Our Morning Offering – 28 November – The Memorial of St James of the Marches OFM Conv (1391-1476)
Beloved and Most Holy
Word of God
By St James of the Marches (1391-1476)
Beloved and most holy Word of God!
You enlighten the hearts of the faithful,
You satisfy the hungry,
console the afflicted.
You make the souls of all,
productive of good
and cause all virtues to blossom.
You snatch souls
from the devil’s jaw.
You make the wretched holy
and men of earth,
citizens of heaven!
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 27 November – Wednesday of the Thirty Fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year C
Jesu, be You my Life!
Msgr Robert Hugh Benson (1871-1914)
I cannot live alone another hour,
Jesu, be You my Life!
I have not power to strive,
be You my Power
In every strife!
I can do nothing
– hope, nor love, nor fear.
But only fail and fall.
Be You my soul and self,
O Jesu dear.
My God and all!
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 26 November – Tuesday of the Thirty Fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year C
I Wish to Clasp Your Hand – Do Not Refuse Me!
Prayer of Count Eugene de Ferronays (1827-1894)
Dear Lord!
It is just when I am in the world
that I have most need of You
because You know it is full of snares
that the devil has set for me.
You must hold my hand, dear Lord,
if You will not abandon me.
A little of the world is not bad for me,
it is even good, for it teaches me how small it is
and I feel the greater happiness
when I come back to You.
But, that I may surely do so,
You must only loose Your hold a little,
that it may not try me too far,
You must not entirely leave hold.
Do You see dear Lord?
I wish to clasp Your hand – do not refuse me!
Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 25 November – Monday of the Thirty Fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year C
The Elder Brother’s Prayer
Teach me, my Lord,
to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life,
in disappointments,
in the thoughtlessness of those I trusted,
in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.
Let me put myself aside,
to think of the happiness of others,
to hide my little pains and heartaches,
so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.
Teach me to profit by the suffering
that comes across my path.
Let me so use it that it may make me
patient, not irritable.
That it may make me broad in my forgiveness,
not narrow, haughty and overbearing.
May no-one be less good
for having come within my influence.
No-one less pure, less true, less kind,
less noble for having been a fellow traveller
in my journey toward Eternal Life.
As I go my rounds from one distraction to another,
let me whisper from time to time,
a word of love to Thee.
May my life be lived in the supernatural,
full of power for good,
and strong in its purpose of sanctity.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 24 November – The Solemnity of Christ the King
Above All That is Not You
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
O most loving Jesus,
give me this special grace to rest in You
above all created things,
above all health and beauty,
above all glory and honour,
above all dignity and power,
above all knowledge and prudence,
above all riches and talents,
above all joy and gladness,
above all fame and praise,
above all sweetness and consolation,
above all hope and promise,
above all merit and desire,
above all gifts and rewards
that You may give or send –
except Yourself –
above all joy or happiness
that the human mind and heart
can grasp or feel,
above all Angels and Archangels,
above all the heavenly hosts,
above all things visible and invisible
and above all that is not You,
my God.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 23 November – The Memorial of Blessed Miguel Pro – Martyr (1891-1927)
Heart Of Jesus
By Blessed Miguel Pro – Martyr (1891-1927)
I believe, O Lord
but strengthen my faith,
Heart of Jesus, I love Thee
but increase my love.
Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee,
but give greater vigour
to my confidence.
Heart of Jesus,
I give my heart to Thee,
but so enclose it in Thee
that it may never
be separated from Thee.
Heart of Jesus, I am all Thine,
but take care of my promise
so that I may be able
to put it into practice even unto
the complete sacrifice of my life.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 22 November – Friday of the Thirty Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C
O God, send forth Your Holy Spirit
By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Doctor of the Church
O God,
send forth Your Holy Spirit
into my heart
that I may perceive,
into my mind,
that I may remember,
and into my soul,
that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak
with piety,
holiness,
tenderness
and mercy.
Teach, guide and direct my thoughts
and senses, from beginning to end.
