Prayer

The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

ImageKristin's Crosses
[public domain]

The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
Nero’s Torches (Christian Candlesticks), by Henryk Siemiradzki, 1876

O God, who consecrated
the abundant first fruits of the Roman Church
by the blood of the Martyrs,
grant, we pray, that with firm courage
we may together draw strength from so great a struggle
and ever rejoice at the triumph of faithful love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

From the Mass Readings for the Feast of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church, Liturgy of the Hours. ‘Collect’ from the Common of Martyrs: For Several Martyrs

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

ImageKristin's Crosses
[public domain]

Fresco in Holy Trinity Parish Church in Schwarzenberg, by Angelica Kauffmann, 1757

Prayer to Saint Peter, the Apostle
for the Forgiveness of Sins

Blessed Apostle Peter,
to whom God has given the keys of the kingdom of Heaven,
and the power to bind and loose,
grant that we may be delivered through the help
of your intercession from the bonds of our sins.
O, Holy Shepherd,
Prince of the Apostles,
pray for us that we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Amen.

[public domain]

Fresco in Holy Trinity Parish Church in Schwarzenberg, by Angelica Kauffmann, 1757

Prayer to Saint Paul
for Patience

O Glorious Saint Paul,
who from a persecutor of Christianity,
did become a most ardent apostle of zeal;
and who to make known the Saviour Jesus Christ
to the ends of the world did suffer with joy imprisonment,
scourging, stonings, shipwrecks
and persecutions of every kind,
and in the end did shed your blood to the last drop,
obtain for us the grace to receive,
as favours of the Divine Mercy,
infirmities, tribulations,
and misfortunes of the present life,
so that the vicissitudes of this our exile
will not render us cold in the service of God,
but will render us always more faithful and fervent.
Amen.

Father’s Day

VideoKristin's Crosses
[public domain]

A Day in June in the Woods Near Lellinge, by Carl Frederic Aagaard, 1878

Prayer for Fathers
By Pope John XXIII

Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus
and chaste husband of Mary,
you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty.
You supported the holy family of Nazareth
with the work of your hands.

Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you.
You know their aspirations,
their hardships, their hopes.
They look to you because they know
you will understand and protect them.

You too knew trial,
labour and weariness.
But amid the worries of material life,
your soul was full of deep peace
and sang out in true joy
through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you
and with Mary, his tender Mother.

Assure those you protect that they do not labour alone.
Teach them to find Jesus near them
and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done.

Amen.

Pray the Chaplet of Saint Joseph