The Infant Jesus

O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright,

Immortal glory be to Thee,

Praise to the Father, infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally.

I Will Carry My Cross

O Jesus, whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee, is not worthy of Thee. Behold, I cheerfully join Thee on the way of the cross. I desire to carry it with all patience until death, that I may prove worthy of Thee.

Glory to God in the Highest

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2:1-14

The Nativity

Let the just rejoice,

for their justifier is born.

Let the sick and infirm rejoice,

For their saviour is born.

Let the captives rejoice,

For their Redeemer is born.

Let slaves rejoice,

for their Master is born.

Let free men rejoice,

For their Liberator is born.

Let All Christians rejoice,

For Jesus Christ is born.

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-440)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity, Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (say three times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (say three times). Amen.

Sacred Heart of Mary

Most Blessed Mother,

Heart of love, heart of mercy,

Ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer.

As your children,

We implore your intercession with Jesus your Son.

Receive with understanding and compassion

The petitions we place before you today,

Especially ... (special intention).

We are comforted in knowing

Your heart is ever open to those Who ask for your prayer.

We trust to your gentle care and intercession,

Those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting.

Help all of us, Holy Mother,

To bear our burdens in this life

Until we may share eternal life

And peace with God forever.

Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

A Prayer To Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe,

Mystical Rose,

make intercession for holy Church,

protect the sovereign Pontiff,

help all those who invoke you in their necessities,

and since you are the ever Virgin Mary

and Mother of the true God,

obtain for us from your most holy Son

the grace of keeping our faith,

of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life

of burning charity, and the precious gift

of final perseverance.

Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN Heavenly Father, You created us in Your own image, and You desire that not even the least among us should perish. In Your love for us, You entrusted Your only Son to the Holy Virgin Mary. Now, in Your love, protect against the wickedness of the devil, those little ones to whom You have given the gift of life. Amen

Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados

Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados

"Oh Virgen y reina del Santo Rosario, te rogamos que te dignes a escuchar nuestra plegaria. Tu que eres la intercesora de los desamparados. Cuida de esta pobre criatura para que ayudado por el corazón de tu Divino Hijo, encuentre en esta vida los consuelos y apoyos necesarios para salir adelante. Lo que te pedimos por tus dolores y sufrimientos pasados junto a tu Hijo en el Calvario. Amén"

Notre Dame de Sacre'-Coeur

O Dieu, qui avez voulu pour le triomphe de votre miséricorde et le salut de nos âmes, donner à Marie, Vierge immaculée, un pouvoir ineffable sur le Coeur de Jésus, accordez-nous, par ses prières et ses mérites, la grâce de vivre et de mourir dans votre saint amour. Nous vous le demandons par le même Jésus-Christ Notre-Seigneur. Ainsi soit-il.

The Eucharist

I adore Thee, O Jesus, true God and true Man,

here present in the Holy Eucharist,

humbly kneeling before Thee

and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth

and all the blessed in heaven.

In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing,

I love Thee, my Jesus, with my whole heart,

for Thou art all perfect and all worthy of love.
Give me grace nevermore

in any way to offend Thee, and grant that I,

being refreshed by Thy Eucharistic presence

here on earth, may be found worthy

to come to the enjoyment with Mary

of Thine eternal and everblessed presence in heaven.

Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel

Sancte Michael Archangele,

defende nos in proelio;

contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.

Imperet illi Deus,

tuque, Princeps militiae Caelestis,

satanam aliosque spiritus malignos,

qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo,

divina virtute in infernum detrude.

Amen.

Regina Caeli

V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.

V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.

R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

Immolation of the Heart

O heart of Jesus, accept my heart overwhelmed with afflictions.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus

O my Most Loving and Gentle Jesus, I desire with all the affections of my heart, that all beings should praise Thee, honor Thee and glorify Thee eternally for that sacred wound wherewith Thy divine side was rent. I deposit, enclose, conceal in that wound and in that opening in Thy Heart, my heart and all my feelings, thoughts, desires, intentions and all the faculties of my soul. I entreat Thee, by the precious Blood and Water that flowed from Thy Most Loving Heart, to take entire possession of me, that Thou may guide me in all things. Consume me in the burning fire of thy holy Love, so that I may be so absorbed and transformed into Thee that I may no longer be but one with Thee.

