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Prayer + Journey in Faith + Growth + Reflection + related links

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"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer, Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God." ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 2559

“In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is "the union of the entire holy and royal Trinity . . . with the whole human spirit." Thus, the life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of the thrice-holy God and in communion with him. This communion of life is always possible because, through Baptism, we have already been united with Christ. Prayer is Christian insofar as it is communion with Christ and extends throughout the Church, which is his Body. Its dimensions are those of Christ's love.” ~ Catechism 2565

“Stand patiently and pray steadfastly, brushing off the impacts of worldly cares and all thoughts: for they distract and worry you in order to disturb the impetus of your prayer” ~ St Nilus of Syria

 

Pray the Rosary with Bishop Robert Barron's explanatory Rosary videos - helpful if praying alone

 

Proclaim 15 Prayer: Loving Father, You so loved the world that you sent us Your only Son, that we might believe in Him and have eternal life. May we encounter Jesus Christ anew this day and live the Good News with joy. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, help us to ‘go out to the whole world and proclaim’ our faith with confidence. Give us the courage to witness the joy of the Gospel by our words and actions. Help our parish to become more welcoming and missionary, so that You may be known and loved by all people. We make this prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever, Amen. Our Lady Star of the New Evangelisation, Pray for us. Blessed John Henry Newman, Pray for us. St Therese of Lisieux, Pray for us.

Prayer for Vocations. Loving Father, touch and transform us by the joy of your love. Make us missionary disciples, empowered to carry the love of Christ to our neighbour. May young people be inspired by our example to take up the path of Christian discipleship and dedicate their lives to the service of the Gospel. Raise up new vocations by the power of your Holy Spirit to the priesthood and the consecrated life: send us men and women inspired to be living signs of your mercy. Grant us all an openness of heart that we might readily respond to your call, and proclaim with joy the Good News to the whole world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations 26/04/15: 'Almighty God, give us priests: to establish the honour of your holy name; to offer the holy sacrifice of the altar; to give us Jesus in the holy sacrament; to proclaim the faith of Jesus; to baptise and teach the young; to tend your flock, to seek the lost, to give pardon to the penitent sinner; to bless the homes; to pray for the afflicted; to comfort mourners; to strengthen us in our last hour; to commend our souls; Almighty God, give us priests!' (Please pray this prayer as often as you can.)

Novena - between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday: Gracious Father, pour out Your Spirit upon Your people, and grant us a new vision of Your Glory, a new experience of your power, A new consecration to your service, That your love may grow among us, and your kingdom come; through Christ our Lord, Amen

Mass, Daily Readings, Commentaries & Homilies

Daily Mass Readings | Office | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Calendar | from Universalis.com
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Homilies library Holy Family Parish
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Weekly Homilies from English province of Dominican Order of Preachers' (OP)

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CAFOD Prayers
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Daily Readings and Meditations - very helpful for 'the journey'
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OREMUS ~ Daily prayer resources (Anglican) | Catholic Homilies | Daily Blessing | Bible Search
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Praying Each Day
from the De La Salle Brothers.
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Pray-as-you-go . . . daily prayer for your MP3 player
Daily prayer downloads for MP3 players. Combines music, Scripture, and some questions for reflection.
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Sacred Space prayer site, updated daily, guides you through a ten minute session of prayer, centred on a passage of scripture chosen specially for the day. The form of prayer offered is sheer simplicity and is proving congenial for many people.
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'Day by Day'
is a handy £1.00 monthly booklet of the daily Mass readings. Available in our churches.

Lectio Divina:

An ancient method of prayer. "Wednesday Word" - Lectio Divina reflections focus on Sunday Gospel

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Morning Offering - 'the best part of waking up'. Make up your own ~ see below for inspiration:

"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."

Links: Wikipedia | our Catholic Prayers

Morning Offering, so that our duties and obligations of the day become a prayer: "Holy Trinity, One God in three persons, I firmly believe that You are here present. I offer you today my entire being - all my thoughts, words, actions, together with such crosses and contradictions as I may meet with in the course of the day. Give them your divine blessing. May your divine love animate them and may they tend to the greater glory of your sovereign majesty.  Amen."

Prayer of St. Gertrude: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. - This Prayer was given to St. Gertrude and Jesus PROMISED that every time it was said, 1,000 souls would be released from Purgatory and allowed into God's Presence. more

Morning prayer: "O Jesus, in union with your most precious blood poured out on the cross and offered in every Mass, I offer you today my prayers, works, joys, sorrows and sufferings for the praise of your Holy Name and all the desires of your Sacred Heart; in reparation for sin, for the conversion of sinners, the union of all Christians and our final union with you in heaven." ~ Monastery of the Precious Blood, Manchester, New Hampshire

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Healing Prayer at Bedtime - Make up your own but see below for inspiration:

Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as I sleep. Every hurt that has been done to me ... heal that hurt. Every hurt that I have caused to another person...heal that hurt. All the relationships that have been damaged in my whole life that I am not aware of ....heal those relationships. But Lord, if there is anything that I need to do...if I need to go to a person because he is still suffering from my hand, bring to my awareness that person. I choose to forgive, and I ask to be forgiven. Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord, and fill the empty spaces with your love. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Prayer Attributed to St. Augustine: Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

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Prayer of Our Lady of Perpetual Help:
O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on thee, for, in all my needs, in all my temptations I shall never cease to call on thee, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary. O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fill my soul when I pronounce thy sacred name, or even only think of thee. I thank God for having given thee, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely pronouncing thy name: let my love for thee prompt me ever to hail thee, Mother of Perpetual Help. 3 Hail Mary's....