May Your grace,
ever help and correct me,
and may I be strengthened now
with wisdom from on high,
for the sake of Your infinite mercy.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 21 November – The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary the Dawn
By Fr Justin Mulcahy CP (1894-1981)
First Published in 1953
Morning Psalter: The Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day.
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine.
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread.
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose Blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood.
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord.
Mary the shrine, Christ the God Adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest.
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son.
By all things blest, while endless ages run.
Amen!
Our Morning Offering – 20 November – Wednesday of the Thirty Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C
Lord, Teach me How to Pray
By St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)
Oh Lord,
You selected the poor
and simple people to be Your Apostles.
Look upon Your poor servant
kneeling before You now.
I recognise that I am simple and poor too.
Dear Lord, please teach me how to pray
as You taught Your disciples
upon their humble request.
If it pleases You in Your goodness
to grant me that grace,
I shall be able to pray well
and much better
than I could ever could hope for
if left to my own efforts.
Lord, I trust that You will bless me
with the fulfilment of this request.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 19 November – Tuesday of the Thirty Third Week of Ordinary Time, Year C
A Prayer for Fulfilling
the Will of God
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
O most merciful Jesus,
grant me Your grace,
that it may remain with me always
and persevere with me to the end.
Grant me always to will and desire,
what is more pleasing and acceptable to You.
Let Your will be mind
and let my will always follow Yours
in perfect conformity with it.
Let my will and desires always be one with Yours
and let me be unable to will or not to will,
except as You will or do not will.
Grant that I may die to all worldly things
and that I may be despised and unknown
for love of You.
Grant, above all things to be desired,
that I may find rest in You
and that in Your Heart alone may be my peace.
You, O Lord, give true peace to the heart
and perfect rest to body and soul.
Apart from You, all is difficult and never still.
In that peace, in You Who are the one,
supreme and eternal Good,
I will sleep and take my rest.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 18 November – Monday of the Thirty Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C
Jesus, my True Friend
By St Claude de la Colombiere S.J. (1641-1682)
You always listen kindly to me.
You have the secret to soften my troubles
and to renew my hope without ceasing.
All alone, You know the depths of my heart.
As my faithful friend,
You are my strong support,
” He who finds You found his Treasury ”.
Always and everywhere, You are with me.
In Your immense tenderness,
You come to my heart
to make Your home.
Reveal the wonder of Your Divine Friendship
to the desperate,
to all overwhelmed with suffering.
Yes, I am so convinced
that You watch over those who hope in You
and that we cannot lose anything
when we wait for You, in all things.
I resolve to live,
now and in the future
without any worry.
For I will discharge all my worries
on You, since You never desert those
who trust, in the love of Your Heart
Amen
St Claude de la Colombière, SJ, was a Jesuit Priest, the Confessor of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Missionary, ascetical writer and promoter, protector and apostle of the Sacred Heart Devotion.
Our Morning Offering – 17 November – The Third World Day of Prayer for the Poor and the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
At Your Table, Lord
Cafod Prayer for the World Day of the Poor
Bountiful God,
When we eat this Bread,
and drink this Cup,
remind us that it is at Your table
that we do it,
a table weighed down with good things,
a table full to overflowing.
Remind us that we have neither earned,
nor deserve,
what You freely give.
For it is to the starving
that You bring satisfaction,
whereas the full, You send away empty.
Help us to respond to Your invitation
by sharing what we have received,
by breaking the body and blood of creation
with love and reverence
and by adjusting our own wants,
so that no-one is turned away.
Amen
Ged Johnson/CAFOD
Catholic Agncy for Overseas Development
Our Morning Offering for the Souls in Purgatory – 16 November – Saturday of the Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time, Year C
Prayer for the Faithful Departed
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Meditations and Devotions of the Late Cardinal Newman
O God of the Spirits of all flesh,
O Jesu, Lover of souls,
we recommend unto Thee,
the souls of all those Thy servants,
who have departed with the sign of faith
and sleep the sleep of peace.
