Almighty and Eternal God, Give me, I beseech You, the great gift of inward peace. Command the winds and storms of my unruly passions. Subdue, by Your grace, my proneness to love created things too much. Give me a love of suffering for Your sake. make me forbearing and kind to others, that I may avoid quarrels and contentions. And teach me constantly to seek after and to acquire that perfect resignation to Your Holy Will which alone brings inner peace. Amen.
Weekly Prayer Archive
Dear Jesus, Difficulties, pain, limitations are part of life but not the heart of life. Some days I find them hard to bear. Your friendship helps to turn my attention away from the hurt. You help me to see all things as gift even those I wish to avoid. You teach me to appreciate myself as I am, and at the same time to value all that exits. You show me how to discern the truth and worth of everyone and everything. Above all, you show me that to live is to love. Amen. – Columban Fr. John Comisky
O Little St. Agnes, so young and yet made so strong and wise by the power of God, protect by your prayers all the young people of every place whose goodness and purity are threatened by the evils and impurities of this world. Give them strength in temptation and a true repentance when they fail. Help them to find true Christian friends to accompany them in following the Lamb of God and finding safe pastures in His Church and in her holy sacraments. May you lead us to the wedding banquet of heaven to rejoice with you and all the holy virgin martyrs in Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
O Mary, Mother of Mercy, watch over all people, that the Cross of Christ may not be emptied of its power, that man may not stray from the path of the good or become blind to sin, but may put his hope ever more fully in God who is "rich in mercy". May he carry out the good works prepared by God beforehand and so live completely "for the praise of his glory". – Pope John Paul II from the Encyclical Veritatis Splendor, August 6, 1993
We thank You, Lord Jesus, because the Gospel of the Father's love, with which You came to save the world, has been proclaimed far and wide in America as a gift of the Holy Spirit that fills us with gladness. We thank You for the gift of Your Life, which You have given us by loving us to the end: Your Life makes us children of God, brothers and sisters to each other. Increase, O Lord, our faith and our love for You, present in all the tabernacles of the continent. Grant us to be faithful witnesses to your Resurrection for the younger generation of Americans, so that, in knowing You, they may follow You and find in You their peace and joy. Only then will they know that they are brothers and sisters of all God's children scattered throughout the world.
Mary, Virgin and Mother, shows us what love is and whence it draws its origin and its constantly renewed power. To her we entrust the Church and her mission in the service of love: Holy Mary, Mother of God, you have given the world its true light, Jesus, your Son - the Son of God. You abandoned yourself completely to God's call and this became a wellspring of the goodness which flows forth from him. Show us Jesus. Lead us to him. Teach us to know and love him, so that we too can become capable of true love and be fountains of living water in the midst of a thirsting world. &ndash Pope Benedict XVI
I may make all sorts of plans and preparations. Some succeed and some do not. The most important part is not success but whether humility, gentleness, and care were present. Help me be attentive not only to the doing but also to the manner of the work by being welcoming, forgiving and faithful. Amen – Columban Fr. John Comiskey
Good and gracious God, fill us with gratitude for the blessings that surround us on this earth. We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who gave up his life out of love for our world. May we love one another as he has loved us, and become a sign to the world that we are indeed his disciples. May the Columban Martyrs’ Memorial Garden be a sacred place to remember their missionary journeys, to give thanks for their perseverance in faith, and to praise you for the inspiration of their final witness. May the seeds of love that the Columban Martyrs sowed across the world continue to yield a bountiful harvest of justice and mercy, freedom and peace. Through their intercession, renew the Church and the face of the earth through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We ask you this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Heavenly Father, as we dedicate the Columban Martyr Memorial Garden, We pray for your faithful Columban Martyrs Who gave their lives spreading your Word. Lord, we are mindful that so great is our love for you That even though we walk in a world where speaking your name can mean certain death Your faithful still speak it. Help us work for a world where all may speak their creeds And pray their prayers Without fear of violence. Hear the prayers of those who abide with you in dangerous times and in dark valleys, And who die with your name on their lips. Draw them quickly to your side Where they might know eternal peace. Amen.
Dear Jesus, when I take the time to look, you reveal the beauty of creation and its peace. This vision challenges me to search for true beauty and to struggle to bring about peace for all. Amen. – Columban Fr. John Comisky
Lord Jesus, you have said that your followers must be the light to the world. Light propagates itself, dispels darkness. It sows rays of joy and hope. It is life-giving. Help me, Lord, to be a light to this world, so that my life radiates your message of love, hope, and joy. May I be the beacon leading to You those who seek truth
I know I cannot just strive “to save my soul.” Your call of love compels me to be open to all creation and especially to those who have less in life, the poor, the homeless, the refugee, the hungry, the imprisoned, the sick, all those in need. This seems overwhelming. Yet each act of kindness and generosity no matter how simple is important. Please bear with my reluctance and limits. Inspire my heart to burn with a freeing love for others. Amen. – Columban Fr. John Comiskey
Oh God, In Saint Peregrine You give us the example Of patient suffering, Of fidelity to prayer in spite of pain, And of dedication to helping the sick. I humbly ask That through Peregrine’s love for the sick You will comfort me in my illness, Through the help of his prayers You will strengthen me in my weakness, And through the example of his patience You will enable me to cope with my cancer. Though his intercession help me To open my heart to your healing love, And so come closer to you. Amen.
Grant me, O Lord, good digestion, and also something to digest. Grant me a healthy body, and the necessary good humor to maintain it. Grant me a simple soul that knows to treasure all that is good and that doesn't frighten easily at the sight of evil, but rather finds the means to put things back in their place. Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumblings, sighs and laments, nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing call "I". Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor. Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others. Amen - St. Thomas More