ANIMA CHRISTI

Jesus, may all that is You flow into me.
May Your body and blood be my food and drink.
May Your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with You by my side enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of Your cross.
Let me not run from the love which You offer,
but hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my sufferings and my dyings, shed Your light and Your love.
Keep calling to me until that day comes,
when, with Your saints, I may praise You forever. Amen.

ANIMA CHRISTI (2)

Jesus, may all that is You flow into us.
May Your body and blood be our food and drink.
May Your passion and death be our strength and life.
Jesus, with You by our sides enough has been given.
May the shelter We seek be the shadow of Your cross.
Let us not run from the love which You offer,
but hold us safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my sufferings and my dyings, shed Your light and Your love.
Keep calling to us until that day comes,
when, with your saints, We may praise You forever.  Amen.

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Miscellaneous: Bible etc commentaries, meditations

A favourite of the site curator "Word for Today" from United Christian Broadcasters. A daily, inspirational, Bible based commentary by Bob Gass. UCB also has Christian Music and Scripture radio channels. There is a listening line if you need urgent help and prayer. <:))))<>< For youth age groups and ministry, visit UCB's "The Word 4 U 2day"
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"The Journey" - more daily scriptural meditations
| continued
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Bible Alive magazine
- articles, reflections, readings etc.
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The Word Among Us ~  A monthly magazine to assist Catholic laypeople in reading, meditating and understanding scripture.
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Bible in a year ~ By dividing the Bible into 365 daily readings, you can read the Bible in a year.
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English Bible Versions directory (contributed by N.S.- thank you)
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Acts International - will e-mail their "Daily Encounter"
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General Instruction of the Roman Missal | link1 | link2 | link3
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new translations of the Roman Missal The Liturgy Office
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Radiant Light - a movement within the Roman Catholic Church which encourages people to grow in holiness by believing and living the Catholic faith in its fullness. Founded by Elizabeth Wang, mission is inspired by the images and spirituality she has received in prayer.
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Churches Together in Britain & Ireland - has resources to download
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Sacred Space is a prayer site, updated daily, which guides you through a ten minute session of prayer, centred on a passage of scripture chosen specially for the day. ~ This is a lovely site. The form of prayer offered is sheer simplicity and is proving congenial for many people.
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Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola an introduction. PDF file Spiritual Exercises PDF
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Messenger of St. Anthony Magazine
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Franciscan Media: Prayer and Meditation resources
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Apostleship of prayer
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Find our "Catholic Links" page here
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The importance of praying for priests
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Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth ~ a booklet of answers about the Catholic Faith |find other resources at Catholic.com

Intergenerational Healing: 

  Intergenerational Healing #1 and Prayer for Deliverance and Protection

"Dear Lord we ask you to cover us with Your protection against all harm and evil and to bind every spirit that may come against us. Into Your hands Dear Lord I commend my body, mind, soul and spirit. Holy Michael, Archangel pray for us" 

We can pray the following short prayer over our ancestors, starting with a prayer to take authority over anything that is not of God:

"In the Name of Jesus, I take authority and I bind all powers and forces in the air, in the ground, in the water, in the underground, in nature and in fire. You are the Lord over the entire universe and I give you the Glory for Your creation. In Your name, Lord, I bind all demonic forces that have come against me and my family and I seal all of us in the protection of Your Precious Blood that was shed for us on the Cross."

"Mary our Mother, we seek your protection and intercession with the Sacred Heart of Jesus for me and my family, and surround us with your mantle of love to discourage the enemy."

"Holy Michael Archangel and our Guardian Angels come defend me and my family in battle against all the evil ones that roam the earth. Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in our hour of need. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God restrain him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, cast satan down to hell and with him all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls."

"In the Name of Jesus, I bind and command all the powers and forces of evil to depart right now away from us, our homes and our lands. And we thank You Lord Jesus for You are a faithful and compassionate God Amen."

"Heavenly Father, I ask You now to go back though all in my bloodline, my husband's/wife's bloodline, and the bloodlines connected to all of my family and relatives and forgive the wrongs, heal the illnesses, bind the evil deeds. I ask You Lord to break the chains, associations and links any of these may have to us here in the present. On their behalf Lord, I seek Your forgiveness, your healing and a pouring out of your Divine Love so that Your Love may now pour forth through the years and touch us in the here and now. So that Your Divine and Healing Love will take the place of all the past hurts, angers, hates, un-love of You, destructive emotions or actions and evil ties of our ancestors. So that Your Precious Blood and Divine Love and Healing will heal us of the residue we carry from our ancestors. In true faith I thank You Lord because You have said 'Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you'. Today Lord I knock, I seek, I ask. All praise and thanks to You my loving Father." 

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The Vatican:

The Vatican on YouTube

Vatican II - Voice of the Church explains and promotes the teachings of the Second Vatican Council

Catechism of Catholic Church (Vatican site)

Virtual Reality Tour of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran click on the link and select a number from webpage then that part of the Vatican appears. Hold down Left Mouse Button and slowly move the cursor around to view the room or outside view. Allow time to load. Can zoom in and out too with scroll wheel. Broadband recommended. Speakers on for background music.

Our 'Catholic Links' page has more

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