We beseech Thee, O Lord and Saviour,
that, as in Thy mercy to them,
Thou became man,
so now, Thou would hasten the time
and admit them to Thy Presence above…
May the heavens be opened to them
and the Angels rejoice with them …
May all the Saints and elect of God,
who in this world suffered torments
for Thy Name, befriend them,
that, being freed from the prison beneath,
they may be admitted into the glories of that Kingdom,
where, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Thou lives and reigns,
one God, world without end …
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine on them.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 15 November – Friday of the Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time, Year C and the Memorial of St Albert the Great OP (1200-1280) Doctor of the Church
Supreme Lord and King of All!
By St Albert the Great (1200-1280)
Universal Doctor of the Church
We pray to Thee, O Lord,
Who art the Supreme Truth,
and all truth is from Thee.
We beseech Thee, O Lord,
Who art the highest Wisdom
and all the wise
depend on Thee, for their wisdom.
Thou are the supreme Joy,
and all who are joyous, owe it to Thee.
Thou art the Light of minds
and all receive their understanding from Thee.
We love, we love Thee above all!
We seek Thee, we follow Thee
and we are ready to serve Thee.
We desire to dwell under Thy Power
for Thou art the King of all!
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 14 November – Thursday of the Thirty Second Weeek in Ordinary Time, Year C and the Memorial of St Joseph Maria Pignatelli SJ (1737 – 1811)
Prayer for Submission to Divine Providence
By St Joseph Maria Pignatelli SJ (1737 – 1811)
My God, I do not know
what must come to me today.
But I am certain
that nothing can happen to me
that You have not foreseen, decreed
and ordained from all eternity.
That is sufficient for me.
I adore Your impenetrable
and eternal designs,
to which I submit with all my heart.
I desire, I accept them all
and I unite my sacrifice to that of
Jesus Christ, my Divine Saviour.
I ask in His name
and through His infinite merits,
patience in my trials
and perfect and entire submission,
to all that comes to me
by Your good pleasure.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 13 November – Wednesday of the Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time, Year C and the Memorial of All Benedictine and Cistercian Saints
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Doctor of the Church
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ name,
The Saviour of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be.
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen.
St Bernard was a French Abbot and a major leader in the reform of Benedictine Monasticism that caused the formation of the Cistercian order.
Our Morning Offering – 12 November – Tuesday of the Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 17:7-10
“So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.’”… Luke 17:10
Not My Own
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
My Lord,
I offer Thee myself in turn,
as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Thou has died for me
and I in turn make myself over to Thee.
I am not my own.
Thou has bought me –
I will,
by my own act and deed,
complete the purchase.
My wish is to be separated from everything
of this world,
to cleanse myself simply from sin,
to put away from me,
even what is innocent,
if used for it’s own sake
and not for Thee.
I put away reputation and honour
and influence and power,
for my praise and strength,
shall be in Thou.
Enable me to carry out what I profess.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 11 November – Monday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year C
In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
By St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church
Father, keep us from vain strife of words.
Grant to us constant profession of the Truth!
Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith
so that we may hold fast to that
which we professed
when we were baptised
in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
that we may have You for our Father,
that we may abide in Your Son
and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 9 November – Month of the Holy Souls
You are the Lord of Life and Death
By Saint Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)
Father & Doctor of the Church
Lord and Creator of all
and especially of Your creature man,
You are the God and Father
and Ruler of Your children,
You are the Lord of life and death,
You are the guardian and benefactor of our souls.
You fashion and transform all things in their due season
through Your creative Word,
as You know to be best
in Your deep wisdom and providence.
Receive now those who have gone ahead of us
in our journey from this life.
And receive us too at the proper time,
when You have guided us in our bodily life
as long as may be for our profit.
Receive us prepared indeed
by fear of You but not troubled,
not shrinking back on that day of death or uprooted by force
like those who are lovers of the world and the flesh.