Amen.

Lanspergius, the Carthusian

In Bethlehem

Advent Prayer

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord who enlists me in God's own work for justice.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father's joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me the joy and love and peace it is right to bring to the manger of my Lord. Raise in me, too, sober reverence for the God who acted there, hearty gratitude for the life begun there, and spirited resolution to serve the Father and Son.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, whose advent I hail. Amen.

Our Lady of All Nations

Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of the Father,

send now Your Spirit over the earth.

Let the Holy Spirit live

in the heart of all nations,

that they may be preserved from

degeneration,disaster and war.

May the Lady of All Nations,

the Blessed Virgin Mary,

be our Advocate.

Amen.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton

“The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.”

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Who was born for us in a stable,

lived for us a life of pain and sorrow,

and died for us upon a cross;

say for us in the hour of death,

Father, forgive,

and to Your Mother, Behold your child.

Say to us, This day you shall be with Me in paradise.

Dear Savior, leave us not, forsake us not.

We thirst for You, Fountain of Living Water.

Our days pass quickly along,

soon all will be consummated for us.

To Your hands we commend our spirits, now and forever.

Amen.

Saint Catherine of Siena

"Lord, take me from myself and give me to yourself."

St Catherine of Siena

Galatians 6:8

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

With loving provident care, O Mother Most Amiable, you covered us with your Scapular as a shield of defense against the Evil One. Through your assistance, may we bravely struggle against the powers of evil, always open to your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

Baby Jesus

Christ was born in the first century,

yet he belongs to all centuries.

He was born a Jew,

yet He belongs to all races.

He was born in Bethlehem,

yet He belongs to all countries.

George W. Truett

Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

For whom it is impossible

not to have compassion on the afflicted,

Have pity on us miserable sinners

And grant us the grace

Which we ask of you,

Through the Sorrowful And

Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Your tender Mother and ours.

Amen

Psalm 56:14

Jesus Loves the Animals

“God said,

See, I have given you every

plant yielding seed that is upon

the face of all the earth,

and every tree with seed in its fruit;

you shall have them for food.

And to every beast of the earth,

and to every bird of the air,

and to everything that creeps on the earth,

everything that has

the breath of life,

I have given

every green plant

for food.

And it was so.

God saw everything

that he had made,

and indeed, it was very good.”

Genesis 1:29-31

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

"O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee."

Tu Es Sacerdos

"Lord, fill with the gift of the Holy Spirit him whom you have deigned to raise to the rank of the priesthood, that he may be worthy to stand without reproach before your altar, to proclaim the Gospel of your kingdom, to fulfill the ministry of your word of truth, to offer you spiritual gifts and sacrifices, to renew your people by the bath of rebirth; so that he may go out to meet our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, your only Son, on the day of his second coming, and may receive from your vast goodness the recompense for a faithful administration of his order."

Prayer of the Byzantine Rite

Holy Orders

"The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech."

Psalm 109:4

The Feeding of the Multitude

“And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.”

Luke 9:17

Crown of Thorns

Come let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Loving Savior, you allowed your enemies to crown you with thorns and to treat you like a fool,

— make us patient when we suffer and forgiving when we are slighted.

Help all the faithful to see their own trials as a participation in yours,

— that they may bear witness in themselves to the salvation that comes from you.

Crowned with thorns, you bore all the sins of the human race,

— grant your merciful forgiveness to those who have departed from this life.

Amen

First Holy Communion

A laminated holy card from my late mom given to JM as a gift on the occassion of his First Holy Communion, on May 14, 2006.

Our Lady of the Smile

Smile, Mother, and heal us with your love! Smile toward us and cast out all our fears and anxieties. Smile, Mother, and heal us from all that imprisons love in our hearts. Smile to our minds and heal the memories that hurt the vision of love. Smile to our hearts and heal the experiences that have hardened us and have made us run away from love. Smile to us with your maternal love; and knowing that we are loved, heal us from the fears and hurts that impede us from generously and freely loving.

