Prayers for the Morning

God help me. This prayer is short and sweet. It was the only one I could muster the energy to pray in the morning during an awful ten year stretch in my life. Maybe I’ll blog about it someday. It keeps you connected by a thread to God when it seems like all else in life is falling apart.

The Morning Offering – O Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You 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, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

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

Be A Powerful Leader Today – Guard against foul talk; let your words be for the improvement of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners, otherwise you will only be grieving the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal for you to be set free when the day comes. Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:29-32

Prayers for Midday 

The Angelus – (set a timer on your phone for noon. The whole prayer takes under a minute.)

℣. The Angel of the LORD declared unto Mary,
℟. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou amongst 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.

℣. Behold the handmaid of the LORD.
℟. Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou amongst 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.

℣. And the Word was made flesh.
℟. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou amongst 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.

℣. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
℟. That we might be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O 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.

Prayers During The Work Day 

Before All Meetings – Lord, you loved the people, I am about to have a meeting with, into existence.  Help me see them and to love them as You do. A prayer (paraphrased) that Pope Saint John Paul II used before his many meetings as pope. If he used it, you can’t go wrong!

Stress – Whenever I am troubled help me recover my calm, and peace in my work and activities without exception.

Focus – Lord, protect my thoughts and help me focus so I can achieve Your holy will. 

Prayers for Anytime 

Feeling Down or Oppressed – 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 host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen. Pope Leo XIII 

When Facing Trials – “Do not try to have your trials taken away from you, rather ask for the grace to endure them well.” Saint Andre’ Bessette +1937

Prayers For The Evening

Bedtime – God, our Father, this day is done.We ask you and Jesus Christ, your Son, that with the Holy Spirit, you guard my sleep and bless my rest. Amen.

The Examen –

Give Thanksgiving. – Begin by giving God thanks for all the things you are grateful for today. Allow your mind to wander as you reflect on the ways God has blessed you this day as it’s closing. Allow both big things and small things to come into your mind —everything from the gift of your faith, your marriage, and your work.

Review and recognize failures.- First, ask that the Holy Spirit guide you through this difficult soul-searching. Otherwise, you may be liable to hide in self-denial, wallow in self-pity, or seethe in self-loathing. Look back at your day and ask the Lord to point out the moments when you have failed in big ways or small. Take a real, sobering look at the blunders you’ve made this day.

Ask for forgiveness and healing. – If you have sinned, ask God for forgiveness and set you on the right path again. If you haven’t sinned but simply messed up, ask for healing of any harm that might have been done. Ask for help to get over it and move on. Ask for wisdom to discern how you might better handle such the situation(s) better next time.

Pray about the upcoming day. Ask God to show you how tomorrow might go. Imagine the things you will be doing, meetings you will be conducting or attending, the people you’ll see and new ones you will meet, and the decisions you;ll be asked to solve or work on. Ask for help with any of these moments that you foresee might be difficult. Especially ask for help in moments when you might be tempted to fail in the way you did today.