Instead, may we set out eagerly
for that everlasting and blessed life
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To Him be glory forever and ever.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 8 November – Friday of the Thirty First week in Ordinary Time week in Ordinary Time, Year C
The problems continue with my site but better late than never for this beautiful prayer, somehow it didn’t post earlier.
Write Your Blessed Name, Upon My Heart
By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
Write Your blessed name,
O Lord,
upon my heart,
there to remain so indelibly engraved,
that no prosperity,
no adversity shall ever move me
from Your love.
Be to me a strong tower of defence,
a comforter in tribulation,
a deliverer in distress,
a very present help in trouble
and a guide to heaven
through the many temptations
and dangers of this life.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 7 November – Thursday of the Thirty First week in Ordinary Time, Year C
On this the Feast of all Dominican Saints let us pray a prayer by St Catherine of Siena OP (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church
O God of Truth and Love
A Prayer of Penitence
By St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church
O omnipotent Father,
God of truth,
God of love
permit me to enter into
the cell of self-knowledge.
I admit, that of myself,
I am nothing
but that all being
and goodness in me
comes solely from You.
Show me my faults,
that I may detest them,
and thus I shall flee from self-love
and find myself clothed again
in the nuptial robe of divine charity,
which I must have,
in order to be admitted
to the nuptials of life eternal.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 6 November – Wednesday of the Thirty First week in Ordinary Time, Year C
Tis I – Be not Afraid!
St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
WHEN I sink down in gloom or fear,
Hope blighted or delayed,
Thy whisper, Lord, my heart shall cheer,
“’Tis I – be not afraid!”
Or, startled at some sudden blow,
If fretful thoughts I feel,
“Fear not, it is but I!” shall flow,
As balm my wound to heal.
Nor will I quit Thy way, though foes
Some onward pass defend,
From each rough voice the watchword goes,
“Be not afraid!… a Friend!”
And O! when judgement’s trumpet clear
Awakes me from the grave,
Still in it’s echo may I hear,
“’Tis Christ! He comes to save.”
Our Morning Offering – 5 November – Saint Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931)
Prayer of the Church
The Church honours Saint Guido Maria Conforti
These prayers are composed based on certain characteristics of Saint Guido Maria Conforti and his life as Bishop and Founder. From his writings and the witness of people who have come to know this great Bishop of the 20th century, we appreciate his gifts as follower of the Word, Good Shepherd, contemplative of the Cross, faithful disciple, founder of a missionary family, at the service of humanity, model of unity, discerner of the signs of the times, a person driven by the Gospel and a disciple of Jesus the missionary of the Father.
Saint Guido Maria Conforti: Driven by the Gospel
O God, who through
the contemplation of the Cross,
imprinted on the heart
of Saint Guido Maria Conforti
a burning love for the proclamation
of the Gospel to all nations.
Grant that, through his intercession,
we too may be filled by the same love of Christ,
to constantly work for the salvation
of all our brothers and sisters.
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
More beautiful prayers here: http://www.guidoconforti.com/Resource/Res_PrayerChurch.htm
Our Morning Offering – 2 November – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
O Most Gentle Heart of Jesus
A Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
O most gentle Heart of Jesus,
ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,
ever consumed with burning love
for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,
have mercy on the souls
of Your departed servants.
Be not severe in Your judgements,
but let some drops of Your Precious Blood
fall upon the devouring flames.
And do You, O Merciful Saviour,
send Your holy angels to conduct them
to a place of refreshment, light and peace.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 31 October – The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)
This is my Joy, to Follow my Saviour
By St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)
Jesus, love of my soul,
centre of my heart!
Why am I not more eager to endure pains
and tribulations for love of You,
when You, my God,
have suffered so many for me?
Come, then, every sort of trial in the world,
for this is my delight, to suffer for Jesus.
This is my joy, to follow my Saviour
and to find my consolation
with my Consoler on the Cross.
This is my happiness,
this my pleasure:
to live with Jesus,
to walk with Jesus,
to converse with Jesus,
to suffer with and for Him,
this is my treasure.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 30 October – Wednesday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time, Year C
You are the Giver of all Heavenly Gifts
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
You are fire, enkindle in me Your love.