Prayer to Our Lady of the Smile

Saint Helena

Prayer Before Mesquel:

A Celebration of the Finding of the True Cross

In the name of the Father, of the Son and the Holy Spirit

Do not forget the quiet and peaceful house of God

Do not be fooled by the bright and shining lights of the world

Come to the house of God

And find the inner peace you have been looking for.

The Battle of Lepanto

In the immense expanse of sea, two mighty columns of great height arise a little distance of one and other. On the top of the higher and bigger one stands the Sacred Host of great size proportionate to the column and beneath is a placard with the words: Salus Credentium – “Salvation of the faithful.” On the top of the other column was a statue of the Immaculate Virgin with a placard with this inscription: Auxilium Christianorum – “Help of Christians.”

The Battle of Lepanto

Our Lady of China

"A woman in white appeared above the settlement, and the rioters' bullets were aimed at her. When the apparition did not fade, attackers had not even time to reorganize because a strange horseman put them to flight."

Mary's Apparition to God's Beloved Children in China

Our Lord's Virgin and Mother

"And for each of us Christians She is the Mother of My Lord".

Saint Luke 1:43

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

"In addition to her sharing in the Eucharistic banquet [of the first generation of Christians], an indirect picture of Mary's relationship with the Eucharist can be had, beginning with her interior disposition. Mary is a 'woman of the Eucharist' in her whole life. The church, which looks to Mary as a model, is also called to imitate her in her relationship to this most holy mystery."

Pope John Paul II, On the Eucharist in Its Relationship to the Church

Saint Anne

Anne and Joachim were married for many years in Nazareth but were childless. When Joachim went to offer sacrifices in the Temple, he was rejected because he was unworthy as he had no offspring. Joachim was brokenhearted and went to the mountains to take up his cause with God.

There, he fasted and prayed for 40 days. Anne feared for his life, saying, "I lament that I am a widow and I lament that I am childless." She begged God to take away her sterility and promised to dedicate her child to His service.

God answered their prayers when an angel appeared to Anne, saying: "Anna, the Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by all the world."

Saint Jude

Helper in Desperate Cases

Saint Jude Hymn

Apostle of Jesus, A witness to his Word,
As helper of the needy,
Jude's name is ever heard;
A preacher of the Gospel
To poor and blind and lame,
A worker great of wonders
In Jesus' Holy Name.
All praise to the Father And to his Son,
Our Lord,
And to the Holy Spirit
Whose strength we have implored,
With all the saints in heaven
We join our voice as one
To pray as Jesus taught us,
Thy will be ever done.

The Christian Pilgrim

This statue of The Pilgrim is located in the retreat center of St. Benedict's Abbey, Benet Lake, Wisconsin.

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me,
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will,
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you,
Does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road,
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though,
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me.
And you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.

— Thomas Merton

God the Father

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

2 Corinthians 6:18

Consummatum Est.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit".

Luke 23:46

The Crucifixion

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Luke 23:34

The Good Shepherd

“The Lord is my Shepherd”.

Psalm 23:1

The Holy Infant Jesus

O Holy Infant Jesus, Bless and Protect us.

Saint Therese of Lisieux

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.

Saint Therese Lisieux

San Roque

Prayer to St. Roque

O Blessed Saint Roque,

Patron of the sick,

Have pity on those

Who lie upon a bed of suffering.

Your power was so great

When you were in this world,

That by the sign of the Cross,

Many were healed of their diseases.

Now that you are in heaven,

Your power is not less.

Offer, then, to God

Our sighs and tears

And obtain for us that health we seek

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Jesus and the Angels

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel 6:22

Saint Rose of Lima

“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.”“When we serve the poor and the sick we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus.”

Saint Rose of Lima

Crown of Thorns

Hail, O bleeding Head and wounded, With a crown of thorns surrounded, Buffeted, and bruised and battered, Smote with reed by striking shattered, Face with spittle vilely smeared! Hail, whose visage sweet and comely, Marred by fouling stains and homely, Changed as to its blooming color, All now turned to deathly pallor, Making heavenly hosts affeared!

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux