Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

[public domain]

Guardian Angel, 18th Centuty

A Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angels

Heavenly Father,
Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angel in heaven
and appointed him our guide during this earthly pilgrimage.
Accept our thanks for so great a blessing.
Grant that we may experience the assistance
of our holy protector in all our necessities.

And you, holy, loving angel and guide,
watch over us with all the tenderness of your angelic heart.
Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven,
and cease not to pray for us
until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation.
Then we shall love you for all eternity.
We shall praise and glorify you unceasingly
for all the good you have done for us while here on earth.

Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our children.
Take our place, and supply what may be wanting to us
through human frailty, short-sightedness, or sinful neglect.
Lighten, O you perfect servants of God, our heavy task.
Guide our children,
that they may become like unto Jesus,
may imitate Him faithfully,
and persevere till they attain eternal life.

Amen.

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Respect Life Sunday

[public domain]

Il sonno dell’infanzia e della vecchiaia, by Marie-Guillemine Benoist, 18th or 19th century

“Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in His own image, destined to live for ever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”

Pope Francis

Prayer for Respect of Life

Heavenly Father,
the beauty and dignity of human life
was the crowning of your creation.
You further ennobled that life
when your Son became one with us in his incarnation.
Help us to realize the sacredness of human life
and to respect it from the moment of conception
until the last moment at death.
Give us courage to speak with truth
and love and with conviction in defense of life.
Help us to extend the gentle hand of mercy and forgiveness
to those who do not reverence your gift of life.
To all, grant pardon for the times we have failed
to be grateful for your precious gift of life
or to respect it in others.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

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Prayer of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

[public domain]

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus or “The Little Flower”

Prayer of Saint Therese
o
f the Child Jesus

Praise to God

My Lord and my God
I have realized that whoever
undertakes to do anything
for the sake of earthly things
or to earn the praise of others
deceives himself.
Today one thing pleases the world,
tomorrow another.
What is praised on one occasion
is denounced on another.
Blessed be You,
my Lord and my God,
for You are unchangeable for all eternity.
Whoever serves You faithfully to the end
will enjoy life without end in eternity.
Amen.

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