You are light, enlighten my mind
with the knowledge of eternal things.
You are the Dove, give me innocence of life.
You are the gentle Breeze,
disperse the storms of my passions.
You are the Tongue,
teach me how to bless You always.
You are the Cloud,
shelter me under the shadow of Your protection.
And lastly, You are the Giver of all heavenly gifts,
animate me,
I beseech You, with Your grace, sanctify me
with Your charity, enlighten me
with Your wisdom, adopt me by Your goodness as Your child
and save me in Your infinite mercy,
so that I may ever bless You, praise You and love You,
first during this life on earth,
and then in heaven for all eternity.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 29 October – Tuesday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time, Year C
Désiré Joseph Cardinal Mercier – (21 November 1851-23 January 1926) was Archbishop of Malines, Belgium from 1906 until his death. Besides the heroic leadership he demonstrated during World War I, he hosted the famous Catholic-Anglican dialogue known as the ‘Malines Conversations’ and obtained the establishment of the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, with its proper Mass and Office.
His spiritual mentor was Blessed Dom Columba Marmion.
Here, in his own words, is the daily practice he recommended:
“I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to the things of sense and your ears to all the noises of the world, in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctity of your baptised soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit), speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:
O Holy Spirit, Soul of My Soul
By Désiré Joseph Cardinal Mercier (1851-1926)
O Holy Spirit,
Soul of my soul,
I adore You!
Enlighten me,
guide me,
strengthen me,
console me.
Tell me what I should do,
give me Your orders.
I promise to submit myself
to all that You desire of me
and to accept, all
that You permit to happen to me.
Just make me know Your Will.
Amen
If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.”
Cardinal Mercier was also a noted Thomist scholar and the founder of the higher Institue of Philosophy at Louvain University, as also, the Revue Neoscholastique. … (In Sinu Jesu, Monday 16 March 2009)
Our Morning Offering – 28 October – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs
Come, let us worship the Lord, the King of Apostles.
One Joyful Hymn of Praise must Greet
Morning Hymn
On the Feast of Sts Simon and Jude
From the Breviary
The Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK
One joyful hymn of praise must greet
Apostles whom we always find
Together in the Gospel’s page,
By faithful love and zeal combined.
To follow Christ in early youth
Was surely Simon’s joy and pride,
Before the Zealot would set forth
To preach His Name both far and wide.
Saint Jude, a kinsman of our Lord,
In heart and mind yet closer still,
Your words remain until this day
With hope and love our souls to fill.
As brothers both in life and death,
A martyr’s crown was your reward,
As shining witnesses to truth
And victims worthy of your Lord.
O gleaming stars in heaven’s light
Help us to tread our thorny way,
That with our faith alert and strong
We may attain to glory’s day.
Be praised the Father evermore,
The Holy Spirit and the Son,
May we rejoice before God’s throne
Eternally when life is done.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 27 October – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Adoro te Devote, latens Deitas!
I Devoutly Adore You, hidden Deity
By St John Paul II (1920-2005)
We adore You, O wonderful Sacrament
of the presence of the One
who loved His own “to the end.”
We thank You, O Lord,
who edifies,
gathers together
and gives life to the Church.
O divine Eucharist, flame of Christ’s love
that burns on the altar of the world,
make the Church, comforted by You,
evermore caring, in wiping away,
the tears of the suffering
and in sustaining the efforts
of all who yearn for justice and peace.
And you, Mary, “Eucharistic” Woman
who offered your virginal womb
for the incarnation of the Word of God,
help us to live the Eucharistic Mystery
in the spirit of the “Magnificat.”
May our lives be a never-ending praise
of the Almighty who concealed Himself
beneath the humility of the Eucharistic signs.
Adoro te devote, latens Deitas. ..
Adoro te… adiuva me!
I Devoutly Adore You, hidden Deity
I Adore You, help me!
AnaStpaul 
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