Prayer of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel

Oh most noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious angels, and love and delight of all the just angels, my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants, I, today offer and consecrate myself to you, and place myself, my family, and all I possess under your most powerful protection.

I entreat you not to look at how little, I, as your servant have to offer, being only a wretched sinner, but to gaze, rather, with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made, and remember that if from this day onward I am under your patronage, you must during all my life assist me, and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses, and sins, the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Savior Jesus, and my Sweet Mother Mary, and to obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory.

Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life.

Come then, oh Glorious Prince, and succor me in my last struggle, and with your powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud angel that one day you prostrated in the celestial battle. Amen.

-Opus Sanctorum Angelorum

St Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need: the wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward; the Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name, the strong Name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three, of Whom all nature hath creation; Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.


I bind myself to God's power to guide me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to teach me, God's Eye to watch over me, God's Ear to hear me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to shelter me, God's host to secure me...Against the snares of demons, against the seductions of vices, against the lusts of nature, against everyone who meditates injury to me, whether far or near, few or many.

Composed by St. Patrick

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold me kneeling at Your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by Your Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary. I come to ask this favor: Mention your request).

To whom can I turn if not to You, Whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? I have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that You can grant me the grace I implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and my prayer will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of Your favors, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the God of mercy, and You will not refuse a contrite heart. Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of You, and Your kind Heart will find in my miseries and weakness a reason for granting my prayer.

Sacred Heart, whatever may be Your decision with regard to my request, I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and serving You. My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of perfect resignation to the decrees of Your adorable Heart, which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by me and all Your creatures forever.

Grant me the grace for which I humbly implore You through the Immaculate Heart of Your most sorrowful Mother. You entrusted me to her as her child, and her prayers are all-powerful with You. Amen.

Source: EWTN

Divine Mercy Sunday

Lord Jesus Christ,

you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,

and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.

Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;

the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things;

made Peter weep after his betrayal,

and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:

“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,

of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:

let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness

in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error:

let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with His anointing,

so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,

and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,

proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,

and restore sight to the blind.  

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of

Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and

ever. Amen

(Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee)

Teach Us How to Pray

There are two common presumptions concerning prayer among Christians. First, that we know how to pray. Perhaps we pray frequently; and consider ourselves ‘proficient’ in prayer. We convince ourselves that we are praying well.  The disciples of Jesus, after spending close to three years with Him, observing Him pray day and night, realized that they did not know how to pray. In humility they implore Jesus: “Lord, teach us how to pray” (Lk 11:1).  Perhaps this humble request was their first authentic prayer!

Second, that we know what to pray for. The disciples of Jesus, James and John accosted him. They were convinced that they knew exactly what to ask for; they asked Jesus if it is possible for one to sit at His right hand and the other sit at His left in His Kingdoms. They later realized that their request was totally inappropriate (Cf. Mk 10:35-40).

These two disciples would still make another outrageous request to Jesus.  The Samaritan villagers would not allow Jesus and his disciples to pass through their village. Though the earth and its fullness belong to Jesus (Cf. Ps 24:1). Both Samaria and Samaritans belong to Jesus. Infuriated by the refusal of the Samaritan villagers to allow Jesus pass through their village, James and John asked Jesus whether they could call down fire from heaven to consume this ‘audacious’ villagers. Jesus rebuked them (Cf. Lk 9:51-56). Again they displayed a pitiable ignorance of what to ask for.

Like the disciples of Jesus we tend to pray for the wrong reasons and in a wrong manner. This is the reason Jesus taught his disciples and all us how to pray. To determine what to pray for and how to pray, we need the help of the Holy Spirit.  It is because we do not know how to pray that ‘the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness’ (Rom 8:26). Precisely because we do not know what to pray for that ‘the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning’ (Rom 8:26).

In the final analysis, an authentic prayer is modeled after the example of Jesus and inspired by the Holy Spirit. We do not babble in prayer. We do not pray to impress people. Prayer is not a performance. Prayer is not words but groaning; not requests but desire; not activity but stillness. Be still and know that I am God (Ps 46:10).