greatly contribute both to greater accord among those who worship you, the living and true God, and also to peace in our world so often torn apart by war and sectarian violence.

We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims.  Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love.  We make our prayers through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

SOURCE OF IMAGE:  http://www.elohi.com/photo/turkey/turkey_054.jpeg

Generous God, Feast-Giver, You have set a table before me replete with spiritual richness, laden with all I need for my growth.  How boundlessly you bless, how generously you give, how faithfully you provide, how tenderly you understand, how fully you forgive, how endlessly you invite, how willingly you welcome, how lovingly you cherish, how compassionately you shelter.

The riches of your presence exceed my largest dreams.  The fullness of your kindness expands beyond my expectations.  Unreservedly you display your riches.  You freely offer all of them to me, a banquet of daily nourishment, a harvest to fill my hungry soul.  I have only to come to the table to receive from you abundant feast.

Amen

Adapted from Prayers to Sophia by Joyce Rupp

Dear God, You hold all people in Your compassionate heart. You see all people through the eyes of love, knowing that we all have the same gifts of spirit waiting to be revealed. Let Your wisdom be my own when I feel afraid of others who seem different from me. Open my heart with compassion, filling me with understanding and acceptance of others and myself. I accept Your strength to champion equality for all people, letting Your love give me courage to see God dwelling within all. Saint Marguerite d’Youville, pray for us. Amen.

(by D'Youville high school student)

Source of picture:  http://www.artglassmosaics.com/index1.jpg