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(As we enter the New Year, this prayer of Pope Clement XI may help us to focus our hearts on what really matters. To say the entire prayer on any given day, just pray the various stanzas in order, without the days of the week and the words in brackets)
Sunday
Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.
I trust in you: strengthen my trust.
I love you: let me love you more and more.
I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.
I worship you as my first beginning,
I long for you as my last end,
I praise you as my constant helper,
and call on you as my loving protector.
Monday:
(Lord, Mighty God)
Guide me by your wisdom,
correct me with your justice,
comfort me with your mercy,
protect me with your power.
I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;
my words: to have you for their theme;
my actions: to reflect my love for you;
my suffering: to be endured for your greater glory.
Tuesday:
(Eternal Father,)
I want to do what you ask of me:
in the way you ask,
for as long as you ask,
because you ask it.
Lord, enlighten my understanding,
strengthen my will,
purify my heart,
and make me holy.
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Wednesday:
(Merciful God,)
Help me to repent of my past sins
and resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
and to grow stronger as a Christian.
Let me love you, my Lord and my God,
and see myself as I really am:
a pilgrim in this world,
a Christian called to respect and love
all whose lives I touch,
those in authority over me
or those under my authority,
my friends and my enemies.
Thursday:
(Loving Father,)
Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
greed by generosity,
apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself
and reach out toward others.
Make me prudent in planning,
courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering,
unassuming in prosperity.
Friday:
Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,
temperate in food and drink,
diligent in my work,
firm in my good intentions.
Let my conscience be clear,
my conduct without fault,
my speech blameless,
my life well-ordered.
Saturday:
(God of Love, Mercy and Providence,)
Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish your love for me,
keep your law,
and come at last to your salvation.
Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
that my true future is the happiness of heaven,
that life on earth is short,
and the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death
with a proper fear of judgment,
but a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death
to the endless joy of heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Prayer to Our Lady of the New Year
Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God and my Mother.
Daughter of the Eternal Father, pray that we recognize our unity as children of the One Father.
Mother of the Only-Begotten Son, pray that we accept each other as sisters and brothers in the same Jesus.
Spouse of the Life-Giving Holy Spirit, pray that we be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, leading us to the fullness of life.
Mary, Virgin Made Church, Mother of the Mystical Body of Christ, First Tabernacle, First Monstrance, be with us in life’s journey, and help us to see and to follow Jesus. Amen
Prayer to Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Padre Pio, you bore the marks of the savior’s saving Passion and became a refuge and support for all who sought your guidance. Your patient ministry of reconciliation brought numberless souls back to God, so that rescued from the evil one, they could praise and glorify God in their lives. From your place in heaven watch over us and keep your hand on each one of us that we may always walk the path that leads to God, the Source and Goal of all life, who lives and reigns Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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