World Day for Consecrated Life

ImageFebruary 2, 2023January 31, 2023Kristin's Crosses

19th century – ceiling painting by the nuns in cloister at the Monastery of Light, São Paulo.

A Prayer for Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters

Heavenly Father, in your wisdom
you have called certain women and men
to a life of special consecration
so that in prayerful observance
of a lifestyle of poverty,
chaste celibacy and obedience,
they might be witnesses to us
that as St. Paul says,
“our true citizenship is in heaven.”
Give them, Lord,
the grace of joy and perseverance
in their holy vocation.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

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*^{Click to access today’s prayer video on YouTube.}*

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle

ImageJanuary 25, 2023January 20, 2023Kristin's Crosses

The Conversion of St. Paul, 16th Century

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
for the Conversion of Sinners

Mother of Perpetual Help,
you know so well the value of an immortal soul.
For every soul has been redeemed by the
Precious Blood of your Divine Son.
Hear my prayer as I plead for the conversion
of a sinner,
one who is quickly heading for eternal ruin.
I know that you are the refuge of sinners.
I know also that God has given you
the power to bring about the conversion
of even the most hardened sinner.
Until now, nothing has been successful in changing
this person’s sinful way of life.
Obtain from your Son the grace of conversion.
Merciful Mother,
you have brought about the conversion
of many sinners through the prayers of
their relatives and friends.
Listen to my prayer
and bring about a true conversion
for this unhappy soul.
Mother of Perpetual Help,
show that you really are the Refuge of Sinners.
Amen.

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Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

ImageJanuary 23, 2023January 20, 2023Kristin's Crosses

Prayer for the Unborn Child

Almighty God, our Father,
you who have given us life
and intended us to have it forever,
grant us your blessings.
Enlighten our minds to an awareness
and to a renewed conviction
that all human life is sacred
because it is created
in your image and likeness.
Help us to teach by word
and the example of our lives
that life occupies the first place,
that human life is precious
because it is the gift of God
whose love is infinite.
Give us the strength to defend human life
against every influence
or action that threatens or weakens it,
as well as the strength
to make every life more human
in all its aspects.

Give us the grace…

When the sacredness of life
before birth is attacked,
to stand up and proclaim
that no one ever has the authority
to destroy unborn life.

When a child is described as a burden
or is looked upon only as a means
to satisfy an emotional need,
to stand up
and insist that every child is a unique
and unrepeatable gift of God,
a gift of God
with a right to a loving
and united family.

When the institution of marriage
is abandoned to human selfishness
or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement
that can easily be terminated,
to stand up and affirm
the indissolubility of the marriage bond.

When the value of the family is threatened
because of social and economic pressure,
to stand up and reaffirm
that the family is necessary
not only for the private good of every person,
but also for the common good of every society,
nation and state.

When freedom is used to dominate the weak,
to squander natural resources and energy,
to deny basic necessities to people,
to stand up and affirm
the demands of justice and social love.

Almighty Father,
give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity
of all human life and to demand
that society itself give its protection.
We ask this in your name,
through the redemptive act
of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

(Adapted from St. Pope John Paul II’s homily of October 7, 1979)

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